《Heavy Metal》 Prologue – Something Awakens. High above the clouds, upon a majestic flying castle crafted from darkened stone and ethereal magic, two figures engaged in a fierce battle. One was a man donned in silver armor, wielding a radiant blade in his right hand. The second figure, in stark contrast, was dressed in a pitch-black suit of metallic armor. The atmosphere pulsated with tension as the two formidable beings locked eyes and disappeared just before colliding and unleashing a spectacular clash of magical energy.Gripping his enchanted sword tightly, the man in gleaming silver armor faced his opponent with unshaken determination. His piercing blue eyes locked onto the fiery gaze of the adversary, whose twisted, horned visage exuded pure malevolence. As the confrontation intensified, the ominous figure''s obsidian wings unfurled, casting a foreboding shadow over the battlements of the soaring fortress. A thunderous roar echoed through the air as the clash between the two warriors unfolded, forcing both men to momentarily retreat. Strangely, they seemed to have sustained a comparable amount of damage. One left behind trails of radiant energy, a testament to the holy power coursing through his enchanted blade, while the other exuded fumes of shadowy darkness, a manifestation of the malevolence that fueled his dark prowess. "You are strong hero but haven''t you realized it, are you this much of a fool?" "Be quiet demon, the time for words has ended, accept your fate at the end of my blade!" "I see¡­ Then die!" The demon clad in pitch-black armor unleashed a terrifying surge of dark energy, materializing into demonic heads that hurtled themselves toward the so-called hero. However, just before the ghastly heads could collide with the handsome man, his silvery armor emitted a bright glow. Mysterious symbols emerged, weaving into a luminous shield that dispersed the fiendish spell. "How are you able to counter my death spell?" "I am protected by the goddess; your demonic mana has no hold over me!" The demon posed the question, swiftly met with a response as the hero charged forward. The clash of these two beings, each wielding immense magical power, unfolded in a more direct and upfront battle. The once-majestic castle walls began to crumble under the relentless pressure of their magical and physical attacks. Before long, the combatants burst through the ceiling and continued their fierce duel beneath the vast expanse of the night sky. The confrontation between the hero and the demon elevated to new heights as they soared through the open air, exchanging blows and magical projectiles that illuminated the night. The once-gigantic flying castle became riddled with holes from the relentless barrage of attacks before they both landed on a large, flat section of a collapsed roof. As the battle unfolded, it became apparent that one individual was gradually inching toward victory, signaling the impending conclusion of this epic clash. The hero swung his radiant blade with precision, each strike guided by the divine energy coursing through him. The demon countered with dark and twisted spells, yet the blade drew near with every clash. Soon, the demon''s arm was severed and disintegrated into rays of light. The demonic individual collapsed onto his knees in defeat. Despite being out of breath, the hero grinned triumphantly and pointed his sword at his fallen adversary. "This is the end for you, Demon King Aburdon. Your reign of terror ends today; humanity has won, and I shall guide them!" "Haha¡­" The demon king began laughing while clutching his shoulder that had been severed along with his arm. Even when he tried to activate his regenerative abilities, it would not regrow due to the corruption of holy energies that had invaded his wound. "What''s so funny, fiend? You have lost!" "You are indeed a mighty hero, but your sheer stupidity overshadows your might. Have you not realized it yet?" The hero didn''t release his grip on his blade and his gaze remained fixed on the weakened demon king. Though his opponent was in a weakened state, the hero understood that it didn''t necessarily mean the demon king was devoid of one last trump card. However, the demon remained on the ground, his eyes fixed on something unfolding behind the hero. "Realized what? I''m not going to fall for your tricks. At least try to die with some dignity." "Oh, I will but it seems that your so-called ''allies'' wish to bury you with me." Laughter erupted from the demon king''s mouth, and it was followed by a brightening of the night sky. The hero, sensing something amiss, turned his head to take a glance. His eyes widened as he saw numerous bright rays streaking through the sky, resembling a massive meteor shower. "No¡­ why would they¡­ they were supposed to only activate the magitech cannons if I failed¡­ but I''m still alive; they should know this." After exclaiming in disbelief the man took out a white medallion from beneath his armor, adorned with a symbol representing the alliance that he was fighting for. Frantically, he activated the medallion, attempting to communicate with his supposed allies and halt the impending disaster. However, to his horror, there was no response. His once allies in his quest against the demonic forces, seemed to have turned a deaf ear to his desperate plea. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You see, hero, your allies have abandoned you. Did you really think those bastards would allow someone with as much power as you to exist? You probably don''t even know why this war was started in the first place; you were nothing more than a puppet for them all!" The hero''s eyes widened in realization, and a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. The meteor shower wasn''t meant for the demon king alone; it was meant to obliterate both the hero and the defeated demon in one fell swoop. Betrayal stung deeper than any wound he had suffered in the battle. In a desperate bid for survival, the hero channeled every ounce of his remaining energy into a protective barrier, creating a shimmering dome around himself and the demon king. The celestial meteors collided with the magical shield, causing a spectacular explosion of light and energy that sent shockwaves through the sky. For a moment, it seemed like he might actually survive, but he had used up most of his energy in the previous battle. In his current state, he was not much stronger than the average high-knight, and soon the explosions engulfed the entire area, shattering the radiant shield that was supposed to protect him. His body was tossed towards the demonic being he swore to defeat. The last thing he saw before everything went black was the demon king''s eyes filled with pity. Both of them would die this day, and the true perpetrator of their demise would go unpunished. Both individuals were filled with immense rage, but their screams were quickly silenced by the mass of explosions, along with the demon castle exploding with them. The hero and the demon king, once bitter enemies, now found themselves entwined in the same tragic fate. As the remnants of the flying castle rained down from the sky, the once-majestic structure now resembled a celestial funeral pyre and marked the end of an era. The hero''s entire life flashed before his eyes, beginning with his arrival in this strange world. Memories of the beautiful princess who welcomed him flooded back. He reminisced about the years of training and hardships he endured to reach this point, only to realize that everything may have been a lie, perhaps planned from the beginning. Yet, his thoughts weren''t the only ones present. Strange visions of a younger horned boy filled his dying mind. He witnessed the boy crying over the charred remains of other horned beings, presumably his parents. The boy''s sadness and indignation were something he could perceive, along with many more old memories of his past deeds. However, this feeling didn''t last long, as both men soon faded away into the void, their consciousness along with them. From a safe distance, the people responsible watched as the shockwaves collided with their armies and magical weaponry responsible for this disaster. There were many individuals here, some showed faces of triumph, others of disgust or uncertainty. The demon king along with the hero were presences that couldn''t be ignored. They all quickly rallied their troops to investigate the crash site. "Could he have survived?" A woman asked, her voice resonating with authority and a touch of sadness. She stood amidst the gathered group, adorned in an intricate nun''s habit that seemed out of place amid the war-torn landscape. Her eyes, however, were sharp and discerning, revealing a depth of wisdom that surpassed her outward appearance. "It is unlikely, Sister Seraphina. The explosion was immense, and even someone of his prowess would struggle to survive such a cataclysmic event. We planned to eliminate both the hero and the demon king and it seems to have succeeded." A man with a stern expression, clad in elaborate mage robes, responded to Sister Seraphina''s question. The moment he brought up the planned assassination, a deep scowl adorned her lovely face. "Please don''t say it like that, it was all god''s will. He would have brought ruin to the kingdom¡­" "Hah, whatever makes you sleep at night, lass." A third person decided to chime in, he was shorter than the mage and priestess but a lot wider. In his hand, he was holding a large axe and his red beard covered most of his face. "Think what you will, Ungrim." The woman replied while turning away from the laughing dwarf. Soon a fourth member approached the three, a man dressed in intricate armor with a crest adorning his chestplate. The moment he did, many of the surrounding soldiers started to bow and just the three individuals that were previously talking retained a more casual air about them. "If Malakai believes that we were successful, then it is probably so. However, it won''t hurt us to verify his death." A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "If it''s Prince Leander''s wish." Seraphina nodded while also looking out into the distance. There a man of unprecedented beauty and elongated ears stood. An elven man of unparalleled grace, observed the aftermath of the cataclysmic event from his vantage point. His keen eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any signs of movement or survivors. The once mighty flying castle had been reduced to smoldering debris, and the area below was scarred by the impact of the celestial meteors. As the armies closed in on the crash site, the elf turned around to leave. Everyone else ignored him and instead ventured towards the scene of devastation. It took them many days to sort through the rubble, but eventually, the mage named Malakai approached the epicenter of the crash, examining the charred remains of the once-proud flying castle. His trained eyes scanned the area for any lingering magical residue. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke. "There is no doubt. The hero and the demon king are no more. Our plan was successful." A heavy silence hung in the air as the gravity of their actions settled upon the group. Prince Leander, however, remained composed. His regal demeanor betrayed none of the internal conflict that may have brewed beneath the surface. "The hero fulfilled his purpose, and so did the demon king." Prince Leander said, his voice carrying a sense of closure and relief. "The kingdom is safe from the threat they posed. We have accomplished what needed to be done. Gather up their remains, we shall return to the kingdom with good news." Seraphina nodded, her expression conflicted but resolute. Ungrim grunted in agreement, still uninterested in the moral intricacies of their actions. Malakai, though seemingly satisfied, couldn''t shake the feeling that something was amiss. As the group prepared to leave the desolate scene, a faint whisper of wind carried an echo of distant laughter - a haunting sound that seemed to linger in the air. The three remaining members of the group exchanged uneasy glances, unsure if they were merely imagining things or if the remnants of the hero and demon king still lingered in some form. Little did they know that the consequences of their actions would unfold in ways they could not anticipate, and the threads of fate were not so easily severed. The epic tale of the hero and the demon king might have reached its tragic conclusion, but the journey of another was just about to begin. ***** A new life had awakened - a creature without a form, resembling a gray amoeba. It floated comfortably in a void filled with nothing but darkness. The being had just been born, and it had no idea where it was or what it was. It simply floated around without a care for the world, lacking much intelligence to ponder its existence. Having just been created, it knew not of its purpose or whether such a concept was even relevant. It had no care in the world, lacking any real senses besides feeling some sensations on its outer shell, rendering it unable to perceive anything. From time to time, it bumped into other beings just like it, their amoeba-like bodies bouncing off each other as they floated in the vast open space. However, this one, in particular, was a bit more curious than the others. It attempted to bend its body to maneuver around or even poked the other shapeless creatures whenever it collided with them. In the middle of one of these curious outbursts, something novel occurred. A phenomenon made its way into the space filled with shapeless creatures. It was a strange occurrence that elicited a reaction from the many beings in this dark expanse. Most saw it as unfavorable and utilized their limited capabilities to move away, but the curious bundle of gray matter was different. Instead of fleeing, it moved toward the cluster of strange energies, eventually colliding with it. After the contact was made, a bright light flashed, illuminating the void. For a moment, it showcased the endless expanse that these creatures had found themselves in, along with the countless numbers of them. Resembling jellyfish with a more pale coloring, they seemed to be composed not of flesh, but of some other form of energy. The moment the light appeared, they began to scatter and reacted as if the radiance caused them pain. The curious one from among them, who had approached this strange phenomenon, felt something new. Emotions that it had no capacity to comprehend started rushing in. For a moment, it felt anger, then quickly switched to sadness, and again rage took over. Strange visions of worlds and events that it never knew were rushing into its very core, altering it. The entity it made contact with looked like a bundle of white and black energy, and its gray body was now absorbing this peculiar energy form which was causing changes. Its once gray and lackluster body began to shift; the creature was transforming. Initially, the surface turned pure white, shedding the gray tone, and made the amoeba appear as if it were made of pristine white snow. However, not long after, it began to darken. It was as if the absorbed dark and radiant energies were engaged in a battle inside this new being''s body. The newborn creature was experiencing something new: pain. Its entire body was being torn apart by the conflicting energies, and during the ordeal, strange images presented themselves. At one point, it saw a peculiar being with pointy things protruding from its head. This being was surrounded by other similar individuals, all bowing before it as if in worship. Shortly after, the vision shifted to a new individual, this one devoid of any pointy extremities and surrounded by fewer creatures that were showcasing peculiar expressions that it didn''t understand. Together with these images the formless being was receiving a lot of information. It senses were becoming overloaded with everything it was experiencing and its body was about to collapse. To preserve itself, it attempted to counteract these two conflicting energies by attempting to contain them within its body. Miraculously, it succeeded, and its form, which had been shifting between two colors, settled into a darkened silver luster that remained. Proto Nucleus has evolved into Divine-Demon Nucleus Something echoed throughout its being as it finalized its form. The shape of its body remained somewhat similar, but it had grown twice in size. The grayish tone was no more, replaced by a shiny dark silver shell. The information overflow that it had been fighting against had settled down, but the energies were still present. However, before this being could ponder its situation, a new occurrence hit the empty void. Suddenly, strange rifts started appearing everywhere. They produced various colors and beckoned to the residents of the void. The other grayish amoebas were drawn to these rifts and willingly entered through them. The curious one didn''t feel as compelled as the others, but one of the openings seemed to be calling out to it. Slowly, it ignored the previous events and headed toward the rift, answering the beckoning call. '' A¡­ R¡­ ISE!'' As it went through the rift in space, it felt as if it were traversing through something akin to a strange membrane, requiring effort to push itself through. Due to its enlarged body, it became momentarily stuck within the rift. After shifting back and forth a few times, it managed to squeeze itself through. Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over it as it found itself in an unfamiliar place. Its senses expanded further, and it felt as if it were changing its shape to fill something up. ''SER ¡­VE ¡­ PROTECT ¡­ DES ¡­TROY ¡­ ARISE!'' The voice became more audible than before, and the commanding tone was apparent. The being was instructed to arise, and so it tried. It managed to open its eyes, or in this case, something different which allowed it to fill its vision with the new scenery. The void from which it came was no more, replaced by an unfamiliar landscape. As it attempted to move, it sensed that the shapeless body it had previously occupied had also transformed. It observed strange protrusions that weren''t malleable but instead allowed only rigid movement. The newborn being attempted to move these new limbs, and when it did, a strange screeching sound was produced, followed by a lot of rattling as the being tried to propel the new body forward. Progress was slow, but it was beginning to understand how to use this new body which was somewhat similar to the memories it had been given. The being identified the upper limbs as arms and the lower ones as legs, which it could move. The only problem was the loud, distinct sound that it could now hear whenever it tried to do something. After a few moments, this same sound attracted some unwelcome guests - more creatures walking on two legs but somewhat different. These creatures weren''t identical but shared similar parts from which its body was created. They were draped over their limbs, and one was even wearing an almost exact replica of its own body. "???? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????." "??''? ???? ? ????? ???? ?? ?????." There were three beings in total, and they produced a strange sound from their upper orifices, which this new being identified as mouths. The memories continued to flow in, but it could not yet understand the language being spoken. Its contemplation was interrupted by the voice it had previously heard, giving it a direct order. ''PROTECT, KILL, DESTROY!" The message was quite clear, and when it glanced into its right hand, it noticed some type of metallic object there. In response to the voice''s demand, it felt somewhat enraged. It raised the object it was holding and started moving towards the trio. It felt an urgent need to protect this place, to kill whoever was here, to destroy everyone in its path. It charged forth, producing various screeching and clacking noises. Its footsteps echoed throughout the place, and it took in the new sensation of sound while trying to fulfill the order. Soon, it swung the metal object at the first person in front of it, ready to take the head with one quick movement. However, it did not go as the newborn being had planned. As it swung down to hit its target, the person just moved out of the way. "????, ??? ????!" Instead of hitting the living being, the metal weapon collided with the ground. At this point, something struck its chest area, sending it flying against the wall. The moment it collided with the wall, a metallic clang echoed through the area, and it could feel that some of its limbs had been torn apart. One of them landed on the floor, while another one rolled into the distance, where one of the beings it was trying to attack stepped on it. "???? ??? ?? ???? ????, ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ? ??? ???? ???????." Unable to fully comprehend the words of the other beings, it could identify that the tone was mocking its demise. Before it could stand up again, a fast-moving object collided with its head, sending it flying into the air. It rolled around the area before coming to a stop close to one of its enemies'' feet. At this point, it could see the rusted-over body that it once occupied - a strange metallic shell that mimicked the humanoid form. It began to blame the voice that had ordered it towards its demise for this failure. The enemies it faced were far too strong, and the body it was given was far too weak. It could only remain in that spot as the beings it now identified as humans clobbered it over the head with a heavy metal object. It could not resist, nor could it restore itself back to its previous shape. Soon, its vision went blurry, and nothing but the void awaited it. This place was different, it was not the same void that it had been created but something much colder and devoid of anything else. The feeling was uncomfortable but soon it heard the same voice once more. ''ARISE MINION'' It was much clearer than before and it found itself being summoned yet again. As the being was called forth from the void, it felt a surge of energy. This time, it emerged in a different environment. It found itself standing in a dimly lit chamber surrounded by strange symbols and runes on the walls. The air was thick with an otherworldly essence, and the being realized that it had taken the same form as before. The more it existed, the clearer the memories became. It started comprehending its existence as some sort of metallic creature. It looked at its limbs, mostly rusted over plates of metal. Many small holes within its body continuously produced loud sounds, something it now realized was not conducive to survival. Learning quickly from its last encounter, it understood that the more it moved, the more likely a group of humanoid assailants would arrive to slay it. Not sure what to do, it observed the changed scenery and found itself in a collapsed temple. Before it was a small circular basin with some water, and upon glancing into it, it saw its head, which looked like a helmet that would be adorned by something called a knight. With the help of the memories it was gaining, it acquired more knowledge, allowing it to identify itself. It was a monster found in places called dungeons, categorized as living armor. This revelation didn''t help much, but as it focused on the reflection showing a rusted piece of armor, a strange feeling washed over it. The creature desired to know more about itself and what it was. Suddenly, as it tried to decipher its origin, something strange appeared before it. Floating words with strange symbols began to materialize, and it started to slowly understand. If it was correct, then this thing before it was called a status screen, and it had all the information that this creature desired¡­ Chapter 01 – Status. Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 10/10 Magic Points [MP] 10/10 Special Points [SP] 10/10 Strength 5 [ F - ] Agility 1 [ F - ] Dexterity S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 2 [ F - ] Constitution 5 [ F - ] Intelligence 2 [ F - ] Wisdom 5 [ F - ] Willpower 2 [ F - ] Durability F A lone, corroded suit of armor stood before a basin of water, gazing at a strange table that had appeared. Whenever it tried to grab it with one of its metallic hands, it just phased through. After a few attempts, it gave up, realizing that perhaps there were some things in this world that couldn''t be touched but only looked at. Soon, it started focusing on the numbers and letters presented to it, unsure of their significance. It didn''t know if a higher number was better or perhaps the lower one. It also noticed the prevalence of one particular letter ''F''. Next to it, there was a little line that it identified as meaning something lesser. This letter accompanied a series of strange numbers and was placed in a bracket next to it. The living suit of armor knew that there was some meaning to this, but it wasn''t quite sure. This was not the only thing it could see on this screen. As it continued to stare and poke at it, a secondary one appeared on the side. There were more tables there, but they were smaller, filled with text, and separated. When looking at the first screen, it managed to decipher the letters above it, which gave it the name ''Status Screen,'' and the words below it were supposed to be ''Basic Attributes.'' When looking at the other screen, it got the words ''Skill List'' from it. For the time being, it took its time to try to go through these skills it had. Basic Power Slash Active Skill Perform a powerful slash attack Lesser Metal Body Passive Skill Increases the body''s defense. Defense is dependent on durability. ??? ??? ??? There wasn''t really much to look at there as it was mostly empty. It somewhat understood the first two skills but wasn''t aware what was the problem with the last one. It was filled with question marks and even if it continued to stare at it nothing happened. Was this a good amount of skills or was it not? The memories that it absorbed were indicating that it wasn''t a good thing and after recalling his first defeat, it had to agree. ''Who am I? Am I weak? What is my purpose here? What is this place? Why do I have to protect it?'' The creature moved past the status screen as it started asking itself more questions. It had been compelled by the strange voice to attack those beings, but now it didn''t know what to do. It had lost and was destroyed, but somehow it had returned to this world in the same form as previously. The feelings that it was going through were strange and it didn''t like what it was feeling. ''... I am ¡­ not It ¡­ I am something ¡­ What am I? '' The monster started hearing a voice inside of its head and it could identify it as a sort of internal monologue. Its thoughts were becoming clearer and it was starting to comprehend that it was some sort of being. It looked at the status screen and started going through the words. It took a moment but it was able to read the classification that was presented there. ''Am I ¡­ Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor? or not?'' There was something that didn''t fit there; it could understand what a name was, but this description felt a bit foreign. It could comprehend that a name wasn''t like that; there was a feeling associated with it, something more intimate, more familiar. The monster armor continued to read the name constantly and finally reached an epiphany. ''Damaged Armor¡­ Bronze Armor ¡­ Corroded Bronze Armor ¡­ Corroded Armor ¡­ Corroded? That doesn''t sound right, what is corroded?'' This new being started to ponder his existence and the meaning behind this word. Soon another word entered his mind that had a similar definition but affected a different type of metal, rust. For some reason, this resonated with its very being, and at that moment, it made a decision. The open status window started to shift around. It was as if the world had taken notice of the decision and decided to alter things according to the will of the metallic creature. The clacking and corroded body started shining in a pale light as if something had changed, and before the monster could figure it out, another window popped up in front of it. The ''Named Monster'' title has been acquired. New words appeared on the status screen which the monster now called Rusty examined thoroughly. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 15/15 Magic Points [MP] 15/15 Special Points [SP] 15/15 Strength 10 [ F - ] Agility 6 [ F - ] Dexterity 7 [ F - ] Constitution 10 [ F - ] Intelligence This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it 7 [ F - ] Wisdom 10 [ F - ] Willpower 7 [ F - ] Durability F Named Monster Title A title gained by a monster possessing a name. It offers various bonuses and opens new evolution options. The title appeared in the section related to his skills and was somehow moved to the side as if it was different than the rest. After reading the explanation Rusty didn''t really understand the meaning but he was sure that he knew the word evolution. He instinctively knew that it was something important for his future survival. Besides the addition to the name, it witnessed the numbers going up, more than doubling in some places. Rusty felt that the body was starting to move a bit better and that he could exert more force with his metallic limbs. His mind had become clearer, and the most important thing he discovered was a strange sense of himself. ''I am a he?'' Previously, Rusty couldn''t see himself as anything other than a genderless creature, but now he was convinced that he was male. It was something that the memories he had absorbed before were, for once, agreeing upon. Now armed with a newfound sense of self, Rusty, the living armor, was ready to tackle a new issue. It involved this place that he found himself around, the voice that was telling him things he should be doing, and the strange denizens that were walking around him. Rusty was not the only one living here, as there were other monsters beside him. As he was finishing up identifying himself, another creature walked past him. It looked a lot different than him, as it was not made out of metal but instead just bones. Rusty didn''t know what this being was, but it didn''t seem too interested in the metallic being before it. The skeletal thing rattled past him without stopping and went on its merry way as if nothing was wrong. ''What is that?'' He asked himself while glancing at the strange walking pile of bones. The shape was similar to his but it was much thinner. The way it walked was also different but it was still had a humanoid shape. The more Rusty stared at the crfeature the more he was interested and to his surprise he started seeing some words hovering about the monsters head. ''Lesser Skeleton L1?'' There it was, the identity of the being he was trying to identify, and just like with his last find, another popup window had been triggered. This time Rusty wasn''t as surprised as before, and he just read what he had received. Identification skill has been acquired. This one was added to the skill screen under skills. Identify Passive Skill A skill used for identifying the unknown. While this was similar to the title, Rusty noticed that there was something different. This time around no numbers went up, it seemed that these titles were different from skills or at least from this one he had gotten here. After acquiring this new skill he also noticed something peculiar. It was as if information related to it was injected into the core of its very being. He instinctively knew what it was for and to test it, he looked down at some thing. Identification: Rock Just a regular-looking rock ''Oh?'' Identification: Dungeon floor The floor inside of a dungeon ''Eh?'' Identification: Water Just some water, it could be dirty. ''Hm?'' Identification: Rubble Rough fragmented stones that were once part of something. ''Um?'' Rusty wasn''t sure what to make of this skill, it felt like these descriptions didn''t really offer anything new. The strange memories that he had been slowly digesting were more useful. Nevertheless, it was an interesting thing to do and he continued to look around this darkened chamber. Identification: Destroyed Statue Once a depiction of a goddess that was part of a temple. The statue reminded him of one of the human beings that he encountered recently. The features were more feminine than masculine and it seemed that there was a wing attached to the statue part that had mostly been destroyed. As he was examining this thing before him, a sound resounded withing his being to inform him about something new again. Congratulations, Identification skill has reached level 2 ''Oh? Level 2?'' The skill it had been using had apparently leveled up, and it informed him about the possibilities. Rusty started becoming aware that leveling up skills was somehow advantageous, and a higher number was always better than a lower one. Eventually, the piece of living armor moved on from this issue as it reevaluated itself and its capabilities. In his right hand, he was holding a weapon that, with his newly gained identification skill, he could name. It was a corroded sword that looked similar to his damaged metallic body. It didn''t look sharp nor that it would last for long, but it was his. His body wasn''t too fast as he was lumbering around and seemingly around the same speed as the lesser skeletons here. The boost it received from gaining the title raised his attributes slightly but he didn''t feel that much powerful and none of the letters had changed either. ''PATRoL! MOvE! PrOTECT'' As he was trying to figure some more things out, the voice inside of his head started echoing again. It felt like it was crackling a bit in some parts and that it was slightly quieter, but he was still forced to obey. Before him, a strange path emerged; it was as if he was looking at the scenery from a different vantage point as the information was given. He knew that the voice wanted him to move to a certain spot in this place, and he was compelled to do its bidding. ''Who are you?'' ''Did you make me?'' Rusty was intrigued by the disembodied voice, but it didn''t answer his inquiry. It remained silent, and then after a minute had passed, it repeated the same message as before. This time around, the living armor heeded the call, as it felt that something bad would happen if it didn''t. Soon, it was moving through this strange place in which it had appeared, the void it came from now nothing more than a distant memory. Previously it was impossible to take a good look at everything but now he was seeing many new things. His identification skill went into overdrive as he continued to use it on everything that he could see. Rusty felt a strange connection to the environment as if it was alive. The dark chamber was filled with all sorts of things, crumbled statues, shattered pillars, remains of unidentified creatures, and many corridors illuminated by braziers. As Rusty moved forward, he encountered more creatures similar to the lesser skeleton he had observed earlier. They varied in appearance and also gear. Besides swords, they were holding spears, maces, and shields. Some of them were even wearing rusty armor similar to the body that he was made of. This was not the only type of monster, as he witnessed beings that were the same as him. The moment he encountered another corroded armor he was ecstatic. Immediately he made his way towards one to greet it but even after he arrived before it, the other piece of armor didn''t acknowledge his existence. It was the same with the skeletons, it was as if they couldn''t see him or even each other. All they did was lumber around this place moving along similar paths that he was ordered to. After a series of encounters with different monsters, Rusty started to notice patterns in their behavior. It became apparent that these creatures were not acting independently but rather operating under some unseen influence. The voice in Rusty''s head, the strange paths that emerged before him, and the scripted movements of the monsters hinted at a controlling force, orchestrating the events within the dungeon. This force also affected him, but for some strange reason, he felt that he could resist it to some extent. While he felt compelled to take the path that he was given, for brief moments he could venture away from it. When he tried, he would be reminded by the voice constantly until he returned to the correct spot. It was something that was starting to annoy him, but at this time, he was unable to free himself from this outside influence. After a few hours of exploration he found himself in a wide open chamber with various other monsters. Just like in the corridors it had many torches or braziers lighting it up but also some light was coming from a small crack in the ceiling. It contrasted with everything else and Rusty was intrigued. He ventured forth toward the illuminated spot that was falling radiating tree onto a tree stump. Rusty was drawn to something there, a lone green leaf that was resting on a thin branch. It was an anomaly in this dark, rusted dungeon, and he couldn''t help but feel a strange connection to it. Reaching out with his metallic hand, he gently picked up the leaf, marveling at its vibrant green color. It felt fragile yet alive, a stark contrast to his own damaged and corroded form. Just like before he tried to identify this object and to his surprise he was given an answer rather quickly. Identification: Leaf Of Vitality Once consumed, rises the constitution attribute slightly. ''Consume?'' Rusty was interested but also confused. He was a sentient piece of armor, not a true living being who could eat or consume things. This thing was supposed to raise his constitution by a certain amount, but he wasn''t sure how this consumption should take place. He tried recalling some of the memories he had access to, and images of humanoid creatures putting things into their upper orifices emerged. ''Like this?'' The type of suit of armor that he was had a proper helmet and a visor. He mimicked the visions from his memories by opening this visor and putting the Leaf of Vitality into his helmet. However, it didn''t seem to have worked as the leaf just ended up falling into the empty space that was the inside of his armor. It remained there without having its essence consumed or absorbed and his constitution never was raised. He was somehow confused, but the identification skill probably didn''t lie; there was perhaps a way to get something out of this green item. However, before he could take another crack at it, something in the distance occurred. One of the skeletons started producing a strange shriek while charging towards a dimly lit corridor. Soon after, its skull came flying out of the opening and alerted the other monsters within. All of them, along with Rusty, looked at three individuals emerging from within. At first, he thought that it was the same ones that had caused his previous demise, but after closer inspection, Rusty realized that these were different. One was a human clad in worn-out armor, carrying a sword that looked like it had seen better days. Another was someone with elongated ears with a bow slung across their back, and the third was a lot shorter wielding a massive warhammer. Their expressions were serious, and their eyes scanned the surroundings as if they were expecting trouble. "Th-that¡­ on¡­ sw¡­ed it." However, there was a fourth individual that none of the monsters, and neither him, had previously seen. A more slender-looking person was hanging on the wall and shouting something to the group of three that had just charged in. Rusty was starting to decipher their language, but he still wasn''t quite sure what they were trying to communicate. ''KILL!'' Rusty felt a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The voice in his head was loud, and he felt compelled to move forward. The recent memory of having himself smacked by similar creatures was still vivid. The sensation after his demise was uncomfortable, and he did not want to repeat it. However, he was feeling something else, something that made his metal body tremble, and he somehow identified it as the feeling of excitement¡­ Chapter 02 – Your Skill Is Mine. Three adventurers burst into a spacious chamber teeming with low-level monsters. The skirmish commenced as they swiftly dismantled an undead skeleton, triggering a small wave of other creatures to surge toward them. Despite being outnumbered, they showed no signs of perturbation in the face of adversity. As they advanced through the corridor, a fourth member of their party emerged before them. A woman, clad in light leather armor, had concealed herself from the creatures, clinging to the wall unnoticed."What''s wrong, you gave us the signal?" "We have a problem." "What happened?" One of the adventurers asked the woman who descended from the wall with a somewhat annoyed tone. "One of those things ate the leaf." "It ate the leaf?" "Yes, I told you that it ate it, so it ate it! It''s one of those living armor things!" The adventurers exchanged glances, a mix of confusion and intrigue painted on their faces. They had encountered various monsters in dungeons before, but the idea of a living suit of armor consuming something was beyond their usual experiences. "Are you sure? Living armor that eats vitality leaves?" "I''m telling you, it happened! It picked up the leaf and put it in its helmet, and then the leaf disappeared inside!" The adventurers redirected their attention to the open chamber, where a rusty suit of armor stood. The creature appeared to be observing them, its visor emitting an almost inquisitive vibe. It was encircled by various skeletal monsters and a few others of its kind, but it was the sole one that remained stationary, distinguishing itself from the advancing pack of creatures. "Well, we can''t let it go. That leaf is crucial for our mission, and we need to complete it to get the money. Let''s take care of the undead first; try not to damage that rusty armor monster. Those leaves are delicate." The leader of the group who seemed to be the human clad in worn-out armor shouted out some orders while the other three nodded. The adventurers quickly formulated a strategy, efficiently dispatching the oncoming small horde of monsters while ensuring they avoided harming the peculiar living armor. Unbeknownst to them, the corroded suit of armor kept his eye on them, intrigued by how they behaved. The way they moved, coordinated, and fought together was quite fascinating. ''Is this called strategy? The way they move seems to be with purpose¡­'' Rusty, the living armor, was among the group of monsters in this large dungeon chamber. Initially appearing ordinary, they cleverly utilized the rubble to their advantage. The adventurers observed how they strategically manipulated the environment, compelling the monsters to approach in a specific manner and avoiding confrontations with more than one or two at a time. Clearly, they were using the surroundings to prevent getting surrounded, something that seemed unfavorable. Despite an initial urge to charge in mindlessly, Rusty managed to restrain himself from attacking the group of living beings. His previous encounter had imparted some valuable experience, leading him to believe that repeating the same tactic would yield similar results. Instead, he chose to observe while his more impulsive allies risked their lives. Eventually, an idea began to form in his mind. What if he used the same environment to his advantage and approached the group from somewhere the other monsters weren''t? As the battle between the adventurers and the monsters unfolded, Rusty adeptly navigated through the shadows, applying his newfound understanding of strategy. Amidst the noise of clashing weapons, monster roars, and occasional shouts from the coordinating adventurers, the screeching sound produced by Rusty''s corroded armor went unnoticed. Stealthily advancing through the chaos, he approached the group from an unexpected angle. The adventurers, engrossed in the ongoing battle, appeared to overlook the lone suit of armor, which seemed indistinguishable from many others. While Rusty got closer, he began to analyze the adventurers'' skills and tactics. The one in worn-out armor exhibited remarkable strength and durability, deflecting attacks with a well-worn sword. The archer with elongated ears showed incredible accuracy and agility, effortlessly dodging incoming strikes while firing arrows with precision. The shorter member of the party wielded a massive Warhammer, delivering powerful blows that could crush bones and armor alike. ''KILL!'' His mind surged with animosity toward the group of four, the internal voice making it increasingly difficult to focus until it became unbearable. Sword in hand, Rusty finally succumbed to the urges and leaped out from behind a thick, collapsed pillar. Though his initial plan had been to take his time and approach while his brethren kept the adventurers busy, even with this hasty approach, he successfully closed the gap. "Huh? Watch out!" The leader of the adventurers called out to the long-eared person that Rusty was targeting. The man in worn-out armor swiftly positioned himself between Rusty and the elven individual. In this impulsive leap, Rusty felt a surge of excitement as he tightly gripped his sword with both hands and swung downward. Instinctively activating his skill, Basic Power Slash, a red glow enveloped his weapon. The speed of the downward swing hastened, and he sensed the weight increasing. This was his opportunity to defeat his enemy. His opponent hastily raised his sword to guard, and Rusty''s sword connected. The man, slightly off balance and caught off guard by the surprise attack, couldn''t fully block the corroded weapon. Rusty experienced a sense of achievement, envisioning his sword connecting with the man''s shoulder and cleanly severing it. However, there was a crucial factor he hadn''t taken into account - the durability of the weapon he was wielding. ''Eh?'' The adventurer leader wore a worn-out suit of armor that protected critical parts of his body, including the shoulder Rusty had targeted. At the moment Rusty''s sword connected with this metallic armor, the weapon gave out. Instead of witnessing the man''s shoulder being torn to pieces, the corroded sword was shattered. The only evidence left behind was an indentation where Rusty''s Power Slash had landed. "Shitty piece of armor!" His opponent seethed with rage; although the hit didn''t penetrate, the leader of the adventurers felt sharp pain emanating from the afflicted shoulder. Now without a weapon, Rusty attempted to tackle his enemy. However, just like before, a boot landed on his chest plate, propelling him back toward the collapsed pillar where he had been hiding. Despite the heightened stats from gaining the title, he was unable to react in time. As his back collided with the rubble, some of his armor pieces scattered to the sides. "This is getting annoying, let''s clean these fuckers up!" The battle continued with more vigor as the adventurers took it a bit more seriously now. It was impossible for the low-level monsters to even land one good hit on the party of four. The difference in skill, experience and power was too drastic, there was no way that the monsters could win. Even if they outnumbered the party five to one, they all fell after getting hit once or twice. Rusty struggled to stand amidst the scattered armor pieces. Missing a leg and an arm, with some of the other plates fallen off, he found himself unable to reassemble as the connections between the pieces were lost. Before he could react, another blow struck his body, this time delivered by the shortest adventurer wielding a big Warhammer. "Hey, be careful, one of them has the leaf inside." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The slender one from the group shouted at the stocky one, who didn''t seem to care that much. Soon the battle was over, with the adventurers emerging victorious against the remaining monsters. The chamber, once teeming with undead creatures and living armors, now echoed with the sounds of heavy breathing and the clinking of weapons being sheathed. "Hah, that could have gone better, is everyone alright?" "Aye." "Indeed." As the dust settled, the adventurers regrouped, assessing the situation. The leader, still nursing his injured shoulder, shifted his focus to the battered living armors they intentionally didn''t fully destroy. His attention honed in on one lying next to a pillar, exhibiting a hammer-shaped hole through its chest. "That vitality leaf better be in one of these damn armors..." Frustration marked the leader''s tone, aggravated by the injury to his shoulder. He then turned to the woman who had been in the chamber beforehand, noticing her annoyance with what he was insinuating. "What? You don''t believe me? Why would I lie?" The leader sighed, acknowledging the glare from his party member. Nonetheless, still seething from the encounter, he chose to vent his frustration on the armor that had caused him pain. With one smooth kick, the helmet went flying to the side and landed between the legs of the female party member. She picked it up, still frowning. At this point, Rusty had not been slain, and could feel a strange sensation inside his broken body. The leader of the adventurers had thrust his hand through the hole, searching for the leaf that Rusty had swallowed. However, something else occupied Rusty''s thoughts as he came to a realization - he was extremely weak. The gap in power and speed against these humanoid creatures was insurmountable. Even after sneaking up and activating his strongest skill, he couldn''t inflict any serious damage on his opponent. The situation was profoundly disheartening for the young monster, unsure of what course of action to take. Given a body and a set of skills that weren''t particularly impressive, Rusty experienced a peculiar feeling within his core, yet couldn''t fully comprehend it. The desire to become stronger and achieve victory welled up within him, but the path forward remained unclear. The situation felt increasingly hopeless, and a sense of impending demise lingered, reminiscent of his previous defeat. "There it is¡­ you were actually right¡­" "See, I told you!" It became evident that once the leaf was extracted from his body, Rusty would lose any significance to the party of adventurers. His brethren were undergoing the same fate, being searched and subsequently hammered to death. Rusty resigned himself to an inevitable demise, preparing to enter the void once more. Yet, to his surprise, one member of the party did something unexpected. "Hey, what are you doing?" "Never doubt me again you idiot!" In a fit of anger, the woman stuck Rusty''s helmet onto the party leader''s head. She playfully stuck out her tongue in his direction, while the other two party members laughed at her childish behavior. It appeared that she was merely being playful, and no one made a big deal out of it. However, for Rusty, seeing his helmet on the man''s head changed the perspective. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. The voice that had been updating him whenever a skill or title was gained began to speak again. Time seemed to slow down as Rusty was presented with the opportunity to choose from the three options laid before him. Universal Language Passive Skill Allows a person to understand spoken words and writing of the Universal Language. Basic Power Thrust Active Skill Perform a powerful thrust attack. Basic Swordsmanship Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a sword, is required to unlock more powerful sword skills. ''What is this?'' Rusty found himself pondering, having never seen something like this before. While he understood the concept of skills, acquiring them in this manner was something new. Weighing his options, he considered the first one, which would help him understand these creatures better, but deemed it unnecessary given the knowledge from the memories he was granted. The Power Thrust seemed intriguing, likely an alternate version of his Power Slash skill. However, when he examined the third option, his decision was clear. What he needed were more potent skills, not ones similar to what he already possessed. Basic Swordsmanship offered the prospect of acquiring such skills, making it the obvious choice for him to pursue. Do you wish to learn the Basic Swordsmanship Passive Skill? Please confirm to begin the process. After concentrating on the third option, the voice resounded inside his head once more. It asked him if he wanted to learn the skill and presented two choices. There was a large green button with the word ''Yes'' on it and another red one with the word ''No.'' Rusty had made up his mind and quickly gazed at the big green button, waiting with anticipation. Soon after, he heard the voice again, and the process began. Beginning the process of skill absorption ¡­ Please wait as the skill is absorbed from the host. "Haha, you made her mad again¡­" "Hey¡­ come bac¡­ huh?" The adventurer whose head Rusty now occupied felt that something was off. The moment the helmet settled onto his head felt strange, but he didn''t think much of it. There wasn''t supposed to be any danger involved since the creature had been defeated, and even if it were alive, without being connected to the body, the helmet wasn''t deemed dangerous. However, as he tried to remove it, he found it unyielding. "The hell? It won''t come off? What is with this thing?" "Stop pretending, if you think that''ll start feeling bad for you¡­" "No, I''m not joking¡­ this thing won''t come off¡­ ugh ¡­ my head¡­" To everyone''s surprise, it didn''t seem like their party leader was faking it. A moment after the helmet settled on his head, he found himself going down onto one knee as sharp pain took over. It felt like his head was being pierced by something, and he couldn''t do anything about it. Even after clutching the helmet with all his might, he could not pry it off, and it began to glow, indicating that something indeed was happening. "G-get this thing off me!" The adventurers frantically tried to assist their leader, but the helmet resisted all attempts to be removed. The glow intensified, enveloping both the helmet and the leader''s head. They didn''t know what was happening but it wasn''t anything good. The dwarven member of the party finally decided to do something more drastic as he grasped his Warhammer and told the others to back away. "Keep still, aye?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wait, what if you¡­" "There is no time, lass!" "D-do it!" There was no way for them to know what was transpiring, and their leader understood this fact. He lowered his hands so that his dwarven companion could take aim. The other two looked at the predicament with concern in their eyes, realizing that they couldn''t simply pry the helmet off with her grip strength alone. Soon, the large hammer flew at the corroded helmet at a precise angle. Thanks to the dwarf''s excellent aiming skill, after the impact, the helmet flew right off and landed to the side. The human leader''s head was bruised and bleeding, but he was still alive. Quickly, the others rushed to his side, pouring a red liquid over the wound. Miraculously, it seemed to alleviate the pain and mend the hole that had been left behind. "Leader, are you okay?" "Do I look okay to you?" The man responded to the elven companion as his eyes scanned the chamber for the helmet that had caused him pain. Quickly grabbing the dwarf''s large hammer, he charged at the source of his problems. The helmet was promptly squished and shattered under the harder metal, leaving nothing but bent pieces behind. The other adventurers watched as their leader relentlessly flattened the piece of living armor until there was almost nothing left. Out of breath, he moved towards the remains of the armor''s body and promptly delivered retribution as well. At this point, the one responsible for his pain was no more, as Rusty found himself traveling through the void once again. Unbeknownst to the adventurers who believed they had defeated the monster, Rusty was being restored by the forces inside this dungeon. In another corner of the dungeon, a new suit of corroded armor began to shiver as life was bestowed upon it. Occupied by the entity that had caused the adventurer leader a great deal of grief, for some reason, it held both of its metallic hands up as if cheering itself on. Despite having been defeated, it seemed unfazed, as this encounter had given it something new, and perhaps this was how it could become stronger. Chapter 03 – Skill Absorption. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 15/15 Magic Points [MP] 5/15 Special Points [SP] 0/15 Strength 10 [ F - ] Agility 6 [ F - ] Dexterity 7 [ F - ] Constitution 10 [ F - ] Intelligence 7 [ F - ] Wisdom 10 [ F - ] Willpower 7 [ F - ] Durability F A lone armor stood around two identical beings but it was certainly not the same. The way it moved and articulated was strange, even now it was swinging its arms around wildly while looking at something before it. The two other suits that were there didn''t react to the peculiarities of their brethren nor were they capable off it. ''It''s there! I became stronger!'' Rusty rejoiced while looking at the skill window with two brand new skills. One of them was the one that he absorbed from the adventurer while the other appeared out of seemingly nowhere. He could only assume that it was the one that he couldn''t previously identify as all the question marks were gone. Skill Absorption Active Skill Allows the user to absorb and learn compatible skills if certain criteria are met. Basic Swordsmanship Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a sword, is required to unlock more powerful sword skills. ''The question marks have disappeared? I wonder why?'' He was curious as before, but his curiosity was overshadowed by his joy. Two new skills had been gained, which had to mean that he was stronger in some way. The Basic Swordsmanship skill was already at work, as he could feel the movements of his corroded sword becoming better. It was somehow telling him how to guide it and increased his offensive capabilities to some extent. ''But how did that work?'' Rusty recalled the strange incident with the human adventurer. He had been defeated yet again, but after a part of his body was placed on the human''s head, the skill was activated. Being a sentient suit of armor, he didn''t perceive the head as part of those beings. His helmet could come off if he wanted, and at this moment, he took it off. The slit in the visor acted like his eyes, but he could move his body even when it wasn''t touching it. ''Hm¡­'' While pondering, he attempted to rub his metallic chin, but his helmet had been placed down on a large rock. As he contemplated this situation, some audible noises entered his non-existent ears. On the sides, two other living armors were lumbering around, and when he glanced at them, he had an idea. Quickly, he grabbed his own head and appeared before his brethren. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''What if, I do this?'' Armed with some inspiration he grabbed the helmet of his look-alike. The other living armor monster who was walking by stopped in its tracks but didn''t attack. It had become clear that these beings didn''t see him as an enemy as the voice that commanded them all kept everyone in check. Once the other monster''s helmet was removed he used his body to carry over his own helmet and replaced the old one. ''Hmm¡­ it didn''t work?'' To Rusty''s surprise, he didn''t hear the voice of the world that had previously presented him with a choice of three skills; it had not appeared. The feeling that was present when he occupied the human''s head was also different; it seemed that he couldn''t use his new skill in this way. However, he did not stop with just this one test and instead moved on to the second piece of corroded armor to try it on them. ''Not working¡­'' The feeling was the same, and soon the corroded armor went out to patrol their designated dungeon spot. Rusty was left confused about the issue, but this didn''t stop him from approaching a different type of monster, one of the skeletons that occupied this dungeon. It was the most prevalent type here, and they carried various weapons, not just swords. Thus, he approached one that was holding a sword along with a shield that looked like a washboard. The monster stopped after a metallic helmet was placed on its head, but it surprisingly didn''t look that out of place. Skill Absorption has failed to activate, the cooldown period has not ended yet. Please wait until the cooldown period has ended. ''Oh?'' The voice of what he only knew as the world echoed inside his metallic head. It provided him with an explanation and also gave him a series of numbers that were constantly changing. If he understood this correctly, then he would need to wait a prolonged amount of time before this skill could be activated again. ''Hey, wait!'' As he contemplated this newly gained knowledge, the skeleton friend that he had placed his head on started moving away. To his surprise, this monster was rather fast, and he needed to give it his all to keep up with the pace. It took him a good few minutes before he was able to regain his helmet. The timer that had been presented had been lowered during this time and confirmed his previous assumption. With not much else to do but wait, he decided to explore this large dungeon. "Move!" The voice resounded inside his head and forced him to patrol like the rest, but without any enemies around, he was able to get a better look at the dungeon he occupied. There were many corridors, some quite tight while others were spacious. Rusty navigated the corridors with the clanking sounds of his corroded armor echoing through the dungeon. The walls were adorned with dimly lit torches, casting flickering shadows that danced along the cold stone surfaces. As he explored, he stumbled upon a peculiar spacious chamber that was devoid of most of what the others had. The only eye-catching thing inside was a large staircase leading down. This was not the patrol route that the voice wanted him to take, as he was just passing through, but for some reason, this piqued his interest. Once inside, he made his way towards the stairs, and there he experienced something strange; he was not able to move down the stairs, and even approaching them was quite hard. Rusty tried to analyze the situation. It seemed as if an invisible force was preventing him from descending the stairs. Frustrated but determined, he attempted to take a running start, but just as he was about to approach the opening to the stairs, the voice resounded. It was much louder and seemed angered by the attempt to go down this wide set of stairs. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ''LEAVE, FORBIDDEN!'' Rusty froze in place, his metal frame trembling with the force of the command echoing in his head. The voice was not one to be ignored, and the sheer power behind the words made it clear that descending those stairs was not an option. As the echoes of the command subsided, Rusty hesitated for a moment. The desire to explore the forbidden depths of the dungeon clashed with the overwhelming compulsion to obey the voice. It was a peculiar situation that he did not have an answer for but it seemed that he was stuck for now. With a reluctant sigh - or the metallic equivalent of it - Rusty turned away from the stairs and resumed his designated patrol. The voice seemed appeased, and as he moved through the dungeon corridors, he couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to this place than met the eye. The dungeon was not just a maze of stone walls and dimly lit torches; it held secrets and hidden passages that piqued Rusty''s curiosity. Although his primary purpose was to follow the commands of the voice, the desire to uncover the mysteries of the dungeon grew stronger within him. As Rusty continued his patrol, he encountered other monsters. Besides the previously encountered skeletons and living armors like himself, there were also strange small creatures called goblins. Other species that he encountered were spiders who liked to crawl up on the ceilings and hide in dark places. Then there were smaller things like rats and insectoids. The green ones didn''t seem to like him too much, as when he approached they started throwing rocks at him. There was something different about them, as if they had their own little section of the dungeon just for themselves. The voice inside his head also kept him from venturing forth into the areas that were marked by strange totems. After getting to know more of the denizens of this dungeon, Rusty also noticed one thing. Each one of them had a certain number applied to their classification. Skeleton L3 ''Mine is at one, will I get stronger if it goes up, just like with the skills?'' Rusty''s identification skill was the only one that had been going up, and as it increased in levels, more information was produced when he identified things around him. Previously, he couldn''t even see the levels of his dungeon brethren. Now he knew that there was some way of becoming stronger, but how would he achieve this? Would it just go up by itself or was there something to it? Then the answer somehow presented itself to him, as he was walking through one of the smaller corridors and passing next to another living armor they bumped into each other. The two staggered for a moment while being pushed against the side walls. You have gained +1 experience points. ''Huh?'' Rusty heard something that he never heard before, and when glancing at his status screen, a leftover log was still there. He had gained an experience point, and the source of this was something that was stuck on his pauldron. After bumping into the other corroded suit of armor, he squished a small monster arachnid onto the wall. It was quite small and just died from the weight, but it still counted. The spider was turned into some green goop that was running down the wall. Rusty gave the dead creature a few pokes before opening up his status screen to look for a few more answers, and there he discovered another new number that had gone up. There was an actual indicator for gaining levels, and he just needed forty-nine more of these experience points to fill it up. ''If I got one experience point for this small creature¡­ what will happen if I defeat a bigger one?'' His head turned towards the living armor that had passed him by. It was just slowly lumbering along without a care in the world. Rusty knew that the monsters here were different than him; they wouldn''t react even if he got closer and took off their body parts. Perhaps this was the way to get stronger, by slaying these beings that weren''t truly alive. He clenched his corroded sword and approached the other armor piece. His corroded frame generated a lot of noise, but this creature didn''t seem to mind. It just continued on the path that had been given to it by the voice. Even after Rusty was standing right behind it with his arm raised and sword glowing, it didn''t do a thing. However, before the basic power slash could claim its first life, the voice resounded inside Rusty. "STOP! ALLY!" It stopped him in the middle of the downswing and didn''t allow Rusty to finish the attack. The authoritative command kept him in check as it referred to the other living armor as an ally, a term loosely known by Rusty who didn''t really consider it. The term made him question his desire to gain experience and if it was something worth continuing. However, he couldn''t really see these other monsters as true allies but more like prisoners who had to adhere to the voice commands. ''Do allies force others to do their bidding?'' As he pondered this, the other living armor continued its patrol, seemingly unfazed by the attempted attack. Rusty couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to these creatures and this dungeon than he understood. The voice had labeled them as allies but he wasn''t sure about that. What if the voice considered him an enemy, wouldn''t all these so-called allies destroy him instead? This was something worth pondering, as Rusty was aware of his relative weakness. It would be impossible for him to contend with so many monsters that were driven by the authoritative voice. This left the other fleshy creatures as the best source of those experience points, but they were not something that he could deal with at the moment. Instead, he turned his attention to some other creatures within the dungeon, ones that perhaps could provide him with something. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. Another smaller being fell to his sword as he continued his carnage. As Rusty wandered through the maze-like dungeon, he continued to assault smaller creatures. Smaller spiders, rats, and even slugs on the walls were all fair game. They didn''t seem to be part of the control structure of the internal voice, and there were many of them here. It was quite easy to dispatch them as, for some reason, they were slow to react to his advances. With each successful strike, Rusty felt a surge of satisfaction as his experience points increased. The green goop from the defeated creatures splattered on his corroded armor, adding a gruesome touch to his appearance. Despite the macabre scene, Rusty continued his relentless pursuit of experience points, driven by an instinctual desire to become stronger. Thanks to relative ease for dispatching these beings, he had managed to gain the remaining forty-nine points rather easily. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L2 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 16/16 Magic Points [MP] 15/15 Special Points [SP] 6/15 Strength 11 [ F - ] +1 Agility 6 [ F - ] +0 Dexterity 7 [ F - ] +0 Constitution 11 [ F - ] +1 Intelligence 7 [ F - ] +0 Wisdom 10 [ F - ] +0 Willpower 8 [ F - ] +1 Durability F Rusty was now a level two Damaged Rusty Bronze Armor and had gained three whole attribute points. Considering that all of them had increased by five when he gained his title, the increase seemed rather small. His maximum hit points had gone up, and after leveling up, he also noticed that his magic points were restored instantly. However, his special points remained low, and they were regenerating at a very slow pace compared to the magic points. This also reminded him about his previous tests, the time to acquire some new skills had come so he homed in on another skeletal monster who was holding a sword along with the shield. His helmet made its way onto the creatures cranium and he was presented with a new message yet again. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. Basic Shield Bash Active Skill Perform a bash with a shield. Even though the message told him that it found multiple compatible skills, he was only presented with one option. There was also another peculiarity, the skill was in a grayish tone this time around while previously it was a lot brighter. Nevertheless, he focused on the skill just like before and waited for another message just like last time. Insufficient SP to learn this skill, please try again when you have sufficient SP. ''Not enough SP?'' Rusty was perplexed by this result as he continued to try to select the skill. The skeletal monster eventually started walking away, and he had to retrieve his helmet. He recalled that after absorbing the skill from the human, his Special Point counter had gone down to zero. It seemed that he would need to wait quite a bit more before he was able to use this absorption skill again. While he was lacking SP, this didn''t deter him from anything. It was possible for him to level up his attributes by defeating small insects and rodents. While this was a slow process, he was not really in a hurry. The resources that he was given would eventually recover, and he would be able to gain some skills with time. So, he started his first leveling drive, and the small creatures that had lived here in peace would soon know fear... Chapter 04 – First Kill. "Are you sure we should be here?""Yeah, don''t worry, it''s just the first floor, there are only goblins, skeletons, and rusty armors around; they are all trash." "I don''t know¡­ wouldn''t it be better to go to an easier dungeon? The monsters from the lower levels sometimes travel to the upper ones¡­" "Hah, that very rarely happens, and if something does, I''ll just protect you." An older teenager responded to a girl who was slightly younger than him. Both of them were slowly going down a very long set of stairs leading to a mostly empty chamber. Within it were paths leading to different places, each marked and given a symbol. "Oh, I know those, we should probably avoid the goblins, right?" The girl pointed at one of the markings and the young man that she was with nodded. "That''s right, the goblins are weak, but they work in larger groups. It would be hard to deal with just the two of us, but we should be fine if it''s just one or two of those green bastards." The young man laughed while puffing out his chest. He was wearing a cheap set of armor along with a sword strapped to his side. The younger girl had some leather armor, and her weapon of choice was a bow that she was already holding in her hand. Even though there was no danger in sight, she seemed worried about this little expedition. "As I said, stop worrying. The monsters here are rather weak. How about we just go get some skeletons? Those guys are quite slow." The man pointed to another path on the right side of the chamber. "What about the living armors?" "Those bundles of rust will fall apart from one good kick. Nothing to worry about; they are actually weaker than a skeleton, just take a few more hits, are really slow, and you can hear them coming instantly." "If you say so¡­" The girl nodded while the young man continued to grin. He moved in close and placed his hand around her waist, which made her slightly frown. "Don''t worry, just stick close to me, and there won''t be any problems." For a moment, she noticed that he had a strange expression when getting this close. Her instincts were telling her that something was wrong, but due to some circumstances, she needed to get stronger. Leveling up in this dungeon was the fastest way to alleviate her troubles. Even if her companion wasn''t the most trustworthy, without him, she would have been unable to come to this place. "How about you lead the way, then." "Sure thing, just leave it to me." After wiggling out of his grasp, she made the man move in front. He was just a regular fighter type, while she was best at ranged combat. Their combination had an obvious synergy, and she intended to use it to battle the monsters here. Soon, the two disappeared into the corridor and were on their way to adventure. ***** Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L7 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 20/20 Magic Points [MP] 17/17 Special Points [SP] 8/15 Strength 16 [ F - ] +1 Agility 8 [ F - ] +0 Dexterity 8 [ F - ] +0 Constitution 15 [ F - ] +1 Intelligence 8 [ F - ] +0 Wisdom 12 [ F - ] +1 Willpower 10 [ F - ] +0 Durability F ''Is there any way to hasten this process? How long have I been doing this?'' Rusty lowered his head and gave out a sigh as if he was a human. He had spent many days exterminating small critters and bugs around the dungeon and at this point was having an issue finding more of them. Sometimes humans wandered in but he was lucky enough to avoid them for now. It didn''t seem like they wanted to stay in this dungeon too long or at least not on this floor. One more discovery was a set of stairs going up, which like before he couldn''t approach. Rusty was even unable to enter the large empty chamber before the stairs started and could only glance at them from far away. It seemed to be an even more forbidden zone that the voice inside of his heart kept him and the other monsters away from. However, he was able to resist the orders some more, and perhaps his higher levels had something to do with it. ''If I could only grind something else¡­'' Rusty produced a new word that he somehow knew the meaning of. If he continued like this, his levels would only continue to rise at a very slow rate. It was impossible for him to attack the other monsters in the dungeon, which left the humanoid creatures that came from the stairs above as his targets. He had done his best to observe their movements from a safe distance while the other monsters had been destroyed. There was one main reason that he did such a thing, and that was his current level, which he was afraid to lose. The levels of his allies ranged from one to five. He was now the highest-level monster wandering this dungeon floor. After observing the deaths of his fellow creatures, he realized something. Every one of them had an assigned level that they always returned to. It didn''t seem to decrease, but it also wasn''t increasing either. It was possible that if he died now, his level would be reset, and he would again be a level one monster. This was something that he wanted to prevent at all costs, as the multiple days of killing critters would go to waste. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Resisting the voice wasn''t easy; at most, he could slow himself down and wait for the orders to subside. Eventually, as the battle came to a close and there were no other monsters around the fleshy enemies, the call to arms would cease. It was as if without the monsters'' involvement, the voice inside his head couldn''t perceive any enemies. The creatures like him were its eyes, and if he didn''t explicitly look at an animate humanoid, it wouldn''t trigger the voice''s orders. There was one more interesting effect that he also needed to watch out for. If another monster from the dungeon encountered an enemy, they would send out some sort of hidden signal. If he was close by, the voice would also be activated. It was some sort of way to call for reinforcements, but it was easily avoided by him with a small ruse. He just avoided locations that were hotspots for combat. Even if he was ordered to patrol, there was some wiggle room for him, and he used that to prevent any deaths from happening lately. Something that he wanted to pat himself on the back for. Basic Shield Bash Active Skill Perform a bash with a shield. Basic Power Thrust Active Skill Perform a powerful thrust attack. Rusty had managed to acquire two new skills: one through absorption and the other through regular leveling. When he reached level five, he was given the basic power thrust. It made him realize that he needed to deliberate more on what skills to get. If they were attainable by regular level-ups, then it was a waste of time to use the absorption skill that had some more drawbacks. One of them he recently discovered. After attaining the Basic Shield Bash skill, the timer had been reset and doubled in length. It was possible that it would become harder and harder to use that skill. Perhaps saving it for something more special would lead to better outcomes. However, he still needed to test it further, and perhaps absorbing something from the humans in the dungeon was a better idea. ''Those creatures are strange, what is their purpose? They always come from that place and always travel through the same path down, what lies there that they would risk their lives for? Will I be able to see it?'' His interest was piqued, but he couldn''t do much about it. Even now, as he was doing his rounds and passing by the staircase, he tried to head down, but the annoying voice inside of his head kept preventing him from progressing. However, he was not going to give up; each time he attempted this feat, he was able to get half a step more in. It seemed that maybe, he would eventually be able to head down and unveil the mysteries on the lower floor. Thus he continued on his way while looking out for some smaller creatures. Even though their numbers had decreased there were still there for him to slay. Even his power slash skill had reached the second level and so did his basic swordsmanship. It was the only way for him to level up so he made his way towards one of the best grinding spots. ''ENEMY!'' "GAH!" To his surprise, he heard a commotion at a part of the dungeon that was usually empty. Rusty had been using it for a while now, and no humans had ever wandered in. There were only large bugs and rats in this side of the dungeon, along with a few of his monster brethren. One of them had just been dispatched by what seemed to be an armored human, similar to the one that had previously defeated him. ''Should I try it? But there is another one¡­ and I''m alone¡­'' After ducking behind the corner and losing sight of them, the voice inside his head quieted down. Just as previously, if he didn''t keep looking at the humans, it would not be able to see them. Staying here behind the corner and waiting for them to pass was the best solution, as he didn''t think that he could handle them quite yet. His levels and skills were going up, but after getting easily defeated previously, Rusty decided to take a safer approach. This was also a perfect chance to eavesdrop, as his language skills had started to improve and he could now mostly understand what was being said. ''Hm¡­ are they fighting with each other? Can they do that?'' "Hey, stop that, I told you that I''m not interested, if you''re going to be like that, then maybe it would be better if we just return now." The tone that this person was talking exuded an aura of annoyance. Rusty strained to listen, his metallic hearing tuned into the conversation between the two humans. It seemed like a disagreement of some sort, and he was curious about what was happening. The monsters in the dungeon didn''t respond much, and he couldn''t actually produce a voice himself, so this was quite intriguing. The second voice, deeper and more assertive, responded, "Come on, don''t be like that. I was just joking around." "No, I think we are done here!" The other voice didn''t let up and he could hear this maddened person walking in the other direction which led out of the dungeon. The other person remained in the same place for a moment before he finally said something in a now annoyed tone. "This damn bitch¡­ who does she think she is? Is she going to report me to the guild? Fuck¡­" It was quite an interesting tidbit; Rusty wasn''t sure about the relations of these humanoid creatures, but he could feel animosity and something similar to killing intent coming from this man''s voice. He wasn''t sure how he was aware of something like this besides the memories he came equipped with giving him the answer. ''What are they doing? They aren''t like us? Isn''t there a voice keeping them from attacking each other?'' Not long after the man voiced his dissatisfaction with the situation, he ran back after the other human person. Rusty was able to hear the two shouting some profanities at each other before a fight broke out. He could clearly hear the two beings clash against each other, something that wasn''t possible for him and the monsters in this dungeon. ''They are fighting?'' They had moved into one of the dead-end corridors that was not normally patrolled by any monsters. Rusty knew this as it was close to his grinding spot where he spent a lot of time. He slowly approached while trying to minimize the sound of his rusty body, luckily the two humans were shouting too much to notice anything. When he arrived at the scene he took a little peak so that the voice would not be alerted. There he saw a strange scene playing out: the bigger human had taken out the lower half of his armor and was wrestling around with the smaller one. What they were doing was unknown to him, but it didn''t seem like the one on the bottom liked it too much. The fight continued, but eventually, a rock was used to disable the smaller opponent, which gave Rusty an idea. ''Isn''t this a chance? They seem distracted, maybe I should¡­'' He knew that he couldn''t win against one of those beings in a fair fight, but perhaps they had injured each other enough for him to capitalize on the situation. Nevertheless, Rusty knew that he needed to be cautious; there was no telling what his enemy would do, and there was still some ground to cover before he reached that dead end. His body producing loud noises was a big weakness but luckily, when he looked behind himself, he spotted something that could aid him in this endeavor¡­ ***** "You shouldn''t have been such a prude and just let me do it¡­ now look at you!" The man panted while tossing a bloody rock to the side. The woman that he tussled with lay passed out before him with a gash to the side of her head. It was too late to go back now, and he did not want to stop either. However, just as he was about to do the deed, a strange clunking sound echoed from behind him. There he witnessed a living armor monster charging his way, a corroded blade in his right hand. This corridor was rather dark and mostly lit at the end. He could barely see the monster by the reflection that its corroded armor was producing. It charged with reckless abandon while scraping its corroded weapon on the walls. The man quickly jumped up to his feet but instantly lost his balance as his pants were around his ankles. He was caught off guard by the monster, but luckily, it was quite sluggish and uncoordinated. A massive swing came his way but he knew how to handle this situation. Instead of blocking or evading, he jumped forward. His shoulder collided with the chagrin monster which was toppled to the side. The man didn''t go uninjured as his shoulder felt as if it had been hit by a mallet. However, the monster had taken a lot of damage as well and most importantly, lost its balance. "Fucking piece of shit monster, die!" The man shouted as he managed to grab the metal gauntlet that was holding the sword and overpower the creature. The two tumbled to the ground and the living armor was slowly losing. Eventually, its corroded blade was used against it as the human adventurer started delivering multiple hits while shouting. The difference in levels and stats was apparent and the hollowed suit could not survive the beating. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Huh?" Yet, even though this one had been defeated, it was not alone. Suddenly, darkness took over as the man found himself with something on his head, a corroded helmet quite identical to the monster he had defeated. It was not alone; another one of the living armors had crept behind him and placed his ''head'' onto his. "What the hell?" The man quickly grabbed the helmet in an attempt to throw it off, but to his surprise, he couldn''t. For some reason, the corroded helmet was stuck, and quickly after, he felt something similar to a splitting headache taking over. The pain was tremendous, and he felt like a needle was being poked through his eye socket. He panicked and started squirming around. "W-what is this thing¡­ GUH!" As his attention was on the helmet, he forgot about the being that it belonged to. He was not alone, and an even sharper pain took over his right thigh. Something had pierced the unprotected part of his body and was quickly yanked out after. He could not see what was happening, and the continuous pain was making it even more difficult. The man started to furiously swing his hands around, but without connecting with anything, he soon felt his other leg being pierced by the same object. His legs gave out, and he found himself down on the ground. At this point, there was far too much blood that he had lost, and the strength that he once had was gone as well. His body weakened by the continued injuries finally gave out and he found himself down on the cold dungeon floor, his last breath soon to be drawn. As he lay there with almost no life left in him, the helmet was removed, and he caught a glimpse of his executioner. A similar-looking armor to many he had easily dispatched in his life. It took the helmet and placed it back onto its chestpiece, now covered in his blood along with the corroded blade that had been used as the weapon. It didn''t say anything as it raised its blade for a final time to deliver the finishing blow. The blade was brought down with a swift motion, ending the man''s life. The dungeon fell into silence once again, with only the distant echoes of the battle lingering in the air. The victorious living armor stood there, its corroded exterior splattered with fresh blood, unmoving and seemingly lifeless. Yet, it was roused again by the groans of another, it turned to face the second adventurer that was still alive, its sword still dripping with blood from the previous encounter and itching for more¡­ Chapter 05 – Playing Dead. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained a level. The ''First Kill'' title has been acquired. Basic Power Thrust has leveled up. In the blink of an eye, he had reached level nine after slaying just one human. The man emitted various strange noises as he was being stabbed, but eventually, it was over. Rusty felt quite pleased with himself, having instantly gained two levels by defeating a single enemy. What made it even better was that he didn''t suffer any damage, as he used one of his monster friends to absorb the brunt of the attacks. His tactic of placing his helmet on the human while he was distracted had worked. Similar to the previous encounter with another human, this one couldn''t remove the helmet. While the man focused on his head and was blinded, Rusty began poking, and eventually, he bled out. There was one mishap during this tactic that he was examining closely. Skill Absorption has failed to activate, the host has died before the absorption process could finish. The status he came equipped with had a log window that displayed all the recent system messages. It appeared that killing a person while absorbing their skill was a prohibited action, and he might have been too focused on stabbing the target to notice the issue. It was a finicky skill, and it seemed that he would need to either bind his next target or render them unconscious to some extent before attempting it again. ''Oh, should I test it on this one?'' His body turned, emitting a loud screeching sound. There was still another human being in this dead-end corridor with him, and they were still stunned. Rusty approached the woman while holding his helmet under his metallic armpit. Uncertain of what to do but his status screen pointed towards only one option. ''Ah¡­ my special points went down because I activated the skill, so I can''t do it anymore, I''ll need for the cooldown to refresh¡­'' He placed the helmet back into its original spot as he realized that he couldn''t use the skill again. Before even looking at the new title he gained, his body moved forward. The sensation the leveling up had given him was strange, and he yearned for more of it. His gauntlet clenched tightly onto the corroded sword that was about to break from the previous chaotic stabbing. It aimed true at the groaning woman''s neck, but just as he was about to go through with it, something strange happened. ''...?'' There was something inside him that made him stop; it wasn''t a voice or any skill from another opponent. It was as if he couldn''t bring himself to deliver the finishing blow to this injured woman. Rusty wondered what was wrong; it made no sense to him. This human was just a source of experience points, a means to make him stronger, but for some reason, he couldn''t bring himself to plunge his weapon into her neck. ''Why?'' Rusty asked himself, but no one answered. The memories within his core seemed to be running wild, presenting him with random tales of enemies being spared, but also different ones where other creatures were shown no mercy. He couldn''t really understand why he should give up on this kill here, and soon the turmoil within him subsided. With newfound determination, he gripped his sword again, and this time around, he saw nothing stopping him from claiming this bundle of experience for himself. However, just as he was about to plunge it in various voices echoed from behind, people were coming and they were close. ''Oh no!'' It seemed he had taken too long, and perhaps the humans were guided here by something similar to the voice he had. It was strange that this part of the dungeon, which had remained empty, now had so many visitors. Time was running out, and this was a dead end. Rusty knew that if he started running, his clunky body would give away his position, and he would likely be attacked. The humans were faster and had keen hearing; there wasn''t really any place to run. ''What do I do? I don''t want to be slain again! What if I lose all these levels?'' While his skills didn''t seem to be affected by his deaths, he wasn''t so sure about his levels, which were abnormal for this dungeon floor. This uncertainty had triggered something akin to a survival instinct in him. Empowered by it, he devised safer battle tactics that aided him in reaching this ninth level. His gaze landed on the shattered body of his monster ally, eventually giving him an idea of navigating through this situation without the need for a direct confrontation. ***** "Hey, there is some blood here, it''s still fresh! We need to hurry!" "Don''t stop, we might be too late! Did that bastard really go through with it?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three people emerged at the entrance of the dead-end corridor, their footsteps echoing in the narrow space. Leading the way was a tall and muscular woman wielding a large two-handed sword, with an elvish man and a woman half his height following closely behind. The trio cautiously advanced, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. "Hey Sylra, stop!" "What, did you find something?" The large woman stopped for a moment while the smaller one called out to her. She pointed to something on the ground before replying. "Fresh blood¡­ and monster tracks, we are close, get ready." All three nodded before tightening their grip on their weapons. The elven man wielded a bow, while the smaller companion carried double daggers that, at her shorter height, looked like regular longswords. The largest of the three took the front as they all moved slowly into the darkened corridor. Soon, they discovered the gruesome scene that had unfolded not long ago. "Is he dead? Did he get killed by these low-level monsters?" "Never mind that, look! It''s Layla, she''s alive!" Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Blood was everywhere as the corpse of one man lay in the middle. He had multiple stab wounds in his legs and some that had slipped between parts of his armor. It was clear that he was dead, but it also seemed that their friend was alive. The smaller woman from the group quickly moved towards the person named Layla to aid her, while the two other people started looking around this dead-end corridor. "Did he die to these monsters? Was he already injured beforehand?" The elven man asked the large woman while looking at the stab wounds. It was clear that the weapon was a corroded sword that was near the scene. "The idiot was probably too busy with something else¡­ but still, Damaged Corroded Armors got him?" The large woman pointed out the lack of any protection below his waistline. The two were confused by this scene, as the man should have been able to defeat these monsters. They were slow and loud, with a bad sense of balance. With a few pushes, their bodies fell apart, making their metallic bodies more of a weakness than a strength. "Hey, you two stop babbling and help me!" "Calm down Maeda, how is your friend?" "She''s alive, just a few scratches and nicks here, and also this gash on the head. I think she will pull through." Maeda took out a small vial of red liquid and poured it over the head wounds that Layla had suffered. While the effect wasn''t instantaneous the wound started to heal at a rapid pace. After a moment she started regaining her consciousness but was still disoriented. "Good, we need to get out of here before more monsters show up. Can she walk?" "Layla, do you recognize me? "Uh¡­ Maeda? Is that you, what happened¡­" "Give us a moment." Maeda replied to Sylra while trying to help her friend up to her feet. She positioned herself at the exit of the dead-end corridor, ready to face any monsters that might appear. The last member of the party of three decided to inspect the gruesome scene that had transpired. Swiftly, he began examining the man''s body, removing parts of his upper body armor. He halted after revealing his arm, which bore a peculiar marking. "He has one of them too¡­" "Elwin, did you find something?" "I did, this bastard is one of them, it''s a miracle that your friend managed to survive¡­" The man named Elwin examined the tattoo that depicted a scythe inside of a crescent moon. It was a marking of a certain group that he and the others were aware of. Soon, he shifted his attention to one of the monsters, a living armor. One was close to this man while the other one leaned against the wall with its helmet to the side. It seemed that this dangerous man had been slain by these two monsters, which was still quite surprising. He could only assume that he was too busy with debauchery to notice them approach. "One of them? W-what''s going on? His dead? Did you kill him?" "No, it seemed he succumbed to these two¡­ Maybe he was tired? Layla managed to gather herself and finally noticed that the man who had tried to assault her was dead. She couldn''t remember much past the point she was hit by the rock. "See that?" "The moon and the scythe?" "Yeah. This guy is part of a nasty bunch. They hunt new adventurers for their experience points and equipment, you are lucky that he was an idiot." Maeda pointed out the tattoo, identifying the man as part of an infamous group of adventurer hunters. After this encounter, Layla realized that perhaps the monsters were not the most dangerous creatures within this dungeon. It became clear that she couldn''t really trust people that she didn''t already know, shattering her worldview. "Hey, what are you doing?" Maeda looked at her elven friend who had decided to move towards one of the defeated living armors. He slowly picked up a few pieces before going for the helmet that was on the side and was now placing it directly in front of his own face. "This thing feels strange, there is something about it¡­" While the others were talking, Elwin started examining the crime scene. Judging by the blood splatter, it seemed that it wasn''t the armor in the middle that got him but the one by the wall. He moved over to it and picked up the helmet that had a few holes in it. However, before he could examine it further, he heard Sylra calling out from the distance, and monstrous growls accompanied her shout. "Hey, we need to get out of here now, there is a pack coming this way!" The urgency in Sylra''s voice sent shivers down their spines, and without wasting a moment, the group hurriedly gathered the injured Layla and started retreating from the dead-end corridor. The echoing growls were getting louder, indicating that the pack of monsters was closing in. As they rushed through the dungeon''s passages, Elwin finally decided to throw the corroded helmet away and instead grabbed his bow. Even though it was peculiar, it was still only a corroded piece of metal that wasn''t worth the space it occupied. All of them quickly left the dead end before they could be trapped in it by the charging monstrosities. The group navigated through the dark passages, trying to put as much distance between them and the approaching pack of monsters. Layla, still recovering from her injuries, stumbled occasionally, but Maeda and Elwin supported her, ensuring a swift retreat. Soon, from behind, a group of several skeletons made themselves known. They charged at them as if they had set off some type of trap. There were many, and now that they were spotted, they knew that more of them could appear. Luckily, these creatures were only between levels one to five, not something that this trio would ever worry about. "Are we going to take care of them?" "That depends, how are you feeling Layla?" "I''m fine, don''t worry about me. I can fight too." "Good, Let''s clear these bastards out then!" Sylra shouted while charging into the group of skeletons like a mad woman. Her shoulder collided with the first undead creature and sent it flying into the others. Maeda and Elwin followed suit, engaging the skeletons with precision and efficiency. Layla, still recovering, stayed back but assisted them with some well-placed arrows if the moment allowed for it. Despite the overwhelming numbers, the trio fought as a well-coordinated team, exploiting weaknesses in the skeletal structure of their opponents. Sylra''s powerful swings shattered bones, Maeda''s swift strikes targeted vital joints, and Elwin''s arrows found their marks with uncanny accuracy. The clattering sound of bones hitting the ground echoed through the dungeon as the skeletons were systematically dismantled. As the last of the skeletal remains fell, the group took a moment to catch their breath. Elwin grumbled under his nose which the others noticed. "Is something wrong?" "These numbers are strange¡­ and how they found us in that secluded corridor was also odd¡­" "Was it?" Sylra held her large two-handed sword over her shoulder while making nothing off it but her elven friend couldn''t shake the feeling that something was amiss. The monsters in the dungeon weren''t able to pinpoint the location of adventurers unless a certain few conditions were met. "... Was one of those living armors still alive? It couldn''t be¡­" The elven man looked towards the darkened corridor they had just gone through, a foreboding feeling washing over him. "Hey, Elwin. Snap out of it, we need to go; there might be more on the way now." "You''re right¡­ Let us move." While he couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was off, more monsters could be on the way. They were here to rescue Maeda''s friend, not investigate the strange activities of the monsters within. There was still some ground to traverse, and his party needed him to detect traps and watch out for ambushes. The monsters weren''t the only problem, and there was always the possibility that one of the crescent-scythe bastards could be there. However, after their departure, something began to move in the darkness. The sounds of corroded metal echoed through the dead-end corridor as the being there could finally relax. The metallic entity that had played dead among the shattered armor of his fallen monster ally, emerged cautiously from the shadows its head missing. ***** ''Did they need to throw my head that far¡­ I can barely see my body¡­ this is quite hard¡­'' Rusty would frown if he had a mouth. He had decided to play dead after seeing the group of adventurers approaching, and it seemed to have worked. They had focused most of their attention on the dead man and the woman who had been alive. He wasn''t sure what to make of these creatures. One of them had attempted to kill the woman previously, while these three, who were clearly stronger, decided to help her. While this was on his mind now, something more troublesome had happened. His helmet that acted as his eyes had been thrown to the side, further away from his body that he disassembled slightly to make it seem as if he was dead. Now he was having trouble reassembling himself into one piece again. Despite being able to move his metallic limbs, the visibility was limited, making it challenging to see them clearly. It took a few good minutes until his body appeared in the distance with one arm still missing. ''This is annoying¡­ but at least I have survived and my level is still nine!'' After placing his helmet back onto his shoulders, it magically reconnected with his armor. He then quickly returned to the previous scene of his battle where parts of his armor were scattered around. They weren''t in good shape; even though he had not been hit much, the fact that he was moving around so much was straining his body. It seemed that it wasn''t designed for this much movement. For a moment, he contemplated if it was possible to use the parts of his fallen brethren, but before he could give that a test run, a strange light appeared on the ground. It was where the adventurer had died and also where the other living armor was lying. The two were starting to bubble up, and the longer this bubbling effect took, the smaller their bodies became. Rusty was fascinated by this strange phenomenon and continued to look as the other living armor disappeared first, its metallic parts being absorbed into the dungeon floor. The man was going through a similar process, but his body was vanishing at a much slower rate. Soon there was nothing left besides the blood that for some reason was left untouched. ''Hmm¡­ Neat! Now¡­ what should I do next?'' Rusty glanced at his status screen and could see that his level was at nine. There was a bar representing the experience he needed to gain for the next level up, and by the looks of it, there wasn''t much to go. Even if he still could only defeat smaller dungeon creatures, it wouldn''t be long until he achieved level ten, and for some reason, he expected something substantial to occur at that point. He was certain that, for lower-rank monsters like him, level ten was the limit¡­ Chapter 06 – Evolving? You have gained +1 experience points. ''Come out wherever you are¡­ I''ll make it quick¡­'' *Splat* You have gained +1 experience points. *Splot* You have gained +1 experience points. ''Stop running away, there is no place to run!'' You have gained +1 experience points. Another rat fell under the massive metallic boot and joined its brethren in rodent heaven. Rusty was going through a rampage after discovering a small colony of these creatures. They were quite agile beings, making things a bit challenging for the slow-moving living armor. However, eventually, he managed to cut off all the escape routes and trap the small creatures in an enclosed area, then the slaughter began. The metallic echoes of Rusty''s relentless extermination resounded through the dungeon. The small rats were no match for his brute strength and the corroded sword that cleaved through them effortlessly. The experience points kept piling up, bringing him closer to the coveted level ten. ''I wouldn''t need to do this if I got that other human, why did I want to let them live?'' As he was finishing up his grinding drive his thoughts went back to a few days ago where he encountered some strange adventurers. He managed to get the first one but had been stopped by a strange invisible force from delivering the final blow. It still didn''t make any sense as there was no reason for it, they were there with no way to defend themselves. Was there a reason to not defeat a foe when they were down? He truly didn''t know. Congratulations you have gained a level. You have reached the level limit, please choose a path forward. ''It has come! But what is this path forward?'' With the last rat squashed beneath his foot, Rusty stood victorious in the small rat nest. The dungeon floor was littered with the remains of the creatures, and the metallic armor glinted eerily in the dim light. The level-up bar on his status screen was now full, and Rusty felt a surge of relief as he was given the level-up message. Level ten was now his, and he was quick to look up his current stats. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L10 [ Max ] Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 22/22 Magic Points [MP] 18/18 Special Points [SP] 8/15 Strength 19 [ F - ] Agility 9 [ F - ] Dexterity 9 [ F - ] Constitution 17 [ F - ] Intelligence 9 [ F - ] Wisdom 13 [ F - ] Willpower 12 [ F - ] Durability F ''Um¡­ is that it?'' His stats went up by a little bit, but he was still quite weak. Rusty expected some drastic change to occur or perhaps he would get a new weapon. Even having his damaged armor restored would have been something, but he wasn''t receiving anything. Thus, after receiving nothing, he decided to go through all of these status windows, and finally, he discovered something new; a new one had appeared. ''Oh! This must be it! Will it let me become strong?'' A new window appeared with a strange icon of an egg seemingly transforming into a larger creature that was like some type of quadrupedal monster. He had never seen something like it before so identifying was impossible. However, without waiting he quickly tapped this status window which brought up something called ''Evolutionary Paths''. Please choose a path. ''A path? But there is only one¡­'' If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Rusty looked at the singular option in front of him, which looked like a less damaged but still corroded living armor form. It was depicted as a three-dimensional model from the side, and his current form was also in this window. It was to the side, and an arrow was going from it to the less damaged armor. ''Rusty Bronze Armor? So I can turn into this Rusty Bronze Armor? ¡­ I was expecting something¡­ grander?'' The only thing on this screen was his current form and the new one that was almost identical. It was just the same set of armor with fewer dents, and holes, but still corroded over. However, considering that his current body was somewhat damaged, this was perhaps the way to get over his injuries. ''I guess¡­ I should press this then?'' There was a big green button under the Rusty Bronze Armor that had ''Select'' written over it. The moment Rusty pressed it, a strange glow erupted for a moment with a phenomenon of corrupt text. Some symbols started appearing over the letters that he couldn''t read, and for some reason, nothing was happening. ''Is there something more?'' This was truly a head-scratcher for the living armor, as he wasn''t sure what to do. There was no confirmation to ask him if he wanted to go with this singular option or not after the screen. He continued going after the select button repeatedly and even attempted to do it with both his hands after focusing on it didn''t work. ''Why doesn''t this work? ¡­Wait, where am I?'' Suddenly, he focused his attention elsewhere as the dead rat bodies vanished, and the dimly lit dungeon lost all of its light. As he looked around, he could see a bit of light in the distance, and while stretching his arms to the side, he could feel a hard surface. The open dungeon chamber had switched to a narrow tunnel that he was now going through. He couldn''t see anything or hear himself producing any sound, which felt off. At the end, he arrived next to a large door with light seeping in through the cracks. His curiosity got the better of him as he quickly started pushing, and to his surprise, the large doors started to part to reveal something that he had not seen before. A bizarre environment that lacked a ceiling or any dungeon walls; it was a wide-open space filled with various things. As he looked up, he could see vast darkness populated by tiny dots of light. It somewhat reminded him of the old void he came from, but it had something within it. However, this space was far from empty as before him was a giant body of water and a strange structure floating over it. This building hovered over the body of water with one large bridge leading towards it. A giant castle, floating majestically over the expansive body of water, was a breathtaking sight. Its architecture seemed to defy the laws of physics, with towering spires and intricate details that glistened in the ambient light. The castle was crafted from a material that Rusty couldn''t quite identify, as it emitted a soft, otherworldly crimson glow, not something that he had ever encountered in the dungeon he came from. The structure was vast, with multiple towers that reached into the sky, disappearing into the darkness above. The exterior was adorned with mysterious symbols that seemed to shift and change as Rusty gazed upon them. It hovered over the water which looked like a gigantic lake, devoid of any movement or living creatures within it. To the sides were nothing but desolate land that stretched on to infinity. ''How¡­ Vast?'' The living armor, who had been existing for a little bit over a month, was speechless. He could not comprehend what he was seeing and how he got here. A moment ago, he was battling rodents and insects, but now he found himself somewhere truly magical with seemingly only one path going forward. The castle that he was looking at was quite vast and it stretched all the way into the clouds. There was only one way to get there, and that was through the rocky bridge. However, Rusty was quite an inquisitive suit of armor and decided to first move to the side. He wondered if perhaps there was something to this desolate area around it or perhaps the water down below held something interesting. To his surprise, he was held back by a seemingly invisible wall, with the only path that he was allowed to take being forward towards the floating castle over the large lake. There was nowhere else to go, thus Rusty moved along the bridge toward the floating castle. The crimson glow from the castle reflected on the still water beneath, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. The sound of his metallic footsteps echoed through the vastness, and he couldn''t shake the feeling that he was being watched. Eventually, he arrived before a large castle gate that slowly creaked open without the need for him to push anything. The interior revealed a grand hall adorned with intricate designs and strange symbols that seemed to pulse with energy. The air inside felt charged, and Rusty couldn''t help but feel a surge of anticipation as he ventured inside. This was a whole new world for him; all the objects were peculiar and nothing he had ever seen before. Instantly he was drawn to the furniture and objects inside, yet nothing was as it seemed. He spotted a strange table with various small items spread out on it. In an attempt to investigate, he grabbed a few which caused some to drop down to the floor. The material they were made of was smooth yet brittle. When they collided with the hard tiles on the ground, they shattered and the liquid inside spilled out. However, instead of the parts spreading out, they just stopped and almost instantly reverted back to their previous shape. It was as if time was reversed before his metallic eyes, and quickly after he attempted to smash something else, but soon it just restored itself to its previous shape. ''What is this? Can items restore themselves this easily? Could I restore my body like this?'' Rusty glanced at his own body, which had been damaged in several areas before. The holes remained, and whenever he moved, his body produced an obscene amount of noise. Yet for some reason, there was no echo in this place and a certain lack of any movement. It was as if nothing was here and it was left abandoned. During his investigation, something eventually caught his metallic eye as a strange light flashed in the distance. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''That is?'' After following this light, he ended up at a large set of stairs and probably the only way forward. He wanted to wander around this grand place, but besides the lush rooms filled with strange expensive-looking items, there wasn''t really anything that interesting. No weapons or enemies that could give him experience, he wanted to know why he was here, and the large door above the stairs was calling to him. Rusty ascended the grand staircase, each step echoing through the vast hall. As he reached the top, he found himself in front of another set of colossal doors. These doors were adorned with intricate carvings, depicting scenes and symbols that seemed to tell a story he couldn''t decipher. Before he knew it the doors opened automatically as Rusty approached, revealing a room filled with many strange metallic objects, light, and heat. It was an awe-inspiring sight, with molten metal flowing like rivers and ethereal flames dancing in the air. The air was thick with the scent of metal and enchantment. Rusty somewhat knew what this place was as the memories given to him identified it as a forge. On the sides, he could see many tools, like various types of hammers, pliers, and chisels. But his focus was on the middle part of this forge where something stood, a direct replica of the Rusty Bronze Armor that he had seen before. It looked exactly like the display inside of his status screen and was clearly what he was supposed to evolve into. Rusty could tell that it wasn''t another living armor but an empty shell. ''Is that my new form?'' He could somehow tell by instinct that it was the truth, that would be his new body and perhaps this was something that all monsters that evolved went through. After looking around for a moment, he decided to approach the middle area to take a look at what was probably his new body. At first, he circled around it but eventually he decided to touch it with his own metallic hand. Instantly, he could feel a connection being formed and something from inside of his current shell being pulled towards the new armored body. ''This must be it! I''m going to get a new, stronger body!'' As Rusty felt the connection growing stronger, he could sense a surge of energy coursing through him. It was as if he was being drawn into the new body that was standing in the middle of this fiery forge. He did not know the meaning behind the tools, but he also didn''t care. It was obviously better than the damaged one that he was occupying now, so having his essence flow into this one would be what he needed to do. "No, Stop! Don''t just go into it like that you idiot!" ''Huh?'' Just as he was about to slip into the new body, he heard a voice calling out to him from a distance. The connection to his new body was severed as he prepared for combat. Rusty was lacking his corroded sword, but there were some metal tools around this forge. However, before he could arm himself, he saw his strange opponent who was nothing more than just a ball of light. ''What is that?'' "I''m not a that!" ''It can hear me?'' "I''m not an it, either!" To Rusty''s surprise, the ball of white light he was talking to could actually hear and understand his words. It was floating in the distance while shouting at him, for some reason it was trying to keep him from merging with the new body that was just standing in the middle of this large forge. ''Who are you and why shouldn''t I?'' "Did you even bother to examine your surroundings? Why would you just ignore everything that is in here?" The ball of light approached him and it wasn''t much larger than an egg from a chicken. It started buzzing around his head while shouting and scolding. Rusty could not get his head around what was happening as this was the first time interacting with another creature. The monsters in the dungeon were more like lifeless husks and the voice in his head would only give him orders. "Hey, what are you doing?" Instinctively he reached out to catch the ball of light but it was quite agile, a lot faster than the rats and with too much space around them to corner. "I''m not sure who is the fool, hero." "Shut up! If I didn''t speak up then he might have vanished from this place already." Rusty stopped chasing the ball of white light as he heard another voice from the other side. This time around it was a ball of darkish light floating his way. Its voice was a lot deeper, but its demeanor was also a lot more relaxed. The two balls of light started arguing before him, which just made him question their existence more. "Even in this form, you fail to learn from these past mistakes. Or did your fragmented form finally start to deteriorate?" "I''m sure you''d be happy if I vanished, but I''m not going to die before a damn demon!" "Oh my, is that a challenge?" The two seemed to ignore his existence for a moment, which gave Rusty some time to think. His mind was blank, and he had no idea what was happening, but the more he listened to their voices, the more familiar they became. It was as if he knew them from the moment he was born or came to this world. "Ah, I think our metallic friend is confused. This isn''t surprising; these lowly creatures aren''t known to have too much intelligence. The fact that he can form a sentence is already astonishing." ''...Hey! Was that an insult!'' "Oh, how interesting. I wonder if he would understand sarcasm?" The black ball of light started chuckling while Rusty felt somewhat annoyed. He was sure that he had been insulted but didn''t know how to respond. The two balls of light were quite chatty, but his attention moved back to the new body he wanted. It was possible that these two just wanted to keep him from getting stronger, so while they were chatting, he started to slowly turn back to the corroded bronze armor. "Hey, didn''t I tell you that it was too early to use that? Do you know that this place ¡­ this soul forge can make you even stronger?" "Can it make me stronger?'' The white ball of light zoomed between him and the corroded piece of armor. The moment he heard it say that he could get even stronger, it activated a deep-rooted desire. Rusty was tired of hiding from the humans in the dungeon and also tired of getting ordered around by the voice inside his head. If it was possible to use this place to gain even more strength, then perhaps he should listen to what these two had to say. Chapter 07 – Soul Forge. "The Soul Forge, had I known you possessed a blessing like this, Hero, I would have struck you down much sooner.""That''s the price you pay for being an overconfident oaf, Demon King." "Despite such a gift, you still ended up getting backstabbed by your close aides. That''s quite an accomplishment for someone with so many talents. Quite an accomplishment in itself, don''t you think?" "Really? I recall a certain demon army inexplicably retreating, allowing me to stroll right into your grand demonic castle. Perhaps if you treated your aides as individuals rather than cattle, they might have supported you!" "Nonsense, they were born to serve me, and their purpose was to follow my orders without question. Loyalty is a weakness, Hero, one that I have eradicated from my ranks! How loyal were those people you trusted, Hero?" Rusty listened to the back-and-forth between the two orbs of light. It seemed that this place was called the Soul Forge, and it was supposed to make him stronger. However, before he received an explanation, the two beings of light started arguing with each other, as if harboring some unresolved resentment. "Um¡­ What is loyalty?" During their conversation, Rusty finally decided to interrupt. The two orbs of light turned their attention back to him, and the white one sighed as if dealing with an ignorant child. "Loyalty is when someone is devoted and true to another, usually out of a sense of duty or love. It''s a concept that you probably never had the chance to experience in your dungeon full of mindless monsters." "Sense of duty? Love?" Instead of answers, he was given more words that he didn''t understand and to make things worse, the two beings of light didn''t seem to agree with each other. The dark sphere was quick to interrupt and say that the white one was wrong and the two started to argue with each other once more. "Ignore my ignorant friend here, loyalty is a weakness, a chain that binds you and limits your potential." "Limit my potential?" "Indeed and you seem to be someone that wants to be strong, don''t you want to be strong?" "I do!" "Good, then accept me as your master and I shall bestow upon you immeasurable power!" "Don''t believe this idiot demon, he doesn''t even know how this place works." Rusty found himself uncertain about what to do; the two glowing lights weren''t making any sense. They used words that he didn''t fully grasp. One thing was clear: they were more akin to the humans he encountered inside the dungeon than the silent, less intelligent monsters. While he didn''t trust them, there seemed to be something that they knew about this soul forge that was supposed to make him stronger. "I don''t care about those words, just tell me more about this soul forge. Can it really make me stronger?" The two orbs ceased their bickering just as the dark one responded. "Well, Hero, this is your gift. I''m genuinely intrigued. How does this ''Soul Forge'' work? It appears that it, along with my demon castle, has become one with our hollow friend here. Probably a result of the merger after our untimely demise." "It''s not exactly the same... I used it to refine my enchanted equipment by gathering rare materials and refining them¡­ but this one¡­" "Hm, considering that the only thing of note is that heap of junk in the middle, do you mean that this place can somehow refine and improve on our friend''s metallic body?" "Hey, I have a name, it''s Rusty!" "Oh, my apologies~ What a magnificent name, Rusty. Rolls right off the tongue¡­" The dark orb chuckled in a way that Rusty, for some reason, didn''t appreciate. Unaware of concepts like sarcasm, he decided to let it pass. "How do I improve my body?" "If it works the same as before, you''ll have to gather the proper materials and learn the skills required for metallurgy and ore refining¡­" "Now that''s a good one, a living armor becoming a blacksmith and forging its own body!" Rusty, despite not fully understanding the implications of becoming a blacksmith for his own body, felt like he understood the gist of it. They were telling him that he could use the tools here to somehow enhance his own body, the only question was how. While the tools were there, he didn''t see any raw resources like ores or ingots. There wasn''t really anything to work with so he turned to the white ball of light that seemed to know this place more. "Where and how do I gather proper materials, how do I learn skills for this metallurgy?" "I¡­" He waited for the answer while the white ball of light gathered his thoughts. This was it, he would finally be given the answer that he was waiting for his whole existence. "I don''t know¡­ and I don''t quite remember ¡­" "Haha!" The black ball of light started laughing and it sounded quite menacing with that deep voice of his. Rusty was baffled by the response, not understanding how the white ball of light could do this to him. The answer was right there but he was being denied and he was starting to feel something strange coming out. "Huh? You don''t remember? Did you lie to me?" "Why would I¡­" As the ball of light was trying to answer, the whole chamber started shaking as Rusty''s voice became packed with more anger. "What is happening?" The two orbs started flickering along with the soul forge and the whole castle. It was as if this whole place was reacting to the rise of Rusty''s emotions, not something that the late Hero and Demon Lord thought he had. "Calm down, I just don''t remember! My memories, parts of them are missing, I really don''t quite recall how this place worked!" "Rusty my friend, calm your nerves. The Hero might be a fool but at least he is no liar." "..." The two observed the angered armor as the tremors subsided. Their forms, once trembling, started to recover along with the glow. Rusty, devoid of any readable expression, gazed at the two orbs, as if anticipating an answer. "It seems that our fragmented existence lacks some of our previous experiences and memories." "Fragmented existence?" "Yes, the two of us had perished. It seems you have somehow absorbed our essences that were recreated in this place." "Oh, it must have happened that time?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty vaguely recalled his time within the void with other amoeba-like existences. Back then, he had absorbed something radiating the same light as these two orbs. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. The Soul Forge, it seemed, was a place that could enhance and refine his body, and Rusty acquired this ability by consuming these two beings with the peculiar identities of hero and demon king. "So, you''re saying that I have the power of a Hero and a Demon Lord within me?" "Not quite¡­ we are nothing more than shells of our former selves, but if you desire strength, then maybe there is something we can do¡­" The black orb, more talkative than the white one, floated over to what was supposed to become Rusty''s body. It circled it as if examining it before stopping. Soon after, the black orb started glowing, and to Rusty''s surprise, the corroded armor began changing color. From a bronze with many rusted parts, it transformed into pitch black. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "That I would be reduced to this¡­" The demon king orb gave out a sigh after performing the strange phenomenon. His size had diminished and so did his light after he made the armor turn into a darker hue. "What did you do?" The white orb floated towards the now darkened armor and started to examine it as well. "I just infused some of my essence into the metal; it should be a tad better now. What do you think, Rusty, my friend? Helpful, aren''t I?" Intrigued by the change to his new form, Rusty approached and sensed that it had become stronger than before. He was drawn to it, wanting to exchange his damaged, corroded body for this enhanced version. However, before he could, the orb of white light voiced his concern. "Stop!" "Is there still something wrong?" Rusty asked, somewhat annoyed with the back-and-forth between the orbs. "Do you really think that I don''t know what you are trying to do, Demon King?" "Whatever do you mean, Hero?" The black orb replied in a mocking tone, while the so-called hero orb approached the darkened armor. Soon, it began to change colors again, growing brighter as the white orb infused it with its essence. Eventually, the color returned to a more bronze hue with a subtle intensified sheen. "There, that should balance things out¡­" "Quite the busybody, hero¡­" The two orbs resumed their disagreement, but Rusty wasn''t paying much attention. Instead, he focused on observing his newly transformed body, now infused with a blend of both of their essences. Though the corrosion remained, something had improved, and he was confident that this armor was better than the previous one. "Finally!" Rusty decided to proceed with the transformation; the Soul Forge didn''t appear to have anything else in store, and the white orb didn''t completely recall how it operated. There weren''t any more rooms to visit and he just couldn''t wait to finally ascend to a new form. Thus he immediately attempted to touch it even when the black orb voiced his concern. "How impatient¡­" He could feel his essence flowing into the stronger body while his old form crumbled to the ground. The transformation revealed his previous form, the dark silvery Divine-Demon Nucleus. It flew away from the old, damaged armor and slowly entered the new one, and the transformation was finally taking place. "I''ll give you one more piece of advice, Rusty. You might not want to use that absorption skill too much. While having many skills is a plus, you don''t want to become a Jack of all trades, master of none. It takes time to train thyself in many skills, so it would be better if¡­" "I think he can''t hear you anymore¡­" "What a shame, I still wanted to inform the silly monster about the dungeon heart, let us hope that he doesn''t do anything stupid, destroying it wouldn''t be the smartest idea¡­" As the Demon King was trying to lecture Rusty about the ways of using skills, the Hero interrupted. The armor in the middle of the soul forge had begun to fade soon after the nucleus made its way into it. "At least now we know that he can''t remain here after entering the new armor¡­ But both of us are still here¡­" "Quite the predicament we found ourselves in¡­" The Demon King and Hero exchanged glances for a moment. Both fell silent, realizing that their existence hinged on the strange monster they now inhabited. Though mere fragments of their former selves, they retained a wealth of memories and emotions from their previous lives. Still driven by desire, they recognized the potential of this living armor and pondered if steering it in the right direction could fulfill their lingering ambitions. "I don''t know what you are planning, but I won''t let you do it." "Whatever do you mean, hero?" "You know what I mean don''t even try to hide it." "Hah, not like you are any different. I can feel the anger seething out of there, you want to have vengeance and why not use a blade of another to fulfill that desire?" "..." The white orb remained silent after the question from the demon king. Soon it floated away towards the empty castle that was now his new home. This world seemed to exist in another realm or dimension but it was somehow tied to the living armor who was now in the process of returning to the world of the living. Rusty could sense the merging of the hero and demon king essences within him, intertwining and shaping his newfound form. As the process was completed, Rusty found himself standing tall in his new form. The once-damaged armor now felt stronger and more resilient. His senses were heightened, and he could feel the power coursing through his metallic body. Congratulations on achieving a new path. ''I have evolved!'' Once his vision returned, the familiar floor with the dead rodents was once again waiting for him. It was clear that he had returned to the dungeon and he found himself with both fists in the air in a sort of victory pose. He was quick to focus onto his status screen to see what the changes were and to no surprise, his attributes had gone up by a lot. Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 62/62 Magic Points [MP] 44/44 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 59 [ F ] Agility 39 [ F ] Dexterity 39 [ F ] Constitution 57 [ F ] Intelligence 39 [ F ] Wisdom 43 [ F ] Willpower 42 [ F ] Durability F+ ''Oh? All the minuses have vanished, and I''ve even gained a plus here!'' The first thing he noticed was that his attributes had increased by a minimum of thirty points, with his constitution and strength being even greater. Although he still had a lot of ''F'' letters in his status, there were no minuses, and even a few pluses, indicating that he had become stronger. While moving around, he could feel that his body was more responsive and agile. The once armor filled with many holes was now restored. To make things even more interesting, he could feel a strange energy radiating that could perhaps be attributed to the Twilight part of his new classification. ''This is incredible! I feel stronger, faster, and more alive than ever before! But this might not be all, I should go through everything!'' Basic Elemental Charge Active Skill Allows the user to imbue objects with elemental mana, outcome will differ depending on the type of the object. His previous skills like Basic Power Thrust or Slash didn''t see any changes, but there was one new skill that he had acquired from his evolution. After reading the explanation, he had an idea of what it did, so he was quick to give it a try. However, there was also another skill that sounded similar to the skill absorption one, this one focusing on materials, which he didn''t truly understand. Material Absorption Active Skill Allows the user to absorb compatible materials from various objects As he went through it, he recalled what the white sphere of light had said about the Soul Forge. He was supposed to be able to upgrade his body there, but there were no enhancement materials to work with. Perhaps this skill would allow him to gain such materials, or perhaps it would directly augment his body. This concluded his exploration of his new status and his visit to the strange Soul Forge. There didn''t seem to be a way to return to that location at this moment, and it was probable that he would need to max out his current level to revisit that area. It was time to test out these new skills, and the Elemental Charge one was first. Rusty gripped his sword, which had also changed to fit his current form more. He somewhat knew how to use his new skill, and as he attempted to activate it, he was presented with a question. Basic Elemental Charge has been activated on the Corroded Bronze Sword, please choose an element. ''Oh?'' He was presented with two choices: infuse the sword with the light element or the dark element. Without waiting for long, he decided to select the light element first and watched as the sword started glowing brightly. The light was more intense than any of the torches there, illuminating the area nicely. ''Is the light the only thing that it does?'' While he found this effect to be intriguing, he wasn''t sure if it would give him an advantage during combat. It would obviously give away his position to anyone in the vicinity, but perhaps there were some uses for it that he didn''t fully understand. After noting that his mana had dwindled by exactly twenty points, he activated the element of darkness. This time around, the blade was surrounded by a strange black haze. ''Is this good or not? It takes a lot more mana than the power slash and thrust¡­ so it should be good?'' Rusty asked himself the question while holding the darkened blade. The effect lasted for about a minute before the black smudge disappeared from his blade. He wasn''t sure, but perhaps after hitting someone with this darkened blade, it would have some kind of added effect to the strike. However, before he could truly grasp these new skills, there was more work to be done, and perhaps with his heightened stats, he would finally be able to challenge some of the humans and emerge victorious¡­ Chapter 08 – Going Down. ''Maybe those guys¡­ but there are so many of them¡­''''I should probably wait for a chance to present itself like last time!'' ''...'' ''Why do they always wander around in large groups?'' ''... How am I going to get stronger in an environment like this!'' Rusty continued to talk to himself with an annoyed tone while hiding behind a large pillar. His ability to resist the voice had increased, and he could now even look at the adventurers without being pushed into a frenzy, as long as he distanced himself. Since leaving the Soul Forge, there was no one to talk to, so Rusty developed an even bigger habit of talking to himself. After evolving from a damaged, rusted-over suit of armor to a slightly less rusted-over armor, he was searching for a way that would allow him to evolve even further. However, his plan to ambush another lone adventurer wasn''t working, as they always roamed around in larger groups. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though his stats had increased significantly, and he had gained some new skills, Rusty still felt apprehensive about attacking a large group of adventurers. They always seemed too powerful, and the assistance he received wasn''t sufficient. Now that he was stronger and faster, he realized how slow the other living armors really were. The same could be said for any other monster there. He wanted to use them as a distraction, but they kept getting defeated before he could even sneak up to deliver a slash. ''Haven''t seen any of the groups fighting like the two last time¡­ Does that not happen often?'' Rusty noticed that after the incident with the two adventurers, the groups were more on alert than before. It was as if they reacted to the event and increased their numbers to avoid more trouble. ''Should I just go hunt some rodents? But¡­'' Another thing Rusty noticed was his experience bar. It began to rise much slower than before. He only needed to kill a few dozen rats, bugs, or large slugs to go from one to two before. Now, on the other hand, it seemed like the requirement was ten times as high. Things weren''t looking too good for him; at this pace, it would take him a month or longer to gain even one more level. ''I ended up here¡­ if only I could go down¡­?'' While scouting the environment to ambush a lone adventurer, Rusty followed a group of five towards the stairs leading to a lower level. Normally, he wouldn''t be able to approach these stairs as the voice inside his head would start complaining, but now it was different. Even after reaching the stairs, there was nothing preventing him from going down. It seemed that his new evolution allowed him to descend to a new part of the dungeon. Rusty wanted to do nothing more than to test his new body and skills, but this new discovery changed his plans. The only thing stronger than his drive for more power and levels was his curiosity. He was already looking forward to seeing new scenery and monsters on the lower floor. With caution, he descended the long flight of stairs, ensuring that he wouldn''t make too much noise. His body had changed and didn''t produce as much sound, but it wasn''t fully silent either. Luckily, it seemed that the group of adventurers he had previously followed had moved on to another location. After five minutes of walking, when he arrived on the floor below, there was no one there. As Rusty reached the bottom of the staircase, he found himself in a dimly lit corridor that stretched out in both directions. The air felt different, and he could sense a faint, eerie energy in the surroundings. Excitement and anticipation welled up within him as he ventured further into the unknown depths of the dungeon. The corridor twisted and turned, occasionally branching off into smaller passages, at first glance this lower floor seemed more compacted. Having more tightly knit corridors wasn''t necessarily good or bad. The sole advantage against adventurers in this dungeon was the abundance of monsters. With a sufficient number of them, it was possible to overwhelm even a larger party. Surrounding them in a corridor like this could be achieved, but it also restricted the area for attacks. There simply wasn''t enough space to approach the enemy from all directions. Though there weren''t many pillars for concealment, slipping into one of the numerous side corridors was an option for waiting. However, if a group entered after him, there would be no means of escape. Rusty wasn''t quite sure if he could outrun an adventurer even with his raised stats. His body wasn''t quite designed for running but he did have an advantage over the fleshy beings, he never tired. However, his body did become slower whenever his magic points reached zero, something that he learned to watch out for. As he continued with his traversal of this new space he noticed a commotion. There were people shouting and monsters growling in the distance. With a steady pace he continued through the corridor and peeked into the area that the sounds were coming from to finally discover a larger chamber. There was a party of five humanoid beings fighting against a monster type that he had never seen before. Curious as always he was quick to use his identification skill on one of these new creatures. Classification: Zombie L3 Type: Undead His skill had leveled up since through the time in the dungeon and he was now able to identify monster types as well as their levels. The sight of the undead creatures attacking the adventurers intrigued Rusty. The zombies were slow and clumsy, but they seemed relentless, pushing the adventurers back with sheer numbers. ''Zombies¡­ Undead¡­ Interesting! I wonder what''s the true meaning behind a monster type?'' Rusty observed, pondering the truth behind monster types and classifications. There likely existed a significance to the identification, but he couldn''t quite grasp it. The adventurers had a system similar to classification, but it differed. When he glanced at one of them wielding a sword and shield, he could discern some information. There was no type but only a classification as if the other one was hidden or didn''t matter as much. Classification: Fighter L7 Despite the relatively small level difference, it was evident from their movements that the adventurers were stronger. After undergoing his first evolution, Rusty had come to realize that levels could be deceptive. Even though he was merely a level one monster, he was far stronger now than when he was a Damaged Rusty Bronze Armor variant. ''attack¡­'' The voice inside his head gave him an order which he managed to resist. He was now able to observe without losing himself at all. At first, it looked like the adventurers were struggling, and the zombies were pushing them into a corner. Then in a strange flash of light, a large chunk of them tumbled down to the ground. ''What was that?'' The bright attack triggered a recollection of his new skill which allowed him to infuse his sword with a radiant light. It came from the adventurer who was in the middle of the group. It seemed that they were protecting him while the man was holding up a strange-looking necklace. It was composed of many beads and ended in a cross shape. This item looked to be the source of the light that was destroying the zombies in this chamber. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Classification: Cleric L8 ''Oh, that''s a new one, would that be the fourth type?'' Rusty examined the man in the center effortlessly dispatching the undead creatures. This marked the first occasion he could identify this particular type of adventurer. The previous encounters had involved fighters, scouts, and thieves. He donned a loosely fitting robe, one that likely provided minimal protection, presenting a stark contrast to everyone else who, at the very least, wore leather armor. It was evident that each class fulfilled a distinct role. The fighters stood out as the physically strongest among them, typically clad in heavier armor. The scouts maneuvered with more agility, armed with a ranged weapon capable of launching pointed projectiles from a distance. Meanwhile, the thieves resembled the fighters but wielded shorter weapons such as daggers or shortswords and they were the most agile of the bunch. Initially, he pondered joining the battle due to the considerable number of those fleshy beings. Despite their initial sluggishness, they persisted in advancing even after being struck by weapons. Even losing limbs didn''t impede their progress, gradually cornering the adventurers. However, everything changed when the cleric intervened, managing to dispatch these formidable monsters with a burst of light. The cleric''s radiant power proved effective against the undead, but Rusty discerned an anomaly. The individual executing this feat appeared fatigued, and the bursts of light occurred at irregular intervals. It seemed as though this magical ability wasn''t something he could fully manage; there might be a limit to its uses, akin to Rusty''s constraints with magic points. This vulnerability was something that he could potentially exploit. ''What would happen if that light couldn''t be produced? Would the Zombies overrun them?'' Gradually, a plan took shape in his metallic head. If he could somehow disable the cleric, his allies might take care of the rest. The only hurdle was getting close enough to land a hit. The radiant light posed its own threat, as he wasn''t certain if it would affect him like it did the undead creatures. It appeared there was no way to close the gap without putting himself in danger, especially if he engaged in close-range melee. ''They didn''t have those on the floor above, could I use it?'' Classification: Skeletal Scout L4 Type: Undead His helmet swiveled to focus on another undead, this one wielding a bow. Strapped to its back was a quiver holding a handful of arrows that it shot in the direction of the adventurers. They defended themselves with shields, and the scouts retaliated with their own shots. It was apparent that the Skeletal Scout lacked power, but its arrows were reaching their targets. Rusty lacked a bow, and he wasn''t versed in archery. However, this presented no issue, as his absorption skill allowed him to acquire the skills of the skeletal monsters if he desired. With his increasing level, there was a possibility of executing proficient ranged attacks, a capability currently absent in him and the other living armors. "That should be all, let''s get the materials and get out of here before they revive." While he was devising his new scheme, the battle reached its conclusion. All the zombies and skeletons in the area were defeated, and the adventurers emerged victorious. Though they had not suffered any casualties, they appeared visibly fatigued. Rusty took note that they probably wouldn''t be able to handle another wave of monsters as effortlessly, something that could benefit his newest plan. Keeping this in mind, he withdrew momentarily. If he lingered, there was a chance that more random monsters could arrive. For the time being, he simply wished for the adventurers to depart, allowing him to inspect the large chamber with peculiar slabs of rocks protruding from the ground. Fortunately, the group only took another ten minutes to conclude their activities before retreating back into the corridor leading them back to the first floor. Rusty, who had concealed himself in a separate tunnel, reemerged and cautiously returned to the scene of the battle, where numerous monster parts lay scattered. He observed that the radiant light had the ability to reduce the skeletal monster bodies to dust and transform the zombies into larger piles, some with charred remnants remaining. ''That''s a powerful ability, will it destroy my body too? Should I try to learn it?'' The overpowering nature of the radiant light was evident, capable of annihilating multiple monsters simultaneously without direct engagement. Considering his absorption skill, there was a possibility for him to learn it. However, for that to occur, he needed to keep the cleric alive. Rusty lacked confidence in facing the entire group alone, and the other monsters wouldn''t wait for him to acquire the skill for himself either. With the adventurers gone and the area appearing clear, Rusty cautiously approached the remains of the fallen monsters. His metallic fingers sifted through the debris, as if searching for something specific. Luck was on his side as he spotted a damaged weapon, likely belonging to one of the adventurers. A broken spear was embedded in the remains of a zombie, its metallic tip deeply lodged in the flesh. Unlike the other monsters turned to dust, it seemed the adventurers deemed it unnecessary to remove this broken piece of weaponry or it was a remnant of another battle. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this weapon into base materials? Before arriving here, he had managed to decipher the Material Absorption skill on the upper level. It was a straightforward process; he just needed to find something containing metal, and the skill would activate. Parts of monsters, like other living armor, also worked, but only after they were slain by adventurers. This presented a challenge in refining their parts, as the monster remains would eventually vanish without leaving anything that he could gather. Material 1 Bronze 10% Material 2 [Unavailable] Iron 5% One limiting factor existed for this skill - there were certain material types he couldn''t refine from weapons. He was restricted to only absorbing bronze, copper, and tin. Once he selected the desired material, the process would commence. The broken piece of weaponry would start to glow and vanish before his metallic eyes. Though uncertain about the specifics, a graphical representation of this process appeared in his status window. The section was labeled the ''Stash Tab,'' and it was subdivided into many smaller squares. Currently, most of these squares were empty, except for three containing drawings of ingots. One represented the copper he had absorbed, the second one tin, and the last one bronze. Once he gathered one hundred percent of any given metal, it would transform into an ingot and be recorded here. Though currently unable to do anything with them, he anticipated that when he returned to the soul forge, something would be triggered. It also used SP as its main resource without having a long cooldown period as the skill absorption skill. At a slow pace, he continued to harvest any bronze and copper he could find. The strange slabs of rocks that were sticking out of the ground he identified as tombstones. It seemed that this place was some type of burial ground and the zombies that had been defeated started to slowly emerge back within the ground. It was as if they were moving traps that would spring out the moment someone approached from below. You have gained +1 experience points. While navigating the area, he stumbled upon a new discovery. In one corner of this place, there was a nesting ground for strange worm-like creatures. Upon seeing them, he decided to experiment and gained a point of experience after stepping on one. The encounter didn''t end there; shortly after squashing the bug, a peculiar purple mist shot up from its compressed body. You resisted the poison. ''Hm, poison?'' Being a being of living metal, Rusty lacked internal organs that could be affected by the poisonous mist. He grasped the concept that poison could have adverse effects on living beings, but it held no threat for him. After a brief moment of contemplation, he picked up one of the worms from the ground. It wriggled around, attempting to bite into his metallic body. After gripping it firmly, he gained another experience point and triggered the release of the poisonous mist. ''Those people did stay away from this side of the chamber, were they afraid of these things?'' His mind brimmed with new ideas on how to leverage these small creatures to his advantage. Soon, the rattling of bones caught his attention, signaling the reformation of a skeletal scout alongside the zombies. When he examined the quiver with arrows it held, along with the bow, a brilliant plan for his next hunt began to take shape. Perhaps, in the near future, he could accumulate substantial amounts of experience. However, before that, he needed to thoroughly explore the entire second floor to uncover any additional surprises that might aid his quest for strength. Chapter 09 – Using The Terrain. "Come here, you undead bastards!""We don''t have all day! Come here!" Shouts of people filled a gloomy underground crypt. Many tombstones with strange markings started releasing foul-smelling fumes as bodies of undead creatures burst forth from the ground underneath. Tens of them emerged instantly, looking in the direction of where the shouting was coming from. The moment they spotted the few humans there, they started charging instantly. In the dim light of flickering torches, a group of determined individuals stood their ground, weapons drawn. Even though many undead monsters like skeletons and zombies were approaching them, they didn''t seem too bothered. Everything was going according to their plan as some ran around strategically to force the monsters into a more tightly-knit group. Soon many zombies were bumping into each other while charging after one of the adventurers. "That''s it, herd them together! We can''t waste too many spells on these trash mobs! Get ready, Edmund!" "Radiant light, source of grace so pure, I stand against darkness, my prayers will endure. Turn undead away, banish the night, In thy name, restore the sacred light¡­" In one corner of the undead crypt, a man stood, his rosary wrapped around his hands as he continued to pray to his gods. Under him a layer of radiant light was beginning to form and the more he continued to say his prayer the more of it appeared around his body. All the monsters that had been herded together were heading in the direction of this man named Edmund, something the people in here had planned all along. The group of adventurers had six members. Four of them had shields and heavier armor to protect the praying man, while one of them, who was more nimble, lured in the monsters. It was a surefire plan that this group had carried out a few times before, and their goal was to move into the deeper areas of this dungeon once their levels had increased. Even though a single zombie or skeleton didn''t offer much, with the help of divine magic, they could easily dispatch large groups of them instantly. "That should be enough, now hold!" On purpose, the group placed themselves with their backs to a wall. The zombies and skeletons could only come from one direction, which allowed them to lure in many more. The four fighters with the large shields pushed back against the undead creatures and waited for their cleric to finish the chant. Just like every time, once the spell erupted, these monsters would turn to nothing more than dust in the wind. "Grant me strength in this holy endeavor, Banish the shadows, let them fade forever. Turn Undea¡­" However, their halfheartedly created plan didn''t account for everything. At the moment the priest was about to finish casting the Turn Undead spell, something out of the ordinary happened. From an unknown direction, something flew in an arch and connected with the ground close to the cleric. Once looking at this projectile, they identified it as an arrow with a strange worm creature squiggling around as if it had been freshly impaled by it. As it wiggled around, a purple gas erupted from it, and it quickly started spreading through the whole area. To make things worse, it wasn''t the only one there; soon others started falling down in the general direction of this party that had led itself into a dead end on its own accord. It was not something that they expected to ever happen, as the monsters here were not intelligent enough for such tactics, nor did they detect any other adventurers who could have planned an ambush. "Shit, It''s poison mist!" "How did a crypt leech get over here?" The adventurers'' coordinated strategy fell apart as the unexpected poison mist engulfed the area. Panic set in among the group as they realized the dire situation they found themselves in. The cleric, Edmund, struggled to complete his incantation amidst the chaos. The mist, originating from the punctured crypt leeches, started affecting the adventurers, slowly weakening them. "E-edmund, quickly cast the cleansing spell!" "No, we need to get rid of the zombies first, cast Turn Undead first! What are you doing?" "I *cough* uh¡­" The cleric, Edmund, was struggling with the poisonous mist and the interrupted Turn Undead spell. He could not focus on chanting due to the poison and inability to do it while coughing so loudly. Even one of those worms could produce a large explosion of this mist and something from afar continued to shoot arrows in their direction. Even when the adventurers used their shields to bat them away, the pierced leeches continued to burst and produce more mist. To make things worse, they had attracted a large group of undead monsters that continued to push. "Shit this never happened before, this was supposed to be a safe zone for leveling, did the guild lie to us?" "Stop talking, we *cough* need to get out of here!" It was clear that their plan would not work. The cloud of poison was surrounding them, and the longer they stayed inside of it, the harder it would be to leave. They were all under the poison status now, and even their cleric was suffering and unable to cleanse himself. Soon they all charged out together and made a run for it, even though it was hard to break and move; they needed to do it to survive. "Come on, we need to get to the corridor; it isn''t far from here!" Luckily, there was an escape route nearby, a narrow tunnel not too far from here. They knew that if they were able to make it there, then even the zombies wouldn''t be able to follow after. Soon they made a break for it; everyone was coughing, and their skin was turning purple. They were losing stamina and health points at a rapid pace, but as long as they made it to the safe location, then their cleric could cleanse all of them. To their surprise, when they reached the tunnel that should lead them to a safe location, it was not the salvation that they expected, as an unknown person was waiting for them. At least that''s what they looked at first, but soon the adventurer party realized that it was not a human but a monster that shouldn''t be in this area. "A living armor? What is it doing here?" The team leader asked while charging forward, but before he could push the monster out of the way, a massive burst of poisonous mist erupted from the ground. To his surprise, the ground was littered with the small bugs, and the monster seemed to be purposely stepping on them while retreating into the tight corridor where even more poison awaited them. Considering this turn of events, running towards that location would become impossible, and they would quickly succumb to the poison. Eventually, the group of adventurers ran out of options. The monsters were unaffected by the poison in the air while they continued to suffer. Their bodies became sluggish, and some of them were finally caught by the horde they had enticed. The numbers were not something that they could contend with, and soon their loud screams filled this underground crypt. ***** Rusty observed the demise of the adventurer party with a mix of curiosity and detachment. The poison mist had done its job, rendering them vulnerable to the relentless attacks of the undead monsters. The living armor, hidden in the poisonous corridor, watched as the adventurers fought desperately for their lives. He noted how their once-coordinated group crumbled the moment he introduced something that they weren''t expecting. This was his test run for his new strategy. After previously discovering the hidden poisonous bugs, he decided to use them. On his back, he was wearing a quiver that had been emptied out a few moments ago. Right after the adventurers gathered the zombies, he set his plan in motion and started firing. Once the worms were pierced, there was some time to fire them before the toxic fumes erupted. The result was quite favorable, so he soon moved to the second stage of the plan. Before he attempted this, he took a whole week to examine his enemies and gather archery-related skills that had helped him in this new endeavor. Basic Power Shot Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Active Skill Perform a more powerful ranged attack. Basic Archery Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a bow, is required to unlock more powerful archery skills. With their help, he was able to somewhat aim his shots in the direction he wanted. The adventurers were ready to receive arrows that were shot directly at them from the skeletal archers, but they weren''t ready for him, who aimed at the blind spots and ground. Rusty quickly realized that strategy was key to getting stronger, as the monsters in this dungeon could be used in various ways to give him a shot at slaying these adventurers. He just needed to cut off their escape route with some of the poisonous bugs that he transported to this closest corridor; even if they charged in, the poison would do its thing, and now it was time for him to get involved directly. As the remaining adventurers fought desperately against the undead onslaught, Rusty stepped out from his hiding spot. His metallic form clanked softly as he approached the group which was still under the influence of the poisonous mist. The adventurers, weakened and overwhelmed, weren''t even able to react to his sword coming in from the back. "Argh¡­" His blade slid between the gaps in one of the man''s armor as he drew blood. His opponent was grappling with two zombies and unable to react to the third opponent that emerged from the now thick poisonous fog. As he drew his blade out of the wound, blood started spilling out, and the man soon was overpowered by the other monsters that started to rip his body apart. Rusty''s gaze turned to the others and the one with the cleric class in particular. This was the focal point of his strategy. Without this person, this group was incapable of defeating the undead creatures which they awoke themselves. He knew that if they took their time, they would have been victorious and his plan would not have worked. If they used their blades instead of the strange light, it would have taken longer but their defeat would not have come. As he drove his blade into the wheezing cleric, he tried to learn, as this was just the beginning of his journey. Congratulations you have gained a level. His mind was taken elsewhere as he heard the message informing him that he had leveled up. He momentarily stopped himself from attacking some of the remaining adventurers, which was a mistake that he would now remember. After the cleric went down, Rusty found himself flying into some of the other monsters as something collided with him from the side. His body was metal, but it was hollow inside, not something that could take strong blows. In the past, this would have caused him to break into multiple parts, but he was not quite the damaged rusty armor anymore; he was not that weak. After colliding with a skeleton and zombie, he managed to stabilize himself. When looking at his side, he could see a gash in his armor that had been formed by an axe swing. The owner of the axe was the only remaining human who had not yet succumbed to the poisonous mist. "I¡­ I will not *cough* die here!" The adventurer swung his axe with determination, aiming for Rusty''s vulnerable points. Rusty, realizing his mistake, quickly regained his composure and raised his sword to parry the incoming blows. The clash of metal echoed in the corridor as the rusty blade was pushed back and broken from the impact. Luckily, the lingering poison along with the other monsters was still there. Even when the adventurer wished to deliver the final blow, he couldn''t. "G-get off me¡­Ahhhh¡­'' His neck had been bitten by one of the monsters, and soon more closed in on him. The adventurer began swinging around wildly, attempting to pry the monster off him. His will to survive was commendable, driven by sheer desperation. Before long, Rusty''s broken blade made its way into the man''s flesh as he pierced it through one of the other monsters, a surprising feat for the one delivering the final strike. ''So it is possible?'' Congratulations you have gained a level. The battle concluded, and the mist began to clear away. The zombies continued to pile on top of the defeated adventurers in a gory display, while Rusty tried to comprehend how he had managed to pierce one of the other dungeon monsters. He soon concluded that it had only occurred by mistake during a confrontation with an enemy adventurer. When he attempted to strike any monster intentionally, he found himself still unable to do so. Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L3 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 69/69 Magic Points [MP] 53/53 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 67 [ F+ ] + 8 Agility 44 [ F ] + 5 Dexterity 45 [ F ] + 6 Constitution 64 [ F ] + 7 Intelligence 43 [ F ] + 4 Wisdom 48 [ F ] + 5 Willpower 48 [ F ] + 6 Durability F+ He didn''t have much time to deliberate on the possibilities as his attention was taken to his status screen. He noticed a few things, one of them being the much higher amount of stats that he was getting from these two levels ups than before. Previously he never got more than one attribute point in anything now he was getting multiple points in all of them. There was also one other interesting thing, his Strength stat received a plus to the letter ''F'' representing it. ''I think I get it¡­'' Rusty soon grasped the purpose of the letters. They served as a simplified means of gauging his power. After the numbers surpassed a specific threshold, the letter would transition. Although uncertain of the precise number, it appeared to be around sixty-six for the plus sign. Rusty speculated that if he halved this amount, then thirty-three might be the cutoff point for the minus sign. ''Could ninety-nine be the limit for the attributes? Does something happen once you get over it?'' There was no way for him to predict until he reached that point, but before that, he had other problems to address. Despite gaining two levels and defeating all the adventurers, his body bore the scars of battle. A massive hole adorned the side of his body from the recent axe hit, and his sword had snapped in the middle. Unsure of how to deal with his broken weapon and the injuries, Rusty faced uncertainty about how to proceed further without weapons and with holes in his body. ''Is there no way to take care of this¡­ Do I need to not get damaged before getting a new body?'' This felt somewhat unfair to Rusty, who grew weary of sustaining continuous damage. The adventurers proved to be a formidable foe, and he harbored doubts about defeating them without incurring any harm. Although he could risk death again, he remained uncertain whether he would be restored to the same state he had become. There had to be a way to mend himself, and soon enough, his system came to the rescue. While he stared at the destroyed blade and the hole in his armor, a pop-up screen materialized. Do you wish to use gathered materials to repair the damaged sword? Familiar with how these processes worked, Rusty promptly confirmed. As he did, the stash tab containing all his materials suddenly appeared. Please select the materials that you want to use. In his stash, Rusty found only three items: tin, copper, and bronze. To make things easier the icons representing the ingots were color-coded. The box containing the bronze ingot was green, while tin and copper were orange. Upon selecting the bronze, a peculiar phenomenon occurred on the surface of his broken blade. Gradually, it began to revert, as if time were being reversed, and within a minute, the blade was fully restored. ''This is it!'' With a cheer, Rusty held the restored sword high in the air. One of his major problems had just been resolved. Now, he only needed to concentrate on gathering more bronze to mend any future wounds. As long as he had enough, he would be able to restore both his body and weapons. The only downside was that it also used a few of his special points which would limit the repairs. ''Ah, no wait!'' His attention shifted back to the defeated adventurers, now mauled by the undead monsters. Before he could begin collecting their weapons and armor, the dungeon seemed eager to swallow them whole. The only item he managed to retrieve was the lone battle axe that had caused him an injury. ''There must be a better way of gathering those materials¡­'' While one battle had concluded, this marked only the beginning. Rusty, having tasted victory once more, felt his goal of becoming stronger drawing closer. He envisioned dominating this dark expanse, aspiring to become the strongest monster here and perhaps beyond. Chapter 10 – Dungeon Menace. Combining Tin and Copper please wait¡­ Bronze ingot has been created. ''It does work! Was this what the orange color meant?'' Rusty delved deeper into his newly discovered ability to use bronze ingots from his stash tab. He also had ingots of copper and tin, which he could combine to form the bronze necessary for repairing his body. Only after combining the two metals could he use them, as copper and tin didn''t integrate into his body independently. The process was intriguing, albeit costing SP, a resource crucial for many of his best skills. SP management posed a challenge; it took hours for the bar to recharge, and leveling up alone couldn''t increase the number. The only potential way to increase this resource was through evolving, and perhaps that was the sole method available. ''Now what should I do? What do you think?'' After shifting his attention away from the stash tab, he posed the question to a drooling monster. It was one of the undead, just standing in the crypt where he had dealt with the adventurers. The others behaved strangely for a moment; after the battle concluded, they stopped moving, and eventually, the graves they emerged from began to open. Slowly, some crawled back in, while others, like this one, stayed behind, becoming Rusty''s conversational partners. ''You don''t have anything to say Mr. Zombie? No one ever answers besides those two light balls, I wonder what they are up to.'' Some time had elapsed since his visit to the soul forge, and Rusty began to miss the creatures capable of conversing with him. This particular monster just stood there, with some sort of liquid oozing from its upper orifice. He gave it a few pokes, but the creature eventually departed when one of the graves opened up for it. ''Not even going to say goodbye? How rude! Fine, I''ll get stronger without your help!'' After shaking his metallic fist in anger, Rusty picked up the large axe that had remained. Fortunately, it didn''t vanish like the rest of the adventurer armor that the zombies brutalized. One other piece of equipment that he had managed to wrestle away from his monstrous friends was a sword sheath. After strapping it to his body he would not have to constantly hold his corroded blade with his hands anymore. It appeared that as long as he didn''t leave equipment on the ground for too long, the dungeon would not be able to absorb it. Perhaps it possessed a skill akin to his material absorption, which made sense as he often witnessed some of the holes within this place mending themselves. ''The voice hasn''t been telling me much since I got to this level, I wonder why.'' Upon descending to the second floor, he noticed something peculiar. The voice didn''t instruct him to patrol anything; it was as if he was somewhat free from its grasp. While it still prevented him from attacking other monsters deliberately, if he accidentally struck them, the voice did not intervene. Despite his attempts after the last battle, he found himself unable to perform an attack even from a distance. ''Should I stay here, or try another location¡­'' Rusty had emerged victorious, and his strategy appeared to be yielding results. However, for some reason, he felt an inclination not to linger here. The adventurers seemed to be cooperative beings, forming groups and coming to each other''s aid. Though uncertain, he couldn''t shake the feeling that someone stronger might arrive to investigate the fate of the defeated group. ''One of them mentioned something, a guild? I think this guild thing isn''t anything good but¡­ I won''t let it stop me either!'' Perhaps he needed to exercise caution, but this wasn''t the only spot where he could defeat enemies. Equipped with his quiver and poisonous leeches, he had alternative means to overcome other foes. These were not his only resources. Upon reaching the second level, he extensively explored the area and found other interesting things that could aid him. Thus, armed with the means to defeat the foes that he had previously feared, it was time for him to begin the hunt. He only had access to the first and second floor, but the latter was about twice the size of the one he was initially summoned to. While navigating through it, he encountered several interesting chambers, such as the zombie-filled one. It became evident that this floor contained more concentrated danger zones with fewer monsters traveling between them. There were other places that he could hunt the adventurers and there was no reason to just wait for another party to arrive at the crypt location. ''It must be my lucky day!'' After arriving at the next location, Rusty had to wait for a few minutes until his next target arrived. The place resembled a wide corridor with seemingly nothing interesting. However, upon inspecting the ground, he noticed strange square tiles with various symbols on them. When adventurers entered, they moved in a peculiar pattern over those square tiles, hopping between them. ''This one will be more difficult¡­ but I can do it!'' Rusty psyched himself up while preparing his new scheme. This room held a certain secret that could be used to defeat the four people passing through it. Once they were around the middle of the long corridor, he decided to make himself known. "Hey, what is that thing doing there? That''s not supposed to happen." The place was well-lit, and he was waiting at the other end where the party was heading. His metallic body was easily visible, but that didn''t matter as he only needed to place himself on a specific tile for his plan to work. As he stepped on it, a clicking sound resonated, and a large slab descended, blocking both the entrance and the exit. In response the adventurers started shouting, clearly confused by what was happening. "The monster set off the trap? Did the guild give us faulty information?" "T-the sides!" "Shit, get ready! The trap has been triggered!" One of the individuals pointed to various rocks sliding to the sides, revealing more monsters. A combination of zombies, skeletons, and corroded armor pieces that resembled the old variant to which Rusty used to belong slowly emerged from small pockets within the walls. They quickly turned to face the small group of adventurers. The monsters outnumbered the adventurers four to one, but this wasn''t an immediate death sentence. Rusty was well aware of the strength these adventurers could possess, and without bringing the poisonous worms with him, this plan would likely fail. "There is something wrong with that living armor¡­ what is it doing?" Basic Archery has reached level 3 As in the previous battle, Rusty employed the exact same tactic of introducing poison into this chamber. With both the entrance and exit now closed off, the poisonous mist produced by the little creatures spread rapidly. He fired off a few arrows into the distance to ensure that it covered the entire area, and just like before, the adventurers had no answer to this tactic. They began to cough, and in their weakened state, they became perfect targets for the monster onslaught. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. With not many arrows remaining in his quiver, but enough to produce the poisonous cloud, the rest of the battle would need to be fought at close range. Rusty had strapped his original sword to his body, but for this occasion, he wielded the sturdier iron axe he had taken from the other party. Charging at the group overwhelmed by the twenty or so monsters, he aimed to join the fray. "T-the cleansing potions¡­" Some of them tried to drink some type of blue-colored liquid but were unable to as they were rushed by the monsters from all directions. Their skin started turning purple and veins bulged out which gave Rusty all the information that he needed to know. Soon he swung down his axe at one of the people but to his surprise, he could not use it too well. ''Something feels off¡­'' The weapon was clearly superior to his one-handed sword, but Rusty found swinging it to be jarring. Even when he landed a few hits, they weren''t too precise and lacked power. He managed to use his power slash skill with it, but something wasn''t quite right; it was as if his current body was not suited for handling this weapon. It felt similar to the time when he was still only a Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor, and he had an inkling as to why this was the case. Soon, he decided to just throw the axe at one of the adventurers and pulled out his sword from the sheath. "Arghh¡­" "N-no stay away¡­" "I¡­ I can''t die here¡­" With the combined powers of the dungeon monsters and the poison the group of four eventually succumbed to the ambush. They thought valiantly and even managed to defeat ten of the undead monsters but the more they struggled, the more the poison spread within their bodies. Even after drinking potions, without being able to leave this trapped corridor it was pointless. Soon the whole corridor was covered in silence and Rusty was rewarded with another level up. Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L4 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 72/72 Magic Points [MP] 55/55 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 70 [ F+ ] +3 Agility 46 [ F ] +2 Dexterity 47 [ F ] +2 Constitution 67 [ F + ] +3 Intelligence 46 [ F ] +2 Wisdom 50 [ F ] +2 Willpower 50 [ F ] +2 Durability F+ ''Hey, stop eating them!'' The battle was won, and he had suffered a few minor scratches here and there. While it might not be the most honorable way of fighting, using the other monsters as meat shields was proving effective. Previously, he was unable to even harm one of these fleshy humanoids, but now he had successfully defeated two whole parties. His level had increased from one to four in just a span of one day, and perhaps there were even more gains to be had. ''Hey, give me that!'' After wrestling away a few pieces of armor, he started absorbing the metals inside. To his surprise, the best source of bronze was from the other corroded armor pieces left by the two living armors that had been with him. Their pieces were scattered around the corridor and seemed quite compatible with his skill. It appeared that after the monsters were considered dead, they reverted to just armor that he could now use. The loot here was a bit better, but soon it was vanishing like before. Rusty wished to collect more of everything to use later, but there were no areas in the dungeon that wouldn''t swallow them up. He discarded the axe he had used and instead decided to grab an iron longsword. It now became clear that without the passive skill for using certain weapon types, he would be unable to use them proficiently. ''I feel like I should be gaining some skills¡­ but I''m not¡­'' After these few confrontations, he was left pondering some of the leftover memories. He was sure that people were able to gain skills through means other than just leveling up. However, he had to use the absorption skill to gain most of his, and the rest were obtained through leveling up. Perhaps after he visited the soul forge again, one of the balls of light could give him an answer, but for now, he needed to move towards the third location. This was not the last spot he had discovered that could allow him to grind levels faster. Having used up the poison leeches, which were unnecessary for this location, Rusty now needed to gather more arrows. Soon, a few Skeletal Scouts were left without a quiver or bow, as the one he had used had also broken down. The repairing skill didn''t work on weapons acquired from others but only on his own bronze blade. The rest needed to be replaced by other means. After a long walk, he finally arrived at the last destination, which seemingly looked like a dead end with no place to go but down. He now stood before a deep chasm with no clear bottom. Even when he accidentally kicked some rocks down, there was no echo, as if it were a bottomless pit. Normally, this place wouldn''t offer much besides falling down to his doom, but in the distance was his current target - a set of dangling bridges. It was a path leading to a different section of this dungeon level and also the next set of stairs, probably leading to the third floor. During his scouting trip, he noticed that people tended to go through this place to reach the other side. There were only some monsters at both ends, but nothing on the sides. He was sure that no one was expecting him, as he had already confirmed it. ''They are getting information from this guild but they never accounted for me.'' The longer he lived in this dungeon, the more he could analyze his main opponents. Initially, these adventurers seemed like powerful foes that he could never hope to defeat, but now things were different. They were ill-equipped and unprepared for an unexpected turn of events, and he was starting to believe that they lacked intelligence as well. Thus, he waited for his prey to appear, and finally, after an hour or so, another group of four emerged. They dispatched the monsters that were waiting at the start of one of the bridges. Then, they continued on their way through the seemingly bottomless chasm. The bridge they took was made of wood and vine and would wobble around slightly. Yet, even with this danger, the adventurers didn''t seem to mind going through it together. Rusty wasn''t sure why they were so convinced that it wouldn''t crumble, but he attributed it to the same reason the other two parties fell - lack of intelligence and overreliance on old information. Soon, he notched one of the arrows into the bow and aimed. He found the perfect spot just so he could easily hit the adventurers who were passing over the bridge. The arrow started glowing as he used the basic power shot skill that he absorbed from the skeletal scouts. After releasing the arrow, it sailed through the air, finding its mark and striking the adventurer in the back. The individual staggered, letting out a cry of surprise. The others turned to look at the screaming man who staggered and fell over the bridge to his doom. ''Hah! This is too easy!'' S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty felt something in his chest as he saw the man plummet to his doom. The continuous victories were slowly increasing his self-confidence that had been previously destroyed after his first two deaths. Quickly, he was realizing that perhaps these opponents weren''t as formidable as he previously thought. They were panicking and not really able to do anything, so he continued to unload more arrows without worrying about being hit himself. The tunnel he was in lacked any light, but the area where the bridge was situated was quite well-lit. As the adventurers scrambled to face the threat, Rusty continued to fire arrows from his vantage point. The wobbling bridge made it challenging for them to maintain their balance. The element of surprise gave Rusty a significant advantage, and soon, another target was hit, this time wounding another man on the leg. Due to the shaking and screaming, the monsters on the uncleared end were now alerted to the adventurers'' presence and started to slowly move in their direction, something that Rusty was counting on. The wounded adventurer struggled to stand, while his companions desperately tried to stabilize him. The monsters, sensing the vulnerability, closed in. Rusty continued his barrage of arrows, targeting the weakened individual. The glowing arrows struck with precision, causing chaos among the group. "Damn it! We need to get off this bridge!" One of the adventurers yelled. "I''m sorry¡­ but I''m not going to die here!" Another adventurer did the same, and to Rusty''s surprise, the wounded person had been abandoned while the other two ran to save their skins. With the target being more stationary, he decided to focus on the wounded man, as gaining experience was the main point of this strategy. While this allowed the other two to escape to a safe location, the man left behind eventually succumbed to the arrow barrage and also fell down into the dark chasm. ''Oh well¡­ two out of four isn''t bad¡­ but I didn''t get that much experience out of this one¡­'' He couldn''t help but feel a mix of satisfaction and disappointment in not being able to defeat the whole group before they ran. Chasing after them was a possibility, but he would probably not be able to find them. The continuous victories had bolstered his confidence, and he craved more. Thus, his hunt continued, and the dungeon had finally become his hunting ground, or at least that''s what he thought without realizing what he had set in motion that very day. Soon he would realize, that perhaps he shouldn''t have underestimated the people called adventurers. Patreon Announcement/Reminder +Bonus chapter? As some of you might know, this story also resides on my Patreon. It''s up to chapter 29 on it and you can read quite a few chapters just for 1€ and all of it for 10€The link to my Patreon is: https://www.patreon.com/Kuropon Now you might be wondering why I put ''Bonus Chapter'' in the description. I have not yet recieved a single review and also not that many ratings, so I''m not sure how you people feel about this story. I would appreciate it if you could rate it and also leave a review of your initial thoughts, it doesn''t have to be an advanced one or highly rated either but I think you can lower and heighten ratings even after you make a review. So then, if I see the ratings going up and maybe 10 initial thoughts in the reviews, I''ll release a bonus chapter! If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. So, if you are interested subscribe to my Patreon! However, remember that it charges each time on the 1st so it''s always better to wait until the next month starts before doing it. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If you''re not that interested, I would still appreciate some ratings and initial thoughts on the story. Think that''s about it, I hope to see you guys later. Thanks for reading as always and hope you are enjoying this new story. Chapter 11 – The Guild. "What are you talking about? That''s impossible.""Say that to my party member that got pierced by a damn arrow! That bridge was supposed to be safe, we followed the guild instructions and now both of them are dead!" "We would need to confirm your claims, the dungeon is set for another shift in another five months, it''s impossible that something changed this early." "How will you do that, they both fell into that bottomless pit, are you going to have someone climb down here? Even if they did, what would that accomplish, the dungeon would have swallowed up their bodies already!" "I understand, but please stop shouting¡­" "How can I stop? You sold us faulty information!" A large man was shouting at a smaller woman wearing large glasses. She was wearing a unique uniform that marked her as a member of the Adventurer Guild''s management staff. The woman took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure despite the heated confrontation. Her adventurer guild uniform was a striking blend of functionality and style, designed for both practicality and recognition. The rich navy blue fabric, though understated, carried a strong visual identity. The outfit featured a floor-length skirt that gracefully reached the ankles, and a prominent guild badge adorned with a layered arrangement of sword, shield, and staff, indicating her affiliation with the guild. "Is there a problem?" A man asked, his voice calm but authoritative. "Ah Sir¡­" Amidst the commotion, a person materialized beside the woman, who served as one of the many receptionists in the expansive building. The counter they occupied was just one of many within the vast structure. For her safety, especially from the adventurer elements, her section of the counter was segregated and protected by thick metallic bars. The man who appeared stood on the adventurer''s side, who showed no signs of backing off despite the circumstances. "The problem is your guild selling faulty information." Other adventurers and onlookers began to turn their attention toward the unfolding scene. In a place where reliable information was crucial, claims of a disturbance attracted the curiosity of those seeking help. The man who had appeared seemed prepared to request the adventurer to quiet down, but before he could speak, another adventurer chimed in, adding to the growing interest and speculation among the onlookers. "Hey, haven''t some of the new parties not returned yet? A priest from the church was here the other day, I think that he was asking for a cleric who didn''t return from an expedition." "Now that you say it¡­ I think another group had also gone missing¡­" Everyone started mumbling and the news that something strange was happening within the dungeon. The woman behind the counter exchanged a quick glance with the man who had appeared beside her. It was clear that they were not expecting such an uproar over what seemed like an isolated incident. The adventurer guild took pride in providing accurate and up-to-date information to its members, and any suggestion of misinformation was a serious matter. "If this has any validity¡­ then we need to investigate." The man looked to the receptionist who quickly turned to the man who had been shouting before. "Sir, could you please calm down and provide us with more details? We take these matters seriously, and we will investigate the claims. This gentleman here will take your statement, so please follow him." The adventurer exchanged glances with the brawny man from the guild, who sported an eyepatch over one eye, reflecting a grizzled and experienced demeanor. They eventually moved to a more secluded spot where the younger man gathered himself and began to explain the situation. He recounted the events that unfolded in the dungeon, emphasizing the strange attack coming from a faraway location. "An arrow? Was it a Skeleton Scout?" "No, I saw it for a moment, it looked different¡­ it was reflecting light and wearing armor." "Armor?" The man with the eyepatch furrowed his brow, deep in thought. The details provided were intriguing and raised questions about the nature of the dungeon''s inhabitants. He took notes on the adventurer''s statement, making sure to document the discrepancies between the reported incident and the guild''s information. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. In the meantime, please refrain from spreading panic among the other adventurers. We don''t want to cause unnecessary chaos." The brawny man spoke with authority, and the adventurer nodded in agreement. After managing to calm down a bit the man that reported the issue went away and the adventurer guild staff remained. "What do you think, guild leader? Was that person making it up?" The receptionist lady asked the man after the issue was resolved. The adventurers inside the guild continued to whisper and chat, it was now something that they couldn''t ignore. "It might be a lie but¡­" "But?" "We can''t ignore it now, the guild''s name is on the line, schedule a meeting for the scouting party and let them check those claims." "Of course, sir." "Don''t call me sir, I''m not that old, I''m only thirty eight!" "Uh¡­sure¡­" The man scratched his beard before walking away, leaving the lady receptionist to roll her eyes in annoyance. Once he was gone, she resumed her work, realizing that it was now her responsibility to get to the bottom of this situation. Assembling a scouting party became imperative; while adventurers going missing wasn''t an uncommon occurrence, the fact that they vanished within a seemingly safe zone added an unusual element to the mystery. ***** ''What was different that time around? I''m not getting the same feeling with these creatures now¡­'' Rusty pondered, reflecting on the successful adventurer slaying he had executed some time ago. Memories of his first kill resurfaced, the necessity to use his helmet to incapacitate one adventurer, and the subsequent struggle to deliver a finishing blow to an injured woman, which then led him to almost being discovered. Over time, he had slain multiple adventurers, and any initial remorse had faded. Instead, he found himself fixated on leveling up and growing stronger. ''Was it because they were injured by another person? Hm, that''s not quite it¡­'' Since his visit to the soul forge, Rusty had experienced a surge in strength and wisdom. He now knew that he had swallowed two entities, which somehow fused with his essence. The black orb claimed that the knowledge inside him belonged to these two orbs. Rusty could only deduce that his actions might be influenced by those memories or the entities themselves. However, as he grew stronger, their hold on him seemed to waver, and he considered the possibility that he was becoming more of his own person. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ''Not like these creatures would show me any mercy either and they kill the others with no remorse either, there is no reason to stop! But¡­ it doesn''t feel great either¡­'' Rusty didn''t outright reject the memories of the two orbs; he recognized that it was thanks to them that he advanced further in his quest for strength. Those memories guided him towards a more strategic approach in combat, emphasizing the importance of being sneaky and engaging the enemy once the playing field was leveled. As he grew stronger, Rusty began to feel that a direct approach was now possible, but only against weaker opponents at the upper levels. ''There is no honor in hunting a much weaker foe or one that doesn''t give me any experience points!'' With time, the sentient piece of armor developed its own set of rules and a moral compass. While it deemed humans as worthy foes, it refrained from taking the direct route. However, a conflict arose within Rusty as he harbored the desire to face them head-on eventually, seeking a fair and equal battle to determine the superior fighter. One part of him urged for more subterfuge and treachery, emphasizing the element of surprise as his primary weapons. Another part, however, craved a more honorable approach. Now that Rusty could restore his armor without relying on the voice, the prospect of a more honorable approach seemed plausible. The internal conflict continued to shape his evolving moral compass and approach to combat. Uncertain if his current mindset was the right way to think, Rusty grappled with the conflict within him. However, one thing remained paramount - his main goal of achieving strength. The notion of having power simply for the sake of an easy life didn''t quite sit well with him. ''Could the answer be somewhere in the middle?'' Rusty considered that perhaps the correct path forward lay in the middle and found balance while seeking guidance from both sides. Why choose between two extremes when the middle ground seemed like a viable alternative? ''All this thinking is making my head hurt¡­ that is if I had anything inside of it!'' A piece of armor started quivering around as it tried to imitate laughter but instead was shaking menacingly. The only other being that was here with him was an unmoving zombie that was drooling all over itself. Without any adventurers around these things just stood there without even moving or patrolling. ''Cheer up.'' Rusty pushed his metallic fingers into the monster''s mouth in an attempt to make it smile. However, he wasn''t too delicate with it, causing the jaw to become dislodged. Instantly, he received a warning from the dungeon voice, interpreting it as an attack against another monster - something he hoped to be rid of eventually. ''Okay, okay¡­ I''ll put it back in place!'' Rusty attempted to grab the wobbly jaw and put it back into place, but his efforts only exacerbated the situation. The dungeon voice became so loud that he was forced to back away and leave the zombie alone. The monster was left with a strange perpetual open mouth, its jaw barely hanging on by a few skinfolds. ''Now then¡­ should I head up? Or remain here instead?'' After dealing with almost three adventurer parties he was feeling good about himself. Rusty contemplated his next move. The lack of adventurers at the designated spots left him in a dilemma. He could either continue his assault on unsuspecting parties or he could ascend to the level he was created in and try his luck there. The groups that roamed that floor were weaker but there weren''t as many opportunities there either. ''I should go see the first floor, no one has gone through here in a while.'' Eventually, Rusty decided to return to the upper levels. He observed that, for some reason, he hadn''t encountered any other parties venturing down since his previous victories. A fleeting doubt crossed his mind about whether using the bridges had been the right decision; he hadn''t gained much experience there, and two humanoid creatures had managed to escape. Nonetheless, there was no harm in returning to the upper levels for a closer look. Rusty grabbed his new bow and poisonous leeches before making his way back up. On the way up, as Rusty began ascending the stairs, he noticed that his poisonous ammunition burst into fleshy bits. It became evident that taking living creatures from the lower floor to a higher one was not possible. The reason for this limitation eluded him, but it meant he would be unable to employ his previous tactic of poisoning his enemies through the air, at least not in the same manner as before. ''I guess this will have to do¡­'' Adapting to the new circumstances, Rusty opted to smear his blade and armor with the poison that liquified. While he aimed to face opponents more directly, he wasn''t willing to forego the benefits of poison. His immunity to this status effect was a part of his strength, and he intended to use it to his advantage. ''GO!'' ''Oh, it''s back?'' Back on the first floor, the voice urged Rusty to start patrolling once again. While it remained one of his fears, he recognized that he needed to move around in certain areas. However, he could now take breaks and be more cautious of the route than before. This approach allowed him to keep an eye out for potential targets, offering him the opportunity to engage in a proper display of strength. Even if Rusty faltered and started losing, he knew he had one secret technique that would likely allow him to survive. This assurance kept him from worrying too much about the potential challenges he might face. Everything felt quite familiar to Rusty, considering he had spent most of his short life on this very floor. The atmosphere remained the same, with the sound of distant footsteps and muffled voices reaching his metallic ears. While it seemed like there were fewer people around, he didn''t dwell on it and proceeded toward the source of the sounds. Arriving at the area where he was once defeated, he noticed that the same vitality leaf had reappeared. Just like before a party of adventurers appeared, this one only consisted of three people. Their levels were lower than the people that he encountered at the lower levels and it seemed that there was also no one hiding up on the walls. Fighter L4 Fighter L4 Thief L3 S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty easily identified the levels of the group and made a decision. This presented a good opportunity to test out his leveled-up skills and stats. The chamber was spacious, and other monsters were present, potentially aiding him in keeping two of the three opponents busy. First, he examined the group''s attire to locate the best target for the upcoming battle. The two Fighters had the exact same level but wielded different types of equipment. One held a metallic club, identified as a mace, while the other held a sword. Knowing that his body was most susceptible to blunt attacks, Rusty decided that facing the man with the sword was a better idea. Despite his desire to prove his strength, caution remained a priority. Soon the first stage of the plan commenced as he allowed the other monsters from the dungeon to notice the group of three. Even though his side had the numbers advantage, his brethren were quite easy to dispatch. The other armors could be kicked away and they would crumble into many pieces. The monsters within the chamber started to converge on the adventurers. The Fighters swung their weapons at the approaching armors, easily dispatching them with powerful blows. The Thief darted between the attacks, finding openings to strike at the monsters from behind. Despite the adventurers'' lower levels, their teamwork and coordination were impressive. The events unfolded in a manner similar to the previous battle, and the group seemed to encounter no problems as they approached the vitality leaf pronounced by the light hitting the tree stump. It was now time for Rusty to make his appearance, knowing he would only get one surprise attack, and he needed to make it count. "Argh!" Armed with his poison sword and a body that didn''t produce as much sound, Rusty finally jumped out from behind a destroyed pillar. His blade shone as he activated the Power Thrust skill, plunging his weapon into the mace wielder''s thigh. The man was shocked and turned around while swinging his weapon, but Rusty quickly performed a backstep to avoid getting hit. Even though his primary target was the sword wielder, Rusty knew he needed to weaken the other two first. His blade, smeared with a potent poison, served as the perfect distraction, and now the battle was fully underway. "What? Where did that thing come from?" The second fighter shouted while quickly trying to aid his now injured friend. As expected, a kick was sent in Rusty''s direction, but this time he was ready. He had identified a significant weakness in himself - his body was metal and more resistant than the fleshy skin of his enemies, but it was hollow inside, making him relatively light. In contrast, the human he was fighting likely weighed three times his own weight or perhaps even more. Utilizing this knowledge, Rusty agilely dodged the kick, allowing the Fighter to overextend and lose balance. Taking advantage of the opening, Rusty retaliated with a series of quick slashes aimed at the fighter''s exposed areas. While most of the attacks didn''t hit, one managed to nick an area between the armor Rusty was using. His sword, now covered in blood, still retained some poison on it. His plan seemed to have worked as the man with the sword started chasing after him. The thief, on the other hand, attempted to aid his friend but was surrounded by some of the other weaker monsters still present. More and more continued to rush in, and while previously they wouldn''t have been a problem, now one of the men was injured, and the other needed to protect him from the increasing numbers of enemies. "This is it!" Rusty parried the sword strikes and continued to hold his own against the human. He could discern the attack patterns, and his body was now able to react. Despite suffering some slashes, he returned them in kind, finally savoring the proper battle he had hoped for all this time. Chapter 12 – Craving Battle. ''I''m really doing it!''Rusty''s sword grazed his opponent''s cheek, causing his rage-filled expression to waver. The poison was doing its work, further weakening the adventurer. Rusty seized this opportunity to push the advantage, relentlessly pressing his attacks. The Fighter who was now visibly fatigued, struggled to defend himself against the relentless assault. Meanwhile, the other fighter, along with the thief, was having some trouble against the other monster skeletons and living armors. It seemed they were not prepared for this type of situation, as only on the floor below did the poisonous leeches exist. Without having to worry about these status effects, it was possible that these individuals didn''t bring any antidotes for such an occasion, and Rusty''s tactic was relying on this possibility. He persisted, slowly improving his own movements. It was a strange feeling, but he could sense his actions becoming more refined and his body reacting in a more streamlined fashion. The fact that his opponent was affected by the poison also helped, but Rusty was actively becoming stronger and learning from his first real one-on-one confrontation. Basic Swordsmanship has leveled up. A message sounded out, but he ignored it and stepped in to deliver a blow to his opponent. Instead of the scratches he was making before, this one strike drew blood on the man''s side. Rusty didn''t go uninjured, though, as the man''s blade also made its way towards his chest. However, even though this wasn''t the first gash on his armor, he was still able to continue. His body was made of metal and ran on mana and not blood. As long as his limbs weren''t pulled apart or destroyed, he would be able to continue without ever tiring. This was one thing he noticed about these adventurers that he didn''t have - a stamina meter. Rusty always kept his distance before attacking, and he had observed that his enemies suffered from a debuff of sorts that made them sluggish. There was a similar state when it came to him when he depleted all of his mana, but as long as he had some left, he could move around without ever getting slower. As the Fighter stumbled backward, Rusty seized the opportunity. With a powerful swing of his poisoned blade, he aimed for a critical strike. The sword connected, slashing through the Fighter''s armor and inflicting a deep wound. The adventurer fell to the ground, defeated and writhing in pain. It was time to savor his victory and deliver the final blow. Rusty moved in, his blade raised high as he prepared to activate his power slash skill. With one grand attack, he was attempting to dislodge the man''s head from his neck - a rather large weak point that these humanoid creatures had. The other two were close to beating the other monsters, so he needed to hurry, but before the last strike could be carried out, an unfortunate event occurred. The attack came from behind, connecting with his raised arm that was holding the sword. It went into the metal and took his whole forearm, along with his sword to the ground. To his surprise, the three adventurers here didn''t seem to be alone, as another person appeared to aid them. He quickly turned to the person to attempt an identification check, but to his surprise, he could not perceive this person''s level - a situation that had never happened before. Archer L?? The mysterious archer, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere, was an enigma to Rusty. His level remained hidden and shrouded in mystery. Despite the shock of losing a large portion of his arm, Rusty was still able to remain calm. He was an inorganic being that could not feel any pain, even if his arm was gone it would not affect his psyche. The archer held a longbow and was already nocking another arrow and ready to fire. "What''s with that living armor, it''s different from the others?" The archer spoke out from afar and was ready to fire again, but some luck was still on Rusty''s side. Monsters from within this large chamber moved towards this man''s location and forced him to focus on them. However, this person was much more nimble than anyone that had previously visited this dungeon. With one shot of his bow, he was able to pierce through multiple monsters and embed them on a nearby collapsed pillar. It was clear that this person was vastly superior to anything that Rusty had seen before and probably not someone that he could face without subterfuge. ''It might be time to use that¡­'' While the fourth adventurer was momentarily busy, Rusty decided to grab his arm that was now on the ground with a large arrow inside of it. This arrow had pierced right through his gauntlet and vambrace parts, just in the place where they connected. The ground was brittle enough for him to be able to yank it back out and after connecting it back to his body, he was able to move it around as the elbow joint went undamaged. However, the enemy that he had almost defeated had used this chance to get away. Pursuing him would inevitably expose Rusty to another arrow from the skilled archer. Instead, he hoisted his blade high into the air in a manner visible to all. This tactic successfully diverted the adventurers'' attention, as their gaze fixated on the raised sword. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What is that thing doing?" The adventurer who had previously appeared called out, having quickly cleared the monsters around him in less than half a minute. His gaze was fixated on the raised sword, and simultaneously he readied another arrow to target Rusty standing nearby. To his surprise, before he could release his projectile, a blinding surge of light erupted from the rusty blade. "W-what? Damn, my eyes!" Rusty had just enough mana in himself to use the Basic Elemental Charge skill that he had learned. Opting for the light element, he infused his sword to create a dazzling burst of radiant light. Although it wouldn''t inflict direct harm on the adventurers, it served its purpose by momentarily blinding them and providing Rusty the opportunity to escape. With haste, he dashed into one of the numerous corridors, stifling the persistent calls of the dungeon voice urging him to continue the fight. The compulsion to heed the voice lessened upon activating the elemental skill, a perk Rusty had tested and discovered earlier. His secret technique involved fleeing while suppressing the commands for slaughter from the persistent voice. The other monsters could not hold themselves back from attacking which would keep the adventures from catching up to him. Despite being encased in heavy metal armor that hindered his speed, he remained unconcerned about traps or monsters, something the pursuers would have to contend with. ''It might be better to go down to the lower floor!'' Rusty made his way to the staircase leading down to the lower floor. His metal footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor as he made his escape. The adventurers, still recovering from the blinding light, struggled to give chase. The archer, in particular, had difficulty adjusting his vision and the pursuing monsters proved to be an additional hindrance. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ***** "What the hell was that? I''ve never seen a living armor act like this¡­ or any monster before?" "Oy, what''s the hold-up?" Having successfully eluded capture, Rusty left the adventurers behind in the chamber where the vitality leaf spawned. As he made his way to safety, three other people arrived from behind the corridor that the archer ventured through. The one that called out to him was clearly of the dwarven race. "I think we are finished with the scouting job." The archer squinted while some tears escaped from his eyes. The dwarven companion started chuckling mockingly, clearly trying to rile up his companion. "Are you crying? Do you need me to call your mommy?" "What? That thing just uses some type of blinding spell¡­ It caught me off guard, it won''t happen again" "Haha, are you sure you didn''t just pee your pants instead?" The dwarf''s grin widened, and his laughter echoed throughout the expansive chamber. The archer, growing increasingly irritated, pointed his bow in the direction of his carefree ally. The dwarven man, in response but still grinning, raised his large halberd in a defensive stance. However, before the situation could escalate another voice resonated from behind them. "Hey, Reistel knock it off, leave Keyon alone, we all saw the flash of light, you''d have been blinded too." A woman wearing dark leather armor appeared between the two and managed to calm the situation down. "Hah, you humans are easy to rile up!" The woman shook her head around and turned to the man named Keyon for some clarification. "What happened? What was that bright white light?" "I''m not sure, either the monster was using a magical blade or it''s an Irregular." "An irregular monster has spawned on this floor? But the information stated that strange things were happening on the second floor but not on this one? If it''s an irregular, then we need to chase it down!" "Wait, calm down Livi, I got it with one of my arrows, as long as it has it, I''ll be able to track it. We should probably help those three newbies first, two of them seemed to have been poisoned by that thing." The woman, referred to as Livi, sighed and nodded in agreement. A fourth member emerged from behind, clad in a heavier set of armor and wielding a large tower shield. Without uttering a word, he moved toward one of the corridors where a few monsters began to emerge. While the trio focused on assisting the lower-level adventurers, he effortlessly dispatched the small wave of insignificant monsters, each with a single strike from his large mace. "You have our thanks." "No problem, but first take this antidote and then tell us about what happened here." "Of course." The thief quickly received a blue potion to aid his two party members, with the majority administered to the injured fighter who had fallen victim to the surprise attack. Despite losing a considerable amount of blood and succumbing to poisoning, the mysterious mending liquids allowed for rapid recovery. Following the administration of the antidote, the fighter''s skin complexion gradually shifted back from its previous purple hue. Afterward, a red potion was employed to seal the wound inflicted by the living armor''s blade. "This should do but your friend lost some blood, he will still need some time to recover. Now, tell us what happened here." Livi posed the question now after the trio of adventurers seemed to be alright and they quickly replied. "It all happened when that weird armor appeared, it actually surprise attacked my friend here." "Do living armors have a sneak attack skill?" "I don''t think so¡­ they should be more similar to fighters and later knights? But if it''s an irregular monster, then perhaps it had gained some thief skills?" The adventurers began pondering the situation among themselves as the party that had encountered the living armor recounted the events. They explained how the armored adversary had struck with a weapon coated in poison, incapacitating one of their comrades. Additionally, the metal monster had cleverly employed the other ones as a shield, isolating the remaining fighter from the group. "That''s quite the intelligent monster¡­ either it was all luck or this thing is more like a natural monster than a dungeon-created one, what do you think, Keyon?" "Considering that it had chosen to escape when in danger, it seems to have a sense of itself and survival instincts, could a monster from outside have wandered into the dungeon instead of it being an irregular?" "This is quite strange indeed¡­ but weren''t normal monsters supposed to be afraid of dungeons? Wouldn''t the other monsters attack them instantly?" "You make a good point there¡­ It must have been a monster from this dungeon, there is no other explanation for it." Keyon responded to Livi, who was grappling with the strangeness of the situation. The behavior of this irregular monster seemed to be different and didn''t make much sense. From time to time such an irregular monster would appear in a dungeon. They were usually mini-bosses that had heightened stats. The monster that almost killed a man in this party at first seemed like one. However, just the fact that it chose to escape made it seem like it was not a typical irregular monster. Then there were outside monsters that had a more self-centered identity, it would make sense for them to act like this. However, typically, monsters with higher intelligence, born outside dungeons, would not venture into such domains. A force usually kept them at bay, and as long as a dungeon heart was present, they would be repelled. Only higher-tier creatures could overcome this barrier, and the living armor they encountered did not seem to possess that level of strength. "Oy, what you two worrying about?" "Huh?" As Keyon and Livi attempted to comprehend the situation, their bushy-bearded dwarven companion chimed in from the side. Leaning on his halberd with a grin, he quickly added. "Don''t we just need to slay that thing and our job will be over? If it runs away from someone like Keyon here, then it can''t be that strong. I bet the guild will give us a nice bonus if we take care of it!" "Well, that''s¡­ True¡­" Livi replied while Keyon frowned as Reistel implied that he was weak. "This mission was just to scout out the second floor, but tell me Keyon how strong was that monster?" She asked again while assessing the situation. Livi, as the leader of the party, faced the need to make a decisive decision. The targeted monster might be nearby, which would enable them to swiftly accomplish their mission. Despite not deeming this dungeon overly dangerous, they remained cautious and recognized that a few areas could be problematic even for them. "I don''t know, some Irregulars are capable of calling in reinforcements quickly¡­" "What of it? All these monsters are just F-rank, we can deal with all of them easily!" The dwarven man chimed in, his halberd now positioned over his shoulder. It was clear that he wanted to push on to take care of this creature now and not wait for later. Livi turned her attention to her archer companion for some confirmation as it was he that had seen the creature. "How strong was it?" "I didn''t manage to identify the name but by its movements, I''d say that it''s at most an F plus rank." Distracted by the presence of the three adventurers and the other monsters, Keyon was unable to identify the monster''s classification and level. Nevertheless, his keen observational skills allowed him to gauge the opponents'' levels to some extent, even without directly consulting their status screens. "F plus? Haha, this is going to be easy money! I say we go after it! You said that you would be able to track it, right?" "Sure but what about these guys?" Keyon pointed to the three young adventurers who had been injured previously. They had been weakened and one of them could not walk on his own. This was when the previously silent member of the group approached. Despite his imposing appearance, his eyes showed a glimmer of concern as he examined the injured adventurers. "I''ll take them to safety." "Aye, let us leave it up to Dedrick!" Eventually, the leader of the group gave in to the request and they split into two groups. Dedrick took charge of guiding the three injured adventurers to safety, with the plan to reunite with the main party afterward. Meanwhile, the remaining members decided to pursue the monster, their aim to complete their mission and perhaps get a better reward after. They moved quickly through the corridors, effortlessly dispatching the low-ranked F monsters that posed no challenge to their skilled party. After a while, they reached a juncture, a place that they didn''t expect. "Hey, isn''t that one of yours?" "Yes, it is¡­" "Can you still track it?" "For a short while but¡­" The group found themselves in an unexpected location - at the stairs leading to the lower floor of the dungeon. The arrow that had pierced through the living armor''s forearm lay on the ground, indicating that the creature had descended further into the lower level. "Can Irregular monsters normally go between floors?" "They shouldn''t¡­" "Now this is getting even more interesting, an irregular monster that acts like a monster from outside the dungeon!" The dwarven man was quite intrigued by this turn of events but now the party needed to make a decision. Should they venture further down into a potentially more hazardous area, or would it be wiser to contact the guild and request backup before proceeding? Chapter 13 – Tactical Retreat. ''What was up with that guy? Why was he so fast?''Rusty asked himself while almost tumbling down the stairs to the lower floor of the dungeon. A hole remained from the arrow that had pierced through his arm, but its size didn''t warrant spending his precious bronze resources on repairs just yet. One bar of bronze from his stash tab could mend a much bigger opening so it was better to save it until his injuries increased. As a monster, he didn''t experience pain and wouldn''t suffer from conditions like bleeding but was instead reliant on external factors for his healing. If he ever found himself battered without enough bronze ingots around, he would be done for. Until finding or developing a passive method for repairs, he needed to be extremely watchful of his body''s status. The encounter had left him with more questions than answers. He hadn''t anticipated such a powerful opponent appearing out of nowhere. Fortunately, his secret technique had proven effective and it confirmed his observation of his humanoid enemies. Their eyes were a weak point that he could exploit with bright lights, something that he was also immune against. ''Well, I should be safe now¡­ at least I got in some practice, so it wasn''t totally a waste, next time I''ll be victorious.'' He was not someone to dwell on past mistakes and even in this loss, he could see the value in the experience. It demonstrated that he had indeed become much stronger than before and showcased his capability to contend directly with adventurers. At least the ones that visited the first floor of the dungeon, without truly needing poison. It gave him a small confidence boost but also showed that he wasn''t quite there yet either. ''My attacks lack a bit of weight to them though¡­ is there something that I can do about that?'' After the confrontation, he realized that his hollow body was a serious weakness, and addressing this fact could enhance his all-around strength. While contemplating this important issue he encountered his old friend, the zombie with the slacked jaw that he caused. After observing this monster''s size he was surprised by its perfect dimensions that were just below his. Instantly a thought crossed his mind, what if he allowed himself to be worn by this zombie, would he be able to become a lot more robust? This was quite an intriguing idea and he approached the slack-jawed zombie to test it out. Placing his helmet on top of its head was relatively easy, but it became increasingly challenging to position any of his other parts. He managed to dislodge his breastplate and strap it to the monster but anything after that became a puzzle he could not solve. The moment he removed one of his gauntlets it became impossible to affix anything else. Also, removing his sabatons or greaves just caused him to lose his balance instead. ''Even though the zombie isn''t moving much¡­'' The main problem was that he had to split his perception between multiple parts, something that he was unable to do at least at that moment. Moving each part independently proved to be quite challenging for him, and without some external assistance, it seemed unlikely that he would be able to place himself onto the other monster. Feeling a bit frustrated with the failed attempt to combine with the zombie, Rusty decided to focus more on his current concern. He was able to get away from the adventurers but he might not be lucky the next time. It seemed that he might have to abandon his more honorable approach of one-on-one fighting. Instead, he would need to revert to his old tactics or further develop his abilities to eliminate those fighters before they could seek help. The lower floor was dimly lit by flickering torches, casting long shadows that danced across the stone walls. The faint echoes of distant water drips echoed through the distant passages but were interrupted by something. Rusty had not gone far from the stairs and suddenly heard some footsteps coming his way. Normally, he wouldn''t make much of it and just move to a location that the adventurers didn''t usually travel to. However, the voices that he heard sounded quite familiar. "Let us hurry, my skill won''t last for long, that living armor could not have gone far." "Aye, right behind you!" The first voice sounded similar to the archer that had pierced his body with a simple arrow and he was not alone. At the moment they were still far away but these sounds that the tunnels were producing were sometimes misleading. Rusty knew that he was unable to defeat that one adventurer, even more when he had more help. ''There are others with him¡­ I should probably hide¡­'' For the time being he didn''t think much of it. This second floor was bigger than the upper one and the many winding corridors made it harder for anyone to track anything down. After spending some time here, he knew of a few hiding places that were usable. After blending into the shadows as best as he could, he began to make his getaway. ''... those footsteps, they just keep getting closer, how do they know where I am?'' The footsteps drew nearer and it didn''t seem that even ducking into other corridors was achieving the result he expected. Typically, adventurers would eventually choose the wrong path, allowing him to escape. However, for some reason, these individuals were able to track him down immediately. At this juncture, Rusty was not fully aware of tracking skills or how they functioned. He could only increase his pace and attempt to get away in a different fashion. Eventually, he managed to reach the graveyard area where his undead allies were waiting. Swiftly, he grabbed a new bow and a few arrows from a nearby skeleton scout and made his way toward the poisonous leeches. Just after securing some ammunition, his pursuers finally emerged from the same corridor he had come from. They were quite vocal about their arrival and it became clear that he was their main target. "There it is!" "It looks slightly different than the rest¡­" "That classification¡­ A Twilight variant? Ever heard of something like it?" "No, but I bet that its parts will sell for a lot if it''s a unique irregular variant! Let''s get it!" If he had eyes they would be opening wide now. The people came all the way here just to get to him and it seemed that they were even aware that he was a Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor, different from the rest. He was not sure why this made him a better target than the other monsters as he was not aware of adventurers selling monster parts for money. However, he did not panic but instead aimed with his trusted bow and arrow. ''They don''t have a cleric in their party, so I should have the advantage.'' Rusty held the environmental advantage in this area, as it had been a proven hunting ground for him. The only downside was that these adventurers weren''t attempting to round up the undead skeletons and zombies beforehand. While the creatures were rising from their graves now, they would likely not be able to surround the adventurers as easily. Thus, he began employing the old poison tactic and soon a cloud of purple mist began to envelop the area. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. "This thing¡­ How intelligent is it? To actually use those poison bugs like this? Quite the crafty rust bucket." "Wouldn''t it be a corroded bucket?" The archer turned to the party leader with the question while she was left without a retort. "Huh?" "You know that bronze doesn''t rust right? It corrodes. It''s iron and steel that does that, you didn''t know that?" "... Just shut up." The lone woman from the adventurer party shouted back at the archer. Rusty looked from afar and was slowly starting to get irritated. There was a sense of leisure around the group as if they weren''t taking it seriously. It started becoming clear that these people didn''t consider him a tough opponent and he could tell it from their expressions. The other adventurers that he managed to hunt were different when he confronted them, but these people showed no fear, just contempt. To show them that he meant business he finally aimed his arrow toward one of them and the designated target was the smallest one who wielded a strange large weapon. He appeared to be the slowest among the group and likely the easiest target. After piercing a leech with his arrow, Rusty swiftly shot it towards the man. Even if the arrow was deflected by the man''s weapon, the poison would still linger. To his surprise, something strange occurred. The man who had previously shot him with an arrow aimed his bow upward. It flashed with a pale blue light for a second before he released the projectile. It traveled in a peculiar arch to collide with Rusty''s arrow and suddenly diverted its path to the side. "You''re not getting any of those past me." The archer snorted after executing the skillful ranged attack, but the situation was far from over. While Rusty couldn''t directly poison them, the chamber was gradually filling up with the toxic mist. The area Rusty stood in was already covered in the poisonous haze, as he had stepped on a few of these worms beforehand. To approach him, they would need to wade through it and contend with the zombies heading their way. "Put on your masks, and don''t get injured. As long as you don''t breathe in the poison or let it seep into your wounds, it''s harmless." "Aye, we know." Before the purple cloud could envelop them, they donned strange-looking masks on their faces. The masks had large round shapes covering their eyes made of glass and a prolonged bottom part with another strange-looking circular addon. It was an unfamiliar sight to him, but soon he would comprehend their purpose. The group casually walked into the mist and to his surprise, effortlessly dispatched the zombies as if they were nothing. ''They can resist poison like me?'' This was not what he had anticipated, and panic began to set in. His entire strategy hinged on the poison affecting the fleshy humanoid adventurers, but they didn''t seem affected at all. He overheard them discussing something about wounds, and he was certain that, at most, he could injure one of them before the other two closed in. It dawned on him that the poison was now ineffective and that the best course of action was to flee. Rusty retreated with haste and used his knowledge of the dungeon layout to navigate to another location. Now that he knew that escaping would be difficult and that poison didn''t work, there were other means he needed to implement. The adventurers efficiently dealt with the small zombie horde and relentlessly pursued him. While none of the creatures in the dungeon posed a match for them, not all hope was lost yet. "Hey, wait this is¡­" Next up was the Trap puzzle corridor where he had previously defeated his second adventurer party. Rusty waited on the other end as he was a few steps ahead of them. Once the party of three found itself inside of it, he threw a large boulder at one of the tiles to trigger the trap. He observed the door closing and trapping the adventurers within, giving him a chance to escape. ''Will this be enough, or can they still find me?'' S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having successfully trapped the group in the corridor, Rusty pressed on further. He wasn''t sure how they were able to track him but perhaps if he got far enough away, then eventually, he would elude their pursuit. His body wasn''t particularly fast, but it never tired. Soon he arrived at the location where he had dispatched the third party. There a large gorge with flimsy bridges waited for him but he did not cross it. The bridge led to the third floor that he could not pass into and instead, he aimed to go into one of the other corridors. To his surprise, before he could attempt this feat a strange sound appeared from behind. The lone entrance where he was trying to escape through was hit by a strange arrow that after embedding itself with the top part, created a strange white barrier that looked a bit similar to a spider''s web. He wasn''t sure what to make of it but it was created by his pursuers. Then when he attempted to push it to the side, his metallic hand had become stuck. "You''re not going anywhere, just wait there you damn pile of rust!" "What''s with this cowardly monster, it''s just trying to lead us into traps and dead ends?" "This is getting annoying, let''s just kill it already!" For a moment Rusty thought that he was actually in the clear but the three adventurers didn''t stop chasing him. Going by their tone he was aware that they were losing their temper and also getting tired of the chase. He assumed that eventually the stamina debuff would kick in place and they would have to at least postpone their chase but now he had no way of escaping. His gauntlet was stuck in this spider web trap that had been created out of nowhere. Luckily, he could just relinquish his gauntlet as it was not something that he required to survive. Now he was left with only two options, either he could face the angered adventurers or cross through the short flimsy-looking bridge. ''I don''t think I can take them in a fair fight¡­ there is only one way for me to survive this, I need to get to the other side.'' Uncertain of his chances, Rusty forced himself to take the bridge. On the other end, other monsters could potentially aid him. However, that wasn''t his plan as one of his hands was already missing, and battling was improbable. After quickly reaching the wobbly bridge, he started to cross it with the three people following after him from behind. ''Once I get to the other side, I''ll just cut the rope!'' This seemed to be the only way he could envision escaping the situation. After crossing to the other end he would slice through the ropes holding this bridge together. This action would likely send his pursuers plunging into the seemingly bottomless pit below and let him live another day. While the plan seemed sound to Rusty, there were some factors he hadn''t taken into account. One of them was, the other monsters on the other end that after he was about a quarter way through, started charging in his direction. "Reistel, hey stop, do you want to die?" "Eh? If we wait he is going to run away! What are ye waiting for?" "Just stop stupid, think for once!" It appeared that these individuals were not as oblivious as he had assumed. Only the shortest one attempted to cross the bridge, but the other two stopped him from going. Meanwhile, Rusty struggled to find his balance with his missing gauntlet. Around the halfway point, the entire bridge started to wobble violently as the other monsters were coming closer. Soon they were trying to push themselves through him to get to the other side, their intent was clearly to attack the adventurers that he wished to escape from. "This isn''t worth it¡­ Livi?" "Yeah¡­ just do it Keyon." The leader nodded, and the archer notched his arrow. Soon, it flew through the air and collided with Rusty''s backplate. He was instantly pushed off balance but managed to prevent himself from falling. Giving up was not an option and he pushed himself forward to try and get to the other side of this bridge. In his mind, if he could get there and cut the ropes then the adventurers would have to eventually give up on their chase. However, a second arrow found its way into his armor and collided with his foot. It was exactly at a moment when he was taking an important step and finally, he started falling. His only working hand attempted to grab onto something, but it was to no avail. Soon, Rusty found himself airborne, tumbling down into the darkness below without anything to hold on to. "Damn thing gave us enough trouble¡­ let''s just get that one part it left and get out of here." "Aye." The trio of adventurers didn''t even care as they watched him plunge to his demise. The only thing on their minds was now profit, and staying here would be a waste of time. As Rusty descended toward his demise, they shifted their attention to the approaching monsters and the leftover gauntlet. Their minds had already moved on from this entire encounter, leaving Rusty with nothing but falling into the darkness and looking forward to the inevitable collision at the end. Chapter 14 – Down The Hole. "That was an annoying pile of rust.""You mean corroded, right?" "Just shut up about that already, let''s just get out of here!" "If you so please, Madam~" The archer from the group attempted a very formal bow, or at least something resembling it. His lack of training in such matters made his performance rather stiff. The team leader Livi sighed and delivered swift punishment to her party member by kicking his leg. Instantly, the man recoiled in pain but luckily most of the damage was taken away by his shin protector. "Ow¡­Not the shin¡­" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Stop playing around, let''s get that gauntlet that monster left and get out of here. I bet Dedrick probably got lost somewhere in the dungeon again." "Aye, he should have caught up to us by now." The dwarven warrior responded after extracting his halberd from the undead creature he had just defeated. A few of them made it over the bridge that their target had fallen from. While they intended to capture the entire creature, it was sufficient to bring a part of its body to present to the guild as proof. "It doesn''t look much better than the metal from the other living armors, can we even sell this for more than a silver coin?" "I don''t know, it had a strange name to it, never heard of a Twilight variant, maybe we can sucker in one of those alchemists." "Those guys? Yeah, those idiots love to pay good coin for these unique monster parts." Livi dislodged the gauntlet from the sticky net that it had been stuck to. After looking at it for a moment, she shrugged and tossed in into a bag that was carried by her warrior friend, Reistel. "Let''s find Dedrick and grab whatever else we can from this low-rank floor, but it probably won''t be anything worthwhile." The trio soon left with their spoils and left the fallen living armor behind. In their minds, this was the end of their mission and after reporting their findings to the guild, they would be done with everything. "Hey, Keyon, what are you waiting for? Let''s go!" Livi spotted her archer party member looking at the seemingly bottomless pit without moving and eventually moved over to confront him. "What is it?" "I don''t know but I didn''t hear the voice of the world." "Oh? Do you think it might still be alive?" "I''m not sure, this pit is deep, it could be out of range for me to get any experience or perhaps I didn''t do enough damage for it to count?" "Hm¡­Well, not like we can do anything about it now. We''ll just report this to the guild too." Both of them glanced down but eventually retreated to the path they came from. Even if the monster somehow survived, it was much too weak to pose a threat to most adventurers. All the group of adventurers could do was relay this information and then collect their reward. They didn''t care about what the guild did afterward, nor did they concern themselves with the safety of other adventurers who might be in danger. ***** ''Somehow, I''m still alive? But¡­ I might not be for long¡­'' For a moment, Rusty found himself falling into the deep and dark gorge that seemingly had no bottom. While he didn''t quite reach the bottom and his fall had been cushioned, he still found himself in a dangerous position. At some point during his descent, he collided with something that softened his fall. It was similar to the sticky net that had ensnared his gauntlet but it was on a much larger scale. He couldn''t move and just like before, was stuck. The fall had dislodged some of his armor pieces, and he was missing one of his legs. His armor had somehow survived the fall but had become cracked in a few places. While he was still alive, a big problem was approaching and it looked rather hungry. A creature emerged from within the darkness. The absence of any light didn''t pose a problem for Rusty, as he was still just a piece of living armor. He perceived the world differently than humans, and even in fully darkened places, he could still see. This creature was quite large and slowly crawled toward him on its eight legs. It resembled some of the bugs he used to kill to gather one experience point, but it was much larger and looked much more dangerous. ''What should I do?'' He tried to wrestle himself out of the sticky net but was unable to move. His movements seemed to only irritate the large spider creature that was approaching, as it shook the web he was entangled in. When he looked around, he noticed that he was not the only one there. Many other creatures that had now turned to skeletons or were wrapped up in the netting were present. Perhaps even the adventurer that he had caused to fall into the chasm had made his way down. ''There is something different about this creature¡­ it doesn''t feel like it belongs here.'' One particularity about this monster was that it felt different than the dungeon monsters he had previously encountered. Within the dungeon there was a type of sense of belonging, it was a sort of barometer that every creature there had and it helped him distinguish between his allies. It seemed as if this thing was not born of the dungeon, and it wouldn''t hesitate to tear his body apart. To make things worse, this spider monster was already munching on Rusty''s missing leg. He could see his sabaton vanishing into its gullet. He knew that these creatures normally preferred to munch on more fleshy monsters but this one seemed to have an appetite even for metal. Considering that he couldn''t move at all, this seemed like the end of his adventures. Just as he had managed to escape the group of adventurers, he was now going to really perish again. ''Will I lose my levels and evolution?'' He was not afraid of death, as the two previous times he was just reformed as the same corroded armor. However, after gaining many skills and experiencing his first evolution, he was unwilling to simply give up. An emotion akin to pride began forming in his metallic form and he could not be sure if reviewing was even an option. For some reason, he felt that the dungeon''s influence was a lot weaker here and that if he accepted his fate now, all of it would end. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ''But how do I get out, I can''t even move'' Even though he wanted to resist there was no way of doing it. The monster was already on top of him and munching on his other leg. Without any problem, it bit through his remaining cuisse and was on its way to eating him alive. Fear bottled up inside of him as he tried to exude more of his strength, but it was to no avail. The monster placed one of its legs on his backplate and plunged it right through. The difference in power was apparent and even without this spider web he was in, there was no chance of him coming out on top. ''There has to be something¡­'' The monster was busy eating his body parts but he wasn''t giving up. His remaining arm was still holding his sword and in a last-ditch effort, he decided to use one of his only skills. This skill was not known for its damage but perhaps it would do something. Thus, suddenly a burst of light enveloped his weapon and illuminated this entire darkened area as if it was day. "GUOHH!?" To his surprise, the monster that was holding him tightly reacted quite strongly and this wasn''t all. The webbing that he found himself trapped in, did the same. For some reason, it started to dissolve the moment the radiance took over this place. While the monster didn''t die, it was as if the light he was producing was able to burn through its body. The part of the web that was around the sword became loose, and soon after his whole arm was free. Now that he could move it, he realized that there was a way to free his remaining body parts. After a few strategically placed cuts he was finally able to dislodge what remained of his form. At the moment, this was his right arm and upper body with both legs missing and no left hand. It was quite the predicament, at least the monster had retreated into an opening in the wall. ''Where am I?'' While he could see inside the darkness, it didn''t mean that he could perceive things that were too far away. With the help of the light, he could now see this place and perhaps a way to save himself. There were some holes within the walls of this chasm but there was also no visible bottom that he could see. One such opening wasn''t that far from his location and perhaps he could reach it. There was one problem though, he would need to get there first but most of his lower body was missing. At first, he thought about restoring his damaged body but such an act would take some time. While the monster spider had retreated to a nearby hole to save itself from the light, the radiance would not last. His magic points had not fully recovered and thus he would be unable to activate this skill again. Considering that this monster wanted to eat him, it would probably attempt to stop him. ''I should have some time, it''s better than nothing!'' The plan wasn''t very safe or plausible, but there was nothing else he could think of. After the light on his sword started to die down, he holstered his blade and used his only good arm to pull himself forward. At the same time, he quickly brought up his stash tab and willed it to use one of the bronze ingots to restore his lost gauntlet. It would take a few moments for it to reform but with two working arms, he would be much quicker. Just as expected it was taking a while for this to happen and not having legs wasn''t so bad as he was much lighter now. Due to the light, the sticky web had for some reason become a lot more flimsy and also lost its properties to hold him in place. Thanks to this fact he was now able to slowly crawl towards the wall where safety awaited. However, once the light was gone, the monster spider that was trying to eat him, emerged again. Its many eyes focused on the suit of armor that was crawling away. It gave chase but at a slower pace. It seemed to still be wary of the light that had been previously produced and its body was even sizzling from the damage it received. Rusty continued to crawl and after restoring his second hand, he continued at a faster pace than before. Time was running out and the monster continued to approach Rusty from behind. He did not turn to look but continued crawling forward until he reached the end of the road where only one large strand of webbing remained. With one hand he grabbed the robe-like web and used his other hand to cut it. However, even when his sword collided with it, the webbing didn''t give out and he was seemingly stuck in place. "GUAH!" The spider gave out a strange sound while increasing its pace. It seemed to have now fully recovered from the light attack and was unwilling to let its prey escape. The eight legs were utilized to quickly bridge the gap that had been created. ''If one isn''t enough!'' Rusty wasn''t willing to give up, he had come too far to be just eaten by this thing nor did he want to fall to his death either. Just like he had announced, if one strike was not enough then he would try again until they were. His sword began to chip and dull but he did not relent. Until the end, he did not give up and just as the giant spider was about to pounce at him again, the webbing finally gave in. The sword he was using broke at the exact moment Rusty sliced through. One hand clung to the rope-like web thread and he was now swinging through the darkness. His path took him towards the opening in the wall that he had previously seen. As he flew through the air he felt a sense of relief but it was short-lived. While the monster didn''t give chase he did not truly judge the distance too well and instead of ending up in this opening, he collided with the wall on the side. ''This isn''t good¡­'' His metallic fingers pushed into the rocks instantly but he started sliding down. He desperately tried to grab onto something but the smooth surface of the wall offered him no grip. Rusty slid further and further down with an increase in speed. Panic set in as he realized that he might end up falling into the abyss after all. Suddenly, as he was clamoring for some support while sliding down he lost his grip on the rocky wall. It was not that he had begun falling but that there was no wall that he could cling to. While sliding down, luck was finally on his side. He ended up at another opening but one that was quite narrow and short. Instantly, he attempted to grab onto something as his fall still continued. The empty hole took him by surprise but he was able to grab onto the edge to keep himself from sliding down more than before. His body, now consisting mostly of his upper torso and limbs, didn''t weigh that much so he was finally able to hold himself together. Then with haste, he started to pull himself up into the narrow opening that had appeared. There wasn''t much space here but enough for him to finally relax. ''I''m safe¡­ I survived¡­'' If he was a human being then he would be sweating bullets by now. He was still stuck in a void filled with darkness where he couldn''t see the bottom nor the top. If he wanted to get back to the dungeon where he came from, then climbing seemed to be the only way. However, the metal-eating spider monster was above him and perhaps more of the same types lurked in the darkness. ''But now what?'' With the light from his blade gone, he couldn''t see that far anymore. There was an ever-encompassing darkness very reminiscent of the void that he came from. He thought of restoring his body now and attempting to climb up. Rusty was a monster that could not tire out, so perhaps he would be able to eventually crawl to safety. However, the walls were quite flat, and just like before he would probably just end up sliding down and further towards the bottom. ''I looks like I should be able to squeeze through¡­'' If going up wasn''t an option then perhaps the hole he discovered would give him some answers. While it was small, in his current diminished form he would be able to crawl through. When looking inside he could see that there was more space inside and it seemed to lead somewhere. Without much hesitation, Rusty decided to venture into the darkness of the narrow passage or more precisely, squeeze himself into it. His bronze body scraped on the jagged edges of the rocks and created a somewhat uncomfortable sound. Instantly he could hear some movement in the distance, as if something outside had been awoken. Quickly, he pushed himself inside while not caring about the damage he was sustaining and eventually, he was able to force his mangled body into the narrow opening before something loud and heavy landed close by. As he crawled more inside, he could feel something hitting his backplate that became even more dented than before. Luckily, he was left with a small amount of hit points that allowed him to get to safety. Whatever tried to grab him from the other side relented and finally, he could truly take a breather. He was now in a new place, somewhere where even the monsters were trying to attack him. For the time being he decided to take a breather. His body was battered and scratched all over, and while he still had some bronze ingots to restore his body, his resources were limited. He needed to pace himself as the challenges that awaited him were unknown and perhaps finding bronze in this area wouldn''t be as easy as before. Chapter 15 – Ants. ''That''s better¡­ Now what should I do?''Rusty had expended a large amount of bronze to restore the rest of his body to its original shape. After crawling through the initial hole, it gradually expanded enough for him to walk on both his metallic legs. The entire place felt somewhat peculiar as if still under the lingering influence of the dungeon but not entirely so. While he was falling down the large hole, he also heard the voice screaming at him before suddenly going silent. It was as if something had severed or blocked the connection he previously had. However, this was still similar to him going down to the second floor where the connection was lessened as well. Once here he also noticed a new peculiarity. ''If that thing tried to eat me, I should probably assume that those aren''t friends either¡­'' Classification: Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone L4 G+ Type: Insectoid There were other monsters down here, ones that differed from the ones on the first and second floors. They didn''t have the usual humanoid shape but were more similar to the smaller insects he dispatched for one experience point each. The area here had become dimly lit thanks to strange glowing insects sticking to the walls. This let him examine the insectoid monster in more detail. The first thing that caught his metallic eyes was the creature''s head. It had two large antennae that were constantly twitching. It had a set of mandibles that opened up the moment he was spotted. Its size wasn''t that large as it reached up to about his knee but it was also somewhat lengthy. The monster had two other main parts besides its head and was somewhat similar to the monstrosity that had almost eaten him. However, it has one less set of shorter legs, not as many eyes and its coloring was dark brownish. ''Is it charging?'' Rusty had been able to reform his body and blade with the help of his leftover bronze. His resources were running low and he was down to two more bronze ingots. To his knowledge, there was no bronze to be gained here so he couldn''t let himself be damaged anymore. This large ant monster didn''t seem to be a friend like the skeletons or zombies, he needed to protect himself. The ant monster hurled itself at him as soon as he made himself known. Preliminary analysis indicated that this was a G+ rank monster and not something Rusty had encountered before. Rusty, classified as an F-rank monster with some F+ stats, found himself unsure whether this made him stronger or weaker than the creature. However, judging by its movements, he was inclined to believe that it was actually much weaker than him or any of the monsters he had encountered before. Its attack pattern was quite rudimentary as it came at him in a straight line. The only weapon it possessed was a pair of mandibles that could potentially chew through his armor, a theory Rusty was unwilling to test. Instead, he sidestepped the attack and instinctively activated his power slash move. His sword executed a swift downward strike, effortlessly cutting the creature in two. You have gained +10 experience points. ''It''s kind of weak?'' The monster ant proved unable to withstand more than one hit from his sword. In comparison to all his previous experiences with adventurers, this monster felt like a joke. It moved slowly and approached him without any strategic or intricate thought. Then to make things even better the experience gained from defeating it was much higher than from any other insect or rodent he had faced. While it didn''t come close to the experience received from killing an adventurer, the risk factor associated with this creature was rather low. ''Isn''t this rather good? Maybe I shouldn''t return to the upper layers¡­'' Rusty thought to himself, as his main reason for existing, was still the pursuit of power and further evolution. He was able to attack the monsters here and gain much more experience than when he was on the upper levels. The adventurers he had previously hunted proved to be too much for his current capabilities but these G-rank ant monsters could be just the thing that he needed. ''Oh¡­ there is a lot of them¡­'' While he had dispatched the first Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone, more of them appeared afterward. He assumed that these creatures functioned similarly to the monsters he was acquainted with. If they were any more close by they would be drawn in by the sounds or some other commanding voice. Soon instead of just one ant there were five and the battle started again. They started coming at him from the front as there was no other way to approach him. At first, he imagined that this would allow him to take them on one by one. However, some of the ants started to crawl on the sides of the tunnel and one moved onto the ceiling. They attacked him from all directions and the battle got quite hectic. After thrusting his sword into one of the monster''s abdomen another one bit his left leg. Soon after, another descended from the ceiling and met a swift end as he cut it in half. Its green innards sprayed onto his armor but it didn''t bother him too much. It appeared that this time around, his armor was sufficient enough to prevent any substantial damage. The monster''s mandibles were bending the bronze but they couldn''t rip through it. Finally, his armored form was coming in handy and he quickly dispatched the five other dog-sized insects. ''All this experience! This is great!'' Rusty began to cheer as he gained sixty experience points in a matter of minutes. Previously, it would take him multiple hours of trying to find small rodents or other creatures to achieve the same result. It was not something he was accustomed to and he craved more and to his surprise, this was not quite over. ''Oh? They are still approaching? This is becoming a bit¡­ troublesome¡­ perhaps?'' While he loved the continuous experience grind the monsters kept appearing, and he was forced to endure more gnawing attacks. His armor managed to withstand the assaults but the more ants bit the same spots, the sooner he would start losing body parts. He utilized his swordsmanship as best as he could but he felt that he couldn''t sustain something like this forever. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. After another five minutes, there were now more than fifteen corpses in the corridor where Rusty had appeared. He had managed to push through and finally arrived at a fork in the road. The chamber he entered had multiple entrances and from several of them, he could hear some suspicious echoes. It was evident that these monsters were being attracted from a greater distance. His skeletal friends and other living armors weren''t capable of such feats and he was realizing that this place probably held some other secrets he didn''t know. ''I need to leave, even though they are easy to kill, I can''t handle hundreds of them at a time.'' He was aware of his limitations and unwilling to allow himself to die. Many things have changed and he now didn''t expect to be rebuilt as the previous two times. He would also be unable to return to this place at which he arrived through sheer luck. It was best to find a safe corner in this new part of the dungeon, where he could take a moment to reassess the entire situation and formulate a proper plan. ''That one seems safe, I can''t sense any sounds or movement.'' Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty did not have ears either but he was somehow able to perceive sound waves in some way that he didn''t fully understand. Soon he ventured into this path which was scarcely illuminated by the strange insects on the ceiling. Normally he expected to make a clean getaway but to his surprise, the monsters were following after him. ''It''s similar to those humans, they somehow know where I am going.'' Finally, he realized that these monsters might never let up and that he needed to do something. Rusty didn''t really have a clue as to how all of this was happening as the monsters from his dungeon level had no such capabilities. While running he tried to strain his metallic brain for answers. The memories from the demon lord and hero had become quite faint since he visited the soul forge but he was somehow able to decide something. ''The monster blood, perhaps?'' After confronting the first few monster ants, he became covered in their insides. The armor he was wearing was now coated in green goop and various liquids from the monsters. However, even if this was the cause what was he supposed to do about it? The mess was all over his body and covered all the main parts. Even if he took himself apart there would still be remnants of the ant remains left on his armor. He would only be making himself weaker for the next confrontation. ''Hm¡­ is fighting the only way? Maybe eventually they will give up?'' This was a possibility but he didn''t truly have enough information about these new creatures or the layout of this new part of the dungeon. His only weapon that was his sword wasn''t looking too great either. He would probably need to spend another bronze ingot to repair it as it was already chipped in a few places. With this thing in mind he continued on his way and perhaps along the way, he would find something that would allow him to survive this. ''Hm¡­ should I follow these glowing bugs?'' He could hear the clicking and clacking of the monster ants behind him and after a while, he arrived at more forks that led to more tunnels. These passages he was traveling through were starting to become wider and also brighter. Rusty noticed that some tunnels were more illuminated than others as if the glowing bugs were attracted to something there. He wasn''t sure why but he felt like he should follow the well-lit passages. After increasing his pace something caught his metallic ears, a sound that he had not heard before. At first, he was apprehensive about moving forward but the sounds of angry ants behind him forced him to move forward. Eventually, he arrived at a larger chamber with a strange new thing he had previously not seen before. ''Is this water? Where is it all going?'' This might have been a mistake as he arrived at a well-illuminated area but there was nowhere else to go. Below him, he could see a large stream of water that was flowing at a rapid pace in one direction. The only problem was, that there were no other tunnels that he could now go to but the ants were still chasing him. ''Should I go back?'' Rusty turned around and considered his options. He could either push back into the corridor and face the approaching ants or turn around to face the tides. It was not a bottomless pit and it seemed that the water should at least be able to wash off the smelly insect bits from his body. He wasn''t sure if his metallic body would be able to float but it could be the only way to get away. After looking back and forth, he decided to give it a go. The monster ants were easy enough to beat so perhaps finding a safer route would be better. However, the moment he took a few steps towards the passage he came from, he noticed a huge problem. There weren''t just a few ants but they had turned into a massive surge of multiple insect bodies coming his way. He managed to dispatch a few before quickly retreating to the area with the water. Now, diving in didn''t seem like such a bad idea. ''Well¡­ I survived last time¡­'' There was no other way out as countless monster ants were pouring out of the corridor and crawling up the walls. If he tried to go back in, they would quickly surround him and bite him to death. Even if he could defeat multiple tens of them, eventually, he would probably succumb to the horde he was facing. The decision was made for him and he found himself jumping off the ledge into the rapids below. The last thing he saw was the many ants on the ledge looking down at him. Luckily, it didn''t seem like they liked this river too much as none of them decided to jump down after him. He was quickly carried away while bumping into some rocks and his body, at first, remained on the surface but eventually started to fill up with water. With more weight, he started going under but before he was fully submerged, a large log came flying in. Rusty identified this log as something that could keep itself above the currents so he clung to it with all his might. The lone log carried him downstream and he had no idea what was happening around him. Light kept expanding the more he traveled through this rapid river and other sources that he couldn''t fully identify yet showed themselves. The current started to pick up speed and the surroundings began to change. He soon found himself in a wider area where he spotted some other monsters on the side. It were some other ant-type monsters but some of them were larger than the drones he had seen before. They stood on the sides while he continued to cling to the log and go downstream to eventually, fall down another hole. It was a waterfall that he arrived at, and during the fall his grip became loose. His helmet had started to fall off and he had to grab it to not lose his head. Thus, he found himself free-falling and made quite the splash down below. Once underwater, he collided with some other debris brought down by the water and continued to flow further down but eventually, he reached an end. Rusty clung to some branches that allowed him to float forward, and eventually, he could feel some ground under his feet. His body was filled up with water, which made it hard to move forward, but luckily, the area he came up in wasn''t that deep. The waterfall made a lot of noise in the distance, but besides it, there was no one here. No monster ants or other creatures but instead a well-lit area greeted him. As he was slowly lumbering out of the large body of water he raised his helmet up. Quickly from his neck cavity, a large amount of water started to spray out along with a fish jumping out that used his body as a submarine. It flopped around in the air and then plunged back down into the small lake that had formed down here. Rusty continued to move forward while parts of his body continued to leak and only after getting out did he start looking around. This area was quite shiny, with many crystals producing bright lights. They were in the walls, on the ceiling, and all around the area. Other minerals were also sticking out that he couldn''t identify, but this was not what he was focusing on. The lights here felt a bit similar to something and that something was the light attack that he could produce with his sword. Perhaps, just like with the spider, this light could be the reason why there were no monsters here and why the ants did not follow him. ''Should I use this area? It doesn''t seem like it''s used by anything or anyone?'' Rusty pondered his options as he stood in the illuminated chamber, dripping water and surrounded by sparkling crystals. The absence of any immediate threats gave him a moment to think and plan his next move. The water that still clung to his metallic frame dripped onto the rocky ground and created small puddles that reflected the ambient light from the crystals. While he wasn''t sure about the connection these glowing crystals had with his sword skill, they seemed to be repelling the monsters and keeping them away. It was perhaps possible to use this chamber as a safe haven, something that he could turn into a base¡­ Chapter 16 – Crystal Cavern. Identification: Petty Light Crystal A crystal filled with a minuscule amount of the light element. ''Hm¡­ What about this bigger one?'' Identification: Lesser Light Crystal A crystal filled with a small amount of the light element. ''It doesn''t seem like I can store them though. I bet they would probably come in handy inside the tunnels as those Ant things don''t seem to like the light. They are fine with those other glowing bugs though, I guess it''s the light element part and not the actual glow?'' Rusty had arrived at a strange area filled with various light sources. There were crystals coming out of the ground and walls. Everything in this place was being illuminated but something similar to his Basic Elemental Charge skill. Thanks to this effect, a safe zone was created where no monsters wandered in. Even after waiting more than an hour, no ants dared to jump down the waterfall. ''I can store these though¡­ at least the petty ones?'' Identification: sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Petty Mana Crystal A crystal filled with a minuscule amount of mana. Can be used to restore MP. The light crystals were producing a white light while the mana crystals were shining in a paler blue color. To his surprise, his magic points were for some reason recharging at a much faster pace than before. He deduced that it was thanks to these many blue crystals that were exuding magical energies. ''But how do I use these to restore my MP?'' After realizing that he was relatively safe, he explored the area and found these two resources. The white glowing light crystals could provide him with a place to rest and run away to, while the blue ones could perhaps make battles easier. Basic Power Thrust and Slash were his two main attacking skills but they needed MP to be used. After a few swings, he would be drained of that resource and need some time for it to recharge. His identification skill suggested that it might be possible to use the smaller blue crystals in some manner. Thus, he decided to test this by using up most of his mana while away from the area with the mana crystals. There was another path leading out that eventually turned into a dark corridor that the passive effects could not reach. There he held one of the small mana crystals to see if it would do something. ''It''s not really doing anything? I was recovering more mana back in the crystal cave¡­'' Rusty wasn''t sure what he was doing wrong or how to tackle this issue. He tried holding the crystal closer to his body and even attempted to place it inside his own metallic body. These attempts went unrewarded as nothing seemed to be happening but then, with some luck he managed to figure it out. When he attempted to retrieve the crystal from within his body, he fumbled a bit. The shiny stone landed on the ground and cracked slightly. It seemed that these strange minerals were quite brittle and even a small fall would cause some damage to them. However, once some cracks were revealed, a tiny amount of strange blue mist emerged for a second. ''Oh? My MP bar jumped up by a few points?'' The moment his body came in contact with this blue mist, he recovered some magical points. To further test this incident, he picked up the cracked stone and crushed it into fine powder. This produced a more intense mist that somehow was sucked into his metallic body and quickly restored his MP to full. ''So that''s how you do it! Just crush it and it''s done!'' Rusty cheered at his new discovery and quickly made his way back to the cave filled with these crystals. He was able to store the smaller ones that were about the size of his thumb in his stash tab. Would you like to store Petty Mana Crystal inside of your inventory? When he focused on the mana crystal he was eventually given a prompt by the world''s system. Under the window with the message, there were two buttons, one in red that said no and one in green that said yes. He had learned that he could either will it to be activated or press it down with one of his metallic digits. For some reason that he didn''t fully understand, it felt better to poke at it with his digit instead of forcing it with his mind. It was also a bit faster when he didn''t have to focus his brain too much. A Petty Mana Crystal has been added to your inventory. A Petty Mana Crystal has been added to your inventory. . . . A Petty Mana Crystal has been added to your inventory. . . . Storage capacity for this item has been reached. ''Oh? What is this now?'' After acquiring exactly ten of the crystals into his stash tab, he was unable to put in any more. There were hundreds of these small ones in this cave and even larger ones that he couldn''t even process. However, for some reason, there was a limit to how many of them he could carry in this stash tab. He could see the number under the icon representing them and was unable to switch to any of the other squares inside of his inventory grid to fit any more of them. ''Strange¡­ I guess there are some limits?'' Rusty was not sure why he was being limited by this system but perhaps if he leveled up, more inventory space would be freed up. It seemed that something was trying to keep him from acquiring too many of the good items early in his evolutionary journey and having too many of the lesser ones wasn''t possible either. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ''Hm¡­ Ten isn''t bad though, should be enough for now.'' He wasn''t deterred by this turn of events, as having more mana was always a plus. With the help of these crystals, he would be able to defeat more enemies, and returning here to restock was always an option. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise as it would keep him more grounded. Otherwise, he could end up venturing too far into the unknown caves and get himself slain by some entity he doesn''t yet understand. ''I did overdo it with those adventurers, maybe if I didn''t kill so many, those strong ones wouldn''t have appeared?'' Rusty pondered over his recent experiences and decided that a more cautious approach might be more beneficial. The illuminated chamber with crystals had provided him with a sanctuary of sorts, a place where he could recover and strategize. This would be his new base of operations, the lair of Rusty the Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor. ''Now it''s official!'' Thanks to the memories of the Demon Lord and the Hero he was aware of writing and symbols. While he wasn''t quite there yet, he was able to produce simple shapes that resembled things. At the entrance to the cave, he decided to draw something that resembled his armored body holding a large sword. It was quite jagged and lacked finesse but he was sure that it would make this place his. ''I think humans put symbols on the things that they claim, so this cave is now mine. I will call it, Rusty''s Lair of Crystals!'' There were three main parts to this place. One of them was the waterfall and lake through which he entered this area. It was an open space surrounded by light crystals and luminescent insects. Further inside was the cave with the blue crystals and some other minerals that he wasn''t sure about. Further away was another passage that led out and into a new dungeon area where he expected to encounter some monsters. ''Two entrances, one through the waterfall and the other one through this path¡­ Should I bring some of the light crystals over here to keep monsters from approaching?'' He had marked his new base, but something was missing. This entrance was quite dark, and it was even possible that some monsters would chase him further inside. To alleviate this problem, he decided to bring some of the light crystals over here. These were octagonal with pointy endings, while the blue mana crystals were more rock-shaped. After yanking one out of a crystalline structure he was on his way to bring it over here. However, once on the path away from the main cave something strange happened. The once bright white light started to fade away and once at the destination, the crystal was barely producing any light. ''What is this about?'' Rusty was surprised and quickly began doing some tests. After going back a few steps he noticed that the light was becoming brighter but the further away from the main cave, the less did the crystal shine. He wasn''t sure what this was about but it seemed that it wasn''t possible to take these light sources with him, something that he was actually planning to do. ''This sucks, now my perfect plan is in shambles¡­'' After the realization, he felt quite sad. He had intended to stick a few of these inside of his body. If the monsters didn''t like the light, then perhaps it would function similarly to the poison leeches he discovered on the second level of the dungeon. Now he realized that it would be pointless to bring these crystals with him as they would only make his body more sluggish. ''This just leaves one more problem, where will I find some bronze?'' It was time to head out of this place to continue his adventure but one problem remained. There were no metals in this place that he could use to help restore his body. After the fall he had gone through most of his reserves and killing the monsters here also wore out his sword. Eventually, he would run out and his body could collapse. Thus, his first task became to localize a source of either bronze or copper and tin. If he was able to do that, then this place would become a true heaven for leveling. ''I think there are places called mines in underground areas like these, maybe I can find one here?'' It was time to embark on a new quest to become stronger. He knew that he needed to be careful as this was a truly new place without any allies. Previously he could use other monsters to hide himself but now, his situation was more similar to the adventurers he had defeated. It was probably best if he learned from their mistakes and didn''t dive in too deep. ''Is there something that can aid me to not get lost?'' Before venturing out he created a simple map of the areas that he had encountered here. He continued to add things to the well-lit walls and this caused him to notice something. In the dungeon above, the walls and ground tended to mend itself but it didn''t seem to be the case here. Even after more than half an hour had passed, he couldn''t see any changes to the scratches that had been created. Rusty wasn''t sure if it was possible that he had left the dungeon he was born in or that something else was at play here. Perhaps this crystal cave area was unique, but he would only find out once outside. There was a possibility that these white and blue crystals had something to do with it, but he couldn''t be sure. Thus the first thing he did was begin marking the walls after leaving his new lair. If the markings that he left remained in place, then it would mean that he was perhaps not in a dungeon anymore. He didn''t need to go far to arrive at a new location, this one also near some water. It was a larger chamber with a high ceiling and a place with many stalactites hanging up from the ceiling. To his surprise, he was not alone here as some monsters resided in this place, different ones than the Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone he encountered. Classification: Lesser Giant Centipede L2 F- Type: Insectoid The first monster he noticed was quite long, with many tiny legs coming out of its body. The centipede had a glossy, dark exoskeleton and its numerous legs produced a clicking sound as they skittered across the ground. At first, he thought that this thing was swiftly moving towards him so he drew his sword but it stopped in its tracks. ''What is it doing?'' This monster was about as long as three drone ants put together and was certainly stronger, but it was still something that he could probably handle. It supported the rear of its body with some of its legs while rising up to make itself taller. After using some mandibles to produce some strange sounds, it retreated towards the small river in the middle of this chamber. At this point, Rusty had already prepared his sword to strike this large insect but instead of lunging forward, it just retreated without doing anything. ''What are they all doing? The Lesser Giant Centipede wasn''t the only monster here, as there were others of different types. Rusty saw some slug monster not that far away, slowly crawling over to the river and placing its head inside. Some of the ants were also there doing the exact thing at this flowing river. While Rusty didn''t need any food or liquids, the other creatures did. It seemed that they were all gathering in this large cave area to do this and not attacking each other while doing so. ''They are getting along? But not quite¡­'' At first, he thought that these large insects were just part of the dungeon, much like he was with the skeletons and zombies. He was unable to attack the other monsters either, but he considered himself to be a bit more unique. The ones here were clearly on edge, and some of them were even hissing at each other. This area was perhaps some type of safe ground where these monsters didn''t want to attack each other. ''There are a bunch of them here but they don''t like each other¡­'' He was not sure how this truce came about but instead of making any sudden movements he just watched. The monsters seemed to act in a sort of pattern. They would hiss at each other before going towards the flowing river from which they would quickly drink and retreat. There were many of them here and each type slithered or crawled into a different corridor. Eventually, a thought crossed his mind, and he quickly started identifying more of the monsters, searching for ones that would be the easiest to slay. Most of them were of similar strength and ranged from the F- rank to the F+ rank, with the weakest of the bunch being the ants that he had encountered previously. The only reason the other monsters seemed to be afraid of these ants was their sheer numbers. Classification: Lesser Giant Beetle L3 F+ Type: Insectoid ''Those ones look the hardest, would I be able to damage it with my sword?'' He concluded that going after the ants would probably be the easiest at first. They were the only monsters that were below F rank and he could kill a drone with one swing. While they would quickly try to attack him together, as long as he didn''t enter their lair fully, he would probably be safe. ''Yes¡­ this is probably the best plan¡­ I will slowly conquer this place and after I evolve¡­'' His body began to shake with anticipation as this place was providing him with an almost perfect hunting ground. There were various monster types that he could face and slowly build up his levels. He could start with the weakest and slowly build himself up towards stronger ones. It was time to begin his conquest of this area and make himself the strongest. Rusty was now determined to establish his dominance in this new cave system. Carefully observing these monsters would give him important insight into their weak points. He made sure to look for softer-looking spots in their bodies he could sink his blade in. Most of them used their mandibles as main weapons but other ones like the slugs seemed to use something akin to acid instead. The hunt had now begun and he would rise above all. Chapter 17 – Looking For Copper. You have gained +10 experience points. You have gained +10 experience points. Congratulations you have gained a level. ''Woah, I gained a level!... But I better keep on running!'' Rusty said to himself while trying to put more power into his metallic legs. The ground underneath was quite uneven and his body was not suited for such a fast pace. His metallic legs clanked against the rocky ground as he sprinted through the twisting tunnels of the cave system. The echoes of his footsteps were mixed with the angry hisses and clicking sounds of the pursuing ants. ''They are really angry, well I don''t blame them, I did kill quite a lot of them this time around¡­'' As he navigated the passages, Rusty continued to glance at the glowing light insects on the walls. These creatures just like the monsters here needed water to survive and would remain close to their source. The main watering hole in this dungeon attracted a lot of glow bugs and this was where he was heading. However, the large ant monsters didn''t relent and kept on pursuing through the series of tunnels he had memorized. It seemed that these tunnels were not the same as the dungeon that he came from. Each mark that he left behind remained and allowed him to maneuver back to his lair. There was one problem, just as he could place markings on those walls to create lasting holes, so could the ants. He quickly made a discovery about these pesky creatures that slowed down his exploration attempts. These strange ants liked to tunnel through the rocks and left smaller passages through which he couldn''t fit through. They all connected to larger corridors like the one he was running through and allowed his enemies to come from various directions. It was the same now, during his sprint one of the little buggers jumped at him from above. It came through one of the many openings in the walls that were hard to make out and sometimes blended together with the scenery. The ant lunged itself onto Rusty and landed on his helmet which it promptly started chewing on. ''Get off me!'' He wanted to shout but failed to have the vocal cords to do so. The monster trashed around and tented his marvelous visage slightly before he could wrestle it down. Soon after the monster found itself without a head after he activated his power slash skill. His sword started glowing red and increased in speed to deliver a devastating blow to the monster. You have gained +8 experience points. ''Huh? Eight not Ten? Was this one different from the others or something?'' Rusty found himself perplexed as he noticed a decrease in the amount of experience points he received. All the little ant monsters were giving him ten experience points each but now for some reason, he was receiving less. On his way out he confirmed this number change by dispatching a few more of the troublesome insects. There was little time to dwell on this issue as Rusty had to navigate through another obstacle first. Eventually Rusty managed to outmaneuver his pursuers and finally arrived at the glowing oasis where the other monsters gathered. The gentle sounds of flowing water were interrupted by his clacking and the screeching insects behind him. A whole battalion of drones swiftly surged through the cave opening and entered the watering hole area. This was all according to Rusty''s well-thought-out plan and the moment he arrived here, there was nothing to worry about anymore. As the Myrm Ants displayed their aggression, the other monsters within the cave began to react. Even in the dim confines of the cave, certain rules governed these creatures, and engaging in combat within this space was one such rule they couldn''t breach. ''Oh, they are fighting! I need to use this chance to get away.'' The acidic slug creatures spat at the approaching ants while one of the large beetles used its mandibles to fend off the invaders. They took the outburst as an unprovoked attack that went against the unwritten rules here. Rusty took advantage of the chaos and slipped away from the battleground. He moved silently, avoiding the attention of the battling monsters, and made his way back to his own lair where he was certain to find peace. Finally, he reached the entrance of his newly claimed lair which he now named ''Rusty''s Twilight Cave''. Thanks to his memories he was able to produce true letters and decided to scribble over the entrance to mark that it was his. To make things more serious, he also included words like ''Do not enter'' and skull symbols. If adventurers found this place they would think twice before entering. ''That could have gone better but I did it, I leveled up again now I''m one step closer to evolving but not quite there either¡­'' Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L6 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 45/78 Magic Points [MP] 11/58 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 70 [ F+ ] Agility 50 [ F ] Dexterity 52 [ F ] Constitution 73 [ F+ ] Intelligence 51 [ F ] Wisdom S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 53 [ F ] Willpower A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. 54 [ F ] Durability F+ There was one big problem and it was visible on his status screen, his health points were going down. His only weapon which was a slightly corroded blade kept breaking and he needed to restore it with the help of his old bronze resources. Living beings could restore themselves by just sleeping but he was different, his health pool would not regenerate by itself, he needed to find a metal deposit and he needed to do it quickly. ''At least I don''t suffer any negative effects from low HP.'' Though unable to regenerate like humans, Rusty enjoyed certain perks of his unique physique. One of them was that he didn''t really feel pain nor would he slow down with holes in his armor. As long as his joints functioned, he could persist in continuous movement without experiencing fatigue or succumbing to statuses like bleeding. ''I''m level six now, in four I should be able to advance to a new form again and restore my body then, but will it be able to hold out for that long?'' He had a sinking suspicion that such a feat would be somewhat difficult. The monsters he faced had an inclination to swarm and attack from all directions due to the holes in the tunnels. He was receiving small dents and gashes while fighting, this would probably lead to his demise as a more crucial part of his armoring gave out. Losing a leg or an arm would likely make further leveling impossible. ''But how will I find bronze or other metals? Think Rusty, think! Where do metals come from besides from adventures?'' Rusty started straining his empty brain to find an answer to his problem. He had ventured into the caves but had not been able to find much. The insect creatures were made of other materials than metal and he could not integrate their carapace into his metallic armor. Even after searching around he was unable to discover any bronze deposits and he had a few options left. ''Either I keep it safe and go at it slowly until I reach level ten, or I go in deeper¡­'' He was pretty sure that things like metal ores existed. They were rock formations that should contain the resources he needed and were usually found in places like this underground area. Rusty was also sure that he would need to find both copper ore and tin ore to produce bronze, as his body was an alloy of the two. ''I don''t need as much tin though, so copper is the one I truly need.'' He retained some leftover resources from his previous scavenging endeavors, with a surplus of tin ore compared to copper ore. To produce one ingot of bronze he required three copper ingots and only one tin ingot. Due to this ratio, Rusty had managed to accumulate extra tin ingots during the period when he was absorbing weapons and other living armors. Thus his quest for the precious metals continued. After bending some of the dents back into place he set out back to the watering place. Upon arrival, he noticed a lack of interaction among its inhabitants. He saw a few dead ants on the ground, likely a result of the group hastily retreating after being attacked by the larger insectoid types. ''If I only knew what to look for¡­'' Rusty came to a halt and surveyed the various entrances, each harboring a different type of enemy. At this point, he opted to confront the lesser ants that were a rank below him in strength. The other monsters looked a lot tougher and his sword would dull rapidly if applied to their tougher carapaces. Identification: Brittle Rock A slightly more brittle rock than usual, will crumble under pressure ''Well this isn''t it¡­'' Identification: Hard Rock A harder rock, required more pressure to break ''Not it either¡­'' Rusty found himself identifying various rock formations while combing through this underground lair. It seemed that the ant drones had dwindled slightly and did not appear as much at their usual spot. This allowed him to go further to attempt to identify the minerals on the walls. However, there was nothing besides rocks of various shapes, sizes, and colors that were of no use to him. That was until he encountered one of his friends. You have gained +8 experience points. ''Eight again?'' If he had a face he would be frowning after defeating the monstrous ant. It was alone but he knew that eventually, new ones would appear. It became clear that these monsters could somehow communicate with each other through means he didn''t understand. After finding a dead ant, others would eventually appear so he knew that time was of the essence. ''Wait, what''s that rock stuck to the ant?'' He didn''t really have much time to identify his adversaries as they tended to swarm around him but this time around, he noticed something stuck to its carapace. Identification: Copper Ore Pebble A mineral containing some copper metal. Can be processed with other such minerals to produce copper. ''Oh? It''s there!'' He quickly grabbed the small pebble that was stuck to the dead monsters and examined it further. This happy moment didn''t last for long as when he attempted to quickly absorb the copper inside this tiny ore fragment, he couldn''t. The amount of copper is too small. ''Too small?'' Rusty wasn''t expecting to get much out of this little rock but he wasn''t given even one percent to his copper stash. Not everything was lost, if this ant had this pebble then it meant that more was around here somewhere. After identifying the corridor that this monster came from, he made his way towards that location. As Rusty ventured deeper into the tunnels, he encountered more of the ant drones and to his delight, discovered additional copper ore pebbles clinging to their bodies. However, the amount of copper in each pebble remained minuscule, and putting them together didn''t show any results either. It was clear that to make this work, he would need quite a bit more and it needed to be in one piece. ''Should I continue or come back later¡­'' He started to weigh his options as he had pushed into the ant nest further than before. It was clear that he managed to diminish their numbers now and the other insects had also helped him in this endeavor. ''I guess going a little further than this shouldn''t be a problem, I''ll just run again if I have to!'' After making up his decision Rusty followed the trail of copper pebbles to a new location. The corridor he was following had traces of the same pebbles along with strange noises coming from the same direction. To not allow himself to be discovered, he slowed down his pace and finally peeked out into a seemingly large chamber within. ''What is that? It''s a lot bigger than the others¡­ but¡­ it''s stuck?'' Rusty almost retreated after seeing a strange insectoid creature within this chamber. It was many times larger than the ant drones but of similar shape. After a quick identification attempt, he was able to unearth its name along with some interesting facts. Classification: Lesser Myrm Ant Queen L7 F+ Type: Insectoid ''A queen? So, is it their leader or is there a kind somewhere too?'' He started looking around but he did not discover any other large ants like this one. However, this didn''t mean that there weren''t some peculiar-looking oval-shaped things. They were all over this chamber and some of them were even moving around. Identification: Minuscule Myrm Ant Egg Contains a Minuscule Myrm Ant inside which will hatch after a week has passed. To make things even more interesting he could see how these eggs were being produced. At first, it seemed that the queen ant was stuck but this was not the case. It just had a really large rear part that was also white like the eggs it was producing. This large organ was connected to the ant queen and seemed to weigh it down. Once an egg was squeezed out from the rear, one of the ant drones would carry it away to a larger pile. ''So that''s how these ants are created? But wait, I''m not here for this¡­ where is the copper ore?'' Rusty realized that he was running out of time. He had not been discovered for now but that could quickly change. Finally, in the distance, he saw something interesting; it was a wall plastered with minerals, many resembling the copper that he was here for. There was one small problem, the wall filled with copper ore and perhaps other metals was right where the large ant queen resided. ''It probably won''t just let me take it after I''ve killed so many of her children, will she?'' This was quite problematic. He had potentially managed to discover a small mine that could help him restore his body. However, if he wanted to take it then defeating this large monster and all of its minions was a necessary task. He was severely outnumbered and the last boss was also the largest one that he had ever seen. ''I can do this. I''ve leveled up, gained experience, and learned from my encounters. This is just another challenge on the way to becoming strong!'' Rusty pumped himself up while trying to take in the sights of this chamber. While he had decided to take the whole ant colony on, it didn''t mean that he would do it by himself. There were ways of lessening his burdens and tactical thinking was still key. Rushing in like a madman could always be done later but first, he would use his surroundings and tactics just like he did in the upper levels of the dungeon. Chapter 18 – Insect Wars. ''That one looks to be a bit smaller than the other ones, it should do. Luckily, these guys don''t go around in such large groups like the other ones, and judging by its level, it shouldn''t be that tough.'' Lesser Giant Centipede L1 F- Rusty identified his new opponent and judged its power according to his old stats. When he was a level one F- type monster, he was much more sluggish and uncoordinated. His hunting target this time around was not a Myrm Ant but a centipede-looking monstrosity. It had a long body and numerous legs, making it swift and agile. Rusty figured that it could possess a venomous bite but with his metallic body, this was a non-issue. After stalking this weaker one to this more secluded location he decided to initiate his new plan. To get rid of the ants and their queen he needed some help. For this purpose, this centipede was required, or to be more specific, its innards. With a plan formed in his metallic mind, Rusty waited for the best moment to go for it. His living armor frame seemed to give him an advantage over these monsters. If he remained perfectly still and had no other insect scents on his metal, he would be considered an inanimate object. He just needed to place himself inside of a corridor and wait for his victim to appear. Then, just as the insect was crawling through he activated his power thrust. His sword started glowing and plunged itself into the monster''s head. With a swift and well-executed strike, the monster''s weak point had been hit, something that Rusty had also eventually discovered. The adventurers and even these insects all had a similar weak point, which was their heads. Cutting off this monster''s many legs or even body parts would not be the smartest move as he had seen it fight with some ants. Going for the head was always the best solution in battle. You have defeated the Lesser Giant Centipede. You have gained +25 experience points. The lifeless creature now lay in the corridor, its legs twitching sporadically. Rusty immediately got to work by grabbing the long monster and placing it over his shoulder. The fresher the remains were the better so he needed to make his way towards the ant lair. There were a few things that he had noticed about his current adversary and how they could seemingly track him everywhere. After making sure that the coast was clear he made his way into the ant colony. Their numbers had dwindled since he had begun hunting them but with that queen there, it was a temporary situation. To make sure that they continued to go down, he wanted to start a fight between two of the species living here. Then when the moment was right, he would strike and get to that large copper deposit that he needed. ''A smaller pack should be somewhere there¡­'' Rusty knew that patience was key and he had taken many days to get used to these underground tunnels. He kept avoiding the insects and just gathering information about their movement patterns. Only after having enough data about his current opponent did he decide to act and this group of three ants would be the start of his ploy. After placing the body of the Lesser Giant Centipede to the side, he engaged with the trio of Miniscule Myrm Drones. The ants were a bit confused by the body of the other insect that was tossed to the side but quickly identified the metallic suit of armor as their main adversary. Rusty, who had managed to level up, didn''t have a problem handling three drones at once, and soon they all fell to his blade. Afterward, a blue crystal appeared in his hand which he crushed immediately after. Quickly, all of his MP was restored which would allow him to perform more powerful skills if the need arose. He was still in enemy territory and keeping himself prepared was crucial. Being attacked down here was a constant possibility and he intended to get out of here without sustaining any further damage. ''Now, to make it look believable¡­'' Rusty began his plan of getting the two insect types to fight by placing the dead centipede in the middle of this battle scene. Around its body, he placed the recently defeated ants and to make it move believable, he even placed one of their legs into the other insect''s mouth. ''These things seem to be territorial, so this should work¡­ I think¡­'' The monsters that he was facing seemed to use scents of other creatures to keep track of everything. He figured this out after being constantly chased by them within the tunnels. Each time he got some of their bodily fluids on his armor, they would somehow manage to track him. However, after washing up in the waters down here, they would be unable to track him any further. Inspired, Rusty contemplated the prospect of spreading the scent of another insect to see how the ants would react. Could it potentially confuse them or divert their attention towards one of the other monsters in the underground domain? It was clear that they all had their separate territories that met up at the main watering hole. While they seemingly adhered to a peculiar pact of non-aggression there, Rusty wondered whether introducing the scent of a centipede inside the ant territory would be enough to break it. After carefully setting the scene, Rusty retreated to a safe distance and observed. The scent of the Lesser Giant Centipede mingled with the ant lair and eventually, a drone appeared on the scene. Their antennae started twitching and it seemed like they were on high alert. The drone approached cautiously, investigating the scene of the staged battle. Rusty couldn''t see that well from his viewing angle but considering that the monster didn''t instantly identify his position, something had changed. ''I better get out of here, I think the centipede scent might be masking me for now.'' His armor had caught some insect fluids and his sword was also covered in them. This was also part of his plan as he wanted a trail of both the insects leading out. Once the ant pointed its head in his direction it was time to move. From time to time he would rub the blood-covered sword on the sides of the walls to keep the scent fresh. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. As he moved, he could hear the faint sounds of the ant drones following the scent trail that he placed. It reached the watering hole and towards the direction of the centipede territories. Quickly after he ran towards his lair where more water resided and where he could wash up. Then when the time was right, he peeked out to see if his plan had been successful. ''Oh¡­ they seem to be mad at each other¡­'' After returning he saw both sides squaring off against each other. On one side he saw multiple ant drones and on the other two giant centipedes. Both insect times were locked in a fierce territorial dispute, mandibles clashing and legs moving. However, after a few minutes of posturing, both sides started retreating to their sides and no actual war had started, it seemed that it would not be that easy to trigger both sides to engage each other. ''Hm¡­ Maybe I''ll need to create more conflict to escalate things faster.'' Rusty pondered his next move as he watched the tense standoff between the ant drones and the giant centipedes. The initial plan had worked to some extent but it seemed that the territorial dispute might need a little push to turn into a full-blown battle. Seeing that his previous plan had partially worked, there was no need to think about it but continue with it. Thus, for the next few days, he began placing carcasses of centipedes into the ants colony. To make things look even better, he began to do the same with the other side. He wanted to make it look like both sides were encroaching on each other''s territories. At some point, one side would probably give in to their urges and finally attack. However, even after a week they still continued to act in a somewhat passive way by just gnashing their mandibles at each other. ''Hm¡­ It''s not really working but, maybe if I do this?'' Rusty had begun to worry that his perfectly created plan would not work. Even after going back and forth between two insect territories and suffering some further damage, nothing had changed. The ants weren''t showing signs of launching a full-scale attack on the centipedes, and vice versa. It seemed like he needed to escalate the conflict further. ''I wish I still had a bow with me, I guess this rock will have to do.'' While he lacked a projectile weapon his Basic Power Shot skill seemed to work with some thrown objects. If he got a large enough rock he could add some momentum to it. Thus he took aim at one of the stalactites hanging above the insect monsters. He aimed to rouse some of their protective instincts, if even one of them attacked the other group then his job would be done. With a swift motion, Rusty hurled the rock toward the stalactite, causing it to detach and crash loudly onto the ground between the ant drones and the giant centipedes. The sudden disturbance startled both groups and their antennae twitched in agitation. The drones who interpreted the falling stalactite as an attack from the centipedes, quickly charged forward and the insect battle had finally begun. Rusty was elated by what was happening and remained hidden as the chaos unfolded. The centipedes, after noticing that the ants were charging, quickly retaliated. Their long bodies twisted and turned as the skirmish between the two groups erupted. The ants outnumbered the other group but they were smaller and weaker creatures. It required at least three or four of them to take care of one of the giant centipedes. The underground battleground echoed with the sounds of clashing mandibles and skittering legs. The battle was fierce and even some of the other insects from other groups started taking part in the extended melee. It was actual pandemonium and Rusty was a bit surprised at the scope of it all. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Did I overdo it?'' He asked himself while retreating to his lair and waiting. While the monsters were fighting, it was impossible to go to the copper mine that he desired. Rusty remained patient and continued to wait while stocking up on the mana stones. He hoped that this insect war would allow him to gain a valuable resource but he could not leave it all up to the centipedes. That queen ant was still there and he had no way of telling if they would be able to contend with it alone. The constant aggression between the insect species that he sparked, started to dwindle. Eventually, he was able to appear at the old watering hole that had been transformed through the daylong battles between the monsters here. Just like he had calculated, these beings were different from the ones from his dungeon. Their corpses were everywhere and he needed to capitalize on these dwindling numbers. The once-large groups were now reduced to scattered survivors, each side nursing wounds from the prolonged conflict. It was at this point that Rusty decided to make his move. This time he did not need to be that stealthy as both sides had retreated into their lairs. After confirming that the coast was clear, he made his way into the ant tunnels that had become filled with the remains of insect combatants. ''The way looks clear but I should hurry, if that queen is still alive, it will produce more drones if I wait for too long.'' With urgency, he navigated through the tunnels. The remnants of the battle were evident, with the scattered carcasses of ants and centipedes creating a gruesome path. The once-lively tunnels were now eerily silent, only interrupted by the occasional clicking sounds of injured ants or the faint echoes of distant skirmishes. The battle still raged on but both sides had diminished in numbers. While he was not here for leveling purposes, he couldn''t help himself to defeat a few ants and injured centipedes. This allowed him to notice a discrepancy in the experience gained again. It seemed that injured monsters gave fewer amounts of points compared to uninjured ones. You have gained +13 experience points. As he moved in deeper, the monster''s remains started to dwindle until none of them appeared again. He could see some markings on the ground and insect parts here and there, it was as if something dragged the remains further in. ''These lead into the queen''s chamber, I wonder what they are doing¡­'' Rusty continued pushing on until he arrived at the place with the copper vein. Before entering he made sure that everything was in order. This was the place of the final battle and he knew that he would need to probably face a large group of either the ant monsters or the centipedes. To no surprise, the chamber where he spotted the copper vein and many eggs was being guarded. Many drones were there but also remains of the other insects had been dragged before the queen. She was in the process of devouring the centipedes that were also smaller in size. ''Are they trying to restore the numbers? Think she is producing more of those eggs than before¡­'' Rusty knew that there wasn''t much time, the number of drones that had survived had dwindled but it would eventually be restored. This species seemed to be weaker than the other but they also probably could replenish their number faster. Their main tactic was swarming their opponents with numbers and after these eggs all hatched, he would be unable to conquer the copper mine anymore. ''Still, their numbers are quite great here¡­ I probably won''t stand a chance if I just go in like this.'' He knew that going in with a tactical mind was the key to victory. While he strived to be the strongest, the time for pushing forth was not yet there. However, he had a plan on how to further weaken his opponents and for that occasion, he had brought over one of the large light crystals from his lair. ''The real fight starts now!'' First, the light crystal that had been wobbling inside of his body was brought out to the forefront. While normally it could not produce any light without being inside of his lair, there was a trick to making it work outside. Even now, it was producing a faint amount of light thanks to the mana crystals he had also brought over. His body was used as a storage unit for the blue stones and soon he would use them to take all the copper along with the life of the ant queen¡­ Chapter 19 – Down With The Queen. Rusty positioned himself strategically, making sure he had a clear view of the ant queen and her chamber. With the light crystal emanating a faint glow, he waited for the perfect moment to initiate his plan. The drones seemed to be preoccupied with the queen as they were regurgitating something into her mouth. Considering that she couldn''t move from this place due to the large abdomen, it was probably food. Classification: Lesser Myrm Ant Queen L7 F+ Type: Insectoid ''There it is, if it can only stay in that one spot then it shouldn''t be that hard to defeat¡­'' He needed that copper deposit that was sitting next to the monster''s enlarged rear end. Even now he could see white eggs coming out of it and getting carried to the side. It seemed that these things took some time to hatch and even now some of them were growing. The forces of the ants had been diminished but they still had a large group here. ''Several of these tunnels connect to this main chamber. If this crystal does its job, then I should be able to do it¡­'' Despite being nothing more than a sentient piece of armor, Rusty experienced a peculiar sensation in his core - something akin to emotions. Emotions, both excitement and fear, coursed through him as he contemplated the impending battle, a battle that could potentially result in his final demise. Yet, he recognized the necessity of confronting the ant queen to strengthen himself and overcome the challenges of this insect-infested underground. Restoring his body was necessary for his future survival and he understood that this battle could not be avoided. ''No way to go back now, if I wait, these ants will just come back in greater numbers! What if they eventually overrun those other insects?'' After pitting the two species against each other, it appeared that the ants were beginning to win. While the centipedes possessed larger and stronger bodies, their cooperation was more than lacking. It was likely that the ants would emerge victorious in the end. However, this victory could lead to a larger issue as he would be against even greater numbers than before, something that he would be incapable of handling. ''Here it goes then¡­ Come at me!'' It was time to start his plan and the first thing he did was to place the large light crystal on the ground. Next to it, he started stashing the other mana crystals and stopped after it was glowing gently. Then he started making some noise, while he was not capable of shouting, hitting his chest with his metallic gauntlet was enough to produce quite a ruckus. The drones that had been busy feeding the queen and handling eggs instantly turned in the direction of the strange living armor. There was a small swarm of them in this chamber and he would certainly be defeated if he attacked the queen with all of them in there. Thus, he decided to lure them out and make himself a target. ''Common, follow me!'' Just as he expected, the small drones tossed themselves at him the moment they saw him. They seemed angrier than usual, probably due to the fact that he had invaded their colony''s innermost sanctum where their queen resided. The large ant gave out a strange hissing noise in his general direction which seemed to call forth even more ants. One ant tossed itself at him and he quickly cut off his head, its fluids falling on him just as he had planned. Soon after, he turned around and started to run while ensuring the drones followed him. He could hear the skittering of their legs behind him as he led them away from the queen''s chamber and deeper into the labyrinth-like tunnels of the ant colony. Rusty knew he couldn''t afford to let any of them catch up to him, as a swarm of angry ants could easily overpower even his sturdy metal frame. However, he also didn''t want to actually flee to safety. The angry ants needed to be close enough to keep following him and the more the better. After spending some time fighting these monsters he had memorized a few paths and also marked them for easy use. He continued to lead the ants on a wild goose chase through the tunnels and eventually, he made his way back to the chamber where his target resided, the ant queen. He had gone in circles to return to this place that was now a lot emptier than before. ''Where is that crystal!'' With haste, he tossed himself at the magical crystal that he left to the side and now it was time to finish up his trap. He produced many smaller mana stones that he could store in his stash tab and with their addition to the other mana crystals, the light started to shine brightly. It encompassed almost half of this chamber and most importantly, the tunnels that he led the ant drones into. ''Please work¡­'' While he had performed a few tests with the insects he wasn''t sure if this light was all that it took to keep them at bay. It worked in his own lair where there were many but he could only bring enough mana stones to make one of them shine brightly here. Luckily, the moment the radiance took over the ants stopped in their tracks and could not go any further. ''Haha, I knew it would work!'' Rusty raised his arms up into the air and cheered again, something that he started doing whenever performing well. His plan had succeeded thus far and with the ants halted by the brilliant light emanating from the crystal, it was time for battle. The queen was still there along with a few leftover ant drones that had higher levels than the rest. It seemed to be her honor guard but it would not be enough to stop his charge. ''Let''s finish this, come ants!'' Six drones remained in this egg-laying chamber, and they quickly charged at him with their mandibles clicking in agitation. With his sword at the ready, he faced them head-on. The first swing instantly decapitated one of them and soon after it plunged into the second one. Two of them were instantly down and he quickly retreated before the third one could pounce at his helmet. ''Hah, I know all your attack patterns you silly ants, you''ll have to try harder than that to defeat me!'' Rusty danced between the attacking ants, using his superior agility and combat skills to outmaneuver them. With each precise strike of his sword, he managed to take down another drone to reduce their numbers even further. Despite their numerical advantage, the ants seemed unable to land a solid blow on him and even when they did, his armored frame proved too hard to bite through. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Soon the fifth one was down on the ground and only one lone drone remained between him and the screeching ant queen. She was constantly clicking and clacking her mandibles in his direction while giving off strange sounds. He wasn''t sure what it was about but he believed that she was trying to call for more help. Luckily, the light within this chamber was keeping the other drones at bay as they couldn''t enter this place. Rusty advanced forward with a confident stride. The remaining ant drone charged at him with desperate ferocity. Rusty sidestepped its attack with practiced ease, then countered with a swift and precise strike that severed its head from its body. There was no need for fancy skills as he could read this little monster like an open book. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the final drone fell to the ground, lifeless, Rusty turned his attention to the ant queen. She was a formidable opponent, larger and more heavily armored than the drones. She had sharper mandibles of greater size and her legs seemed like they could pierce through hard rocks. But Rusty was undeterred as this monster had one big weak point, it could not move due to the large rear part attached it it. Regular ants had three main parts, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. This Lesser Myrm Ant Queen was slightly different as she had a fourth appendage to which her abdomen was connected. It looked like a large white caterpillar and it was thicker and longer than her entire main body. Due to this strange egg-creating organ, the Queen found itself rooted in place and dependent on her drones for everything. They needed to feed her and also to protect her. Finally, Rusty approached the ant queen with caution, his sword gleaming in the dim light of the chamber. The queen clicked and hissed as she sensed the threat he posed. She swung her massive front legs at him along with her mandibles in a warning but he remained unimpressed. ''As long as I judge the distance well¡­ I should be able to kill her¡­'' While this ant monster was a lot bigger and better armored, it was still just an ant. It had the same weaknesses as the smaller ones that he could exploit. After fighting the smaller drones for so long, he had identified gaps in their insect armor. These spots were usually at the joint areas or at the parts where the head, thorax, and abdomen connected. However, when it came to this one here, there was an even bigger weak spot. He circled around the ant queen to arrive at the strange-looking organ she was connected to. His sword moved in a thrusting motion as he pierced it from the side. Instantly he could tell that the monster was in pain and receiving damage. He wasn''t sure how other creatures worked in this world but everything had health points. It was possible to defeat some monsters by hitting the same spot over and over again, in this case, that was also part of his ploy. ''Don''t hate me for this ant queen, I need that copper!'' Thus he continued to hit her weak spot, over and over again while the monster trashed around in agony. Her movements became more erratic and her attempts to defend herself grew feeble. The once mighty monarch of the ant colony was now reduced to a wounded creature, or so he thought. His assault was relentless but the queen still had one trick up her sleeve. He could see the monster''s health bar with the help of his identification skill but he was sure that it was going down. But his enemy didn''t want to just give up and die. As he was stabbing the rear end continuously the ant queen started thrashing even harder. It was to the point that he could see the caterpillar-like rear organ sliding forward with her. ''Wait, what is it doing?'' The monster was doing something strange, it was doing something to its abdomen or to be more precise, to the part that connected to the egg-laying organ. It started to stab it while also yanking itself forward as if it was trying to tear it off and get free. ''This¡­ doesn''t look good¡­'' He realized that he might have underestimated this monster''s tenacity. The ant queen''s attempts to free herself were becoming increasingly frantic and she was starting to separate herself from the rear organ. The rest of her body was mostly uninjured and probably capable of defending itself. Eventually, he attempted to switch to attacking the main body but after a few pokes, he found it hard to pierce the carapace and even the weak parts. His corroded sword had become dulled with time and he wasn''t sure if the time to spend his restorative resources was wise. Thus he continued attempting to stab the monster and slash at it with the help of his power skills. With the added momentum and attacking power he managed to dislodge one of the monster''s hind legs. However, the monster wasn''t letting up and finally managed to separate its main body from the organ. It had managed to free itself and first fell forward in a daze. Rusty didn''t panic yet as he tossed himself at the creature from behind. He would not relent until the queen was defeated but even after landing a few hits, the monster was still not dead. It turned around and angrily launched itself at the living armor that had been giving it pain for so long. The monster ant was bigger and stronger so his body was flung into the distance and collided with the nearby wall. The monster gave out a massive shriek of anger and its antennae continued to twitch with anger. It looked at Rusty who was rattling around and trying to gather himself off the ground. His foot was loose and so was his left arm. With haste, he attempted to set himself back into place but the monster was coming. It charged with speed and force that he had never seen before. Rusty scrambled to his feet, his damaged body protesting against the sudden movement. With his sword in hand, he braced himself for the incoming assault. The ant queen charged at him relentlessly, her mandibles snapping menacingly. He intercepted them with the help of his sword or at least attempted but to no surprise, his sword finally snapped in two. His body was slammed against a nearby wall as the ant queen attempted to gut him. However, even though her mandibles were sharp and bit through his bronze body, this was not the end. He retracted his broken sword, stuck it into the monster''s mouth, and then quickly activated his strongest skill. The ant monster''s mouth started glowing along with the leftover part of his blade that he enhanced with the light element. These monsters were all susceptible to this element and he could infuse his weapon with it. Once inside the monster''s mouth, the glowing sword entered its body and made it retreat. Rusty could see that the queen was in disarray and he needed to quickly follow up. This was the time to spend the rest of his bronze and conjure up a new blade. The holes and gashes on his bronze body started to rapidly restore themselves and he was granted a replacement sword. Soon after his only leftover mana crystal was crushed to restore his MP. All of his bronze reserves had been just consumed but he didn''t care, the foe needed to be defeated first. Soon he launched himself at his adversary, his blade glowing red as he launched a series of powerful thrusts and slashes. His attacks were precise and relentless, each strike aiming for the weak spots he had identified earlier. The ant queen, now weakened and disoriented, struggled to defend herself against Rusty''s onslaught. Her mandibles snapped wildly and even were able to produce new wounds on his metallic form. However, he did not care and only plunged his sword into one of the monster''s eyes and finally, the monster was faltering. With each strike, Rusty felt a surge of power coursing through him. This was his moment to prove his strength and resilience. He refused to let the ant queen defeat him, he would not fall after coming this far. The cavern echoed with the clash of metal against chitin as Rusty and the ant queen engaged in a fierce battle. Despite her size and strength, she had been injured too much and the metallic armor proved to be more resilient. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Rusty delivered the decisive blow. His sword pierced through the weakened carapace of the ant queen, dislodging her head along with it. Without being able to screech in agony, the queen collapsed to the ground, her body unmoving and lifeless. You have gained +250 experience points. You have gained a new title. Congratulations you have gained a level. ''Haha, I did it but¡­'' While he was happy that he had been victorious, there was one little problem. The light crystal that he had left behind was starting to dim and behind it was a sea of angry ant drones. They were clearly enraged by the death of their queen and probably wanted to have a nibble at his metallic body¡­ Chapter 20 – Strange Egg. ''Give up already, your queen is already dead!''A shriek escaped from an ant and was soon followed by another as they charged at the monster that defeated their leader. Rusty took up a stance and prepared himself for the onslaught of angry drones. He knew that despite his victory over the queen, this wasn''t over yet. The light crystal had dimmed and some of the drones managed to slip through but he was not scared, victory was near. As the first wave of drones descended upon him, Rusty swung his sword with precision to deflect the initial mandibles and slashed through their exoskeletons. These smaller creatures were not much to him who had just managed to gain another level. With each swing of his sword, more of the bodies riddled this chamber. You have gained +6 experience points. The drones kept coming, seemingly endless in their numbers but Rusty fought on with determination. He was a whirlwind of steel amidst the swarm. Despite their ferocity, the drones were no match for his strength and increasing skills. He never tired and their numbers started to dwindle. You have gained +6 experience points. Eventually, the ant''s numbers started to dwindle and the robust suit of armor raised his sword for the last time. With a final and resounding swing of his sword, Rusty cleaved through the last of the ant drones. Their lifeless bodies now riddled the entire chamber. The chamber was now eerily silent and quickly became dark as the light crystal dimmed fully. Rusty stood amidst the carnage with his sword broken and body battered, yet victory was still his. ''I thought they would never stop coming¡­'' Rusty couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had emerged victorious against overwhelming odds by defeating both the ant queen and her small army of drones. His efforts had not been in vain and he had proven that he was a capable warrior. Now all that was left was to take the loot that he had fought for but first, he needed to glance at his status screen. ''I''ve gained two levels and I''m almost level nine too but they almost got me, I don''t have many hit points left¡­'' Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L8 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 15/85 Magic Points [MP] 3/63 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 76 [ F+ ] Agility 55 [ F ] Dexterity 57 [ F ] Constitution 80 [ F+ ] Intelligence 55 [ F ] Wisdom 58 [ F ] Willpower 59 [ F ] Durability F+ Rusty''s body was mangled up and had several large gashes in it. Luckily he wasn''t missing any important parts and could still move. This body of his was quite robust and unless his parts were severed, he could keep on moving. However, it would eventually give up and he would be unable to move. At this moment, he could barely move forward without his legs breaking apart. ''I haven''t gotten any new skills lately, that''s a bit strange¡­ but I did gain a new title, I wonder what it does!'' Ant Slayer Title A title gained by defeating a large number of ant-type monsters and their queen. Whenever fighting other similar monsters, the person with this title gains a 1% damage bonus. ''Just one percent? That doesn''t sound like much but I guess it''s better than nothing¡­'' His level had increased and more power coursed through his body but it wouldn''t last for long. He needed to restore it before leaving this place and the copper vein here was what he needed. After placing his hand on the rock formation he awaited for his system to initiate. He had not had much use for his SP for a while but absorbing this copper would change that. The amount of copper is too large. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ''It''s too large? Previously it was too small¡­ But how do I make it smaller?'' Before him was a large wall filled with copper ore that he needed to chop into smaller pieces to use. His body was mangled and it was the same for his sword. It would probably break if he attempted to strike this wall with his weapon. While copper would allow him to restore his weapon, it still felt like a waste to ruin it before it was truly worn down. He also lacked one other resource which was tin, before finding it he needed to conserve all resources. Rusty pondered his predicament for a moment and considered his options carefully. He needed a way to break down the large wall of copper ore without damaging his already worn-out sword. As he scanned the chamber, his eyes fell upon the carcass of the ant queen. ''Perhaps this could be of some use? She was able to pierce through hard rocks with those legs and mandibles.'' Rusty approached the carcass of the ant queen and inspected her mandibles. Despite the damage inflicted upon her during their battle, they remained sharp and sturdy. However, they were still attached to the monster''s large head and perhaps not the best option for now. Some other severed appendages were also there, which were the ant queen''s legs. They were much lighter but also seemingly sturdy. After picking up one of the legs he decided to use it similarly to a spear. First, he poked the wall with normal attacks and soon after used his power thrust skill to plunge it in deeper. The leg broke in a few spots but also embedded itself in the rocky formation. After moving it around a couple of times, he was finally able to dislodge a larger chunk of ore that was bigger than his fist. ''This should do it, right?'' He placed his damaged palm on it and was finally given the correct prompt that would allow him to take it. His SP went down by a couple of points and the ore found its way into his inventory. It was a separate item from the regular ingots he received when absorbing resources from weapons or armor. ''Hm, will this turn into a copper ingot eventually?'' This was not his first time working with items and he was certain that he needed to gather more fist-sized ores. With the help of the ant queen''s leg, he continued to mine the ore in this room and after gathering another three he was finally able to combine them into a proper copper ingot. With the freshly obtained copper ingot in the stash tab, Rusty felt a surge of relief. This was exactly what he needed to restore his damaged weapon and body. Now, all he had to do was mine more of the ore and gain more ingots. While he wanted to continue with his mining spree there was still one thing that he didn''t decide on, the many white eggs in this chamber were still here. Previously he chose to ignore them as they weren''t posing a threat but now he could see that one of them was moving. He stopped for a moment to check what was going on. The egg was twitching around and eventually, something started to emerge from within. It was an ant drone but it looked a lot more feeble than the ones that he had encountered. Its exoskeleton didn''t seem to have hardened fully and it had a brighter coloring. The creature was clearly disoriented but without giving it much of a thought, it was soon dispatched with one swing of his sword. You have gained +5 experience points. ''Hm¡­'' It was quite easy to kill and Rusty knew that it was the right choice to have saved them for later. Piercing an undeveloped ant egg didn''t yield any points of experience so he needed to wait for them to fully develop and hatch. His goal was still to level up as much as he could and killing the newly hatched insects was quite easy. With his mind now set, he turned his attention to the remaining copper ore. Despite his damaged state, he continued to mine the ore with the ant queen''s leg-turned-improvised mining tool. Chunk by chunk, he gathered more ore and spent points to absorb them into his inventory space. Whenever he ran out of SP it was time to focus more of his attention on the ant eggs. Eventually, the chamber became devoid of any signs of life and his limit for copper ores and ingots had been reached. ''So ten seems to be the limit for everything¡­'' It seemed that this cheat-like restorative ability he had with the help of his inventory, had its limits. There was a limit to all items that he could hold in a square and it was impossible to spread them out through the stash tab. After ten of each item was gathered there was no way of getting any more unless he carried them to another location. This would limit his healing ability during combat as with time and enough damage, he would reach a limit. He had spent several days in this ant colony and had already restored his body. In his inventory, he had reached the limit of copper ores and ingots and was now contemplating his future plans. He just needed a little bit more to reach the tenth and final level before his next evolution and he could not wait to gain more power. ''I wonder what my next body will be like? Could I make it bigger and heavier? Hm, but what if I become too big to fit through these tunnels?'' His mind was filled with thoughts of future forms and battles. He still had a bone to pick with the adventurers that had forced him to fall down here. While, on one hand, their actions had propelled him to his current state of power, on the other, they had nearly led to his demise. He had not yet searched for a way back up but perhaps after he gained more strength, then climbing back up the chasm would become a possibility. ''Now then, I should take as many of the ores back to the lair and plan my next move.'' Rusty was ready to leave this dark place, the light on the light crystal had dimmed a long time ago and now this place was pitch dark. He scanned the place with his senses again to see if he didn''t miss any of the ant eggs. While he was planning to return here a couple of times, it was better to kill these small monsters right after they had hatched. ''Oh, what''s that? It looks different from the others¡­'' On his way out he discovered one last ant egg that was a bit peculiar. The others were all white and went brown when something was about to hatch from them. This one on the other hand looked silvery and metallic. It reminded him a bit of his own body but not quite. ''It''s smaller than the others too¡­'' He had almost missed this egg as it had been stashed to the side. Was it discarded by the other hands or did it roll away during the chaos of the battle that ensued a few days ago? Rusty didn''t know but one thing was clear, this egg was taking a while to hatch, a lot longer than the others. It seemed to be a bit special and for some reason, he was drawn to it. ''Why don''t I take it with me?'' There was space inside of his body to take this egg with him along with a few copper ores. His chest cavity was filled out with copper ore while the egg was shoved into the neck area and covered up with his helmet. With his task now completed and the ant colony wiped out, he made his way back to his own lair. The journey back to his lair was uneventful, save for a few close encounters with wandering insects that he easily dispatched. Some of the centipedes wandered into the tunnels that the ants had ruled before. Even with the added weight these monsters didn''t pose much of a threat to the current him that was almost at max level. Rusty felt a sense of relief wash over him as he found himself at the watering hole. The number of insects had decreased and he was able to easily walk to the tunnel leading to his lair. His adventure had come to an end and he had emerged stronger than before. He wasn''t sure why but he felt content about his recent victory. ''Now where should I put this?'' Upon reaching his lair, Rusty carefully laid out the copper ores he had collected and stored them all in one place. He then turned his attention to the metallic-looking egg he had found. For some reason it didn''t feel right to just leave it out in the corner so he created a little pedestal on the side. There was just a perfect spot next to some blue and white crystals. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''I wonder if this will even hatch¡­'' He was not convinced that a monster would hatch from this egg as he had brought it over to his lair which was filled to the brim with light. The other monsters didn''t seem to like the light and perhaps even took direct damage from it. It wasn''t strange to assume that whatever was developing inside would just die. ''Well, it doesn''t matter. I should focus on finding some tin now, maybe I''ll find some in the centipede lair? Or should I try the other ones?'' There were four main monster types in this dungeon with the ants being one of them. Besides the ants, there were also the centipedes, the slugs, and the giant beetles. After some consideration, he decided to go with the centipedes first. That group had been weakened by the territorial battle with the ants and would probably be the easiest to beat. Then, if he was victorious he would follow it up with the slugs and finish up with the strongest, the giant beetles. The latter had the largest bodies that he didn''t feel confident in being able to dispose of. He wished to go through his next evolution before confronting that variant of insect. As Rusty prepared himself to venture into the centipede lair, he made sure his armor was properly fastened and his sword was ready for battle. With the help of some rocks, he was able to sharpen it further. His inventory was stocked with copper ingots and the egg was stashed in a safe location. It was time to set out once again into the dark tunnels. ''Nothing can stop me! I''ll probably be level ten after I come back, I can''t wait!'' Rusty ventured forth with a confident stride. After his victory against the ant queen, he was pumped up, nothing could stop him now. Soon his footsteps echoed in the outside corridor and the only thing left inside his lair was the strange silvery egg. Once all noise died down, the egg began to emit a faint glow, its surface shimmering for a split second before stopping¡­ Chapter 21 – Next Evolution. You have gained +13 experience points. You have gained +15 experience points. ''Silly insects, you can''t defeat me!'' Rusty sliced through another creepy crawler while hearing the world system notifications. He had left his lair behind and begun his leveling spree. First, he headed to the old Ant lair to gather up more copper ores back to his base. After the third tip, he started encountering the long centipede monsters which seemed to be attracted to the bodies of the ants which for some reason were not vanishing anymore. It was clear that the dungeon rules were different down here but his well-being was not in danger. The monsters here were also different as they liked to feast on each other''s bodies, not something Rusty was capable of as he could only absorb metallic parts from items that these creatures did not possess. Armed with higher levels and more bronze to repair his damaged body and weapon, he started pushing back. It became a daily occurrence for him to get into multiple brawls with these creepy crawlers. Their bodies were more robust and their bites deadlier than that of the ant monsters. However, they did not work so well together as well and would also not be able to track him if he escaped. After gathering enough raw resources he set out to the deep tunnels that led to the centipede lair. The tunnels there were surprisingly narrower than that of the ant colony, but Rusty''s armor provided him with the necessary protection against the sharp rocks and jagged edges. The deeper he pushed in, the more the number of his enemies increased. His confidence could not be shaken and with each encounter, he became stronger and soon reached level nine. With each level gained his strength grew and he felt vindicated. His combat prowess was increasing and he felt more and more attuned with his metallic body. Yet, as he delved deeper into the centipede lair, the challenges grew more daunting. The creatures here were larger and more aggressive, their chitinous exoskeletons started to become a problem that he could only cut with the help of his skills. However, Despite the difficulties Rusty pressed on, determined to reach his goal of reaching level ten and advancing even further. ''This looks similar to the ant lair¡­'' With time he reached a more open area with a massive amount of smaller tunnels leading to it. He could hear and see a mass of crawling monsters everywhere but they were not attacking. Right in the middle there was a much larger insect that was curled around strange orb-like objects. It seemed to have the same purpose as the ant queen but there was one problem, this thing looked a lot stronger than the previous monster he faced and it also was not rooted in place. Classification: Lesser Giant Centipede Matriarch L4 E- Type: Insectoid ''If I go by the classification¡­ this might be a bad idea¡­ I already had trouble with the queen that was an F+ monster¡­'' After wandering this world he started to understand the rating system of other creatures. The ants that were of G rank were below his F rank, and this monster was an E rank. He could easily vanquish the G rank ant drones the moment he arrived at this area and would probably be able to even if he was a level one damaged armor. ''This might call for a tactical withdrawal¡­'' There was no real reason for him to engage this more massive creature at this point in time. There were no tin or copper deposits that he could see in this area, and the risk of facing such a formidable opponent outweighed any potential rewards. Rusty knew that being discrete and calculative was the right way of going about things when it came to survival. There was no reason to rush and leveling further could be done through safer means. With a cautious step backward, Rusty began to retreat from the lair of the Giant Centipede Matriarch. He made sure to move silently and avoid drawing attention to himself. The last thing he needed was to alert the massive creature to his presence and find himself in a battle he couldn''t win. However, his body was not very silent and after stepping on a crunchy piece of rock he awoke the monstrosity. The Giant Centipede Matriarch seemed quite attuned to the noise and instantly turned to face the direction of the intruder. She rose with her elongated body that was well over ten meters long and emitted a low hiss, her numerous legs skittering across the ground as she prepared to strike. Rusty''s nonexistent heart sank as he bolted away in panic. Rusty knew he had to act quickly if he wanted to escape from the Giant Centipede Matriarch''s wrath. With a burst of speed, he dashed down one of the smaller tunnels in hopes of her enlarged body becoming stuck. To his dismay, the creature seemed to have just fit perfectly through them. Behind him, he could hear the sound of the Matriarch''s massive body slithering after him, her hisses echoing through the tunnels like a menacing symphony. Rusty knew that he needed to get away and luckily there were a few things that he could do. On his way out he started smacking some looser-looking rocks to block the path behind him. While it would make navigating back more difficult, it was better to block the tunnels now than be devoured by the large monster. Even with this strategy, he could feel the monster skittering behind him. When he glanced back he could see the monster''s jaws snapping around and its legs skittering on the side of the tunnel. This monster seemed to be quite enraged by his presence but luckily he stumbled upon a small crevice. It was barely enough for his metallic body to squeeze through. The large insect matriarch attempted to follow quickly after but was unable to. Her head was somewhat wider than the rest of the body with large vice-like mandibles on each side. While this was the perfect chance to get away, a chance presented itself. ''What if I¡­'' Rusty''s battle sense was telling him that perhaps it was time to go on the offensive. His sword glowed in red as he plunged it into the monster''s mouth. Then quickly after he twisted it around while also activating his light elemental skill. The inside of the monster''s gullet started glowing and the creature started thrashing about. ''Hah, take that!'' The monster seemed to be injured but then it did something unexpected. Instead of trying to push itself and get stuck in the narrow passage, it started to retreat. To Rusty''s surprise, he could not pull back his weapon anymore and instead was getting yanked along with it. Even though his strength stat was at an F+ rating, it wasn''t enough to go against the E-rank monster. ''No, my sword¡­ Give it back!'' Rusty struggled to maintain his grip on his sword as the Giant Centipede Matriarch began to retreat, dragging him along with it. The narrow passage provided little room for maneuvering, and Rusty''s metallic body scraped against the jagged walls which caused sparks to fly around. The creature''s strength was just far too great for him to win and holding on would only make things worse. He made a quick decision to let go of his weapon as he was not going to relinquish his arm that was beginning to leave his body. Instantly, he tumbled back and the monster retreated with his still-glowing sword back into the darkened corridor. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ''Did it just leave?'' Rusty lay there for a moment, gathering his thoughts about the loss of his beloved sword. Luckily, he still had enough resources to produce a new one but eventually, his tin reserves would run out. Slowly, he pushed his scratched-up body off the ground and decided to leave this place. The Matriarch would be a great target to test his future body out but for now, it was better to keep himself safe. ''What should I do now¡­ should I try those slugs or should I just wait and take things slowly?'' After returning to the main watering hole he resumed his journey. The centipedes weren''t the only monster type here as strange slow-moving slugs and large beetles were also an option. The centipedes weren''t a difficult foe but with their matriarch wandering the tunnels, it would perhaps be better to target some of the slugs. He knew their behavior to some extent and had already decided on a tactic to defeat them. ''Slugs it is then.'' With a determined stride, Rusty set off in the direction of the slug lair, a place he hadn''t truly explored yet. It seemed that these creatures all gathered around one larger monster that produced offspring. These would probably be similar but he wouldn''t be sure until he explored their tunnels like the others. Once inside he encountered a few of them quite quickly. ''These guys are a lot slower than the others but they all stick around each other for some reason¡­'' Rusty picked up a rock from the ground and threw it in the direction of the monsters. His projectile traveled in a nice arc in the direction of one of the slow-moving monsters. Yet, right before it was about to collide with this strange creature it was intercepted. The creature expanded its mouth as if it were some sort of fleshy harmonica and gobbled up the rock. It was a strange sight to behold, these monsters had similar bodies to worms but they could elongate their mouths. These shot out at fast speeds, quite a stark contrast to their slow-moving bodies. They seemed to have a symbiotic relationship, working together to defend themselves against potential threats. They were similar to the ants in that regard but they would not be able to chase them down with their slow speeds. ''There is always an easy way¡­ now, these guys have one weakness!'' Just like any other creature, it seemed that everyone had a weak point that could be exploited. Even Rusty who was a living armor made from metal had his drawbacks, one of them was his hollow body that was susceptible to blunt forces and tipping over. These slugs had one deficiency when it came to their attacking patterns. At first, it seemed that those mouths would make short work of anyone who would approach them but there was something that he could exploit about them. His first enemies would be a quartet of slugs and to defeat them he just needed a handful of large rocks. After flinging them all at the group he grabbed his restored blade and began to approach. The strange mouths launched forward at the projectiles and chomped them down. At the ends of these appendages, there were razor-sharp teeth that would quickly embed themselves into anything they could grab. However, once the attack was initiated there was a window of opportunity that an attacker like Rusty could abuse. The slugs had an easy attack pattern and a reason why they stayed so close to each other. Their attacks were strong and fast but they could not be used multiple times. If one of them missed then they needed others to continue the battle for them. However, if he managed to set them off all at once, then victory was assured. Rusty maneuvered around the prolonged mouths that launched themselves at the rocks that he threw. As soon as they extended their appendages to grab the rocks, he darted in close, slashing at the exposed bodies of the slugs. His sword cut through their soft flesh with ease, causing them to recoil in pain. He counted in his head and after exactly eight seconds he started to retreat. At this point, the mouths would have retracted themselves and were ready to lounge at him again. You have gained +18 experience points. ''Got one, just three left.'' He continued with his tactical assault on the slugs and he became more adept at this tactic with each he defeated. With each precise strike, he whittled away at their numbers and retreated at the right moment before they could prepare a counterattack. It took multiple hits to damage the strange slimy bodies but eventually, the area was nothing more than green goop. You have gained +16 experience points. The last one was eventually defeated and he continued with his exploration into the new area. This place was a lot more spacious than the rest and he encountered large caverns filled with groups of these slug creatures. As long as he kept his distance they would not approach, they were quite a good source of experience points but he couldn''t become careless. Even with his abilities and tactics, complacency could still lead to his downfall. Some of the slugs were positioned strategically, making it difficult for him to approach without risking an attack. They were able to hang up from the ceiling and once approached would fall down and attack with their grabby mouths. Others seemed to have the ability to blend in with the environment and were just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. Nevertheless, they didn''t pose a big enough threat to this metallic body and were a great source for continuous farming. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained the Elemental Discharge skill. You have reached the level limit, please choose a path forward. After continuous days of battling the day had finally arrived. He had gotten to level ten and even gained a new skill. He was overjoyed that his hard work had finally paid off. His journey towards excellence and triumph was only starting as he expected this evolutionary change to be an even bigger step than before. ''I should return!'' Even though there were some slugs left to slay he instantly stopped with his hunt. The bar that showcased his experience points was all filled up. Even if he continued to defeat more enemies it wouldn''t gain him anything anymore, it was better to conserve his body and to quickly return to his lair of shiny crystals. ''I wonder if those two will be there¡­'' Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L10 [ Max ] Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 67/92 Magic Points [MP] 43/68 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 82 [ F+ ] Agility 61 [ F ] Dexterity 62 [ F ] Constitution 87 [ F+ ] Intelligence 62 [ F ] Wisdom 63 [ F ] Willpower 64 [ F ] Durability F+ After glancing at his maxed-out status he took some time to examine his new skill which was something that he didn''t expect. Basic Elemental Discharge Active Skill Allows the user to eject a powerful surge of elemental energy from within objects imbued with elemental mana. His skill was also quite intriguing but he decided to not test it out for the time being. His thoughts were filled with new evolutionary options and a new more robust body that he could finally inhabit. Thus once back in his lair, he took up a spot close to his ant egg that he had been fostering for the past two weeks. Next to it, he set himself down on the ground and looked at the enticing status window before him. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Please choose a path. Chapter 22 – Soul Forge Expansion. ''Choose what path? It looks different than last time¡­''Rusty was confused while staring at his evolution options. Previously after clicking forward, he was greeted by a singular evolutionary path. This path presented him with his current body, but this time around there was none. Instead of a better-looking armored form, there was only a phantom of a door. ''I don''t want to turn into a door. How would a door even hold a sword or fight monsters?'' However, the more he looked at this door the more it reminded him of something. It looked exactly the same as the large castle gate doors he encountered the first time he went through his evolution. They were just much smaller on the system screen which confused him. ''Hm¡­ does this just mean that I will arrive inside that large hall instead?'' It made more sense that he would be brought before the soul forge instead of turning into a castle door so he just carried on like the last time. He pressed the ''Select'' button that was waiting for him and waited. Just like before it took some time but eventually the surroundings started to shift. The glowing crystals that were everywhere vanished and were replaced by the same grand hall adorned with intricate designs as the last time he was here. "I''m here." He had made it inside of the floating castle while skipping the trip through the long bridge. Once inside he actually possessed a voice that could echo through the empty halls. This was his second time here so he knew where the soul forge was but before going there, he decided to explore this vast place once more. "Hello? Is anyone here?" After watching adventurers communicating with each other, he kind of knew how to do it himself. Previously he encountered two glowing orbs here, one dark and the other similar to the crystals from his cave. He wondered around wondering if they were here once more but it didn''t seem so. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Could they be inside the soul forge, like last time?" There weren''t many changes to this place and even after picking up some silver plates, he was not able to absorb the metals inside. This place might have worked under different rules than the real world he came from but perhaps with time, this would change. With nothing else to do, he decided to walk up the stairs and into the soul forge that had his new body. "It''s there!" He shouted in joy as he saw his new form standing tall. It resembled his current body but was devoid of any rust over parts, it was a fully functioning bronze armor. While it didn''t really change in form it felt more powerful and radiated some strange power. However, before he could charge in and take up his new and improved form, his old friends finally decided to show themselves. "The prodigal son has returned!" First, the dark sphere of light made itself known and it was quickly followed by the white one. "Son? Don''t give him strange ideas, we aren''t related." "Aren''t we, Hero? It¡­ I mean, Rusty has both our memories and seems to have inherited some of my cunning!" "You call using poison and cowardly tactics for killing, cunning?" "Why yes? What else would it be? It does not matter how you are victorious just that you are the one left standing!" "Only a demon would think like that?" "Your friends seemed to think the same, they lived and you died~" "Shut up!" The dark sphere that represented the defeated Demon King started chuckling after making the Hero mad. The two seemed to be at each other''s throats and Rusty somewhat knew the reason for it. Their emotions were mixed up with him and he seemed to have actually inherited some of their traits. "Well¡­ he also has inherited some of your¡­ foolish traits and gets absorbed in combat too easily¡­" "Hah, finding joy in a fair exchange isn''t foolish. What is life with no honor and compassion? I was not the only one betrayed if you treated your subjects with some empathy¡­" "This again? Compassion only brings weakness, you need a calculated mind." It was clear that the two orbs could not find a middle ground which for some reason brought Rusty some amusement. Despite their constant arguing, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards them. After all, it was thanks to them that he was able to unlock the Twilight form of his body which later on allowed him to survive and get stronger. If it was the previous him, then he would have probably already approached his new form and started fusing with it. However, now he was different, his short life had taught him that it was best to analyze the situation around him. There were a few things that had changed in this place, with multiple new passages appearing from within this forging chamber. When turning to the right he could see a door with writing over it. It led to something called The Armory and had a symbol that looked like a sword and a shield over it. Previously there was nothing there but now the door was wide open. Then to the left, there was another one, with a symbol of a book that led to something called a library. To top it all off there was also a third path, leading to something called the training area. While he wasn''t sure how this came to be, he realized that each of these paths could offer him valuable resources and knowledge to aid him on his future journey of strength. The Armory could provide him with new weapons, perhaps eliminating the limiting longsword that was his only weapon. The Library might contain ancient texts and scrolls that could teach him new skills or perhaps give him new ideas for better strategies. Then the Training facility could allow him to hone his skills to a greater extent. "Hey Rusty, are you listening?" If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Huh?" "Oh, you were?" "Of course!" "Hah, look at him lie instantly~ Reminds me of me when I was little! He will make a great demon lord in the future!" "Why would he ever become a demon lord you bastard?" "He is a monster, do you think your kind will accept him? They''ll attack him the moment he enters one of your cities. Becoming a demon lord and dominating the world is the obvious path for him! And with this soul forge around, this might be a possibility¡­" The orb of darkness seemed to dim while talking about Rusty''s future. The one representing the hero instantly started going brighter and tried to rebuke him. "You must be mad if you think that I would allow something like that to happen!" "As if you will be able to do anything in your current form, hero. He is a monster, eventually, he will give in to his desires of domination and deceit!" "No never!" "He had no remorse when handling those adventurers with poison, what do you think he will do once¡­ Huh, where did he go?" As the demon king and hero were in a heated debate, the target of their discussion vanished from their sight. Both quickly looked at the bronze suit of armor which represented the next evolution for their armored friend. It was luckily still standing there and had not been touched, however, some sound was coming from one of the side chambers. "Maybe try not to make these boring speeches anymore, demon king¡­" The white light orb cackled and soon zoomed towards the path leading to the armory chamber. This was something that had recently become available and he knew that it was part of his old blessing. While the layout was different as it took the form of the old demon lord''s castle, the functions were similar. Once he arrived there he could see a confused bronze armor looking at empty weapon racks. "Why is there nothing here¡­" "Because you have to make them yourself." "Make them myself?" Rusty asked while the hero orb replied. There was a reason why this place was called a forge. "Indeed, Rusty. This might be called an armory but it''s more of a storage space. Once you have created a weapon at the forge, it will become available here." The hero orb memories were fragmented but he was able to recall some facts that concerned his old blessing. He had some memories of forging a few pieces of weaponry and knew that they were also connected to the training area along with the library as well. "Create them myself? But I don''t have any experience in making things¡­ Do I just use my inventory?" "Not quite, you''ll have to craft them with your own hands, all the tools will be provided by this space here." "But if I can''t use the inventory¡­ how would I make anything?" Rusty was quite confused, he had always just used the stash tab and his special points to repair his armor. He was unable to create anything by himself, even when he wanted a bow and arrows, it was impossible. However, if it was something like a skill that could be learned, then it was something that he wanted. The white orb seemed to know a lot about this place, so he had reasons to believe that it could help him. "I don''t think I can teach you directly but¡­ we should be able to find the basic forging and crafting methods inside of the library." "The Library, can I learn new skills there?" "Well¡­ something like that, they aren''t as effortless but they should contain texts and scrolls that detail various crafting techniques. You should be able to learn how to forge the basic weapons and even parts of your armor. Although, I''m not sure how that would work with your body¡­" The glowing orb paused while looking over Rusty''s body which was nothing more than a corroded suit of armor. In the past, the hero used this place to gain his strength fast but he was a human. He did not forge parts that could become his body but considering that Rusty was a monster, then perhaps something like that could be possible. "Library¡­ got it!" As Rusty waltzed out of the armory chamber the black orb of light floated inside to look around. "Our child is quite obedient, at least when you mention something that could benefit him." "Stop talking to me¡­" "Oh cheer up hero, we might be stuck like this forever or we might disappear the next time this place changes." "Hmph¡­" The two didn''t seem to like each other and it was painfully obvious. However, their situation was something they did not understand nor did they truly know what they had become. Their forms could not even move freely through this soul forge and once Rusty left, they would be in a semi-dormant state. During it, they could perceive what he was doing outside this dimension but were unable to act in any shape or form. "You and I aren''t so different." "I''m not anything like you!" "Are you not? I bet the only reason you are helping our dear Rusty is for your selfish reasons. Perhaps you wish to use him for your revenge? Are the ones that put us in this state still alive? I can''t believe that I''m saying this but¡­ how about a truce?" "A truce? What are you scheming?" "Scheming? Your words cut deep, hero." "Knock it off, you expect me to trust the king of all demons, who slaughtered millions?" "We live in troubled times, I never intended for all those atrocities to happen. Do you think that your side is without any fault? Do you even know why all of this started?" "What are you implying¡­" "Nothing~ The past doesn''t matter. However, presently we need to work together. What if there is a way to regain our previous forms? I''m sure you have some unfinished business with those friends of yours¡­ and aren''t there some people that remained faithful until the end?" The demon lord''s words started to make some sense but the hero remained silent. He knew that he couldn''t trust this being in the slightest. This didn''t change the fact that he also wanted his revenge and perhaps the living armor could facilitate it. While nothing was indicating that they could get out of this pocket dimension, perhaps in the future that would be a possibility. His old blessing was made by the gods so it didn''t follow the same rules that the system imposed. "I''ll take your silence as a yes then." "..." While the two orbs chatted with each other Rusty made his way back into the main soul forge chamber and then headed over to the library. His mind was filled with anticipation of learning new skills to create weapons. He already knew that the sword he wielded as his sole weapon was very limiting. There were also many skills that he couldn''t use just by holding a sword, like the ones related to shields and bows. Once he arrived at the library, Rusty was met with towering bookshelves with ancient tomes and scrolls. The air was thick with the scent of parchment and dust, giving the chamber an atmosphere of knowledge. In the middle was a lone table with just one chair and some candles. However, while there were many bookshelves everywhere, there was no rhyme or reason for their placement. "Where should I start?" Rusty had never really used any books of scrolls before, he had only some fragmented memories of the hero and demon king which allowed him to read. From a nearby bookshelf, he pulled out one of the larger tomes that had some strange magical characters on it. Once the book was opened he was greeted with more strange diagrams that he didn''t understand at all. If Rusty had brows to furrow they would be furrowed now. Trying to decipher these cryptic symbols was giving his metallic head a migraine. The diagrams seemed to depict various forging techniques and processes, but without any prior knowledge or guidance, they might as well have been written in an entirely different language. Then there was also the inclusion of magic, something called enchanting. "That one might be a bit too difficult for you to understand, how about you try one of these first, Rusty?" The two orbs of light arrived as he was flipping the book around and trying to look at the schematics from different angles. The white one seemed to know its way around this place so Rusty decided to place the book he had away and followed after it. "Yeah, this one will be a good start." "This is¡­" Before him was a brown booklet with some crude drawings of tools on it. It was titled ''Blacksmithing for Dummies'' and for some reason, he felt offended. However, he did not know blacksmithing or forging, thus he decided to give it a try. After placing the book on the main table he began to read through these basic instructions. To his surprise, it was a lot easier to understand. The diagrams were simple, showing the steps of heating metal, shaping it with a hammer, and cooling it down to harden. With this as a reference, it might have actually been possible to create something¡­ Chapter 23 – Blacksmithing. "Tell me what that one is?""This one is a¡­ ball peen hammer!" "Correct, now what''s the one next to it?" "Hmm¡­ That''s a round drift and it''s used to hit through holes, expand, and shape them?" "You''re quite the fast learner, how about we move over to the tongs then?" "Sure thing!" Rusty spent hours poring over the basic blacksmithing guide and quickly absorbed every piece of information that it had in store for him. He found it surprisingly easy to absorb the information for some reason, it was as if he wasn''t learning it but re-learning something that he had previously forgotten. The floating orbs commented on this phenomenon which could explain it. "The knowledge he is learning was something you once knew, right Hero?" "That''s right, I remember reading through these old texts before, though I can''t recall most of it, only fragments." "It seems that the library has our lost knowledge, there are some books on old ancient black magic, something that I have partaken in my past life." Rusty wasn''t really paying attention to the two orbs that were discussing as he was examining the various togs and trying to compare them to the drawings in the books. It seemed that the library didn''t only hold the knowledge of the late hero but also the demon king. There were books on tactics and evil magic that were above his intelligence level and for the time being he was focused on producing more weapons and not magical effects. "I wonder, could our little Rusty here learn both dark magic and light magic? Something that shouldn''t be possible?" "He does have those elemental skills¡­" "That''s quite something¡­ but it might be better if he doesn''t showcase it once he encounters more adventurers¡­" The two orbs seemed to nod at each other while having the conversation. The two knew that it was unnatural for a monster to be able to use light magic, something that only special people like a hero should be able to. The same could be said for dark magic, which was only handled by the highest demon lords and their king. It was not something a monster like a living armor should be able to use and could cause him harm once he became a target of both sides. "Sure¡­ but, will he even listen to us?" "If he has my tendencies, then it shouldn''t be a problem? I would be more afraid if he took after you, hero." "What''s that supposed to mean?" "Nothing." "Hey, could you two keep it down, it''s hard to concentrate with all that noise!" Rusty''s voice echoed through the forge as he was finding it hard to focus on the blacksmithing tools on the ground. The two souls felt compelled to stop their banter in a strange fashion. It was as if the hollow armor had a sort of hold over them as if they were his thralls. Luckily, the gag order only worked for a few seconds before their ability to talk was returned to them. "Interesting¡­" The demon lord whispered while trying not to anger Rusty, who seemed to be in command. Now that they were quiet again, Rusty continued to flip through the simple blacksmithing guide while looking at the tools on the workbench. Under the watchful gazes of the two floating orbs, Rusty finally began to experiment with the tools laid out before him. He picked up the hammer and after feeling its weight in his metallic hands, it was time to practice swinging it around. The rhythmic clanging echoed through the forge as he hit a cold piece of metal with it. For some reason, it felt right in his hand and after a couple of swings, it felt like it belonged there. However, hitting a cold piece of metal wouldn''t achieve anything, to begin blacksmithing he needed to fire up the forge and heat things up. "Hm¡­ what should I make first¡­ a big shield? A large axe? Or maybe a two-handed sword?" "Um¡­ excuse me Rusty, may I offer some advice?" "Huh? What is it? Make it quick, I want to try crafting soon!" The white orb of light floated down towards the mess of tools that were on the workbench. During his study session, Rusty had made quite a mess. The Hero while lacking much of his memories knew the steps that needed to be taken to become a proper craftsman. Rusty might have had his memories and would learn it a lot faster but these memories needed to be awakened in a proper way. "Sure¡­ A wise man once said that you should learn to walk before trying to run." "Oh my, the hero saying something clever for once?" The orb of black chimed in while chuckling but the hero just ignored him. It seemed that Rusty didn''t really know what he meant with that phrase, thus he decided to be less cryptic. "I meant that you should probably do something easier, I propose you make a few simple small blades or nails first to get yourself acquainted with everything. Also, considering that we are working with bronze for now, it would be better to focus on molds and the smelter for now¡­" "Ah, molds do sound simpler!" Rusty nodded in agreement, realizing the wisdom in the Hero''s words. Starting with molds and smaller blades would allow him to grasp the basics of blacksmithing. He was also limited by his materials and only could use what was already unlocked, in this case, it was bronze. It seemed that he needed to limit his weapons to the material that his armor was made from or to the things he could absorb from the real world. While this place looked to be similar to a regular blacksmith''s workshop, it wasn''t quite the same. One notable advantage was the creation of molds that seemed to take the desired shape of what the creator wished of them. Normally a person would need to create such a mold by carving out a wooden replica of the weapon and then inserting it into clay or sand. Only thereafter could they start smelting bronze and pouring it into the cavity. "A simple blade¡­ is it this one?" In one of the corners of the forge, Rusty found a section with various rectangular molds. They had drawings of the weapons that he desired and for the time being, he decided to go with the smallest one. It represented a small blade that was shorter than the daggers that the adventurers used. While it wouldn''t be a great weapon, it would probably be the easiest to make at this moment. "Will this do?" "Yes, that should be fine, you''ll be able to make a simple hunter''s knife with that one. Don''t underestimate its size, at close range, it can be quite deadly." Rusty nodded in understanding and slowly picked up the mold that would house his first creation. He wasn''t sure why but he was feeling something strange and could almost not contain his joy. He examined this mold closely and felt that it shouldn''t pose much of a challenge. It was quite simple, he just needed to pour the molten bronze inside and just wait. "I''ll give it a try then!" With the mold in hand, he approached the smelting furnace. There were no flames at the moment but after adding some fuel in the form of readily available wood. Once this fuel made its way under the smelter, it could be lit up by a lever on the side which the light orb quickly explained. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "If I remember correctly, if you find some coal outside it should become available as a fuel source. The wood here should be enough to handle the melting point of bronze but it won''t be enough to handle iron or steel." "Uh, Mr. Hero? How much of this fuel should I take?" "You shouldn''t have to bring much, the soul forge just required one sample before unlocking the resource here. The materials here replenish themselves." "They replenish themselves? So the bronze ingots that I gathered won''t be used up during the smelting process?" "They shouldn''t if it''s the same, however, once you are outside the soul forge, you''ll have to use the resources you have previously acquired¡­" The hero attempted to convey his discoveries to Rusty to the best of his ability, but he remained uncertain whether his bronze friend fully grasped the intricacies of the situation. "Imagine it as unlocking an achievement, once it is unlocked it becomes available without a limit." "I think I understand¡­so this means that I can just make all the bronze weapons that I want!" "Something like that¡­ but be careful." While Rusty was overjoyed with the idea of unlimited resources, there were some downsides to this soul forge that the white orb soon mentioned. "While you are in the soul forge, your body remains inside the real world. If someone finds you during your stay here, then it could end badly." "Wait¡­ I have been here for two days already¡­ Does this mean that I''m in danger?" Rusty panicked a bit as he remembered leaving his body in the crystal cave. He didn''t really try to hide himself from anything or anyone and assumed that no monster would be able to get in there either. However, his knowledge was quickly expanding and he now knew what those light crystals were. While they would work against the dungeon monster, they would do nothing against regular adventurers. "It should be fine with the time dilation of this place but I''ll leave the rest of the explanation to you, dear hero." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The orb of dark light decided to chime in before flying away. The demon lord seemed to be bored watching Rusty bumble around in the soul forge and vanished behind the entrance to the library. This left Rusty more confused and also made him realize that there were many things that he had no idea about. "Time dilation?" "Yes, time dilation. It means that time here in the soul forge moves differently from the time outside in the real world. While it may feel like hours or days in here, only minutes or seconds may have passed in the outside world. However, I''m not quite sure how much of it has passed outside¡­" The hero tried his best to explain the concept in simple terms, hoping Rusty would grasp its importance. His memories were still lacking so he couldn''t disclose the difference. It was possible that only seconds could have passed outside in the real world or perhaps hours. "So, you mean¡­ if I spend too much time here, it could be dangerous for my body outside?" "Exactly. You must be cautious and not lose track of time while you''re here. It''s easy to become absorbed in learning and crafting, but you must never forget to keep yourself safe. If you die outside, you will also die here but¡­ calm down. That cavern filled with lights should be reasonably safe." The hero wanted to propose the use of a clock to accurately measure the time dilation but decided against it. Rusty was like a newborn child who was just absorbing information and at this point, didn''t know much about clocks. "Thank you for telling me. I''ll be more careful from now on, maybe I should dig a hole and hide there?" "Uh¡­ sure¡­" Rusty''s proposal sounds preposterous but he was a living piece of armor that didn''t require food or breathing. If he dug himself a hole, he would probably be relatively safe from any outside sources. He lacked an organic body that would generate an odor so other monsters would probably not try to dig out a bronze suit of armor to eat. Eventually, he brought his attention back to the task at hand. He approached the smelting furnace, wood in hand, and ignited the fuel. Flames danced to life beneath the smelter, casting flickering shadows across the forge. "Here goes nothing¡­" To the side, there was a row of bronze ingots that could be used in the smelting process. For this small blade, just one of them would be enough. The smelter here was a bit different than the ones presented in the guide and felt much simpler. Not from the aspect of size but by how it had various slots that fit these ingots perfectly. The smelter was tall and oval in shape and on the sides there were various metallic tubes. There was a slot at the beginning into which he could press the ingot. It seemed that later in time, he would be able to mix and match ingots with each other but for the time being, only one slot was available. After pushing the lone bronze ingot into the slot, he looked as it got sucked inside and traveled up into the smelting furnace. Finally, it started the melting process and now what he needed to do was to position the mold in the correct spot. This also was rather rudimentary as there were painted-on markers on the ground along with another support slot where he could place the rectangular mold in. As the bronze ingot melted within the furnace, Rusty carefully positioned the mold in the designated spot, ensuring it was aligned properly. He watched intently as the liquid metal flowed down from the smelter, filling the cavity of the mold. The molten bronze glowed brightly as it settled, taking the shape of the blade within the mold. For Rusty, it was an exhilarating sight, witnessing the transformation of raw material into a tangible object. He felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him, this was his first attempt at blacksmithing. Even though this soul forge space made this process a lot easier, it didn''t take away from him feeling elated. The light orb watched on in silence, moving as if he was nodding in approval at Rusty''s progress. With the mold filled, Rusty waited patiently as the bronze cooled and solidified. The process seemed to take longer than he anticipated, but he remained glued to it. For a moment he forgot his drive to become the strongest warrior and became something akin to an artisan. He wasn''t sure why but creating things with his own two hands, seemed like something that was also his calling. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the bronze blade was ready. Rusty carefully opened up the mold revealing the blade inside. However, to his surprise, it wasn''t quite as good-looking as he expected. The blade wasn''t sharp at all and the handle didn''t look thick enough to hold. Luckily, he had someone to shed some light on this issue. "Good, now you need to polish it and sharpen, then we''ll create a proper hilt and it will be finished." "Oh right, I almost forgot about that part!" Rusty picked up the rough bronze blade, examining it closely. Indeed, it lacked the finesse and sharpness of a proper weapon. Crafting wasn''t only about pouring molten metal into a mold, there were lots of other steps that needed to be taken to finalize the product and he already couldn''t wait to get to work. Chapter 24 – Training Area. "This is actually¡­ fun!""Isn''t it?" Rusty nodded as he settled before the workbench and grabbed a nearby polishing cloth. With careful motions, he began to rub the surface of the blade, removing any rough spots and smoothing out imperfections. As he worked, he couldn''t help but be immersed in the process of crafting, something that he felt he could spend days on. There was something about creating things with his own two hands that was quite fulfilling. The bronze began to gleam under his touch, reflecting the light of the forge in a mesmerizing display. Rusty found himself lost in the rhythm of polishing with his mind focused solely on the task at hand. Once he was satisfied with the blade''s appearance, Rusty set it aside and turned his attention to the task of sharpening. "Good, now you can either use a whetstone or the grinding wheel. While the whetstone will offer you more control and precision, it will take a lot more time, that''s why I''d propose a combination of both, start off with the wheel but finish with the whetstone." "Alright!" To make things easier he had a sort of assistant, who was the old hero. At first, the orb''s tone was harsher and the old hero was slightly annoyed by the fact that he was reduced to a blacksmith. Eventually, his tone became softer and more encouraging. Rusty''s enthusiasm and determination were quite contagious, even the old hero couldn''t help to start enjoying this new process. His new student was quite responsive and he did everything instantly without asking any questions. Rusty followed the Hero''s advice, using the grinding wheel to help sharpen the blade, and switched to the whetstone when the time was right for finer sharpening. It took time and patience, but eventually, he achieved the desired result - a sharp, keen edge that gleamed in the light. "Great, It''s almost finished, now you just need to assemble the hilt, this is just a bronze knife so it won''t be anything fancy, but it''ll get the job done. You can fashion a simple handle using some leather or wood, whichever you prefer." Rusty nodded while looking at the now sharpened blade of the hunter''s knife. Thanks to the mold this tool had been mostly created as a singular piece. It didn''t require much fancy work and could be finished by wrapping the hilt up with something like leather. However, considering that this was his first creation, it was better to fashion a proper handle. After selecting a piece of wood from a nearby rack and began to carve it into shape, using the drawings in the blacksmithing guide as a reference. Even though his hands were made of metal, he found them to be rather dextrous. It seemed that he was given some type of boost to his crafting skills once inside the soul forge. With the help of some drawings from the blacksmithing guides for reference and the help of the hero, the process was eventually finished. The wooden handle was carved into a comfortable shape that fit well in Rusty''s metallic grip. He then secured it to the blade using some twine, wrapping it tightly to ensure it stayed in place. Once he was satisfied with the handle''s placement, he was left with admiring his handiwork. "Not bad but¡­" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Is something wrong?" While Rusty felt a sense of pride for his first creation, the orb of light started to scrutinize it. After floating down, the hero started examining it from all directions before finally speaking out. "I''ll rate this around a C¡­ C+ at most..." "Oh, a C+? Wait¡­ that''s not that great¡­" At first, Rusty was overjoyed by the rating as he was only an F-rank monster, so anything above that ranking was quite good. However, soon he realized this wasn''t that good and just slightly above average with the letters B and A being still above it. "Don''t feel bad Rusty, this isn''t bad for a first attempt, you could probably sell this knife in a store to adventurers. But don''t get too complacent, thanks to the Soul Forge you don''t need to worry about getting the smelting process wrong. Usually, other blacksmiths have to worry about impurities and inconsistencies in their metal but here the ingots will always be pure." "Ah, I see¡­" Rusty nodded in understanding. It was true that he was still lacking in many aspects of blacksmithing but with time, he knew that he could improve upon them. With the advantages that this Soul Forge space provided, he could also focus purely on the creation aspects and leave some things to the magical machines. Identification: Twilight Bronze Hunting Knife Rating: Intermediate Rank: Common Once he examined this new weapon with the help of his identification skill, he was given some interesting stats. Thanks to going through the library he knew about the grades and ranks that weapons had. There were no ranking grades but instead a rating was given that ranged from lowest to highest. That he was able to get an intermediate rating on the first try was quite reassuring. When it came to the ranks of the weapon, the lowest was called Crude. These weapons were of extremely poor quality. The books implied that they were usually hastily crafted with minimal effort and poor materials. They offered minimal effectiveness in combat and broke easily. When thinking about his initial corroded bronze blade, it was clear that it was in this rank. Next was the common rank that his knife was in. This rank was filled with basic weaponry and they offered the basic performance without much of an advantage over anything. They were more robust than crude weaponry and could be used to defeat slightly stronger enemies. Stolen novel; please report. After this rank were the uncommon items that offered some minor enhancements and bonuses to the wielder. The scripts say that an uncommon blade could enhance the basic stats or produce some other effects. Post uncommon were rare items that weren''t discussed in the basic books he had access to. It seemed that unless he got to a certain point he wouldn''t be able to read through the basic descriptions. After rare was epic, then legendary, and right at the end was mythical. "But don''t worry, with practice, you''ll get better. And who knows, maybe one day you''ll be crafting legendary weapons or even mythical ones!" "Legendary and mythical weapons¡­ that sounds amazing!" If Rusty had eyes then they would be sparkling with excitement at this prospect. The idea of crafting powerful weapons was quite exhilarating. However, he wasn''t sure if it was better to craft them or use them on powerful opponents and get stronger. Now that he had tasted crafting, his previous longing for power was wavering slightly. "Alright, how about you go test your new knife out? This will be a good chance to use that training area." "Oh, right there was still a room that I didn''t visit?" Rusty had already gone through the armory and library but one last area remained, the training area. The hero urged him to take his newly made tool and see how it performed in combat. There was no reason to refuse and he was also interested in the only chamber that he had not visited. Thus, with the knife in hand, he made his way to the training area which was not something that he expected. Upon entering the training area, Rusty found himself in an empty spacious room. He expected to find some training dummies but there was nothing here besides something that looked like a circular arena. There were torches lining up the walls and on the ceiling which illuminated everything. "Alright, let''s see what you can do, Rusty." "What I can do? But there is nothing here¡­ Do you want me to swing at empty air?" "Haha, not quite. Remember, this is the Soul Forge, it doesn''t follow the rules of the physical world. In this training area, you can summon opponents that you have previously defeated to practice your skills. Think of it as a safe environment where you can test out your weapons and abilities without risking injury to yourself." "No injury to myself?" "Indeed, well you''ll still feel pain¡­ though I''m not sure that metallic body can feel any¡­ but any damage you sustain here will be repaired." "But¡­ How do I summon opponents?" "If my memories serve me right, then first you have to approach the middle of this training area." "Hm¡­" Rusty did as he was told to and approached the middle of this large room. The moment he was there something strange started happening a small hole opened up and something started sliding up. He jumped back in surprise but the hero quickly explained to him what had just happened. "This is the training area console, the monsters and opponents that you have defeated will be stored in it." At first, it looked like just a strange long cylinder but once it was up something unfolded. It took the form of an interactive screen that looked somewhat similar to the system windows he already knew. There were arrows on the left and right side which allowed him to scroll through the enemies he defeated. The ants and other insects were all there, even the few adventurers that he had slain were there just like the hero proclaimed. "Interesting¡­ No wonder you were able to get so strong in such a short amount of time, Hero¡­ Quite the cheater aren''t you?" "I don''t want to hear it from someone like you¡­" The orb representing the demon king decided to show up and examine the newfound room. He was quite shocked at the existence of such an area that allowed people to constantly better themselves. It was clear that his enemy the hero had used it to heighten his skills or at least get used to fighting demonic creatures and countering their techniques. "This place isn''t as cheat-like as you might think, you can''t level up your skills here, that is only possible outside of the soul forge in the real world." Rusty listened to the explanation and was saddened by this revelation. He knew that both passive and active skills could level up but needed to be used in battles. Having a space where he could face countless opponents without any fear of being killed. "It would still allow you to find weak points of old enemies. You could even test new skills or tactics against multiple foes or try out new weapons¡­" What the demon lord was saying made sense. Rusty could hardly wait and began clicking at the arrows that allowed him to circle through the various enemies he faced. There was even an option to search by main types or to even write in the name for it to go quicker. However, his only weapon was a hunting knife and it was much smaller than the sword he was used to. For the time being, he decided to use the weakest opponent that was on the list. "An ant?" "Our Rusty is still a cautious one Hero, would you like him to face of against one of the adventurers with a knife?" Commented the demon lord as light particles started to gather in the training area. Soon they started coming together to form a body that resembled a level one Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone. Just like anything else the levels could be customized but Rusty still wanted to be cautious. Rusty observed as the ant took shape before him, its form was hardly imposing. It was an opponent that he had faced many times and defeated on many occasions. However, he was trying to test out his newly created hunting knife that he was still unfamiliar with. After taking shape the ant stood there for a few seconds before springing to life. It quickly identified Rusty as its opponent and charged forward similarly to its real-life counterpart. The charge was rather slow and easy to read. Rusty''s body was at the tenth level and his stats were close to monsters at the F+ grade, there was nothing to fear. He did not bother to dodge and allowed it to pounce at his left side. The monster''s mandibles snapped at his armored form but were unable to leave more than a few dents. After tightly gripping his newly fashioned hunting knife, he quickly plunged it into the monster''s head. It penetrated it quite effectively and in a matter of moments the monster was defeated. Its body turned back into light particles and quickly vanished while he was left to ponder his test. "..." "Is something wrong?" "This doesn''t feel right¡­" Rusty replied to the hero who inquired about the silence. "What doesn''t feel right? The weapon seems to work fine to me." "Think he meant the awkwardness of wielding it, isn''t that right, Rusty?" The demon lord chimed in as from his perspective, Rusty awkwardly wielded the knife. In his past life, the demon king was quite fond of these short-bladed weapons but without the proper skills, they wouldn''t be as effective. "Yes, I meant that!" "To my knowledge, Rusty only has the Basic Swordsmanship and Archery weapon skills. To wield a knife, he needs Basic Dagger Proficiency, which he lacks and considering that he is a monster¡­ he probably won''t be able to learn it by himself." "What is that supposed to mean?" The hero orb along with Rusty were confused at the words of the demon king but he quickly elaborated on them. "Well, have you considered what our Rusty really is?" "What he is? You mean a living armor monsters?" "Yes, that part too but to be more precise, he is a monster that has been created in a dungeon. He is not a naturally born monster like an Orc or a Goblin but an inanimate object given sentience by the Dungeon Heart." "That''s true¡­ I haven''t heard of living armors ever learning new skills¡­" "Because they can''t, they are similar to golems that are constrained by their creators. Luckily, he has my Skill Absorption skill. So he will be able to learn new skills from others." Rusty always had wondered why he wasn''t learning that many skills and this explained it. He was limited to his evolution and what skills were given to him through leveling. Even if he picked up a polearm, he wouldn''t be able to learn the basic skill to wield it properly. Knives and daggers went under the same skill, so for the time being, he would only be able to wield swords, bows, and perhaps shields. "Don''t feel down my dear Rusty. Having too many skills isn''t necessarily good, it takes time to level them up and each weapon has its downsides." What the demon lord was right and Rusty knew it. If he created every type of weapon and then decided to learn all their skills, his status window would quickly become bloated. It was better to learn higher-tier skills for one or two weapons than to have all the basic ones for all of them. For the time being, handling the bow and sword was enough, and making the former would be his next task. Chapter 25 – E-Rank "I guess he didn''t take my advice to heart¡­""It''s not bad to practice a new craft, no reason to not make more weapons." The two orbs of light conversed while peering down at a suit of armor supporting a hefty axe. It was a completed piece, now part of the armory''s inventory alongside numerous other bronze weapons. It all started with one hunting knife and soon turned into a large weapon creation spree. With molds and an infinite supply of ingots at his disposal, the task became remarkably easy. In time, the empty armory had been transformed into a well-stocked arsenal. "Another fine addition to my collection!" As Rusty admired his latest creation, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride. Each weapon he crafted was a testament to his newfound skills as a blacksmith, something that he found enjoyable. "Looks like you''re getting the hang of this." The hero remarked while floating beside Rusty. "Thanks to your guidance, I couldn''t have done it without you Mr. Hero." "No problem, not like there is anything else for me to do here¡­ But now that you''ve built up quite the collection, what do you plan to do with them?" Before Rusty could answer this question, the darkened sphere of light floated forward and spoke out. "That''s what I''d like to know, why did you ignore my advice of focusing on swords?" Rusty paused for a moment and considered the demon lord''s question. It was true that he had no proficiencies in things other than bows and swords. However, he wasn''t really thinking about such things when working here in the Soul Forge. Instead of focusing on survival, something else became the focal point. "Well¡­ it was fun?" "It was fun?" "Yes? It was fun to make them all and I feel like after making these weapons, I''ll also gain some insights into defending myself against them?" "I see¡­" "Leave the kid alone. He is just enjoying the craft, it''s probably not something a demon king would know much about. Not everything has to be about battling and survival." The hero chimed in but the demon lord wasn''t convinced. "Bah, perhaps he will find a way to learn more skills in the future but it would be better if he didn''t spend valuable resources to bring these weapons into the real world!" "He is not even a year old, he is just having some fun." "Some fun, hm?" The demon lord orb observed Rusty, who appeared to have shifted his focus elsewhere. The living armor had a habit of moving away whenever the two light orbs engaged in arguments. Rusty''s attention span resembled that of a newborn child and there wasn''t any deeper meaning behind it. His sole desire was to craft as many weapons as possible and he just ended up filling the armory during the process. "This should be all¡­ so now what?" Now that his work was over, there wasn''t really much to do. He had attempted to wield some of the bronze weapons in the training ground, yet, similar to the hunting knife, they didn''t quite suit his metallic grip. The library failed to offer any additional useful knowledge and was devoid of skill books or any means of skill acquisition beyond his skill absorption or leveling up. However, some skills could be upgraded here but all of them focused on blacksmithing. Basic Smithing Mastery L2 Passive Skill Increases proficiency with all basic blacksmithing tools like hammers during crafting. Basic Forging L3 Passive Skill Unlocks the basics of forging. Helps manage the forge, smelter, crafting, and spotting imperfections in created items. His Basic Smithing Mastery wasn''t leveling up as fast as he focused on using molds without hammering anything. Luckily, when using the grinding wheel and the whetstone for sharpening or polishing, it began to react. It was also possible to change the shape of bronze through hammering techniques but for the time being, he focused on the smelting process. Not all components of Rusty''s weapons were crafted from bronze; for instance, the shaft of his bronze spear consisted of plain wood. The spear blade came with a pre-made socket that was perfectly fitted for it. All Rusty needed to do was to insert it and secure it in place by hammering rivets through the holes in the socket part of the spear blade. In the future, he hoped to move on to iron and steel which required a bit more work and seemed quite fascinating. "Are you going to leave without even saying your farewells?" Once Rusty exhausted all the possibilities in this Soul Forge, he finally decided to move towards his new body. Despite the demon lord''s call as he approached the new suit of armor in the center. Before departing, he felt compelled to perform one last experiment. His metallic hand grasped the gauntlet of his new body to yank it out and just like he expected, it popped right off. "Did he just ignore me? What is he even doing?" "He is examining the gauntlet, what do you think he is doing?" "Does he perhaps want to¡­" The two lights chatted while Rusty looked over the gauntlet in his hand. There was a distinct lack of connection between it and his metallic body; it felt like any other foreign item he had interacted with. First, he attempted to replace his current hand with the new one he had acquired. However, the moment it was connected to the rest of his armor, it simply fell to the ground with a resounding thud. "It''s not part of me¡­" "What are you trying to do Rusty?" The hero floated forward while Rusty was examining the gauntlet that lacked any corrosive parts. "If I can make weapons¡­ shouldn''t I be able to make armor?" "Ah, I see. Do you wish to reforge the armor that your body is composed from, into something better?" "Yes! That''s it¡­ could I make it better and heavier?" The hero and the demon lord orb exchanged glances as if the idea was something plausible. Rusty was a living armor, a creature that could be considered a piece of armor. There was no reason not to think that he couldn''t create his own body by hand. Rusty''s ability to craft weapons had opened up new possibilities, including the potential for him to upgrade his own armor. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "It''s definitely worth a try but¡­ I''m not sure if you should do it now¡­" The hero gave his input and as a previous blacksmith, his words were heavy. In his eyes, Rusty was not quite ready to tackle armor making, and not when bronze was involved. "Oh, but why?" "Why you ask? Well, to be frank, I don''t think you''ll be able to improve on this current ''body'' of yours." "I don''t agree with the hero on much but he is right. What will you do with a baddy riddled with imperfections and holes? Your durability might go down and what if you mess up one of the joints? Do you wish to have a limp?" Rusty paused, considering the valid points brought up by both the hero and the demon lord. While he was eager to explore the possibilities of upgrading his armor and wanted it to be heavier to alleviate his weakness, it was not the best idea. He could barely create intermediate weaponry just by using molds and there were no molds for armor parts. If he wanted to make a gauntlet, it would need to be made from scratch. "You''re right. I shouldn''t rush into something like this without proper preparation¡­ perhaps I should practice first?" "Exactly. It''s better to take your time and ensure that you have the necessary skills and knowledge before attempting such a feat." The hero added while trying to make his ghostly form produce a smile but failed at it. His form was without a face and just a voice. "Maybe I should practice while I still have the time¡­ Huh?" Rusty looked at the gauntlet as its form offered him some smithing pointers. However, before he could take it to the workbench to study it flew back to the body in the middle. Then suddenly, the entire Soul Forge started to shiver and quake. "What''s happening?" He asked as his body began to feel strange, he started feeling weak and drowsy, not something that he had ever experienced as a living suit of armor. "This space, it''s becoming unstable¡­" Commented the demon lord who knew quite a bit about magic. "Becoming unstable? What does that mean?" Asked the hero whose form was quivering as well. "It means that our little Rusty might have spent too much time here. I think he should inhabit his new form before this whole place collapses on itself." Rusty took in the demon king''s words, the Soul Forge, his haven for crafting and self-improvement, was destabilizing. It seemed that he couldn''t afford to stay here any longer and that an actual time limit existed. He wasn''t sure how long he had been here but at least over a week had passed. Without wasting another moment, he dashed towards the suit of armor in the center of the room as it was the vessel that awaited his consciousness. As he approached, the vibrations intensified, causing the surroundings to blur and distort. The hero and the demon lord''s voices echoed in his mind as they urged him to hurry. With a determined leap, Rusty plunged his consciousness into the awaiting armor. His previous corroded form plunged down to the ground as his essence melded with the new one. Suddenly, the world around him fractured into fragments of light and darkness. The sensation was disorienting, akin to being pulled through a vortex. Colors swirled around him, and the echoes of voices faded into the background. Rusty felt himself being pulled away from the Soul Forge and back into the real world where his true form awaited. ''Woah¡­ I''m back?'' Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the chaos had ceased. Rusty found himself back in the cave filled with bright crystals. His magical vision was blurry at first but in a moment, it became sharper than ever. His senses felt enhanced in every way possible and he felt reinvigorated. When looking down he saw a lack of any corroded parts that had been replaced by a shiny new bronze body. ''This new body¡­ It feels much stronger!'' Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 134/134 Magic Points [MP] 123/123 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 18 [ E- ] Agility 2 [ E- ] Dexterity 5 [ E- ] Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Constitution 19 [ E- ] Intelligence 7 [ E- ] Wisdom 8 [ E- ] Willpower 6 [ E- ] Durability E+ ''Huh? Why did my stats go down¡­ but my Health Points and Magic Points doubled?'' At first, he was perplexed by his status screen. He was sure that he had become stronger but all of the numbers had gone down. However, once he noticed that he had transformed from an F-rank monster into an E-rank monster, it all made sense. It seemed that the ranking letters represented his true strength and the numbers were just an additional indicator. Once they went over ninety-nine they would switch to the next rank and reset. ''Interesting¡­ After he realized that he had truly advanced to his new form, it was time to take it for a spin. On the outside he didn''t look much different, he had an almost identical look, just one that lacked any corrosion. He was made out of shiny twilight bronze and his form gleamed in the bright light of the cave. He could instantly feel the difference, his movements were smoother, and even his thoughts were clearer. It was as if he had shed an old, rusty skin and emerged as something new and improved. Even his trusty sword had been transformed and was shining brightly beside him. Once he gave it a few good swings, he could tell that he would do quick work of the monsters he previously encountered. ''Wait, what about the other weapons? Are they in my inventory as well?'' His basic sword reminded him of the weapons he created in the Soul Forge. He quickly accessed his inventory screen in the search for it. While he didn''t find any of them inside of his stash tab, a new tab had been created. ''Armory?'' The translucent menu presented him with a new window in which all the items that he created during his time in the Soul Forge. Each item was also accompanied by a brief description and its rating. Rusty scrolled through the list and was given the option to spend bronze ingots to create them. ''I can get a set of throwing knives for one ingot but I''ll have to spend 3 for the longsword?'' His current weapon was an arming sword which was shorter than the longsword he created inside of the Soul Forge. He was hoping to bring it out along with the bronze shield that he made but it also would cost him another three bronze ingots. However, even with these high costs he needed to test out this new feature. He considered for a moment but eventually decided to get the shield instead as his old weapon was still enough. Would you like to make the Twilight Bronze Round Shield? ''Yes~!'' Once he confirmed a little animation played out before him as the bronze ingots he spent transformed into the Twilight Bronze Round Shield. To his surprise, the shield didn''t end up in the real world but instead appeared in his inventory. He needed to then select it before it appeared in his stash tab where it occupied for squares instead of just one. Rusty was confused about how to summon this item into his hand but before he could think it through, another transformation took place. The whole stash tab expanded in size and a separate equipment window appeared above it. It contained spaces that were filled up with his armor but also some smaller and larger ones that were empty. ''Is that my body in the middle? And my sword on the left?'' In the central area, Rusty could discern sections of his body divided into multiple parts. One slot contained his cuirass and placard, while another housed his sabatons and greaves. The gauntlet occupied its own slot, and the pauldrons were likewise segregated. However, they all appeared grayed out, inaccessible to him. The only usable slots seemed to be two larger ones on the left and right sides, along with a few smaller ones that were empty. The left one housed his current arming sword and to his surprise, he could remove it into his stash tab. Upon doing so, the sword vanished from the real world as if it had never existed there in the first place. Only after it was dragged and dropped back to the left large weapon slot, did it appear once more. ''I see¡­ So If I place the shield on the right side, it should¡­'' Rusty dragged the Twilight Bronze Round Shield from his inventory and placed it into the empty slot on the right side of the equipment window. To his amazement, as soon as he did so, the shield materialized in his hand. It shimmered with the same twilight bronze hue as the rest of his armor and reflected the light within the cave. With both sword and shield in hand, Rusty felt unstoppable. However, this wasn''t quite finished as he still needed to check if he had learned any new skills like he did when he turned into his previous form. ''Hm? What was that sound?'' Before Rusty could delve further into his investigation, he heard a faint sound, like something being crunched, resounding from around the corner. Was his lair invaded by monsters? He needed to investigate¡­ Chapter 26 – Guiding Lights. Rusty cautiously approached the source of the sound, his grip tightening on his sword and newly made shield. As he continued to move the noise of something getting crunched started to get louder. Eventually, he peeked around the corner to see a strange white creature going at the mana crystals in this cave.''What is that? It''s different from the other monsters but looks similar to the ants¡­'' Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant L1 G+ Type: Insectoid What he found was a rather small-looking monster. It was similar to the Myrm Ant drones but somewhat smaller than even the smallest drone he had encountered. Its carapace was not brown or dark but had a white silvery sheen. Besides the coloring and size difference, it also had a slightly larger head with more pronounced antennae. Yet, it wasn''t the creature''s appearance that struck Rusty as most peculiar; rather, he found himself wondering why it was consuming the blue crystals. ''It looks really weak and is also just a G-rank monster, should I just slay it?'' Annoyed by the intrusion, Rusty stepped forward, his armor clanking a lot less than usual. While stepping forward he noticed a resounding cracking sound as he stepped into something. When he glanced down, the mystery of this monster appearing here revealed itself. On the ground, there were eggshells from the egg that he brought over from within the ants nest. It was now clear that this monster had hatched from inside and for some reason, it was fine with the light crystals here. ''It''s different than the rest¡­ it might be dangerous¡­'' This cave served as Rusty''s sanctuary, a place where he could unwind and safeguard his loot. The light crystals effectively repelled other insects and even aided him in his battle against the ant queen. The fact that one of her spawns could now bypass the protective glow of the crystals spelled trouble. If more of these creatures existed, they posed a threat to his newfound base. As Rusty pondered his next move, the Minuscule Myrm Mana Ant continued to feast on the mana crystals, seemingly oblivious to his presence. Its mandibles clicked as it chewed, each bite punctuated by a small crack as it shattered another piece of crystal. Rusty knew he couldn''t allow this creature to roam freely in his sanctuary. While it was small now, everything in this world evolved and it could potentially lead more of its kind here. Rusty tightened his grip on his sword and shield. In his current upgraded form, this monster posed no threat at all, which gave him an idea. The Myrm Drones were able to leave small dents on his previous body. Though smaller than the Myrm Drones, its mandibles seemed capable of inflicting damage. Thus he decided to let it attack him a few times, to test his newfound durability. The creature, engrossed in its feast, didn''t seem to notice Rusty''s approach until he was a few steps away. With a sudden awareness of the armored figure before it, the ant''s antennae twitched in alarm. It reared up slightly and its mandibles clicked a few times but something wasn''t the same. He expected for the ant to rush him just like the drones did when he attacked their colony. However, this smaller creature seemed more docile, almost as if he was similar to the monsters from the original dungeon. Was it possible that the voice that had vanished was influencing this ant? ''It doesn''t feel the same¡­ the connection is lacking¡­'' Rusty still remembered the voice of the dungeon which seemed to have a name. If what the demon king claimed was true, then the thing he knew as the voice was the dungeon heart. He was created by it and had felt a deep connection before he fell into this area. There was a similar connection to the other monsters inhabiting those dungeon levels, something that was missing here. Despite not being part of that dungeon, the ant refrained from attacking and left Rusty perplexed by its behavior. The small insect moved closer in a slow fashion. Rusty remained still, anticipating its bite. However, to his surprise, the ant behaved differently. Instead of attacking, it repeatedly touched his bronze body with its antennae. After a brief moment, it glanced up and began a peculiar wiggle which left Rusty perplexed. Eventually, the monster turned away and returned to munching on the tiny mana crystals. ''It clearly doesn''t see me as an enemy but what should I do with it?'' This was quite the conundrum as for some reason he felt conflicted. On one hand, the monster was a potential threat and it was also eating the crystals here. What if it ate all the crystals and his lair was destroyed? Yet, on the other hand, the creature''s consumption rate was negligible, just like its size. It wasn''t depleting the crystals at a rapid pace and it would likely take years for it to make a large enough dent. ''It''s a G-rank monster so it won''t give me much experience either, perhaps not even more than 1¡­'' After farming these dungeons Rusty has also realized one thing. The higher level he was becoming, the fewer experience points he gained. These ant monsters were the weakest types that were around and wouldn''t offer him much, even less after he became an E-rank Bronze Twilight Armor. Rusty considered his options and something about its behavior nagged at him. It wasn''t behaving like a typical monster which made him want to observe it more. ''I wonder, would it attack the other monsters?'' A thought crossed his mind, perhaps there was a way to use this strange creature to his advantage. While it wasn''t his enemy, what of the other insects in this underground area? There was a possibility that it could aid him against them, just like the skeletons before. Even though it was quite weak, it could potentially act as a distraction. For the time being, Rusty decided to retreat and think his options through. After visiting the Soul Forge and engrossing himself with blacksmithing, he knew that it was sometimes better not to rush. His status screen still had some new secrets that he had not uncovered and first he needed to go through his skills. He could feel that something new had appeared but he wasn''t sure if it would aid him in battle. ''What are these skills¡­'' The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Call Guide Active Skill You call your guide to aid you. ''My guide?'' Rusty was perplexed at this new skill and wasn''t sure what to think of it. However, he knew that it was always best to not dwell on these things when activating the skill would give him all the answers. Thus, without thinking much he activated the Call Guide skill. Which he needed to do through the world system window, similar to his inventory screen. Choose which guide you wish to summon. Fallen Demon King Betrayed Hero Both He was given a choice between two individuals but could summon both of them together. After reading the names he instantly knew what this skill was about. After deliberating for a moment he decided to call both the Fallen Demon King and the Betrayed Hero. He figured that there was no reason to call them separately and also wanted to see what both had to offer for him in the real world. The cave flickered momentarily, and then two shimmering orbs of light materialized before him. One radiated a dark, ominous aura while the other emitted a faint, ethereal glow. The Demon King and the Hero quickly materialized before him and looked exactly the same as they did within the Soul Forge. "HAHA! I knew I would return! It was only a matter of time. The world shall tremble once more before the might of Demon King Aburdon. All shall pay for their folly!" The booming laughter echoed through the chamber as Aburdon''s triumphant voice echoed. His form exuded an aura of darkness and contrasted sharply with the bright lights of this crystal-filled cave. "Is this really the real world?" The hero''s voice was a lot more silent and some confusion was mixed into it. It contrasted with the demon king''s maniacal cackling. His form shimmered with gentle light and seemed to take in some of the light from the environment to shimmer even more. Rusty looked at the two orbs of light before him and wondered what he could use them for. They were here but were they capable of aiding him in his battles or could they only offer him their knowledge? After spending more than a week inside the Soul Forge he got to know them a bit better. The Hero was very knowledgeable when it came to blacksmithing and handling weapons. On the other hand, the Demon King seemed more clever and filled with other knowledge. "I''ll be sure to repay this favor, Rusty¡­" As he was deliberating the black orb started to float away, it was as if he was trying to flee from this location. However, once the demon king put himself around ten meters from the living armor, he came to a halt. It became evident that he was struggling to advance and his once ominous form gradually diminished, his movements growing sluggish. "No¡­ what is this, it can''t be¡­" "Did you think that you could just leave? Did you forget that we are probably nothing more than a skill for Rusty here?" The hero chuckled, observing the defeated demon king''s futile attempt at escape. It became clear that their fragmented existences were forever tied to the living armor known as Rusty. They were unable to stray too far from his body, which served as the central point for his skill, and could probably only exist within this realm thanks to his mana. "Damn it all¡­" The orb of black light slowly floated back towards his owner, who just stood there without a word. "...This is fine, I''ll get back to my previous form eventually, It''s just a small setback on the way towards my full revival¡­" "Sure¡­" "What about you, hero? Don''t you want to live again and punish the ones that crossed you?" "..." It seemed that even in these more real forms, they continued to argue about the same thing. Rusty remained uncertain about their true history, but it appeared they had been betrayed and slain by someone they now harbored intense animosity towards. This held little relevance to Rusty as his sole focus lay in his pursuit of strength and how these two entities could aid him in achieving it. "What can you do?" His question was simple and to the point. The two orbs of light stopped talking with each other as they felt compelled by the order. "What can we do? Nothing much than to offer you some advice, these spectral bodies don''t really hold much power within them¡­" The demon king answered first which left Rusty saddened. Was there truly nothing more than advice that these two could offer? It felt like it was a waste of a skill for them to just buzz around his head without offering anything substantial. However, a nearby ant that was crunching on some mana stones gave him an idea. "Can you tell me something about that?" "That is¡­ a Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant?" Answered the hero orb which annoyed Rusty slightly. "I know that already!" "It''s a special mutation of the ant species, quite a rare find. Most of them die inside of the dungeons as they require a large amount of light and mana to hatch. Bravo, you brought it to the perfect incubator, Rusty." "Incubator?" The fallen demon seemed to know a bit more about this creature than the hero. Both of them seemed to be knowledgeable about separate things which were noted by him. "An incubator is usually an enclosed place that helps beings grow or hatch¡­ damn, I already hate this¡­" The demon lord replied with an annoyed tone. Even though he didn''t want to offer this advice, he was compelled by something to do so. It was clear that he was compiled to do the bidding of this living suit of armor, at least for now. "This skill has its uses!" "That the day would come, that I the great Demon King would be reduced to offering advice to a mere suit of armor, how humiliating¡­" "You''ll get over it." The hero replied to the dark orb of light in a mocking tone. While the two were in the same boat, it didn''t seem like he had any aspirations or knowledge of getting reborn. In his former life, he was merely a human, and perhaps the only entities capable of aiding him were the same gods who had once forsaken him. "Then, can this ant do something for me? It didn''t attack me for some reason?" "These monsters are said to be docile and very intelligent. It seemed to have been born without the influence of a Queen but I''m not sure, perhaps it sees you as an ally?" Rusty nodded while receiving even more information, it seemed that having a demon king who knew his way around monsters was quite handy. With these two around it would probably be possible to create even better hunting tactics. However, as he was about to ask another question, something unforeseen started happening. Mana reserves are critically low. He started feeling strange and his body was starting to give out. First went his legs which collapsed and came loose at the joints. When he looked at the prompt, it seemed that this skill had consumed all of his mana. His mind became drowsy and he was unable to do anything before everything went black. The voices of both the hero and demon king faded away as he lost consciousness. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "..." "I¡­ I passed out?" He found himself down on the ground with his body parts lying down at awkward angles. The last thing that he recalled was a red warning window before everything went black. The two orbs were not here with him anymore and it was obvious why this had happened. "I ran out of mana and collapsed¡­" Previously he had come close to this phenomenon but this was the first time that his mana went below one point. It seemed the skill that let him call the two beings required a constant supply of MP. Once it reached zero, his body which required mana to function collapsed. Luckily, it wasn''t a death sentence and eventually, it recovered. "At least I know what will happen when I run out of mana now¡­ I should never let it happen while in combat." Once he was awake he noticed another thing. The small ant that had been eating the mana crystals was now resting on top of his chest. It seemed that while he was out, it decided to make him into its bed¡­ Chapter 27 – Gleam. Rusty blinked, slightly surprised to find the small ant perched atop him. It seemed comfortable, its small body rising and falling gently with each breath. The white body had become enlarged and was now glowing, most likely a side effect of eating the mana crystals. Despite its initially peculiar behavior, Rusty found himself feeling a strange sense of warmth towards the creature."This creature is strange¡­" For some reason he didn''t feel like moving as if disturbing the ant''s sleep would be bad. His body parts were sprawled out to the sides as he took a dive after passing out. It seemed that his body seized up in place and fell backward. This created enough force to send his limbs in all four directions, rendering him immobile and a torso. His head was dislodged as well but remained closer to his main body. "Now I know what will happen if I ever run out of mana¡­" It was good luck that this had happened inside of this cave and not somewhere else. It was clear now if he ever used up all his mana at once, he would be pushed into some kind of strange dormant state. He had no idea how long he was out but even the smallest monster would be enough to finish him off if he couldn''t move. "They are really far away¡­ but¡­" Rusty possessed some degree of control over his body. If his limbs were separated, they could reconnect when brought close to his main body. However, in this scenario, he couldn''t move his torso closer, as it was too far away. Without even a single arm, he couldn''t crawl closer, leaving him with the option of perhaps rolling but he didn''t have a proper spine to turn to the side either. "Hm¡­ wait, there was that new skill, maybe I should use it¡­" Limb Control ( Living Armor ) Active Skills A skill that allows control of one''s limbs to a certain extent. Before passing out, he noticed a new skill that could help him out in this situation. Gaining skills was a strange phenomenon as whenever he received one, he instantly knew how it worked. It was hard to describe but after using it once, it became part of his being. After passing out, his mana reserves had been recharged back to maximum. It was safe to use it and soon his body started glowing. From within his chest plate, a strange emerald light emerged. It shot out from the holes that were made by his missing limbs. The glow first made its way inside the hollowed parts before enveloping them all. The Scattered parts then started to float up into the air while Rusty felt a strange sensation. He could feel the limbs as if they were connected to his body, even when they were all far away from his body. His fingers twitched and grasped at the empty air with some force behind them. Eventually, With a focused effort, he willed his limbs to move and they responded. The dislodged metallic arm that was lying several meters away, twitched and rocketed back towards his torso. It soon collided with his shoulder and connected itself back into the correct place. Rusty couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief as his arm reattached itself to his torso. The sensation was strange yet satisfying, like pieces of a puzzle clicking back into place. With his arm secured, he focused on his other dislodged limbs, willing them to return to him. One by one, they obeyed his mental commands, flying through the air and reattaching themselves to his body. Once all his limbs were reconnected he looked at the last issue, the small ant monster on his chest. For some reason, even while his whole armor was glowing and clicking around, it remained plastered to his chest. He wished to ask the glowing orbs about this Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant but after passing out once, he was now reluctant to activate that Call Guide skill. "Well, it has to get down one way or the other¡­" Rusty moved his reattached gauntlet towards the Ant to give it a small poke. For some reason, it felt rude to interrupt its slumber but he couldn''t get up and look through his skill window otherwise. However, after his digit collided with the monster''s antennae a strange system prompt was given to him Would you like to accept a bonding contract with the Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant? "A bonding contract?" He moved his finger away while going through the strange prompt. The ant which was fast asleep looked up to him without moving from its spot. It had no eyelids but its eyes turned to his form, it wiggled its antennae in what seemed to be anticipation. Rusty pondered for a moment as he had no idea what this contract entailed. The creature was quite docile and it seemed happy. "... Fine? I guess?" As he confirmed his decision, a radiant glow enveloped both Rusty and the Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant. It was as if an invisible tether formed between them, connecting their fates in some unspoken pact. Rusty felt a surge of energy coursing through him, and a newfound sense of connection with the creature nestled upon his chest. "What a curious feeling¡­" He thought to himself while the ant moved down from his chest and started performing a strange dance between his legs. To make things even more interesting he was given a new window, one where he could see his new friends stats. Name: No Name Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant [ G + ] L1 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 5/5 Magic Points [MP] 8/8 Stamina Points [SP] 8/8 Strength 56 [ G ] Agility Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. 76 [ G + ] Dexterity 66 [ G ] Constitution 68 [ G + ] Intelligence 93 [ G + ] Wisdom 92 [ G + ] Willpower 89 [ G + ] Durability G "Stamina Points, not Special Points?" The monster''s stats were quite low and in the G-Rank. When he tried to recall his original status screen, this monster was even below it. What he noticed was that this creature also had no name just like he did in the past and that he could see its status screen, as if it was his own. It appeared in a section called ''Bonded Monsters'' that wasn''t really explained. "Maybe I should ask the hero or demon king about this¡­ but first." He looked at the name of this monster just like previously. The name was long but one word caught his attention. Then, just like when he had gotten his own name of Rusty, this ant had been named. Name: Gleam Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant [ G + ] L1 Type: Insectoid His new friend started dancing around as if he was given something tasty to eat. It was a strange feeling but for some reason, Rusty was feeling joy. He started his life alone and without much purpose but now things were changing. The two glowing orbs were there and so was this sparkling ant that had just been named. "Gleam¡­ can you talk?" He attempted to communicate with his new friend but it didn''t seem that this creature could respond. However, it seemed that it had some intelligence as it responded by shaking its body as if it were trying to respond. "No talking¡­ then how about¡­ you bring me that crystal?" Rusty pointed towards a nearby mana crystal with his finger, gesturing for Gleam to fetch it. The ant, understanding the command, scurried over to the crystal with surprising agility. It grabbed hold of the crystal with its mandibles and struggled for a moment before managing to lift it. With a determined effort, Gleam dragged the crystal back to Rusty, presenting it at his feet. "Well, that''s impressive!" Rusty remarked as he was impressed by the ant''s intelligence and order-following capabilities. Even without asking for confirmation, he knew that he received something similar to a familiar or a thrall. For one reason or another, the ant must have accepted him as his leader which he then confirmed with the contract. "Could it have done it to survive?" As Rusty pondered the reason behind the ant''s behavior, he realized it was ultimately without meaning. Perhaps the ant perceived him as its mother, or perhaps it acted out of fear of the other monsters lurking outside. Its body was quite small and once it left this cavern, its fate would be sealed. Gleam stood little chance against the stronger monsters outside, and it would likely meet a swift demise if left alone for too long. "Now then¡­ did I learn any other skills besides Limb Control?" Basic Shield Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a shield along with other weapons. It is required to unlock more powerful shield skills. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Previously, Rusty only was able to absorb the shield bash skill from one of the dungeon skeletons but never got around to getting the passive. While holding the shield was fine, now he would truly be able to use it in battle. "There doesn''t seem to be anything else¡­" He expected to receive something more magical like the Elemental Charge skill or the Elemental Discharge one but perhaps later something good would arise. All his stats had gone up and he had access to a whole inventory filled with new weapons. He wanted to summon his arsenal instantly but needed to withhold. There was still a lack of any tin ore in this area, before finding a vein he needed to conserve his resources. Only one more anomaly remained as his body had a strange addition. Previously he was just a hallowed suit of armor, without anything on the inside. However, now a strange orb resided within him and it was glued to the top of his helmet. At first, he attempted to take it out but the moment he tried, a strange foreboding feeling washed over him. It was as if his very essence was inside of this very tiny orb and if he tried to remove it from within his body, something bad would happen. This was a new weak point of sorts as previously to defeat him, his body needed to be mangled. Now on the other hand, if this was damaged he felt like something bad would happen. He needed to protect this small orb that was the size of a marble and luckily it was at a location that would be hard to damage. "Not much that I can do about this, I should probably go test out that one skill and also this new body¡­" The Basic Elemental Discharge skill was something that he hadn''t truly tested out yet as it was given to him when he maxed out his previous form. Now that he was transformed and had more MP to use such skill, it was time to take over the whole underground cavern. The strongest monsters that he had come across here were of E-rank, which he was now a part of. "Should I go after the Centipedes first?..." The memory of getting chased by the large Centipede Matriarch was still fresh in Rusty''s mind. It was a scary opponent that was much larger and was quite swift. While he felt confident now, it was better to test his sword out on the lesser monsters first. Afterward, it would be time to take care of the Matriarch. "Time for a hunt¡­ Hm? You want to follow me?'' Rusty was on his way out of the cavern before he noticed that the white ant continued to follow after him. This creature was rather weak and would not last even against a slug but this didn''t mean that it was of no use. "Good, then Gleam, you will be the bait!" A devious idea crept into his metallic head as he set off to the watering hole where the monsters gathered. Even with the ant queen gone, the other monsters continued to respect their space. However, the centipede seemed to have multiplied since his last visit and perhaps with time, would also attempt to overthrow the other monsters here. With Gleam by his side, Rusty ventured forth into the cavern, the echoing sound of his footsteps reverberating off the crystalline walls. As they approached the watering hole, the ambient noise of chittering insects and dripping water grew louder. The monsters looked in his direction and reacted in a rather novel way. Usually, they would ignore him but this time around, many of them started moving in his direction. It was clear that their gazes were not focused on his metallic frame but on the gleaming ant, which was quite radiant. While Rusty had intended to employ his new little helper as bait, he hadn''t anticipated that the monsters would react so aggressively upon seeing it. He had assumed they would avoid the radiance it emitted, as it was similar to the light he could produce with his sword. However, the monsters appeared to be drawn to Gleam''s glow like moths to a flame. They skittered and slithered closer, their eyes fixed on the tiny ant as if it were a tantalizing treat. Rusty watched as the creatures closed in, their movements becoming more frenzied with each step. "This wasn''t quite what I had in mind. Gleam, get behind me." Rusty knew that the situation was starting to spiral out of control. Nevertheless, for some reason, he didn''t feel that he was fully in danger. He was an E-rank monster who was being confronted by a bunch of F ranks. When thinking about those larger monsters that towered over the rest, he imagined himself as one of them. He quickly assessed the scenario and raised his sword into the air. With the activation of Basic Elemental Charge, it started glowing with an intense light. The monsters were blinded and stopped in their tracks but this was not his plan. Soon after, he swung his sword forward in a sweeping motion while also activating Basic Elemental Discharge. When doing so, a torrent of light energy surged forth from the blade, engulfing the oncoming monsters within. The creatures screeched and writhed as they were struck by the force of Rusty''s attack, their bodies convulsing. They were still alive but they were stunned. Gleam scurried behind Rusty seeking shelter behind one of his metallic legs. It chomped with its mandibles but left the fighting up to its current master. "Hm... not bad! Even though they aren''t dead, it won''t be hard to defeat them in this state!" You have gained +8 experience points. You have gained +9 experience points. Rusty charged in, the monsters were down for the count and easy targets. With swift slashes of his sword, he dispatched the stunned creatures one by one, their weakened forms offering little resistance against his onslaught. Gleam watched from the sidelines, its glowing body pulsating before it too launched itself at one of the injured monsters¡­ Chapter 28 – Asking For Guidance. As the last of the monsters fell, Rusty took a moment to evaluate his performance. His sword was still crackling with an elemental sheen but the skill had run its course. Rusty noted that the monsters that had attacked the small ant lay dead, while others had decided to flee upon realizing his strength. It became apparent that these creatures weren''t truly mindless and lacked the compulsion to fight to the last one standing. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.''I wonder if they see me as one of those other monsters¡­'' Rusty was somewhat esthetic as this cemented his rise in strength. At first glance, his stats didn''t look that much greater than the ones he previously had. However, as he had now had some time to utilize his new body, it became apparent that it was many times stronger than the corroded shell he had previously inhabited. There seemed to be some sort of hidden power boost accompanying his rise to the E-rank that surpassed the numbers indicating it. There were a little bit over ten bodies on the ground, composed of the centipedes and slug monsters. For some reason, the beetles stayed out of it for the most part and retreated to their side of the cave after he activated his new skill. However, to Rusty''s surprise, another anomaly arose concerning his new friend, Gleam. Despite the ant not inflicting any damage, it was strangely enough gaining experience points. Gleam had entered the fray after the monsters had been disabled by Rusty''s skill, targeting only the incapacitated ones. Its mandibles weren''t particularly strong and it struggled to bite through the tough exoskeletons of the large centipedes. Although Rusty landed all the finishing blows, Gleam managed to gain a level without landing any critical hits while Rusty felt like he was receiving fewer experience points than before. "Hm¡­ maybe I should ask one of them for advice?" He pondered this issue as the memories of the demon lord and the hero weren''t giving him any answers. While these memories provided a starting point for his understanding of the world, they fell short in unveiling its deeper secrets. Without directly consulting one of his guiding helpers, Rusty realized he wouldn''t fully understand this situation. "As long as I don''t keep them out for too long it should be fine. I just need to limit it to one guide¡­" His MP was recharging at a faster rate than before but he still chose to wait until it was maxed out. Passing out again was not something he wished to do and he needed to see if he could actually use this skill correctly. Previously Rusty did not pay attention to his mana usage but this time around his visor would be glued to the system window. Thus, after waiting for a bit for his mana to recharge he decided to summon one of the beings from the Soul Forge. "Who should I pick, the Hero or the Demon King?" Rusty wasn''t sure which one of them could offer him a better explanation. The Hero had assisted him in refining his crafting skills and provided insights into weapon and armor creation. On the other hand, the Demon King seemed to possess knowledge about monsters and their behaviors, which could shed light on the peculiarities he was experiencing with Gleam. "If it''s about monsters, it seems that the Demon King could know better¡­" While the demon lord seemed untrustworthy at the start and attempted to flee instantly when he was previously summoned, the skill ''Call Guide'' seemed to compel them to answer his questions truthfully. The decision was made and more precise knowledge of the monster world was needed. After postponing his journey towards the centipede lair, he ventured back to the safety of his crystal headquarters. Here he felt safe and even if he passed away once again, there was no chance of him getting hurt. Rusty realized that this would be his final test. If, for any reason, it failed again, he would have to cease using this skill. Continuously losing consciousness whenever it was activated and being vulnerable to monster attacks was not a viable option. "...No Hero this time around? Do you perhaps enjoy my presence more, my dear Rusty? But, could you do me a favor and not summon me to this bright place? It''s giving me a migraine¡­ and I don''t even have a tangible body." The demon king appeared in the form of a glowing black orb. It was a strange sight to behold as it was forming itself. Shadows started forming from seemingly nowhere and expanded in size. Eventually, the Fallen Demon King was there, his imposing voice being a reminder of the great evil that he once was. "I apologize for the inconvenience. But I need your help. What can you tell me about this ant?" Rusty was in a rush as he could see his MP drop by exactly fifty points. This left him with a bit over seventy points. Everything seemed to be fine at first but he noticed another magic point being deducted right after. This was probably the reason for his downfall previously, the skill used up MP at a continuous rate. "The ant again? I see that you have given it a name, well¡­ at least it''s not Gleamy¡­" "Why would I name it Gleamy?" "Uh¡­ just ignore what I said, what do you want to know about this ant again?" "Oh, Something strange happened after I woke up. It was on my armor and then I was asked for a bonding contract¡­" He quickly explained everything to the Demon King while keeping his gaze on the system window. There, he observed his MP slowly ticking down, but not at a rate that posed any immediate harm. Reflecting on his previous fall, he could only assume that summoning both orbs simultaneously had resulted in higher magic usage and initial costs, which then led to his sudden loss of consciousness. "Ah yes, A bonding contract, those also exist. I usually preferred the thrall or slave contracts, much better." "A thrall contract?" "Indeed, let me explain, while a bonding contract forms a connection between you and a monster, you''re compelled to share your experience points with them. However, if you manage to acquire a Thrall, that wouldn''t be the case. I''m sure you''ve experienced that before, haven''t you? Receiving less experience than usual?" "That did happen¡­ so a part of my experience is going to Gleam?" "It is, I''m not sure what the exact number is but it won''t go above half and if your bonding partner isn''t within range, you will be able to gain your experience at the usual pace. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Interesting... So, is there anything else I should know about this bonding contract?" "Well, besides sharing experience points, the bond can also grant the monster certain benefits. They might gain access to skills or abilities they wouldn''t otherwise have, and they can become more loyal and obedient to you as their bond strengthens. Unique evolutionary choices might appear once they are ready and you will have the ability to decide." "I''ll be able to decide?" "Indeed. Thus, I would advise you to help your new friend advance quickly. It will be hard for this creature to survive on its own. The other monsters will be drawn to it like moths to a flame too. This peculiar species is special, it seems to attract other monsters too¡­ perhaps they are drawn to its mana? Some creatures are natural elixirs, it could be possible that eating it would unlock a special evolution too." Rusty nodded, absorbing the information provided by the Fallen Demon King. It seemed that the bonding contract was both a boon and a burden. On one hand, he needed to share his experience with it but on the other hand, it also worked in reverse. As the ant grew stronger, Rusty envisioned the possibility of confronting more formidable foes together. In the past he managed to kill strong adventurers with the help of other monsters so this tactic wasn''t anything new. "That''s not that bad, I can just have him stay here if I just want to level up by myself too!" "That you can, can this Demon King help you with anything else? Will you tell me to cook you something now?" The black orb replied in a sort of annoyed tone. Rusty knew that this being didn''t like to be ordered around but it was not something he concerned himself about. After ignoring the question, he gave one of his own that concerned the change in his body. He removed his helmet and turned it around to show that strange marble glued to it. "What is this?" "That? It''s just a monster core, monsters start growing, once they become E-rank." "Oh¡­ does it do anything? It feels very important as if something will happen if I touch it." "Of course, if your monster core is destroyed, you will cease to exist." The Demon King''s words sent a shiver down Rusty''s metallic spine. The idea of his existence hinging on the safety of this small orb was daunting, to say the least. "So, it''s like my lifeline?" "In a manner of speaking, yes. It''s the essence of your being, contained within that core. Damage it, and you risk your very existence. However, once you increase in strength, so will you also gain skills and abilities to shelter it better. Once that''s over with, you won''t even remember that it was ever there to begin with." "There are also benefits of having a monster core. You will not die unless it is destroyed." "I won''t? Even if my HP goes down to zero?" "That''s the fun part, it can''t. A monster with a core must have its core destroyed, otherwise it won''t perish. However, magical attacks that affect your whole body could be used as a finishing blow, so it would be best if you don''t let your health fall below a certain threshold." Rusty absorbed this information with a mix of relief and fear. On one hand, knowing that he wouldn''t die unless his monster core was destroyed offered a certain degree of security. This information could even save his life in the future, as long as his helmet that housed the core survived, he wouldn''t die. However, it was quite a small and brittle-looking object, if he took too many hard hits to his bronze head, he could perish even if his HP wasn''t fully lowered. "Thank you for the clarification!" "My pleasure, now Rusty my boy, how about we talk about something¡­" "I''m sorry, but you will have to go now." "I beg your pardon?" Before the Demon Lord could continue with his sentence he was interrupted by Rusty. His mana had dropped by another fifty points and it was becoming too dangerous to continue. Luckily, it was possible to end this skill whenever he chose. It only took a mental command for Rusty to dismiss the Fallen Demon King. "Well, that''s rude¡­" The dark orb started to flicker before it dissipated into thin air while shouting something at him that he didn''t fully understand. Rusty had gained valuable information and was glad that he asked about this monster core of his. Now he knew that he needed to protect his head more than his other body parts. "Now, what should I do about you¡­" "..." Gleam wiggled its antennae as if sensing Rusty''s gaze upon it. He could feel that this monster was eager to assist and would follow his orders. The problem wasn''t its loyalty but that it wasn''t the strongest. For it to become of any use, it needed to at least reach the F-rank like the other insects here. "I think it will be better if we start now!" It felt wise to begin the leveling drive now and he already knew that his companion could be used to lure the other monsters. With that in mind, Rusty formulated a plan. He would venture deeper into the cavern, seeking out groups of monsters to battle alongside Gleam. By strategically utilizing the ant''s glow to attract foes, Rusty could dispatch them efficiently and ensure Gleam gained the necessary experience to level up. "Gleam, are you ready?" Rusty addressed his newfound companion, who responded with a series of excited movements, indicating its readiness for action. "Let us depart then!" For some reason, with Gleam by his side, Rusty felt a lot more joy. He recalled his life before falling down the chasm. The other monsters would react to him at all but Gleam was different. It wiggled around in a novel fashion and seemed to always be interested in the things he was doing. Finally, the two ventured towards the tunnels and this time around they were not attacked at the watering hole. After considering his options, Rusty decided to enter the slug-filled tunnels. Gleam had a weak bite but the slugs were quite squishy to the point that even he would be able to do damage. The new hunt started as he postponed the destruction of the centipede-filled dungeons and the Matriarch waiting for him there. Instead, he focused on helping his new friend level up. One thing in particular stayed with him. The demon lord mentioned that he would be able to affect the evolutionary path of this small ant and he wanted to see how. Just as expected, the slugs weren''t much of a problem. After using Gleam to lure them in, he was able to avoid their initial charges and cut them in half. With the Elemental Discharge skill thighs were even easier. These monsters liked to gather in a large group which allowed Rusty to hit multiple of them at once. After getting hit, they were momentarily stunned and even Gleam could finish them off through multiple bites that probably did one HP damage each. As the two pushed into the cavern Rusty realized just how deep it went. The further he ventured, the more of the monsters he encountered. Luckily, he was not the armor that he used to be, and slaying them came to him rather easily. Even their best attack couldn''t faze him as he could easily block it with the bronze shield he created. Rusty couldn''t help but marvel at Gleam''s tenacity. Despite its diminutive size, the ant fought with unwavering determination, never backing down from a challenge. It was clear to Rusty that Gleam had the heart of a warrior, and he found himself growing more and more fond of his tiny companion. While he received less experience than before, it felt well spent as he could see Gleam''s levels just skyrocketing. At the end of their push into the slug-infested tunnels, Gleam was already level five. This leveling speed was only something he could have dreamed about when he was created. Eventually, they reached a large chamber at the center of the cavern, where a massive slug, easily ten times the size of the others, lay coiled upon itself. Its body pulsed with an otherworldly glow, and its two extended eyes seemed to focus on the two intruders. "Hm¡­ Gleam, can you hide yourself somewhere? This might be too dangerous for you to handle." Gleam seemed unwilling to part from his new metallic companion but relented. The ant looked at the tunnel wall and started burrowing itself into it, disappearing from sight. With Gleam safely hidden, Rusty turned his attention back to the colossal slug before him. It seemed to be the big boss of this area just like the ant queen and centipede matriarch. "I''ll start with you then!" Rusty pointed with his sword in the direction of the monster. The creature was surrounded by a small swarm of smaller slugs, which probably acted as its defense force. Once they were dealt with, defeating their leader would be much easier. Chapter 29 – Not Worth Much. "Go screw yourself!"A young woman shouted at a stocky-looking man with a long red beard. He wore a blacksmithing apron over his clothes as he returned an item he had been given for appraisal. It appeared to be an old bronze gauntlet, corroded in several places. "Wot ye want from me? It ain''t worth that much, take the coins or don''t, I don''t care!" "Hmph, you don''t care? I''m sure you''ll start to care after I take this dagger and shove it up your arse!" The man was of the dwarven race and started shouting back at the unruly woman. Luckily she was not alone in this shop and soon one of her companions began to pull her back before "Livi, calm down, you are making a scene¡­" Other patrons within the shop began to take notice, their attention drawn to the unfolding scene. The presence of metallic weapons and pieces of armor scattered around made it clear that this was a place frequented by adventurers seeking to purchase such gear. The shopkeeper, a burly dwarf, furrowed his bushy brows, his hands clenched into fists as he glared at the woman named Livi. "I told ye already, the gauntlet ain''t worth much! Ye can take the coins or leave it, but don''t ye dare threaten me in me own shop!" The man repeated himself but this time his voice boomed through the entire shop. His thick accent made it difficult for some people to understand him, but the message was clear. Livi''s companion, a wiry human named Keyon, attempted to defuse the situation. He understood that if this continued, their group could be prohibited from shopping in the store, something he wished to avoid at all costs. "Please, forgive her outburst. She''s just a bit tired from the last mission, don''t worry, we''ll just leave. Come Livi." The shop owner grumbled under his breath and adjusted his apron as he watched the group hastily leave his shop. He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head as he muttered curses in Dwarvish, clearly frustrated by the encounter. The other patrons in the shop returned to their browsing while the party of the adventurers led by the person that just wanted to stab a shopkeeper, Livi. "Hey, it''s okay, we''ll find another place to get rid of that gauntlet, how about we try an alchemist instead? That twilight bronze has to be good for something, maybe they use it for something there?" "Fine, I guess¡­" Livi responded in an annoyed tone while trying to compose her nerves. The party had been trying to sell this one item for a while now but it seemed that it wasn''t worth much at all. They were at the end of their wits trying to find a buyer willing to pay a decent price for the worn-out gauntlet. They received it from a rare unique monster but for some reason, it seemed worthless. As they exited the blacksmith''s shop, Keyon led them through the bustling streets of the city. There were many people here with various races and professions bustling about their daily tasks. The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the metallic tang of a blacksmith''s forge and added to the lively atmosphere in this city. Keyon navigated the group through the crowded streets with ease, his keen eyes scanning the various storefronts for any signs of an alchemist''s shop. Eventually, they stumbled upon a quaint little establishment nestled between a tavern and a herbalist''s shop. A wooden sign hung above the door and depicted a bubbling cauldron. It indicated that they had indeed found what they were looking for and soon they were at the door. "Dedrick, wait outside¡­ or even better, go find Reistel before he drinks himself stupid again." Livi looked towards a third-party member that was wearing a steel suit of armor. His massive frame made it difficult for him to navigate through crowded places, and his presence tended to draw unwanted attention. Dedrick grunted in acknowledgment and stepped aside, his heavy footsteps receding as he made his way to the tavern that his dwarven companion frequented. With Dedrick out of sight, Livi and Keyon entered the alchemist''s shop. The interior was dimly lit by flickering candles, casting eerie shadows on the shelves lined with various vials, jars, and potions. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and magical ingredients, making it clear what this place was used for. "Someone should open a window¡­" Keyon commented as a strange mixture of scents assaulted his nose. Livi rolled her eyes as she was accustomed to the complaints of her companion. "Just focus, we''re here to get rid of this gauntlet" Livi approached the counter where an elderly human with wild, wiry hair and thick spectacles stood, stirring a bubbling cauldron. The alchemist glanced up as they approached, his eyes squinting behind his glasses as he noticed a specific item in their hands. "Welcome, travelers. How can I assist you today?" His voice crackled and showed his advanced age. Livi didn''t wait much before throwing the severed gauntlet onto the store counter before asking for money. "We have an item we''re looking to sell, what can you offer for this?" The alchemist peered at the gauntlet and his eyebrows furrowed as he concentrated. He picked it up slowly and started to examine it from all sides. Eventually, he pulled out a large magnifying glass with strange arcane symbols on the sides. He turned it over, examining the intricate details, and muttered to himself as he assessed its condition. Livi and Keyon watched while hopeful that this alchemist would see some value in this seemingly worthless item. "Hmm... interesting piece. A bit worn and some corrosion have set in, but the interesting part is the metal in itself, Twilight bronze is quite a rare find¡­" The alchemist''s eyes sparkled with interest as he continued to inspect the gauntlet. Livi and Keyon exchanged hopeful glances, sensing a glimmer of hope. Perhaps this person would buy this worthless piece of equipment for a few gold coins, instead of the lower prices every other shop owner had offered them. "Yes, Twilight bronze, it must be worth quite a lot, I bet you could melt it down and use it for enchantments or something!" "Use it for enchantments?" Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The Alchemist looked at Livi as if she said something silly and quickly corrected her on the assumption. "Young lady, while twilight bronze is rare, it doesn''t mean that it''s worth much, I''m afraid that I can''t offer you more than a few silver coins and I don''t think you''ll get much better elsewhere. It''s simply not in high demand." Livi''s frustration flared up again, her patience worn thin after being met with disappointment yet again. She exchanged a glance with Keyon, who sighed in resignation. It seemed they had hit another dead end in their quest to offload the gauntlet. However, it seemed that the old Alchemist had noticed this display of negative emotions and decided to offer some advice. "You see, while twilight metals are indeed very rare, they''re not practical for most individuals. Their properties combine those of dark demonic magic and holy light magic, making them exceedingly rare and almost impossible to wield by any ordinary person. Even if you were to craft a weapon for a demon or someone proficient in light magic, they wouldn''t be able to utilize it." The alchemist''s explanation brought a new perspective to Livi and Keyon. They had been so focused on trying to sell the gauntlet for its material value that they hadn''t considered its potential properties. If it couldn''t be fashioned into a better piece of armor than regular bronze, then it wasn''t really worth much. "But, you''re saying that it does have some magical properties?" The alchemist gave out a sigh before he continued with his explanation. "Unless you find someone like a Nephalem to wield it, this piece of equipment is practically useless. You''d require a perfect balance between both light and dark magic to unlock the full potential of this metal. As far as I know, such equilibrium doesn''t exist anywhere." "A Nephalem?" "Yes, an offspring between a demon and an angel." Livi and Keyon exchanged a glance and nodded in understanding. They were familiar with the concept of a Nephalem, an extremely rare species that was more myth than legend. While this rarity made the metal valuable and potent in the right hands, it held little value when sold to regular adventurers like themselves. At best, they could hold onto it in hopes of finding a collector willing to offer a better price. However, as it stood, the item was not worth more than a regular bronze gauntlet. "Shit¡­ how much were you willing to pay for it?" The alchemist scratched his chin thoughtfully before responding. "I could offer you five silver coins for it. It''s not much, but it''s the best I can do." Livi sighed heavily, feeling the weight of disappointment settling in once again. Keyon gave her a nudge with his elbow and whispered into her ear quickly before she made her mind to leave again. "It''s already more than what the blacksmiths offered us, lets just take it and go, we''ve lost enough time on this already." "Yeah, I know¡­" Reluctantly, Livi nodded in agreement. They had been trying to offload this item for over a week now and it wasn''t worth the effort. She turned back to the alchemist and extended her hand, indicating her acceptance of his offer. "Fine, we''ll take the five silver coins." The alchemist nodded in response and reached under the counter to retrieve the coins. He counted them out and placed them on the counter. Soon after the gauntlet was given to him and the exchange had been concluded. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you for your business. If you ever come across any other rare items, feel free to bring them by. I may be interested." Livi gave a half-hearted nod of acknowledgment but her mind was already shifting to their next task. She scooped up the coins and stuffed them into her pouch before turning around to leave. "Come on, let''s get out of here." Keyon followed suit, offering a polite nod to the alchemist before turning to leave. Soon they were gone and the alchemist took the gauntlet into his hand while smiling. He took it to the side and placed it on one of the wooden shelves where other peculiar items of unknown worth were placed. "Twilight magic¡­ it is said that if someone mastered it, they could cut the very fabric of reality, even harming gods wouldn''t be out of the question... But alas, such power remains just a myth, and even if it wasn''t, bronze would not be able to contain such power. Hmm, maybe I can use it as a paperweight¡­" He let out a wistful sigh, his eyes lingering on the gauntlet for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to his cauldron, stirring its contents with a long wooden spoon. The shop returned to its usual quiet ambiance, the flickering candles casting dancing shadows on the walls as the alchemist continued his work, lost in thought. However, at another location, deep underground a battle with a creature wielding strange powers was already taking place. "Now that your friends are all gone, it''s just you and me!" A bronze suit of armor stood atop a small hill of now-dead slugs. Its blade was clad with a strange magical essence that illuminated this large chamber. This weapon was pointed at a large slug creature with a bulbous body that rippled with an eerie rhythm. The slug creature, sensing the threat posed by the armored figure, let out a guttural roar that echoed through the chamber. Rusty, who was the living armor in question, remained focused while trying not to slip on the slug mucus that covered the entire area. He had managed to dispatch a large number of these creatures and now only had their leader to contend with. Thanks to his body that never tired, he was able to slowly accomplish this feat. The slug creatures launched themselves towards him in a predictable pattern that he had grown accustomed to. Even if their bites connected with his body, he didn''t receive more than one or two points of damage. In his current evolved form, there was nothing left for him to fear, and eventually, this became the outcome of the battle: a chamber filled with dead slugs and their leader the only one remaining. With a swift movement, Rusty lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air as it aimed for the slug creature''s soft underbelly. The creature reacted unexpectedly by compacting its body and launching itself forward with a biting attack. While the smaller slugs could only use their elongated mouths for attacking, their leader was different and could launch itself at fast speeds. Fortunately, Rusty managed to block the attack with the help of his new shield, and thanks to his newfound skill proficiencies, the shield remained firmly on his arm. He pushed back against the slug''s body, exploiting the fact that, despite its ability to launch itself at fast speeds, it took time for its larger body to contort and take aim. Rusty seized this opportunity and delivered a magically enhanced power slash to the monster''s side. The slice produced a large gash, accompanied by strange monster blood, but to his dismay, it began mending itself at a rapid pace. ''Some type of regeneration skill similar to my own? But such skills always have a limit, I just need to continue and it will eventually run out of resources!'' He pressed on and his attacks became more frenzied as he sought to overwhelm the slug creature''s healing capabilities. With each strike, he observed how the wound would close, but not entirely, leaving behind faint scars that indicated progress. Despite his efforts, the battle continued but eventually, his enemy started to falter. The slug creature proved to be a formidable foe but Rusty was no longer an inexperienced combatant either. With each swing of his sword, he grew more confident in his own abilities. His tactics to exploit the weaknesses, along with a keen eye for his opponent''s movements, allowed him to gain the upper hand. Finally, with one last powerful strike, Rusty delivered a finishing blow that pierced through the slug creature''s thick hide, driving his sword deep into its core. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching as it succumbed to its wounds. Rusty stood over his fallen foe, his sword still crackling with residual light energy that was now dimming. You have gained +102 experience points. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty gazed at the defeated monster as the system message resounded. He had emerged victorious, marking his first step in the domination of this cave system. Next was the centipede area and then the beetles but ultimately, Rusty still harbored the desire to ascend back up into the dungeon from which he fell. There, he would exact his revenge on the adventurers who had sent him down here... Chapter 30 – Tracking Ores. Rusty surveyed the chamber and his eyes lingered on the now lifeless form of the slug creature. With a sense of satisfaction, he attempted to holster his blade but found it covered in strange mucus. Luckily there was a shallow pond of water nearby which had been seemingly used by the leader slug for sustenance.''I managed to level up but didn''t gain any new skills¡­oh well, what about my status?'' Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L2 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 112/137 Magic Points [MP] 18/126 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 21 [ E- ] Agility 4 [ E- ] Dexterity 7 [ E- ] Constitution 22 [ E- ] Intelligence 10 [ E- ] Wisdom 11 [ E- ] Willpower 9 [ E- ] Durability E+ While heading there he looked over his status screen which had been updated. He had only gained one level, and his stats didn''t seem to have increased that much. However, he could sense that compared to the old level-ups when he was still an F-rank monster, he was somewhat stronger. He couldn''t quite tell why, but there appeared to be some sort of gap between ranks. Perhaps it was some sort of hidden boost that wasn''t showing up on the status screen. ''I should ask the Demon King or the Hero about it the next time I see them.'' Rusty was a bit annoyed at his inability to call his two helpers for advice. His mana pool was quite low and he needed to wait for at least another hour for it to refill itself. For the time being he decided to clean his blade in the shallow pond here. It was already filling up with the dead remains of the slugs. Despite being a living armor, he understood the importance of keeping his equipment in good condition. Back in the Soul Forge he had learned of a couple of ways of cleaning his tools and that if he left blood on his weapons for too long, it could cause corrosion and damage over time. As he dipped the blade into the water, Rusty noticed a faint glow emanating from behind. He glanced back to see a small white ant making its way in his direction while avoiding the bodies of the dead slugs. It was Gleam who had noticed that the battle was over and decided to emerge from its hiding place. His new companion was just like him, a new being who had been born not so long ago. The ant looked at the dead slug monsters with curiosity, its antennae twitching as it took in the scene before it. Rusty watched as Gleam scuttled closer, its tiny form illuminated by a radiance coming from its body. ''He wasn''t that bright before, did he learn a new skill?'' This reminded Rusty of how his new companion gained experience points by just being close to him. Considering that he had defeated quite a number of slug creatures here, including their leader, it was likely that his friend had gained a few levels. Thanks to their bond, Rusty also had access to the full status screen of his friend, along with all of its skills. Name: Gleam Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant [ G + ] L8 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 7/7 Magic Points [MP] 10/15 Stamina Points [SP] 11/11 Strength 65 [ G ] Agility 86 [ G + ] Dexterity 75 [ G + ] S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Constitution 77 [ G + ] Intelligence 99 [ G + ] ( Max ) Wisdom 98 [ G + ] Willpower 95 [ G + ] Durability G The first thing Rusty noticed was that Gleam had more MP than he had when he was a level one F-rank monster. Another interesting observation was the Intelligence stat, which had reached ninety-nine, with another bracket next to it having ''Max'' written in. He could only assume that this meant the stat could not increase any further, but he decided to bring this issue up with one of his glowing helpers later for clarification. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ''Gleam might be special¡­ or I was just really weak¡­'' His mood dropped after realizing that this G-rank monster could have higher stats than his initial form. However, it also meant that it was the right choice to form a bonding contract with Gleam. If he became stronger quickly, then it would be possible for Rusty to use him in battle. ''Now for the skills, what are these¡­'' Basic Mineral Discovery Active Skill Helps to detect minerals and ores within a certain radius. Basic Tracking Active Skill Allows the user to track creatures or objects over long distances Pheromone Trail Active Skill Leaves a trail of pheromones that can be easily followed by individuals of the same species. Basic Mana Sense Passive Skill Allows the user to sense the presence of mana in the environment, a requirement for spell-casting Basic Mana Manipulation Passive Skill Allows the user to shape mana into various effects, a requirement for spell-casting. Lesser Produce Light Spell A simple spell that produces light Rusty''s visor widened in surprise as he read through the list of skills. Gleam had acquired quite a diverse set of abilities, some of which could prove to be incredibly useful in their journey. The Basic Mineral Discovery skill, in particular, could come in handy for locating valuable resources or hidden treasures within the cave system. Perhaps help him discover one of the ores that he had been missing. "Gleam, you''re quite something, aren''t you?" His ant companion noticed that it was being praised and showed a sign of acknowledgment by rubbing its antennae together in a happy manner. Rusty couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride in his little companion''s achievements. It seemed that they were both growing stronger together. ''A spell¡­ I think, I know what this is¡­'' Rusty wanted to give that mineral discovery a try but his attention was pulled towards the mana manipulation and sense skills. These skills seemed necessary for casting spells and regretfully he lacked both of them. Gleam, his companion, only knew one spell, which allowed his entire body to glow brightly and act as a light source. This spell cost just five points of MP and was somewhat different from the light Rusty could produce with his sword. ''It doesn''t use up the MP afterward, does it have some type of lingering effect?'' As he contemplated this, Rusty felt a surge of curiosity about his own potential for magic. He had long been somewhat aware of the existence of mana and the spells it could produce. In his shared memories, he could see both the hero and the demon king wielding these mysterious abilities. Perhaps somewhere along his evolutionary path, he too would be able to unlock them, and becoming a spellcaster wasn''t just a pipe dream. "You don''t really have any attacking skills though, not even a bite skill¡­" Gleam had received some interesting skills but they weren''t really suited for battle. The one spell that he had could only produce a faint light, which probably wouldn''t hurt the other monsters like Rusty''s did. The small ant showed his disappointment by clicking its mandibles in frustration, its tiny form visibly deflating. Rusty couldn''t help but sympathize with his companion''s predicament as when he started, he wasn''t really that great either. "Don''t worry Gleam, you will get stronger, I''m sure when you evolve to a greater form, you will be really strong!" Rusty attempted to cheer up his new companion with some words of encouragement. The ant perked up at Rusty''s words, its antennae twitching with renewed conviction. Despite its lack of offensive skills, Gleam seemed eager to continue supporting Rusty in whatever way it could. Rusty couldn''t help but admire the little creature''s indomitable spirit. "How about you help me explore this cave system, who knows what we might find here? Why don''t you use that mineral discovery skill?" He gestured towards the dark recesses of the cave while Gleam scuttled forward eagerly. With a determined click of its mandibles, it activated the Basic Mineral Discovery skill, its tiny antennae twitched as it began scanning the surrounding area. Rusty stayed in place and looked at his small companion skittering around the ground. At first he was hopeful but eventually he was made aware of this discovery skills weakness, it had a rather limited range. Nevertheless, Gleam seemed to be focused and determined, its tiny form darting here and there as it diligently searched for any signs of valuable minerals or ores. Minutes passed, and Rusty grew increasingly impatient as he watched Gleam''s efforts. He couldn''t help but wonder if they were wasting their time on a futile endeavor. Then while his mind turned to his inventory screen, he thought of something. "I wonder¡­ could this work?" Rusty realized he had managed to retain one whole leftover tin ingot. This was, in fact, the mineral he had been searching for, as without it, he could not transform the copper ingots into bronze ones. Considering this, he turned to Gleam, who possessed a tracking skill in addition to the mineral discovery one. The tracking skill appeared to have a larger range than the mineral discovery skill, so Rusty hoped it would prove effective in locating more of the precious mineral. "Can you track this mineral for me, Gleam?" Rusty quickly retrieved the ingot from his inventory and held it out in front of Gleam. The ant paused in its search and scuttled over to Rusty, its antennae twitching with curiosity as it inspected the tin ingot. After clicking its mandibles in acknowledgment, the tracking skill was activated. There was no visual cue indicating it but judging by Gleam''s speed, it seemed to have caught on to something. There was some type of invisible path that seemed to have been presented and the ant started following it. Rusty could only think that this had been the skill used by the other ants to follow him and that perhaps soon some tin would actually be before him. To his surprise, the journey was far as Gleam navigated around the dead slugs only to arrive at the pond he cleaned his sword in. "Is something wrong?" It seemed that the ant wanted to move into the water but just like the other members of its species, despised it. Gleam started moving around the water in an attempt to find another path. His partner darted around it, eventually ending up on the ceiling directly over it before coming to a stop. It seemed that what he was searching for lay within the water, which was quite murky. "Is it in there?" It was hard to tell but he needed to check it out. He was a suit of armor so breathing underwater wasn''t a problem. The pond at the deepest end was only up to his waist, and he had an ingenious idea to aid in his search for the tin ore deposit. Instead of attempting to grab rocks, he removed his helmet from his body and submerged it in the murky pool of water. With his head close to the ground, it became much easier to spot any metallic residue that an ore might produce. The murky water made it difficult to see clearly, but after a few moments of searching, he noticed a glimmer of metallic shine. Carefully, Rusty reached down with his gauntlet, his metallic fingers brushed against something before he started squeezing. After a gentle tug, he managed to dislodge one of the rocks there with relative ease. Once it was on the surface, to his delight there was a small tin deposit there. "Good job Gleam, you found it! I would have never been able to find it on my own!" Gleam clicked its mandibles happily, seemingly pleased with itself for successfully locating the tin deposit. Rusty couldn''t help but feel grateful for his tiny companion''s assistance. Without Gleam''s tracking skill, he would have likely missed this tin ore deposit here as it was hidden under the waters of this slug cave. ''Now, how should I get it out¡­ the water is kind of in the way¡­'' Mining the copper wasn''t difficult, as it was situated on the side of a wall and easily accessible. However, in the murky depths of the pond, Rusty couldn''t see the bottom, making it challenging to pinpoint the correct areas for mining. Fortunately, the Hero had given some advice while Rusty was creating his bronze arsenal. It was possible to add regular tools to his inventory, so he had created items like a pickaxe and a shovel, which he hoped would aid him in his underwater mining endeavors. ''It will cost me two bronze ingots to make the tools¡­'' Although his body still required bronze to repair itself, Rusty had only sustained minor damage in the last encounter with the slugs. While he didn''t want to spend it, there was a need for a shovel and some other basic tools. With Gleam''s ability to locate more copper and tin ore deposits, he felt he wouldn''t be wasting his resources. It was an investment for the future that would allow him to mine more easily. ''I''ll get a shovel first, I need to drain this water.'' After accessing his tabs he used one of the ingots to fashion a previously assembled bronze shovel. With his new tool in hand, he approached the edge of the pond. The water here seemed to slowly drip from the ceiling which eventually formed this pond. What he needed to do was dig out a tunnel to the side, and from there, gravity would take care of the rest. Rusty began digging at the edge of the pond, his bronze shovel slicing through the damp earth with surprising ease. Gleam watched from a safe distance as the rocky gravel was tossed to the side. With each scoop of the earth he removed, the water level started to gradually drop. After several hours of nonstop labor, Rusty had managed to create a small trench leading away from the pond. Water trickled down the tunnel, flowing away from the immediate area. He continued digging until the water level had dropped by a significant margin and the bottom of the pond was revealed. With the water now mostly drained, Rusty could clearly see the tin ore deposits sticking out amidst the dregs. Before climbing down into the now-drained area, he lifted up one of his metallic boots that had been filled with water. While balancing on one leg, he turned it around to empty the water and then repeated the process on the other side. Afterward, he spent another ingot of bronze to produce a pickaxe, and now the mining could finally commence. With his newly crafted pickaxe in hand, Rusty descended into the drained pond. His boots produced an audible crunching noise which caught Gleams interest. His ant companion scuttled closer as now there was no pesky water to keep him away. Rusty approached the tin ore deposits and carefully began to chip away at the surrounding rock with his pickaxe. Chunks of stone fell away as he worked and revealed the veins of tin hidden beneath. With each strike of his pickaxe, he collected small pieces of tin ore, storing them away in his inventory for later use. Gleam watched intently, its antennae twitching with curiosity as Rusty mined the ore. Despite its small size, the ant seemed to understand the importance of their discovery and was eager to assist in any way it could. After another couple of hours of meticulous work, Rusty stepped back. His inventory was now filled with tin ore and transformed tin ingots. With this discovery, he was now confident in his future plans. The other monsters would not stand in his way, and with so much metal at his disposal, he would be able to restore himself and his weapons without worry. It was time to conquer this part of the dungeon and then perhaps journey elsewhere, where other challenges awaited¡­ Chapter 31 – Gleam Evolves. "I think I''ve got it all now, I shouldn''t run out for a while now!"A shiny suit of armor stood before a pile of ore while feeling good about himself. Rusty had managed to mine the whole tin deposit and then also returned to the copper vein he had previously left behind. It took him some days but without a need to sleep or eat, he was able to get this job over quickly. Now he just needed to transport all of this back to his lair. Luckily, when he was at the Soul Forge, the hero had given him some good advice. Alongside the pickaxe and shovel, he had received schematics for something known as a backpack. It was a container crafted from thin bronze with leather straps affixed to it using rivets. With its assistance, he could transport a large amount of ore without making the inside of his armor dirty. Though his balance felt somewhat iffy with it on, once he had cleared the tunnels, there were few monsters left to halt his progress. "Let us head back Gleam, light the way." His pet ant bounced around after receiving the order and started casting its one and only spell. The cave illuminated with a soft, gentle glow as Gleam activated its spell, casting light across the dark passages. Rusty followed closely behind, the weight of the backpack full of ore not hindering his movements as much as he had initially feared. His weight had increased since his new evolution and thanks to his increased strength, it wasn''t that hard to keep his balance. Walking through these lengthy tunnels started getting somewhat plain. Even upon reaching the watering area, the other creatures swiftly scattered at the sight of light emanating from the caverns. It appeared Rusty had transformed into the apex predator and was now feared by the insects. Although, this brought a sense of satisfaction, confirming his strengthened prowess. Yet, it also brought a strange new emotion to the surface that he wasn''t quite sure about. ''I wished they at least tried to fight back a bit¡­ it''s no fun when it''s too easy¡­'' Rusty had gained some degree of strength and fighting these insect monsters had become easy. The only real threat he felt came from the larger E-rank monsters that still lurked within these cave systems like the Centipede Matriarch. She would be his next target, followed by the giant beetles who seemed to be the dominant species down here. Yet, once he vanquished them, Rusty harbored aspirations of ascending to face greater challenges once more. His sights were set on a rematch with the shadowy spider and the humanoid adventurers who had bested him before. ''I wonder if I could defeat them now¡­ I''m not sure¡­'' The thought of facing those formidable foes filled Rusty with a mixture of excitement and restlessness. He had come a long way since his last encounter with those two foes, but he couldn''t shake the feeling of uncertainty. Despite his increased strength and the newfound abilities of his companion Gleam, Rusty knew that he still had much to learn and improve upon. If he could gain a new evolutionary stage before a confrontation with those old foes, he would stand a better chance. But for now, he needed to focus on the task at hand and bring these ores back to his base. "Home sweet home!" For some reason, Rusty began to appreciate the notion of having a home base to return to. After carefully unloading the backpack, he deposited the last of the copper ores he had gathered. The pile had grown in size, and was accompanied by a stack of ingots he had already transformed with his skill. Despite his inventory limiting him to only ten ingots, he decided to use up his SP since he couldn''t employ his absorption skill on the insects anyhow. "Let me practice before I go confront that Matriarch." Rusty put the backpack away by returning it to the regular inventory. He had his regular stash tab along with his currently equipped items. They consisted of a bronze shield and his old but upgraded arming sword. It was possible to reposition this sword into the inventory tab and opt for a slightly weightier longsword with a longer blade. "It takes a few moments to exchange but it could save me in the future!" The inventory system he possessed could only accommodate a finite number of items. Initially, he could transfer items from the stash tab located beneath his equipped items screen. However, once it went over capacity, he would have to deposit the surplus of items into something known as a warehouse. Although the space there was much larger, it too also had its limits. He speculated that eventually, he would be forced to store any additional items in the real world. At first, this didn''t appear to pose much of a problem, but Rusty soon encountered a drawback. Retrieving any item from the warehouse demanded an additional expenditure of special points (SP). This depleted his resources rapidly, making it smart to use this feature before embarking on an adventure. He could swap items inside the immediate stash tab without incurring further costs, and basic resources like bronze could be allocated to a separate resource tab but could not exceed the limit of ten either. As Rusty contemplated his inventory management strategy, Gleam scuttled around him, emitting a soft glow that illuminated the small chamber they had designated as their temporary home. This brought back the next issue which was Gleam''s level which was already nine. Despite not having slain many monsters since defeating the slugs, it was evident that his ant companion would soon reach the threshold of G rank and be able to evolve into an F-rank monster, similar to his previous form. "Gleam, do you wish to evolve and get stronger too?" Rusty posed the question and his small friend replied by gnashing his mandibles around as if it wanted to bite down on an enemy. The Demon King had mentioned something about his presence potentially influencing the ant''s evolution, but perhaps it would also shape its character. It appeared that Gleam, too, harbored aspirations of surpassing its former self and perhaps towering over other ants that tried to suppress it. "Then let us go, and let us become stronger, together!" The duo of living armor and glowing ant emerged from their makeshift abode of radiant crystals, prepared to confront the trials that lay ahead. With confident strides, they made their way toward the territory of the centipede insectoids. Upon arrival, their gaze fell upon a rather small specimen which was clearly a level one monster. "Stay behind me, Gleam. This will be over quickly..." Rusty wanted to step forward to slay the small monster but he was stopped, not by other monsters but by his ant companion. Gleam appeared to be trying to communicate by gnashing his mandibles and wiggling his antennae in a manner that suggested something. "Do you want to face it on your own?" "!" Gleam''s response came in the form of a happy dance. If Rusty had a face, it would likely be showing a smile at this moment. He was pleased to see that his companion shared his eagerness to test their strength against a formidable adversary. Despite the creature being an F-rank monster, its stats weren''t that superior to those of the ant. It appeared to be a foe that could be vanquished in a fair battle, so Rusty decided to humor his companion with this wish. "If you are confident, then be my guest, and don''t worry, if it gets dangerous, I''ll help!" This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "!?" It seemed that Gleam was a bit mad after Rusty insinuated that it wouldn''t be able to defeat this trivial foe. Rusty chuckled at the indignation his friend was showing but also admired his spirit. After nodding with approval, he stepped back and allowed Gleam to take center stage. The small ant wasted no time, darting forward with surprising speed. Its tiny form moved with agility as it closed the distance between itself and the centipede monster. The centipede, after sensing the approaching threat, reared up and was ready to strike. With a swift motion, Gleam dodged the creature''s lashing attack, narrowly avoiding its sharp fangs. The ant retaliated with a quick jab of its own, sinking its mandibles into the centipede''s side. Though its attack was small, it seemed to have caught the creature off guard. Rusty instantly noticed that his friend was quite smart as Gleam did not go after the hardened exoskeleton but the creature''s legs instead. The centipede hissed in pain as two of its legs were severed by Gleam''s precise strikes. Despite its size advantage, the centipede found itself struggling to keep up with the small but agile opponent. Gleam continued to dart around the creature, striking at vulnerable spots with remarkable accuracy. Making sure to focus on its many legs that weren''t as robust as the rest of its body. Rusty watched in awe as his companion demonstrated its combat prowess. Gleam''s movements were fluid and precise and reminded him of his own poke-and-run tactics. With the slugs, he would usually bait out a forward charge before dodging and sinking his sword into the creature. His small friend seemed to have also taken a liking to this strategy, as it methodically dismantled their opponent, taking its time to ensure its own safety. Before the battle started, Rusty intended to jump in as he was fearful for the ant''s life. Gleam didn''t really have any strong attack like a power bite and his spells could only manifest light. It was also not the type of light that would scare off the monsters like his elemental spells. However, with tactics and a resolve Gleam was showing that it was capable of defeating a foe that was larger. The low-level centipede appeared to be thoroughly outmatched and each time it attempted to ensnare the smaller ant, Gleam deftly sidestepped its advances. Gleam even cleverly evaded the creature by ascending toward the ceiling, where the centipede''s fewer legs hindered its pursuit. As the battle reached its climax, Rusty witnessed something truly ingenious unfold before his visor. The monster''s larger body was flipped around by the smaller ant. Once its softer underbelly was exposed, the tunnel they were fighting in was turned red. Rusty was surprised at the ferocity that his friend was showing, it didn''t show any fear or care about its own safety. It seemed to have identified that this was the chance for victory and took it. To no surprise, the centipede monster was unwilling to meet its demise and began thrashing about wildly. In response, Gleam clung tenaciously to its lengthy body, maneuvering itself toward the creature''s head from below. Gleam initiated its assault by driving its mandibles deep into the other monster, displaying remarkable tenacity to hold on. Despite the creature''s violent thrashing and attempts to dislodge the ant by slamming it into the ground, Gleam refused to release its grip. With a final surge of strength, Gleam delivered a series of rapid bites to the centipede''s vulnerable underside. The creature''s thrashing grew weaker with each strike until finally, it collapsed to the ground with a defeated hiss. Gleam, panting but victorious, stood atop the fallen monster, its tiny form showing wounds but still victorious. You have gained +3 experience points. After getting the notification from the system, it became clear that it was over. Rusty was about to rush to his friend''s aid but it was clear that Gleam could handle itself. For some reason, he couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride at his companion''s remarkable display of courage and skill. Then to make things even better, after bringing up the status screen, Gleam''s level had reached the maximum and it was time for an evolution. "The Demon Lord was right¡­ I can select the evolution! Well done Gleam! You are the best!" His ant companion skittered over while being covered in various colored insect liquids. It didn''t seem that it liked eating the other monster''s flesh as while returning, most of it was spit out onto the ground. Rusty couldn''t hold back his curiosity and instantly examined the evolutionary window that he was presented with and was surprised by one of the choices. Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant [ Insectoid ] A direct evolution of the rare Minuscule Gleaming Mana. This monster, instead of using a larger body for combat, focuses on casting spells. Lesser Myrm Ant Queen [ Insectoid ] A lesser Queen of the Myrm Ant species, once fully grown becomes immobile to produce their offspring. Lesser Myrm Ant Soldier [ Insectoid ] A larger variant of the Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone with a larger body and stronger bite. Usually spotted around a queen ant as a protector. When looking at the choices, he was taken aback by the possibility of turning his small friend into an Ant Queen. Rusty turned towards Gleam who was looking up at him while being confused and spoke out. "Gleam, are you a lady?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This wasn''t really something Rusty cared about much but monsters seemed to have some type of internal identity that they followed through. It seemed that his new companion could transform into a matriarchal insect which indicated that he might be of this gender. "...!" It took Gleam a little bit to figure out what the bronze suit of armor was asking for but eventually she understood. Yes, Gleam performed the same dance whenever she was trying to confirm something. "Very well then, but I''m not sure if you should become a Queen Ant¡­ you wouldn''t be able to move then¡­" Gleam wiggled around as if trying to agree with Rusty''s words. There was really only one choice from the three that seemed interesting and thus, Gleam would turn into a Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant. After selecting the option with his metallic finger he was given another prompt to confirm the evolution process. Do you wish Gleam to evolve into a Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant? This choice will be permanent. "Yes!" With a resolute nod, Rusty confirmed the evolution process for Gleam. The tiny ant began to glow with a brilliant light and its form shimmered as it underwent its transformation. Rusty watched in awe as his companion''s body changed. Its size expanded ever so slightly before his metallic visor and the luster of its body seemed to intensify. However, Gleam was still rather small, probably still smaller than the average ant drone. "You look¡­different¡­" Before even looking at the status screen he noticed the change. Gleam''s head, once resembling that of other ants, had transformed. If he had to put it into words, Rusty would describe his companion as looking a lot cuter now than before. However, she was far from harmless. Almost immediately after the transformation was finished she started testing her newfound abilities, which in this case, were tied to spellcasting. Gleam raised her head, wiggling her antennae and mandibles in a rhythmic dance. Before long, a ball of pale blue energy materialized before her - a spell clearly different from the old one and notably more condensed. The new spell swirled and pulsated with a gentle glow before being propelled toward the lifeless centipede carcass. Upon impact, the creature''s remains were obliterated in a spectacular display of power. "Oh!" Rusty was stunned by the display of arcane might but before he could cheer, something strange happened. Gleam, who had just performed a powerful spell, started sprawling out on the ground. "Gleam¡­ are you okay? Hold on!" She was not dead or injured but once he looked at the ant''s mana pool he noticed the number was at zero. He could only chuckle as his friend suffered the same affliction that he did when he used up all of his MP. Quickly, Rusty retrieved one of the small mana crystals he kept within his inventory - the same kind Gleam liked to munch on. It became evident that he would likely need a far greater number of these crystals if he wished to utilize Gleam''s offensive spells effectively in the battles to come. However, this was quite a nice addition to his arsenal and now he would not need to fight alone. Chapter 32 – Spells. "Now Gleam, use it while I distract the Matriarch!""!" The sound of an insect exoskeleton against bronze echoed as a large centipede monster species collided with Rusty''s shield. Gleam, now transformed into a Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant, stood behind the long monster, ready to unleash her newfound spellcasting abilities. Rusty engaged the Matriarch in combat by deflecting its strikes with his shield and counter-attacking with his sword. Meanwhile, Gleam focused her energy, conjuring a ball of vibrant blue mana between her antennae. As the Matriarch lunged forward with its jagged mandibles, Rusty sidestepped and delivered a swift strike to its exposed flank. The creature recoiled in pain, giving Gleam the opportunity she needed. With a flick of her antennae, she released a condensed bolt of mana. This bolt of energy crackled and streaked toward the Centipede Matriarch. The spell struck true, engulfing the centipede in a brilliant explosion of arcane energy. The Matriarch screeched in agony as the mana bolt tore through its chitinous armor and burrowed itself into its flesh. Rusty could tell that this was an opportunity to strike and seized it. His blade was engulfed in a radiant haze before he plunged it into the monster''s mouth. Then, with a resounding boom he discharged the radiant energy into the centipede''s throat. Immediately after, a cascading effect took place and the inside of the elongated monster started expanding. The energy injected through its mouth started exerting pressure from within and burst out through the wound Gleam had inflicted. The Centipede Matriarch thrashed and convulsed as the energy tore through its body, causing it to thrash wildly in pain. Rusty and Gleam watched as the creature''s movements gradually slowed until it finally collapsed to the ground, its body now lifeless. The cavern fell silent once more with only the crackling of residual mana energy dissipating into the air. You have gained +146 experience points. As the system''s sound echoed, the cave they inhabited remained silent. Sprawled out around them, were the bodies of defeated centipedes. They were futile in their attempts to aid their leader as it was thwarted by the combined might of the living armor and his ant companion. Despite their victory, the metallic figure didn''t appear entirely pleased with the situation. "?" "Oh, sorry Gleam, I was just thinking that it''s becoming a lot harder to level up¡­ Even after defeating so many of them, I''m not even level three¡­" "! ~" "Well, some of us can''t get levels that fast!" Gleam performed her happy dance as she was eager to showcase her achievement of reaching level four, while Rusty remained stagnant at level two. He attributed this to two factors: firstly, as an E-rank monster, he found that the F-rank opponents didn''t offer much experience. Secondly, he had to share all of his points with the ant, who seemed to be rapidly progressing through the levels. After attaining three additional levels, Gleam could cast her attacking spell without risking exhaustion. During the battles, Rusty discovered the difference between spells and skills. Skills proved superior mainly because they didn''t require concentration to cast and couldn''t be interrupted. Spells, on the other hand, appeared as inferior versions of skills, limited by various strenuous requirements. The main one, was a long casting time and the need to remain still in place, which could be deadly during battle. This was why he decided to take on the tanking role in this party of two. He would bring all the attention to himself, while Gleam aided him from afar. Nonetheless, Rusty couldn''t help but feel a hint of jealousy that he couldn''t perform spells. From what he knew, it was possible to learn these abilities not only through the means of leveling up. At least that was something his fragmented memories were telling him but he would need to ask his two guides to confirm it. "Hm, did you learn a new spell or skill?" Mana Bolt Spell The simplest attacking spell that produces a bolt of mana. The higher the Intelligence attribute, the higher the attacking power becomes. Dancing Lights Spell The caster can create up to four torch-sized lights. They will hover in the air for up to a minute and can be moved around. "Mana Bolt was the old one¡­ So Dancing Lights is the new one." Gleam did something akin to a nod before attempting to get the hang of the new spell. However, before she could produce the effect, Rusty decided to raise up his hand in protest. This wasn''t the first time she did this but his ant friend tended to forget about her mana pool. At the time being, it was rather small so he was sure that she would pass out after already having cast Mana Bolt before. "Don''t do it Gleam, you''ll go to sleep again!" "~?" "The mana crystals? Well, yes we could use them but we should conserve our resources! What if we get ambushed while we are going back, there could be other monsters lurking around!" "... >_< " Gleam communicated through movements of her antennae and mandibles, prompting Rusty to presume that the bonding contract had bestowed upon him some form of skill enabling communication between them. Despite the absence of audible words, information seemed to flow effortlessly into his bronze head. "Don''t worry Gleam, how about you see if we can find something here, maybe there will be some tin or copper here?" "!" Rusty pondered over what to do with the remains of the defeated monsters. It seemed wasteful to leave them lying dead on the ground, destined to decompose without purpose. Some parts looked interesting, like the monster''s large jaw that could even damage his armor. He couldn''t shake the feeling that they held some value, although he wasn''t certain what. A decision was made to ask one of his guides for some advice and this time around, it was the hero''s turn. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Thus, while Gleam scoured the surroundings for mineral deposits, Rusty patiently waited until his MP recharged to a certain point. Then when the time was right he spent the points required for the skill to activate. Once again, the orb of light materialized before his visor, casting a radiant glow that illuminated the whole underground cave. "I''m out?" The hero was a bit confused while looking around but quickly realized that he was still just a spirit tied to a living armor. Rusty could hear him sighting before posing a question. "Can I help you with something Rusty?" "Indeed, hero. I seek your guidance regarding the remains of these defeated monsters. They seem to possess some value, but I am uncertain how to utilize them." The hero pondered for a moment before responding to the question that he was compelled to answer. "Well, Rusty¡­ They are probably useless to a mons¡­ being like you." "They are? But I think they should be good for something¡­ like those large mandibles or those poisonous claws?" The monster''s head was larger than on the smaller variants and it had a set of large poisonous claws. Rusty knew that poison could be used in various ways to help him achieve victory. "This species of centipede typically possesses a poisonous gland, but it appears you''ve already destroyed it. Without the gland, even if you were to stab someone with those claws, it wouldn''t be very effective. If you were an adventurer, you could likely sell some of the parts at the guild and then exchange them for something worthwhile... The poison gland could fetch a good price at an alchemist''s shop." "I could exchange them for metal?" "Not really, you''ll be dead before you even enter the city¡­ Do you think they would let a monster wander in?" "I guess ¡­ I killed a few adventurers? But I was just defending myself¡­" "Were you really? If I remember correctly, you prepared traps and even used poison against them. But, that doesn''t matter, monsters and people see each other as enemies. Don''t think too much about it." "I''m not sure that I understand¡­" Rusty was a bit perplexed. He was a monster, an armor with a mind of its own. He didn''t harbor any remorse about defeating those humanoid adversaries. However, he also didn''t feel that they necessarily needed to be enemies. Since forming a bond with Gleam, it seemed that cooperation was indeed a possibility. "Could you be growing a¡­ no that''s impossible, you''re just a monster like the other ones." "Growing a what?" "It doesn''t matter but if you have to, with the inventory and warehouse now operational, you should be able to store some of the monster parts there. Then, if ever needed, you''ll be able to retrieve them." The hero seemed to want to tell him something but he quickly changed the conversation and Rusty wasn''t that interested in prying. Instead, he focused on the monster parts that were seemingly gatherable. Previously he assumed that he would only be able to retrieve metallic parts. There was no reason to fill out his empty warehouse if it was a possibility, perhaps later he would have a place to use some of these parts. "What should I keep? What are the best parts?" "That''s usually the fangs and claws of a monster, anything that looks sharp or sturdy is probably worth something¡­ Besides that, you''ll probably want the monster core, that''s usually the most important part from a monster." "A core, just like mine?" "Yes, you''ll find it somewhere inside a monster''s body, they usually only start appearing in monsters of E-rank and above. Don''t ask me where though, it''s usually in the head but the area can vary." Rusty glanced at the dead monster with its numerous legs sprawled out. Cutting through them all seemed like a chore, but he didn''t appear to be in a hurry for anything. However, as he prepared to start cutting, the Hero orb called out to him. "Can I go now?" "You wish to go?" "Yes, I think I''ve answered your question." "..." There were quite big differences between the white and black balls of light. The Demon King seemed to want to stay longer and talk. Rusty wasn''t sure about trusting him fully but he was unable to tell lies which fixed this issue. On the other hand, the hero seemed less amused by the situation, showing a reluctance to remain. It appeared as though he had reasons for not wanting to be there or just didn''t like his current situation of being a monster''s underling. "I still need one thing answered, you seem to know more about this system and inventories than the demon king!" "Yes, it was one of my blessings, It''s not something just anyone can have." "Great, then can I do something about this?" Before releasing the hero from his guide work, Rusty pulled out a knife. It was the same one that he had made as his first creation. The hero glanced at the blade and instantly could tell that something was off. "It looks to be chipped in a few areas." Rusty nodded as this was the crux of his problem, his weapons were deteriorating. "I knew you''d be able to tell!" "Sure, so what did you want to know about it?" "I was wondering if there is a way to sharpen it again, I''m not able to make a grinding wheel nor can I make whetstones¡­" The bronze weaponry and tools weren''t the strongest and all of them were slowly dulling. It was the same with his sword and even shield which already had a few dents. While he could make new ones with bronze, it felt like a waste of resources. "I''m not sure if I can help you with that, without a proper smithy and tools, it will be impossible to repair those weapons. Eventually, they will break." "Is there really no way? Even when they break¡­ shouldn''t I be able to melt them back into bronze?" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty had become knowledgeable about the crafting process. In theory, he should be able to melt some of the bronze items he created to make new bronze ingots from them. Even if he had a large quantity of them now, this could always change. "Sure, but you''ll need access to the smelter inside of the Soul Forge but I don''t think you can enter it at this time¡­ at least not yet?" The hero paused as if there was a possibility of this changing and Rusty caught on to that. "Yet? Does that mean that I will be able to?" "Perhaps¡­ I''m not sure. This Soul Forge is different, it''s much larger than the one I had¡­ but the possibility is there¡­" "So you''re telling me, that there is a chance?" "Maybe, if you evolve further and have enough mana." It all started making sense. Rusty started assuming that just like the Call Guide skill, one that allows him entrance to the Soul Forge could exist. Maybe if he became stronger, eventually the path would become open and he would be able to restore his deteriorating gear at a later date. "Thank you, Hero." "Good, can I go now?" "Sure¡­ but are you feeling fine? You sound¡­ what''s the word¡­ sad?" "Sad? I''m not sad¡­ just having a hard time processing this situation¡­" "Processing?" "It means to stomach something¡­ I guess you don''t have one¡­ It means to accept an unpleasant occurrence or feeling." "Oh, do you want to talk about it?" The hero orb didn''t know how to respond but just gave out a sigh. "I''ve fallen so low that a monster is feeling bad for me¡­ No, it''s fine Rusty, I just need some time alone." "Fine, you can leave then, I''ll call you when I need some advice later!" "Thanks." The orb of light replied and soon after the skill calling it here had ended. With the hero''s departure, Rusty turned his attention back to the task at hand. Gleam had returned from her exploration, without finding anything of interest. It didn''t seem that this place had any ore deposits or crystals they could use. Gathering the monster materials turned out to be relatively straightforward. Rusty simply needed to disassemble the monster by cutting it apart, and then, by spending SP, he could transfer the materials directly into his warehouse. The cost varied depending on the size of the object he wished to collect. Additionally, he could bundle certain parts together, such as the centipede legs, taking three at a time for just one SP. Rusty disassembled the monster with the use of his bronze knife and sword. Slicing through the tough chitinous exoskeleton presented a challenge, but it offered an opportunity to learn something new. As he dissected the creature, he stumbled upon the damaged poison gland with its contents spilling out. Fortunately, his metallic form rendered him immune to such toxins. Meanwhile, Gleam who was ever eager to assist, utilized her now enhanced mandibles to gnaw off the monster''s legs, which Rusty then deposited into his inventory for later use. After they harvested enough materials and his SP was drained, he found himself covered in various monster liquids. Gleam, who had a sense of smell Rusty lacked, kept her distance, which saddened him slightly. Soon, the two companions ventured outside of the cave system and made their way back to the main watering hole. The once bustling place was now eerily deserted, with three species eradicated in Rusty''s pursuit for strength. Only the largest of them remained and he wondered if their leader would pose a bigger threat than the trio he already defeated. "!!!" "Fine, I''ll clean myself off!" Rusty found himself getting pressured into taking a bath. During their walk back home Gleam was insistent on gnashing her mandibles in disapproval. Fortunately, since the watering hole was no longer used by anyone, he could easily submerge himself to cleanse his armor of all the lingering monster residue. Only after Gleam approved did he leave the watering hole and soon both of them would go after their last target. Once that was done with, Rusty intended to set his metallic sights onto other things and perhaps soon, he could emerge back into the dungeon he fell from¡­ Chapter 33 – One To Go. "These guys are tough¡­"An angry suit of armor gazed grimly at his chipped blade. Before him stood a large monster, its thick chitinous armor proving an annoying barrier. Even when his sword was at its sharpest, it failed to slash or pierce the creature, leaving only shallow wounds instead. While it was conceivable to breach the beast''s defenses eventually, it would undoubtedly come at the cost of the blade''s integrity. "The only real way to do it with this sword¡­ is to go for the gaps!" Yet, there existed a method to effectively wield his sword against the creature. There were distinct gaps in this natural armor between the monster insect limbs. Through his short life, he had learned a crucial lesson: every adversary possessed a vulnerability, a weak point waiting to be exploited. Even his own sturdy form would crumble instantly if someone targeted the core concealed within his helmet. "Gleam, distract the other one while I take care of this bigger one!" " (£Þ£ö£Þ) " The white ant scuttled towards the ceiling and produced a light show. Another beetle looked up to it but was unable to do anything to the faraway foe. While it was distracted, Rusty was able to focus on his target. The beetle he was facing was indeed large and sturdy, but it did have one weakness, it was rather slow. As the monstrous creature lunged forward with its razor-sharp mandibles, Rusty quickly sidestepped the attack. With precision honed through previous battles, he activated the Power Thrust skill and drove his blade into the vulnerable gap in the creature''s armor, drawing spurts of crimson blood. The monster recoiled in agony and attempted to pivot and retaliate, but Rusty''s agility was far above it. He remained within the creature''s blind spot by circling to the other side and relentlessly jabbed at it, each strike calculated and precise. T The beetle, now weakened and disoriented, thrashed about wildly, unable to discern Rusty''s movements. Gleam, observing from above, had cast the Dancing Lights spell. At the moment, she was only able to produce two, but this was enough. Each one danced around a beetle''s head, confusing it with a dazzling display of flickering lights. The monster''s other weakness showed: even though the light didn''t hurt them, a too bright environment caused momentary blindness. His opponent stumbled, giving Rusty the opening he needed to deliver the finishing blow. With a final, decisive thrust, Rusty plunged his sword deep into the creature''s open mouth. The beetle let out a deafening screech of agony before collapsing to the ground, twitching feebly as its life faded away. One was down and the other was quickly dispatched by the monster duo as well. As the battle concluded, Rusty and Gleam stood victorious amidst the fallen monsters. Two beetles had been slain by them and it was not such a simple matter. They were sturdier than any other insect within this cave system and even though they were sluggish, the lack of space to maneuver made up for it. Rusty looked at his chipped blade while Gleam, on the other hand, performed her happy dance. Her level had risen again and she was now close to advancing further. " \\(£Þ?£Þ)/ " "I''m happy for you but¡­ I can''t keep replacing my weapons." While he had gathered many materials they would not last forever. His current skills only allowed him to competently use swords and bows, which were not very proficient against these foes. His sword would eventually chip and the arrows would just bounce off the hard upper shell. Even tipping the monsters around didn''t help as they were armored on both sides. Only jabbing the weak spots was an option and other kinds of weapons were better for such actions. "Hm¡­ if I remember correctly, then a spear would be better for this type of monster, or perhaps something that can puncture the shell in one go¡­" While inside of the Soul Forge, he had crafted weapons like spears and axes. The issue with swords lay in the surface area they covered while slashing. Upon striking a monster, the force would disperse along the entire blade''s side. Thus, it would often chip when unable to cleanly slash through in one stroke. Swords proved effective against softer-bodied monsters like slugs but faltered against armored opponents. Rusty, being a living armor, understood this well, as his body was highly resistant to slashing damage. To outright pierce through such an armor he would need something like an axe that was heavy and had a smaller bladed area. Concentrating the force in a smaller region made it much easier to pierce through. Then there were blunt weapons like maces, whose greater weight could soften the outer shell and cause internal damage through blunt force. Rusty understood this, but he couldn''t easily change his approach as he lacked proficiency in any of those weapons. "Once I''m out of here, I should try absorbing more weapon-related skills¡­" While the Demon King had told him not to get too many skills and focus on one thing, he thought otherwise. It appeared that there were far too many varied opponents in this world, and to defeat them all, it was better if he could exploit their weaknesses. With easy access to a myriad of weapons that he could customize, Rusty believed in versatility as a key to victory. "I should get a polearm¡­" There was one weapon type that he had heard of and wished to learn: the multipurpose polearm. This versatile weapon could encompass the functionalities of spears, axes, and even war hammers. The combinations seemed boundless, and Rusty couldn''t wait to give it a try. However, first, he needed to deal with the beetle monsters and find his way out of this area. He could only absorb skills from humanoid monsters that he could fit his helmet over and there were none of them here. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Three down, one left to go¡­ I wonder if it will be stronger than the other ones¡­" The creatures he was fighting now were at the apex of F-rank and it showed. Even he who was an E-rank could see himself getting overwhelmed by too many of them. If a few rammed him against a wall, even his armored body would bend. "Let''s go, Gleam!" " ( ????? )? " Rusty and Gleam pressed forward with a sense of purpose, driven to grow stronger and embark on new adventures. They were aware that their final opponent, the leader of the beetle monsters, awaited them somewhere ahead, and they couldn''t wait to face them in battle. The passages here were wider than usual, with fewer monsters occupying them. While these lesser foes posed little threat, the powerful adversary at the end could potentially surpass even Rusty''s strength. However, fear was not what he felt and instead, he was filled with excitement. Testing his abilities against something that could fight back was far more interesting than defeating weaker foes. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. With each step, Rusty and Gleam drew closer to their final confrontation. Along the way, they continued to face off against some of the beetle monsters. Just like before, they were slayed by his sword which continued to deteriorate. However, with time a strange occurrence filled the cavern, the attacks just stopped and it seemed that these insects had retreated. "Hm? Are they running away? That''s odd, could they be planning something?" " ©´(£þ¥Ø£þ)©° " "You think they are just scared? Perhaps but it would be better if we are careful, the other types never stopped coming¡­" Gleam didn''t seem perturbed by the way the insects were acting but Rusty knew better. His small friend hadn''t tasted defeat yet and hadn''t been around for long either. It was understandable that she thought nothing could stop their advancement. Rusty, on the other hand, had already tasted defeat on many occasions. He knew it was better not to underestimate an opponent and that, just like him, other creatures could potentially be capable of setting traps. "Hold on, Gleam, something isn''t right¡­" Eventually, both of them arrived at a spacious tunnel leading into a large cavern. Strange noises emanated from within, which Rusty identified as potential opponents. While he lacked tracking skills, there were obvious tracks on the rocky ground, larger than those of regular beetles. It was probable that inside lurked the final boss of this underground area, and he wasn''t alone. "Hm¡­ this could be troublesome, it would be better if I didn''t have to face multiple ones at the same time¡­" " ! (????? )? " "You want to help and lure them out, Gleam? Are you sure? It could be dangerous¡­" " ?( ?? ? ?? )? " Gleam bounced around as she was trying to show how much she had grown. Her level was already nine and probably after this area was cleared it would reach the maximum. Rusty couldn''t deny Gleam''s enthusiasm, nor could he ignore her eagerness to aid him in battle. Despite his concerns for her safety, he knew that they needed to face this final challenge together. "Alright, Gleam, let''s do this. Just be careful and don''t take any unnecessary risks." Rusty glanced around, his metal head steaming as he formulated a strategy to keep his companion safe. Soon, he had devised a plan and quickly disclosed it to Gleam. "Got it?" " (????? )? " "Good, then go!" With a confident chirp, Gleam scuttled ahead into the cavern, her tiny form disappearing into the darkness. Rusty didn''t follow after but instead stuck closely to the darkness where his form wouldn''t be spotted. It was obvious that multiple insects were waiting inside the cavern, and if they saw him, the plan of luring them out would fail. Soon, he could see lights emanating from the cavern, and in no time, Gleam came running out with a large entourage behind her. Rusty remained hidden and just as he expected, the monsters ignored his presence. He had learned that his living armor form was quite difficult to discover if he didn''t move. It appeared to other creatures like any other inanimate object made from bronze and only if something approached him or he moved did they realize that he was a living being. Taking advantage of this, Rusty waited until all the monsters ran past him before springing into action and darting into the cavern. There, just as he expected, he saw the beetle leader, who was more than twice the size of its kin. Classification: Lesser Giant Rhinoceros Beetle L3 [ E ] Type: Insectoid There it was, the leader of the beetles. The Lesser Giant Rhinoceros Beetle loomed menacingly in the center of the cavern, its massive horn gleaming in the dim light. Its thick exoskeleton was marked with scars and scratches, evidence of countless battles it had won. Rusty looked at his foe''s classification, and his metallic heart sank. It was a full E-rank monster, not one with a minus like him. The attribute advantage was fully on its side. However, it was too late to back off now. Gleam had successfully lured away the other insects. There was no telling how much time he had before they realized the trick and returned. Before that could happen he needed to defeat this strong foe and with the help of his tactics, he hoped to just do so. While his enemy was seemingly stronger, it had one flaw that he could exploit. "Here I am, what are you waiting for?" Rusty smacked his bronze shield with the side of his blade that he had not yet restored. The moment the sounds echoed within the cavern, the monster beetle let out a low, guttural growl, its massive mandibles clacking together menacingly. It charged forward with surprising speed for its size, its horn lowered to impale Rusty on its sharp tip. However, Rusty was prepared. As the beetle closed the distance between them, he sidestepped at the last moment and narrowly avoided the deadly charge. With the beetle momentarily off-balance, Rusty seized the opportunity to strike. He lunged forward, his sword glinting in the dim light as he aimed for the joints in the beetle''s exoskeleton. His strike was precise and calculated and aimed at the same weak point he had identified during his battles. However, although his sword tip managed to connect with the exact spot he was aiming for, it was unable to pierce it. "It''s hard¡­" His blade, which he expected to at least pierce into the joint to draw blood, bent after sinking in no more than a centimeter. He had used all of his might, causing the blade to bend and eventually snap in half. Quickly, he retreated a few steps and activated his system window. There, he accessed his stash tab to swiftly switch in another sword that he had previously prepared for this occasion. "This might be a battle of attrition¡­ I wonder what will give in faster, my blades or your armor!" Rusty brandished his new sword and the battle resumed. The monster wasn''t too intelligent and had a simple attack pattern, yet its brute strength and durability made it a powerful opponent. Rusty danced around the cavern, dodging the beetle''s relentless attacks and striking back whenever he saw an opening. It was a true battle of attrition as he continuously struck the same spot as before. As the battle raged on, his new blade began to show signs of wear and tear. The beetle''s tough exoskeleton proved to be a tough barrier, and even with his skills and tactics, Rusty struggled to inflict any significant damage. However, he refused to give up. With each strike, he chipped away at the beetle''s defenses, slowly but surely wearing it down. The cavern echoed with the clashing of metal against chitin as Rusty and the Giant Rhinoceros Beetle engaged in their fierce duel. During the exchange, more blades were lost and chipped than he expected. However, just as he was contemplating a tactical retreat the joint finally gave in. He was able to plunge quite a length of his blade into the monster''s body and finally, it was time to end this. "Elemental, Discharge!" Rusty exclaimed his attack''s name inside his mind as his blade turned into a haze of white light. Just as before, he aimed to inject his attack into the monster''s body and make it explode from the inside. However, while the light spread, the monster didn''t seem to be stopping. It turned its large head and smacked Rusty away with the help of its horn. His metallic body crashed into the cavern wall and dented upon impact. His helmet rattled and he could feel the vibrations flowing into his monster core which was slightly damaged in the process. The beetle, now free from his attack, turned its attention back to him and charged forth once more. He was momentarily stunned by the crack produced on his monster core. This was not something he had prepared himself for and it seemed that he would be impaled on the monster''s horn. Fortunately, he was not alone as a blue bolt of energy appeared from the side and connected with the monster''s side. Gleam, who had led away the other monsters, had returned from within the tunnel and climbed up the wall. From there, she released her most powerful spell, which left her a bit dizzy. While not inflicting much damage, it gave Rusty enough time to gather his strength. He dodged to the side as the monster plunged its head into the cave wall and became stuck. "If light isn''t enough¡­ then how about darkness!" His blade remained lodged inside of the monster''s joint and he just needed to grab it again for another elemental discharge. Light was his usual choice as it had proven deadly against these creatures, but darkness was also in his repertoire. Without much thought, he activated his skill, mixing it with the residual light from the previous skill activation. "Huh?" The dark haze mixed with the residual light and a chaotic reaction took place. A massive elemental explosion erupted from within the beetle''s body, engulfing it in a swirling vortex of energy. Rusty attempted to shield himself from the chaos, but his body was engulfed in the twilight that ensued. The entire cavern shook from the eruption of magical energies, causing even the ceiling to collapse¡­ Chapter 34 – Gleam To The Rescue. A bewildered ant skittered about while charging into a cloud of dust. A massive explosion just rocketed the entire place with her companion within. Amidst the debris and swirling dust, it was hard to see what had happened. However, after a moment of chaos, the dust settled, revealing nothing resembling bronze armor. Where a large beetle monster once stood, there was now nothing more than a gaping hole filled with debris. It seemed as if the two monsters that had clashed had been evaporated by the strange twilight that ensued." ( ?¡ã?¡ã) " Panic struck Gleam as she searched through the rubble, desperately calling out for her companion. Rusty was nowhere to be found amidst the wreckage. She scuttled around frantically, her tiny form darting between rocks and debris, hoping to find any sign of him. As she searched a strange feeling started to sink in of the possibility that her companion could have died. While their adventure had not been long, he was the only thing that she knew within this strange world and fear gripped her insect heart. But just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a faint glimmer caught her eye. Further away from the blast zone, among the rubble, she spotted a piece of metal sticking out. It resembled the bronze that Rusty was composed of, so she hurried over to investigate. There, partially buried beneath a pile of rocks, lay Rusty''s battered and dented helmet. Gleam''s heart skipped a beat as she carefully unearthed it, revealing the familiar bronze surface beneath. She poked the hamlet with her antennae while still panicking as she desperately tried to wake her companion. " (¨®©n¨°?) " Gleam gently prodded the helmet, hoping for any signs of life from her bronze friend. Rusty was not a creature made of flesh and bone, but there were some indications that he was still alive. His monster core was still intact but cracked in a few places. Then, thanks to her mana sense, she was able to feel a faint amount of magical energy emanating from the helmet, not something a lifeless object would possess. After making this realization she felt relieved and quickly began to carefully dig Rusty out from beneath the rubble. It was not an easy task for the small white ant, but with unwavering stubbornness, she started yanking the larger rocks to clear the way. Luckily, there wasn''t much to dig through, and eventually, she was able to free his metallic head from under the rocks. However, this was not the end of their troubles as some trouble lurked close by. " (O_O)! " While the beetle Rusty had faced off against had been defeated, they had not cleared out the entirety of their foes. Many of the lesser monsters of the same type still remained and had finally decided to return to the main cavern where the explosion occurred. They instantly noticed the white ant and the metallic helmet with it. Instantly, they began to advance, menacingly clacking their mandibles. Gleam realized the danger instantly and quickly started lifting the bronze helmet; she needed to escape. With all her strength, she hoisted it onto her back and tried balancing it with her limbs. This was not an easy feat but somehow she managed to balance it. Soon after she scurried away as fast as her small limbs could carry her. The monsters could sense that their prey was escaping and gave chase. Their lumbering forms crashed through the rubble as they pursued Gleam and the helmet she was holding. Despite her size, Gleam was surprisingly nimble and darted between rocks and debris with surprising agility. She led the pursuing monsters on a frantic chase through the cavern while her monster heart pounded with conviction. She did not look back but the clattering of mandibles and the thudding of heavy insect legs was right behind her. It urged her to run even faster but things weren''t looking good. As she raced through the darkness the sounds continued to pick up. It was painfully obvious that the large beetles were starting to catch up. Normally, she was able to outrun them or just climb up to the ceiling to avoid their attacks. The problem was Rusty''s helmet; it slowed her down tremendously, and it was clear that she wouldn''t make it back to their lair at this pace. She started looking around for any potential areas she could escape to. Luck seemed to be on her side as Gleam spotted a small crevice in the cavern wall up ahead. Without hesitation, she darted towards it, hoping that it would provide a means of escape. The pursuing monsters were gaining on her, and this seemed like the only path to safety. However, just as she was about to sprint towards the narrow opening, a large beetle appeared from a different side passage to block her way. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) " With no other options available, Gleam skidded to a halt, her antennae twitching nervously as she sized up the new threat. The massive beetle, larger than any she had encountered before, loomed menacingly in front of her, its sharp mandibles clicking together ominously. Gleam knew that she couldn''t outrun this creature, nor could she hope to defeat it in direct combat. But she refused to give up. There was still some hope left, and she charged forward. Perhaps she would be unable to reach the crevice, but there were other tunnels nearby. If she could slip past them, her escape could continue until she found a safe spot to hide. Thus, Gleam dashed towards the massive beetle, hoping to evade its snapping mandibles. However, to her shock, the helmet she was trying to protect was struck and flew up into the air, right in the direction of the pursuing group of beetle monsters. " (¨®©n¨°) !" She could do nothing but watch as her friend flew in the direction of another monster''s mouth, which was opening. The trajectory was set, and there was nothing she could do about it. However, while in mid-air, something strange happened. There was a reaction within the helmet, and something emerged from it. Before the monster could devour it, a metallic hand shot out, delivering a smack to its face instead. The hit was enough to force the monster to retreat and the transforming helmet fell to the side. Gleam wasn''t sure how but her friend was restoring his metallic body and more of it began to emerge before her eyes. Things were happening too fast for her to comprehend, but she could sense a surge of magical energy emanating from Rusty. The bronze armor began to reshape and reform itself, pieces of metal knit themselves by some unseen force. The transformation was quick but not quick enough. The monster beetles weren''t willing to wait for their enemy to restore himself and attempted to halt this process. She knew what needed to be done and quickly let forth a loud screech to get everyone''s attention. The piercing screech echoed through the cavern, drawing the attention of both friend and foe alike. The beetles instantly disregarded the strange piece of armor that landed nearby and instead lunged at the white ant. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. As the monsters closed in on her, Gleam remained defiant. She danced and dodged around their attacks, her movements swift and graceful. Despite their size and strength, the beetles struggled to keep up with her agility. While she was capable of casting spells, they proved ineffective in a direct confrontation like this one. Her mind needed to stay focused on gathering mana, an impossible task during such a frantic battle. Gleam displayed a valiant effort to protect her companion, but she was nearing the end of her endurance. Running through the caverns had depleted most of her stamina. There was no way for her to continue dodging and weaving around these beetles indefinitely, and inevitably, they closed in on her. The largest one charged forward in a blind rage, its mandibles spread wide and aimed directly at her head. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Things looked bleak for the small white ant that had run out of stamina points. Once depleted, she found herself unable to move. The large adversaries weren''t stopping and she would surely get chomped by their sharp mandibles. But just as the monstrous beetle was about to deliver the final blow, someone appeared to intercept it. It was Rusty, his body now restored and grabbing onto the monster as it attempted to charge forward. There was something different about him, his body exuded a strange gray flash of light before his body seemingly sunk into the ground. Gleam was aware of her companion''s fighting style and this was not something that he usually did. Despite appearing sturdy on the outside, he lacked mass within his hollow body. Ordinarily, the sheer bulk of these creatures would knock him back, yet somehow he resisted it. The sight before her was rather vivid: the monster had been halted by his sheer strength, and now the beetle was being lifted into the air. The beetle struggled against Rusty''s grasp, its heavy form thrashing wildly as it attempted to break free. However, Rusty grip was firm and Gleam could see the chitinous insect armor being dented by those metallic fingers. Then with a sudden flipping motion, the monster was hurled into the air and landed on its back. One of its companions rushed to aid the struggling beetle, charging just like before. Its mouth opened wide, but before it could close its mandibles, they were seized by the metallic armor. Just as before, the insect struggled, attempting to use its body weight to push forward, only to have its chompers ripped straight off. Blood gushed everywhere as the monster retreated, only to be met with a metallic fist to its face. There didn''t seem to be a need for any finesse this time as Gleam watched Rusty tear through the beetles with sheer strength and violence. Even when they attempted to ram him into the walls, he remained in place, resembling some type of giant, immovable boulder. His newly created body ended up with dents and scratches, but this couldn''t hinder him. Those metallic fists continued to connect with the monster''s heads, and some were even torn off. " (O_O) " Gleam couldn''t help being impressed by Rusty''s display of power. Monsters that she couldn''t handle by herself had been torn to shreds before her eyes. Within this admiration was also a hint of jealousy and longing. Just like Rusty she wanted to get stronger and by the look of things, that moment was coming closer as her level had reached ten. ****** As the last of the monstrous beetles fell to the ground defeated, Rusty stood amidst the wreckage. His restored body had suffered some minor damage but it didn''t matter, it was all over now. He looked at the small companion ant that had saved him and could only feel gratitude. "Gleam, you saved me¡­ thank you." " (?? ? ??) " Gleam responded with her usual happy dance, though slightly more sluggish than before. Rusty could tell that his little friend had been through a lot, and he noticed the damage to her body as well. Her white body was filled with scratches and covered in the blood of the other monsters. "Let us head back for now, we will take care of the rest after we have rested. How about you rest up for now?" While he didn''t get tired, Gleam certainly did and he knew that it was better for her to restore her lost health first. The boss beetle had been defeated so there was no point rushing things. Thus, he leaned down to pick Gleam up and placed her on his metal shoulder. Just as she had carried him through here when he was only a helmet, he was now ready to return the favor. "Oh?" Shortly after picking her up, Rusty felt Gleam relaxing into sleep. It became clear that she was truly exhausted and had been holding it in before. While returning to their lair Rusty attempted to recall what led to his body becoming destroyed. For some reason that he didn''t fully grasp, his skill went berserk and blew him up along with the rhinoceros beetle. Only thanks to some quick thinking was he able to not die. Rusty noticed something strange happening with the light and dark elements. Before chaos ensued, he managed to take off his head and threw it into the distance. While his body was engulfed in the blast, his core and helmet miraculously survived. For a moment he had been knocked unconscious, probably due to his monster core suffering some damage. Not long after he woke up on top of Gleam''s back who was running away from their enemies. From there, he accessed his inventory screen and quickly used up six bronze ingots to restore his body. One for each limb and two for his chest area were needed for a full recovery. Normally, he would have also summoned a sword to aid him against the large beetles, but a new skill had been granted to him that leveled the playing field. Weight Control Active Skill Grants the ability to control one''s weight. Thanks to this skill, he was able to momentarily alleviate one of his biggest weaknesses: his lack of mass. Once he was just as heavy as the monster beetles, they were rather easy to dispatch. His stats surpassed theirs, and tearing out their body parts wasn''t that difficult. The only real downside to the skill was that after an initial expenditure of almost half his mana pool, it continued to use up his MP. "It seems that the best skills come at a price¡­ " He wasn''t the only one who had achieved a new breakthrough. Gleam had also reached her highest level and gained a new skill. She had used it during the fight to get the attention of the beetle monsters, producing a loud, audible screech. Startling Howl Active Skill Emit a piercing sound that can startle and disorient targets. It was a nice addition to Gleam''s arsenal as she didn''t have many instantaneous skills but only spells. This skill didn''t startle the monsters for long but it gave him some time to reform himself. His head was now filled with ideas on how to incorporate their new skills into their combat strategies. However, his deliberation was interrupted as he remembered that Gleam was now level ten. "Oh, I wonder if Gleam can turn into something even more powerful!" His friend had just recently turned into an F-rank monster but it was already time for her to evolve further. As Rusty pondered Gleam''s potential evolution, he realized that they needed a safe place to rest and recuperate before any further developments could occur. With Gleam fast asleep on his shoulder, he continued to make his way back to their joint lair. The journey back was thankfully uneventful as the corridors once filled with dangerous insects were now devoid of any life. He had successfully cleared out the area of all adversaries and it was now time to move on¡­ Chapter 35 – Sleepy Ant. "We are back and it''s all thanks to you Gleam!"" (?? ? ??) " Rusty and Gleam returned triumphant to their crystal cave lair, marking the culmination of their domination of the underground cave system and the defeat of the last major threat to Rusty''s existence. The battle had been intense, with the beetle proving to be their strongest opponent yet. However, it ultimately succumbed to the combined might of the unique duo: living armor and small ant. As Gleam performed her happy dance, Rusty couldn''t help but notice something amiss. Her enthusiasm seemed subdued, and it was obvious why. Gleam had pushed her small body to its limits, bearing visible scratches and wounds. Unlike Rusty, who could move through magic, Gleam was a flesh-and-blood being, susceptible to pain, exhaustion, and damage. While she could heal herself over time, it would take a while for her HP to fully regenerate. It was something alien to Rusty, who could live as just only a helmet. "You don''t have much HP to begin with¡­" " ( ¨C ? ¨C ) " "You think that if you get some sleep, you''ll be fine? Does it work like that?" He wasn''t sure how other creatures regained their hit points but Gleam assured him that she would be fine after some rest. Rusty nodded at her claims and saw her move to a patch of glowing moss within their lair. She circled around it a few times before curling up and drifting off to sleep - a phenomenon unfamiliar to Rusty. He was a being that required no rest himself which left him with ample time for contemplation. While looking at his partner in crime, he took some time to check out her stats. After defeating so many monsters her level was already at maximum again. Rusty felt slightly jealous that Gleam was progressing so much faster than him but also knew that eventually, this pace would start to slow down. It seemed that along with each evolution, it became harder and harder to level up. Name: Gleam Classification: Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant [ F- ] L10 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 7/17 Magic Points [MP] 17/27 Stamina Points [SP] 16/19 Strength 13 [ F - ] Agility 20 [ F - ] Dexterity 10 [ F - ] Constitution 12 [ F - ] Intelligence 21 [ F - ] Wisdom 22 [ F - ] Willpower 17 [ F - ] Durability F - "I wonder what she can evolve into now. I didn''t have the time to look at the options." Lesser Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] A direct evolution of the rare Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant. This monster further focuses on magical attacks while retaining a small body. Lesser Myrm Ant Queen [ Insectoid ] A lesser Queen of the Myrm Ant species, once fully grown becomes immobile to produce their offspring. Lesser Horned Myrm Ant Soldier [ Insectoid ] A larger variant of the Lesser Myrm Ant Soldier. Its body isn''t much larger but the horn it receives can be used as a mighty weapon. Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] A unique evolution of the Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant. This monster further focuses on magical attacks while retaining a small body covered in shining silver metal. With more choices available than before, Rusty initially focused on the first option. However, his attention was soon drawn to the appearance of the fourth one. After recalling his knowledge from the soul forge, Rusty understood that silver was also a metal. While it was not superior to his bronze body it was still probably more robust than an insectoid armor. For Gleam, it could potentially enhance her durability while retaining all the bonuses of the normal Lesser Magical Gleaming Ant variant and the spellcasting abilities that came with it. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "This looks like the better option but¡­" Rusty looked at Gleam who was sleeping tightly. He was probably able to just select the option right now and let her transform into the next evolutionary stage but that didn''t feel right. As a monster, he knew that evolutions were important and he wanted to make sure Gleam had a say in the matter. After all, it was her life and her body that would be undergoing the transformation. "Gleam," Rusty gently called out to her from afar, the mechanics behind the thing called sleeping not really something he was familiar with. The ant didn''t react and even after a poke nothing seemed to change. "Hm¡­ does the status say anything?" After consulting the status screen, Rusty noticed something next to Gleam''s name. It resembled the status effects he had seen on some of his enemies when they were poisoned. However, instead of displaying a poisoned status, it simply read '' Hibernating sleep'' with an additional timer next to it. There were no timers on the enemy screens but this could have been just due to his identification skill not being high enough. Perhaps due to the bonding contract, he could see all of Gleam''s negative and positive status effects. "This hibernating sleep seems different from regular sleep. Perhaps it''s because she lost more than half of her HP" He wasn''t sure but it made some sense as he had never seen Gleam lose this much HP before. Probably once it was done, then all of her health and mana would be back to normal. This left him with some time on his hand before he could ask her for the next evolutionary option. "She should be safe here¡­ should I get rid of the remaining beetles? or just wait here?" The lair here was rather safe and he could see Gleam''s status screen even from a great distance. It was quite safe and since his arrival here none of the monsters dared to set foot in this place. The only potential threat were the humanoid adventurers which didn''t seem to have discovered this place yet. "It should be fine, her body is also really hard to spit with all these glowing crystals around!" He made the decision to engage in some self-leveling while his partner was out, considering that it was impossible to gain any further experience while already max leveled. With Gleam expected to remain asleep for another ten hours, Rusty took precautions to ensure her safety. He gathered several large boulders and strategically placed them around her sleeping spot, making it difficult for anyone to discover her slumber. Satisfied with the security of the area, he retrieved some bronze ingots he had previously made and was ready to finish the extermination. However, before leaving he stopped himself as there was one more thing he needed to do. "This place is great for using skills." Rusty found himself in a cave filled with mana crystals, providing him with ample resources to test his skills. With these crystals nearby, he could easily crush them to regain his MP whenever needed. After utilizing the weight control skill once after his revival, he was eager to further train in its use. This skill addressed one of his biggest weaknesses of being a hollow armor and not having much mass. However, this skill had a notable downside as it consumed a large amount of MP. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. First came an easy test of how long he could sustain the use of this skill before his mana reached a critical point. It required a lump sum of sixty MP to activate the skill, followed by a continuous drain of one point every two seconds. This left him with a skill that he could utilize for approximately two minutes before needing to cease, as further use would risk causing him to pass out from mana depletion. "Is there a way to increase my mana without an evolution? or will I have to rely on mana crystals¡­" Thanks to his stash tab, he could produce mana crystals that would allow him to prolong the skill further, but in a battle of attrition, it would eventually run out. He would need to strategically use this skill only at crucial moments or to catch his enemies off guard. One challenge he faced was the inability to spread out its use during combat. Canceling the skill would revert his weight back to normal, requiring another sixty MP to restart it. Therefore, it was more efficient to keep the skill activated, as it meant he would lose two minutes of it instantly. "Is there perhaps another way to use this skill, what if I try to focus on just one part instead of my whole body?" After a few uses, Rusty was quickly mastering his new skill. His experimentation with focusing the effect on a smaller area of his body proved successful. Upon activation, he could feel his right arm growing heavier. As the weight increased, maintaining balance and control over his movements became challenging. Eventually, he was even forced to the ground by the sheer weight, rendering this method of using the skill seemingly pointless. However, there was one silver lining: it did not consume the same amount of MP as before. "Hm¡­ I wonder¡­ could I use it like this?" Rusty performed one more test, swinging his sword forward. He activated the weight control skill just before his blade descended, and the added weight significantly increased the power behind the strike. However, it had one major downside: Rusty''s body was pulled forward with the strike, especially when he only increased the weight of his sword arm. This was a factor he needed to carefully account for in combat situations. "I bet if I activate power slash with it and maybe even elemental discharge, it could devastate even a well-armored foe!" This special combination attack had its merits when fighting an opponent that couldn''t move out of the way, or was rather sluggish. If timed correctly, it could probably devastate even the toughest of foes. However, it required precise timing and coordination, which might prove challenging in the heat of battle. Rusty made a mental note to practice this combination further to perfect its execution. After crushing another mana crystal to replenish his MP, Rusty continued with more tests. He experimented with different methods to increase his weight and discovered that if he focused the skill on his lower body, he wouldn''t lose his balance as much. He could envision himself bracing for impact with just his legs, but he remained uncertain if his upper body wouldn''t simply fly off into the distance during a genuine confrontation. "I can also throw it but¡­" At the end of his trials, Rusty even increased the weight of one of his gauntlets and attempted to throw it at the wall. While the weight persisted on his body parts even when they were further away, propelling them forward proved to be a challenge. Despite having the Limb Control skill, using it to propel his fist forward didn''t seem to be an option. Any attempts resulted in slow movement, followed by the limb flopping down onto the ground. Perhaps in the future, as the skill level grew, it might become an option, but for now, it served primarily to retrieve his limbs rather than to use them for attacking. After several hours of training, Rusty felt satisfied with his progress. It was now time to pay the other beetles a visit. While his primary objective was to defeat any survivors before Gleam woke up, he was also there on a scouting mission. With fewer monsters left to threaten him and his partner, it was time to seek out new challenges elsewhere. Rusty understood that to grow stronger, he needed a steady supply of monsters to fight. Without them, his journey toward greatness would be impossible. As Rusty made his way through the caverns, he encountered a few straggling beetle monsters that had managed to avoid the earlier confrontation. However, they were no match for his strength and skills. With calculated strikes he took care of them and once his weight control ability was activated, their main advantage was not useless. After defeating the remaining beetles, Rusty took his time dissecting their bodies. He recalled the Hero''s instructions and still believed that perhaps in the future, these monster parts would prove useful. However, despite thoroughly searching the beetle lair upon his return, he regretfully couldn''t find the monster core of his latest enemy. The crater he created was astonishing, leaving almost nothing of the rhinoceros beetle behind. However, a part of its longhorn remained embedded in the wall a bit further away, and Rusty quickly deposited it into his inventory. Despite encountering a few attacks on his way to the beetle lair, Rusty found that the remaining insectoids had gathered around the spot where their leader was defeated. Their numbers were considerably smaller compared to the ants and centipedes, allowing him to dispatch them quickly However, even after vanquishing a sizable group of them, Rusty noticed that his experience bar didn''t increase much. It became clear to him that fighting monsters of a lower rank was becoming increasingly pointless for his growth. "Is it time to face that spider, or could there be another way to get through these tunnels?" Rusty''s tracking skills weren''t the greatest, but he knew he just needed to retrace his steps to the previously ant-owned tunnels if he wished to reach the area with the shadowy spider. Finding that area wasn''t much of a problem now that no creatures remained. However, he wasn''t sure if he would be able to use that route. While Gleam could climb walls, his metallic fingers tended to slide off flat surfaces. Rusty pondered the idea of adding sharp claws to his palms, which might make it a possibility. Perhaps if he could return to the soul forge, then modifying his body would be another step in becoming stronger. "I wonder, if I can create weapons of various shapes and sizes, couldn''t I just make some replaceable gauntlets?" Rusty found himself pondering a thought that had recently popped into his bronze head. While he could potentially replace parts of his body that appeared in the forge for his evolution, was that truly the only option? What if he simply created replicas of his arms, legs, and torso and kept them in his armory? Perhaps he could then swap them out during times of need. This idea sparked a new avenue that he wished to explore later but for now he needed to focus on other things. "Well, I''ll only know once I''m back there again. For now, I should go back, Gleam should be waking up soon." Upon reaching their crystal cave lair, Rusty waited for Gleam to stir from her hibernating sleep. Her movements were slow and groggy at first, but soon she was fully awake and her eyes regained focus. He could see that all of her HP, MP, and SP had been refilled. As soon as their eyes met, Rusty raised his hand, and his gesture was reciprocated by Gleam with a raised forelimb. " \\ (£Þ ? £Þ) " "Great, you are up, Gleam! You have a decision to make now, what do you wish to become?" Rusty didn''t beat around the bush for too long as he was also quite interested in how his friend''s new form would end up looking. Gleam listened as Rusty presented her with the options for her evolution, her antennae twitching in curiosity. After considering each option carefully, she made her decision¡­ Chapter 36 – Angry Ant. "You''re so shiny gleam¡­ way more than me¡­"" ( ?? ? ?? ) " Rusty was a bit jealous after witnessing the new form of his companion. With a flash of light, Gleam''s transformation was complete. She emerged from the glow, her once pale white exoskeleton was now covered in shimmering silver metal. Her antennae sparkled with magical energy, and her eyes gleamed with newfound power. Gleam had decided to become a Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant and had just undergone the transformation. It was a rather quick change that only took no longer than a minute. Her body seemed like it was made from metal now but it was some type of biological armor that didn''t constrain her movements. Rusty couldn''t help but marvel at her shiny form that reflected the light from the crystals around them. Gleam danced around, her movements causing light to reflect off her new shiny exoskeleton. The gleaming light cast shimmering reflections across the walls of their crystal cave lair, producing a dazzling display that filled the space with an enchanting glow. Rusty watched with admiration as Gleam''s radiant presence illuminated their surroundings, feeling slightly jealous of the sheen she could produce but his body couldn''t. "The silver suits you well." Rusty exclaimed while noting that his partner ant still had a somewhat white appearance, with a silvery undertone. Once there was no light, she wouldn''t be this radiant. The other changes to her body weren''t that extensive, she didn''t really look different and her size didn''t increase either. After it was all done, he was able to glance through her status screen that had been enhanced. Name: Gleam Classification: Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ F ] L1 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 30/30 Magic Points [MP] 60/60 Stamina Points [SP] 39/39 Strength 24 [ F - ] Agility 42 [ F ] Dexterity 27 [ F - ] Constitution 25 [ F - ] Intelligence 44 [ F ] Wisdom 45 [ F ] Willpower 39 [ F ] Durability F Rusty observed that Gleam had only evolved into a regular F-rank monster, while he had advanced to an F-plus rank on his second evolution. However, Rusty recalled that he had been imbued with a strange force in the form of the Hero''s and Demon King''s energies, which resulted in his transformation into a Twilight variant. He wasn''t entirely certain what this meant, but it seemed plausible that Gleam might need to evolve one more time than him to reach E-rank. Gleam had acquired a few new skills, one of which concerned her new body. This skill not only increased her defenses but also seemed to enhance her mana. Rusty surmised that this explained why her MP was higher than his when he evolved into the corroded twilight armor form. But it could also be because of the higher Wisdom stat, which seemingly affected the MP count. Lesser Silverine Exoskeleton Passive Skill Increases the body''s defense and mana. Defense is dependent on durability. Mana Arrow Spell A simple spell that creates an arrow made up of mana. It is stronger than the mana bolt spell and has higher piercing power. That was about it for the upgrades and now with more mana and an even better attacking spell which Gleam was excited to use. Rusty was of the same mind, testing out new abilities outside of battle was the key to victory so he made a proposition. "Gleam, how about you try your new spell and other spells, and see how your new form can handle the loss of MP?" " \\( ?? ? ?? )/ " "Yeah, that''s the spirit! How about you aim it at that sturdy wall there?" With an excited nod, Gleam focused her magical energy, summoning forth a shimmering arrow of mana. The arrow took shape, crackling with magical power as it hovered in front of her. Rusty watched intently, curious to see the full extent of Gleam''s newfound spell. Already from the onset, this spell seemed to be more sizable than the other. The mana bolt spell was more similar in size to a crossbow bolt but also lacked a fully condensed form. It wasn''t fully straight and wavered slightly in the air. In contrast, the mana arrow shone with a steady brilliance, its form straight and true. With a flick of her antennae, Gleam launched the arrow toward the designated wall and the difference in penetrative power was obvious. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The mana arrow soared through the air, leaving behind a trail of sparkling energy as it raced toward its target. Upon impact, the arrow struck the wall with a resounding crack, embedding itself deeply into the stone. Rusty was impressed by the spell''s power and it was probably just as powerful as a power thrust attack from a spear. "That was amazing, Gleam! Your new spell seems really potent!" " (????? )? " "But¡­ it does take a while longer to cast than that mana bolt spell, how about we do a few more tests first?" " (? -?) " Gleam seemed a bit surprised by the change in Rusty''s demeanor but quickly agreed to some further tests. The ant just like the metal armor could recover their MP instantly from having a mana crystal crushed. Thus they could quickly figure out the advantages and disadvantages of the newly gained ability. Rusty and Gleam spent the next few hours experimenting with Gleam''s new spells and came to a few conclusions. The casting time of the previous attacking spell, mana bolt had decreased. While it had become more powerful and still utilized the same amount of MP as before, its cost was half that of the mana arrow spell. However, the damage output was also lowered to about half of the mana arrow spell. It appeared that the new spell was better suited for stronger foes and served as a finishing blow, while the old one could now serve as a more frequent ability, as she would no longer pass out after even using it several times. As they continued their experiments, Rusty noticed that Gleam''s physical attacks had also improved slightly. Her new exoskeleton seemed to enhance her durability and also sharpen her mandibles to an extent. She couldn''t match his bronze body that was true metal but she was probably just as robust as monsters primed for defense. It was clear that Gleam was following the path of a spellcaster, a role typically associated with being a glass cannon - potent in offense but fragile in defense. However, with her new silver body, she could likely withstand a few powerful hits before sustaining serious injury. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. " (????? )? " "What''s that? You want to test out your new spells on the remaining beetle monsters?" Their testing session was concluded and Gleam brought up the remaining monsters. There was one problem with this issue, Rusty had already dispatched the stragglers while she was in her hibernation sleep. "Well about that¡­ While you were sleeping, I kind of¡­ you know¡­" " ( ?? - ? ) " "Okay, I killed them all while you were asleep!" " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) ! " "I know but you were sleeping, there was nothing really to do and there weren''t that many of them left." " ( ?? ? ?? ) " "What? Do you think I did it to level up faster? That''s preposterous!'' " ( ?? - ?? ) " "Hey, stop looking at me like that, I was just bored, experience points had nothing to do with it¡­" Rusty wasn''t lying or telling the truth as he had accounted for getting more experience points for slaying monsters. Once Gleam wasn''t with him, he regained his old rates of gaining experience. Despite Rusty''s attempt to justify his actions, Gleam couldn''t help but give him a skeptical look. He tried to avoid her gaze but it didn''t seem that this issue could be fixed this easily. "Uh¡­ how about we ask the Demon King for some advice, now that the other insectoid monsters are gone, we will need to leave this place!" To get around this issue, Rusty decided to go with a strategic approach of changing the topic. With the help of his Guide, he hoped to make his ant companion forget about his stealing all of the experience for himself. Thus, he quickly activated the skill to summon the fallen Demon King who quickly appeared in the form of a pitch-black orb. "Well, if it isn''t my old friend Rusty and his little ant friend¡­ you got rid of me quite quickly last time, will you let me finish my sentence this time around?" The Demon King appeared in a seemingly grumpy mood. He seemed to be still mad about the treatment he received the last time he was summoned. However, before Rusty could respond, Gleam was the one to interrupt, quite interested in the appearance of the talking black sphere. " ( ¡ã o ¡ã ) " "Oh, that''s strange, I can understand what this little one is saying¡­ It must be the bonding contract, it seems to even affect me¡­" The Demon King paused for a moment but he seemed saddened for some reason. Luckily, Gleam had another being to interact with and his plan of changing the subject had been successful. "This confirms it, I''m nothing more than part of this armor, tied to its soul if even the bonding contract affects me in this way¡­ This complicates things." The demon was not hiding the fact that he wasn''t too fond of this situation. Previously he had already tried to escape and it didn''t look like he had given up on that idea just yet. This didn''t change the fact that Rusty was still in control and his demonic guide needed to answer all of his questions. "Demon King, we''ve managed to clear out the remaining insectoid monsters from this area, and now we''re faced with a decision. Should we continue exploring the cave system or look for a way out? and where would such a way be? I don''t think I''ll be able to climb the chasm I fell into and there are those strange spider creatures there too¡­" The black orb did something akin to a grumble before replying. "I''m not much of a Demon King anymore, we have known each other long enough, just call me Aburdon¡­ But Master Aburdon is also fine." "Oh? That''s fine with me, Aburdon then!" Rusty preferred calling people by their names as long titles just made things unnecessarily complicated. The Demon King pondered for a moment before responding, his dark energy swirling within his orb-like body. "Hm, it depends on what you seek, Rusty. It seems that you wish to gain more power by slaying other creatures, quite the monsterly aspirations you have there. Nevertheless, if you want some advice, then be wary of the dungeon you came from." "I should be wary of it? Well, those adventurers were strong but now I''m stronger and I also have Gleam with me!" " (????? )? " "I don''t mean the adventurers, dear Rusty, they would be the least of your worries¡­" "Oh, how so?" Rusty was a bit confused by the response. When he was in the dungeon, things were relatively safe. Even when he died several times, he was just restored by the dungeon heart that resided there. It was also probably the source of the voices that were ordering him what to do and the biggest downside would be if he became stuck there again. "I probably wouldn''t want to be limited to the first two floors either¡­ but shouldn''t I be able to go further down?" He was an E-rank monster and was previously limited to the first and second floor. It wouldn''t be strange if he could venture even further than last time and perhaps finally be able to use his skill absorption ability which had been dormant for a while now. "Oh, I don''t think you would be limited by any of those anymore, I''m not sure if the Dungeon Heart would even be able to affect you after evolving." "But isn''t that good?" "Depends on what you consider good¡­ How do you think the Dungeon will react to something it can no longer control?" "... oh¡­" While Rusty wasn''t even a year old, he was smart enough to put things together. Aburdon insinuated that this Dungeon Heart that had created him, would see him as a threat, perhaps even like another adventurer. "But that means that I''d have to fight both those adventurers and the monsters there?" "That''s a possibility but I''m not sure, you''re quite the anomaly so perhaps the Dungeon will still see you as an ally as you have been born there. You''ll just have to go and see." Aburdon''s words left Rusty with a sense of unease. The idea that the dungeon, which had been his home and source of security, might now see him as a threat was troubling. But on the other hand, he started looking at this situation from a different angle. "If there are more enemies¡­ won''t I just be able to level up faster?" "I guess so but¡­" "Oh! And the monsters inside of the Dungeon come back to life after they are defeated, doesn''t that mean that it''s an infinite leveling resource!?" " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) ! " "That''s right Gleam, we could level up forever and not worry about running out of enemies!" Gleam seemed to be on board with the unlimited leveling resource that a dungeon could provide and insisted that they get there as soon as they could. The Demon King started chuckling as if he wasn''t sure what to do with these two power-hungry monsters before him. "You two remind me of the demons I once commanded. Only the ones that showed some restraint managed to survive so heed my warning. If your connection to the Dungeon Core has indeed been severed, you will no longer be able to be revived. Once you are defeated, you probably won''t come back." Rusty has somewhat figured that this was already the case but it was better if this demon lord confirmed this information. The power of continuous revival sounded great but it wasn''t too great if his level was reset either. "I can''t have you vanishing just yet Rusty. You do know that there is a vast world outside this pit you spawned in, right?" "A vast world¡­" Rusty couldn''t hide the fact that he was interested in seeing it. The fragmented memories that he acquired from both Aburdon and the Hero offered him a couple of images. He wanted to eventually leave this place and witness the world outside with his own visor. Gleam was of the same mind as she danced around the moment the outside world had been mentioned. "Good, now you could try exploring more of these tunnels. You might not find a way out, but even if you don''t, there''s a way you could scale that chasm you came from." "There is? But how? I''m not good at climbing, I''ll probably just slide of and fall down¡­" Rusty had thought about scaling that chasm but he just didn''t see himself doing anything besides falling down. "Of course, you should never underestimate the wisdom of this Demon King Aburdon! I''ll even tell you how if you do something for me¡­" "Or you could just tell me?" "Ugh¡­" The ball of black started convulsing as if he was trying to resist the order. "Damn, fine! Have it your way!" Aburdon was unable to refuse the call and had to give in. With indignation he floated between the living suit of armor and the silvery ant before speaking. "The key is your little friend here and that strange metallic body of yours, it''s a lot simpler than you might think¡­" Chapter 37 – Time To Go Up. "Is there really no other way?"" (????? )? " "You promise not to drop me? I''m not really talking about that Gleam." A somewhat frustrated living armor gave out a sigh in a very human way before turning towards a white ball of light. Since receiving advice from the Demon King, some time had passed, and both Rusty and Gleam had been occupied. The plan for escaping this place was deemed somewhat dangerous and wasteful, prompting Rusty to explore the area in search of alternative options thoroughly. Ultimately, he even reached out to the Hero, hoping to hear an opposing viewpoint. "I''m not sure, depends if you are in a rush?" "Well¡­ there aren''t any monsters left here, it does feel like a waste of time to remain¡­ Right Gleam?" " ( `???¡ä) " "Yeah, it has gotten boring with no one to fight, you''re right." The two turned to the white ball of light, seeking advice on this predicament. It was evident they were eager to depart from this place. While Aburdon''s idea wasn''t without merit, it entailed abandoning his lair and the resources they had painstakingly gathered. There remained a substantial amount of mana crystals, copper ores, and various other valuable resources that would need to be left behind. For Rusty, who had invested considerable effort to reach this point, this was a sobering reality to confront. "I guess we could wait a bit more but how long do you think that could take?" Rusty turned to the orb of light for some guidance and the Hero responded quickly. "I''m not sure but there are two possibilities. Either those insectoid monsters gathered here when they were much smaller, like the ants you faced that were G-rank." "Would that change anything?" "Yes, they would be much smaller and able to travel through smaller tunnels. This is only a theory, but they could have fled from something like the spider monster you encountered and crawled through one of those openings in the walls you found." "That''s a possibility¡­" Rusty arrived here after falling into a large chasm and then had to run away from a strange creature there. He managed to land on a small ledge and then crawled inside of one of the tunnels created by the ants. Together with Gleam they had retraced his steps and arrived at that area but it wasn''t the only one, there were several other ways in that all led out into that great big hole. "What''s the second possibility?" "The second one, could be a now collapsed tunnel, I think you''ve seen a few of them while you were trying to find a way out already?" "Oh those, yes some of them looked unstable¡­" After receiving the idea from the Demon King, Rusty embarked on a search for an alternative escape route. He dedicated several days to exploring the tunnels and meticulously mapping out the area. With Gleam''s assistance, they also unearthed pockets of tin and copper, which they mined diligently. However, their efforts failed to uncover any viable escape routes that Rusty could fit through. If the second theory held true, it suggested that the monsters had traversed a larger tunnel that later collapsed, leaving them trapped in this area. The only apparent exit appeared to be the chasm infested with spiders. While the ants might have been capable of climbing back out, the shadowy arachnids would have swiftly dispatched them. "If this were true, then there is a possibility that you could eventually mine yourself out of here and it''s probably the safer way out of here. But, even when your body doesn''t tire you might have to mine for weeks, maybe months, or longer¡­" "Months sound long¡­" To someone who hadn''t even existed for a year, the prospect of mining for a month seemed daunting. Adding to the challenge was the issue of direction, with multiple seemingly collapsed tunnels complicating matters even further. They had no clue where to even begin, and without knowing the correct path, this endeavor could be futile. Even Gleam''s scouting through the smaller ant tunnels yielded no results, making this option less promising. "Yeah, it does sound long¡­ and we don''t even know which way to start mining¡­" " ( ?? - ?? ) " "You want to go with Aburdon''s suggestion? But it could get dangerous, without my body I won''t be able to help you with those spiders." " (????? )? " "I''m glad that you are confident in your abilities but let me think it through¡­" Rusty began contemplating as in the end, it was up to him to make the decision. He was given two options, one that seemed faster yet more dangerous and the second one that could take forever. There wasn''t a need for that much contemplation, as he knew that one choice seemed more promising for various reasons. "Hm¡­ I have decided!" "That was quick. I suppose you don''t need me anymore, but before I leave, could you tell me your choice?" "We will¡­ follow Aburdon''s plan!" "Hah¡­" The hero of light gave out a sigh as if he was disappointed with the answer and then quickly posed a question. "Is there something wrong with that choice?" "I''m not sure, why did you decide on it?" "Hm¡­" Rusty looked up at one of the glowing crystals and tried to think. While mining was safer, it would also be extremely boring. With no monsters around, there was no one to fight or to train their skills. "It wouldn''t be that exciting or fun¡­ I think. Is that a good reason?" He wasn''t sure if there was a good enough reason to put himself and Gleam in danger but for some reason, the faster route sounded more appealing to him. Even the ant started dancing around, taking his side. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "I see, it''s more exciting, I guess that''s a good enough reason." "Is something wrong? You sound ¡­ weird." Ever since he called the Hero here previously, he has been acting a bit strangely. When they were in the Soul Forge, he was way more eager to teach him the basics of smithing but now he sounded sad and without energy. The Demon King on the other hand, always talked with a lot more energy as if he had some underlying goal which the Hero lacked. "Weird? Well, this whole situation is bizarre. I suppose you reminded me of the past. There was someone I knew who also rushed into things¡­ Never caring what the future might bring¡­ " "Oh, there was? They sound like a fun person to be around!" The Hero chuckled softly, and if he had a face then a wistful smile would be crossing it. "I''m not sure about that, they were quite reckless and an idiot¡­ But, anyway¡­ I think this is fine right? You should probably conserve your mana for your great plan." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a nod, Rusty acknowledged the Hero''s words. Despite the strange shift in the Hero''s demeanor, he felt confident in their decision. Gleam, too, seemed eager to proceed with their chosen path. Their resolve was firm and they were almost ready to venture into the depths of the chasm. However, there were some things to prepare before their departure and there was one last issue he needed to discuss with the Hero. "Wait, before you go Hero, how about you tell me your name?" "My name?" "Yes, you''re the only one without one, I have one, Gleam has one and we even know that Aburdon is Aburdon, you''re the only one left without a real name." The Hero fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. When he spoke again, his voice carried a tinge of nostalgia. "My name¡­ Do you wish to know the first one or the second one¡­" "First and second? Someone can have two names?" "Well¡­ not really¡­ Just forget that I said anything, I guess here they called me Alexander." With the Hero''s revelation of his name, Rusty felt that for some reason their connection was deepened. "Alexander... It''s a great name." Rusty felt a mix of emotions. He was somewhat pleased, yet also a tad envious of the impressive names those around him possessed. The Demon King''s name exuded strength and power, while the Hero''s name evoked bravery and heroism. And then there was him, named after the mundane phenomenon of rusting. "I suppose it wasn''t bad. Take care of yourself Rusty and try doing what I''ve mentioned before, it might save you some of those precious resources you seem to love¡­" With those last words, the orb of light vanished and left the ant and the living armor glistering in the crystal light. "Now that the choice is made, we should start preparing, I refuse to waste all of these resources." " ( ¨C ? ¨C ) " "No, I''m not going to leave them. Instead, I''ll use them all up, not like we''ll be coming back here¡­ at least not for a while¡­" There was a strange hint of sadness when he thought about leaving this place. This was the area where he found Gleam and reached E-rank. However, his adventure needed to continue, and going up and back towards the dungeon was the fastest choice. He regretted leaving behind the ores he had mined and the ingots he had processed, but both his stash tab and warehouse had reached their limits. This left him with only one choice, and that was to use up as much bronze as he possibly could. "I''ll just reproduce all the weapons and make multiple copies until it''s all gone! I can stick a lot more into the warehouse" " ( ?_? ) '' Gleam wasn''t as thrilled as her bronze companion; this departure left her with little to occupy herself except watching him consume his SP. It was a lengthy process as waiting for it to recharge his SP was a must. Eventually, a large arsenal had been crafted and stored in his system for future use. Some raw ores remained, but at least half of his stash had now been depleted. With their preparations complete, Rusty stood before the entrance he squeezed himself in. On the other side awaited a small ledge, upon which Gleam would carry him to a new location. He patiently awaited her return from a scouting trip, occupying himself by scrutinizing his inventory screen. There, he readied himself for a unique maneuver that the Hero had mentioned. " ( ?? ? ?? ) " "Welcome back, Gleam. The cost is clear you say?" At first, Rusty harbored doubts about the plan because he deemed himself too large for Gleam to carry. At her current size, he would be able to fit her into his chest cavity. Yet, his uniqueness helped in this scenario. He was a living armor and his monster core was situated inside of his helmet. Aburdon''s strategy was straightforward: affix Rusty''s helmet onto Gleam''s back and have her transport him like a backpack up the chasm. The plan was relatively straightforward as Rusty could utilize bronze ingots to restore himself, provided he had six on hand. However, the main reason he hesitated to execute this plan was the necessity to expend a whole six of them. Fortunately, the Hero proposed an alternative, which he was eager to test out now. "First, the harness, how does it feel?" " (?? ? ??) " "It''s a little itchy but it''s fine? Good. " Fortunately, the backpack he fashioned within the Soul Forge came equipped with some straps that he could adapt for this purpose. Interestingly, it wasn''t always necessary to gather the exact resources for recreating items; for instance, monster tendons or fur could serve as substitutes for bow strings. Thanks to this, Rusty managed to affix his helmet to Gleam''s back which would allow her to focus on climbing. " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " "Don''t worry Gleam, we aren''t going to leave my body behind, look at this." To minimize resource wastage, Rusty had cleared out his stash tab, which now held no weapons. The hero proposed a clever idea: since Rusty''s body was essentially perceived as armor, he could will his body parts into the stash tab, leaving only his helmet behind, which he couldn''t move. This advantage hadn''t occurred to him before, and he was grateful for the suggestion. " ( ¡ã?¡ã ) " "Everything''s fine, Gleam. I''m just stowing away my body parts!" From the outside, it looked rather peculiar as his limbs began to vanish. Initially bathed in a grayish light, they gradually disappeared. Once all his parts were tucked into the stash tab, his body vanished as if it had never existed in the first place. The only thing that remained was his helmet which was secured to Gleam''s back. Gleam chirped excitedly, her antennae twitching with anticipation as she prepared to embark on their next adventure. "Alright Gleam, let''s do this! Up we go!" After squeezing through the opening they arrived at the ledge he descended to. That time he had been fleeing from a mysterious, shadowy spider, something Gleam would do well to avoid. Finally, Gleam began her ascent, her insectoid legs gripping the rocky surface of the chasm with ease. "You are doing great, Gleam! Keep it up!" " (????? )? " The climb was rather smooth as Gleam skittered up the steep wall. Despite the absence of light, her ant-like senses enabled her to navigate skillfully in the darkness. Everything seemed to be going fine and he even felt a gentle breeze against his helmet. The shadowy spiders remained hidden, and his guides had assured him that as long as they avoided touching their webs, they would not appear. However, the gentle breeze that was hitting his helmet began to intensify. It switched from a soft caress to a forceful gust, threatening to knock Gleam off balance. Her movements became more erratic and her antennae twitched with confusion. " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " "What''s wrong, Gleam? Is everything okay? Do you need to take a break?" Rusty couldn''t really see what was happening as he was just a helmet strapped to a silvery ant. Although he couldn''t see much, he sensed the increasing strength of the winds and noticed his small companion beginning to slow down. Gleam, being only an F-rank monster primarily suited for spellcasting, lacked the stamina typical of other creatures as her focus leaned towards mana instead. "If you''re getting tired, then look for a ledge, let''s follow the instructions!" There was nothing to worry about as they had come prepared. Aburdon had cautioned that if the climb proved too tedious, Gleam might exhaust her stamina. In such a situation, they were instructed to seek out a ledge where she could rest. Fortunately, luck favored them, and a small cavern appeared not far ahead and would provide a welcome respite from the strong winds. Gleam hastened towards it, her movements becoming increasingly sluggish with fatigue, but she persisted through the discomfort. " ( ¨C ? ¨C ) " "You did great, how about we rest a bit¡­ or perhaps could this be enough? I might be able to bring out my body here, Gleam could you make some light?" For some reason, even his gaze couldn''t pierce through the darkness here so some magic was needed. Gleam didn''t hesitate as burning mana didn''t affect her stamina recovery. Soon a tiny light appeared and that was when the two realized that they had probably made a mistake. Instead of an empty cavern, they were greeted by many sets of multiple eyes, which were now directly staring at them¡­ Chapter 38 – Escaping Up. Numerous eyes shone eerily in the dimly lit cavern, reflecting a faint magical light. All these multifaceted orbs were fixed on the solitary ant casting a spell within. The helmet strapped to its back faced the unsettling sight of shadowy spiders. Though smaller than the one Rusty had encountered before, they still dwarfed his companion in size."Gleam¡­, I think you should start running now¡­" " ( ¡ã?¡ã ) " Gleam''s antennae quivered with apprehension as she processed Rusty''s words. Despite her She understood the gravity of the situation and the impossibility of surviving a battle with all of these arachnids. Without wasting another moment, she turned on her six legs and scurried back towards the entrance of the cavern, her small form casting long shadows against the rocky walls. The spiders, with their multiple eyes fixated on Gleam, began to skitter in pursuit, their long legs carrying them swiftly across the cavern floor. Their movements were eerily synchronized, as if they were acting on a shared consciousness. "Gleam, keep going! Don''t stop!" " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " Rusty felt terrible as he could do nothing more than watch the scene play itself out. He was just a helmet now and unable to do much to help Gleam. The horde of spiders gave chase and even continued to follow after her when she sprinted up the wall. The shadowy monsters had picked up her scent now and even with no light source there, they continued to chase. The ant''s chirps were filled with fear as she pushed her tiny body to its limits, her legs propelling her forward as fast as they could. Rusty could see her exhaustion through their connection, her stamina bar was depleting rapidly with each step she took and it was probably just a matter of time before one of those spiders got to them. "... I guess we''ll have to use it now, Gleam¡­ Slow down!" " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " "Don''t worry, it will work, trust me!" Having encountered one of these arachnid monsters before, Rusty knew that despite their frightening appearance, they had a weakness that could be exploited. Though he was just a helmet, he could still utilize some of his skills. As he instructed, Gleam began to slow down. Seeing an opportunity, the shadowy monster spiders quickly lunged at the silvery ant, their large fangs gnashing and ready to administer their venom. However, just before they could make contact with Gleam''s body, the entire area suddenly lit up, the light emanating from Rusty''s helmet. The skill Rusty employed was the Basic Elemental Charge, which empowered his blade with either light or darkness. Through repeated use, the skill had leveled up to level five. Over time, Rusty discovered that he could extend this ability beyond just his weapons to charge his own body parts as well. His helmet was one such part, and as it radiated with bright light, the spiders recoiled in agony. The sudden burst of light caught the shadowy spiders off guard, causing them to scuttle back into the darkness with shrill hisses of pain. Gleam took advantage of the situation to recover some stamina. While she was aware of Rusty''s ability, witnessing the spiders so closely was still nerve-wracking. With the sudden illumination, the entire chasm became brightly lit and revealed quite the predicament. The area was teeming with these shadowy spiders, and now all of them were alerted to their presence. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty had not expected there to be so many of them. Only now after the light was shining, did they notice the swarm they were against. Their webs were everywhere and every cavern just reflected the faint glint of shadowy threads. It was clear that attempting to fight was futile and climbing up was their only escape. "That''s why I didn''t want to use it this soon¡­ we need to move Gleam, this skill won''t last forever and now they all saw us¡­" " ( ?? - ?? )? " "That''s the spirit!" Shaking off her nervousness, Gleam pushed forward, resuming her ascent at full speed. Rusty understood that he could frighten off the spiders with his skill, but activating it would likely draw the attention of all the shadowy arachnids in the vicinity. He had hoped to avoid such a scenario by stealthily navigating and minimizing light using Gleam''s spells, but their plan had failed. It was clear that using even faint light was a mistake. The two monsters were still young and this was a learning experience they would not forget but first, they needed to get out of here in one piece. As they continued their ascent, Rusty kept a close eye on the surroundings, ready to activate his skill again at a moment''s notice if the spiders attempted another ambush. Gleam, meanwhile, focused on maintaining her pace, conserving her stamina as much as possible for the climb ahead. Once the light died down, Rusty could hear the skittering of legs and the occasional hiss echoing through the chasm. The monsters were now in pursuit and to make things worse, the sounds were seemingly coming from all directions. "Gleam, watch out¡­ there are some coming in from up ahead!" Rusty informed his friend about the danger just in time as a spider attempted to ambush them from above. Gleam reacted swiftly, dodging the attack and continuing her climb without hesitation. The monster that lunged itself at her, collided with some of the other spiders that were pursuing them and the hissing increased. As they ascended higher, the terrain became increasingly treacherous, with narrow ledges and jagged rocks posing additional challenges but also giving them an opportunity. "Gleam, do you see that sharp ledge? Use your mana bolt spell on it, I know you can do it!" While she was tired from running, mana didn''t cost any stamina. Her antennae, used for casting, could act independently from her legs. Before long, a pale ball of mana formed above Gleam''s head and was flung at one of the jagged edges in the distance. Upon impact, the rocks shattered and started falling down. Gleam quickly dodged to the side and let the spiders be showered by the rubble. This maneuver momentarily slowed down their enemies, but there were just far too many of them around. Not long after, more of them were upon them which forced Rusty to activate his skill once again. The sudden burst of brightness caused the spiders to falter, their sensitive eyes were unable to withstand the intensity of the light. All of them scattered out of the way and the duo of living armor and ant had a moment to rest. "We can do it Gleam¡­ we''ll just continue at this pace." " ( ?? ? ?? )? " You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Gleam agreed, and their escape pressed onward. Yet, the duo underestimated the depth of the chasm they were traversing. Despite several more minutes passing, they remained far from the summit, with no end in sight. Rusty relied on his skill, but his mana was dwindling rapidly. He neared his final burst of energy before facing the prospect of slipping into a dormant state, just like in the past which would render him immobile for hours. As the spiders continued their relentless pursuit, the situation grew increasingly dire. The escalating winds proved to be a larger obstacle than anticipated as they relentlessly pushed against Rusty''s helmet and caused Gleam to slow down with each gust. Unlike their pursuers, who effortlessly navigated the terrain, Rusty and Gleam found themselves at a disadvantage. With the relentless pace of the arachnids closing in, it appeared only a matter of time before they were caught. They needed to come up with a solution and do it now. Rusty racked his brain for a solution, but with his mana reserves nearly depleted, options were limited. To his surprise, before he could come up with a plan, Gleam spoke up first. "You want me to use my skill after they get closer, even if I enter a dormant state?" " \\( ? ? ? )/ " This was a strange proposition, without his body he could not crush any mana stones and if he tried to reform himself to fight, he would just fall down the chasm along with Gleam. The two would probably end up on one of the spider webs they were avoiding, and would die so he needed to remain in his helmeted form. "Are you sure? I won''t be able to do it anymore, and I won''t be conscious for a while." " ( ?? - ?? ) " "No, I do trust you but¡­ are you sure?" Rusty placed his trust in his partner, already knowing she had proven herself capable in the past, such as when she rescued him from the beetle monsters. He believed in her judgment and hoped she had a plan in mind. Perhaps there was a solution above them that he couldn''t see, and his final burst of light might be the key to ensuring their survival. "Fine, I''ll do it after they close in¡­ it won''t last for long so use it well!" " ( ?? ? ?? )? " With no option but to move up, Rusty and Gleam continued their ascent, knowing that jumping across the chasm was impossible due to the presence of numerous spider webs. As the spiders closed in on them, Rusty unleashed another blast of radiance from his helmet, pushing the creatures back temporarily. Seizing the opportunity, Gleam recovered some of her stamina. Mana reserves are critically low. Despite receiving the system message warning him of imminent mana depletion, Rusty paid it no heed. Continuing his skill was important, as he placed his trust in Gleam''s judgment. He could feel her move of course a bit, skittering sideways on the wall somewhere and his vision was becoming blurry. "Gleam, what are you doing?" " ( ? ? - ) " "What do you mean take care? What are you doing?" Something felt off as the ant began to behave strangely. Rusty sensed that his skill was being wasted as they entered a small cavern occupied by only one arachnid. Suddenly, he felt as if the harness holding him together was severed, and he heard rustling and skittering before everything went black, and he lost consciousness. As he drifted into unconsciousness, Rusty experienced a strange sensation of weightlessness, as if he were floating through space. Images flashed through his mind, focusing on the little white egg he had discovered in the ant lair.Then, gradually, he began to regain his senses. He felt solid ground beneath his helmeted form as well as something covering up from the top. "Gleam¡­?" He called out but no one answered, his companion was not there and for some reason had left him buried under some rocks. Rusty didn''t wait but brought up his system screen, there he accessed his stash tab where his whole body had been tucked away to be equipped later. Without his hands it was a slow process but after he equipped his torso, his helmet rose up from the shallow rock pile he was covered under. In the darkness, danger lurked nearby; Rusty was not alone. Fortunately, his adversary seemed momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of a metallic torso and delayed engaging him in battle. Taking advantage of this brief break, Rusty managed to reattach one of his arms which then allowed him to assemble the rest of his body a lot faster. His adversary resembled the spider that inhabited the cave where he lost consciousness. However, it was notably smaller than the one that had almost eaten him alive when he fell into the chasm. With some time to assess the situation, Rusty determined that this foe was within his capabilities to handle alone. Classification: Lesser Giant Shade Spider E- Type: Arachnoid With his body fully assembled, Rusty wielded his longsword and shield, intercepting the monster''s charge just in time. The spider recoiled upon impact as its fangs collided with the hardened bronze of Rusty''s shield. Despite being smaller than some of its counterparts, it proved to be a formidable opponent, matching Rusty in rank. Despite knowing he couldn''t afford to underestimate the creature before him, Rusty''s thoughts were consumed by concern for Gleam. He realized the sacrifice she had made, likely using herself as a decoy to divert most of the monster spiders away. Hours could have passed, and the thought of her potential demise filled him with restlessness and anger, emotions he hadn''t been aware he could feel. This newly acquired rage fueled his movements, making them erratic and filled with animosity. As the battle intensified, Rusty endured numerous scratches and gashes to his armor, yet his opponent fared far worse. Two of its eight legs were already missing, and the venom from its fangs proved meaningless against a living armor. Eventually, Rusty''s longsword found its mark, thrusting into the creature''s mouth and ending its life. Normally, he would be ecstatic to hear that he had earned a large amount of experience, but his mind was elsewhere, consumed by worry for Gleam. "Where could she be? Is she still alive?" He was met with silence as no one answered his inquiry. With the lesser shade spider vanquished, he found himself alone in the cavern, the only sound being the faint echo of his metallic footsteps. After a moment of pause, he started looking around, but discovered nothing that could lead him to his companion and the cavern he was in was also a dead end. With nothing more than bones and remains of some eaten prey. Rusty took some time to examine this area and discovered that one of the bodies hadn''t fully decomposed yet. Wrapped in a cocoon of darkened webs, it resembled a mummy. After recognizing the attire as that of an adventurer, Rusty''s attention was drawn to a strange card protruding from the wrappings. After a brief inspection, he decided to take it along with a pouch containing round metal objects and placed it into his inventory. He searched through the remains, dreading the thought that Gleam could be within the remains but he could not discover any ant parts, only humanoid bones. "Good, she isn''t here. I need to find Gleam¡­ Her status screen is grayed out, but what does this mean?" Rusty considered reaching out to one of his guides, but he couldn''t afford to waste precious mana at this critical time. After glancing at Gleam''s status screen, he noticed it was grayed out and seemingly frozen in limbo. Normally, it would provide immediate updates on her status, but it remained stuck at a moment when her health was halfway depleted. Before he lost consciousness she was at full health which meant that she must have sustained some damage while he was incapacitated. With no other leads to follow, Rusty decided to head back towards the ledge they had come from. As he peered into the darkness, he noticed something unusual: lights in the distance. Surprised, he realized that this area was much closer to the top than he had initially thought. Far away, he spotted a familiar bridge that he had previously fallen from. It seemed that not all was lost and that perhaps his friend had made it out alive. "Did she see it?" He wondered if Gleam had realized that if his head remained on her back, then none of them would have made it out alive. While he could see some lights in the distance, it was still quite far away. Without him weighing her down, there was a possibility that she made it out alive. "Don''t worry, I''ll find you!" Rusty felt a surge of determination enter his body, the rage he felt was slowly subsiding as he was given another goal. While he was uncertain of how much time had passed during his slumber, he vowed not to rest until he located Gleam and brought her back to his side, no matter the cost. Chapter 39 – Captured. Are you sure this is safe? What if something jumps out and eats us¡­""That''s why we have hired adventurers, so stop worrying about nothing." "But¡­" "No buts! Let''s just focus on the task at hand and you''ll be back in your stuffy room in no time." "I hope you are right Alanna, I just don''t like dark places..." Two people were talking while being accompanied by a group of adventurers. One burly warrior in chainmail was behind them, clearly keeping watch to prevent any monsters from attacking them from the rear. Two similarly dressed men flanked them on each side, while a better-armored gentleman led the group from the front. Only one person in the group looked different, wearing leather armor with a bow slung across their chest. They were also upfront, seemingly keeping watch of any movement, ready to inform his party of any incoming danger. "Of course, I''m right Eugene, aren''t I?" The person talking seemed to be a young woman in her late teens. Next to her was a man of similar age and thin stature. Both looked more like scholarly types and their clothes resembled something more fitting for a library than monster-infested dungeons. Despite the obvious unease in the young man''s voice, his companion carried an air of confidence, though perhaps misplaced given their surroundings. "Young miss, it would be better if you remained silent, the monsters in the Dungeon react to sounds¡­" The young woman turned to one of the adventurers surrounding her for confirmation of her claim but was met with a rebuttal. The man seemed annoyed for some reason but didn''t want to voice his opinions more negatively. "See, I told you to be quiet, that''s why we were attacked so many times already!" "Hah, that''s why Master hired these adventurers for us, don''t worry, they will protect us from these monsters. Stop being scared, they are only F ranks, are you even a man?" "What is that supposed to mean?" The young man glared at the young woman, but his momentary bravery was interrupted by a strange clacking of bones resounding from the side. A skeletal monster emerged from the shadows and started running toward the group. Eugene, frightened, instantly ducked behind the woman named Alanna. The skeletal monster charged forward with unnerving speed, its bony limbs clattering against the rocky ground. However, the adventurers didn''t seem perturbed by its appearance, even less as it targeted the heavily armored man at the front. The monster raised its corroded weapon and brought it down swiftly, only for it to bounce off the man''s armor. In a matter of moments, the creature''s body crumbled from a direct hit by the man''s large two-handed blade, and its remains were now scattered on the ground. "Looking for something back there?" Alanna turned to Eugene who was hiding behind her like a scared rabbit. Her tone was teasing, and the young man quickly straightened himself out after realizing what he had done. His face went red from embarrassment as he stammered out an excuse, but Alanna merely chuckled and patted him on the back reassuringly. "N-no I was just a little startled by the reflection the torches made, it made it look like there were more of them coming." "Sure there were. Come on, Eugene, let''s keep moving. We''ve got to finish the job Master assigned to us." "Yeah, sure¡­ but couldn''t he have just bought those crimson felle roots at the next action." "You know how he is, he''s impatient and doesn''t trust adventurers to handle them correctly. If you don''t dig them up in a specific way and store them instantly, they''ll lose half of their potency. You won''t be able to make good products with low-quality ingredients... or at least, that''s probably what he would say¡­" She shrugged in response to the question. The girl knew their master was a peculiar person, and perhaps had sent them here to gain more life experience. Her friend seemed quite scared and would likely learn a lot from this little expedition. "Now, let''s go, the Adventurers probably want to go back home just as much as you do." Eugene nodded and they ventured deeper into the dungeon cavern, the air grew thicker with the scent of damp earth and mildew. The torches lining the walls provided just enough light to illuminate their path, casting long shadows that danced eerily across the rocky terrain. Along the way, they continued to encounter more monsters but none of them proved to be much of a challenge for the experienced adventurers accompanying them. Despite Eugene''s initial fear, he began to relax slightly as they progressed, reassured by the competence of their hired protectors. Alanna, on the other hand, maintained her air of confidence, seemingly unfazed by the dangers lurking in the shadows. Eventually, they arrived at a long bridge that would bring them to the area they would find the roots. "I wonder how deep this is¡­" Once there, she couldn''t help but look down into the chasm, where nothing but darkness awaited them. The abyss seemed endless and no one had yet confirmed if there was anything valuable down there, due to the monsters occupying its side walls. People had tried already and sometimes people ended up falling to their death. "We are almost there, let''s just get it over with Alanna." "Yeah, I''m coming." There was nothing down there and she knew it but right as she was about to turn away from the depths she noticed something. A little glint of light shone from below and her curiosity was piqued. "Wait, there is something down there¡­" "There is?" Alanna asked Eugene, who for some reason had a frown on his face. The adventurers around them nodded at each other and moved forward as if they had something to add. Some time ago, there were mentions of monsters using bows to attack people traveling through the bridge. It hadn''t happened since, but they had to assume the worst and act accordingly. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "Can you see something?" The armored man, seemingly the leader of the party, turned to the man wearing leather armor. This adventurer was clearly an archer, with eyes capable of seeing things at a distance much better than anyone else in the group. After urging the young woman to take a step back, he began to peek, and to his surprise, he was able to see something. "... There is something down there¡­ It''s a white bug and it''s getting chased by something¡­ shit, what are those things doing here." "What is it?" "Giant Shade Spiders¡­" "What?" Their leader replied in a panicked voice after hearing the words uttered by the archer. However, before he could panic any further, Alanna''s voice resounded from the side. "Calm down, those are only the Lesser variants and they seem to be rather small." She was holding a spyglass which was shining brightly. On the side a strange symbol could be seen, glowing and making her tool look otherworldly. The adventurers looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to have such a useful tool with her. Alanna quickly scanned the area below, focusing on the white bug being chased by the shadowy spiders. "It looks like some sort of insect... Wait, is that an ant? Not a regular one either but a¡­Gleaming Mana Ant and some sort of silvery variant of it! How, wonderful!" Her voice indicated excitement as she almost leaned over and fell into the chasm while looking through the magical spying glass. Her entourage wasn''t sure what she was saying and if the ant was dangerous but they knew that those spiders shouldn''t be there. "Can you get them?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Sure, let me try." The leader made the decision to stay for the moment, knowing the characteristics of the spider monsters. Even if they were attempting to climb up, the brightness of the torches here should keep them at bay. While they didn''t take damage from the light, their senses couldn''t handle brightness too well. They would become disoriented in environments filled with light and avoid them. "..." An arrow was notched into the archer''s bow, and as he took aim, he held his breath. At first, he pointed at the malicious-looking spiders, but then an idea dawned on him. If they were chasing after the strange white insect, wouldn''t they seize the moment it was dead? There was no reason to waste his arrows on all of them if he could just get the white ant; then the spiders would probably retreat. Many times monsters frenzied into long chases, and only when their target was captured did they relent. "No, don''t!" However, before he could target the white ant, one of his clients grabbed his arm to stop him. It was the young girl that identified the ant with the help of a magical tool. "What are you doing? Get back!" The archer was puzzled by the young woman''s sudden interference, but she was still someone that he needed to listen to. He could tell that she was serious and perhaps there was some reason that he didn''t comprehend just yet. "Don''t kill it, don''t you know how rare Gleaming Mana Ants are?" "It''s rare?" "Yes, we''ll pay extra, we must capture it instead!" He was stunned by her words and quickly looked to the party leader for confirmation. The man thought for a second and nodded. It seemed he was intrigued by her words, and if the ant was indeed a rare monster, then they would be rewarded for catching it, or perhaps for the monster parts it could drop. After getting confirmation, the archer changed his target and started firing his arrows at the spider monsters instead. The archer''s arrows flew true, striking the pursuing spiders with deadly precision. One by one, the shadowy creatures faltered and tumbled off the walls, their bodies crashing down into the abyss below. Eventually, the creatures started slowing down as they approached the top of the chasm, where torchlights impeded their progress. The ant they were chasing seemed injured, even missing one of its legs, but it managed to crawl all the way up to safety. "It does look like a rare monster, I don''t think any books mentioned this evolutionary variant. Could it really be the first of its kind?" Eugene''s comment was heard by the adventurers who smiled. If what these kids were saying was true, then their commission from this easy mission could increase several times. Alanna couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She had been genuinely worried for the creature''s safety, she did not really care for the rewards that it could provide as her reasons were different. "Come on, let''s go help it! Oh, gosh, I can''t believe that this is happening!" The ant was able to crawl up the chasm but it didn''t look good. From up close, its body looked dented in a few regions and it seemed to be struggling to move. Alanna attempted to rush to the creature but she was stopped by one of the adventurers. "Stop, it''s still a monster and is dangerous." It was heavily injured, its status screen indicating that its hit points were in the single digits. At first, it seemed that the monster wanted to retaliate. Its antennae started wiggling around in an attempt to cast a spell. The adventurers surrounded the young woman to stop her from going any further, but before the monster could continue casting, it just flopped forward. "I told you that there was no danger, it just ran out of mana and stamina. If we don''t help it, it might die! Now let me through!" The adventurers reluctantly let the young woman through. Their biggest concern was her safety as if they allowed her to be harmed, then their heads would roll. Alanna carefully approached the injured ant and could barely hide her excitement. This was a rare opportunity to interact with such a unique creature, one that could potentially hold valuable insights into the world of monsters. As she knelt down beside it, she could see its silvery exoskeleton shimmering faintly in the torchlight. "Hey there, little one." Alanna spoke softly, extending a hand toward the barely moving ant. "It''s okay, I''m not going to hurt you." The shimmering monster didn''t react as it was fully passed out from exhaustion. She knew that the small creature wouldn''t last long and if it wasn''t taken out of this dungeon, then its life would probably end. "How did this thing come here, it doesn''t look to be a dungeon spawn but an independent monster." "Interesting isn''t it? Perhaps there is an ant colony down there¡­ but how did it even survive? This variant usually gets eaten right after birth or is unable to hatch by itself. It needs to absorb a lot of light which is usually non-existen in the ant made tunnels, very interesting." "You''re quite knowledgeable about this stuff, are you trying to become a tamer or something?" "This is just simple monsterology, you should know this too!" "We don''t all have time to read obscure knowledge in our free time¡­" Eugene seemed annoyed by the claim but also interested in the creature''s origins. It was a known fact that dungeons could connect to outside spaces where other monsters resided. This seemed to be the case here too as within one dungeon, monsters that were created there would not attack each other. "Young Miss, what are you planning to do with that?" "We are going to take it with us, of course." She quickly replied while also moving behind her friend Eugene. The young man was wearing a rather large backpack, and from within it, she pulled out a rectangular box. After placing it on the ground, she pressed her thumb against a strange symbol, which soon began glowing with the same magical light as her spyglass earlier. The box started to expand in size, transforming into something that resembled a cage with a handle on top. "It''s good that I took the monster cage with me, now we can bring this ant back and show it to Master! This is much better than those boring roots!" "Master will punish us if we don''t bring them back though." "You''re right¡­ I suppose you''ll have to carry this little for the time being." "Huh? Why me?" "Because we can''t have the adventurers do it, they need their hands for the weapons. Don''t worry, I''ll take the backpack." Alanna''s quick decision left Eugene with no room to argue. With a resigned sigh, he accepted the cage and placed the ant inside. To help it regain health, a potion of healing was poured over its form. While it would not restore the missing leg, it would take care of some of the injuries. The ant stirred slightly as the healing potion took effect, its once-lifeless antennae twitching faintly. Eugene secured the cage''s lid and, with some effort, lifted it, the weight surprising him despite the ant''s small size. "Careful now, Eugene." Alanna cautioned, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You don''t want to drop our new friend." "Yeah, yeah. Let''s just get this over with." He nodded, though his annoyance was clear. Soon the group resumed their trek through the dungeon. Meanwhile, in another location, a different scene was unfolding. A suit of bronze armor had finally reached a safe ledge, which led into an illuminated tunnel¡­ Chapter 40 – Back In The Dungeon. Rusty began his ascent towards the distant lights. His body was not meant for climbing, but with the help of his weight control skill, he was able to manage. The winds that had previously plagued their ascent had dwindled, allowing him to move forward. He could sense that some spiders still lurked around, but his metallic form was far less appealing to them than flesh.Rusty pressed onward, methodically placing each step and testing each grip to ensure stability. His weight control skill helped, but he had to be cautious - one misstep could send him plummeting back down into the chasm. The ascent was slow, but luckily the illuminated cave wasn''t far off, and right before his weight control skill was to reach its limit, he managed to grab onto the ledge. He hauled himself up, using the last moments of his weight control skill to hoist his armored body onto the ledge. With a final push, Rusty pulled himself up, his metallic body clanging against the rocky surface. The faint light he had seen from below now glowed before him, casting eerie shadows on the cavern walls. It was something he remembered, a torch found inside of the dungeon he came from. The ledge led into a cavern and cleary, he had returned to the dungeon he came from. "...t¡­.u¡­.r¡­.e.." "It''s that voice again, it must be the Dungeon Heart." The voice had returned during his climb here but it was a lot more silent than before. He couldn''t even tell what it was trying to say to him and he was also not compelled to listen to it, something that he had expected to be the case. His mind was elsewhere, the dungeon didn''t really matter as the issue with Gleam persisted. "Gleam, where are you¡­" Rusty looked at his status screen, but nothing had changed with the grayed-out status. He wanted to call the Demon Lord or the Hero for advice, but he had used up all of his MP. Crushing a mana stone was an option, but perhaps finding out where he was exactly was more important. He knew that his guides had no tracking skills, and neither did he. Even if they could confirm Gleam''s survival, it wouldn''t help. It was best to assume that she was out there somewhere and go looking. "I don''t see any spiders here, nor are there any on the walls, the one I fought might have been the last one¡­" Rusty took a moment to survey his surroundings, trying to get a sense of direction. The illuminated cave was similar to the dungeon he hailed from but slightly different. He didn''t remember there being any bioluminescent fungi on the walls. There was no point in climbing into the chasm and going up, as there were no reachable ledges. It seemed that the best he could do was to follow this tunnel and see if he could reach the top another way. There was a big possibility that he had ended up in one of the lower levels of his dungeon. He knew that these floors always led to a set of stairs through which he would probably reach the chasm from a different side. "There is no time to lose, I need to find her!" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a strange feeling and he wasn''t quite sure why he was acting this way. He had not spent much time with the small ant, but he had grown attached to it for some reason. Each time he imagined his friend being hurt or killed, a strange feeling of discomfort took over. He didn''t like it, and he would not let anyone hurt his new friend - this much he knew. Soon he started moving, his hands holding a shield and an arming sword, better suited than a longsword for this corridor. "I''m really back in the dungeon." It didn''t take him long to encounter his first monster who was like a mirror image of himself. It was another living armor type made out of bronze. He could not see any corroded parts on its armor though, which confirmed that he was at a lower level than before he fell into the chasm. Classification: Bronze Armor L2 F+ Type: Magical/Inorganic "It''s only an F-rank?" To make things more peculiar, the monster seemed to be of lower ranking than him. They both looked almost identical, though his twilight bronze gave him a somewhat deeper luster than regular bronze. This did seem like the immediate evolution from the corroded bronze armor and probably meant that his twilight variant gave him some kind of edge. However, while he was contemplating what to do, his metallic friend also spotted him. "Hello? Have you perhaps seen a small white ant? Her body is covered in silver and she is quite peppy¡­" Rusty stopped himself from talking as he remembered that these dungeon monsters never really had a mind of their own. They were more like puppets controlled by the Dungeon Heart, a fact he had learned from Aburdon. The true problem was the voice that was slowly vanishing from inside his mind. If what the Demon Lord said was true, then perhaps this monster here was not his friend anymore. Just as he expected the bronze armor monster didn''t respond to his inquiry, instead, it raised its shield and brandished its sword, preparing to engage in combat. It had the same equipment as him and approached him as a sort of skewed mirror. However, he was not afraid as his rank was higher and he also had one further advantage, his intelligence. Without hesitation, the monster charged forward with its arming sword raised - a pattern he knew well because he had used it before. The monster executed attacks that he already knew: power slash, power thrust, and a shield bash. All of them came his way, and he either sidestepped or defended himself with the help of his own shield. His opponent was like an older version of himself, lacking any semblance of battle experience. The bronze armor was not adapting to his way of fighting, and soon, all of its mana points had been drained. This was what he had been waiting for, and soon, his own shield bashed the other armor, making it hit the nearby wall. His opponent had the same strengths but also the same weaknesses. Its body was hollow on the inside, and just like the adventurers did to him, he did the same to his opponent, which found itself tipped over on the ground. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "I should probably change my weapon." Before leaving the underground tunnels filled with insects. He had recreated all the weapons that were produced inside of the Soul Forge. His arming sword was good against opponents made of flesh, but living armors like Rusty were quite resistant against slashing damage. To defeat his opponent he took out a mace and even though he lacked proficiencies for it, this blunt weapon was much better to defeat his foe. The monster attempted to stand but found its helmet being dented under the bronze mace. His strikes were precise, but the monster didn''t seem to have a core yet. However, this was still a weak point; when the helmet was struck, its vision was also affected. Continuous strikes rained down on the monster''s body, causing it to take a lot of damage. Even without a core, if its HP pool was depleted, the monster would die like any other being. Soon, the defeated bronze armor collapsed into a heap of metal pieces, showing him what would happen if he ever died. "Its body can''t hold itself together anymore¡­" Rusty was a creature of mana and in some kind of way, his body was being held together by magic. Once it was gone, the body seemed to crumble into separate parts which to his surprise, he could take with him. This monster''s body was very similar to his and even though it was dented in a few places, most of the damage was on the helmet. You have gained +1 experience points. The rewards were all there and he had become able to kill the denizens of his own dungeon to become stronger. Even though he could take the other monster''s body as loot and store it in his inventory, it didn''t give him much joy. Without Gleam who loved to dance around, it all felt a lot less special. After packing up the monster parts for later, he pressed on through the dungeon. The eerie glow of the mushrooms illuminated his way as he continued to encounter other monsters. All of them seemed hostile now and impeded his progress. However, he kept moving and smashing them to pieces. His rank was above the creatures here, and with a few swings of his weapon, the skeletons, living armors, and zombies were quickly dispatched. "Huh? This statue, I think they always appear close to the stairs¡­" His previous knowledge of the first and second levels proved important. He identified a skeletal statue that was usually found near paths close to staircases. Following this clue, he quickly arrived at a familiar-looking area and, without waiting, charged upwards. The chasm appeared on the second level, so once he arrived there, perhaps he would find Gleam''s whereabouts. Rusty climbed the final steps of the stairway, emerging onto the upper floor. He looked around as he had before, but he did not recognize this place either. There was a possibility that he was on the third floor now, but he had no way of confirming it. "I need to keep moving." His mind was made up: he needed to reach the chasm through which he had fallen. It was his only clue, as he assumed that Gleam continued climbing up after hiding him under some rocks. He ignored the monsters around him and rushed toward his destination. The creatures were annoying, but they would eventually be left behind once he found the next set of stairs. "Huh?" As he was moving through the corridors something caught his visor, the status of Gleam on his screen had shifted. It was for a second but her status did turn normal for a moment before going back to gray. He wondered why this happened and decided to take a few steps back towards a corridor he previously ignored and once there, it happened again. "Does this mean that she is close?" Once the status returned to normal, it updated all of her stats. Her health pool seemed to have restored itself but she had various other status effects listed now. One of them was an ''exhaustion'' status along with a ''fainted'' one. Then there was one that concerned him the most ''missing limb''. It was clear that his friend had suffered a lot of damage but she semed to be still alive. "Maybe if I go this way?" Rusty assumed that the status update indicated he was getting closer to Gleam''s location. Just knowing that she was alive already alleviated his mood. She had been injured and even lost a limb, but perhaps it could be healed or restored after another evolution. "Don''t worry Gleam, I''m on my way!" With hope restored, he began running through the dungeon tunnels. Along the way, he picked up a row of skeleton soldiers which kept pursuing him all the way until he reached a new set of stairs. It had already taken him some time to get here, and he also noticed that Gleam''s status had begun to flicker. It was as if she was moving away from him now, which was strange considering she had the fainted status. He continued upwards, finally reaching a familiar area: the entrance to the third floor he had been unable to pass through in the past. It seemed that he was on the right track, and his friend had managed to climb out of the chasm. However, for some reason, she was moving away from him again as her status began to flicker. The monsters didn''t seem capable of mercy, which meant that perhaps someone else was at fault. With haste, he moved towards the area where it all started: the bridge he had used to combat some of the adventurers. He had fallen into the chasm below, and it looked the same as before. However, Gleam was not here; instead, a few monsters stood in his way. Just like before, he decided to ignore them. After dodging one attack and allowing a weapon to hit his body for almost no damage, he pushed onward through the bridge. Once on the other side, he started looking around, and a little glimmer caught his eye. "This¡­ she was here." Near the edge of the chasm, a glint of silver caught his eye. It was a small shard, unmistakably part of his friend''s body, and confirmed her presence in this place. He could only surmise that she had fallen into the hands of adventurers, who, for some unknown purpose, kept her alive. As he looked around this floor, he saw no sign of them. It suggested they had either ascended to higher floors or remained on this one. The chase continued and the monsters in his way were swiftly dealt with as he pressed forward. His mind was focused solely on finding Gleam, and nothing would stand in his way. As he moved deeper into the dungeon, the air grew heavier with the scent of damp earth, and the sound of echoing footsteps filled the corridors. Rusty knew he was getting closer; he could feel it in his metallic core. Suddenly, he heard voices ahead, echoing off the stone walls of the dungeon. Rusty approached cautiously, his grip tightening on his weapon. After peering around a corner, he saw a rather large group of humanoid adventurers. They were moving through a dimly lit chamber. There were seven of them, with two peculiar individuals in the middle. Rusty noticed that their clothes were rather out of place and lacked any form of armor. The other adventurers gathered around them, in some type of protective formation. His attention was drawn to a peculiar box held by one of them, and in that moment, he realized that Gleam had been seized by these strangers. Her silvery ant body seemed to be inside a cage that one of these people was carrying. This sight filled Rusty with a sense of dread and rage. His friend, Gleam was in their hands, and he couldn''t stand idly by while she was kidnapped. He needed to save her from this group of adventurers but they outnumbered him seven to one. If he just jumped in without a plan, it could bring death to him and perhaps his friend as well. However, before he could devise a plan, a lot of noise from behind appeared again. ''Those guys never stop¡­ wait¡­'' A horde of monsters, whom he had dashed past in his pursuit, now trailed closely behind him, their numbers swelling as they summoned reinforcements. Though they remained his foes, the group of adventurers was not aligned with them either. This presented an opportunity: with the creatures serving as a diversion, he could rescue Gleam and then quickly retreat to a safer area. He just needed to get the cage and run¡­ Chapter 41 – Darkness Takes Hold. "Can we hurry up? This place is giving me the creeps"Eugene muttered while looking around nervously. "Haven''t you gotten used to it, Eugene? You know we''ll have to come back here for other errands eventually. The Master likes fresh materials," Alanna replied while Eugene didn''t seem too thrilled at the prospect of delving into the dark, monster-infested dungeon again. "Yeah, yeah, but I just don''t like it. Let''s get this thing back to the Master and be done with it. We''d already be out if you hadn''t brought that thing along. Why do I still have to carry it?" "Hey, don''t call Anty a thing!" Alanna shot back, angry at Eugene''s complaint about the strange white ant they had discovered. The ant was currently deep asleep, but carrying a monster made Eugene shiver with fear. He worried that once it awoke, it might attack him. "Then you carry it! What if it has some poisonous skill that the cage can''t defend against, and my arms melt?" Eugene retorted as the fear he was feeling was real and he wished to be out of this situation "That''s not what a Gleaming Ant does... but I guess it could know a spell like that¡­" Alanna grinned, watching for her friend''s reaction. Eugene flinched at the thought of the spell, but once he realized Alanna was toying with his emotions, he responded with annoyance. "Very funny. Just get us out of here before I regret agreeing to this." He grumbled, adjusting his grip on the ant''s cage and quickening his pace. They were nearing the stairs leading to the second level, and once there, it wouldn''t be long until they reached the exit. Despite the labyrinthine structure of the dungeon''s tunnels, with a map in hand, it was easy to navigate through them with relative ease. However, as they were approaching the last larger chamber before the stairs, some noise resounded from behind them. "There is something there¡­" One of the adventurers called out, and they all quickly formed into a defensive formation. They appeared bored and tired, not expecting anything troublesome. The creature that emerged didn''t seem overly dangerous as it was just a piece of living armor. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but one of the adventurers noticed something odd. "Hey, doesn''t that thing look strange? Why doesn''t it have any holes or corroded areas¡­?" The keen-eyed archer, accustomed to assessing details even in poorly lit chambers, observed some peculiarities. The monster resembled the living armors they encountered before, but it didn''t belong on this floor. In dungeons, monsters were typically limited to specific floors, and this version of the living armor should only appear around the fifth floor, not on the second. "So what? Isn''t it just a Bronze Armor? It''s still an F-rank monster, leave it to me, I need some practice with these things." As one of the adventurers called out and began to approach the unexpected monster, their leader remained silent but vigilant, studying the new creature intently. He couldn''t shake the feeling that something unusual was happening in the dungeon. Rumors of strange living armor spawns had circulated before, leading him to consider the possibility that this encounter was another instance of such an anomaly. Dungeons were known to occasionally shift, making this theory plausible. The monster was acting strangely at first as it looked not at the man that was approaching it but Eugene instead. It had no eyes to speak of but could still turn its helmeted head, which gave the young man another scare. This was quite unusual as dungeon monsters were known for attacking the person that was closest to them. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There existed a concept known as a hidden hostility rating, which could be heightened by various means. The simplest way to increase this animosity of monsters was to provoke them by attacking or making loud noises. Then certain classes possessed skills that amplified this hidden rating, and they were known as tanks. These tanks had provoking abilities that diverted enemy attention, allowing other party members to focus on offense rather than defense. In this instance, the monster should have immediately charged at the approaching man due to his proximity. However, its reaction seemed strangely delayed and indicated a deviation from the expected behavior. It was acting more as an independent monster than one seen in a dungeon, and also one that had a functioning brain, not something usually found in living armors. "Watch out, it''s acting strange." "Don''t worry, I won''t lose to a living armor!" The man called out to the adventurer leader, armed with a shield and mace, the standard equipment for dealing with hollowed-out monster armor. The weight of the mace made it effective for staggering monsters, while denting their armor would gradually impede their movements. Finally, the monster took off, running in the man''s direction as it attacked. "Come on then!" The adventurer smacked his shield several times, creating an echo of noise typically intended to draw and hold the monster''s attention. The man hoped to divert the creature from Eugene, whom it was fixated on. However, to everyone''s astonishment, the monster''s behavior took an unexpected turn. Just as it was about to engage the adventurer, it abruptly halted, glanced to the side, and swiftly bolted toward one of the side exits of the chamber. "Huh?" Inside the dungeon, confusion reigned supreme. The strange behavior of the metallic monster defied all expectations and their understanding. The Adventurers scratched their heads in bewilderment, grappling with the bizarre situation that just unfolded before them. Then, just as they contemplated retreating to the first-floor staircase, chaos erupted. "Wait... what''s that sound?" An ominous noise echoed from the corridor the previous monster had emerged from. The clattering of bones soon followed, accompanied by groans and the grating of corroded metal. Before their eyes, every known type of monster for this floor materialized before them, and they converged on the group with a single-minded focus. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Where did all these monsters come from?" "Why are there so many?" The adventurers exchanged bewildered glances as the horde of monsters approached them. While they were all low-level mobs, they were coming in numbers that could even overwhelm a well-equipped party. Panic set in as they realized their predicament, but their leader quickly regained his composure. "Stay calm! They are just low-level trash!" The man stepped forward, positioning himself as the first line of defense. His heavier armor and larger frame served as a barrier against the oncoming horde. The monsters consisted of various skeletal soldiers wielding corroded bronze weapons, slow-moving zombies, and corroded suits of armor following close behind. They advanced rapidly, and the adventurers needed to protect the two non-combatants in their midst. "Form up! Protect Eugene and Alanna!" The leader commanded, his voice cutting through the clamor. The adventurers quickly assumed a defensive formation around Eugene and Alanna. The heavily armored man braced himself, raising his shield and prepared to intercept the first wave of skeletal soldiers. His mace swung down with a resounding thud, shattering bones and denting armor, buying precious moments for the others to ready themselves. "We need to hold them off until we can retreat!" Another adventurer shouted, slashing at an approaching zombie. Despite the onslaught, the group worked in unison, their movements synchronized by years of training and experience. They knew their survival hinged on maintaining their formation and fending off the relentless tide of monsters. The situation might have looked dire but their leader knew that all these monsters were not their equal. As long as they defended against the initial push and then retreated towards the stairs going up, then they would be safe. The adventurers fought valiantly, their weapons cutting through the swarming undead and living armor creatures. The air filled with the sounds of clashing metal, the groans of the undead, and the shouts of the adventurers. Despite their skills and coordination, the sheer number of monsters pressed them and threatened to overwhelm them. However, slowly but surely, they inched towards the exit, their plan to run once they created some space becoming their beacon of hope. "That''s it, now everyone, into the tunnel!" The two noncombatants they were hired to protect moved first, guided by one of their party members acting as their sole guard. The remaining four adventurers stayed back, forming a defensive line to hold off the monster horde long enough for the slower noncombatants to reach the safety of the tunnel. "Go! We''ve got you covered!" Eugene along with Alanna started running, the cage with the monster ant was slowing them down but they were unwilling to let their prized find go. The adventurer who assisted them kept a vigilant watch over them as it was always possible for more monsters to arrive. "Let''s go, the stairs to the next level aren''t far from here, once we are there¡­huh?" The man glanced back at the duo while speaking, a momentary lapse in his focus. From the side, unnoticed in his periphery, something emerged; it was not a monster, but a weapon hurtling toward him at incredible speed. Before he could react, his leg was struck, the force of the blow shallowly piercing through his armor. "Argh!" Pain shot through him as he shouted out, the sudden attack catching him off guard. As he struggled to regain his footing, the attacker revealed himself to be the same lone monster that had previously appeared. It was now standing in the corridor leading to the safe spot, holding a shield and a longsword¡­ ***** Rusty stood before the three humans he had lured here, his plan successful in separating them. He knew the first and second levels of the dungeon thoroughly, having been born here. Rusty wasn''t sure why, but the five adventurers were protecting the two people holding Gleam hostage. These two seemed rather weak but important to this group. In hopes of separating them, Rusty devised a strategy to divert the attention of the other adventurers. The other monsters saw him as an enemy and he knew well how all of them operated. Once they started chasing a target, they would not relent and also call their friends for aid. In no time he had a large swarm of his old allies chasing after him. Then, Rusty quickly retreated into one of the other many tunnels which the layout he was aware of. It didn''t take him long to reach the area before the stairs leading to the first floor. He anticipated that his enemies would attempt to flee and just as he predicted, they came. His bronze spear was thrown to injure the lone adventurer and now he just needed to take care of this man and Gleam would be saved. With the lone adventurer injured and the others preoccupied with holding off the monster horde, Rusty saw an opportunity to rescue Gleam. His metallic frame moved swiftly as he closed the distance between him and the two individuals holding the cage containing Gleam. However, the injured man wasn''t down yet and he quickly put himself between the two people Rusty was charging at. "Stay back, monster." As The two humans, Eugene and Alanna instantly panicked but the adventurer set up a solid defense. Rusty attempted to rush the two but had to deal with the adventurer first. His emotions were running wild and he could barely control his rage, his sword connected with the man''s shield to generate quite the loud tone. "Ugh¡­" The man buckled under the pressure of the hit, forced to take a knee. The injury was enough to allow Rusty to press forward, closing the distance between himself and the two individuals. His aim was not to fight here; he just wanted to take the cage that Gleam was in and then make a run for it. Unfortunately, the two people there didn''t know that, and the shorter of the two retaliated by throwing a strange vial in his direction. "Get back!" It was a sloppy throw and wasn''t backed by any skill. Rusty wasn''t aware of what he was dealing with so he pressed on without stopping. The thing didn''t even seem to be aimed at his body and it would just collide with the ground before him. However, once it did connect with it, an explosion ensued, sending a shockwave of force outward. Rusty was thrown back, his metallic frame clanging against the tunnel''s walls. Being a creature of metal, Rusty didn''t suffer any backlash from getting his body shaken around. There were no ears or brains to be rattled around. The injuries he suffered had been absorbed by his bronze body, and he was back on his feet in a matter of seconds. Gleam was right there, and he would not let her get kidnapped by these strange people. "Alanna, you missed¡­" "I can see that, you don''t need to remind me¡­" "Well, throw another one?" "I ¡­ I only brought one with me¡­" He noticed the duo scrambling to their feet, their faces wrought with panic. He couldn''t let them escape with Gleam, not after everything he had been through to find her. Rusty charged forward, running straight at the two with the intention to cut them down if they dared to get in his way. "Hey, this is a bad time to joke about, do something¡­ That thing is going to kill us both!" The man called Eugene was panicking the most as the two found themselves with no place to run. Rusty approached and the adventurer who had been injured would not be able to push through the pain. Everything pointed towards his victory, however right as he was about to close in on the two that were holding Gleam hostage, he appeared. "Leader!" It was the party leader; he had arrived at the scene and positioned himself between the two as their sole protector. Rusty did not stop and instead increased his pace. His sword slammed down forward, accompanied by his Power Slash skill. However, his opponent blocked his strike with their own sword, causing sparks to fly. "This thing¡­" The man''s tone indicated that he was surprised by the sheer power that the bronze armor could exert. Rusty was obviously not a regular bronze variant but a unique Twilight evolution. His might eclipsed any bronze armor that came before him, and his opponent found himself in a deadlock. None of them was budging an inch as it seemed that they were equals. ''Get out of my way!'' Rusty pushed forward with all his strength, his mind focused solely on reaching Gleam and freeing her from captivity. However, the adventurer leader proved to be a formidable opponent, matching Rusty blow for blow. With each exchange, Rusty felt a growing sense of frustration. His friend was right there but he couldn''t get to her and with each passing second he wasted, would be one that his enemies gained. His frustration reached an apex and suddenly the aura around his being shifted. "Wait, what is that?" Alanna called out while pointing forward, and the adventurer leader could see it too. There was a change in his opponent, a dark substance started seeping forth from his body. It looked like a fog made of darkness and it exploded in all directions. Upon coming in contact with the man Rusty was fighting, it started causing his veins to blacken and his eyes to bleed pitch-black blood... Chapter 42 – Escape. "Get back!"Once again the adventurer leader shouted, pushing Eugene and Alanna away from the spreading dark fog. The mysterious substance oozing from the armor''s metallic body was like nothing they had ever seen, and its effects were horrifying. The leader himself staggered back, clutching his arm where the fog had made contact. His skin was turning black, the corruption spreading rapidly. "What is that stuff? Is it poison¡­ no it looks different, the color is off¡­ could it be?" Alanna shouted while pulling Eugene up to the floor, the young man fearful. The adventurer leader had seemed to be able to contend with the strange suit of armor. It "What is it?" "I think it''s dark magic." "D-dark magic? But isn''t that only something high-ranking demons use?" Eugene replied to Alanna while trying to move to the side and towards the path leading out. The Dark Magic she mentioned was something people knew and feared. It was one of the reasons that all other races dreaded demonic beings. The way the adventurer leader''s veins turned darker was a clear sign. Its properties of corruption were well known, and the presence of it here could easily shift the tides of battle. "It should be¡­ and most demons have been gone since¡­" "Stop talking, that doesn''t matter, we need to get out of here!" The monster approached, its body and blade covered in a dark mist that was slowly spreading in all directions. There seemed to be some kind of area of effect around this being, as the smoke was evaporating instantly after passing a certain threshold. The adventurer leader noticed this but wasn''t sure what to do about it. His stamina was being drained, and he didn''t need to look at his status window to know it. If this continued for too long, he would probably pass out, and the monster would massacre them all. "Party Leader, hold on!" There was finally some good news as an arrow flew from the side and connected with the armored creature. The steel tip hit the monster''s pauldron but, unfortunately, it bounced off its armored frame, leaving only a scratch. However, the reinforcements were there but what could they achieve if they could not approach the monster? "Don''t come close, if you touch the black mist, you''ll be drained of your vitality." The newcomers were the three adventurers who had been keeping the horde of monsters busy. As previously planned, they were to quickly follow after and meet Alanna and Eugene at the staircase. However, the bronze monster was now blocking their way and seemed unwilling to let them pass. For some reason, it kept its gaze fixed on the two non-combatants who were in a state of panic. "Take those two up the staircase, I''ll do something about this thing and meet you back up." "But leader, wouldn''t it be better to fight it together?" "No, we don''t have enough time." Monster groans and the clattering of bones started echoing from the distance. A large portion of the monster horde had not been defeated and was still gaining on them. If they let the bronze monster block their path forward, they would be overrun. Once the mist surrounded all of them, even the weaker monsters would be able to dispatch their entire party, and this was not something the party leader wanted. "But¡­" "I''ll be fine, I won''t die to one monster that easily, now go." The well-armored man shouted at his party, possibly giving his last order. He was responsible for their survival but was not planning to die here alone. He lowered his center of gravity while shielding his body, an aura surrounded his body which resembled a bull as he activated a skill. Then, he launched himself at the armored being, aiming to push it into one of the walls or even into the hidden side tunnel. The mist it was generating had a limit, so if he managed this, his allies would be able to run through. His plan was desperate but necessary. With a burst of strength, he charged at the bronze armor monster, hoping to push him away from the corridor and clear a path for his companions. The bull-like aura enveloped him, granting him the force needed for such a maneuver. The creature seemed to anticipate the attack and braced itself but was caught off guard by the sheer power of the charge. "Get out of our way!" The leader roared, colliding with Rusty and driving him backward. The impact sent a reverberating clang through the tunnel as Rusty struggled to maintain his footing. His dark mist swirled around them, but the leader''s protective aura kept him from succumbing to its draining effects immediately. For a moment, it seemed the leader might succeed in pushing the monster into a side tunnel. "Now! Go, everyone!" The leader''s voice echoed as the rest of the party seized the opportunity. They helped Eugene and Alanna to their feet, urging them towards the staircase. Alanna, clutching the cage with the Gleaming Ant inside, followed closely behind, her heart pounding. Eugene, still shaking with fear, stumbled but was pulled along by one of the adventurers. "We''re almost there! Just a little further, don''t look back." One of the adventurers called out, guiding the group towards the staircase. Behind them, the leader continued to grapple with the monstrous armor. While he had started off strong and nearly rammed the monster into the side tunnel. However, something went terribly wrong. The bronze being''s weight began to increase, and soon its metallic feet were cracking the ground beneath them. The dark mist was still there, and the man''s plan was backfiring. He had intended to throw the monster into the tunnel and quickly escape, but now he was getting swallowed up by the mist without being able to move the monster an inch further. His knees started to buckle and his vision blurred. The effect of the dark fog was starting to affect his senses and he could not keep himself steady. His grip on the shield he was using to push the monster away was slipping away, and the monster seized the moment. With a powerful shove, he pushed the leader back, sending him sprawling to the ground. The creature stood tall, his bronze frame glinting ominously in the dim light of the tunnel, the dark mist swirling around him like a shroud. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The adventurer leader tried to get back on his feet, but his body felt heavy, his strength sapped by the dark magic. He looked up at his opponent and focused on the longsword it was holding in its right hand. The people he was hired to protect had probably reached the stairs and were safe. He could only laugh at his bad luck as the monster approached. His life flashed before his eyes as he closed them but to his surprise, nothing happened, instead of getting impaled on the blade the monster just charged forward. "Huh?" It was quite an anomaly, and he didn''t know what this thing wanted. However, even though he was momentarily safe from the fury of the monster and the darkness that surrounded it vanished along with it, he was still not safe. The large group of lesser monsters was still there, crawling in his direction, and they clearly wanted to end his life. "I won''t die here¡­" The man felt strength return to his fingers as he grasped his weapon tightly. Despite the odds stacked against him, he refused to go down without a fight. With a determined expression, he braced himself for the onslaught of the lesser monsters. His party members, on the other hand, had finally reached the stairs leading to the first floor. "It should be safe right? Should we wait for him here?" "What do you mean wait? Let''s just get out of here!" Alanna frowned at how Eugene was acting. They had reached the dungeon stairs leading up and everyone knew that it was a safe zone against monsters. No dungeon monsters could hope to cross up or down in this area. However, in their hasty escape they had forgotten one thing, the monster chasing them was unique. "Wait¡­ what''s that?" "Is it him? Did he make it back?" One of the four adventurers pointed out in the direction of the tunnel they had previously used. They saw the glint of armor reflected in the dim light and at first, they assumed that it was their party leader. He wore quite robust armor which could be easily identified from a distance. Thus, as they looked closer, they realized that it wasn''t their leader at all. The figure approaching them was different, with an aura of darkness swirling around it. "That''s not him¡­ it''s that damn monster, did it kill him?" "That''s not the problem¡­ we need to get out of here, look at where it is." The party tensed up as they noticed that this monster had already passed the threshold. It was somewhere that regular dungeon mobs could not be, it told them that these stairs were not a safe heaven anymore and that they needed to continue running. While the horde of the monsters would not reach them, this one armor and the dark fumes it was producing would certainly get them. "Damn monster!" Their archer let off another arrow, but after it collided with the monster''s chest, it just bounced off again. Even though it was seemingly just bronze armor, it had a much higher durability, something the arrows they were using couldn''t pierce. Without seeing another option, they all nodded and took off running. "We need to leave the dungeon. Even if it follows us all the way there, with the help of the guards, we can defeat it." The group felt frustrated that they couldn''t approach the monster. In reality, it wasn''t all that strong. Without the constant haze of dark miasma around it, they would probably be able to defeat it with the group here. Even their leader could probably win in a fair confrontation. However, at the moment, they needed to fulfill their mission, and it seemed that this thing didn''t want to let them escape. Soon, all of them took off running and appeared on the first floor. "Don''t look back, just focus on getting out of the dungeon." Two of the adventurers moved forward to push away any first-floor monsters that would get in their way. While they knew the fastest way to escape, there would probably be some monsters in their way. Though those creatures were rather weak, they could still slow them down. Thus their escape continued and even without looking back, they could hear the metallic footsteps of their pursuer. The group ran through the dimly lit corridors of the dungeon, their footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. Despite their fatigue, they pushed forward, driven by the urgency of their situation. Behind them, the sound of the pursuing monster grew louder with each passing moment, its metallic footsteps reverberating through the tunnels. Some monsters interrupted their escape attempt and continued to slow them down. The adventurers pushed them to the side, not wasting any time on combat. Each time, the living armor gained on them and continued to chase them like some kind of otherworldly being. Even when they encountered other adventurers, it continued to chase after only them, as if it had marked them for death. Their group finally burst through the initial exit leading out of the dungeon. Soon, they would reach the stairs leading up to the surface. However, the metallic creature showed no sign of relenting; it pushed forward into the outer regions of the dungeon, a place rarely traversed by its kind. "What kind of thing is this? Could this be a dungeon break? Are the other monsters going to flood outside?" Called out Eugene, his face pale and filled with sweat. His legs trembled from exhaustion, and he was unsure if he could muster the strength to ascend the next set of stairs. The group began to slow down as curiosity replaced their urgency. The dungeon was nearing its end, and by all rules, they should have been safe by now. Yet, the creature emerged, shrouded in the same dark mist, hurling itself toward the exit. It seemed unstoppable, until, to everyone''s surprise, it began to slow. The creature''s once steady pace faltered, as if it were walking against a powerful current in a river. Its metallic feet struggled to move further, and it became evident that even this formidable monster was confined by the dungeon''s boundaries. "Ha! Look at that stupid monster, it can''t move any closer!" The previously tired Eugene started to laugh as he realized that their pursuer could not move any further. This force of nature that had been running after them with relentless animosity was now held back by an invisible barrier. The group took a moment to catch their breath, relief washing over them as they realized they were safe for the time being. "Let''s not celebrate just yet. We need to get out of here and report this to the guild¡­ hey watch out!" Just as everything seemed safe, something strange happened. The monster seemingly out of nowhere, materialized a javelin. The adventurer who spotted it was the archer from the group and he wasn''t sure how he missed this detail. The throwing weapon was tossed and flew directly at the laughing Eugene who stumbled down in terror. "Ahh¡­s-save me." The javelin flew through the air with deadly accuracy, aimed directly at Eugene who had been laughing moments before. As he stumbled to the ground in terror, the others reacted quickly. Alanna reached out to grab him, pulling him out of harm''s way just in time. The javelin missed its mark, embedding itself into the stone wall behind them with a loud clang. "Are you alright?" "Y-yeah, I think so¡­" Eugene stammered, his heart pounding in his chest from the close call. He glanced back at the monstrous armor, fear creeping back into his eyes as he realized the danger they were still facing. "We need to keep moving¡­" The archer from the adventurer party urged everyone to move, the monster was able to produce hidden weaponry, and even if it couldn''t progress further, it could still pose a threat from a distance. The group hurried up the stairs, eager to distance themselves and the dungeon as much as possible. As they ascended, the sound of the monster''s metallic footsteps faded into the distance, eventually becoming nothing more than a faint echo. After emerging onto the surface, they were greeted by the soft glow of moonlight illuminating the night sky. The cool night air felt refreshing after the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon. Despite their exhaustion, they needed to continue, this issue had to be spread and the dungeon needed to be investigated. The strange creature was still inside and much too strong for any new adventurer to handle¡­ S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 43 – Future Plans. "W-we made it!"Exclaimed an out-of-breath man, clutching his chest and clearly exhausted. He was not alone; his friend was curled up on the side, clutching onto something entirely different. His gaze fell on that item, a small monster cage used for transporting milder species. Inside was a small white ant, twitching around. "You still took that thing with you? There is something wrong with you¡­" Eugene sighed. During their escape, he had abandoned the cage, prioritizing his own life. Alanna, on the other hand, insisted on bringing the monster with them. Now, they were certain that this ant was not born in the dungeon. A monster could not leave the dungeon it was created in, and even the strange armor that had chased them could not break this rule. Alanna, despite the exhaustion etched on her face, cradled the small cage gently. The Gleaming Ant inside twitched, its silvery-white body reflecting the moonlight. Eugene shook his head in disbelief and looked around to make sure that they were truly safe. Four adventurers were with them but some guards had also spotted them and began to approach. "We can''t rest yet. We need to get to the guild and report what happened," Said one of the adventurers, his voice steady despite the fatigue he was feeling. The group knew that the armor inside the dungeon was dangerous, it needed to be subjugated. With the darkness skill around its body, it could not be killed by low-level adventurers like them. "What''s going on here?" "Glad that you asked." One of the guards sprinted over to the adventurers to ask about the problem. However, before they could answer a high pitch screech erupted around them. Everyone found themselves covering their ears. Alanna took the brunt of this audible attack as the source was the cage with the Gleaming Ant inside. The small creature was giving out a spine chilling sound as it had awoken inside of a cage it didn''t want to be in. "Calm down, no one is going to hurt you." Alanna shouted while quickly pressing one of the magical symbols on the cage. In a flash, the piercing sound was gone and even though the ant continued, no one was affected by the skill it was using. The group of people turned to her with puzzled looks. The girls responded by laughing nervously. "Everything is under control now!" She assured them while the ant continued to rattle inside the cage. It was clear that the creature didn''t want to be there, but it also couldn''t escape. The strange magical symbols around it seemed to be draining its stamina, and it was already injured. Soon enough, the monster tired itself out and slumped forward, its insectoid eyes glancing at the entrance to the dungeon from which it had been forcibly taken, as if longing to return. ***** "I can''t¡­" Within the same dungeon a lone living armor stood, slamming his fists at a strange invisible wall that it could not cross. He had chased down the humanoid beings that abducted his friend but was forced to stop, right before he could cross the threshold of the dungeon''s entrance. Rusty, as the armor had come to be known, pounded against the unseen barrier with a sense of desperation. His friend was right there but there was no way of progressing any further. "What can I do? I need to think¡­" Rusty retreated a few steps, trying to get a grip on the strange emotions he was feeling. He wasn''t sure what to do; his friend was now gone, snatched away right before his eyes, and he had been powerless to stop it. During the chase, he had constantly used up the mana crystals he had taken from his previous lair, and only one remained. The swirling darkness around him could only function with the aid of magic doping, a state that would not be sustainable in the future. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While thinking, he recalled a scene from the past. He had shot an arrow at adventurers on the second floor and missed. Once they were gone, he thought nothing of it, but they called for help from stronger people. It was now quite probable that after making such a huge scene, people would be after him. Staying in this location was dangerous, so he needed to retreat first and then think of a new plan. His aim was to save Gleam, but to do that, he needed to survive first. "Don''t worry¡­ I''ll find you Gleam¡­" He glanced at the dungeon stairs that he couldn''t approach, then finally turned around. The swirl of darkness emanating from his body subsided as he decided to conserve the rest of his mana. Soon he was making his way back into the dungeon that had become quite chaotic. A lot of monsters had followed after him and the adventurers he was chasing and now they had caught up. It had been a while, but Rusty had been created on this level. Navigating them was rather easy, and even though the monsters here were now aggressive towards him, they didn''t pose much of a threat. A few skeletons charged at him, but even after their blades connected with his body, they didn''t cause any damage. His durability exceeded the attacking power of these low-level F-rank monsters and wouldn''t even cause him to lose a single hit point. You have gained +1 experience points. "They are really weak¡­ weaker than those insectoids¡­" With just a single hit, the skeleton was defeated, and its friends followed suit. Rusty could see how much he had grown, as dispatching the other living armors could be done with a few shoves and strikes to their body parts. Normally, he would be feeling ecstatic, but without Gleam around, it didn''t feel the same. The other adventurers were luckily also busy with these monsters, which allowed him to head back down to his previous hiding spot on the first level. "I hope they will have an answer¡­" Rusty found himself at a loss for what to do. The situation had taken a turn he hadn''t predicted, but all hope was not lost. While Gleam was not here, there were two other beings he could turn to for help. The Hero and the Demon Lord had experienced this world for longer than he had, and perhaps they could show him the way forward. Thus, after making sure that he was alone, he activated the skill that would call both the guides here at once. While he knew that this would cause his mana to run dry fast, he was desperate. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Well well, if it isn''t Rusty, that was quite the spectacle, are you perhaps trying to become the next demon king?" First appeared Aburdon, the fallen Demon King, in the form of a black orb of light. He seemed rather amused by the predicament Rusty had found himself in and couldn''t stop himself from silently laughing. Next, the orb of white light appeared, representing the betrayed hero Alexander, who showed a bit more concern about Rusty''s situation. "It''s not easy to lose a friend, you could at least try to show some empathy." "Empathy? Friend? Hah, none of those are needed to become a king of demons!" Just like many times before, the two started arguing with each other about things of the past. If Rusty were a being of flesh, he would be sighing now. However, this was not the time to listen to these two bickering around. He needed knowledge about how to proceed, and he needed it now. "Enough, stop! I didn''t summon you here for your squabbling. I need your help," "Oh, how forceful? Did you really care about that little ant that much? You can just make another bonding contract later, what''s the big deal? How about you worry about yourself instead." The black orb replied and tried to shift the conversation in a different direction - survival. It was clear to everyone there that once things settled down, another party of adventurers would come to flush him out, just like before. And this time, they would likely do more than just toss him down a chasm. "I am but¡­ I have to save Gleam first, but I don''t know how to do that¡­" His metal head dropped as if he was at the end of his wits. He had thought that he had evolved enough to leave the dungeon by now as the voice wasn''t affecting his body anymore, and even the other monsters saw him as an outsider. However, for some reason, he was still unable to leave. "Well, there are a few ways of getting out of the dungeon. You did leave it already once, right?" The hero brought up this point, and Rusty realized that he was right. After falling into the chasm, he miraculously left the dungeon and the voice behind. That approach had many problems, though, as he would be attacked by shadowy spiders, and there was no way of knowing if any of those caves and tunnels led outside of the dungeon. "Good point Hero, we just need to build a ballista and fire Rusty out of the dungeon." Aburdon continued cackling while trying to make a joke but it seemed that the Hero had put some thought into this plan. If they accounted for Rusty''s restorative powers, it was plausible to perform an escape like this. "Why a ballista? If he could throw his helmet far enough, couldn''t he just restore himself on the other side?" "I''m not sure if that will work and even if it did, then what? Once he steps out the dungeon, he''ll be as good as dead." "That''s¡­ probably true¡­" There was one exit to the dungeon, and both of them knew that it was heavily guarded, with many adventurers moving between it. Even if Rusty managed to get outside, he would likely be swarmed by enemies from all directions. He could slip away, but it was quite a risky plan, not something that either of his consultants could propose. "Then what can I do? Are there other exits?" "Probably not." "But there has to be a way to get out¡­" "Hm¡­ there might be, but you''ll probably be just wasting your time. Even if you find a new exit or tunnel yourself outside, you''ll still be unable to leave." The demon lord cackled again as if he were having fun teasing the desperate piece of armor. Even if Rusty discovered a different exit, he would still be locked inside the dungeon. "However, I didn''t say there isn''t a way out of here." "Then stop wasting time and tell me!" "So impatient~" Rusty found himself shouting at the darkened ball of light and the power he held over the former demonic king was activated. Aburdon felt himself compelled to give a proper answer to the question and quickly answered. "Then listen to Rusty. You are a monster born of the dungeon, a creature summoned by the Dungeon Heart. If we consider this, then there are a few possibilities.First, if you destroye the demon heart¡­ you will be free!" "Destroy the Dungeon Heart?..." Rusty knew by this point that the voice inside of his head was this supposed dungeon heart. It controlled all of the monsters inside of the dungeon and was in a sense the dungeon he was in. "Are you mad? Do you know what happens if you destroy a dungeon heart?" "The dungeon will collapse but he will have some time to leave, that is, if he doesn''t crumble with the other dungeon monsters." "Don''t listen to him, Rusty. The monsters that were summoned by the dungeon heart will all disappear if it gets destroyed." There was a big problem with this tactic, and both Aburdon and Alexander knew it. While Rusty was a special monster and there was a possibility that he could survive, there was a significant chance that he wouldn''t. This was already evidenced by his inability to leave through the front exit. It was clear that he was still considered a monster born of the dungeon, and the heart didn''t wish for him to leave. "Are you tired of living demon king?" "Not really, I was just answering the question, that was just one of the paths Rusty can take. Considering his special deposition, he might be able to survive but¡­ can you stop interrupting and let me finish?" Rust nodded to indicate that he could continue with his proposition as perhaps one of them would end up saving Gleam. "I would also discourage you from destroying the demon heart. The whole place would probably collapse before you could find the exit." "Then what should I do? Reason with it, with that loud voice?" "Funny you mentioned that, Rusty, because that''s similar to what I was thinking." "What are you saying? How can he talk to a dungeon heart?" "You humans are really something. You use these dungeons to get stronger, but you don''t even know what they truly are." The hero was confused by the cryptic proposition, but there was apparently more to the dungeon than he expected. Alexander, like the other adventurers, had used the dungeon to get stronger and richer. Never once did he think about what these dungeons were; to everyone, they were more like natural resources than intelligent beings. "The dungeon hearts aren''t quite intelligent beings but they act like them and this we can use to our advantage. If my speculations are correct, then if our little Rusty could present himself as a big enough threat to the dungeon heart, it would sever the connection by itself." Soon, Aburdon laid out his entire plan, and Rusty started listening to the theory. It was rather simple: the dungeon heart apparently had a connection with each monster inside the dungeon. Through this connection, the dungeon monsters acted as a sort of antibodies, protecting the body that was the dungeon. Everything was connected and in a sort of balance. However, once Rusty appeared, it affected this balance, and the dungeon heart saw him as an anomaly. While the dungeon saw Rusty as an anomaly that needed to be purged, it still maintained its connection to him. It didn''t want to destroy him but rather have him die once and restore him to the being that had been summoned. In this way, it would get rid of the anomaly without losing the resources it used to create him. "But how will I cut this connection with the dungeon?" "I see a few ways. One possibility is to simply get stronger. Perhaps once you evolve, the connection will be severed. Other than that, you could create some chaos. Kill as many monsters as you can, and if that fails, perhaps injuring the dungeon heart could work. Once it sees you as a true threat, it will probably cut the connection. Remember, the dungeon heart is a living being, and every living being feels fear¡­" Rusty processed Aburdon''s words, feeling some apprehension about the deed. Destroying the dungeon heart sounded incredibly risky, but if causing enough chaos or getting stronger was something he could manage. "Do you really think this could work?" "It sounds plausible and the skill compels him to speak the truth¡­" "Hey you two, I can hear you!" Rusty asked Aleksander for confirmation before trusting the words of the demon king. It seemed that a plan was forming. To save Gleam he need to cause enough damage to the dungeon for it to see him as a real threat and for this to happen, he would need to delve deeper down and face stronger foes¡­ Chapter 44 – Hopeful. "Are you sure?""It''s quite probable. Your ant friend should be safe for the time being, probably for another month, that is if they haven''t changed the guild rules since my untimely demise. Let me explain." A white orb replied to a strangely relieved-looking suit of armor. A plan was made to cause chaos and escape in this dungeon. However, this did not fix the immediate problem of Gleam being captured. Rusty posed a question about his friend''s safety, and the hero, familiar with the ways of adventurers, gave him some good news. "The ant." "Her name is Gleam." "Sure¡­ Gleam will probably go through an examination process. They will likely discover that she is under a bonding contract with someone. Normally, this will make them assume that she is owned by a Tamer." "A Tamer?" "Tamers are people that use monsters and beasts as their weapons, they are able to subjugate and control these creatures through these contracts, with the bonding one being a bit special, usually they use it for their first monster. Since Gleam bonded with you and you are still alive, the contract will come up during the first examination¡­" "So, that means that¡­" The hero sighed as he continued his explanation. He wasn''t sure what to make of Rusty. Sometimes, Rusty reacted like a child who didn''t know anything, while other times, his mind was sharper than an adult''s. His ability to strategically take out adventurers using traps showed his high intelligence, but he lacked a lot of the common sense a human would have. "That means that Gleam will be treated as someone''s tamed monster, there are laws prohibiting others from harming such monsters." "That''s great! So that means that Gleam is safe?" "At least for the time being¡­" "Time being? Is there more to it?" "Yeah, there are certain rules, or at least there were, but everything is on a timer. I think it was around a month. If no one claims a bonded monster, the guild would seize it and more than likely allow the people who captured Gleam to take possession of her. Even though you have a bonding contract, such things can be forcefully removed even if the owner is still alive." Rusty nodded at this revelation. It seemed that there were a lot of strange rules in the outside world populated by these humanoid beings. Luckily, these rules were working in his favor, as for the time being, it seemed that Gleam would be safe. Captured monsters like her would need to remain at a certain facility, and once there, they would stay for a month. During this time, nothing would happen to her, but eventually, after the timer ran out, the people who captured her could claim her as their possession and probably overwrite his bonding contract with a more unfavorable one. This meant that he had around a month to turn this place upside down and leave the dungeon he was born in. "Good, that will be enough, thank you." "No need to thank me, I''m just nothing but a skill¡­" "Stop being such a downer, little hero." The two lights started to vanish as Rusty canceled the skill before his mana ran out. During the conversation, he had already used up his last mana crystal to prolong their talk. He was now back to square one on the first floor of the dungeon. The only difference was that he was now being hunted not only by the adventurers but also by the dungeon heart. It wanted to kill him and restore his form to the one it could control, something he could not allow. "How should I start¡­ if Aburdon is right, then I might have to attack the dungeon heart directly or gain enough levels to evolve further." Rusty found himself back in the dim, musty corridors of the dungeon''s first level. His metallic body was still and silent as he contemplated his next steps. The weight of his newfound purpose - saving Gleam and breaking free from the dungeon pressed heavily onto his armored shoulders. "I''ll need to get stronger and do it fast, a month seems like long but it''s not¡­" Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L3 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 140/140 Magic Points [MP] 129/129 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 24 [ E- ] Agility 6 [ E- ] Dexterity 10 [ E- ] Constitution 25 [ E- ] Intelligence 12 [ E- ] Wisdom 14 [ E- ] Willpower Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 12 [ E- ] Durability E+ Rusty glanced at his status screen and his stats. After having defeated the insectoid monsters inside the chasm, his progress had stagnated. His rank was E minus, and fighting F minus ranked monsters didn''t give him more than one experience point. It was clear that he had to delve into the lower levels of this dungeon to find stronger prey. However, there was also a different option: fighting adventurers, something the hero had tried to dissuade him from doing. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. These humanoid adversaries would yield more experience points but were quite troublesome. The more he killed, the more likely they were to call for reinforcements. If he did too much damage, he would probably be forced to hide for a while, a tactic his helpers had already mentioned. Aburdon offered another solution, which would be the safest: Rusty could simply bury himself in a hole and wait a few months. Eventually, the adventurers would forget about him, and the dungeon monsters would not be able to see him if he was hidden behind a newly created wall. With his pickaxe, making a temporary shelter wouldn''t be hard. His disposition as living armor didn''t require oxygen or food for survival, so he could just stay there until everything blew over. However, such an approach would put Gleam''s life at stake, and he did not want to risk that. "The lower levels it is then ¡­ I need to go deeper and level up more." With a resolve set, there was nothing else for Rusty to worry about as he decided to delve deeper into the dungeon before the adventurers could organize themselves further. While they posed a problem, within the dark and musty dungeon, he could conceal his presence. His enemies were searching for a living armor, but his form didn''t look much different from his dungeon brethren. One of them was right before him, slowly approaching, weapon drawn as it charged forward. "Was I really this slow before?" It felt strange to see the corroded armored pieces coming at him and being dispatched in a matter of moments. He didn''t even need to hit them with his sword; a few punches and kicks were enough, and probably better. Slashing damage was something his body was quite resistant to, but there was still a limit, which he observed just now. After one of the armors went down, another charged at him. In response, Rusty raised his sword hand and brought it down with the help of his Power Slash skill. His sword connected with the monster''s shoulder and dug in deep. The corroded form, riddled with holes, could not hold and was sliced apart. A massive gash appeared on the monster, which died instantly. His E-rank weapon was powerful enough to cut through the F-plus durability. With this amount of strength, he felt confident in progressing. Thanks to the sheer number of monsters here, it would probably not take that long to gain the experience he needed. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this armor into base materials? "I probably won''t run out of bronze either¡­" His brethren were made of bronze which he could absorb with the help of his skill. Even though he ran out of mana crystals, he would have a way of restoring his body to a seemingly infinite amount. With this in mind, he could let loose and not care about his well-being, as long as his helmet remained intact, he would be fine. There was another bonus to returning to the dungeon besides being able to absorb materials from weapons and monsters. He had another use for his absorption skill that he hadn''t been able to utilize for a while. The skeleton approaching him with a mace was the perfect subject to see if it still worked. It charged forward, but with one sidestep and a quick swipe, Rusty disarmed the monster, its limbs landing on the ground. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. Basic Blunt Weapon Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield blunt weapons like clubs and maces, is required to unlock more powerful blunt weapon skills. It was a similar type of skill to ''Basic Swordsmanship'' and even encompassed more than one type of blunt weapon. At first, he wished to limit himself to as few weapon types as possible, even thinking that more than three would have been too much. However, his two guides were different type of creatures as they actually required sleep and rest. Rusty on the other hand, could function all day and night, using his weapons and leveling up skills constantly. ''What are my strong points?" Rusty pondered his approach and concluded that using multiple weapons could become his fighting style. He could switch out new ones and repair old ones during combat. Just like with his javelin throw, he could ambush his opponents when they least expected it. There were all kinds of weapons in this world, none definitively better than another. This was showcased by his body, which could shrug off slashing attacks but crumbled under blunt hits that indirectly damaged his monster core. Then there was also the Soul Forge, a place where he could construct all types of weapons. What was the point of the blacksmithing skills he was learning if he couldn''t even use the weapons he was creating himself? He could customize them to fit all his needs, and in the future, enchanting could also be possible - something that could bridge the gap between skills as well. The ability to craft and enhance his own weapons would give him a big advantage, allowing him to adapt to various combat situations and opponents. "Let''s take this skill but maybe overdoing it is also bad¡­ Getting a polearm instead of a spear should be enough, I don''t really need to overlap when the weapons are similar." Thus, with his mindset and priorities clear, he headed back down to the lower-level floors. The second level presented not much of a challenge as the monsters there weren''t all that strong. Nevertheless, he kept to the side tunnels he remembered and made his way to an old location. There he found some old friends in the poison-filled leeches. To his dismay, others decided to come out to play. The ruined graveyard he could previously just walk by was activated as if he were one of the adventurers. Zombies and skeletons emerged to stop his plan, or at least become a minor inconvenience. These monsters were rather slow and not particularly bright. Rusty had seen adventurers clear out this cavern and knew how to handle them all, even by himself and without a priest. A zombie''s head tumbled to the side and was quickly followed by another one. The best tactic here was to defeat the zombies while they were rising up from their graves. It took them a while to do so and with swift movements, Rusty made quick work of the rising undead. His blade cleaved through the air, severing limbs and decapitating heads before the creatures could fully emerge. It was an efficient method that minimized the number of active threats but it was still not perfect. The graveyard was large, and some monsters were still able to rise. By the time Rusty reached their position, they had already fully emerged. He swung his blade in broad arcs, each swing taking down one foe. Skeletons were also present, and with his new mace skill, he could easily shatter their fragile bones. While he would need a skill to use two weapons at once more efficiently, against such low-leveled targets, his current abilities were enough. Soon, the number of undead enemies dwindled, and he had successfully cleared the area without needing to use his light element. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. The experience points came, but they were quite meager. Even after all the monsters were dealt with, his experience bar had not budged at all. It was clear that he should leave quickly, as this place wasn''t worth his time. Luckily, the poisonous exploding leeches were able to enter his inventory. With them around, he felt a bit safer, as they worked wonders on the adventurers. They would be his trump card if he ever got surrounded. Rusty tried to focus on his journey, but his mind kept drifting back to memories of his old friend, Gleam. He wasn''t sure what these emotions truly were, but the more he thought about her, the more something hurt inside him. To distract himself from this strange new pain, he decided to concentrate on other things, like the armor pieces he had picked up from the other living armors. While they were not made out of twilight bronze, they were the same size as his own body parts. He had stored a few pieces inside his storage space but could also place them in his stash tab. On the system screen, the icons representing equipment weren''t quite lifelike and resembled two-dimensional sprites. He had two versions of the armor: one belonging to the corroded variant of his old body and the other to an evolved bronze variant he had vanquished in the lower levels. As he walked, Rusty started playing around with these items and placed one in the spot of his left arm. To his surprise, the corroded piece replaced his left gauntlet, which felt quite normal. He couldn''t feel any reduction in his stats, but this piece was certainly less durable than the body part made of twilight bronze. While it wouldn''t be the best option, he could still replace damaged parts with others. Perhaps he could even use different types of body armor, like the ones the humans were wearing. After a few more tests, he realized there was an interesting exploit. Once he replaced his arm with the lesser damaged variant, he was given the option to repair it. It cost the usual ingot amount, but his system created a brand-new arm identical to the original. It seemed that, through this method, he could produce replacement limbs for future use. This discovery was intriguing as it allowed him to stock up on undamaged parts. This trick didn''t work with weapons, though; he could only restore the ones he himself created. He wasn''t sure why, but perhaps the monster parts were seen differently since they came from similar monster variants with identical builds. The weapons, on the other hand, were more universal and could be used by many other creatures. "I should go back down and explore that fifth level. The monsters there gave a bit more experience than these¡­" With a determined mind, he set off on his journey. He had a month to gather enough experience to challenge the dungeon heart, and he intended to do it. Once the connection was severed, he would move above ground, where a whole new world would await him. Chapter 45 – Alone. "Hey, be careful! I don''t think it likes that¡­""Calm down, it''s just a monster, it probably can''t even feel pain. Now, let me do my job." A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard let out a sigh as he tried to yank an insectoid monster from within a cage. The cage was placed on a strange-looking metal table, adorned with various magical symbols pulsating around a magic circle. Despite his efforts, the monster did not resist, or more precisely it could not. Instead, it only emitted peculiar chirping screeches. Once it was out, its form was revealed to resemble that of an ant. It wasn''t that large at only perhaps the height of a middle-sized dog. As the ant was extracted from the cage, its chirping became more frantic, echoing through the sterile, well-lit room. The walls were lined with shelves holding strange tools, and jars with monster parts. The scruffy man placed the ant on the table, within the confines of the glowing magical circle. "Hold still," He muttered while shouting at the monster. Initially, it seemed the creature would resist, but once the magical inscriptions began glowing red, its strength was suppressed, rendering it immobile and paralyzed. With the creature now disabled, the man reached to the side for a toolbox filled with various implements. From the toolbox, he took out something resembling a monocle with an elongated lens. It had a series of elastic strings attached which allowed him to secure it to his head. "Well?" The man was not alone; two others were with him - a young woman and a man, who urged him to hurry up. This annoyed the middle-aged man, who continued to sigh in protest. Soon, he activated the magical lens on his head, allowing him to view the monster''s hidden status screen. "I have some bad news for you missy, you can''t take this thing back." "Why not?" "I knew it, that thing must be cursed!" "No it isn''t!" The middle-aged man shook his head as he adjusted the monocle, allowing it to zoom in on the finer details of the magical status screen hovering above this Ant. The screen displayed various attributes and a blinking red line indicating a bond. "See this?" He pointed to the glowing line. "This monster has a bonding contract. That means it already belongs to someone else, probably a Tamer." The young woman who had been anxiously observing the process stepped closer, she could not see the status screen that the man could see with the help of the magical monocle. The only thing she could do was to ask the man, hoping that he was not lying. "Are you sure? We go this monster from the dungeon, could you be mistaken?" The man let out another sigh and was quite annoyed with the assumption that he could not do something simple as read a monster''s status. "I read the report but that doesn''t change the fact that this monster has a bonding contract and also a name." "A name?" The woman was surprised by the revelation. Monsters didn''t usually have names; it was something people tended to give themselves, and Tamers were the same. If this monster had a name, it was likely given to it by its Tamer during the establishment of their contract. This confirmed the man''s claims that this monster belonged to someone and complicated things. "But it was in the middle of nowhere, are you sure that the Tamer didn''t just abandon it there? Are they even alive?" The middle-aged man scratched his beard, considering the woman''s question. He adjusted the monocle once more and looked through the monster''s status to find the answers. "It''s hard to say for sure. The contract is still active, which suggests the Tamer is alive, but it''s possible they could be far away or even unable to return for some reason. It might be possible that they abandoned it but we still have to follow the procedures and post a notice first, you should know the rules." She clenched her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She knew the rules well but had hoped for a loophole that might allow her to keep the unusual ant she had found. The rules were in place to protect both Tamers and their bonded monsters, ensuring that no one could claim a bonded creature without due process. "Fine. How long do we have to wait? And don''t think I won''t write a complaint to the guild master if you dare to sell it off at an auction!" "Why would I do such a thing?" This ant was quite unusual and rare. While it was still just an F rank monster, its rarity was something that would entice a lot of researchers and collectors. She had to make sure that this person didn''t pull some tricks. "I wonder why?" She rolled her eyes and continued speaking which soon turned to shouting. "The rules state that the person who discovered the monster first gets to keep it! Do I also have to remind you that you''ll be held accountable if something happens to it? Don''t think that I won''t take you to court and do you know who my master is?" "I know the rules, lass. Calm down, it''s just a procedure." The man was taken aback by the reaction of this young lady, her friend that was with her needed to start holding her back. "Sorry, she is just a little bit tired¡­ Alanna, calm down already!" Alanna took a deep breath, trying to reign in her frustration. Her friend''s words were a welcome reminder to keep her emotions in check, especially in a situation like this. This didn''t keep her from angrily shaking him off and landing a kick against his shin. "You don''t need to remind me Eugene!" "Ow¡­" "Fine, let''s just follow the procedure then. But I''m keeping an eye on you, old man." "Sure, that''s fine, just fill out the required paperwork." She warned, pointing a finger at the middle-aged man who seemed unperturbed by her threat. With that settled, they began the process of documenting the ant''s discovery and the presence of the bonding contract. It was a tedious task, involving paperwork and numerous signatures, but necessary to ensure that everything was done by the book. Stolen novel; please report. "Gleam huh? I guess you''ll be staying here for a while." " ( ¨B?¨B ) " Eventually, the process was finished, and the two young people left, leaving the ant creature behind. It was now alone in the room with the man, who brought out a trolley with a similar magic circle on it. The monster could not move and was defenseless. "Here, this will be your new home for a few weeks." He carted the monster to a separate large area, with many more creatures everywhere. The room was spacious, with cages lining the walls and various magical apparatuses scattered about. Gleam felt weak but started looking around to discover that the strange magical suppressing magic was everywhere here. All the cages here were imbued with similar magical circles, keeping the monsters within powerless and subdued. Soon, she too was moved over to one of them, which was not much bigger than the one she initially arrived in. "This thing is supposed to only eat magic crystals? ¡­ Well, as long as it lives until the deadline, it should be fine, right?" The man mumbled to himself while shoving Gleam into one of the smaller cages. Around her, many monsters opened their mouths in protest, but the enchantment seemed to silence any sound. Gleam felt trapped and helpless, surrounded by strange creatures in a place she couldn''t understand. Despite her fear, she reminded herself that she was still alive, and that counted for something. " ( ?? ? ?? ) " Things looked grim, and though she was being suppressed, Gleam clung to the fact that she was still alive. The magical inscriptions on these cages were strange, but they still emanated mana, something she, as a spell-slinging monster, was born with. Perhaps, if she tried hard enough, there would be a way to free herself and reunite with her one and only friend, whom she was certain was looking for her. ***** Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. Basic Polearm Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield polearms, is required to unlock more powerful polearm skills. Basic Two-handed Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield larger and longer weapons with two hands, is required to unlock more powerful two-handed skills. "So¡­ I''ll need both of these for a polearm and something like a greatsword?" Rusty looked at the defeated bronze armor before him. It bore a striking resemblance to him, its monster core embedded within its helmet. Activating the skill absorption on his look-alikes was proving troublesome, as his helmet couldn''t be placed over theirs. Instead, he needed to remove both their limbs and scatter them so they couldn''t reform themselves. Only then could he place his helmet onto the living armor''s torso to initiate the process. He had been warned by the demon king not to abuse this skill too much, but Rusty needed to grow stronger. As planned, he decided to acquire the polearm skill first, giving him something with long reach. After the absorption process, the skill went into cooldown, rendering it unusable for several days. It hadn''t been long since he gained the skill required for mace use, and he noticed that the more frequently he used the absorption skill, the longer the cooldown period became. However, after abstaining from its use for a while, he observed that the cooldown period shortened, a fact he realized after refraining from its use while fighting insectoid monsters. It was as if just like the demon king, the skill in itself didn''t want to be used often and saved for really important skills and not for basic ones. While this might have been true for humans he was a monster who couldn''t pick up these skills through regular training. He was locked to a set of abilities given to him by his evolutions. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You have gained +23 experience points. "Even the F plus monsters don''t give me that much experience, I must go in deeper." Rusty crushed the monster core embedded in the living armor''s helmet to defeat it. This served as a stark reminder of how vulnerable he was if someone managed to obtain his own helmet. These cores were quite brittle, and Rusty pondered if there was any way to safeguard them. Perhaps, if he could access the soul forge, he could insert some type of protective layer. His biggest fear was sustaining a blow to the head with a mace or some other hard object. While there were ways to reinforce his core and helmet, he would have to wait until his next evolution to make such adjustments. It had been a few days since his return to the dungeon, and Rusty was still struggling to adjust to the persistent animosity. Everything within its confines was his enemy, with no safe spots or crystal cavern to use. The only silver lining in this bleak environment was the abundance of bronze armors he could use for resources. With their parts, he didn''t truly need a safe area to hide in as he could repair anything that broke on his body. "I wonder how far down this place goes¡­" The fifth level he now traversed was quite spacious, though not much different from the preceding floors. However, it provided access to areas he would normally avoid - those infested with a bothersome creature known as the goblin. Now deemed an enemy of the entire dungeon, Rusty found himself considering hunting these monsters. Much like humanoid adventurers, goblins fought in packs, albeit with inferior equipment. However, their gear contained a metal he previously lacked access to: iron. His current goal was to save Gleam, and to achieve that, he needed to grow stronger. His metallic body was his greatest asset, and upgrading it further was his best path to gaining power. Rusty was well aware that bronze wasn''t the most durable metal, and advancing to iron and eventually, steel was necessary. Previously, he had been unable to separate iron from the weapons wielded by adventurers, but now, as an E-rank monster, he potentially could overcome that limitation. To test this theory, he needed to delve into the goblin-infested floors. Fortunately, this fifth floor boasted a bustling population of these green-skinned devils. "Gigi?" "It''s not like the other monsters¡­" These small creatures behaved differently, reminiscent of Rusty when he was younger. Unlike the mindless skeletons, zombies, and living armors, the goblins seemed capable of assessing the danger level of their opponents, at least to some extent. They never attacked when alone and instead attempted to lure their enemies into traps or ambushes. It was no different for Rusty as he began making noise and then turned to flee. While Rusty was still an inexperienced dungeon dweller, he could tell that something was wrong. Such obvious tactics would not work on him but he still wanted to hunt some of these green goblins for their crude iron weaponry. Luckily, he had just gotten a new type of weapons in the polearm that he lifted from the living armor that was holding it. To save on his own twilight bronze, he started to sometimes use the weapons other monsters dropped on the ground. Once he was holding on to them, the dungeon could no longer absorb them either. "You''re not getting away." With the Power Throw skill at his disposal and the bardiche in hand, Rusty prepared to strike. It went under the umbrella of poleaxes with the main difference being its elongated, curved blade at the end of the pole. It wasn''t quite shaped like an axe but thanks to this, it could still be used for throwing. After activating his active skill, Rusty timed his throw precisely. The weapon hurtled towards the retreating goblin and connected solidly with its back. The goblin let out a high-pitched shriek as it stumbled forward, tumbling to the ground with a thud. Rusty rushed forward, his metallic form clanking with each step, to finish the job. He wasn''t interested in a prolonged fight; he needed to dispatch his enemies quickly and efficiently. As Rusty approached the fallen goblin, it attempted to scramble to its feet, but the injury was too severe. Blood flowed onto the ground, and with one follow-up attack, the monster fell, lifeless. The experience points he received were fewer than those from the bronze living armors, but that wasn''t the aim of this confrontation. Instead, he focused on the goblin''s weapon, which in this case was a crude iron dagger. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this weapon into base materials? Material 1 Iron 20% Material 2 Nickel 5% His visor pulsed with glee as he was presented with the option to extract the iron metal from within the dagger. Though it wasn''t much, Rusty understood that if he mastered the mechanics behind this skill, after four more absorptions, he would be rewarded with one iron ingot. With this revelation in mind, he delved deeper into the tunnel that the goblin had tried to lure him into, eager to continue his hunt for both experience and resources. Chapter 46 – Hunting Goblins. "Guild Master Husson, do you have a minute?""Lorenda? Sure, come in, what is it now?" A woman was seen entering what appeared to be an office. A brawny man with an eyepatch over his left eye was sitting there. His size and musculature bulged out of his clothes, which seemed too formal for a man of his stature. On the desk, there were various papers that the man was going through and stamping with his approval. The woman who walked in was wearing a uniform with the guild''s insignia embroidered on her chest, indicating her position as one of the guild administrators. "It''s about the latest dungeon report. There seems to be an irregularity." The guild master raised an eyebrow, setting down the document he had been reading. "Irregularity? Fine, let me see this¡­" The man seemed rather annoyed by the situation but waved Lorenda over. She handed him the report from the dungeon case and waited patiently for him to read through it. Husson''s brow furrowed as he scanned the report, his eyes moving rapidly over the text, absorbing the details about a strange monster sighting. "...No one died, only one person injured? This doesn''t seem that urgent." Husson raised an eyebrow at his secretary, wondering why she had brought this up as if it were an important problem. The report stated that a strange monster had appeared and chased a few new adventurers out of the dungeon. One man was reported injured but was later found and escorted out. "The monster had behaved strangely and was using demonic magic sir." "So? It looks like they triggered some type of trap that set off this monster. If not, then it''s some type of roaming variant. Just write up a commission; it''s just an E rank too." This man was well-versed in monster types, and even though the report stated that the monster was acting strange, it wasn''t anything unprecedented. It mentioned that the monster ignored other adventurers to chase after one of the alchemical apprentices and suggested they triggered a trap that targeted a specific person - nothing too out of the ordinary. "But..." "Stop wasting my time with things like this. I''m busy enough with all this damn paperwork! I don''t have time. Now leave!" "I... yes, sir..." The woman was taken aback by the man''s reaction and watched him crumble up the mission report he had presented. She soon found herself outside of his office after being quickly dismissed. Lorenda felt frustration as she had read between the lines of that report, sensing that something bigger was afoot. This was not the first time an irregularity had taken place and ignoring this threat was dangerous. Nevertheless, she was not someone who could make the decision, and going against the orders of the guild master would just get her fired. "Something wrong, you don''t look too happy?" Lorenda walked through the door and was greeted by a similarly dressed woman with large glasses. She seemed concerned about her colleague, who appeared annoyed and perhaps frustrated. "It''s nothing, the Guild Master just doesn''t think it''s a big deal." "Again?" The woman with glasses sighed, adjusting her frames. "This isn''t the first time he''s dismissed something important." "No, it isn''t, I hope no one gets injured¡­" Both of the women shook their heads around as they knew their guild master well. He had been a high-ranking adventurer before taking up the administrative role, and while his combat skills were respected, his patience for paperwork was limited. Even if a problem arose, he expected the adventurers to be able to clear it up. In his mind, to build them up, they needed to be challenged and not coddled by the guild. "I guess we''ll have to stick with an E-rank commission. I wanted to make it a D-rank, I just hope no one gets injured¡­" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both women worked as receptionists and had noticed that a larger number of new adventurers were falling victim to the dungeon. It wasn''t a new phenomenon; the place was teeming with monsters, and each floor was deadlier than the last. Every aspiring adventurer needed to be keenly aware of the dangers, and typically, the highest mortality rates occurred among the lower ranks of adventurers who struggled to assess threats accurately. "It''s a shame, really. But without solid evidence of a larger threat, there''s not much we can do." The woman with glasses remarked while Lorenda nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting her concern. "I just hope they can handle whatever''s down there. Some of those newbies barely know which end of the sword to hold." "Well, we''ll have to keep an eye on the situation, if any new strange monsters appear, lets quickly bring it up with the Guild Master, eventually he will have to give in." With that, the two returned to their respective desks. Lorenda quickly prepared a commission notice destined for the guild mission board. At most, she could designate it as an E-plus rank commission, reserved for a full party of adventurers of the same rank. She could only hope that she was simply overthinking things and that the monster posed a lesser threat, just as their guild master had assured. ***** Meanwhile, deep within the dungeon, the monster in question continued his relentless hunt for experience and new items. His current target was a group of goblins that used crude iron weaponry. The tunnels were crawling with them, which allowed him to gain quite a lot of raw iron. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this weapon into base materials? "Should I really be wasting my time on them¡­" Rusty glanced at the crude iron dagger he had just acquired, along with the goblin corpse that had wielded it moments before. These short creatures weren''t particularly resilient; their only real advantage lay in their sheer numbers. This meant that Rusty wasn''t gaining much experience, as they were nothing more than lowly F-rank adversaries, far below the challenge of even a bronze living armor. Time was slipping away, and this cycle wasn''t getting him closer to reaching a new evolution or causing chaos inside this dungeon. "There seemed to be something up ahead¡­" He resolved to see this through for the time being. These green monsters were a novelty, and it seemed better to conduct a thorough examination of them. Rusty had already observed that the deeper he ventured into the dungeon, the greater the likelihood of encountering evolved variations of each creature. While these small goblins posed only minor threats here, they could potentially evolve into major menaces deeper within. It was wise to study their combat tactics now in preparation for the inevitable future battles ahead. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Is this their lair?" As he traversed the tunnels, he stumbled upon a larger chamber teeming with even more goblins. Unlike other areas with destroyed structures, this one appeared unusually organized. It was unlike anything he had encountered before; the goblins here exhibited a level of coordination not seen among other dungeon monsters. Within the chamber stood smaller structures crafted from wood and straw. Though their exact purpose eluded him, it was evident that some of the goblins occupied these makeshift dwellings. In the center of the chamber stood a goblin totem, decorated with an array of bones and trinkets, serving as a clear indication of the place''s significance to the goblins. Rusty watched from the shadows, his metallic form seamlessly blending into the darkness. Despite the occasional clinks and clanks of his metalic body, his adversaries typically mistook the sounds for those of the numerous other bronze armors scattered throughout this level. While these goblins displayed greater intelligence and organization compared to the other monsters in the dungeon, they remained relatively simple minded and were easily fooled. Classification: Green Goblin Warrior L5 F Type: Humanoid Classification: Green Goblin Archer L 4 F Type: Humanoid There were various types of goblins present, easily distinguishable by the weapons they wielded. However, amidst his examination of this subterranean goblin village, Rusty noticed one goblin standing out like a sore thumb. Positioned near the totem, it was engaged in a peculiar activity. Unlike the others, this goblin was dressed in strange loose robes and held a large wooden stick that didn''t quite resemble a weapon. "What''s it doing? Stirring something inside that round vessel?" Rusty utilized his identification skill to identify the vessel as a large iron cauldron. Inside simmered a brownish liquid, slowly coming to a boil. The goblin, wielding a large wooden ladle, scooped out this liquid and poured it into a glass container. Before sealing it with a cork, the creature sprinkled some dust over it, leaving Rusty perplexed. Classification: Green Goblin Potionist L 4 F+ Type: Humanoid The monster was cackling while preparing these strange potions that turned yellowish after the dust had been added. It seemed that to the side there were some strange herbs that after crushing were added to the boiled liquid to complete some type of reaction. After the potion was finished, the monster seemed to handle the small bottles with a lot of care, as if there was something more to them. He was intrigued by this small goblin village, with his attention drawn to the iron cauldron. It was much larger than the weapons he was gathering and probably had a much higher concentration of the metal. Rusty could also just store it in his storage for later as perhaps it could be used for something different. However, before that could happen he would need to take care of all the goblins here. "Their numbers are high, it will be better if I make some noise and lure them out first." Rusty was formulating a plan inside of his metallic head. It was unwise to challenge so many goblins as they numbered around twenty. The plan was easy, make some noise and lure them out. Once they are chasing after him, there were some corridors that would not allow them to use their advantage in numbers against him. It was quite the basic plan but before he could even start, a problem arose. "Are those adventurers?" From the opposite side that he had arrived someone approached the goblin encampment. It was a human adventurer being loud and obviously carrying out a similar plan. In one of his hands he was holding a shield and in the other a mace. He used his weapon to hit the shield which produced an audible noise that railed up the whole small goblin village. Soon, some arrows flew in his direction and he started to retreat. It was clear to Rusty that these adventurers had a similar plan to his own as they were trying to lure the green monsters into a trap. Once they defeated the monsters at another location, they would likely return here to loot the place. There seemed to be a few valuables that they desired, perhaps including the strange yellow potions. However to Rusty''s surprise, there was more to the potions that he initially expected. The Goblin Potionist, the highest-ranking of the goblins, seemed enraged. The potions he was concocting had an unusual use. Along with the arrows, he hurled them towards the adventurer who had escaped into one of the tunnels. The moment a glass bottle connected with the ground, a small explosion shook the chamber. Rusty observed as the bottle shattered on impact, igniting into a burst of flames that sent a shockwave through the area. The green goblins laughed and screeched in excitement, their eyes glinting with malicious intent. "Explosive potions?" Rusty''s plan now needed a quick revision. These goblins, particularly the Potionist, had access to weapons far more dangerous than their crude iron daggers and bows. A direct confrontation could be quite deadly as if he was hit by one of those potions, even his armor might not protect him. He was in luck as the monsters focused on the adventurer luring them outside. The goblin who used the explosive potions followed, taking almost all the other goblins with him. Only four green humanoids stayed behind, apparently to guard the village while the rest were gone. This behavior was unique to this monster type. If they had been skeletons or any other undead creatures, they likely would have all left together. "Is this a chance?" Rusty asked himself if there were any other adventurers approaching, but none seemed to be. The timing couldn''t have been better. With the majority of the goblins chasing after the retreating adventurer, he seized the opportunity. Rusty waited in the shadows, scanning the area for any sign of a secondary party of adventurers who might be waiting just like him. After a few tense moments, he decided to make his move. Silently, Rusty slipped out of his hiding spot, taking advantage of the goblins distraction. His movements weren''t entirely silent, but the rustle of his bronze armor was overshadowed by the surprise of his sudden appearance. The goblins, preoccupied and not expecting an ambush, were caught off guard when Rusty charged out from one of the side tunnels. With his poleaxe, Rusty swiftly struck the first goblin. The creature fell almost instantly under the force of his blow. The remaining goblins, now aware of his presence, let out shrill cries and rushed at him in a frenzy. Despite their fierce charge, their crude weapons clanged harmlessly against Rusty''s armor. Their strikes lacked the strength to pierce his hardened exterior. Rusty, with confidence swung his poleaxe with precision, cutting through the remaining attackers with ease. The skirmish was brief and soon all the enemies were down on the ground. "Now then¡­" Even though he was alone, there was a high probability that adventurers would appear soon. He only had a few minutes to search the entire area and then retreat. First, he approached the iron cauldron, which was still overflowing with a strange explosive mixture. He wasn''t an alchemist, but that didn''t matter and the cauldron and its contents were quickly added to his inventory. "I can probably use these¡­" Some of the potions that the goblin had made were left behind and just like the iron cauldron, made their way into his inventory. There were five of the bottles here and they only took up one square inside of his stash tab. With haste Rusty moved through this goblin village searching for any other valuable items. He came across several makeshift storage areas, filled with crude weapons and trinkets, which he ignored. However, hidden within a wooden crate covered with a tattered cloth, he found something unexpected. "Is this¡­ a map? What does this red cross mean?" The parchment within the crate depicted a rough sketch of the dungeon and was marked with various symbols and annotations. Rusty couldn''t decipher the exact meaning behind all of them, but it was clear that this map held some value. It seemed to outline the locations of other goblin locations and perhaps some hidden treasure they had hidden away. "This could be useful¡­" Rusty carefully rolled up the map and stashed it away in his inventory. With the goblin village thoroughly searched, he decided it was time to retreat. He couldn''t risk encountering any other adventurers or dungeon monsters. As he made his way back through the tunnels, he heard some voices in the distance which probably belonged to the adventurers he was hoping to avoid. The group would probably soon discover that all the treasures had gone missing and he did not want to be there once that happened¡­ Chapter 47 – Skill Training. "What''s going on? Who opened the chest?"Asked an angry-looking man while going through the empty goblin encampment. The adventurers, fresh from their skirmish with the goblins, had returned expecting to find loot and spoils of their battle. Instead, they were met with barren goblin huts and no chest that should have been there. "Did someone beat us to it?" Another adventurer, a young woman with a bow, speculated, looking around suspiciously. "There were goblins here just moments ago, and now the place is empty." "It''s obvious, some bastard must have snuck in here while we were luring out those goblins, they could even still be nearby¡­" The adventurers gripped their weapons tightly at the thought of being attacked. While they were in monster-filled dungeons, they weren''t the only ones hunting for treasure and glory. Rivals and opportunistic thieves often lurked in the shadows, ready to pounce on any chance to steal hard-earned loot. "Stay sharp, everyone." "..." "I don''t think anyone is coming¡­" The adventurers looked around, but even after waiting for several moments, they were not attacked. They were greeted with nothing but silence and soon realized that whoever had looted everything here had already escaped. The one responsible was long gone and did not intend to test his luck. His goal here was completed and his inventory was filled with explosive potions. Rusty, the one responsible for the adventurers'' annoyance, was already moving towards the sixth floor. He had stayed close enough to hear their complaints but moved away almost immediately after. There was no reason to engage with a whole group of crafty adventurers. Even though his elemental darkness worked well on them, he would quickly run out of magical energy without the mana crystals in his possession. It was better to limit the use of high MP costing skills in the future and for that, he also needed to further his other skills. Basic Swordsmanship L7 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a sword, is required to unlock more powerful sword skills. Basic Archery L3 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a bow, is required to unlock more powerful archery skills. Basic Shield Proficiency L4 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a shield along with other weapons. It is required to unlock more powerful shield skills. Basic Polearm Proficiency L1 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield polearms, is required to unlock more powerful polearm skills. Basic Blunt Weapon Proficiency L2 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield blunt weapons like clubs and maces, is required to unlock more powerful blunt weapon skills. While moving, he reviewed his weapon proficiency skills. Basic Swordsmanship was his highest skill, while the others lagged behind. During his dungeon travels, he had tested a few theories, and after asking the hero for confirmation, he learned that certain laws governed skill leveling. This also meant that there was an optimal way of leveling up. First, he knew that he needed to be holding a specific weapon to target the associated skills. Killing monsters with that weapon would eventually increase the skill level, but the process was still somewhat slow. It took him several monster encounters to gain a single level, and it also helped if the monsters were of a higher level for the skills to improve. However, he needed to get stronger faster, and his progress was too slow for his liking. "There has to be a better way than this¡­ I''ve regained all of my MP, I should ask Alexander for some advice." Rusty had the memories of both the demon king and the hero who defeated him. Though these memories were riddled with holes like Swiss cheese, they revealed that the hero had reached the epitome of this world''s power. He had done it with the help of the soul forge and in record time. If anyone could shed light on this dilemma, it was probably the hero, who seemed to have extensive experience in leveling. The demon king, on the other hand, had been born into a powerful race and was naturally strong from birth. "Rusty, is there something you need?" After finding a secluded corner of the dungeon with no monsters and adventurers around, he activated his skill. Aleksander the hero appeared in his ball of light and his form illuminated the darkness around them. "I need your advice on something." "Sure? What do you need?" The late hero seemed a bit more chipper today as usually he seemed annoyed when asked for help. However, Rusty did not really notice the change of tone as his metallic mind was focused on getting stronger and saving Gleam. "Is there a better way to level up my skills? Fighting monsters normally is too slow, I don''t think I''ll be able to get strong in a month like this." Alexander floated closer, his light pulsing as if to indicate that he was thinking. "Leveling up skills efficiently? That''s a tricky one. You''re right; normal grinding can be tedious. But there are some strategies you can try to speed up the process." Rusty''s metal frame creaked slightly as he leaned in, eager to hear the hero''s advice. "Go on." Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Alright, you probably know that your skills will level up naturally when used against monsters." ''Yes." He nodded with his helmet while Alexander continued. "But did you know, that you don''t need to kill the monsters themselves for those skills to level up?" "I don''t?" Rusty was surprised, having assumed that to get stronger, one had to defeat more enemies. He always gained experience after an enemy was defeated, but there was no way to see his skills progressing until they actually leveled up. There were no bars for skills and they were a hidden stat. "No," The fallen hero had explained. "You just need to be in active combat with someone or something. Once you are in this state, it''s enough to keep using the skill on your enemy. Most skills will require you to hit a target, but others, like self-buffing skills, just need to be activated." "So, to level up swordsmanship I just need to hit something?" "Indeed and actually, there are types of monsters in this dungeon that would be suited for skill leveling." "There are? Which ones." "The ones that look like you, Rusty." "Oh?" Soon the hero started to explain a tactic he had used when he was at a lower level. In his opinion, leveling passive skills was one of the easiest things to do once you knew the right approach. Once it was explained to Rusty, he felt like the tactic was too good to be true. It made use of the living armor''s slash-resistant body and turned into a leveling dummy. "Are you sure it''s going to work? I haven''t seen adventurers use such a strange method¡­ wouldn''t they use it?" "There are reasons for that, not everyone knows how this world system operates or what it truly is¡­" "What it truly is? and that is?" Rusty asked the question to Alexander who for some reason went quiet. "What was it again¡­ I don''t seem to remember, I''m sure there was something¡­what was I going to say? Give me a moment¡­" This was not the first time the hero had said something strange. It seemed that he was missing parts of his memory, which would sometimes shine through when asked questions. Nevertheless, Rusty now had a battle tactic that he needed to try, and the sixth-level living armors would be his guinea pigs. He had descended the stairs to arrive at this lower level, which looked more spacious than the others. The area was predominantly populated by bronze living armor, with fewer corridors being replaced by chambers housing many destroyed temples. It felt as though the wandering living armors were some sort of paladin order, attempting to defend their goddess. Among the ruins were numerous statues depicting the same winged woman, likely representing their deity. "If what Alexander said was true, then I should lure one away first." Rusty was familiar with how dungeon monsters behaved, having been one himself in the past. They always followed predetermined routes, deviating only when confronted by an enemy. Though this was his first time on this floor, the dungeon''s structure felt eerily familiar. Having dwelled here for so long already, he started noticing common patterns in the layouts. It didn''t take him long to find a secluded dead end to lure his next target into. Once they were there, he employed the tactic the hero had instructed him with. He landed a powerful kick on the monster''s torso, sending it flying against the wall. With swift precision, he then utilized his newly acquired mace to target and dismantle its limbs. With each powerful strike, he took out a limb, enduring minor damage from the other living armor''s broadsword attacks in the process. Soon, the monster was reduced to nothing more than a torso, its body parts scattered and out of range of its limb control skill. "Now¡­" Rusty put away the bronze mace and retrieved the bardiche he had previously taken from another monster. With it now equipped, he aimed to test out a training method that, if used correctly, should rapidly level up his Basic Polearm Proficiency. With delicate precision, he connected his weapon with the monster''s torso, exerting just enough effort and power to trigger the skill use. The idea was to deliver no more damage than necessary; if what the hero said was true, inflicting just one point of damage would suffice for this strategy to be effective. Congratulations Basic Polearm Proficiency has reached level 2. "This fast?" The system notified him that his skill had gone up by a level. While he had used this polearm a few times before, this was the quickest he had seen any of his skills level up. To achieve this, he had continuously struck the monster with minimal effort, taking away only one point of damage each time. Simply by tapping the monster with the bladed end of his polearm, the system registered each contact as a full hit, granting him consistent skill experience. This bronze armor was level five, with hit points comparable to what Rusty had when he was still a Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor. It had lost some HP during the disarming process, but he could still deliver close to fifty hits before it reached the lower threshold. After that, even if he continued to strike, the monster''s health would not drop below one. This was due to its monster core, which needed to be destroyed to completely defeat it. "So, this would happen if I get to one point of health?" His common bronze counterpart no longer seemed able to move. Previously, it had continued to move its helmet and limb stumps, but now it lay motionless on the ground. There seemed to be some type of debuffing effect once all health but one was depleted. Unlike him, the other living armor monsters could not restore their bodies. This was an advantage he could exploit in unfavorable situations, as his enemies would assume he was the same as the others. "Right, he said to target the core with an active skill once I got all HP down." Congratulations Basic Power Slash has reached level 5. To his joy, the first active skill he had acquired also leveled up after he used it against the underside of the bronze armor''s helmet. The hero had informed him that there was a hidden bonus: once a monster was defeated, the skills used in the process would level up faster. The hero''s advice was simple: reduce the monster''s HP to one while leveling the passive weapon skills, and then use an active skill that consumed MP to deliver the final blow. "Neat, then I should test the next one!" He had gone through his attacking skills, but his task was not over. There were two defensive skills he needed to level up, which required a change of equipment and a willingness to put himself in some danger. After stowing the polearm, he retrieved his shield and also picked up the one the living armor had dropped. Armed with both shields, he headed back to lure another living armor into his secluded spot. His next adversary charged straight at him, wielding a slashing weapon to which he was quite resistant. As the attacks began, Rusty received them with both shields, slowly retreating as he did so. The aim was not to attack but to endure as many hits as possible. The shields were much sturdier than the living armor''s sword, which began to take chip damage with each strike. Leveling his Basic Shield Proficiency seemed quicker but also more dangerous. There was always the possibility that one of those rampant slashes could end up hitting his body or core. However, this was also part of his turtle tactic. Rusty wanted to be hit both on his body and on the shields he was holding. There was a second skill he wanted to increase, one that would make his whole body become sturdier. Congratulations Basic Shield Proficiency has reached level 5. Congratulations Lesser Metal Body has reached level 6. His regular bronze monster counterpart was the perfect creature to help him level both of these skills. Just like Rusty, they would never tire and could keep swinging their weapons around constantly. He just needed to always keep facing them while holding both shields. This would protect his helmet from being hit, and even when the monster''s blade connected with his body, it wouldn''t be able to do much damage. If his health started dropping, he could always restore himself with the bronze he received from these armors. "What did Alexander call this? A perfect leveling loop?" This was not something humans and adventurers were capable of. They had to cherish their weapons and armor much more than Rusty did his metal body. He could keep doing this almost indefinitely. The only limiting factor was the amount of damage his enemies could inflict. He needed to receive at least one point of damage each time for his skills to register, and as his skills improved, the less damage he would take. Thus started his skill-leveling drive, a meticulous process of systematically engaging with monsters, targeting specific skills for improvement while ensuring minimal risk to himself. Rusty found himself adopting a routine, luring monsters, engaging them in combat, and methodically leveling up his skills. Each encounter brought him closer to his goal of becoming strong enough to leave this place. He was like a leveling machine that never tired and that would never stop until a goal had been reached. Then just as he thought he had reached the apex, something strange transpired. "Hm?" Congratulations Basic Swordsmanship has reached the maximum level. Congratulations the requirements to upgrade Basic Swordsmanship have been met. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 48 – Skills Go Up. Congratulations Basic Swordsmanship has evolved into Swordsmanship Swordsmanship L1 Passive Skills An upgraded version of Basic Swordsmanship, this skill is required to unlock more advanced sword-related abilities. It reduces the resource usage (such as stamina or mana) for lesser sword-related active skills. "That''s interesting, it lowers the use of stamina and MP on active skills?" Rusty looked at the new skill description he received with a certain glint in his visor. While he did not have a stamina stat like many other living beings, he did have mana. It was his only battle resource, which he needed to watch carefully; once it was reduced to zero, he would fall into a state of slumber. If what this skill implied was true, then any active skills he used while holding a sword would cost fewer Magic Points. However, his focus was not on the skill description but on what had just happened. One of his basic passive skills had actually turned into something new. His guides had mentioned something like this, but they weren''t quite sure if he would be capable of it. Rusty was an irregular dungeon monster who shouldn''t have been able to heighten his level or acquire new skills without the dungeon heart''s help. The dungeon created all the monsters and redistributed their stats, not the monsters themselves. Now it was clear that his skill could reach new heights but there were also some limitations. From what his guides had told, the skill upgrades were determined by his form and level. It was possible that to gain an even more advanced version of this passive skill, he would need to evolve into a monster of D rank. It would probably take a while until he could confirm this new knowledge and before that there were other things he needed to check. First he needed to confirm if the new passive skill actually did what the description said. While holding his bronze sword, he performed a basic power slash that had also begun reaching a higher point and perhaps would ascend to a higher tier skill. His weapon glowed red and slashed forward with increased speed. "It does work!" Previously, the power slash skill had consumed five points of his MP; now, it only cost three points. This meant there was a flat reduction of at least forty percent to his active skills, complementing his passive swordsmanship skill. This was not all he noticed; with the ascension of the skill came additional boons besides the lowered mana cost. "It feels a lot lighter than before¡­" Rusty held his sword and could tell that his movements had become sharper than before. It was as if his eyes had been opened, and he now realized how many unnecessary movements he had been performing during his attacks. Before, each sword swing had been planned but slightly awkward. Now, every movement flowed more naturally, almost as if the sword was becoming an extension of his arm. He practiced a few more swings, confirming the increase in his precision and speed. "I wonder how it will feel if I reach advanced swordsmanship or eventually master the skill fully¡­" This was just the tip of the iceberg, and his guides had mentioned the sequence to him beforehand. Soon after came advanced skills, then expert, master, and even grandmaster. There was still a lot he could improve, and he had multiple skills to train. With the help of this tactic, it was possible to do this at a record pace, but he was still working on a tough schedule. He wanted to descend further down and start leveling, but he also recognized the importance of his skills. Stats weren''t everything, a lesson he learned after facing off against that adventurer leader. With the help of his Basic Elemental Charge skill, he was able to fend him off. Under normal circumstances, the man would have likely emerged victorious, given his more advanced skills and probably higher level. Yet, one skill managed to turn the tide of battle, making Rusty quickly realize that skills were just as crucial as his main level and stats. "I don''t have any passive skills regulating Elemental Charge and Discharge though, so I won''t be able to lower how much MP it uses¡­" When leveling active skills, they would usually just increase in power, or the area they covered would become wider. This held true for his Basic Elemental Charge skill as well, which, once leveled up, would affect everything further from the item he charged up. Gaining forty percent more time with the skill active would have been much better than just intensifying it. However, he wasn''t sure what would happen once an active skill had been upgraded. The tactic of using it to slay each of the living armor monsters was working, albeit not as quickly as with the passive skills. Rusty continued with leveling up his passive skills along with his active ones, focusing on power slash and thrust the most. He was systematically luring in more living armors, even deciding to try multiple ones at once. With both shields and his body being hit from all directions, his defensive skills were being leveled quite fast and soon they also started advancing to the next tier of power. Congratulations Basic Shield Proficiency has reached the maximum level. Congratulations the requirements to upgrade Basic Shield Proficiency have been met. Congratulations Basic Shield Proficiency has evolved into Shield Proficiency Shield Proficiency L1 Passive Skills An upgraded version of Basic Shield Proficiency, this skill enhances the user''s ability to defend with a shield. It reduces the stamina or mana consumption for shield-related active skills and increases overall defense when wielding a shield. Rusty nodded in satisfaction as he read the new skill description. His efforts were paying off, and he could feel the difference in his defensive capabilities already. With Shield Proficiency, he was more adept at using his shields efficiently and somewhat knew better how to predict enemy movement while defending. Soon, his other defensive skill had gone through a change without really much of a change in its description. Metal Body L1 Passive Skill Increases the body''s defense. Defense is dependent on durability. What had changed was his durability stat, which had gone from an E+ to an E++. Rusty wasn''t sure what to make of it, but it seemed that it wasn''t enough to elevate this stat to the D rank. Perhaps if his Metal Body was upgraded further, it could reach that level. Once the Metal Body skill had ascended, he also noticed a slight change in his armor plates. They had seemingly changed in some way, either increasing in thickness or density. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. With both his defensive skills now upgraded, he was able to focus on the offensive ones. For hours, he would lure in more and more of his living armor counterparts, lowering their HP to one point before using an active skill to finish them off. Eventually, multiple of his passive skills were reaching the threshold of advancement, and finally, one of his active skills had reached over level nine. Congratulations Basic Power Slash has reached the maximum level. "..." "..." "..." Rusty waited for the system to continue giving him more updates, but after the first one, it didn''t continue. Even after he went into his status screen and selected the list of all his skills, there was no new active skill, just the regular Power Slash skill with ''Max'' written in brackets where the level used to be. It seemed that active skills were a bit different than passive ones. He wasn''t sure what the problem was, but soon he would discover why. Despite this setback, he persisted, as he was gaining experience for many of his skills and regular levels. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained the Power Slash skill. Congratulations you have gained the Basic Shield Parry skill. His level had increased as he began killing more and more of the F-plus ranked living armors. While they weren''t E-ranked monsters, they still provided good amounts of experience and were high in numbers. He had spent days leveling his skills here already, and for some reason, the skill that didn''t want to advance itself was given to him after a level-up. Initially, he assumed it was just a standard skill granted after leveling up. Rusty still received some skills from growing his levels, but none overlapped with the ones he had absorbed. The Shield Parry skill was something new and unrelated to the others. What led him to assume that he needed to go through a level-up to enhance the active skills that had been maxed out was that he had gained two skills at once. This had never happened before but he wouldn''t be sure until he confirmed it during the next level-up. Basic Shield Parry Active Skill Basic Shield Parry is an active skill that allows the user to deflect incoming attacks with their shield, reducing or completely nullifying the damage taken. When performed correctly and at close range, it can stagger the opponent. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The new skill was quite intriguing but proved to be challenging to use in practice. Rusty attempted to use it against one of the other living armor''s and failed instantly. There was no visual cue to the skill, but once activated, he had to commit to a parry motion. If the timing was missed, as it was on his first attempt, he would open himself to an attack. The parry motion was quick and forceful, making it difficult to retract his shield once swung. Luckily, his body had become a lot sturdier than before and all the hits from his enemy only caused damage to their own bronze blades. On the other hand, once the parry was initiated correctly and he connected with the enemy armor''s sword arm, it would stagger them back. A strange vibration would course through their body, causing something akin to a stunned debuff. During this window of opportunity, he had around a second to quickly go in for a critical hit. It was a clear high-risk, high-reward type of skill, one that would likely require a lot of time to master. Eventually, one whole week had passed since his return to the dungeon. Rusty had spent all this time progressing through his passive skills without bothering to rest or sleep even once. When his body was damaged, he simply restored it with the numerous bronze bodies that had piled up. Over time, his leveling spree came to an end. "This should be enough, I need to move on¡­" All his passive weapon skills had been upgraded to higher-tier ones. It was clear that basic skills were F-rank, and fighting F-Plus living armor opponents allowed them to level up quickly. To repeat such a feat, he would need to do the same with E-rank monsters, something he hoped to confront soon. His main goal was to damage the dungeon and force the heart to banish him. To his surprise, this week of grinding not only allowed him to gain skill levels but also seemed to affect the temple area where he had made his temporary lair. The relentless battles and accumulation of defeated living armors had altered the environment. "The number of bronze armors has decreased, there should be twice as many¡­" The number of his lesser counterparts had decreased by at least half. It seemed that killing them and taking their bodies for spare parts had put some type of toll on the dungeon. Rusty wasn''t sure, but this dungeon might have required the monsters'' bodies to be returned; otherwise, it would eventually run out of resources to recreate them. While adventurers sometimes took monsters or their body parts with them, it was not to the extent Rusty had done. His game-like storage space was quite vast and did not have the limits his stash tab did. There was a limit of ninety-nine for each body part of the living armor but that didn''t stop him from gathering more. He could use his SP to turn those body parts into bronze ingots after reaching the limit. This was apparently enough to start affecting this place and either the dungeon was running out of resources, or it identified that something was wrong and decided to halt monster production in this area to lower its losses. "Either way, this is a good start." It was time to move on with his current quest. All his skills had increased, and his time on the sixth floor was coming to an end. He had no idea how deep this dungeon went, and Alexander couldn''t tell either. Alexander mentioned that the tenth level was usually significant, but he would need to reach it first to confirm this. Thus, with a full inventory of bronze, he headed towards the seventh floor, which brought another change to the dungeon. "This one looks¡­ a lot different¡­" Rusty had to take a moment to look around as a thick mist had gathered in this area. He had never seen anything like this before in the dungeon, and the space was also quite vast. His first steps caused him to sink into the ground, making his sabatons quite dirty. In the distance, he heard strange monster sounds, which some people would describe as toad croaks. "There are no corridors here?" It was a giant swamp, with it spreading out in all directions. The dense fog made it difficult to see far out and the ground was covered in mud. This place was not like the other floors and it would probably be a lot harder to hide himself from adventurers. Rusty moved cautiously, each step squelching in the soft ground. The fog was thick, reducing his visibility to only a few meters ahead. The croaks and calls of amphibious monsters echoed eerily around him. He approached a few strange sightings, which turned out to be tall, dark trees with no leaves. In the distance, he spotted green lights, which, upon further examination, turned out to be structures similar to the temples he had seen on the higher levels. Groans of monsters resounded from these strange structures that reminded him of the lesser undead zombies from the second floor. There seemed to be many of them surrounding this strange structure. The green lights revealed themselves to be some sort of magically enchanted braziers. They were around this area which for some reason was missing a lot of fog. It was as if the flames were pushing the mist away. "That one looks different than the others¡­" Classification: Diseased Zombie L5 F+ Type: Undead/Humanoid Classification: Diseased High-Zombie L2 E- Type: Undead/Humanoid Among the diseased zombies that were still F-rank monsters, stood one that was different. Its body was larger with more muscular limbs and its movements were swifter. It was the first time Rusty had encountered a proper E-rank monster and it was an undead zombie type, something that he probably had an affinity for. "I suppose, this is where it starts¡­" While hiding behind one of the large swamp trees, Rusty scanned his surroundings to ensure no other monsters or adventurers were nearby. Soon, he equipped his shield and longsword; it was time to conquer this floor as he had the one before. Perhaps if he could continue slaying multiple monsters, the dungeon would need to react to his presence and eventually reject his existence. Chapter 49 – AOE Farming. "Guoh¡­"A burst of light emitted from a longsword and engulfed a small chamber filled with zombies. The light traveled in a dome-shaped effect, pushing away a large group of undead creatures of various levels and sizes. Once the burst of energy subsided, only one creature stood among them. "Even an E rank can''t do much against a weakness." Rusty looked over the room filled with about fifteen dead zombies. Among them, two were of higher caliber, but even they couldn''t do much against his burst of light energy. He had already figured out how elemental weaknesses worked in this world. His luck seemed to be great as many undead zombies roamed this seventh level and were quite susceptible to his light. This floor was a lot different than the ones that came before it. They seemed to have their own mini-dungeons in the form of strange crypts. The swamp was mostly covered in mist, with entrances to these underground tombs well-lit with strange green flames. It was as if the dungeon heart wished to lure the adventurers inside their narrow corridors filled with traps, undead monsters, and poison. However, the dungeon heart probably did not count on one of its monsters going rogue. Rusty was fully immune to any poison, disease, or foul stench that these monsters could use to attack the senses of adventurers. His body was also immensely sturdy and easily repairable with the large amount of bronze he had been able to gather. "Is this what these adventurers risk their lives for?" Each of these underground crypts held a lone chest in one of the large end chambers. This was the second crypt he had visited, and this one was also a letdown. Instead of pristine weapons or armor, the items were made from a rather strange metal. Classification: Slightly golden goblet Type: Item Description: A goblet containing a low amount of gold. His identification skill had been upgraded, so now he was getting more advanced descriptions of the items. He wasn''t sure what this item was for, as it buckled under his strength rather quickly. Hitting the monsters with it would probably break it, and in the other crypt, he had received a slightly golden talisman. "This gold is also a metal, but it is much softer than the bronze I''m made of." This was not the reason he entered these places. His intent was not to gather these strange items but to cause damage to the dungeon and level up. He had found another good method to reduce the population on this floor, and these crypts were quickly becoming devoid of any monsters. "Well then, off to the next one!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After making this proclamation, he quickly made his way back up and submerged himself in the mist. Once a tomb had been cleared, the green braziers and lanterns started to quickly dim. This part of the level was the worst, as it forced him to traverse the water-filled area. While the monsters weren''t much of a problem, the environment was not suited for his hollowed-out body. The water would start seeping into it as he trekked on, rendering him sluggish. To make things worse, he needed to watch out for strange toad monsters that lurked within the shallow waters. They would attempt to lunge at him or flail his body with elongated tongues that even stuck to him. Their attacks weren''t very damaging, but if he ever got tipped over, his body was in danger of being fully encased in swamp water. To alleviate this problem, he stuck to the large trees, which were always a sign of elevation and drier ground. "Hey, isn''t it too quiet in here?" "Yeah, it''s strange but perhaps another party just went through here before us? That previous crypt was also empty when we got there¡­" "Be quiet both of you and stay vigilant, you never know when one of those zombies will show up!" As Rusty was making his way through the swamp, he witnessed a group of adventurers. One of them was holding a strange torch that burned with a grayish hue. It seemed to work in a similar fashion to the green crypt fire but to a lesser degree. He didn''t even need to hide behind any of the trees, as the mist allowed him to blend in with the environment. From his vantage point, the party of adventurers looked like a blurry glowing ball, with their voices being the only thing that identified them. Thanks to these torches, it was quite easy to spot the adventurers from afar. This allowed Rusty to move through this floor mostly unnoticed, but he still needed to watch his back. Once he was inside one of the crypts, it wouldn''t be strange for one of these adventurer parties to wander in. "I wonder, they seem to like this gold metal a lot. Couldn''t I use it as a lure and entrap them somewhere?" While this was a possibility, Rusty decided to avoid making himself known for the time being. Both the hero and the demon king had already warned him about them. If he continued slaying adventurers, ones he would not be able to handle would eventually appear, just like that one other time. His goal was the dungeon heart, and messing with the dungeon and these hard-to-access crypts was a great target. After making a small detour, he advanced towards the greenish tint of mist. Thanks to the color pattern, it was easy to find the zombie-infested tombs. As long as there were monsters outside, he could be assured that no adventurers had gone inside. As he approached one of the crypt entrances, the green light cast long shadows on the muddy ground. The crypt''s structure was ancient, with moss-covered stones and intricate carvings that hinted at its age. The moans of various zombies resounded as they identified the intruder. The numbers were quite high, with around ten regular F-rank zombies and one E-rank. They all slowly charged in his direction, with some of their comrades rising out of the shallow swamp water around the tomb entrance. While Rusty''s mana had recharged itself, this was not the time to waste it. Instead, he started moving forward quickly and promptly kicked the metallic grate that was keeping him from entering the tomb. "Hey, what are you waiting for? Follow me." He banged his sword against his shield, making some noise. The monsters reacted quite well to sound and all turned in his direction. Once he had their attention, he pushed into the crypt''s interior, where many other zombies were already waiting for him. His aim was not to battle them one at a time but to clear them out in one big attack. It was one of the training methods Alexander had proposed to him, which he called AOE farming. Rusty wasn''t sure what those words meant, but it was quite the ingenious leveling tactic. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Rusty moved through the zombie-infested corridors, where a few skeletons were also placed. These monsters were usually dormant and would only wake once someone passed through. It made his tactic quite easy as he just needed to skip through and continue toward the main chamber. For some reason, this place was structured like a labyrinth without any dead ends. He just needed to move forward, and eventually, he would end up at the last chamber. As he progressed, the narrow passageways echoed with the groans of the undead and the clinking of his armor. He kept his shield raised, deflecting the occasional swipe from a zombie or skeleton and finally, the main chamber was there. The largest concentration of undead awaited him there but this was not enough. All the monsters that he had previously awoken were coming here, only when they were all here would he unleash his ultimate skill. "That should be all of them." The monsters pressed in from all sides, forming a ball of undead flesh and bones in the chamber. Rusty found himself at the center, wielding his shield as a bludgeon to fend off the zombies. However, their numbers overwhelmed him, pushing relentlessly. Even his sturdy bronze body began to yield, bending under the force. Suddenly, it began to emit a bright white light. The monsters staggered back, but it was too late. Rusty raised his sword into the air, the glow concentrating along its blade. In a burst of radiance, it shot out in all directions. Where the light touched the undead zombies and skeletons, they began to crumble into dust. Even the more evolved types couldn''t withstand the attack, and soon, more than forty adversaries were reduced to mere echoes in his metallic mind, with only one message holding his attention. Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L6 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 151/151 Magic Points [MP] 24/134 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 34 [ E- ] Agility 15 [ E- ] Dexterity 13 [ E- ] Constitution 36 [ E- ] Intelligence 18 [ E- ] Wisdom 19 [ E- ] Willpower 19 [ E- ] Durability E++ Basic Elemental Charge L7 Active Skill Allows the user to imbue objects with elemental mana, outcome will differ depending on the type of the object. Basic Elemental Discharge L5 Active Skill Allows the user to eject a powerful surge of elemental energy from within objects imbued with elemental mana. "Even after the third group, they aren''t going up much¡­" He was gaining experience at a fast rate now and he could see himself reaching level ten quite soon. It didn''t take him long to clear out these tombs and blasting the zombies was much faster than fighting them one by one. Their strange bodies persisted even after decapitation, some were even capable of resurrecting. Only his light elemental discharge ensured an instant kill against them. His metal visor was drawn to the nearby black chest, much like in the other crypts where it sat between caskets. Rusty cautiously approached the chest, aware of its tendency to hold surprises. To him, it appeared quite ordinary, and he lacked any trap detection skills. As he lifted the lid, a puff of purple smoke greeted him directly. You resisted sleep. You resisted poison. His living armor form proved itself resistant to these debuffing effects as always and he was free to take out the item from within. This time around it was something quite small and metallic, reflecting the dim light in the chamber. Rusty lifted it from the chest, his curiosity piqued. The item was a small, intricately designed ring, perhaps magical, given its strange glow. Classification: Lesser Mana Regeneration Ring Type: Accessory Description: A magical ring that boosts the wearer''s passive mana regeneration. Rusty''s metaphorical heart skipped a beat as this was something quite intriguing. It wasn''t the first accessory item he had encountered, but it was the first with a discernible magical effect. His identification skill didn''t specify the exact increase in mana regeneration, but even a slight percentage could prove useful. At this point in time, it took him well over an hour to recover all of his magical points. Cutting this time down by even ten minutes would be quite useful as without his mana, it wouldn''t be possible to use his AOE tactic. "Finally, something useful!" He held it between his thumb and index finger. There was a little pulse of energy when he looked at it but it eventually subsided. This was the first time he used an accessory so slipping it on one of his metallic fingers proved hard. His hand was much too thick to make it fit on any of his fingers, even his pinky could not hold it and it just fell down to the ground. "Wait¡­ if I want to equip something, shouldn''t I do it through my status screen?" For a moment, he felt silly for attempting it. Rusty had tried to mimic adventurers who occasionally wore such jewelry on their fingers¡ªa rare sight, but not something he could replicate with his metallic body. Fortunately, he had his own stash tab, and with the help of his SP (Skill Points), he managed to place the ring there. By dragging it to an empty square, he successfully equipped the ring. "I don''t see it anywhere on me though¡­ is it under my armor?" After equipping the ring, it vanished from sight. Rusty investigated the issue by removing his gauntlet from his metallic body. Peering inside, he discovered the ring hovering on his finger next to the pinky. It seemed to have fused with his body and even when he shook the gauntlet, it wouldn''t rattle or come off. He immediately felt a faint, soothing pulse of energy coursing through his body. While he couldn''t directly see the numbers, he sensed that his mana regeneration had slightly increased. "Interesting¡­" Upon closer inspection of his equipment screen, Rusty noticed two other free accessory spots available. One appeared suitable for another ring on his left hand, while the other was positioned near his head. After experimenting for a moment, he managed to fit the golden amulet he had retrieved from another crypt into the latter spot. However, since the item had no enchantments, it seemed somewhat pointless to keep it equipped. "Why can I only have two rings when I have ten fingers?" While this was an odd discovery, he didn''t have anything else to put in the ring slot at the moment. However, acquiring this ring suggested the possibility of finding more accessories in other crypts. If he could obtain another ring and an amulet with similar effects, he might address one of his biggest weaknesses: his low amount of MP. "Ah, right before I leave, I should also do that!" All the monsters were dead, and he had the treasure, but there was one more task he needed to complete. His plan was to cause chaos in the dungeon, and the hero had made one thing clear: everything within the dungeon required resources to maintain. Killing too many monsters at once would strain it, but there were other ways, like setting off every trap in the vicinity. Poison couldn''t affect him, and no rusty iron spikes could pierce his metallic body. Rusty continued his systematic extermination of the undead-filled tombs. With each crypt he cleared, his efficiency improved. He became adept at leading groups of zombies into tight spaces before unleashing his powerful elemental discharge, maximizing his mana usage and minimizing the time spent on each encounter. His skills continued to improve, and his levels were ever-rising. Soon, the seventh floor began to change. The thick mist that once covered it started to thin out, and the sound of toads grew fainter. His plan was working, and he might soon begin to evolve further. However, the question remained: would he be able to achieve freedom and rescue Gleam? Time was slowly running out, and nearly two weeks had already passed. He was certainly affecting the dungeon floors around him but would this be enough to affect the dungeon heart? Chapter 50 – Blending In. "Don''t tell me, this one is empty too?""Well, do you see any zombies around?" "Why did we bother hiring a priest if there aren''t any zombies!" "I don''t know, but you reckon he will give us a discount?" Three adventurers looked at a man wearing priestly garb. He appeared to be in his thirties and was shaking his head while smiling. "You won''t get a discount just because someone got to the treasure faster." The priest responded with a chuckle, causing the adventurers to slump their shoulders and sigh. He then moved towards the underground crypt they were trying to clear out, his hand brushing against the walls. The man closed his eyes and recited a prayer. Soon, the wall was covered in a golden sheen which quickly vanished. "This divinity¡­ how is it so pure? Was a High-Cardinal in this crypt? But that just makes no sense¡­" While the adventurers and the priest were fumbling around in an empty catacomb, the being responsible was making his way down a flight of stairs. The seventh floor had been altered by his doing, and now that the mist had thinned, it was too dangerous to stick around. "Finally, some hard ground under my feet." Rusty''s bronze feet clanked against the stone steps as he descended deeper into the dungeon. The change in environment was a welcome relief from the damp, swampy terrain above. The walls here were smoother, intricately carved with depictions of ancient battles and scenes of worship. Torches with blue flames lined the walls of this staircase that descended for quite some time. As he moved, his mind was busy calculating his next move. He had spent quite some time grinding on the undead zombies and exploring crypts. From them, he had managed to unearth some accessories. Most of them were gold-tinted junk, but he had found two that weren''t awful. One was a ring that increased his mana regeneration probably by five percent. It didn''t seem like much, but every bit added up. The second one was something new; it added a flat amount of stats to his own. Classification: Lesser Strength Necklace Type: Accessory Description: A necklace that increases the wearer''s strength. It only added two points of strength, but it was better than nothing. Once equipped, it appeared under his chest armor, stuck to the top area near his metallic neck. If he removed his helmet and held it at the right angle, he could clearly see it there. It seemed to be glued to his bronze body, and when he poked it, the item wouldn''t move. Thanks to this effect, it was clear that these accessories would be hard to remove, but he wasn''t sure what would happen if his body part was damaged. ''I don''t think I''ll be able to repair these accessories, they aren''t part of my body.'' Rusty assumed that if his gauntlet holding the mana regeneration ring were to be crushed, the ring would be destroyed with it. While he could restore his bronze body, he wasn''t sure about other items. It was possible for him to wield weapons dropped by other monsters, but repairing them was also impossible. At most, he could store them in his inventory for later. It seemed that unless he had created the weapon within the forge himself, he was unable to repair it. After continuing his descent, the stone steps gave way to a vast underground area. The ceiling was quite high, and the swamp was replaced by decrepit temples. He could see large crumbled walls, statues with missing limbs, and more dead-looking trees. This area seemed quite vast and had a lot of open space, something he wasn''t too keen on. The wide-open area was a stark contrast to the cramped, mist-filled swamp he had navigated before. Rusty had to move with caution as there weren''t many places to hide here. There were crumbled walls didn''t seem to provide much cover from the roaming monster or adventurers. To make things worse, once he took a few steps he heard some sounds from afar, someone was approaching him fast. ''I need to hide¡­ but where?" The wide-open area was a stark contrast to the cramped, mist-filled swamp he had navigated before. Rusty had to move with caution, as there weren''t many places to hide here. The crumbled walls didn''t seem to provide much cover from roaming monsters or adventurers. To make things worse, after taking a few steps, he heard sounds from afar¡ªsomeone was approaching fast. ''I need to hide¡­ but where?'' Rusty wasn''t far from the stairs leading to the seventh level. This area looked like a run-down church with a row of torches leading up to his location. On the ground, there were destroyed wooden benches. For a moment, he considered digging himself under the wood, but there wasn''t enough time. To the sides, there were some windows he could possibly squeeze through and some thicker columns he could hide behind. ''Wait¡­ what about that skill I just learned? I could probably use that!'' His level had progressed further, and he was now level nine. This had allowed him to gain a brand-new skill, which worked in a mysterious way. It had a drawback and a requirement, but luckily, this place fulfilled that requirement. Rusty quickly moved toward one of the columns in the corner with the least amount of light. Once there, he went down to his knees in an attempt to minimize his body size. He needed to ensure he was in a darkened area. Then, right before the footsteps reached the ruined church, he vanished from sight. Basic Elemental Meld Active Skill Allows the user to merge with the elements they are attuned to. Unless a certain elemental density threshold is reached, this skill won''t be able to function correctly. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Rusty looked at the skill description as his body blended with the darkness around him. This skill required areas devoid of light or ones bathed in it. As long as he didn''t move a muscle, his body would be surrounded by either the darkness or light elements. This would, for some reason, make his body hard to see. It didn''t seem to have any combat purposes, but for hiding his presence, it was quite potent. It had a different effect depending on the element he used to meld with. If he did it in darkened areas where the darkness element was prevalent, his body would be surrounded by a shadowy haze, allowing him to blend in with the environment and become perfectly invisible. He wasn''t aware of how it worked with the element of light just yet, as within the swamp, he hadn''t found areas that met the skill''s requirements. The footsteps grew louder, and three figures soon appeared at the ruined church''s entrance. They were adventurers, judging by their gear and their movements, which indicated their potential strength. There were some wounds on their bodies, and they were clearly out of breath. It was evident that they had gone through a hard-fought battle and had perhaps fled here, seeking a safe spot where no monsters could wander in. "We made it¡­" "What do you mean we made it? Andrew, he¡­ we left him to die!" "So what? Did you want us to stay there and die with him?" Rusty listened to their conversation, hoping they would leave soon. The skill he was using had a flat MP cost of forty points and would last for around five minutes. However, once those five minutes were up, his body would be revealed again. It was possible to recast the skill instantly, but for a moment, his metallic body would be visible. His reflective surface made him highly susceptible to being discovered by any light sources. Time ticked by as Rusty calculated the remaining duration of his skill. The adventurers continued to shout at each other, oblivious to the possibility that a monster was nearby. While he was initially hesitant, the more he observed them, the more his intent shifted. They were completely unaware of his presence, and within his inventory were items like poisonous worms and potion bombs. It seemed more sensible to strike while the iron was hot as he needed to act before his skill ran out. ''Those potions, I should use them before they recover more of their strength¡­'' While Rusty had mostly decided to avoid the adventurers in the dungeon, there was an opportunity to pin the blame on someone else. These adventurers had already been defeated by the monsters on this floor and had lost a member. They weren''t a well-put-together party, and if they disappeared, it wouldn''t even be that suspicious. It was an opportunity he couldn''t afford to let slip away. ''I have to do it quickly¡­'' Carefully, he accessed his inventory to select one of the potions he took from the goblin camp. He didn''t need his hands to navigate his status as even just as a helmet, it was something he was capable of. Once selected, a potion appeared in each of his palms, breaking his skill effect. However, this was fine, as no one was paying attention to this corner of the church. With precise aim, Rusty lobbed the potion bomb toward two of the adventurers who were talking. They weren''t exactly close to each other, but he was sure he could at least get two of them. His power shot skill added momentum to his throw, and suddenly, an explosion rocked this supposedly safe area. "What the¨C?!" "What''s happening?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seizing the moment of confusion, Rusty took out a handful of poisonous worms and threw them in the direction of the third adventurer. The worms splattered against the ground and walls, causing poisonous fumes to fill the entire area. The explosion had done more than just disorient the first two adventurers. Both were on the ground, bleeding. One of them was covering both his eyes, as some shrapnel had made its way inside during the explosion. The other one was holding his wrist, connected to a mangled hand, which he had used in an attempt to protect his face from the blast. Rusty moved quickly, his steps much more precise for a creature that was supposed to be a slow-moving living armor. The injured adventurer cradled his mangled hand, eyes wide with panic. His partner groaned beside him, still clutching his bleeding face. The adventurer who had avoided the worst of the blast staggered backward, coughing as the poisonous fumes filled the air. His eyes darted around, searching for the source of the attack. "Who''s there? Show yourself!" He demanded an answer, but no one responded. Instead, the attackers revealed themselves by hurling a long weapon at the two other party members. The man wanted to shout to warn his companions, but it was already too late. What looked to be a sharpened poleaxe had pierced his neck. Then, the one responsible charged at the blinded man, finishing him off with a longsword. "H-how is a monster here¡­" The man was stunned by Rusty''s arrival, both his companions had been slayed in a matter of seconds and he was the only one remaining. This surviving adventurer, still reeling from the explosion and the sudden appearance of the living armor, fumbled to draw his weapon. Rusty closed the distance between them with terrifying speed, his shield raised to deflect any incoming attacks. "N-no stay bac¨C" He did not give the man any space to react. With his upgraded weapon-handling skills, he was a force to be reckoned with. The man stumbled back as he barely deflected a strike with his own longsword, yet this was not the end. Rusty continued his assault, his blade strikes coming from different angles, with powerful thrusts and slashes raining down. His increase in levels and MP was evident as he showered his opponent with multiple active skills. The man, while trembling, attempted to parry the onslaught, but Rusty''s relentless attacks overwhelmed him. Each strike from Rusty''s blade sent vibrations through the adventurer''s weapon, sapping his strength and will to fight back. Desperation flashed in his eyes as he swung his sword wildly, attempting to land a hit on the living armor but even when he did, the slashes proved skin deep. Then, in a swift move, the adventurer''s neck was opened, and blood sprayed forward at the bronze monster before him. The man grabbed his neck with one hand, his blade dropping to the ground as he coughed up blood. In desperation, he attempted to grab a healing potion from his side, but before he could, a shield bashed his face in, and he collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings severed. Rusty looked at the defeated man, without any emotions. He did not feel sorry for him as any of those three people would have instantly attacked him if he made himself known. What he was more focused on was the prompt on the status screen which showcased that he had managed to level up. Congratulations you have gained a level. "Why is it like that? I''m level ten¡­" The adventurers who roamed these dungeons usually provided him with much more experience than the monsters he slew. This time, he gained enough to advance from level nine to ten, but the familiar follow-up message that had appeared the previous two times when he leveled up did not appear. He should have been able to evolve by now, but despite reaching level ten, nothing was happening. "The experience bar¡­ it''s partially full too, does this mean that I have to get to an even higher level than ten to advance further?" He wanted to summon one of his guides to ask them this question, but his mana was mostly spent. Dangers still lurked inside the dungeon, so he would need to postpone this inquiry. Rusty desired to advance further and acquire a higher tier of armor-body, one made of either iron or steel. He had already encountered weapons and armor made from these metals. His current opponent wielded a steel blade, which he should have been resistant to, yet the cuts were deep, revealing that his body was nearing its limits. "Other adventurers will eventually show up here, I should move their bodies outside this safe area." The bodies of these three needed to be moved, as he did not want others to discover he was here. It was likely his enemies were searching for a unique piece of armor rumored to be in these dungeons. If they found these three bodies, someone might come to track him down. Gleam possessed tracking skills and his humanoid enemies were capable of using them as well. After peeking outside to ensure the coast was clear, Rusty began relocating the three bodies. Despite his high strength stat, their weight was becoming a problem. Without the weight control skill, dragging them away would have been impossible, but eventually, he managed to move them outside the safe zone and behind some crumbled walls where a few zombies lurked. Once he dispatched the zombies, it was time for some looting. Chapter 51 – Expanded Level Cap. "Guild Master Husson, do you have a minute? There is an important issue we need to talk about.""Lorenda? What is it now? Come in." A grumpy-looking guild master looked up from a pile of paperwork he had to stamp. Most of it revolved around signing off on new adventurers, due to some new rules the guild master had to enforce. The brawny man with the eyepatch sighed, rubbing his temples as Lorenda stepped inside. "It''s about that Irregularity we talked about earlier¡­" "This again? Didn''t I tell you to deal with it? What could an E-rank monster do alone in the dungeon? Don''t tell me that more people have died. Are all the new adventurers just incompetent now?" The man didn''t seem too pleased at the mention of the irregularity again, but Lorenda pressed on, her tone insistent. "No, sir, it''s more than that. It''s not just about adventurers disappearing now." "Then what is it?" Husson started sighing but managed to hold himself back from shouting at the guild worker. He knew that she was just performing her duties and that at least she thought that this issue was important. The lady didn''t relent but moved closer to place the papers on his desk where he could see and read them. "We have reports of large groups of monsters vanishing, treasure chests appearing less and less, and even traps have been reported missing." "What? Let me see this." The guild master was perplexed by this issue. It was one thing when easily replaceable adventurers were getting themselves killed, but another when the dungeon itself was in danger. Without the dungeon around, their business wouldn''t be able to function correctly, and the guild master was aware of this. Soon, Husson was going through the report, which stated that the population of the monsters was starting to drop, something that very rarely happened. "This is rather strange¡­ but what could be causing it?" Husson''s mind raced with possibilities and he tried to remember if similar issues appeared while he was an active adventurer. Monster populations in the dungeon were usually kept in check by adventurers and not the other way around. There was danger in allowing the dungeon to exist without proper management as once it was left alone for too long, it would cause some problems. Not everyone knew this but there was a certain symbiotic relation between the dungeon and the adventurers hunting for treasures within it. Once the balance was broken, it could lead to a disaster. "It might have something to do with that irregular monster¡­" As the guild master paused the woman attempted to bring up that topic again. In his mind, one monster couldn''t be responsible for such a drastic change. Monsters like a living armor weren''t known for their intelligence or capabilities to do anything other than attack the first thing they saw. "That again? This report doesn''t state anything about it appearing, has it been spotted since the last incident?" "Well¡­ no but¡­" "Then it''s probably been killed by someone already." Husson leaned back in his chair and was unwilling to even entertain that thought. In his mind, the reason had to be different. "Lorenda, I''ll look into this, but don''t jump to conclusions. There could be many explanations. Perhaps a higher-ranking party has been clearing out the dungeon while not going through the proper procedures. It''s not strange for some of those bastards to farm for specific items in bulk. Here is what we are going to do." Lorenda nodded, though her concern didn''t fade. She knew that whatever the guild master would order wouldn''t address the irregularity she was concerned with. However, there was a possibility that she was wrong and that something else was happening within the dungeon. There had been cases in the past where dungeons had been stripped by large adventurer groups. In such situations, the dungeon needed time to restore its lost resources, much like how this dungeon was behaving now. ".We''ll close the entrance for a few days and send in one of ours to investigate. We need to find whoever is responsible for this. Check if anyone is selling items in bulk that can only be manufactured from the dungeon''s materials¡­" "Yes, Guild Master. I understand." There was not much to interject as the guild leader made the order. The dungeon would be closed for a few days to give the dungeon some time to regain its vitality. As long as adventurers stopped overhunting the monsters, they would respawn as always. Once balance was restored, they would need to check if their guards were sleeping on the job or if someone over-leveled managed to slip inside. This dungeon was meant for beginners and was not meant to be farmed excessively. ***** Meanwhile, the one responsible for all this chaos was just rummaging through some adventurer belongings. His bronze hands moved quickly through the items that he placed down on the ground to examine. Each one of his victims had various items stashed on them, including something that resembled his inventory system but much more flawed. Classification: Lesser Small Storage Satchel Type: Storage Item Description: A satchel with a spatial enchantment placed on it. It''s bigger on the inside than on the outside. It was quite an interesting find as he reached inside and discovered more items than expected. Among them were several potions, a few throwing weapons, and some coins. The potions included basic healing and mana restoration varieties. Initially disappointed, he soon realized two things. First, he couldn''t heal himself using the healing potion, which made sense since he was made of bronze and not flesh. Second, the mana restoration concoction actually worked to a certain degree as splashing it over his body regenerated some of his MP points. Then another interesting anomaly caught his attention: when he attempted to add the storage satchel to his inventory, it created a small sub-storage. Once inside his stash tab, he could open it to reveal four additional storage squares. The item itself only occupied two squares, effectively expanding his stash tab capacity. This discovery would allow him to save some SP and he wondered if he could continue placing these items into each other for an infinite amount of space. "I suppose there is some copper in this and this metal here is called silver?" A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Rusty didn''t quite understand why these people carried coins with them. Their bodies were not metallic like his, so they wouldn''t be able to use the coins to restore themselves. However, his guides had instructed him to hold on to the coins as they could be useful once he left the dungeon. They were apparently used for exchanging goods, but Rusty wasn''t sure if any humans would be willing to barter with him. He was also not sure what a sentient suit could buy in the first place or how would he do it without being attacked. "What else was there¡­ the weapons aren''t bad, this steel longsword is better than the one I have on me." Among his finds, there were a few good things like the longsword made from steel and an iron shield. Both were sturdier than the armaments that he could produce but he wouldn''t be able to repair them or use his elemental skills. Without the metal being of the twilight variety, the skill would not function for some reason. For the time being, he placed all of the loot inside his storage before heading out into the unknown. Once he finished gathering up the loot and placing it in his storage, it was time to leave. The adventurers had been stripped of their armor and would eventually be absorbed by the dungeon, a fate shared by anyone who died in this place. Rusty wasn''t sure what this place truly was, but it felt like the dungeon was consuming the people who fell within it. Perhaps it was just another kind of monster, much like he was, and the voice it used was simply its personality. The skill he had just used, Basic Elemental Meld, required further testing. Rusty needed to understand its limitations and potential applications. It enabled him to merge with the shadows and become invisible, a capability he could utilize in the future. If pursued, he could seek refuge in dark corners where he would be undetectable. If adventurers couldn''t see him, then it was likely that monsters with inferior detection skills within the dungeon wouldn''t either. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But I didn''t expect this. How much do I need to level up this time around?" One big question remained: his level. His previous evolutions only required him to reach level ten, but now something had shifted. To get to the bottom of this problem, he decided to call upon one of his guides. Soon, a dark sphere of light appeared before him, and Demon King Aburdon materialized. "Oh? I see that you have been busy. Are you sure you''re not a demon in disguise?" The black sphere floated toward the three dead bodies that Rusty was responsible for. It seemed like Aburdon was trying to achieve something by getting closer and even flying inside one of the corpses, but nothing seemed to happen. "What are you doing?" "Oh, nothing, just trying to test if an old skill still works... Now then, how can this Dark Lord be of service?" Rusty noticed the tone switch but knew that this black orb was sometimes untrustworthy. If it weren''t for the skill that compelled it to tell the truth, it might only tell lies. Nevertheless, Aburdon was very knowledgeable about all things related to monsters and demons. When a question about monsters arose, it was better to ask him about it than the hero. "I''ve reached level ten, but I wasn''t able to evolve. Why did this happen?" "Ah, did the Hero not tell you? Once you reach a new rank, you are able to level past the old limit." "Oh? What''s the limit for E-rank then?" "It''s just fifteen, so you''re not that far from evolving again." "Oh, is it like that? So if I reach the D-rank¡­" "Yes, the limit will go up again, once you''re a D-rank, it goes up to twenty-five, and so on." The orb chuckled while Rusty tried to comprehend the idea of having ever-increasing leveling limits. This leveling system was starting to get more complicated but if he just needed to gain five more levels to advance, then it was doable. Congratulations Call Guide skill has reached level 2. Just before he deactivated his skill, a system prompt appeared before his visor. His Call Guide skill had increased. Rusty wasn''t sure what leveling this skill would achieve, but after some research, he realized that his magic points weren''t depleting as quickly as before. Perhaps, once this skill reached a high enough level, it would allow him to keep his summoned guides active without draining his mana resources. "Now then Rusty, I think we might have to discuss something. I''ve noticed you''ve been putting yourself in some peril. I know that little precious Gleam is important to you but wouldn''t it be better to think about my¡­ I mean your safety first?" "... No ¡­" He replied in a monotone voice before canceling the skill and sending Aburdon back to the soul forge. It was evident that the fallen demon king''s existence was linked to Rusty''s, and he was concerned about his own survival. The activities Rusty engaged in within the dungeon were risky, and there was a real possibility of being discovered by adventurers. Rusty was playing a dangerous game, and Aburdon shared his worries about staying alive. "Now then, just five levels to go¡­ but did the stat requirements also change?" Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L10 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 134/161 Magic Points [MP] 94/144 Special Points [SP] 30/40 Strength 44 [ E- ] Agility 25 [ E- ] Dexterity 23 [ E- ] Constitution 46 [ E- ] Intelligence 28 [ E- ] Wisdom 29 [ E- ] Willpower 28 [ E- ] Durability E++ Rusty hadn''t paid much attention to it before, but the number of minuses was alarmingly high. Previously, once a stat passed thirty-three, its rank would shift to a higher one. However, the stats that had already exceeded this threshold were not changing at all. "If it''s the same as with the levels¡­ then that means that the stat limits have gone up as well?" It started making sense as thirty-three was not a very high number. He was gaining up to three stat points from each level up, something that had increased since his F-rank days. If he reached an even higher evolution that gave him even more stat points, he would start reaching those limits too fast. It was some type of limiting factor and he started wondering how high these numbers would get once he evolved into something truly strong. He stood up, his bronze frame glinting in the dim dungeon light, and decided to push forward. He needed those five levels to evolve again, and that meant more exploration and more battles. His main objective had not changed and Gleam needed to be rescued. His strategy was shallow but before the month was up, he needed to reach a new height and nothing would stand in his way. As he ventured deeper into the dungeon, Rusty encountered more undead monsters. The seventh floor was more vast than the previous one, but with the help of his new hiding skill, it became easy to avoid larger groups of adventurers. To his surprise, this had only been a problem for a day or two until all the adventurers suddenly vanished. He had been contemplating moving to the next floor sooner, but now he could continue his previous tactic of grinding in an even easier fashion. "I would be stupid to not use this chance." The hero had mentioned that the people above would sometimes block passage into the dungeon in dangerous situations. This wasn''t good news in Rusty''s opinion, as it likely meant a group of powerful adventurers would be sent to investigate. Aware of the potential threat, Rusty knew he needed to act fast. "This is much better than the swamp area¡­" Rusty said to himself while running through the decrepit temples and destroyed architecture. Behind him was a steady stream of zombies and skeletons, all chasing after his shiny bronze form, unaware of their impending doom. Previously, he had only cleared out small groups of around twenty or thirty in the cramped crypts, but the crowd he was pulling now was several times larger. Eventually, he ended up at a demolished church with a missing roof. The monsters followed right after him, pushing through the large entrance, and those that couldn''t fit started to climb through the windows. Rusty, on the other hand, ran all the way to the middle where all the monsters could see him. Once they were just a few steps away, he threw his helmet toward a previously prepared safe location. The monsters tackled his metallic frame to the ground and began their attack. He could see his hit points going down, but this didn''t matter. Soon, the entire church area was enveloped in a burst of white light¡­ You have gained +24 experience points. You have gained +14 experience points. Chapter 52 – Ninth Floor. A flash of light engulfed a dilapidated church, momentarily stunning an undead horde. Rusty''s elemental attack - an explosion of holy energy, devastated the dark creatures before him. Their rotting bodies disintegrated, leaving behind only a few stragglers, who were left with missing limbs and burned flesh. The main part of his armor was left mangled within the piles of burned zombies but his helmet was safely perched up on a ledge."Another successful run," Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He muttered as his body started reassembling itself piece by piece. Soon, a brand-new body took shape while the old one was discarded. With a leap, he jumped from the ledge and drew his longsword. The few enemies that remained could barely move, giving him an opportunity to use his skill. "Let''s see¡­ Do you have any worthwhile skills that are compatible with me?" After approaching a high-zombie, he sliced off its remaining limbs. This monster could slowly regenerate and would not die easily. He positioned his helmet so that his core was away from its mouth, then quickly activated the skill absorption. No compatible skills have been found. "Hm? There is nothing?" This was a first for him. Usually, there was at least one skill he could absorb. It seemed that his metallic body was not very compatible with the zombies, but they weren''t the only enemies left. After quickly slicing off the monster''s head, he started looking around. There were two other zombies like it and one high-skeleton. No compatible skills have been found. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. After finishing his search, he found one skill from the last high-zombie to choose from. Strangling Grasp Active Skill Perform a grasping attack on the enemy. While the skill is used, grip strength is increased. It was a skill that some of these zombies had attempted to use on him and had even marked his leftover shell. These monsters went down easily thanks to his light elemental attack, but they were quite strong. They could mangle his metallic body with their bare hands, and it seemed that this skill aided in that. However, before choosing, he still needed to see what the high-skeleton had to offer. Impaling Lunge Active Skill Perform a quick lunging attack at a faraway enemy. This skill works best with weapons that have a long reach. He examined the skill the skeleton offered him, and after seeing the spear it had been holding, it made sense. The lunge seemed like a variation of a thrust attack, but it was probably limited to far-reaching weapons. He had seen one of these monsters jumping forward with increased speed in an attempt to skewer him. "This impaling lunge seems like a different type of power thrust, it just launches my body forward faster. The other one could be more useful¡­" Rusty''s logic was simple, he already had a more powerful thrusting attack. Getting another one could be useful but a skill that enhanced his abilities once he lost his weapons sounded more appealing. With his decision made, he chose the Strangling Grasp skill. The skeleton was destroyed and after he absorbed the new skill, the zombie followed suit. Congratulations! You have learned Strangling Grasp. After adding the new skill to his repertoire, it was time to give it a test. His old discarded shell was still there and before he took it into his storage, he decided to test his grip on it. His bronze fingers tightened around the arm of his former body, and he felt an immediate surge of strength. The grip felt significantly stronger, almost as if his metallic hand had gained a life of its own. He squeezed harder, and the arm began to crumple under the pressure, the metal buckling and deforming with ease. "Interesting, it lasts for a few seconds but it could be quite useful." Rusty knew that this world held many dangers and various types of enemies. Some were resistant to slashing damage, others to heavy attacks. His body had its advantages, but if an enemy with immense grip strength appeared before him, it could quickly mangle him. Satisfied with the new skill, Rusty absorbed the remnants of his old shell into his inventory and took stock of his situation. The church was quiet now, the light from his elemental attack having purged it of undead threats. He had gained a decent amount of experience from the encounter, and there wasn''t much left until he would reach his next evolution. However, a large problem was arising. In his pursuit of causing chaos in the dungeon, he was making it difficult for himself to gain levels. This was not his first attempt at AOE farming, and this eighth level lost its resources a lot faster than the others. This was a theory he had come up with: the stronger the monsters he defeated, the more the dungeon struggled to restore them. On this floor, there were more E-ranked monsters than on any others, and there were large quantities of them. Without light elemental spells, it would be quite difficult to cause this much destruction to the scenery. His light was also seemingly doing something to the gloomy environment, purifying it. "There is no reason to stay here anymore, then. There don''t seem to be any treasures, either, I wonder if it''s also because of me?" Once he realized that this place had stopped spawning more monsters, he headed towards the next set of stairs. If the hero was correct, he would soon reach a special area of the dungeon. He just needed to get past the ninth level, and then perhaps his journey would be at an end. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "I haven''t seen those adventurers around for a while, so I should probably hurry." The last few days had been rather simple. Once the adventurers vanished, he was free to roam the undead-infested area without a worry in the world, engaging in wanton slaughter without needing to rest. He hadn''t realized just how much those people were limiting his progress, but this freedom probably wouldn''t last. Those individuals were smart and resourceful. He was sure they were planning something, and it would be better to go through another evolution before they confronted him. After facing off against multiple monsters, it became easy to gauge the strength level of the adventurers. With his current power, he could probably defeat the average adventurer who roamed this dungeon. These people didn''t engage in combat with creatures much stronger than themselves, so it was simple to imagine himself in their place. However, he still couldn''t see himself defeating a full party of five in a fair match without using any hidden weapons or tactics. "I wonder what''s on the ninth level. I suppose there''s only one way to find out!" With a little over a week left until the deadline, his plan was to clear the ninth level in a few days to aid in his evolution. Once there, he would then challenge the special tenth floor, and without the adventurers around, it was a chance he couldn''t waste. Soon, his metallic footsteps echoed in the silence as he headed towards his next destination. The area leading to the next floor resembled a large opened castle door, and upon passing through it, he understood why. The stairs didn''t descend much, and before him lay an old castle-like structure in the distance. What greeted him was not an even larger expanse, but a bridge leading to a single massive structure. Surrounding this castle was a high ceiling of rocks and a massive moat. As he looked in all directions, there didn''t seem to be anything of note except the path forward. "It''s quiet¡­" The bridge leading to the spacious castle was long and wide. As Rusty glanced at the murky water below, he noticed bones floating around. Initially, he assumed they were remnants of adventurers who had fallen and met their demise. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that these were skeleton monsters lurking in the water, perhaps lying in wait to ensnare anyone who fell in further. It was a strange monster placement, but soon he would realize why they were there. While he had no ears, his hearing was sharp, and from the distance, the clear sound of a bow being drawn reached him. Reacting almost instantly, he pulled out his shield to protect his head, and just in time - an arrow collided with it, bouncing off and plunging into the moat. Suddenly, all hell broke loose as many adversaries appeared in the distance. Movement erupted on the castle''s ramparts. He saw armored beings with heavy bows aiming in his direction. They looked similar to him, but their coloring was much darker. These weren''t simple bronze armors anymore; they were their evolved forms, and all of them had seen him attempting to cross the bridge leading inside. There was no way to flee to the sides; the only option was to go forward. His body was sturdy enough to withstand multiple hits, but the real issue was protecting his helmet from getting knocked off his shoulders. If that happened and it landed in the moat, he would probably sink like a rock and be done for. Thus, after lowering his stance and placing his shield directly in front, he rushed forward. The armored monsters fired their arrows in his direction, and many collided with his shield. The arrows bounced off, and even those that struck his body bent out of shape. He could hear the system warning him about the loss of HP, prompting him to increase his pace. Even though they couldn''t kill him outright, he would be stunned once his health reached a critical point. He sprinted across the bridge with as much speed as his metallic body allowed. His shield absorbed most of the impact, but the hail of arrows continued. This was a greater increase in difficulty compared to previous floors, which had been relatively mild at their starting locations. The closer he got, the more he could see the details of his enemies - living armors of a different metal variety. There was a gate in place, keeping him from entering further, but it was only closed on one side, allowing him to escape the hail of arrows. With a final burst of speed, he dashed through the entrance and slammed into the iron bars blocking the way forward. Rusty had made it partially inside, and while the path forward was blocked, there was a side entrance nearby. "I''m in¡­" Rusty turned around and saw many arrows impaled on the thick wooden bridge behind him. It was quite the welcome, and a few arrows had even managed to pierce through his twilight bronze body. He started yanking the iron arrows out while surveying his surroundings. Through the castle gate, he saw a large number of enemies, all mostly of one type: the same dark-armored living armors that had been shooting at him. Classification: Iron Armor [ E- ] L3 Type: Magical/Specter Description: A living armor monster fully made out of iron. These monsters were patrolling around but quickly turned in his direction after he slammed into the iron bars of the inner castle gate. Not wanting to stand out, Rusty decided to quickly slip into the side entrance, where a lesser number of enemies awaited him. The interior was dimly lit and narrow, offering a temporary reprieve from the overwhelming number of foes outside. Despite the relative safety of this side entrance, there were still enemies here. Without any adventurers within the dungeon, he had to deal with all of them alone. His metallic footsteps echoed in the confined space, alerting the patrolling iron guards to his presence. With haste, he switched out his longsword to match his opponents who were made out of hardened metal. The sword vanished from his hand and was replaced with a heavy-looking mace. Soon, one of the living armors was charging at him with a large two-handed sword. Rusty braced himself for the impact, adjusting his stance to better wield the heavy mace. The charging Iron Armor raised its two-handed sword, ready to strike. Rusty dodged to the side at the last moment, swinging his mace in a wide arc. The mace connected with the side of the Iron Armor''s head, sending a resounding clang echoing through the narrow hallway. The Iron Armor staggered but did not fall. Rusty swung again, this time aiming for the knee joint. The mace crushed through the metal, causing the Iron Armor to buckle and collapse. He followed up with a decisive skill-infused strike to the head, right where the core should be hidden away. The monster''s helmet was flattened from the powerful blow and he received the system''s confirmation of his victory. One was down, but another remained. The second Iron Armor swung its sword, but Rusty was quicker. The blow was parried by his shield, sending the monster staggering back. With a perfectly timed hit from his mace, a dent appeared in its stomach, and the monster was sent flying against the nearby wall. While the monsters looked sturdy, they were rather light, a weakness Rusty knew how to exploit. He quickly approached before the monster could gather itself. One of its arms had popped off, but the monster was unwilling to give up. With its remaining arm, it flailed wildly, trying to keep him at bay. However, before the monster could use its Limb Control skill, Rusty charged in. His mace connected with the remaining arm, pinning it against the wall. Then, his hand moved in a grasping motion toward the Iron Armor''s helmet. Soon, it was being squeezed without mercy, bending under the might of his new skill. "It''s like fighting a slower and dumber version of myself¡­" The monster''s parts flopped down as its core was crushed by Rusty''s gauntlet. He knew his own weaknesses best, so it was quite easy to exploit these enemies that were almost the same as him. While their bodies were made from a better metal, it didn''t mean they were harder. Thanks to his passive skills and his bronze body being made of a rarer variant, he was just as, if not more, sturdy than all of them. Rusty stood over the defeated foe, briefly assessing the situation. The area was clear for the moment, giving him a chance to catch his breath and plan his next move. Luckily, the battle hadn''t triggered the other monsters to enter this chamber. He had some time to examine their bodies and prepare for the coming battles. His enemies weren''t as weak as the ones on the other floors, and he couldn''t dispatch them easily with his elemental light. To navigate this area and reach his next evolution, he would have to proceed carefully. However, he couldn''t shake the feeling that his enemies wouldn''t simply allow him to lurk in this dungeon without trying to impede his movements. Time was of the essence and once he was level fifteen he would tackle the tenth floor and what lurked within. Chapter 53 – Adventurers Coming. "When was the last time we were here?""I don''t know, maybe a month or two." "Everything sure has changed. It''s no wonder the guild asked us to sweep through the floors before they open it up again¡­" A group of adventurers looked around a desolate swamp area. They had expected a thick fog, croaking poisonous toads, and groaning undead. There was almost none of it here. The fog that used to keep people from seeing a few meters ahead was gone. The monsters that should have been guarding the many crypts were gone, and their interiors were emptied out. It was as if something or someone had systematically purged the entire area of its threats. "I heard this was supposed to be a case of over-hunting, but why would it continue even after the dungeon was closed?" "Perhaps they have a different way to get in here?" "I don''t like the sound of that." "Why''s that, Keyon?" The woman in light leather armor asked her companion while the others listened. It was a party of four people. One was a dwarven warrior, another a large man over two meters in height wearing bulky steel armor. The two talking were an archer named Keyon and the party leader, Livi. "Well, if that''s true, they could still be here. We can handle the monsters here, but if it''s another party of adventurers, it could get tricky. They could be in a large group or have high ranks with them. Do they really expect us to do this for a few silver coins?" Keyon replied, his voice laced with bitterness. This new mission they were sent on was supposed to be easy, just reconnaissance to see if the dungeon had jumpstarted itself back. This was supposed to be a fairly new dungeon still going through a growth period. The guild made sure not to overtax it because until it reached a certain threshold, such occurrences were possible. "You think they''ll pay us if we go back now?" "Hah, probably not, if we don''t find the source of whatever has been causing this, we might not get anything at all." Livi frowned, scanning the surroundings. The absence of fog and monsters was unsettling. She had expected a routine check, not an empty, eerie silence. Their contract had a clause that in the event of unusual circumstances, they would need to investigate and report back before receiving full payment. Abandoning the mission now would result in no compensation and potentially damage their reputation within the guild. "Let''s press on. We need to figure out what''s happening here. Besides, I don''t think there is anything worthwhile left down here besides the boss chamber. Let''s just go there, and if it''s empty, we''ll make the report." "Alright, leader. Lead the way." Livi made the decision, and the other party members just nodded. The group moved forward and navigated through the desolate swamp at record speed. Without the fog impeding their progress, it was quite easy for them to reach the entrance to the eighth floor. Soon, the adventurers descended to the eighth floor, but they couldn''t help but feel the oppressive silence of the dungeon. The atmosphere was unlike anything they had encountered before. Usually, the air would be thick with the stench of decay and the sounds of undead roaming the halls, but now, it was eerily calm. "Stay alert; something''s not right here." "The eighth floor isn''t much better than the previous seven. The density of monsters is really dropping down... Could some bastard have damaged the dungeon heart?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Now why would someone do something as idiotic as that?" Keyon replied to Livi as the group moved through the destroyed chambers on the eighth floor, only to find one or two zombies crawling about. As they cautiously explored the eighth floor, the adventurers encountered only scattered remnants of undead, nothing more than stragglers barely posing a threat. The once-menacing atmosphere of the dungeon had dissipated, replaced by an unsettling calm. Every corner they turned revealed more evidence of desolation, urging them to press on with their search. The big question still remained: who was responsible for this, and were they still lurking inside the dungeon? All of them remained on high alert. The threat wasn''t obvious, but they anticipated an unwelcome surprise at any moment. Keyon, the archer, kept his bow ready, skillfully scanning for any potential hidden targets. Despite their cautious progress, as they reached the entrance to the ninth floor, nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. They were nearing the end of their exploration, yet the possibility lingered that their adversary might be lying in it. "Boss, this place is too quiet. Do you think we''re walking into a trap?" Keyon whispered, his gaze fixed on the stairs leading down. "I don''t know, but we need to be prepared for anything. Keep your guard up. If we''re lucky, we''ll confront the boss and return. But stay vigilant, Dedrick you take the front, keep your shield up." Livi responded, simultaneously issuing orders to the party members. They all understood that the difficulty on the next floor would intensify greatly, likely with a barrage of arrows awaiting them. The largest and most heavily armored man in the group nodded, extending his massive tower shield. Soon, the group descended the stairs and reached the next floor, where they immediately noticed a change. "Do you hear that?" "Yeah¡­ Someone is there." Finally, they noticed a difference. The expected hail of arrows from the living armors defending the castle gates didn''t come. Instead, they heard loud noises: the sound of metal clashing against metal. Clearly, someone was already battling the iron armors on this floor. "I think we might have discovered the problem. What do we do?" One of the party members asked. The party leader began to ponder. She knew it was possible that dungeon poachers were ahead of them, a group that would probably not be easy to deal with. However, if the poachers were already fighting the living armors, it presented an opportunity. They could ambush the poachers from behind, using the monsters to their advantage, and potentially earn a higher reward from the guild for completing their mission. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Prepare yourselves. We''re moving in. Keyon, stay at the rear and cover our backs, Reistel, Dedrick you two in the front." "Aye, finally some action!" The dwarf called out in a hushed tone while the larger armored man just nodded. Soon the four were moving through the long bridge that was usually covered in arrows. The adventurers cautiously moved across the bridge, their footsteps muffled against the wooden planks. Driven by the sounds of battle, they continued onward. What they discovered further was a castle filled with empty hallways. This place was supposed to be overrun by living armor monsters at every corner, but instead, they were greeted by nothing but muffled sounds from afar. They nodded at each other and stealthily moved toward the source of the noise. As they approached the castle''s great hall, the clashing of metal grew louder, resonating through the cold stone walls. "Hey, do you see that?" "Yeah¡­ doesn''t that thing look familiar?" Livi asked Keyon, who narrowed his eyes at the spectacle before them. In the middle of the great hall was a lone living armor, different from the ones attacking it. In one hand, it held a large bronze mace, while the other contained a shield. With each swing of its weapon, it dispatched the seemingly more evolved variants, smashing their heads and directly targeting their monster cores. The battle seemed to be over a minute into their arrival, and soon the creature stood motionless in the middle of the hall. "Yeah, it looks like that shitty armor that fell into the chasm, did it manage to crawl out and evolve or something?" To their surprise, it was a monster they were all familiar with. Livi their leader still remembered the trouble she had selling its gauntlet that no one was willing to buy. It was now there, crushing the heads of the iron monsters like it was nothing. Even though these living armors were not their match, if they came in high numbers, even their party would have some trouble. "So, is this the reason? What do we do?" Keyon whispered while notching an arrow into his bow. He had a clean shot for the armored monster and knew that if he hit its helmet in the right spot, he could knock it off. They only needed to get to its monster core to win this fight. "This thing probably caused the previous disaster, we need to be careful it knows darkness magic." "Don''t worry, leave it to me, I''ll just¡­" The archer turned his head towards the lone monster and stopped talking. He was aware of the power this monster supposedly had and was planning to use his archery skills to finish the job. However, to his surprise, after he turned his gaze away from the armor for a few seconds, it had turned in their direction. To make it worse, it was now holding something that resembled a spear in its hand. "Shit, dodge it!" The large projectile made an arch and closed in on Livi''s head. The woman reacted slowly at the sudden attack coming her way. This spear had been infused with a strange dark substance and spiraling in their direction. Luckily, Livi was not alone and a large tower shield made of thick steel appeared in the hands of her party member. It connected with a resounding clang, and Dedrick, the heavily armored warrior, absorbed the impact. The force of the throw caused him to stagger back a few steps, but he remained standing. The spear bounced off to the side and its tip embedded itself in the stone floor and vibrated from the impact. "Get away from that, it''s covered in black magic." While the projectile was deflected it still posed a threat to them all. The foul magic it was imbued with, was similar to poison but did not require them to ingest it. Being in close vicinity to this black mana would cause them to weaken tremendously. All of them scattered to the sides in fear of the after effects of this weapon throw. However, just as quickly as it appeared before them, the shadowy mist around it vanished into nothingness. "What about the monster?" With haste all of them turned to the grand hall where the battle between living armors had been taking place but instead of seeing the bronze armor charging in their direction, they saw it retreating. "Is that really a dungeon monster or is someone inside that armor?" They paused out of shock as the living armor was acting very strangely. Normally, it should have attacked them instantly but instead, it was fleeing. Irregular monsters were special, some even had intelligence but this also depended on the type. This thing shouldn''t be capable of strategic thinking and the possibility of another monster wearing the armor was possible. "It could be trying to lead us into a trap, stay together." The four nodded at each other before giving chase. Despite the strangeness of this metallic monster, they were confident they could handle it. The chase was on, and tracking the noisy creature through the castle was relatively easy. Its metal body clanged loudly with each step, echoing through the corridors and chambers it traversed. "Where is it trying to go?" "I don''t know, but¡­ watch out!" Livi exclaimed as they rounded a corner and encountered an area filled with poison. The ground was littered with the bodies of small worm-like creatures that had exploded, a hazard typically found on the second floor and not something the monster should have brought down here. They paused briefly, navigating through the initial burst of purple smoke, then continued their pursuit. The adventurers cautiously pursued the mysterious living armor through the castle''s corridors. When they gained on the monster, it lobbed a series of explosive potions native to the goblins on a different floor. Then, blocked an area with a strange ball of mangled bronze armor that should be here. "Wait, isn''t this the way to the tenth floor? Is it trying to get there?" "It seems so, it must not be too smart if it''s going there¡­" They continued to chase and they soon arrived at a large staircase leading up to a set of massive doors. Just as they appeared there, they could see the bronze armor duck through the gates which prompted them to halt in their steps. Almost instantly after it had gone through the threshold, the massive chamber doors started to close upon themselves. "The dungeon recognized it as a threat?" "What do we do now, it went into the boss chamber?" "There is nothing much that we can do now besides waiting¡­ The boss will probably kill it for us¡­" The adventurers paused while looking at the closed doors that led to what would be the tenth floor of this dungeon or what most knew as the boss chamber. Within would be a powerful monster that required a whole party of adventurers to defeat. In their eyes, the bronze armor was already dead as they could not see it being able to survive against such a tough opponent. "What now, Livi?" Keyon asked as all of them settled before the large door. All of them knew that once these closed, they would not open until either the boss monster inside died or the one challenging did. "We wait. If that thing is as dumb as it seems. There''s no way it can handle whatever''s in there alone¡­." ****** "I think they aren''t following after me anymore¡­ but what is this place, I thought this was the way to the tenth floor?" Rusty had been finishing up his grinding session against his iron counterparts when he noticed the adventurers. He was now level fourteen and just one shy away from the new level limit. A new skill was gained during the leveling spree that allowed him to detect living beings in the vicinity and through it he was able to discover his enemies. Then after a quick decision, he made his way towards the tenth floor that he had previously discovered but not used. "This place is different from the other floors¡­" After going through the large chamber doors he arrived at more stairs that started to lead downwards. He descended slowly and eventually arrived at a huge room that resembled something a king would inhabit. The ceilings were high, supported by grand stone pillars adorned with intricate carvings. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows across the polished marble floor. At the far end of the chamber, a massive throne sat upon a raised dais, commanding the room''s attention. "There is no one there but¡­" He had expected to find someone seated upon that throne, but it was empty. Yet, Rusty was not alone. Next to the throne, like a sentinel knight, stood a large armored creature. It towered over him by at least a head''s length, its presence imposing. As he stepped further into the room, the armored figure''s head turned towards him, its visor glowing with an eerie red light¡­ Chapter 54 – 10th Floor Boss. A massive armored figure began to move, the sound of its metal joints echoing through the chamber like a death knell. Its movements were deliberate and heavy, each step resonating with power. Rusty could see that this creature was not like the other living armors he had faced. This one exuded a strange aura that he had not seen before.This was the first dungeon boss he had encountered, and even though the hero had warned him about the dangers of such beings, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of excitement. This was the challenge he had been seeking, the key to his next evolution. His level was now fourteen, and this monster would probably be enough to push him through the threshold. "My luck wasn''t good. I would have probably reached a higher level if it wasn''t for those adventurers. But at least, they can''t follow me here." Rusty knew that once a person was inside a boss chamber, it was impossible for anyone else to enter. Unless the adventurers chasing him had some digging tools, he would have time to dispatch this monster, reach the next evolution, and then either run away or confront his pursuers once he was stronger. The month was almost up, and this seemed to be the limit. If he didn''t make it out of this battle, all of his planning would have been for nothing. "Is that going to be my next form? It looks a bit disfigured¡­" Classification: Iron Armor Knight [ E+ ] L15 Type: Magical/Specter Description: A living armor monster, its armor is much heavier than regular Iron Armor''s. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There wasn''t much detail in the description, but the monster''s form was undeniably intimidating. It outsized Rusty in both height and width, its thick, reinforced plating suggesting it was built for both offense and defense. It held a massive greatsword with ease; the blade looked more like a slab of metal than a sword. The edge didn''t appear too sharp, but something that heavy would certainly penetrate through Rusty''s slashing resistance. "Time to see what you''re made of and if all that skill training was worth it¡­" Rusty muttered, tightening his grip on his mace. The battle would not be easy, but he was ready. His enemy was the same type of monster as him, which didn''t bode well. The floor boss was larger and heavier, attributes that usually determined victory between living armor types. However, Rusty wasn''t just a simple living armor; he had brains to complement his brawn. If he used what he had learned throughout these months, then victory could be his. As the Iron Armor Knight advanced, Rusty activated his inventory to take out the correct armaments for this situation. The mace would be a good offensive weapon for this type of enemy as it was weak to blunt damage. To his left side he held his bronze shield tightly and would use it just like he did against the other living armors. The plan was simple, block with the shield and hit with the mace, what could go wrong? The Knight finally approached and swung its greatsword in a wide arc, aiming to cleave Rusty in two. In response, Rusty raised his shield to block the incoming hit, just as he had done many times with other living armor monsters. Once he withstood the hit, there would be a window of opportunity to strike back. His mace just needed to connect with the enemy''s knee joint. Once this was mangled, the boss would be unable to move quickly, and the battle would be won. This was the plan in Rusty''s metallic head. To his surprise, it didn''t quite go as he had foreseen. Once the large slab of iron connected with his shield, he was sent flying to the side. The immense force behind the Iron Armor Knight''s strike sent him crashing into a nearby pillar. His shield, while having absorbed much of the impact, was now bent and rendered almost useless. Without even looking at his system screen, he could tell that even though the shield had absorbed a large portion of the hit, he still lost some of his HP. ''This won''t be as straightforward as I thought¡­'' Rusty pushed himself upright, his metallic body groaning in protest. He quickly discarded the damaged shield by throwing it in the direction of the charging iron knight. His opponent didn''t seem to mind as the bronze just bounce off without halting his charge in the slightest. While holding the sword with both hands it produced another wide slash, which this time around Rusty ducked. He sought protection behind one of the rocky pillars but this also didn''t suppress his opponent much. The moment the huge greatsword connected with the pillar, it blew right past it. Chunks of rock pelted his bronze body as he continued to back away. His opponent was on the offensive and not giving him any openings that he could exploit. Rusty realized he needed a different approach. Relying on brute force alone wouldn''t work against a foe that outmatched him in strength and size. Something like this was easier said than done. His opponent would certainly not give him any time to reorganize himself. The Iron Armor Knight was hot on his heels and another pillar burst open. Rusty ducked again and realized that these stone slabs would not be able to protect him from this enemy. It was as if someone placed them here to be nothing but a trap. Soon, more and more of the rocky pillars were gone, and Rusty hadn''t even hit the other armor once. Both of them lacked a stamina bar, so waiting for the monster to tire was pointless. Eventually, he would not have any cover left to protect him; before that happened, he needed to strike. ''I''ll get only one chance, I need to make it count.'' With only one pillar left standing, Rusty made up his mind and devised a plan. Even though the monster was blowing through the rough stones, they were halting its momentum. If he timed it right, he could knock his enemy off balance and launch a counterattack. To make this happen, he activated his inventory and took out a large iron tower shield he had previously taken from one of the other living armors. With it, he hoped to turn his plan into reality. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. While the monster was strong and could obliterate the environment with its huge sword, Rusty had noticed some weaknesses. To exploit one of its shortcomings, he needed the large shield and good timing. Holding the shield at the edge of the pillar, he waited for the right moment. ''...Now!'' He shouted in his mind as the monster attacked the last column in the throne room. Normally, the monster would just cause it to crumble into dust again, but this time, there was another obstruction. Rusty utilized the large shield along with his shield bash skill, targeting not the monster but its blade tip instead. Once the greatsword collided with the pillar, its momentum slowed, allowing Rusty to perform a perfect parry without being pushed back. His body''s weight increased as otherwise, he would have been pushed back once again. The tower shield collided with the sword, and Rusty could feel his body buckling under the pressure. Despite the force behind the enemy''s strike, he managed to hold his ground, using his shield and skill to absorb and redirect the attack''s momentum. The collision created a resounding clang that echoed through the grand chamber, causing a momentary pause in the relentless onslaught of the Iron Armor Knight. Finally, the greatsword was flung back along with the monster holding it, and the time for his counterattack had come. He discarded the tower shield by throwing it at the stumbling monster. Both hands gripping his mace, Rusty aimed a precise power strike at the Iron Armor Knight''s knee joint. While aiming at its monster core within the helmet was an option, the monster''s arms were raised to protect it. Just like him, each living armor had instincts to protect their helmet from harm, and targeting its legs was the better choice. The heavy mace connected with a satisfying crunch, but one hit was not enough to shatter the knee joint. The monster staggered back, its reinforced armor absorbing most of the impact. It used its large blade as a crutch and tried to regain its balance, but Rusty was unwilling to relent. With calculated precision, he swung his mace again and again, as many times as it took to shatter the joint. Even when the monster used its large fist to smack him away, he would not relent. Rusty''s repeated strikes finally bore fruit. With a final, resounding crack, the knee joint of the Iron Armor Knight gave way. The massive creature staggered, unable to support its own weight, and collapsed onto one knee. Rusty didn''t waste a moment. He knew this was his best, and possibly only, chance to finish the fight. He quickly maneuvered behind the fallen knight, where the greatsword couldn''t easily reach him. The Iron Armor Knight swung its sword wildly, but the blows were erratic and lacked the precision needed to hit the nimble bronze suit of armor. Rusty darted around it, continuously hitting its body with his active skills. Even when his mace shattered, he just restored it and continued. With each powerful blow, more cracks formed in the knight''s armor. The greatsword flailed desperately, but the knight''s movements grew slower and more uncoordinated as the damage accumulated. Rusty knew that if he was hit even once or grabbed by its large hands, the whole battle could shift in the monster''s favor. His tactic might have been considered cowardly but it was effective. The monster''s helmet eventually flew upwards after one coordinated swing in an attempt to expose its core and end this. However, soon a problem arose as the monster core that should have been there, was nowhere to be seen. ''Does it have that skill to move the monster core?'' Rusty knew that such skills existed, but it was also possible that this type of Knight armor variant had its core in a different location. Without knowing where to hit, this battle would become increasingly more difficult. He backed away from the chaotic swings, but the monster crawled after him. Its attack power and mobility had decreased, but even with one hand, a large greatsword like that was a deadly weapon. ''Where is that core hiding¡­ wait, I still have one of those left; I should use it!'' The monster was now without a head and flailing around wildly. Rusty was forced to back away as moving in close was dangerous. Victory could only be achieved once the core was destroyed, and he had one option left. His light and darkness elements were ineffective against living armors. Even if he blasted light inside its head, it would probably not crumble the core inside. Instead, he would use a different explosive solution in the form of a yellow potion bottle. ''If this fails, I''ll probably only have one other option, and it would be better not to.'' After making up his mind, he charged forward. First, to make use of his opponent''s lack of a helmet, he threw his mace at its body. The monster reacted instantly after being hit and started smacking the area the weapon came from. It hit nothing but air and stone tiles while Rusty circled around it with the potion in his hand. Then, with a precise throw, he launched it into the living armor''s chest cavity through the opening left by the helmet. The potion, once inside, instantly exploded and turned the monster''s interior into a furnace. Smoke and flames erupted from the monster. Its arms popped off in a comedic fashion and flew to the sides. Rusty wanted to cheer, but something was wrong. Despite the explosion, the monster was still moving. The arms and helmet started to be pulled back as his enemy finally decided to use its limb-controlling skill. He couldn''t allow the monster to reform itself, so he charged forward with a longsword instead. Once he reached the injured body of the Iron Knight, he began searching for the core inside. The smoke made it hard to locate, and the monster still had its legs. Even with his weight skill active, it was challenging to hold the creature down, but eventually, he found the core, right below the waistline and between the monster''s legs. It was a strange place for a monster core, but there it was. With all his might, he thrust his blade through the neck opening, carefully aiming for the spot he had identified. The blade pierced through and found its mark, driving deep into the core. Rusty felt a sudden vibration from within the monster''s body, which soon passed as the monster''s body dropped. The arms and helmet that had almost reached it crumbled to the ground with a resounding clang. The battle was over. Congratulations you have gained a level. You have reached the level limit, please choose a path forward. There it was; he had reached the final level and was now ready to advance toward his next evolution. While he had achieved victory, there was no time to relax as he was not quite safe yet. Now that the dungeon boss was defeated, the path to this place would open, and those adventurers would certainly appear. He was unsure of what to do, as he spending time in the soul forge would put him at risk. "Time flows slower here than in the forge, but how much slower?" It would be quite unfortunate if the adventurers discovered his unmoving body while he was trying to evolve. Before he could go through with this, he needed to find a safe location. Soon after the defeat of his enemy, he heard a strange click coming from afar. The throne chair started to slide sideways, revealing a ladder leading down into another location. "Is this the path towards the next floor?" Just as this new path opened up, another one that had been shut tight started moving. The large doors blocking access to the chamber were creaking apart. It was clear he needed to think fast, as his previous pursuers were right behind him. Would he go down these stairs into a potential dead end or a new monster-infested floor? Or would he try to evolve quickly and face the adventurers first? He looked at the ladder, then at the slowly opening doors. He could hear the distant clanking of the adventurers'' armor and their muffled voices, growing louder as they neared the chamber¡­ Chapter 55 – Freedom Close. "Do we really have to wait here all day? Maybe we should just go back and report this to the guild?"Keyon muttered, shifting his weight from foot to foot. The oppressive silence of the dungeon weighed heavily on the adventurers, but it wasn''t enough to make them drop their guard. "Yeah, I bet those fuckers at the guild will say that we failed the mission otherwise." Livi replied in an annoyed tone. The adventurers stood outside the massive doors leading to the boss chamber. The sounds of battle from within had faded, leaving them tense. "I still can''t believe that thing ran in there. What is that suit of armor?" Livi asked while giving the chamber door a kick. "I don''t know, maybe someone''s tamed monster that lost its master? Or just a monster that wandered into the dungeon?" Keyon replied as he tried to rationalize the situation, but it didn''t quite make sense to them. They knew that natural-born monsters stayed far away from dungeons. This armor was clearly more intelligent than it was supposed to be. "Yeah, it was definitely thinking. Dungeon monsters don''t act like that. It''s almost like..." "Like what?" Livi asked again, raising an eyebrow. She waited for Keyon''s reply, but before the archer could respond, the large door before them started to open. Dedrick, the heavily armored warrior, shifted his weight and moved in front of the party. The dwarf opened his eyes and smiled, ready to finally complete this mission. "Get ready." "Aye. Let''s get this over with and go have a drink. I''m parched." The massive doors to the chamber began to creak open, and the party stepped through. They knew how the dungeon rules worked. If the boss was victorious, it would restore its health and be ready for them. They were aware of its rank, strength, and weaknesses. It was not something they couldn''t handle, but what worried them was the living armor. If it managed to best the dungeon boss, it could potentially pose a threat to their group. All their weapons were raised as they crossed the threshold of the boss chamber. Inside, they witnessed an area with desolate columns, damaged during the monster battle. Once they saw this, they knew the boss monster had lost its battle with the bronze living armor. The room would instantly restore itself to its original form whenever the boss won. "I don''t see any of them¡­ did they kill each other?" "I don''t think so, look there," Livi replied to Keyon and pointed toward the large throne at the end of the chamber. It had slid open to reveal a new path leading down. "Did it go down into the treasure room?" "Possibly, but don''t you think something is off?" "Yeah¡­ I don''t see the boss anywhere. Where did its body go?" The monster that was supposed to be in this chamber should still be here. Its body wouldn''t just disappear into thin air; it would be farmed by adventurers for resources. The thick armor it wore was worth good money. Once defeated, adventurers like them would take it apart for later use. However, the large suit of armor was nowhere to be seen. It was as if it had been devoured by the other suit of armor, which was also missing. "This is indeed strange but there is only one way it could have gone." They all wandered around the area that mimicked a noble''s home, but there was only one way to continue: down. The throne always slid to the side after the boss had been defeated, allowing access to the treasure chamber. There, the victor would receive an additional reward for their victory. Beyond it, there was nothing more, as this tenth floor, the boss room, was the final part of the dungeon. "Found anything?" "Nah, I don''t think it''s here, it must have gone down¡­" All of them moved towards the massive throne, their steps echoing ominously in the vast chamber. They exchanged wary glances, the air heavy with uncertainty. The adventurers had fought through countless monsters to reach this point, but something about this situation felt different. "Aye, down it is, then," Reistel the dwarf grunted, his grip tightening on his axe. All of them knew that their enemy wasn''t normal and the treasure room was a closed space. It was capable of using black magic, something that affected living beings greatly. "Don''t worry, the guild gave us this as a precaution, even if it uses that dark fog, we should be fine." Their team leader took out a silver cross on which strange symbols were engraved. It looked like some sort of magical artifact and its function would allow them to dispatch this armored enemy. Soon they started going down the long ladder with Dedrick moving first and Livi being the last. "Hm?" The group leader was about to move but then she heard something rustling in the corner. There a small rock bounced down from under a large pile of rocks. The boss chamber was well-lit but in one area most of the torches had been destroyed. It was covered in a dark shadow, that seemed a bit strange for some reason. Livi, squinted while wondering what this strange feeling was in her gut but before she took a step forward, someone called up from below. "Hey Livi, is something wrong?" "... No, I''m coming." She shook her head and ignored the shadows that were playing tricks on her mind. The woman assumed that perhaps her nerves were getting to her and it was better to focus on the bronze monster. Livi turned around and descended down the ladder to join her party, leaving the boss chamber and the secret that it held. ***** ''That was scary, I thought that adventurer could see me for a moment¡­'' Rusty remained hidden in the darkened part of this boss chamber. He had been lucky that one of the pillars had collapsed towards the corner and created a pocket with darkness. With enough light missing, he was able to activate his skill and wait it out until they finally headed down the ladder. He was lucky enough to level up which restored his MP fully but now, he needed to get out of here. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ''They are headed towards the treasure room, if what Alexander said was true, then it''s a dead end. Once they realize that I''m not there, they will probably climb right back up¡­'' Thanks to his guides he was aware of the theoretical dungeon structure. They informed him that this place probably ended on the tenth floor which was also the boss chamber. There was a possibility that an eleventh floor could exist past the boss chamber but this was not the case here. Once a treasure room was spotted, then it meant that the journey was over. At first, he was planning to pry the ladder of the wall once they had descended but it was far too sturdy. At most, he could start throwing some rubble down the hole in an attempt to block the exit. There were some chunks of the pillars that would fit but he wasn''t sure if they would do the job. Instead, it was probably better to sneak out now and climb to the higher levels where many more hiding spots existed. What he needed to do now, was to find a safe location and evolve to a superior variant. ''Should I just sneak out now or try to block them from coming back up?'' Rusty thought to himself as he pressed against the wall, moving slowly to minimize noise. The ladder down was about fifty meters away and would take some time to traverse. He considered using the rest of his poisonous worms. They were safely stored in his inventory, but once removed, they would activate, releasing their toxic fog. It might buy him some time, though the adventurers could have countermeasures against it. Approaching the ladder was risky, but before he could make a decision, something intriguing happened. ''Hm? What is this light?'' His gauntlet sunk into the wall he was leaning up against and a new option presented itself to him. Instead of running back towards the ninth floor, a path had opened up inside of the boss chamber. One of the bricks in the walls was pushable and revealed a secret passage. However, it also produced a lot of noise that the adventurers clearly heard and reacted to. He could hear their voices echoing from below, growing louder as they approached the ladder. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What was that noise?" "Did you hear that too?" "It must have been that monster! Quickly, climb back up." Rusty was left with little choice. He quickly retrieved all of the poisonous items from his inventory and hurled them toward the ladder. The worms exploded on contact and also in mid-air, releasing a cloud of toxic fog. Without wasting a moment, he ducked into the secret passage that was beginning to close. He hoped that by the time the adventurers climbed back up, the passage would be hidden, allowing him to avoid them completely. The wall slid shut behind him, muffling the adventurers'' shouts from the other side. They had encountered the poison mist at the entrance but continued forward. The narrow passage forced Rusty to switch to a shorter blade, allowing him to swing freely. After a few tense moments, the sounds of their footsteps began to fade. It was clear they assumed he had returned to the ninth floor. ''They left¡­ but what now¡­'' He straightened himself out and looked into the corridor he found himself in. There was a lone torch in the distance where he probably needed to head to. Before moving, he glanced at his status screen and the newly gained skill he was unable to examine earlier. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L15 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 104/172 Magic Points [MP] 44/153 Special Points [SP] 29/40 Strength 54 [ E ] Agility 32 [ E- ] Dexterity 30 [ E- ] Constitution 57 [ E ] Intelligence 36 [ E- ] Wisdom 38 [ E- ] Willpower 37 [ E- ] Durability E++ Possession [ Living Armor ] Active Skill Once the living armor is worn by someone, it enables complete control over the wearer''s body. His level was fifteen and he had also gained a new strange skill. From the description, it seemed that after allowing someone to wear his body as an armor, he would be able to gain control over their body. He was not sure what the point of this skill was but perhaps he gained some type of bonus if a person was inside of his bodie. There were obvious dangers that came with this skill as whoever was inside would have access to his monster core, making this something that could backfire. ''I''m not sure about this one¡­ but first, I need to see if this place is safe.'' Rusty wanted to start his evolution but was unsure about his safety. There was no cave filled with monster repelling crystals, or Gleam to watch over his unmoving body. First he needed to examine the area he found himself in and then decide. Thus, he moved through the narrow corridor forward and followed the seemingly straight path. "...c¡­.." ".....b¡­c¡­." "It''s the voice again¡­" He came to a sudden halt after walking for a minute, a familiar voice echoing inside his metallic head. It was something he had never forgotten, a worry that persisted since his return to this dungeon. The heart that created all of this was trying to say something to him and through this tunnel, he was getting closer. "S... a... y... a... c... k¡­" The further he advanced, the more resistance he encountered. The voice grew louder, transporting him back to a time he thought he had left behind. His steps slowed as a familiar force began to exert itself upon him. Control over his body was slipping away, seized by the very entity that had brought him into existence. "STAY BACK!" It was the dungeon heart, he was positive. The voice had turned from a whisper into a deafening roar, reverberating through his entire being. Rusty stumbled, nearly losing his balance as the force of the command pressed down on him. He could feel the dungeon''s will trying to overpower his own, seeking to reclaim control over its creation. But Rusty had evolved since his creation; he had gained strength, intelligence, and a sense of self. "I won''t¡­ be controlled¡­ again¡­" He muttered, each step forward feeling like wading through thick mud. His mind raced, trying to focus on the path ahead and not the overwhelming pressure trying to dominate him. The narrow corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, the torchlight flickering eerily in the distance. Rusty''s metallic feet clanked against the stone floor, each step echoing in the confined space. He focused on the sound of his own movements, using it to drown out the oppressive voice. Finally, the passage drew to a close and it opened into a hidden chamber. Rusty attempted to move forward but suddenly his body began to quiver. The voice inside of his mind was rampaging, not allowing him to progress any further. He was forced to take a step back as his senses became overloaded. "I¡­ I can''t go further, it''s just too strong¡­ but¡­ this isn''t over! If I can''t move now, I just need to get stronger!" Rusty had realized that this was a hidden corridor towards the dungeon heart. It was not something that the heart would reveal to the outside adventurers that could not be halted as the monsters here. There was nothing that he needed to fear here and the boss he defeated had been the last hurdle. Now he just needed to take a few steps forward and all of his problems would resolve themselves. Soon he lowered himself onto the ground, and after making sure that no other monsters approached him, he activated his new evolution. The world blurred around him just like before and he found himself before a familiar-looking castle. This was now the third time he had returned to this castle and the third time he would evolve. His form had started as a damaged and corroded bronze shell, something easily defeated even by a child. With time it grew into the bronze form he had now but it was time to discard this shell of bronze. Rusty moved forward, through the long bridge and quickly arrived at the Soul Forge where his two guides were already waiting. "Look hero, the prodigal son has finally returned~" "Ignore this idiot Rusty, welcome back, you did well." The hero Alexander scoffed at Aburdon the fallen demon king and the two floated towards him. In the middle of the chamber just like before he saw his new default shell. However, there was a slight difference. Instead of there being just one armor to slip into, there were three. Chapter 56 – Back At The Forge. Rusty had finally managed to reach the point he was after. It had been close to a month since the incident with Gleam. Before him stood the Soul Forge, where he had previously evolved twice. However, there had been some slight changes, just like before. In the middle of the main chamber stood three bodies, each different from the other. It was clear that he needed to make an important choice now, one that could dictate his entire future."That one looks similar to the floor boss in the dungeon." "Yes, it was quite the surprise that it just appeared there. Did the Soul Forge react?" Replied Aburdon, the fallen demon lord, while his orb form floated around the three metallic frames in the middle of the chamber. The question was posed to the hero, Alexander. He was the one who had been given this blessing in his previous life, but the white orb of light was unsure. "I don''t know, this place is different from the Soul Forge I used, but¡­ perhaps if Rusty defeats stronger living armors, the forge could have copied the designs to some extent? Or maybe it''s due to the monster parts? I think gathering new materials was a big part of this blessing¡­" Alexander wasn''t quite sure as his memory of his past life wasn''t complete. Rusty nodded; right after the victory against the floor boss, he had quickly grabbed its parts and weapon. One of the evolutionary options was quite similar to the monster he defeated. It was taller than his regular metallic frame, the armor was thicker, and it had a somewhat more demonic design. Small spikes jutted out from the armor, and even the helmet had some horns, which seemed to make the demon lord quite happy. "You''ll go with this one, right? It''s clearly better than the other two." Said Aburdon while floating around the demonic armor with evident admiration. "Don''t rush him. This decision needs careful thought. Did you forget what is at stake?" Alexander countered firmly and unyieldingly. "Do you mean that ant? Are you still planning on going into the human city?" Aburdon chuckled in a somewhat amused way. In the demon lord''s mind, there was no possibility of Rusty''s plan working. "My dear Rusty, you''re a monster. How about you start acting like one? Once you''re powerful enough, I''m sure you''ll be able to avenge your dear friend. For all we know, little Gleam could be no mo¨C" "Shut up!" The whole chamber quaked as Rusty shouted in anger. Aburdon was compelled to hold his words back. Alexander sensed the danger from this emotional outburst and floated closer to Rusty in an attempt to offer some support. "Don''t let him get to you, Rusty. Focus on what''s important. I''m sure Gleam will be fine; there is still time." Soon, the quivering walls began to calm down as Rusty steadied his metallic nerves. He knew that the demon lord was an older being with much more knowledge. Aburdon was right to some extent; at least from the outside, the demonic-looking armor appeared to be the strongest option. However, there was one problem with choosing this path, and the hero quickly brought it up. "If you choose this path, Rusty, I''m afraid infiltrating the city will be impossible." "Why?" Rusty asked while also looking at the two other armor variants. The rightmost was the demonic armor. In the middle was one similar to the iron variants he saw within a dungeon. It was a direct upgrade of his bronze body and quite similar. To the left was something quite different - a body he didn''t truly understand. The top half was humanoid, but the bottom half belonged to some type of beast with four legs. Rusty had never encountered this type of monster before, but he had seen some depictions of this beast on temple walls. If he wasn''t wrong, the technical term for it was a centaur. This form was larger than even the demonic one on the right but the lower body was that of a horse with metallic legs. It would turn him into a quadruped with a human''s upper torso. While this form looked imposing, it would probably have limited function within tight corridors. "Those other two choices make you look too much like a monster. Only with the middle one will you be able to walk among them... and even then, I''m not too sure about it. I think some people adjust those monster armors to be used as regular armor, but once they get closer to you, it will be over." The living armor monsters were quite distinct and would be identified as monsters quickly by Rusty''s enemies. Once someone got close, they would notice the lack of a person inside. Even if he went with the most humanoid-looking one, it might still give him away. If this was the case, then perhaps going with the horned one was better, at least for the additional power it provided. "Aren''t you two forgetting something?" While deliberating on the choice, the demon king''s restraint was lifted, allowing him to speak again. "Do you actually have some proper advice this time?" Alexander responded in a mocking tone, which made Aburdon react in anger. "What is that supposed to mean? I always give proper advice, but for some reason, it''s not appreciated!" "Maybe if you weren''t plotting something dubious each time, Rusty would trust you more." "I''m not plotting anything. I just don''t want our precious friend to get injured..." The two started going back and forth as usual, so Rusty decided to stop it. It seemed that Aburdon had some kind of idea, and if it helped him rescue Gleam, he was willing to listen. "That''s enough. What did you have in mind, Aburdon?" "Hah, you won''t regret it, Rusty! Now, where was I? Ah yes! Do you recall the skill you achieved once you reached level fifteen, my dear Rusty?" The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "...The Possession skill?" "Yes, that one!" Rusty had received a new skill once he maxed out his level but had not been able to test it out. "With the Possession skill, you might be able to fool those pesky adventurers, even if you stride through their precious guild." "Oh, is that true? Will I be able to do that?" It sounded too good to be true but Rusty was intrigued. The Possession skill could potentially allow him to manipulate and control someone who wore him as armor. "You want him to use one of the adventurers¡­ like some kind of reverse inner suit thing?" "That''s right, my dear hero. We both know that if he attempts to get close to any settlement, he will get killed¡­ But! If he can manipulate one of those pesky adventurers well enough, then we can make the impossible possible!" Aburdon cackled while explaining as if he was trying to formulate some type of dubious plan. "Hm¡­" Rusty contemplated, expecting Alexander to offer a counterpoint. The hero and the demon lord rarely saw eye to eye on plans. Alexander pondered Aburdon''s suggestion carefully, his luminous form wavering slightly as he considered the implications. "It could work but¡­ will he be able to pretend to be an adventurer? Does Rusty even know how to behave like a human, won''t he be noticed if he acts like he does now?" Rusty wasn''t sure what the hero meant by that but he continued to listen to their discussion with interest. If there was a way to safely reach this guild the two were talking about, then he would do it. Even with his new evolution, battling numerous adventurers would be challenging. " Perhaps but well, don''t we have a previous adventurer here with us? Someone that could guide our precious Rusty through all of that?" "I suppose, I could do that¡­ but only if the guild hasn''t changed much since then¡­" "Hey, you''re the one that wants to save that ant, if you have anything better to suggest, now would be the time to do it." Alexander hesitated, he had just tried to reason with Rusty, a monster that was following his emotions to save a friend. While he appreciated the sentiment, he wasn''t entirely convinced of the plan''s feasibility. Avoiding human settlements altogether still seemed like the safer option, but the Possession skill offered a potential solution. "I''m not really too familiar with this skill, but would it be able to fool anyone?" "Possibly but we won''t know until he tries but before that, he needs to make a choice." Rusty nodded thoughtfully as he evaluated the three evolution options before him. The one with the lower body of a horse was immediately dismissed; while imposing in size, he wasn''t willing to transform into a creature part horse. This left him with just two choices, and only one if he prioritized Gleam''s safety. The demonic variant appeared formidable, but it was a conspicuous form and would not allow him to blend in with other people. "I''ll go with the middle one¡­" "I see, are you sure?" Asked the hero. "Yes but before that, I need to prepare." The decision was made but he would not just enter the body and be done with this space. The Soul Forge was a place to advance his power and to strategize. His body had changed to iron and thus he would be able to advance into the iron age of smithing. All his bronze weapons needed to be discarded and remade into a better form. With the help of this new metal, he would be able to advance even further. "Are you going to be forging weapons again?" While Rusty walked towards the smithing chamber, Aburdon gave a sigh. Not keen on blacksmithing, he quickly floated away to the library area instead. The hero, however, joined Rusty on this new journey. Once the chamber doors were opened, Rusty noticed that the place had become larger and that some reconstructions had taken place. Making Iron Age weapons was different from bronze. Instead of only using molds and smelting, he needed to use a forge alongside a hammer to shape the iron. The Soul Forge had helped him prepare the basic bronze weaponry before with an unlimited supply of bronze but this time, the challenge would be greater. Rusty approached the forge, already lit and roaring with flame. Various tools and materials were neatly organized around the area, ready for use. Alexander floated nearby, offering some support and ready to answer any questions to the beginner smith that was about to unfold on a new crafting journey. "First, let''s see what we have here." They examined the materials available. There was a generous supply of iron ingots, various types of wood for handles, and a collection of tools like hammers, tongs, and chisels. It was quite an organized setup but it was up to him to make use of this extensive smithy. Every weapon and tool he attempted to make would need to be made by his own two hands. "There doesn''t seem to be any shortcuts in this one." Alexander quickly floated through the chamber and examined everything. It seemed that the previous area had been more of a tutorial and this was the true start. While there were some pre-made hilts for each weapon type, he would need to forge the blades, shafts, and assemble the pieces together himself. Rusty took a deep breath, or what felt like one in his metallic form, and approached the forge. He selected a hammer and an iron ingot, feeling a strange sense of nostalgia despite the process being new to him. The forge''s heat was intense, but he felt no discomfort. He placed the iron ingot into the fire, watching it glow red-hot, and then positioned it on the anvil. "This won''t be easy." Alexander commented, hovering close to Rusty and giving him tips. "Iron is a lot harder to shape than bronze. You''ll need to be precise and consistent with your strikes." Rusty nodded, raising the hammer and bringing it down with a powerful, deliberate swing. Sparks flew, and the ingot began to flatten under the repeated blows. Each strike echoed through the chamber, a rhythmic clanging that filled the otherwise quiet space. Rusty found a rhythm, hammering, reheating, and hammering again. The process was arduous, requiring patience and precision, but he persisted. After what felt like hours, Rusty had shaped the iron into the rough form of a short blade. It was his first iron creation and he had already realized how much different this new metal was. The melting point was much higher than bronze which indicated that his body would be even more resistant than before. Soon, he formed the tang of his new blade which was the part that extended into the handle. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s a good base, now let''s begin the heat treatment." "Okay!" To harden the blade needed to be heated to a high enough temperature and then quenched in water or oil to harden the iron. The Soul Forge provided him with all the required tools for this stage. To temper the blade further it needed to be rehearsed to a lower temperature and then allowed to cool slowly. This reduced its brittleness and also improved the toughness. Once this step was finished he could move on to sharpening the short blade he had produced. Just like with the bronze weaponry he used a sharpening wheel to refine its shape and remove any irregularities. Then with the help of whetstones, and other polishing tools the edge could be finalized. "Good, now just attach one of the hilts, make sure it fits in the palm of your hand just right." There were many wooden hilts around and also tools that would allow him to make them smaller. He was given various materials like wood, bone, and even antlers. For better grip, he could wrap it in leather or use some string. Each material was different and he was unsure what to use. Luckily, Alexander was here and gave him some good advice that he followed. "Stag horn is tremendously hard and durable." Soon, the tang was fitted into the hilt, and the entire assembly was secured with simple rivets. In the past, he had begun with a basic knife, but for his first iron creation, he was more ambitious. Before him now lay a well-made short sword crafted entirely from iron with his own two hands. It had not been shaped from a mold but forged through his own skillful craftsmanship. "Not bad for the first time, I could see an adventurer using this one in the dungeon." Alexander commented while Rusty nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Then with a quick use of his identification skill, he realized that his skills had improved. The weapon that he made was quite good but this was just the beginning as many more had to be made. Identification: Twilight Iron Short Sword Rating: Intermediate - High Rank: Uncommon Chapter 57 – Iron Crafting Identification: Twilight Iron Great Sword Rating: Intermediate Rank: Common "Hm..." "Something wrong?" "Well... it''s not as easy as I thought it would be..." "It takes time to master the craft. You''re already doing better than most apprentices." Rusty grumbled in a manner similar to a human while examining the large sword he had made. It was on the larger side but not quite as massive as the one the dungeon boss had used. He had gained some respect for his last enemy and wondered if he could emulate that power. His new body might not have the weight to wield a blade of such colossal size, but a regular greatsword like this was still feasible. "I know... Do you think I will have more time to practice?" "That''s plausible. If my memory is correct, the Soul Forge was growing with me to a certain extent." Alexander confirmed Rusty''s theory, but he wouldn''t know for sure until this space threw him out. Previously he had been given enough time to forge many bronze weaponry and other pieces. He needed to do the same with the iron weapons and remake his arsenal like before. This was troubling as creating weapons through the use of molds was much simpler and quicker. However, through his work he noticed his smithing skills going up once more. Basic Smithing Mastery L7 Passive Skill Increases proficiency with all basic blacksmithing tools like hammers during crafting. Basic Forging L8 Passive Skill Unlocks the basics of forging. Aids in managing the forge, smelter, crafting, and spotting imperfections in created items. Just like with his battle skills, it was probable that these would turn into better versions once leveled past the ninth level. There was also one new skill that presented itself to him, one that increased his proficiency with the main blacksmithing tool. Basic Smithing Hammer Mastery L3 Passive Skill Increases proficiency with all blacksmithing hammers and is a requirement to unlock other smithing skills. ''I wonder if blacksmiths gain any active skills?'' Within this space, he was allowed to gain these skills but he wasn''t sure on how he was acquiring them. This one just popped up during one of his crafting attempts just as he was getting used to the new smithing methods. Some of the others he gained through reading books and none of them were gained through leveling. ''Well, I need to get back to work!'' Rusty continued his work, with Gleam and her grayed status constantly on his mind. He had started his journey with a drive to become stronger and combat powerful foes. Although his focus had temporarily shifted, he still knew that to complete this rescue mission, he needed to gain more power. The reason might have changed, but he was still walking a similar path. As the days went by, his skills continued to improve. He crafted more swords, axes, and even some defensive gear like shields and armor plates. The forge''s endless supply of iron allowed him to experiment and learn without fear of running out of materials. Alexander provided constant guidance, sharing his knowledge from his past life as an adventurer. They discussed different weapon designs, the balance between weight and durability, and the intricacies of each weapon type. Rusty absorbed all this information, applying it to his creations and making steady progress. However, at best, Rusty was only able to produce uncommon weaponry of slightly above intermediate rating. "This is probably the best I can do for now¡­" Identification: Twilight Iron Halberd Rating: Intermediate - High Rank: Uncommon He had created knives, short swords, longswords, axes, maces, and even a bow for iron-tipped arrows. This iron halberd was the last main weapon type he desired, but it was not the end of his crafting spree. While he had all the weapons, smithing wasn''t only about offense but also about defense. Ever since he saw adventurers with their unique armored plates, he started wondering if he could adjust his body in some way to make it even stronger. "What do you think?" "Not bad. Are you going to try to adjust your armor now?" Rusty nodded at the question posed by his smithing coach. Alexander had stayed with him the entire time, and the two were starting to form a bond. Aburdon sometimes peeked in to comment on their work and complain about how bored he was. He had been the one that brought up the possession skill and to make this plan work, some changes to his body needed to be made, or at least some other parts. "It''s probably best to keep the base of your body as it is. With your current skills, I''m not sure if you can make it any better." The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "You''re probably right, Alexander¡­" Rusty looked over a piece of armor plating he had created while training. It was a wrist protector, similar to the ones he had seen some adventurers using. They attached it to their bodies with leather straps and wore thicker clothing underneath. He did not have the luxury of using such things, as he needed his whole body to stay connected in some way. "I don''t think placing layers above my original body will work too well¡­" "Probably not. With one quick look, they would notice that you are a monster¡­" Rusty''s base body wasn''t quite the same as the full plate armor the adventurers used. There were some gaps in the joints that revealed the emptiness inside. To alleviate this problem, he could try riveting some leather on the inside to mimic human clothes, but still, the shape wasn''t quite the same. Something built from the ground up needed to be made if he hoped to fool them. "Well, how about you use the new storage?" "Ah, there''s that. I almost forgot!" The Soul Forge had slightly expanded, and one of the new features was the extensive storage. Everything that he had been storing from the outside ended up in this space, and it was quite close to the crafting chamber. He just needed to take a few steps and open the door. "How is this place so big¡­" What greeted him was a vast empty space that looked like a storage hangar. There were rows of wide wooden shelves with various pieces of equipment he had previously gathered on his adventurers. All the parts he had taken from the other bronze living armors and iron virants were here. Among them were also pieces he took from varius adventurers and these were the ones he was focused on. "I''ll just take them all¡­ there aren''t that many in here¡­" The place was vast and there was a lot of space between the shelves. To help him gather all of the equipment he needed, there was something that Alexander called a trolley. It had small wheels on the bottom and a large wooden box on top. Rusty began collecting various pieces of armor and equipment from the storage room, filling the trolley with items he thought might be useful for his plan. He picked out chest plates, gauntlets, greaves, and helmets, all in various states and of varying alloys. Alexander hovered right next to him, giving him some pointers at the better choices. "That chest plate looks like it could fit well with your current frame. And those gauntlets, the fingers seem similar and don''t require any leather gloves underneath." Alexander had a lot better eye for this sort of thing and it allowed him to save many hours of going through all the junk that he had gathered. In his old life he was a hero who lived among the people of many intelligent races, if there was one person that could help him blend in, then it was him. However, his counterpart wasn''t without a use as soon enough he would present his own skills to the forefront. "Think that should be enough." "I think so too, with all of these I''m sure we can figure something out." Rusty took the cart with him into the crafting chamber and started placing the various parts on the workbench. They were laid out into a humanoid pattern on the main one and he attempted to figure out the best combination. From what he could tell, the adventurers didn''t always present themselves in uniform armor so it didn''t need to be fully symmetrical. "This could take a while, I''m not even sure what to begin with¡­" "I knew you two would end up like this, you have been looking at those parts for hours now." "What do you want Aburdon, if you don''t have any advice to offer, then just leave us to our work." Alexander responded in an annoyed tone but this didn''t stop the dark orb from floating forward. Rusty wasn''t sure but it seemed that the demon king had some advice to offer and usually, he was right about many things. "Do you know of a better way?" "Of course I do~" "Hah, what do you know about crafting?" "It''s true, I''m not much of a blacksmith, to be frank it was always below me to even attempt such a thing¡­ but! That doesn''t mean that I don''t know a thing or two about the process! You two are missing something and that something is a plan!" "A plan?" "Indeed, now come with me for a moment Rusty, you won''t regret it. This I promise you as the former king of all demons!" Aburdon made some strong claims so Rusty was obviously intrigued. He looked towards Alexander but the ball of white light was unsure of what this was about. "This is me shrugging, might as well see what that idiot wants, sometimes he brings up good points." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without waiting long they left towards the library where the demon king resided. This place had also gone through a change. Next to the study area where the reading desk was, now stood a large board. Once they were there, it was clear what Aburdon was getting at. "Is that a drawing of a piece of armor?" "Do you like it? I was quite the painter in my previous life, they used to call me¡­ Hm, what did they call me?" The dark ball of light was actually holding a very thin paintbrush with which a drawing was made. The drawing depicted a full suit of armor, complete with measurements, giving it an air of precision that only a master craftsman could achieve. Aburdon''s orb floated nearby, almost smugly. "This is incredible. Did you really make this?" "Of course, The artistry of a demon lord is not limited to destruction and chaos, you know~" Rusty had to admit and wondered if the demon king wasn''t a master craftsman in his past life just like the hero. "It looks a bit rough around the edges¡­ was this the first time for you to make a schematic?" Before Rusty could continue with his praises, Alexander floated forward to scrutinize the measurements. He could tell that there were a few errors here and there. He also noticed that some of the books containing the knowledge of crafting had been used. It seemed that while Alexander and Rusty were busty crafting weapons, he was studying the ways of making proper schematics and blueprints. "First time or not, it gets the job done." Aburdon snapped back in annoyance. It was clear that he wasn''t an expert at this craft yet but to bring this much to paper in such a short time was commendable. "I''ve provided a foundational blueprint. Now, you need to help me refine it and ensure it fits Rusty''s needs." Alexander nodded thoughtfully, floating closer to examine the details. "It''s a good start, but it does need some refinement but first¡­ lets go look through the existing parts first¡­" Soon the group of three were going back and forth between the two chambers while trying to figure out the correct fit for Rusty. He was able to exchange his body for existing parts but not everything fit well. Sometimes the pieces would produce giant holes within his armor which would give away his identity. They needed to modify the parts to align better with his frame. Over time, the process turned into a collaboration. Rusty stood in the center of the crafting chamber, surrounded by various pieces of armor and equipment. Aburdon floated nearby, overseeing the operation while Alexander instructed the new blacksmith on how to handle his new custom made iron chassis. "This chest plate, if we modify the side it will look like they are fitted through straps just like on a normal person. A lot of people use gambeson, luckily Rusty managed to get some from the last adventurer group¡­" Aburdon, not one to be left out, chimed in with suggestions for making the armor not just functional but intimidating. "Don''t forget the aesthetics! A few spikes here, a menacing helmet design ¨C it''ll help you blend in as a formidable adventurer!" "What are you babbling about? Just make it have a simplistic design if it looks too eccentric, they will think that something is wrong." Alexander protested the idea as adventurers had a keen eye for such things. People with strange-looking armor were looked down on. The adventurers could assume that he was a noble with a strange hobby, some would make him into a target. People with expensive-looking armor were many times targeted for robbery. After multiple hours that turned into days of adjustments, modifications, and a bit of trial and error, Rusty''s new armor began to take shape. It was a mix of salvaged and newly forged pieces, each adjusted to fit his unique frame. One of the hardest parts to create would have been his gauntlets but everyone here decided that he could skip this step. His default hands were fine and went as one component together with the vambrace. What he needed to create was the elbow joint along with the rerebrace that connected to the pauldron. These parts weren''t as difficult to shape into and he soon got to hammering. As Rusty continued to hammer away, the advancements in his skills became apparent. The metallic clang of his hammer striking the iron was rhythmic and precise, a testament to his growing expertise. The transformation of his armor proceeded methodically, piece by piece and soon his skills had advanced past their previous threshold. Smithing Mastery L1 Passive Skill Further Increases proficiency with all basic blacksmithing tools like hammers during crafting. Forging L1 Passive Skill Unlocks more advanced knowledge of forging. Aids in managing the forge, smelter, crafting, and spotting imperfections in created items. Rusty marveled at the notifications. His hard work was paying off. With the advanced skills, his confidence grew, and he knew he was on the right path. More and more of the parts had been made, his hammer shaping them all into his future shell. Once it was all complete, then he was free to leave but perhaps there was still time to perform some upgrades to his original monster body that was hovering in the middle of the Soul Forge, waiting for his essence to flow inside¡­ Chapter 58 – Armor Variants. "How does it look?""Hm¡­ not bad¡­" "It would have been better if it didn''t look so boring¡­are you sure that we couldn''t" "We''re not adding any horns or spikes Aburdon." "Killjoys the both of you!" Two orbs of light, one white and the other black, floated around an armored suit. Rusty, the owner, looked different than usual since almost all his parts had been replaced. His body had lost much of its symmetry and was now fully made of iron. All areas that might reveal the hollow interior were covered by a combination of cloth and chainmail, making it look more like something a human would wear. "That was the point. The humbler it looks, the better. No one will bat an eye at him now." "I''ll need to get used to this¡­" Rusty felt strange with the material stuffing out his body. There was chainmail along with thick blue fabric covering his joints and emerging from under his waist. His helmet had also been altered to include quite thin eye slits, much smaller than those on his old one. The main plan was to use the possession skill initially to get through the first stretch, but he wasn''t planning on keeping it up forever. He wasn''t sure if he would be able to fight in the same fashion with someone inside his body. The increased weight could probably slow him down. Aburdon informed him it would be like controlling a flesh puppet, but Rusty wasn''t quite sure what that entailed. This marked the first time he had altered his helmet design. It had been a strange feeling throughout, different from replacing all his other parts. First, he needed to transfer everything directly into his stash tab and pull the parts towards his main status screen. After being exchanged, his body and limbs were replaced almost instantly as they popped into this world. On the other hand, his helmet remained in place, and instead of being instantly replaced, it shifted around to fit the new design. The metal bent into the form he had created, and his monster core never lost its connection to the body. "The chainmail isn''t as constricting as I thought it would be¡­ but I won''t be able to use my skills with this shell." "If someone realized that your armor is made from Twilight Iron, they could get suspicious." Responded Alexander while hovering around Rusty''s head. Twilight Iron had a slightly lighter tint than regular iron, and any blacksmith could tell them apart. At this point, Rusty didn''t have any way of masking the material his body was made of. This meant he wouldn''t be able to fully utilize his elemental skills, though his hands could still channel this power. In difficult moments, he could use his skills, but he wouldn''t be able to use the rest of his body parts. Fortunately, this space provided a lesser version of iron, which he used to create his armor. Creating armor from regular iron weaponry wasn''t necessary as he could just use the ones he received from the adventurers, which also included superior steel weaponry. Weeks had passed, and Rusty had grown accustomed to the constant work. The continuous, rigorous forging sessions had paid off, and the iron shell he now inhabited felt quite adequate. It was made from lesser metals but was thicker than his previous form. The added weight provided more stability but reduced his agility. He realized this after a battle in the training chamber, which opened his eyes to new possibilities. He could create variants of his body and use them depending on the situation. If he faced a sturdy opponent, he could produce a more reinforced frame to match them. If someone was too fast, a lighter form with flexible joints could help him win the battle. Inspired by the centaur''s armored body, Rusty realized he wasn''t as limited to this body shape as everyone had assumed. "Oh, what are you doing there?" "Just testing something out¡­" Rusty had been stuck crafting for close to the time limit of his previous stay in the Soul Forge. Time was potentially running out, but luckily he had been able to fashion the basis for his new plan. With some potential time left, he decided to experiment with the joints and metallic limbs to measure the limits of this body of his. "That joint will snap off if you make it like that¡­ What about the elbow protection?" "Who decided that I need an elbow?" "Huh? What do you mean?" Alexander responded in surprise as Rusty examined an adjusted link to his forearm. Humanoid creatures had joint limitations in their elbows and knees. The living armors in the dungeon mimicked this appearance and had the same limitations. "Just look at this!" Rusty presented his arm to Alexander. The usual elbow joint had been altered and replaced by something resembling a ball joint. With this structure, he could bend his entire arm back to nearly a ninety-degree angle. No normal human could bend their arm back without breaking it, but with this adjustment, Rusty had almost unlimited range of motion in this joint. "It looks kind of floppy¡­ I''m not sure if you can use that without altering your wrists to turn with the elbow movement¡­" The hero was intrigued. He had faced monsters that moved their limbs at odd angles, but those limbs weren''t usually holding swords or using techniques dependent on the human form. While this type of movement looked interesting, Alexander wasn''t sure if it could be used effectively in battle. "Well¡­ it''s still not finished! And it doesn''t need to only be used for battle either." Rusty imagined creating a centaur form for himself without changing through regular evolution. Even if he couldn''t fight in such a form, beasts were usually faster than humanoids. He could use such alterations to boost his capabilities to escape or perhaps to hide. Creating a smaller form with limbs capable of grappling was also possible. Inside the library, he had seen many types of interesting creatures he had never met, and it seemed his crafting journey had only begun. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Rusty''s focus shifted as he examined the various designs and configurations he could create. The freedom to modify his form provided endless possibilities, each adaptation potentially offering new strengths and advantages. His excitement grew as he continued to experiment. However, creating something resembling a centaur body within the Soul Forge wouldn''t be easy. It was a difficult form to shape, and first, he would need to see how easy it was to control multiple limbs. At first, he attempted cutting a hole in his backplate to connect one of the arms he had from the other living armors. It wasn''t as easy as he had thought; the arm kept falling out, and his body didn''t accept it as a part. It seemed that the new limbs would need to be remade from the ground up to integrate properly. Perhaps his project to have four arms would need to wait. "Let''s try something a bit different" Rusty said, grabbing some metal plates and starting to forge a new piece. His idea of creating additional limbs would need to wait as he was running out of time. All the weapons had been made, and his disguise was as good as it could ever get. Instead, he could focus on creating two other shells fit for different extremes. "What are you thinking?" Alexander asked, floating closer. "An alternate form, something more compact and stealthy. I want to see if I can create a smaller, more nimble version of myself. But that''s not all!" "Oh? Perhaps you are thinking about a form that is more defensive and robust." "That''s right! Sometimes the best offense is a good defense!" Rusty began shaping smaller, lighter plates, fitting them together to allow for greater mobility and speed. He crafted joints that could swivel and bend in multiple directions, envisioning a form that could slip through tight spaces and move silently without generating as much noise as his previous body. "How about this, Rusty?" "It looks like a snake." "Indeed!" Aburdon proved useful in this endeavor, as his schematic-creating capabilities continued to improve. He could take an idea from Rusty and present him with some designs. Then Alexander, who knew more about crafting, could correct these designs. The process was a collaboration that played to the strengths of each participant. They played around with concepts of bodies that lacked an upper body or had insect legs. Rusty only needed his head to survive, so attaching a small base with just limbs to propel him forward would allow him to crawl through small openings in walls and dungeons. The tunnels the ants had used would be possible to navigate with a form like that. Such a form wasn''t actually that difficult to make as he just needed to alter his helmet and include smaller legs to it. The experimentations continued, and time ticked by as Rusty fashioned a new frame for himself. This one was slimmer, with longer upper limbs than usual. It was designed with agility in mind and more reach. The armor was light, made of thinner but sturdy plates, and the joints were modified to allow for silent movement. The torso was divided into segments, which in theory would allow him to contort in various ways during combat or while moving. Escaping in this shape would certainly be easier, and reaching platforms where he could hide would also be more feasible. This armor''s hands included claws that could dig into hardened walls for better grip, and the feet were designed similarly. Soon after, the focus shifted to the creation of Rusty''s defensive form, designed to withstand powerful attacks and provide unparalleled protection. With Alexander and Aburdon''s combined knowledge, a plan was quickly made, and the crafting process started. "This one will be the opposite of the previous form: heavy, durable, and with maximum coverage." Rusty said while hammering an ingot of Twilight Iron into shape. Alexander, as before, kept watch over him and offered tips whenever needed. "Make sure to reinforce the joints and double-layer the chest plate. The key is to distribute the impact across the entire surface." "Don''t forget to make it look imposing. What if we add some sharp teeth to the head this time around? You could bite your enemies to death!" "Just stick to simple designs. Rusty isn''t ready yet," Alexander said, scrutinizing the overzealous designer who couldn''t grasp the limitations of the current Soul Forge and its current blacksmith. The chest plate was reinforced with additional layers of iron, and the joints were protected by overlapping segments to ensure high defense without compromising too much flexibility. The helmet was designed with a narrow visor and had become flatter. Rusty could envision ramming people with it, so to Aburdon''s approval they decided to add a horn onto the top. The horn, however, wasn''t too extravagant. It was simple yet functional, giving Rusty a weapon that could be used in close quarters without impeding him too much. Alexander explained that having such modifications could backfire and one good hit to the horn could send his head flying. The rest of the body followed the same principles: robust and practical. His legs were reinforced with thicker plates, and additional knee guards were installed to prevent any joints from being easily targeted. The final step was to ensure the pieces fit perfectly together. Rusty took his time moving the parts into his inventory. With them there he could switch out into the iron forms and test them both out. This armored form was heavier, and moving around in it felt similar to the time he spent in the swamp area. His feet were sluggish but the added weight would not allow his body to be tipped over even without using the weight skill. His slimmer form felt almost exactly the opposite of his usual build. It was lighter and quite nimble, but it likely couldn''t withstand as much damage. With these changes in movement, Rusty began to wonder if these forms directly affected his stats. After confirming, he saw a notable change: the larger, defensive form reduced his agility stat while increasing his vitality, whereas the slimmer, agile form did the exact reverse. "Interesting¡­ I wonder what forms would increase the other stats, could I be able to increase my intelligence or dexterity?" As Rusty continued to work, he felt satisfied but also somewhat restless. There was not much time left and he could feel the end coming. The Soul Forge was giving him strange signals as if time was almost over. Fashioning these two armor variants would be the most he could do and even then, he wasn''t sure if they would be any superior to the pre-fashioned body he would be given. The moment Rusty finished with his tests, the Soul Forge began to tremble with a strange energy. It was pushing him toward the center of the Forge where the three bodies stood before him. At this moment, he still had the option to change forms, and the bulkier demonic one felt particularly enticing. However, after more than a month of crafting, he realized something: his true form didn''t matter as much as he initially thought. He had the ability to fashion his body into whatever he pleased with his own hands. The most important thing was to keep those skills alive. Looking at the hands of the other two bodies, he knew it would be a challenge. The demonic armor had bulky, clawed fingers that would likely reduce his dexterity, while the centaur form would risk knocking everything over within the crafting chamber. "Thanks for the help." "Sure, see you on the other side Rusty, just call when you need something." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Just call me instead of the hero, we all know that I have more knowledge than him!" Responded Alexander and Aburdon while watching the end of this process nearing. From their point of view, the essence of Rusty was seeping into the middle-sized armor in the middle and when it ended, the bronze shell crumbled into dust. Once that concluded, the middle iron armor started vibrating and shone brightly before vanishing from within this space. The two remaining forms then turned to nothingness as if they were never there to begin with. "There he goes." "Yeah¡­" The two balls of light were left behind in this space devoid of light. Once the owner was gone they were able to roam without being impeded. The Soul Forge remained in eerie silence, save for the occasional clink of stray metallic fragments settling into place. Aburdon and Alexander, now alone, floated amidst the remnants of Rusty''s final moments in the forge "Well, that was something, tell me, hero, do you think we''ll ever get out of this place?" "I don''t know¡­ but ¡­" "I see, so you''re still clinging to some hope~" Aburdon replied in a teasing tone while floating away toward a previously closed chamber. Within was a rather small space with a large ornate orb in the middle. Once there, an image appeared on it, one representing the passage Rusty had previously been in. "What will our little monster friend do to entertain us today¡­" Chapter 59 – Approaching The Heart. Within a seemingly empty corridor, a small rock tumbled down from the ceiling. It collided with a motionless suit of bronze armor that had crumbled to the ground. A faint clang echoed through this tunnel and soon the place returned to silence. For a moment, nothing stirred, and the corridor remained shrouded in a dim, eerie stillness.Then, with a slow creak, the armor began to move. Its form which consisted of bronze plates started to gradually shift to iron. The metal creaked as the coloring shifted to the new grayish tone. Every joint and every plate started creaking as it continued to change into a new twilight iron metal. The change taking place was rapid but still took around a full minute for it to fully encompass the whole body of the armor. Soon after, a glow appeared on the visor and the monster creaked to life. "I''m back¡­" Rusty felt as if he was waking up from a long dream as one of his digits twitched. His body, though not changing in form all too much, had gone through a massive change. The bronze that he had been born with was no more, replaced by a thick mass of twilight armor. He attempted to stand up but quickly felt that his body was balanced differently, the two metals clearly having a different weight to them. "This might take a while to get used to¡­" Rusty stood slowly, feeling the weight of his new body settle into place. Bronze was heavier than iron but this new body had thicker plating. He moved his limbs around, adjusting to the different balance and heft. The new iron shell was actually slightly heavier, and he knew it would offer him more protection in the battles to come. The corridor was silent, and Rusty took a moment to gather his bearings. He had just gone through a new evolution and spent months inside of the Soul Forge. His current location was before the Dungeon Heart chamber, in which he wished to alter his fate. However, first he needed to check his new status screen to see what he had turned into. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 237/237 Magic Points [MP] 198/198 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 84 [ E ] Agility 62 [ E ] Dexterity 60 [ E ] Constitution 87 [ E ] Intelligence 67 [ E ] Wisdom 68 [ E ] Willpower 67 [ E ] Durability D "All of my stats have risen, but I''m only an E rank¡­" There were some good things about his advancement but also some bad ones. His durability had broken into the D rank, but he was still only an E rank monster, not even rated as high as the boss he had defeated. In the past, he had skipped the middle evolution and directly achieved the F-Plus rank, but this time around it seemed like he would need to work more to enter a higher tier of being. "I wonder if that scary-looking form was an E-Plus rank? Maybe I should have gone with it¡­ but then I probably wouldn''t have been as good at crafting." Rusty pondered if he had really made the right decision in going with the middle armor option. It looked the simplest of all of them but was also the most balanced option. His guides told him that sometimes it was better not to rush things, and going through more evolutionary options would allow him to gain more skills. "Did I learn any new skills?" Usually, after going through an evolution, he received some type of skill. This time around, it was the same, but he didn''t get a new one. Instead, it was something he had previously seen before. Basic Mana Sense Passive Skill Allows the user to sense the presence of mana in the environment, a requirement for spell-casting "Isn''t that the skill Gleam had? Does this mean that I can cast spells now?" Just like with any other skill, once it was given to him, the information on how to use it was integrated with his being. It granted him the ability to sense mana and was probably responsible for the glow that his visor was producing. Once the skill was active, he was able to see tiny pale blue dots in the vicinity; it was mana. "But¡­ I don''t have the Mana Manipulation skill." While he was granted this skill, Gleam had more than just mana sense. Without a skill that could turn this mana into spells, it couldn''t be used for battle or anything else. At most, it would let him identify places with high amounts of mana or enchanted items, as they had a higher concentration of it. Rusty''s glowing visor flickered as he tried to get used to this skill. The first thing he noticed was a strange trail of mana particles. He saw them increase in size and quantity the further down the corridor he looked. They eventually became a mist of magical energy, which made sense since the dragon heart he was after was supposed to be there. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The walls were different; they seemed to be pulsating with power like some type of organic veins. His visor stopped glowing, and the skill was suppressed. It was a passive skill that usually stayed on constantly, but luckily, it could be halted to restore his previous vision. The mana pollution was quite intense here, making other things hard to see. "Now what¡­" His body was undamaged, and the adventurers were not here with him. The plan was always to confront the Dungeon Heart and free himself from the voice. His new Twilight Armor body was more robust and seemed to be able to resist the voice. Before he evolved, he could still hear its whispers from this location. However, before advancing, he needed to see how his other forms would react to this world. Before confronting his final foe, he decided to test his two new forms. The transition between them was somewhat of a problem. He needed to go into his inventory and place each part into his stash tab. Then he had to replace every piece of his current main equipment individually. This also meant that his old equipment would be stuck in his stash tab, making it difficult to switch out later on. "Wait¡­ what is this option?" Before he even started with the exchange, he noticed something. There was a strange new tab that hadn''t been there before. It was not a word he was familiar with, but he pressed it instinctively. "Loadout? Save and then apply? What does this mean?" It was a separate window that was empty at the moment. The only function available was a save button. Rusty wasn''t sure what this was about, but the button''s label sounded promising, so he decided to press it with his iron finger. As he did, several two-dimensional icons appeared in a horizontal line, representing all the current equipment parts he was wearing, including the few accessories he had gained from the adventurers. "Wait¡­ I think I know what this is for¡­" Although Rusty was a monster and not fully familiar with these terms, something in the memory he had absorbed from his guides reacted. To test it, he decided to replace his main-hand weapon, a mace, with a longsword. Once the longsword was equipped, he pressed the save button again, and another row of icons appeared, this time with the mace having been replaced. To finalize the test, he pressed the apply button on the previously saved loadout. In a miraculous fashion, the longsword in his hand vanished and was replaced by the mace. "T-this is great! With this, I won''t have problems changing my body!" With glee, he began replacing his parts and switched to the lighter variant of his body. The balance had shifted once more and holding heavy weapons became a hindrance. He created a new loadout but before moving on he looked at his status once more. To no surprise, there was an effect on his stats. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 207/207 Magic Points [MP] 198/198 Special Points [SP] 50/50 S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Strength 64 [ E ] Agility 82 [ E ] Dexterity 80 [ E ] Constitution 57 [ E ] Intelligence 67 [ E ] Wisdom 68 [ E ] Willpower 67 [ E ] Durability D First, his health points were reduced along with his constitution and strength stats. On the other hand, his dexterity and agility stats had increased, while the rest remained the same. He was slightly more nimble in this form but had reduced attacking power and health. Perhaps this form was best suited for quicker weapons like daggers and shortswords. Dexterity also helped during archery, so it was better when using ranged attacks. The next loadout followed, and his body expanded in all directions. He was now in his bulkier form, and his stats had been altered as before. Both his agility and dexterity were reduced, but his strength and constitution went up. This form was the exact reverse of the previous one: a bulkier armor with slower movements but better potential for powerful strikes. Then he had the middle ground with his default appearance, an all-rounder. The last test involved switching out loadouts, and he soon realized a few drawbacks. One of them was the use of special points (SP); each time he switched, it cost him points. It seemed that for each piece of armor that was different, it would cost him one point. This meant a minimum of six points per change just for the armor, plus two more if he included the weapon and shield. Although his SP had increased by ten, he would run out of them quite quickly. Next was the time it took to switch. If he only changed weapons, it happened almost instantly. However, changing his whole body type took around five seconds for the agility-focused variant and ten seconds for the bulkier model. Five or ten seconds might not seem like much, but in the middle of a battle, even a second could decide victory. Without disengaging from combat, it was best not to switch, as he also lost a significant amount of mobility during the transition. "That''s about it I think, I''ve been postponing this long enough." After finishing all the tests and reviewing his status screen to ensure nothing was missed, Rusty turned his attention to the tunnel leading to the Dungeon Heart. The whispers had stopped, but as he started moving forward, the noise began to pick up again. He had no more time; the core of the dungeon needed to release him from his shackles. While he did not wish to destroy it, he knew that if it didn''t relent, he might have no other choice. Once back in his default form, he equipped a large kite shield together with a longsword and moved forward. His visor glowed once more as he analyzed the magical energy around the area. The further he went, the more pronounced it was and the sounds continued to get louder. "....S¡­t¡­o¡­p¡­" "D¡­o¡­n¡­t¡­g¡­o¡­" His old master attempted to use its power once more, but Rusty refused to stop. His new Iron body was much more resistant to this effect, and eventually, he reached the end of the corridor and ventured through the entrance he had previously been unable to cross. Once inside, he finally spotted the source of his trouble: the core of the dungeon, known as its Hearth. Rusty entered through the chamber''s threshold with care. The clinking of his new iron form echoed softly in the vast, mostly empty space. The Dungeon Heart, a massive, pulsating crystal, was right in the middle, floating between two thick black columns - one emerging from the ceiling and the other from the ground. The air was thick with magical energy, and thanks to his newly gained skills, he could truly see what he was dealing with. Without the mana sense, he would only see the crystal, but there was far more there than met the eye. Massive tentacle-like energy constructs were emanating from within the dungeon core crystal. They entangled with the two massive columns, creating a strange energy net made of mana. Every second or so, a strange pulse would make everything brighter, as if the Dungeon Heart had blood circulating through. "STOP, DO NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER." He was here now and wanted to step forward, but, just like every other time, he was stopped by the Dungeon Heart''s voice. His body started to quiver as he attempted to resist. After taking a few more steps, the shouts became louder, and the mana within the whole area started changing to a more reddish coloring. "HALT, GO BACK, IT IS FORBIDDEN!" "Is this as far as I can go?" Rusty felt more indignation in his armored form. He managed to get through the threshold but was still many steps away from the center of this large chamber. While he retreated, he knew this was not the end. After placing his shield down on the ground, an iron javelin appeared in his left hand. If he couldn''t advance any further, then perhaps the heart would relent after it was struck by his metal projectile. He took aim and, with a surge of anger, hurled the iron javelin at the Dungeon Heart. The projectile soared through the air, producing strange sparks as it collided with the magical energy. His aim was slightly off, but if it continued on this path, it would connect with a smaller side of the heart. However, before the collision could happen, the mana veins around it expanded. His weapon collided with this energy net and promptly bounced off to the side. "What?" Rusty watched in frustration as the iron javelin clattered to the ground, failing to penetrate the protective net around the Dungeon Heart. The pulsating veins of mana had reacted instantly, deflecting his attack with ease. It became clear that a direct assault wouldn''t be easy, but he wouldn''t give up easily. Once the first javelin was down, another one appeared in his hand. Luckily, he had stocked up on a lot of iron before advancing and also had bronze reserves. To make things easier, he switched to his nimbler form with its longer arms and higher stats, producing an even stronger throw. It flew much faster but, just like before, bounced off without doing any damage. After a couple more throws, he finally realized that this tactic wouldn''t bear any fruit. The barrier of mana was too strong and wasn''t budging even a millimeter. However, he refused to give up. Drawing on his newfound mana sense, he began examining everything around him and focused on the strange mana strings connecting to both the ceiling and the ground near him. In anger, he swung at one of these energy constructs with his longsword. The initial swing caused no harm to the mana, but after a breakthrough, something finally happened. Out of sheer desperation, Rusty activated his elemental skill, giving his blade a radiant glow. Once his blade was clad in his own magical energy, a reaction took place and perhaps showed him a way to free himself. Chapter 60 – Dungeon Defense. "Hey, did you feel that?""Hm?" A small group of adventurers stopped in their tracks as they noticed something unusual. They had been searching for a specific bronze suit of armor that had wandered into this dungeon area. Their search had been unfruitful, and they were considering moving away from the boss chamber where the monster had previously vanished. However, before they could decide on a plan, something strange started happening - the whole dungeon quivered for a moment, as if an earthquake was taking place. "Yeah, is the dungeon supposed to do that?" "I don''t think so." "Could it have something to do with that monster?" "How would that thing¡­" Before a female adventurer could finish her sentence, the dungeon shook again. This tremor was more intense than the previous one. Pieces of rock started crumbling, along with dust from the castle''s ceiling. The adventurers instinctively crouched, glancing at each other with worry etched on their faces. The dungeon''s usually stable structure was now trembling like it had never done before. They could sense that something was wrong and that perhaps, they needed to leave. Unbeknownst to this group of adventurers, the source of these tremors wasn''t far away. Behind some rocky walls, there was a large cavern with the monster they were searching for. Rusty was his name, and at this very moment, he was slicing at seemingly empty air with a glowing longsword. Almost every time he made a sweeping motion, another small shake occurred within the cavern. "STOP! LEAVE!" "I won''t leave until you release me!" Rusty shouted, attempting to communicate his desire to the Dungeon Heart. The being he was up against had created him, and he was tied to it. Unless this entity released the bond they shared, he would not be able to leave this place to save his friend Gleam. However, his actions were seen as threats, and the connection to the dungeon was what kept him at bay. To the Heart, this bond was the only thing preventing this rogue monster from reaching its center and keeping it safe from harm. Thanks to his newly attained mana sense, Rusty could see the energy threads connecting to the dungeon core. With the help of this skill, he was able to imbue the longsword with his own energy and damage the threads. One by one, these mana tendrils were sliced off, and as they were severed, he could feel the voice''s power over his body waver and decline. He didn''t want to kill the Dungeon Heart. It had created him and given him life; in a sense, it was like a parent. His guides had also informed him about the potential collateral damage of doing so. The entire dungeon required this being for its survival, and the whole structure depended on its magical power to retain its form. If it were destroyed, the place would likely collapse on itself, potentially trapping Rusty inside. His aim was to scare the being into letting him go and severing the connection, but he wasn''t sure how to communicate his intention. The cavern continued to tremble as Rusty swung his sword, each strike aimed at the glowing mana tendrils that connected the Dungeon Heart to its surroundings. His strikes grew more precise and he pushed onwards, one step at a time. Each time these mana veins were severed, they would turn into small energy bubbles that quickly burst. He could see them trying to reform themselves into place but the process was quite sluggish. "I don''t want to destroy you, but I need to be free, just let me go already!" "NO¡­ H-HELP, PROTECT!" The voice of the Dungeon Heart grew more frantic, its tone shifting from commanding to desperate. It seemed that it was becoming frantic, unable to stop Rusty from getting closer. This chamber was devoid of any monster guards, traps or defenses. It seemed that the Dungeon Heart was at his mercy but that was not true. "These tremors¡­ they are getting louder¡­ wait, is that pillar moving?" In the middle of the chamber was the Dungeon Heart, it was between two thick pillars with the one above it now moving. The pillar started to move upward, slowly at first but then with increasing speed. Rusty wasn''t sure what was happening but it was probably nothing good. He had seen hidden chambers and traps within the dungeon and this was giving him the same feeling. The pillar accelerated, grinding upwards with an ominous rumble and came to a stop. He could see its circular form on the ceiling, turning around for some reason. The sounds were strange to his metallic ears as if some large hidden cogs were grating against each other. Eventually, the sound stopped and to his surprise, an opening started to appear. The pillar was sliding to the side, revealing something hidden inside. "Monsters?" After a small crack had formed, a monster slipped out. It was a rather loud sounding goblin and it came falling down from above the Dungeon Heart''s location. It was not alone as once the opening got bigger other beings came rushing out. There were skeletons, living armors, zombies and even slimes. All the monsters the monsters he had seen on the other dungeon floors were coming out and they were probably here to defend the dungeon core from harm. "Protect¡­" The Dungeon Heart''s voice was no longer as intense, but to the other monsters, the command was like gospel. They identified the enemy trying to attack their creator and threw themselves at him. Rusty''s grip tightened on his glowing longsword as he prepared to face the oncoming horde. The goblin hit the ground first, snarling as it drew a rusty dagger. Behind it, skeletons clattered down, their hollow eyes glowing with a faint blue light, and zombies shambled forward, their decaying bodies emitting a foul stench. Slimes oozed from the ceiling, forming a wall of gelatinous mass that crept toward Rusty. Rusty quickly assessed his options. He was outnumbered, and although his new form offered him more agility, he couldn''t quite use it properly. He lacked a few skills to make the most of it, one of them being dual-wielding capabilities. However, he could make use of another form that would offer him much more protection. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Previously, he had created a few loadouts with prepared weapons to fit each form. Soon, his body was shifting and growing in size. His helmet became rounder and wider as he shifted into heavier parts. In his left hand, a massive tower shield appeared. Normally, it would be too heavy for the other two suit variants, but for this one, it was perfect. For his main weapon, he chose a new type that fell under blunt weapons but still had some piercing power - a war pick. The first wave of monsters reached him. Rusty brought up his massive shield to bash a goblin away and followed it up with a strike from his hammer to a nearby skeleton''s cranium. Two monsters were down but many more appeared to replace them, their weapons, claws and fists collided with his body but none could damage it. To Rusty''s surprise, most of these creatures couldn''t even lower his health pool by one measly point. Rusty''s confidence surged as he realized that he had made so much progress. When he was created, even one of these enemies would have been a challenge but now, he was easily smacking them away. Each strike he made with his war pick was precise, cleaving through the ranks of goblins, skeletons and zombies. His massive tower shield deflected attacks with ease, allowing him to press forward with little concern for his own safety. Even when he was outnumbered, with the use of his light element, the undead creatures would burst into ashes, he could not be stopped. The monsters continued to surge from the opening above, but Rusty was relentless. The dungeon core''s command had summoned its minions, but the Twilight Iron Armor''s formidable defense could not be broken. He swung his war pick while having the light element activated. With a burst of energy, both undead and the mana veins were dispersed and he was able to continue further. "Is this all you''ve got? Weak monsters that I''ve already defeated multiple times? Maybe I was worried for nothing!" Despite his confident front, Rusty knew this was not the end. The Dungeon Heart, sensing the increasing threat, continued to pump out more and more monsters. They all seemed to be from the upper floors, with not even an iron living armor among them. It appeared that the upper pillar somehow connected to all the other levels of the dungeon. The Dungeon Heart was summoning all the monsters it had to defend itself, but Rusty''s armor, now with D-rank durability, was holding strong. Although Rusty bulldozed through the relentless waves of creatures, the battle was far from won. He was expending a large amount of mana with each swing of his war pick, and eventually, he would become unable to continue damaging the mana tendrils. However, luck was on his side. As he was about halfway through, the constant flow of monsters suddenly stopped. It became clear to him that the wave of monsters was finite, and his month of spelunking had drained the dungeon of its reserves. "NoooO¡­. Nooot enough¡­" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wait¡­ it''s doing something¡­ what is this?" He felt something within his very being trying to draw something out but he stood firmly against this feeling. The other monsters were feeling the same phenomenon but it was working on them. All the slimes started falling down from the ceiling and crashing down before him. The zombies along with the skeletons started to crumble down to the ground, and even the goblins were dying. "Is it directly killing the monsters? It can do that?" Rusty was surprised as he saw the other monsters fall down to the ground. The goblins were clutching their chests as if they were in a lot of pain. With the help of his new skill he could see tiny fragments of energy flowing outside of their bodies. It was as if the Dungeon Heart was taking out the mana it had given to these creatures in an attempt to regain some footing. It was probably a desperate last measure and he knew that this would be it. After the monsters crumbled down to the ground, the tremors around the dungeon started to cease. A large veil of energy was now floating above the entire chamber but Rusty wasn''t feeling restricted in his movements. It seemed this boost of energy wasn''t meant to restore the mana threads that he was cutting but for something else entirely. In a flash, the mass of mana condensed into a singular orb and flew out of the tunnel he had entered through. "Isn''t that where the boss chamber was in? What is it trying to do?" This was quite a confusing matter as now he was left with no obstructions to the Dungeon Heart. It was a chance to move in and get this finally over with. He moved forward, his large iron boots echoing with each step as he approached the Dungeon Heart. The pulsating crystal, now isolated and seemingly weakened, was defensless before his might. However, before he could get any closer, a strange noise resounded from behind him. "I recognize that sound¡­" Rusty instantly knew what was coming and quickly turned around. From the hidden corridor he came out from a silhouette appeared of someone he recognized. It was the tenth floor boss that he once barely defeated and this explained the ball of concentrated mana. The Dungeon Core sacrificed the lesser monsters to revive the defeated boss. Its for was the same as before and it was holding that huge slab of iron called a colossal greatsword. "There aren''t any pillars I can use here¡­" This monster had been a tough opponent and he had only won thanks to using strategy. This place had an unfavorable structure as it was a wide open area. Rusty couldn''t even use the pillar the dungeon core was on as he still was being suppressed by the voice it produced. There was no way of going around this, he needed to face his toughest opponent once more. "I''m not the same armor as before." The boss charged at Rusty, its colossal greatsword swinging in a wide arc. Rusty raised his massive tower shield just in time to block the attack. The impact reverberated through his entire frame, but he stood firm, feeling the strength of his twilight armor plating absorbing the blow. He retaliated with a powerful swing of his war pick, aiming for the boss''s exposed side. The weapon connected with a resounding clang, but the boss''s thick armor absorbed most of the impact as well. "I can do this¡­ I''ve trained for it!" With the adjustments he had made to his form, Rusty was almost as tall as the living armor before him. He had designed this configuration specifically to combat larger foes, and within the Soul Forge, he had spent a few moments in the training chamber practicing against this very boss. The attack patterns he was seeing now were all exactly the same as those he had faced in training. The boss roared, its eyes glowing with an eerie red light. It swung its greatsword again, this time with even more force. Rusty didn''t dodge but instead angled his tower shield in such a way to force the blade to slide off. Once the monster exposed its flank, he charged in with his war pick. The flat side connected with the armor, the impact producing multiple cracks on the plating. While he couldn''t rely on agility in his current form, using a more skillful approach was the key. His opponent was slightly superior in all stats but had fewer skills. Coupled with his knowledge of its attack patterns, Rusty was able to either deflect or minimize the damage to his own robust frame. The exchange was long, but eventually, the opponent was forced to back away, its body cracking and its joints wavering. Rusty pressed his advantage, exploiting the weaknesses he had created in the living armor. He swung his war pick with precision, targeting the already damaged areas. Each strike chipped away more of the monster''s defenses, and its movements grew increasingly sluggish. Finally, with one last powerful blow, Rusty drove the war pick into the monster''s groin area. It was the place where the monster core had been located the last time around. The force of the impact shattered the remaining armor plates, and the red glow in its eyes dimmed before flickering out entirely. The massive suit of armor collapsed to the ground in a heap, defeated. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty stood over the fallen boss, his body dented and broken in several places. The battle had been taxing, but he had prevailed. He knew that he needed to continue and quickly his body started to shift, going through another loadout exchange as he switched to his all-purpose form. "It''s just you and me now¡­" He called out to the being that created him. The heart''s voice continued to call out in a desperate plea, but its tone had shifted from commanding to fearful. Rusty felt a hint of empathy; despite everything, this being was his creator. But he knew what had to be done¡­ Chapter 61 – Unbound. The Core of the dungeon pulsated erratically, its glowing essence dimming and brightening as if mirroring the beating of a frantic heart. Rusty took a firm step forward, the sound of metal echoing as he moved his frame. He took slow, deliberate steps towards the Heart, each one bringing him closer to the conclusion of his journey."N¡­O¡­ooo¡­" "B¡­aaa¡­.ccc¡­k." His creator was out of options, all the monsters that it threw at him were used to reawaken the boss who he defeated. The mana around this chamber had started to dim and the voice inside his head was now unable to stop his momentum. Rusty was sure that he could not be halted anymore and now it was time for him to gain his freedom finally. As Rusty approached the Dungeon Heart, he could feel the tendrils of mana writhing around him, weak but persistent in their attempts to reestablish control. However, they were unable to stop his advance. The core had been trained of power, and the dungeon had lost most of its power. There were possibly some leftover monsters above him, but if the boss couldn''t defeat him, neither would they. "You''re still talking? Do you not realize what I want?" Rusty attempted to communicate with the Dungeon Heart, but it started to give off incomprehensible noises. Its ability to communicate wasn''t the same as his, and it didn''t seem to understand his plea. He just wanted to be set free from the tethers binding him to this place. If he was set free, he would simply walk away and leave this being in peace. However, the Dungeon Heart was making things more difficult, which meant he would need to sever the connection in a different way. The dungeon core was still on top of a large pillar in the middle of the chamber. There were no stairs leading up, and the pillar was about ten meters tall. Rusty thought about climbing up but then realized this was a chance to scare the heart into letting him go. From his inventory, he retrieved a large iron hammer, much thicker and bigger than the war pick he had used in the previous fight. This iron hammer was an imposing weapon but a bit unruly and heavy. It''s weight was immense and unusable without using the heavier body frame. One side was flat while the other had a sharp nail-like ending. Rusty hefted it with both his hands and approached the pill. Soon the Dungeon Heart''s frantic pulsations increased, almost as if it sensed what was coming. "Just cut the connection, or I will have to destroy you and this entire place, do you want that to happen?" The tendrils of mana lashed out in desperation, trying to restrain him, but they were too weak to hold him back. Rusty shook them off and then swung the hammer with all his might. The impact shook the chamber, sending cracks spiderwebbing up the pillar. The Dungeon Heart shuddered, its glow flickering wildly. "Last chance!" Rusty continued to warn this strange being while whaling on the large rock pillar. His hammer was strong and heavy but even it was having trouble with this structure. After around ten hits it the shaft started bending and he needed to use up some iron to restore it. Luckily, after a few initial cracks had formed he was able to plunge the spike in to create a large hole. Chunks of stone broke away from the pillar, clattering to the ground. The Heart''s voice turned to panicked whispers, pleading and threatening in equal measure. Rusty ignored it, focusing on his task. He struck again and again, each blow bringing him closer to his goal. Finally, with a resounding crash, the pillar crumbled, sending the Dungeon Heart tumbling down. Rusty watched the crystal representing the dungeon core fall down in his direction. The mana threads were sticking out of it but they could not be used by this strange construct. This thing that had forced him to live his life in one way, was not powerless before the creature it brought to life. He caught it with both his hands, the core''s pulsating light dimmed as he held it. The tendrils of mana flailed weakly, trying to reestablish their grip over him but to no avail. "Is this still not enough? Do you want me to crush you like this?" The Dungeon Heart was quite big, almost as wide as his own torso and close to the same length. It was a strange pulsating crystal formation that when squeezed started screeching even louder. He could see cracks forming on its surface making him realize that this thing would have probably shattered if it collided with the hard ground here. ''Is this not enough? Do I really need to destroy this thing to be free?'' There was only one way out of here, and even though a hole had been created above him, there was no way to reach that high. He had some rope in his inventory, but there was nothing to attach it to. Once this thing was destroyed, the whole structure would come tumbling down, and he certainly wouldn''t be able to run through all ten floors back to the surface in such a short amount of time. ''What if I put it into my inventory or just take it up to the first floor and then destroy it?'' An idea moved into his shiny iron head. Perhaps if he carried this thing all the way up and then destroyed it right at the exit, he would be free. This was a great plan, but he quickly realized it would be impossible. As soon as he started moving toward the edge of the chamber, his heart began to quiver in panic. It seemed that the heart was connected to this place through mana threads, and removing it too far might destroy it as well. Rusty pondered his next move, realizing the limitations of his options. The Dungeon Heart''s connection to the dungeon was too strong to sever completely without destroying it. Carrying it out of the dungeon would likely result in its collapse, a risk he couldn''t afford to take. Yet, he couldn''t remain tethered to this place forever. He needed another solution, something that would allow him to break free without causing a catastrophic collapse. In the stillness of the cavern, a thought struck him, and he channeled his elemental skill into both hands. There was one thing he hadn''t tried yet: letting the heart react directly with his elemental energies. First, with his right hand, he produced a faint light. Seeing no change, he conjured darkness with his left. He knew that mixing these energies would produce a chaotic reaction, but he was out of options. To his surprise, a reaction transpired. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "A¡­RGggu¡­OOOOoo¡­.g¡­.EEEEE¡­Rrrrr¡­."" The heart cried out in a strange tone and then suddenly went silent. Rusty felt the pulsating core in his hands begin to change as he channeled both light and darkness into it. The Dungeon Heart''s once frantic and dissonant energy seemed to stabilize, its light dimming to a steady, even glow. The mana threads that had been writhing around his body slackened, their grip weakening as if releasing their hold on him. For a moment, silence filled the cavern, broken only by the appearance of a system message. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The ''Unbound'' title has been acquired. Rusty wanted to cry out in joy and almost let the pulsating heart fall down to the ground. After gently placing it down, he brought up his status window to confirm his new title and what it truly meant. Unbound Title A title gained by a monster who has managed to sever its ties to the dungeon heart, achieving autonomy and independence. When active, this title grants a tremendous increase in resistance against any mind-controlling skills and spells. "OH! I am truly free!" He looked at his old creator, the dungeon core, which was now fully silent and calm. It was as if it no longer identified him as an enemy, though he wasn''t sure how this was achieved. Rusty glanced back at the title''s description, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He was finally free, unshackled from the constraints of this dungeon, and could leave. However, he couldn''t take any chances. Before advancing from this place, he activated his skill to summon the demon and the hero. "Hoh, both of us at once? I see you''re feeling adventurous, my dear Rusty!" "Could you not speak like that? It sounds off." "What do you mean? Aren''t you perhaps the one with a dirty mind?" The two orbs, one black and one white, appeared next to him. Alexander, the betrayed hero, hovered above his right shoulder pauldron, while Aburdon, the fallen demon king, kept to the left one. Both of them started to bicker, as he expected. His mana reserves had grown, as had the Call Guide skill. With every level, the percentage of mana used was decreasing, and he just needed to keep the skill active to level it up further. "That was quite the ingenious solution there, Rusty. How did you know that using both light and darkness would overload the dungeon heart mana preceptors and in turn reset its mind?" Aburdon turned to him to praise him for his quick thinking but Rusty wasn''t sure what he was talking about. "Ah¡­ uh¡­ I read it in one of the books in the library¡­" "Oh, which one?" Aburdon inquired while Rusty quickly changed the topic of their conversation. Now that he was free of the heart, he needed to leave this dungeon. To his knowledge, there was just one exit which was guarded by many adventurers. To go around this obstruction he needed to use his newly attained possessions skill. "We don''t have much time, I have summoned both of you to help me make a plan! You said I should use the possession skill on someone, but on who?" "Hmm¡­ well, I''m not sure, why don''t you ask the hero there? He is the one that was an adventurer." Alexander pondered for a while and then responded. "It would be better to use an identity of someone that isn''t known to the adventurers¡­ if you use a current adventurer, you might be quickly discovered but I''m not sure "What about one of those four outside, what if I possess one of them?" "I''m not sure if that''s a good idea, at your current skill level it will probably be hard to control a body of that level. Aburdon chimed in, informing the two about the downsides of the new skill that Rusty had learned. "What do you mean by that, a body of that level?" While he was inside the Soul Forge he focused mostly on training himself and crafting. He wasn''t the smartest tool in the shed and didn''t have much experience to create a long-lasting plan. He thought that he could just take any meat of an adventurer and somehow control it. "You''ll only be able to control lesser beings and low-level adventurers. Even then, you''ll probably have to beat them half to death for the skill to take hold. But, I''m not sure about the extent of your skill, perhaps you should try possessing a corpse first and see how it feels?" Before Rusty could reply, Alexander also started talking from his right shoulder. "It''s probably better to avoid those four, I''m sure you''d be asked many questions once you''re outside, you''d be discovered." Rusty tried to nod but the bulkier armor kept him from moving his neck. "I see¡­ but where would I find the corpse of an adventurer¡­ ah, there was one at that location." His mind was filled with ways of rescuing his friend Gleam and he remembered a certain location. He still had an older adventurer card that he took with him and before moving. After taking it out he presented it to Alexander to see if he would agree with his idea. "How about this person, could I use this identity?" "That card could be enough, this person''s features are quite average¡­ and the class can also use heavy armor, it could work¡­" "Let me see!" Aburdon cried out from the side as he felt left out of the conversation. The card depicted an average-looking man, whose stature would probably fit into the armor that he had made. The adventurer card was found on a body that a spider had captured and hadn''t eaten yet. If his memory didn''t fail him, then this body was in a mummified state and somewhat pale. He didn''t get a good look at the face but perhaps it would be enough to let him escape. "Can''t we find someone more handsome? I don''t want our Rusty to look this average¡­" "What does it matter how he looks?" "It does matter!" A plan seemed to have been made and Rusty had already made the decision to visit that area once more. Before leaving he also noticed a strange phenomenon of not losing as much mana as he was supposed to. He had used a lot of his skills during combat and even summoned these two but he had not yet drained himself past the halfpoint. He realised that his magic points were being restored at a much faster pace than usual and this dungeon core chamber probably had something to do with it. "This pillar, it has some mana on it¡­" Classification: Mana filled stone Type: Mineral Description: A stone filled with some mana "The pillar must have absorbed the ambient mana from the Dungeon Heart. The effect will probably dissipate with time but it will help you regenerate your mana faster if you hold it." Alexander offered some insight as Rusty investigated the destroyed rocks. He quickly decided to pick out a few pieces and place them into his storage space. These fragments could potentially be useful in the future, either for crafting or for aiding him in combat. An item that increased his mana regeneration could prove invaluable for future battles and explorations. "This should be enough, I''ll call you two later." "I hope so, it''s so boring in that soul forge and you''ll probably need us to guide once you''re outside, better to level up that skill, Rusty." "I agree, you will need me to get through the adventurer guild." Rusty selected his default loadout to change back into his normal form. He knew that the two were right as he had no idea what was waiting for him in the world above. The dungeon was what he knew and probably getting this skill up so that he could have the two out at his disposal would be crucial. He could already feel the weight of the task ahead settling in, but for now, he had to focus on executing the next step of his plan. Once his two guides were gone he turned his attention back to the dungeon. The way forward was still dangerous and he was being pursued by four adventurers. With some luck, Rusty would be able to avoid detection. However, if they stood in his way, then he would not hold back and go through them. Chapter 62 – A Body Within. An iron-armored head popped out of a hole in the wall. The head turned in all directions as if it wasn''t connected to anything, before disappearing back into the passage it came from. Soon after, an armored monster walked out, both hands pushing the helmet back down onto his neck."I guess they retreated?" Rusty adjusted the helmet and took a moment to survey his surroundings. He was now inside the boss''s chamber, which had been destroyed even more than before. The adventurers he expected to encounter were not here anymore, replaced instead by a lot of rubble. During his confrontation with the dungeon heart, several big tremors had probably caused this. He could only assume that his pursuers had retreated, but it was possible they were still inside this giant castle. While looking around, he noticed broken walls and several large boulders on the ground. He had no tracking skills, but the whole castle was eerily silent. Rusty moved cautiously through the boss chamber, his senses on high alert for any sign of the adventurers. He peeked out again to see if he could hear anything, but besides some cracking noises from the structures, he couldn''t sense anything. Congratulations Basic Mana Sense skill has reached level 4. His reconnaissance attempt was interrupted by a system message informing him about his newest skill leveling up. He had been constantly using this passive skill during his battle against the dungeon core and continued using it up to this very moment. This whole dungeon was built from mana, which was quickly affecting the level of his skill. It seemed that the concentration of mana mattered, and perhaps before long, he might achieve a breakthrough. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Rusty could see in real-time how small orbs of mana light evaporated from the rubble. They were slowly being transferred to the broken holes, which were starting to mend themselves. The process was quite sluggish and unnoticeable unless observed for several long minutes. Rusty realized that this was how the dungeon was restoring itself, by transferring its parts through some kind of process involving mana. "If those guys are gone, then I probably have nothing to worry about... but they might have set a trap somewhere..." Rusty knew that all the dungeon levels had one exit where those adventurers could be waiting. He wasn''t sure how they operated, but if they weren''t in this castle, he could ask someone who might know. After he was sure no one was inside this large castle, he called over one of his guides, Alexander. "Rusty? Was there something more that you wanted help with?" "I''m not sure yet. Do you think I could use something from here?" Alexander arrived and looked at the destruction on this tenth floor before explaining. "You might want to look through the treasure room then. You might need some coins for what''s ahead." "Coins? Oh, you mean those round metal objects made from copper and silver?" "Yes, those." Rusty had taken some money pouches from adventurer corpses before. Previously, he wanted to use the copper coins for crafting bronze ingots but decided otherwise. If he understood it correctly, he would be able to trade those coins for something inside the adventurer society. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Let''s go then!" "Are you following Aburdon''s advice?" The orb of light followed the suit of armor as they returned to the boss''s chamber. Normally, Alexander would have been returned to the Soul Forge by now. Rusty had been given advice to level up his skill further before heading up, as the two guides might need to become permanent entities in his life. He knew nothing of the outside world, and without them, the chances of him getting caught were high. The treasure room was hidden under a large throne that had been sent flying to the side. Luckily, the collapsed ceiling only covered half of the entrance so he could still climb down. Once there, Rusty found himself disappointed with the lack of anything shiny. There were no copper, silver, or gold coins anywhere and the chest that was at the end had already been opened. Everything was dark but Alexander''s light lit up the small room. Amidst the dusty remains, he noticed a few stray coins glinting faintly under the dim light. They weren''t many, but he quickly gathered them into his inventory. "Looks like those adventurers beat us to it, those types are surprisingly good at gathering treasure." Alexander remarked, floating closer to inspect the empty chest. However, once there, he noticed that something made from leather was sticking out. "I suppose they didn''t care much about this one, hey Rusty you might want to take this." "Oh? What is it?" Rusty pushed away from fallen stones and arrived at the chest. Once there he pulled out the long leather strap that turned out to be a belt of some kind. To this belt there was a satchell attached and once opened it revealed itself to be a small spatial bag. "I don''t think that I need this though. I have my own inventory." He was confused as to why Alexander wanted him to take this. Rusty had no use for spatial bags as his unique system provided him with all the storage he needed. "Sure but you won''t be able to use it once you are in the city, it''ll be better if you keep some necessities in this, you''ll avoid suspicion from the people in the cities. Plus, this will go well with that adventurer armor variant you''ve made, it will fit perfectly." "I see¡­" This wasn''t the first spatial bag that he found but the belt would go nicely around his waistline. Alexander was right as it would probably be suspicious if he started pulling things out of thin air. Instead, he could put things like coins, potions, and his adventurer card into this small bag of holdings he found. Even if he was searched, it wouldn''t raise any eyebrows. Stolen story; please report. After placing the leather belt into his stash tab, Rusty turned his attention to the task at hand. He needed to make his way to the adventurer''s body he had found earlier, so he could possess it and attempt to leave the dungeon unnoticed. The path back to the location of the adventurer''s corpse wasn''t that treacherous as his battle left the place deserted. The journey through the dungeon was eerily quiet, the usual ambient noise of the dungeon replaced by an unsettling silence. Every now and then, the faint sound of shifting rubble or distant echoes would break the stillness, but there was no sign of the adventurers. Rusty and Alexander assumed that they had eventually retreated as pursuing a suit of armor was not worth their lives. These adventurers didn''t always have to finish their jobs precisely and perhaps they have concluded that this had been enough to get paid. Finally, he arrived at the chasm where the adventurer''s body lay. The place was devoid of most dungeon monsters but these arachnids were not part of them. He needed to climb back to the hole he found the adventurer card as it was better if the body fit the description. Rusty cautiously approached the chasm, the path was familiar but he was still a bad climber. Luckily, his new agility-focused form allowed him to move with haste and reach the ledge where he found the mummified body. "I see some spiders, but they seem to be avoiding me?" He had seen some red eyes peeking out but none of them decided to attack him. His level was much higher now and perhaps the monsters had some type of danger sense. Once inside, he quickly noticed the mummified body still ensnared in a web. The corpse looked thin and the face was still there but he didn''t really know if it was good enough. To get some advice, Aburdon was now summoned instead of Alexander. Congratulations Call Guide skill has reached level 5 Aburdon''s arrival was accompanied by a burst of dark energy and a system message of the guide skill increasing again. With Rusty''s heightened level he could have his guides out for much longer than before. Soon enough he hoped that his mana regeneration would become equal to the skills usage for a permanent solution. "Ah, finally! A change of scenery." Aburdon said, his voice dripping with amusement. "So, what do you wish from this demon lord?" Rusty pointed to the mummified body still trapped in the webbing. "What do you think? Is this body suitable for possession?" "Oh? Let me see~" Aburdon floated closer, scrutinizing the corpse from various directions before answering. "Hmm, it''s certainly not the most ideal, but it should suffice for your needs. The fact that the lower body is mummified could work to your advantage as the weight will be significantly reduced. The face on the other hand managed to retain most of its moisture and the teeth and tongue seem to be in place." "Good, then¡­ how do I possess it?" Rusty was glad that this body was sufficient enough for his disguise but he wasn''t sure of how to proceed. "Easy enough, first cut him loose and get rid of the net, and then just put that armor you previously prepared on him. Once that''s done, just place your helmet over it and use the skill." "Hmm, okay!" Rusty was a living armor monster which meant that his possession target needed to be fully encased within his body. Luckily, he didn''t need to use the parts that he was using now but instead the ones that had been previously prepared for this occasion. "Now be careful, that body is very delicate so try not to damage it." He approached the mummified body cautiously, carefully cutting away the spider''s webbing that had ensnared it. The old strands gave way easily, revealing the corpse more fully. The body was indeed in a sorry state, with skin that had turned to a dry, leathery texture, but it was still largely intact, and the armor he had prepared would fit reasonably well. He donned the armor piece by piece, securing the fake leather and true metal plates around the body. The custom adventurer''s gear was a bit oversized for the emaciated form, but this was all according to plan. With a lighter body inside, he would be able to move much easier. Finally, he placed his helmet over the corpse''s head, aligning it to match the armor''s neck plate. Aburdon floated above, giving a nod of approval. "Looks like you''re almost set. Now first, transfer yourself to the new armor and then, activate the possession skill, you should know how to do it if you follow your monster instincts." After his helmet was placed on the custom-made adventurer armor, he controlled it. The old body that he was wearing, crumbled down to the ground as he switched out. Once the body was switched, he started to stand up with the mummified body still inside of him. The weight was quite bearable and soon he was standing upright. Then soon after, he gave the possession skill a try. The skill was activated and it produced a strange green glow. This light enveloped his metallic body along with the mummified corpse inside. A pulsating aura between the two started to form and continued to flicker around. Rusty could feel the energy transfer, a peculiar sensation that felt similar to the time that he had merged with his two guides. The remains within him shifted slightly as the consciousness of the mummified body began to meld with Rusty''s essence. The transition was going by smoothly and he could feel it twitching within him. It was a very strange feeling, it felt like he was controlling some sort of flesh puppet within himself but also being hit with some information. "This body has a name ¡­ Albert?" "Oh, you''re a natural Rusty, you''ve already been able to feel the body''s memories. Perhaps due to merging with me and the idiot hero, you''ve grown an affinity for dead spirits?" Aburdon wondered while the process continued. Soon the eyes of the possessed body popped open along with its mouth. The sounds were incomprehensible at first but soon became clearer as Rusty adjusted to the new sensations. "T¡­h..i..Sss iS¡­ S¡­t¡­r.n..ge¡­" The body he was using still had its vocal cords intact, along with its mouth. Through the possession skill, he was able to control its speech and make it say what he was thinking. It was quite an odd experience, but the more he used it, the better he became at it. "Mah¡­n-name is¡­ Alburt¡­ S-somethin like dis?" "Well, almost got it, keep practicing, you''re doing great for the first possession Rusty!" Aburdon was surprised that Rusty was getting the hang of everything so fast. He could only assume that some of his past knowledge was integrated with the living armor and he was somehow using it. "After you level your skill, it''s going to feel like an extension of yourself¡­ or perhaps like an internal organ? Hm¡­ also don''t forget to dig into the memories, if this body has a chaotic past it might become a probl¡­" Aburdon wasn''t allowed to finish his sentence as he was forced to return to the Soul Forge. Rusty who was using the possession skill was running low on mana. He needed to use up a whole hundred MP to make this work but luckily, the effect was persistent. ''This Albert person, I can see some of his memories.'' While Aburdon was away, Rusty knew exactly what to search for. Dead bodies often retain lingering thoughts and memories from their previous lives. One such memory was the deceased''s gruesome death. He had fallen into a pit while hunting monsters and was subsequently captured by a spider. The monster injected him with poison, which quickly led to his death. Fortunately, the same poison had also somewhat preserved his body in its current state. The most important part was the head was almost perfectly intact. Its only defect was the pale coloring and the slight dehydration that had set in. However, once the skill was active the man''s face regained a little bit of color. Now he just needed to learn how to produce sounds without sounding like a zombie. ''Can I recall something different? This body might have memories of the outside world!'' Rusty tried to focus, the spirit within this body had long vanished and the brain started to decompose but with the skill active, the process had been stopped. He was able to dig through some of the memories of this adventurer. He saw quite the sight of a bustling city and many people within it. The place seemed to be some kind of marketplace where this man used his coins to buy cheap food. This memory was quite vague and he couldn''t really recognise any faces. Soon it shifted to a large building with many people everywhere and a board with many strange papers. He wasn''t sure if that was it but it sure looked like his next destination, the place called, the adventurers guild. Chapter 63 – Trying To Speak. "Guuuhhhhdd¡­ moowwwnniiinnnggg?""HOooWWw Arrrrruuuu Yaaaahhh?" "..." "You might have to practice some more¡­" "But there is no time¡­ I need to go!" "If you get out there like this, they will think that you''re a zombie or a death knight." The armored figure stood in the dimly lit room, its metal plates glistening faintly as the white orb of light hovered around it. The suit''s movements were stiff and awkward, each step producing a distinct clanking sound that echoed through the dimly lit corridor. "Your movements also seem awkward, this might take a while¡­" Rusty had spent the next few hours practicing his speech and movements, trying to become more accustomed to the new form. The dead adventurer''s memories provided some help, but it was still a challenge to move naturally. Aburdon and Alexander gave him tips and encouragement, their ghostly presences hovered around and were starting to take on the forms of spectral mentors. "Remember, Rusty, the key is to blend in." Alexander advised while floating around him. "You need to move like a human, not a suit of armor." His advice fell on deaf ears, as Rusty didn''t really know how humans were supposed to move. The body within his armor was quite stiff and sometimes flopped around, making movement quite difficult. Fortunately, there was one positive aspect of this possessed body. Once he had dressed it in adventurer-type armor, he was able to create a loadout with it inside. The body was considered dead and could be stored in his inventory without exploding upon retrieval. "Oh? I think some uninvited guests are coming. Maybe we have overstayed our visit here Rusty, I''ll see you later." After the light vanished, Rusty stopped moving and saw some red eyes emerge from the corner. It was one of the Lesser Giant Shade Spiders that could be found in the chasm. It was not alone, as two others of its kind quickly appeared behind it. He reacted swiftly, changing his loadout to a more battle-ready form. These monsters might have threatened him when he was still an F-rank, but he was now at his second E-rank evolution. It would have been simple to scare them away with his light elemental skill, but Rusty chose not to. There was no need to waste more mana than he already had. With Alexander''s disappearance, all light from the vicinity vanished, but he could see his three enemies crawling towards him clearly. In his right hand, he held a regular iron longsword, while in his left was a large kite shield. One of the monsters stuck to the ceiling while the others approached from the sides. Eventually one of them jumped forward, aiming to sink its venomous fangs into Rusty''s iron armor. With a swift motion, Rusty raised his kite shield, intercepting the spider mid-air and smashing it against the wall. The creature let out a high-pitched screech as it crumpled to the ground, its exoskeleton cracked from the impact. The remaining two spiders hesitated, their red eyes gleaming with caution. Rusty took this moment to charge at the one on the ground, precisely swinging his longsword. The blade sliced through the spider''s head, ending its life. Soon after another tossed itself in his direction but even when it clang to his body and bit down, no more than one point of damage was taken. "Weak¡­" Rusty swatted the remaining spider off his body with a quick, disdainful motion, sending it flying against the wall. The creature let out a desperate screech before collapsing and thrashing about. The third monster didn''t even manage to approach him, as its body was impaled by a swift javelin throw. Rusty then approached the squirming monstrosity to put it out of its misery. "My skills have improved, but how strong will a place filled with those adventurers be?" He asked himself while taking a few items from the monsters'' bodies. Alexander had reminded him to take things that could later be traded for money or information. He even implied that living life as an adventurer would be better than remaining as a monster. Aburdon was against that and was pushing him into a more chaotic life filled with battles and carnage. The memories of Albert were more recent, showing him a bustling city filled with people. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals, far too many for him to defeat by himself. His tactics of hiding in dark corridors and waiting would not work outside. There were too many open spaces and seemingly no ceilings, something he would probably have a hard time getting used to. After collecting some monster cores and fangs, he finally made his way through the chasm. Changing loadouts was starting to become second nature and was probably the best thing that came with his new evolution. He still had no access to the Soul Forge but if that ever became possible, then his bodies could be customized to fit all possible situations. However, before that time could come, he needed to rise above this dungeon and find Gleam. "Time to go, maybe there is something that could help me with that speech impediment¡­" Rusty muttered to himself as he made his way through the winding corridors of the dungeon, retracing his steps upward. The path was still familiar, but everything felt different. His connection to the dungeon was now severed, and he felt unshackled. The monsters that had previously vanished were coming back, and starting from the fourth level, he couldn''t see much of a difference. This meant the dungeon was beginning to heal itself, and this potentially meant that adventurers would eventually start returning. "I should have a few days left¡­" he mused. Rusty decided to wait and practice for now. He couldn''t go outside while speaking like a zombie. Alexander had already informed him that his face would pass for human, but only if he got used to talking with a mouth. There was one skill the adventurers had that could alleviate this problem, but he wasn''t sure about it. However, at this point, he was willing to try anything to make his departure safer. First, he returned to the second floor, which he knew like the back of his hand. There, he used one of his old hiding places to train both his mannerisms and his guiding skills. With the help of Alexander and Aburdon, he attempted to absorb all the possible information about the world above. They painted a vivid picture in his mind and made him realize that the world was truly vast. Their tales ignited his craving for adventure and exploration, something he wished to share with his only friend, Gleam. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Hours turned into days as Rusty tirelessly practiced. His movements became more fluid, mimicking the natural pace of a human adventurer. His speech, though still requiring effort, improved significantly, allowing him to form some words without sounding like a zombie. Aburdon and Alexander did their best but time was running out and eventually, he decided to risk it for a drastic improvement. Just as he had speculated, people eventually began to return to the dungeon. The party that had previously fled might have been among the crowd, but he made an effort to avoid them. With his hiding skills, he could not be spotted and made his way to the first level, where the weakest adventurers usually resided. There, he finally encountered a potential victim who would be his ticket out of the dungeon. "Those guys look like new adventurers, the guild master in this city must be an idiot¡­" Alexander commented while looking through Rusty''s visor. His little guide could lower the intensity of his light but if he hovered above his head, it would still be noticeable. Three adventurers who were probably in their teens made their way through the corridor. Rusty was using the shadows to stay still and silently communicating with Alexander. They were connected through their souls so no sounds were required. "Why do you say that?" "Well, only an idiot would allow newbies to go down a dungeon where an irregular monster was discovered. Those guys probably informed him about everything and still, he opened the dungeon, damn bastard!" Rusty noticed that Alexander was mad and that he also cared for the people he was hunting. The three adventurers were clearly inexperienced, their nervous chatter and clumsy movements gave them away. They seemed unaware of the lurking danger, their focus more on impressing each other than on their surroundings. Rusty waited patiently and before he could strike, his guide spoke up. "Rusty, do you really need to kill them?" "Kill? Hm¡­ I don''t really have to but why? Wouldn''t it be better to get their money and equipment?" Rusty had been leveling his Call Guide skill ever since he had freed himself from the Dungeon Heart. The mana usage was becoming manageable and without using any skills he could have one of them out for almost two hours. With so much time spent together, the two were finally starting to give their true opinions and trying to affect his decisions. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You don''t have to be ruthless to succeed, Rusty. If you can achieve your goals without causing unnecessary harm, why not try it? These adventurers don''t deserve such a fate." "Hm¡­But won''t they just alert the other adventurers if I leave them be?" Rusty wasn''t sure what Alexander was getting at. Adventurers weren''t that strong by themselves but once one of them was left alive, they always came back in larger numbers. "Aren''t you going to leave anyway and if you are worried about getting discovered, can''t you just use one of those?" Alexander pointed Rusty in the direction of a sluggish corroded bronze armor. He could easily wear the monster''s suit as cover. His stats would not drop below a certain threshold even if he wore an old bronze suit and these people were quite low leveled. "I see, so they will think that it wasn''t me but another living armor that could work." "Yeah, see? If you leave them alive, they probably won''t even report this to the guild and feel dumb instead, it''s like killing two bats with one mana bolt." "Two bats?" "I''ll explain it later¡­ but what do you want from those three, they shouldn''t have anything worthwhile." "My speech isn''t too good but they might have a skill that could help me with it." "I see, well then good luck." For another moment Rusty remained hidden in the shadows and observed the trio before backtracking. There were no corridors that he didn''t know and preparing an ambush was quite easy. After taking care of one of the lone bronze armors here, he quickly exchanged his clothes and got ready. Once the trio were in the right area, he exposed himself while acting as if he was his old self. "Hey look, it''s one of these." "Let me take care of it, you had fun with the last one!" "Fine." One of the young adventures approached him as he lumbered forward. The young adventurer, emboldened by his friends'' encouragement, advanced towards Rusty, oblivious to the true danger he faced. Rusty, using the corroded bronze armor, played the part of a slow, mindless creature, his movements carefully measured to his old self. The adventurer swung his sword with a lack of finesse, striking Rusty''s shield, and attempted to follow it up with a kick to the chest. It was a tactic all adventurers used and something he had grown accustomed to. With one quick step to the left, the foot of the man collided with nothing but air. He was certainly surprised by the sudden increase in numbleness but he wouldn''t have much time to process it. Soon, a hard mace collided with his chin, sending him falling down to the ground, still alive but knocked out. "What the¡­!" The adventurers exclaimed, their eyes wide in shock at the sight of their friend going down instantly. They were certainly newbies and instead of backing away to reorganize, they rushed at him with weapons drawn. While his form was squeaking and much less resistant, his stats made up for everything. The second adventurer, a young woman with a short sword and shield, tried to parry his incoming strike. Rusty feigned an overhead swing, then at the last moment shifted his weight, bringing his mace down on her unprotected flank. She crumpled to the ground with a pained gasp, her shield clattering beside her. The last adventurer, visibly shaken, backed away, his eyes darting between his fallen comrades and Rusty. Rusty could see the fear in his eyes and knew that he had the upper hand. The young man raised his spear, attempting to keep Rusty at a distance. Rusty noted the trembling in his hands and quickly tossed his shield at him. While the man was busy deflecting the large projectile he lunged forward. He closed the distance at a speed uncommon for the type of monster he was masquerading as. His mace connected with his chest, knocking the wind out of the adventurer and sending him sprawling to the ground. Rusty stood over the young man, his mace raised, but hesitated for a moment. He remembered Alexander''s words and decided to take a different approach. "Fine then, I''ll just knock them out¡­" His mace connected with the man''s head with a more calculated and non-fatal, blow. The adventurer crumpled to the ground, unconscious but alive. Rusty stood over the three fallen adventurers and began his plan. "I hope one of them has it¡­" First, he pulled the three unconscious people together and set them next to each other. His helmet was taken down and then placed on the head of the person he defeated first. He was given a small list of basic skills to absorb but the one that he was looking for was not there. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. "This one doesn''t have it either¡­" After moving on to the woman he was disappointed again. He knew that the skills he could absorb were somewhat random and limited. Only three would show up at any given time and the one he was looking for was not here. Soon he moved over to the spearman he defeated last and to his surprise, it was there. Universal Language Passive Skill Allows a person to understand spoken words and writing of the Universal Language. Basic Spearmanship Passive Skill A skill that makes it easier to wield a spear, is required to unlock more powerful spear skills. "There it is¡­ Universal Language, I hope it works¡­" It was one of the first skills he could absorb in the past, yet he had always avoided it. However, it was something every adventurer possessed, and perhaps with it, his speech pattern and understanding of the adventurers'' language would improve. Just like in the past, he absorbed it, and instantly his linguistic capabilities began to enhance. Now all that remained was to test it out, and perhaps now, going outside the dungeons would finally be possible. Chapter 64 – At The City Gates "Finally, they opened this dungeon back again, I thought that I would starve.""This will teach you not to gamble your money away and don''t forget that you still owe me two silvers!" "Yeah yeah¡­" A few adventurers passed through while ignoring a lone figure standing in the corner. An out-of-place-looking adventurer was standing before the stairs leading out of the dungeon. His gaze shifted between it and the people there as they passed and wandered in and out through the entrance. "They are all looking at me, but no one is reacting¡­" Rusty had wandered into the area where no monsters were capable of going in. Coupled with his custom iron armor that made him resemble an adventurer from head to toe, he had successfully blended in with the crowd. His improved speech capabilities, thanks to the Universal Language skill, made it easier for him to listen and understand the conversations around him. However, he still wasn''t perfect and it was better to keep every conversation short. "Do you think it''s safe?" "Well, if they haven''t reacted yet then probably but we''ll only know for sure once you have a proper conversation with someone. You shouldn''t worry too much, there are all sorts of adventurers out there, and the silent types aren''t that rare." "The silent type¡­" Within his body, Alexander resided and gave him advice. He was the guide who knew the most about adventurers and how they behaved in various situations. Rusty nodded subtly, mentally preparing himself for the next step. He took a deep breath and began to walk towards the dungeon''s exit, each step feeling like a monumental task. He had been born within this dungeon so the idea of leaving was quite stressful. There weren''t that many people moving around and the stairs were quite wide. For a moment he stood quietly before the first step, slowly shifting his body forward. It felt like an eternity but finally, his metallic boot landed on the first step and he started to ascend. His head was leaning down as to Alexander''s proposal. For some reason keeping eye contact was frowned upon by some individuals. As Rusty ascended the stairs, the dim light of the dungeon gradually gave way to the brighter, natural light filtering in from above. The transition was almost surreal, the once-familiar shadows of the dungeon replaced by the open expanse of the world outside. The sounds of nature - the rustling of leaves, distant bird calls, and the murmur of a nearby stream. All were a stark contrast to the echoing clinks and groans of the dungeon corridors. "So this is the outside?" "It is, what do you think?" Alexander asked as Rusty stepped fully into the light, his senses adjusting to the brightness. He marveled at the vivid colors and expansive sky, so different from the dim, claustrophobic confines of the dungeon. He wasn''t exactly sure how to express what he was seeing in words but eventually replied to Alexander''s question. "It''s fascinating¡­ I saw this in the memories but it''s much more¡­" Before he could finish the sentence he noticed someone approaching him from the front. It was a lone man with a large axe. His height was rather short but his width made up for it. "What ye staring at?" "Rusty, it would be best if you moved to the side and let this dwarf through." Rusty quickly sidestepped to allow the dwarf to pass. The dwarf grumbled something under his breath but continued on his way without further incident. Most people were heading down as it was early morning. Soon he attempted to blend in with the small crowd and headed out to encounter his first real challenge, the guard checkpoint. "There they are, remember to act natural and they should just let you through." At the moment he couldn''t fully see the entire expanse of the outside world. There was a path leading up from the dungeon''s entrance to a small outpost where adventurers checked in and out. It was there to keep unregistered people from getting themselves killed but also to control the flow of people. The outpost was a simple wooden structure with a few guards standing around, their attention mostly lax and divided. "Just act natural¡­blend in and go¡­" Luckily he arrived at a time when there was a group of three adventurers ahead of him, all chattering animatedly about their latest exploits. Rusty took his place behind them, keeping his head down, and tried to mimic their casual demeanor. The guards barely glanced at him, their focus more on the banter of the familiar adventurers in front. "You know the drill, show us your cards and rank." One of the guards asked the first adventurer who nonchalantly retrieved his adventurer card. This was the key item that allowed these people to move between this checkpoint and be considered adventurers. Rusty had retrieved one such card that belonged to the person whose lifeless body inhabited his metallic shell. The guard nodded, making a note in a ledger before waving him through. The process repeated for the next two adventurers, each presenting their identification before being waved through without much scrutiny. Rusty''s turn came, and he felt his heart - or what would have been his heart if he had one - pound in anticipation. He handed over the adventurer card he had taken from the deceased adventurer and stood there waiting. The guard took the card, barely glancing at Rusty before making a note in his ledger. However, one of his friends took some interest in him and seemed interested in something. His gaze moved from top to bottom and for a moment, Rusty wondered if his identity was revealed. There were three guards here, one looking through the cards and two holding spears on the sides. For a moment, he wondered if he should make a run for it. The path forward was almost clear, but he had no idea what to expect once he left this checkpoint. His only choice would be to run into the dense forest and hope that no one would try to chase him too far. "Oi, this armor of yours looks pretty sturdy, are you trying to become a knight or something? Isn''t it hard to breathe in that thing?" Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. To his surprise, the man only wanted to ask about his armor. His current form had been modified to look like an adventurer but it was still an unusual armor choice. To many he looked similar to a carrier knight, his armor looked heavy and dense. Rusty took a moment to compose himself and waited for Alexander to give him some advice. "Just say that you are used to it and nod." "Y-yeah it''s hard to breathe but I''m used to it¡­" He was finally forced to use his speech out in the open. His voice sounded rough and raspy but it worked in his favor as fear struck the man he was talking to. The soldier just nodded in response and the adventurer card was given back to him. "Alright then, take care out there." The guard replied, dismissing Rusty with a wave. Soon he walked through the threshold and was now officially out of the dungeon. Before him was a long pathway surrounded from both sides by a dense forest. The foliage was thick, and the trees stood tall, their canopies forming an arched tunnel that led further into this new world. Rusty moved forward without looking back, only once he was out of sight of the dungeon guards did he stop. He leaned against one of the trees as he moved away from the main road, the walking adventurers just making him more nervous. He could feel the breeze on his armor, hear the rustling of leaves, and see the sunlight filtering through the trees. It was a sensory overload, but he relished it. He had been confined to the dark, damp corridors of the dungeon for too long, and now, finally, he was free. "So this is the outside world?" "So, what do you think? and the best part is, you haven''t seen anything yet!" Alexander teased Rusty, who was having a hard time describing his emotions. The cover the trees provided gave him some sense of security, but he couldn''t deny that he was on edge. Within the dungeon, he had many places to hide, and not many individuals wandered those narrow corridors. Here, on the other hand, he felt like a fish out of water. "I¡­ it''s overwhelming, I''d like to get used to it but I don''t think we have the time, Gleam is somewhere out here and I have to find her!" Rusty was now outside and his plan had been successful. Now he needed to continue into the city where his friend was seemingly being held in. Once there, the biggest hurdle awaited him. "I see. If you follow the road, you should be able to reach the city. I don''t really recognize this place, but maybe when we get out of this forest, I''ll be able to identify it. The equipment the adventurers are wearing doesn''t look that different, and the guards also have basic gear. However, I don''t recognize the emblem they were using¡­" Alexander replied while contemplating the geopolitical environment they found themselves in. He had died as a hero fighting for the people, but it was unknown to him how much time had passed. There were also other possibilities for their existence, such as this being another world entirely. However, he and Aburdon recognized the mana of this world to be the same as their old one, making that theory far-fetched. Rusty continued on with his journey, keeping to the trees and using them as protection. The forest was quite dense and he witnessed many strange small critters and birds. The main road was kept in sight as he moved and eventually, a large city appeared from the distance. It reminded him of the ninth floor with the castle area but it was much larger. The sprawling city lay ahead, its walls towering and its gates bustling with activity. Rusty could see the stone structures, the battlements manned by vigilant guards, and the lively crowds of people moving in and out. His heart - or the closest semblance to one - raced with both excitement as well as worry. "Gleam is somewhere in there?" This city wasn''t just large, it was humongous. The path leading from this dungeon ended before a large mote and then continued through a large drawbridge. To make things even more fascinating he could see at least two more such bridges leading into different directions. His vision didn''t allow him to peer too fat but Alexander was quick to give him some advice. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Those ways¡­ could they be leading to other dungeons? Could this city be¡­Argossa? But those flags aren''t right¡­ Isn''t it that bastards¡­" Rusty looked at the massive entrance gate between two watchtowers. Each watchtower had a flagpole with an emblem resembling a golden lion on a field of red. Rusty observed the symbol for a moment, trying to recall anything from Albert''s memories that might match it. Despite its familiarity, nothing specific came to mind, nor did any memories from his two guides. "Alexander, do you know what this place is? Where do those two other bridges lead?" "Ah¡­" His guide snapped himself out of it and finally gave him an answer. "If I''m not mistaken, this should be the city of Argossa. It has changed since the last time I was here, but those bridges are distinctive. They should lead to two other dungeons." "Other dungeons?" "Yes, the other two are the higher-ranked dungeons and one of the reasons there are so many adventurers here. You can easily spend many years here and attain a D-rank or even a C-rank or Gold rank." "Ah, I almost forgot about those ranks." After glancing at the massive city, Rusty retreated back into the forest. He retrieved the adventurer card he had taken from Albert''s body. It had a very distinctive copper outline, indicating that this adventurer had been an F-Rank. There was a whole series of ranking systems similar to those for monsters, and both were used interchangeably when referring to adventurers. By understanding this hierarchy he could avoid causing trouble as he knew that higher-ranked adventures would look down on him for his low rank. "Do you think I should wait until it''s darker?" "Ah¡­ yeah sure, that would probably be better but don''t forget, they will probably close the gate close to sunset." "I remember." Rusty nodded and sank back into the forest where he waited. He allowed himself to send Alexander back to restore his magic points. Once alone, he tried to recall the main plan they had discussed. In the dim light, his pale skin wouldn''t be as prominent, and the shadows would help mask his unusual movements. The twilight hours would also reduce the number of guards and adventurers, making it easier for him to slip through unnoticed. After getting through the gate, he would have limited time to find the adventurers'' guild. That place was said to be open late, and within it, Gleam would be waiting for his return. Even though he was now outside, the grayed-out status of his friend still bothered him. It seemed he needed to get a lot closer for the connection to reestablish itself. However, it could also mean that his friend was not actually within the city, something he wished wasn''t true. As the sun began to set, Rusty observed the city from his hidden vantage point. The bustling activity at the gates gradually slowed, and the guards'' shifts changed, leaving the entrance slightly less monitored. This was his chance. He made his way closer to the road, keeping to the shadows and using the foliage for cover. His metallic body, despite its weight, moved with surprising silence without any of his joints producing sound. He waited until the very last moment and hid himself behind a group of late-returning adventurers. Just like at the dungeon exit, they began looking through some of their guild cards but many were just left unexamined. The guards clearly recognized many of these faces but when it came to his turn, they held their spears up to stop him. "You there, I don''t think I''ve seen you around here before, got any identification on ya?" Rusty didn''t respond and instead just reached into his spatial satchel to retrieve the copper-colored card. The guard took the card to examine it, his eyes squinting due to the lack of light. "F-rank and alone? Did you arrive here recently?" "Y-yes¡­" He replied in a monotone voice while Alexander inside of his armor attempted to give him some advice. Sometimes fewer words were best and it seemed to be working in his favor. "Newcomer, huh? Just keep out of trouble and don''t wander around at night. Understood?" He nodded quickly and attempted to retrieve the card from the guard. However, before he could one of the others moved closer to swipe it away. It was a somewhat older gentleman with a beard who was interested in this particular card for some reason. "You¡­ follow me first, we need to have a talk, and don''t even think of running away." The man pronounced in a commanding tone. "Stay calm, Rusty. Just follow his lead and respond briefly. You can handle this." Soon he found himself in a secluded room, probably used for interrogating suspicious people, it wasn''t looking good¡­ Chapter 65 –Cross-Examination. A large armored man entered the dimly lit room, his steps echoing against the stone floor. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a wooden table and two chairs. The walls were lined with shelves holding various documents, and a small window high up on the wall allowed a sliver of moonlight to seep in. A lone man was already seated on one of the chairs and waiting for the armored person to take a seat."Calm down Rusty, we expected this to happen, just sit down and respond to the guard, everything should be fine, don''t worry." Rusty hesitated for a moment before sitting down. His metallic frame creaked slightly as he adjusted himself in the chair, and he kept his head down, avoiding direct eye contact. He was aware of Alexander''s presence in his armor and that the people here could not hear his words. Before leaving the dungeon, he had conducted a series of tests. The hero and demon king could be seen by adventurers to a certain degree. Their light could affect the environment, but it didn''t seem like anyone could precisely identify its source. This led to the discovery that no one could hear what the two were saying, and if the light was hidden within his body, it couldn''t escape. They could converse with each other without a problem, as the people here could only understand him through the possessed body. The guard placed the adventurer''s card on the table, sliding it back and forth between his fingers as he studied Rusty with narrowed eyes. His expression was unreadable to someone like Rusty to whom human expressions were meaningless. It seemed that there was a problem with his adventurer card or at least the last date it had been used. "So, Albert F-ranked adventurer¡­ hasn''t reported to the guild in over half a year, what brings you back to the city? and before you answer, show me your face." Rusty knew this was a crucial moment. His cover had held so far, but any misstep here could unravel everything. It was normal for adventurers to go missing for long periods of time and he was not in trouble yet. Alexander''s voice echoed in his mind, confirming and calming the situation. "Don''t worry, they are probably just curious where an F-rank adventurer vanished for half a year. Your armor is a bit too good for such a rank, they might be assuming that someone took on the identity of a dead adventurer, just stick to simple responses and raise your visor." "All right¡­" Rusty replied while also scanning the room. He wasn''t alone with the guard; another was leaning against a corner. The only exit was the door he had entered through. There were no windows large enough to escape through, and the walls seemed thick and sturdy. It was clear that if things went wrong, running wouldn''t be an option. However, if he could get outside and perhaps toss his helmet into the moat, he might survive. Breathing underwater wasn''t necessary, and Alexander had assured him that not many people would dare to swim after him. With a shaky hand, Rusty reached up to his helmet and slowly lifted the visor, revealing the face beneath. It was a pale, almost lifeless visage, one that bore a stark contrast to the lively adventurers the guard was accustomed to seeing. The eyes, though, were filled with a certain intensity, and the moment the guard saw them, he flinched in fright. The guard eventually calmed himself and leaned in closer, scrutinizing Rusty''s face in the dim light. The other guard shifted slightly, his posture indicating heightened alertness. The man eyeballed the picture that was on the card and the pale face within the helmet, clearly not being sure if it was the same person. "So, where have you been all this time?" The guard asked, his tone skeptical. "Half a year is a long time, especially for an F-rank. Did you get lost in a dungeon, or maybe you were taken by bandits?" Rusty hesitated but the question was similar to something that Alexander had told him before. He just needed to repeat the words that he was told and focus on making the flesh body inside of his armor pronounce the words correctly. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Lost¡­ in the lower levels¡­" Rusty replied in his rough, monotone voice. "Barely made it out. Found this armor... from an old knight, deep in the dungeon. Took me time to find the way back, I suffered an injury t-that left me like this¡­ I still haven''t fully recovered¡­" "Great, that wasn''t bad Rusty!" Alexander cheered him on while the guard''s expression softened slightly at Rusty''s explanation, though his eyes still held a trace of suspicion. The other guard in the corner seemed to relax a bit as well, though he kept his hand close to the hilt of his sword. "Lower levels, huh?" The guard nodded slowly, as if considering Rusty''s words. "I suppose it makes sense. We''ve heard stories of adventurers getting lost down there for months and you do look sick, best you visit the nearby church and get yourself blessed, you might have been cursed if you look that pale, now just stand still so I can take a look and then you can be on your way." Now it was the time for the last test, he had managed to get through the initial line of questioning. Just like Alexander mentioned, these people weren''t very throughout and if he just said something plausible they would let him be. However, one thing still remained and that was the status identification skill. It wasn''t something everyone had but there were ways to go around this problem. The guard took out a pair of strange-looking glasses. The frames were rather thick and once they were on his face they started glowing. Strange symbols appeared on the frames and indicated an enchantment being used. Rusty stiffened as the skill was activated, hoping that what his guides had told him previously was true. "Are you sure the possession skill will hide my status?" "That''s what Aburdon said so I''m not sure¡­" Alexander had no experience with using such skills but he knew that there were ways of fooling the identification skill. In theory, once someone possessed a body like Rusty did, his status as a monster would be hidden. Instead, it would show the status of the body being used. "Those glasses don''t look new, it''s probably a lesser identification enchantment so it should be fine. If this guard is using a basic identification spell, it should only reveal surface-level information - like your name and rank." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Rusty stayed still as he was examined by the man. The guard''s brow furrowed slightly as he adjusted the glasses, but his expression remained unreadable. Rusty could feel his grip tightening on the edge of the table, his metallic fingers leaving faint impressions on the wood. He mentally repeated the instructions Alexander had given him, suppressing anything that could reveal him as a monster. Finally, the guard removed the glasses and the glow faded as he set them down on the table. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest before speaking. "Well, Albert, everything seems to be fine but¡­ this armor that you are using, who did you exactly get it from? It doesn''t look like something an F-rank should be wearing¡­" "Damn, this bastard¡­ quick Rusty, remember what I''ve told you before? Bring out that." "By that do you mean?" Rusty listened to Alexander and quickly moved his hand to his side pouch. The guard could see him moving for something so he paused for a moment, his hand hovering near his sword, but Rusty calmly pulled out a small, weathered sack. The moment he tossed it on the table, the sound it generated instantly made the guards relax as they heard coins clinking together within. "..." The man looked to his friend who had a strange expression on his face. Almost instantly, the guard placed his hand over the coin-filled purse to hide it from anyone trying to peek from outside. "What''s wrong with their faces?" "Oh, that''s just the look of greed. There isn''t much in this world that can''t be solved by money, Rusty." Alexander sounded disappointed to see the city guards pocket all the coins. "I bet those bastards would have otherwise tried to take your armor and implied that you stole it off someone if you didn''t comply¡­" "I see¡­ adventurers are strange." "They sure are¡­ Corruption runs deep in places like this, especially when dealing with low-ranked adventurers. They''re not above bending the rules if they see a chance for profit." This greed worked in their favor so Rusty didn''t care. To him the copper coins were useless as he had many more copper ingots to spare. The guard pocketed the coins swiftly and the tension within the room dissipated almost immediately. His expression shifted to one of satisfaction, and he handed Rusty''s adventurer card back to him. "Well, Albert, it seems everything is in order now. Just be careful out there. With armor like that, people might think you''re an E rank." "I''ll keep that in mind, thank you." Rusty nodded, taking the card and slipping it back into his pouch. First, he lowered his visor to hide his face that was at its limit, then he stood up slowly. The other guard, who had been eyeing Rusty warily, now seemed uninterested, leaning back against the wall and relaxing his posture. "You''re free to go. And remember, visit the church soon to make sure you''re not cursed. Wouldn''t want to see you end up like some of the others who got lost down there." With a final nod, Rusty turned and walked out of the room. As he exited the small structure, he felt the cool night air brush against his armor. The city of Argossa lay before him, its streets illuminated by torches and strange-looking lanterns. The bustling activity was starting to dwindle as most stores were closing down. The only places that remained open were inns and bars along with the adventurer guild that he now needed to head to. Rusty took a moment to gather himself and couldn''t help from staring at the wide world before him. This was his first time in a large city and also outside. The sky that had been filled with clouds and a bright ball of light, was now replaced with many tiny glittering stars. It was a magnificent sight and a strange-looking sphere was glowing dimly right above him. However, before he could continue looking he heard a voice from behind him. "Hey, get out of the way already!" "Huh?" He turned around to see an angry-looking man dressed in some shabby clothes. Behind him were two others, also late coming adventurers that he needed to avoid. Rusty quickly stepped to the side and let the group through. "Rusty, this is good, follow after those three, they are probably headed to the adventurer guild." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, otherwise people might get suspicious when they find you wandering around the city. The faster we get this over with and leave, the better." Rusty watched the three adventurers pass by and quickly fell into step behind them. Alexander was saying the truth, he came here to get Gleam and not to see the sights. Once he had her, then they just needed to hide out in a corner of the city and finally leave at dawn. The plan they created was to allow him to survive as staying within this city was far too dangerous. The adventurers ahead of him eventually turned into a narrow alleyway, and Rusty followed cautiously, his armor clinking softly with each step. The alley opened up to a larger square where the adventurers'' guild building stood prominently. It was a tall, imposing structure with large wooden doors and an ornate sign hanging above them, bearing what seemed to be the emblem of the guild. "So, that''s the adventurer guild. It sounds loud¡­" "It changed somewhat but it''s the same building¡­ It can''t be that long since I''ve been gone, the wood and bricks doesn''t look that much older¡­" "Hm?" "Oh nothing, you can ignore that¡­ Let us just go in and get this over with." Alexander had been behaving strangely since he had seen the large city. It started becoming obvious that he had been here before at some time in the past. Rusty hesitated at the entrance of the adventurers'' guild, feeling something very human that he didn''t fully understand. The building was bustling with activity, and he could hear the muffled sounds of laughter, clinking mugs, and the occasional argument through the thick wooden doors. His metallic hand hovered over the door for a moment, unsure whether he should push forward or retreat. "Rusty, we need to move. If you stand out here any longer, someone might start asking questions. Just keep calm and stick to the plan." "I know¡­ This is all for Gleam!" Ever since they arrived in the city, something had been bothering him. His status screen wasn''t changing and Gleam''s name continued to be grayed out as before. It was possible that his friend wasn''t in this adventurer guild or even within the city. However, Alexander urged him to go forward as there was a possibility that they were still there. Rusty pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. The interior of the guild was lively, with adventurers of all shapes and sizes gathered around tables, sharing stories and drinks. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and the faint clang of metal. He quickly scanned the room, searching for any sign of danger, but it seemed that most people were too engrossed in their own affairs to pay him any mind. The three adventurers he had followed were already making their way to the front counter, where a bored-looking receptionist was sorting through a stack of papers. "Just stay behind them and try to act natural, everything will be fine." "Okay¡­" Rusty made his way toward the counter, doing his best to blend in. As he walked, he couldn''t help but notice the glances he was receiving from some of the other adventurers. This was expected as not many people were wearing such extensive full-body armoring. Luckily, they soon turned away once realizing that it was still only something made from regular iron. After some time passed Rusty finally reached the counter. The previous group had finished their business and the receptionist, a young woman with short brown hair and a tired expression, greeted him. She seemed unphased by the unusual armor, having likely seen all sorts of adventurers pass through the guild''s doors. "Name and rank? What can I help you with? Are you here to sell materials, report something or complete a mission?" "Albert, F-rank¡­ No, I''m here for something¡­" It was finally time to complete his mission. Everything was going great and his cover had not been blown yet. Alexander had been right, everyone here seemed tired and sloppy. Now he just needed to ask for Gleam, get her out and perhaps tomorrow they would be free together. "I am here to inquire about something¡­" "Yes?" "Were there any monsters recovered from the dungeon that might have been tamed but were missing their master? If so¡­ then one of them could belong to me¡­" "A tamed monster? Anything more specific? What type of monster was it?" "It was a white ant¡­ a Gleaming Mana Ant¡­" "Gleaming mana ant?" The woman seemed startled by the reveal of the name and for some reason started bowing before him. "I must apologize but¡­" Something was wrong and Alexander didn''t need to tell him that perhaps their plan was going to fail¡­ Chapter 66 – Bad News. The receptionist''s abrupt change in demeanor sent a chill through Rusty''s metallic frame. Her eyes darted nervously to the side, where a small door led to the back rooms of the guild. She seemed to be struggling to maintain her composure, her fingers trembling as they fiddled with some papers on the counter. It looked like a list of something but he couldn''t really tell what it was."I''m afraid there might have been a misunderstanding, " She said while glancing down at the paperwork, her eyes squinting as if she was trying to confirm something. "Please, if you''ll wait here for just a moment, I need to consult with my superior¡­" Rusty stiffened, the gears in his mind turning rapidly. The atmosphere around the receptionist changed the moment he mentioned Gleam and her monster name. He was eventually left standing there pondering his options with Alexander talking to present him with the possible reason. "Is everything alright? Did I do something wrong?" "No, you did everything right, you shouldn''t be in danger but¡­" "But? Is there a problem?" "There might be. You probably noticed that Gleam''s status is still grayed out, right?" "Yeah¡­ Aburdon and you said that it should turn back to normal once I''m close enough, could Gleam not be in the guild?" "That''s a real possibility but there could be another one. They usually don''t send found monsters out of the guild it gets placed in but if the time runs out¡­" "If the time runs out? What happens if I''m too late?" Before Alexander could answer his question the door the guild receptionist vanished through opened and she returned with another person. It was a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard. The man looked different than the adventurers; his body was not meant for combat but perhaps for something else. He wore a dark, well-worn robe, and the smell of old books and old wood clung to him. A guild emblem was stitched on his chest, marking him as someone of significant rank, perhaps a scholar or an archivist. "Is this the one asking about the Gleaming Mana Ant?" He asked, his voice carrying a slight edge of impatience. The receptionist nodded quickly, her nervousness evident. Rusty felt a knot tighten in his metal chest as the man''s gaze bore into him. His mind raced, trying to analyze the situation that he wasn''t familiar with. Luckily, Alexander''s voice echoed in his mind, trying to calm him down. "Stay calm, Rusty. He might just be confirming something. We need to keep up the act." The man sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as if dealing with a troublesome issue. "Look, even a lesser or minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant is rare and highly sought after. When one is found without a master, it''s usually a big deal. But if it''s left unclaimed for too long, the guild can''t just hold onto it indefinitely. I''m afraid you''ve come too late, and confirming your status as its master won''t change anything now." Rusty felt something rise up in his metal chest, it was a similar feeling when he had when Gleam had been kidnapped and taken out from the dungeon. "What do you mean? Where is Gleam?" The man frowned, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "Your ant¡­ if it truly was yours, was identified as unclaimed, and the guild held onto it for as long as they could. But it''s been a month already. You have to understand that resources are limited, and if a monster remains unclaimed for too long¡­ it''s put up for auction. That''s what happened here." Rusty''s body started shaking and soon enough his metallic fist landed on the counter. Surprisingly the wood held through the impact but it generated quite the loud peng. "You lie, it has not been a month yet!" The room fell silent as Rusty''s voice, laced with anger, echoed through the guild hall. The sudden outburst drew the attention of several nearby adventurers, their conversations halted as they turned to see the commotion. Rusty''s metallic frame trembled with barely suppressed rage, his fists clenching as the reality of the situation sank in. "Rusty calm down, don''t even think about using any of your skills, there is no way you can win against all of these adventurers, please calm yourself or all of this will be for nothing. There still might be a way to save Gleam, just ask the clerk when and where the auction is being held." His metallic body continued to tremble, his thoughts spiraling out of control. The room''s silence pressed in on him, but Alexander''s voice cut through the haze of anger, grounding him. "Rusty, focus! We need to find out where Gleam is now. There''s still a chance." Finally, his rage started fading away and he managed to gather his thoughts. The two people that he had been talking with had taken a step back out of fright. His metalic of his frame creaked as he unclenched his fists. The gazes of the other adventurers eventually vanished as they sensed his killing intent vanishing. "Where¡­ when¡­ is the auction?" The man in the dark robe, who had flinched at Rusty''s outburst, straightened up. His eyes were cautious now as if weighing his words carefully. "Ah yes, do not worry you still have some time, the auction will probably take place in two weeks, maybe more, the precise date has not been announced yet as the auction house is still in the process of gathering more items." Rusty managed to relax, there was still time - two weeks or more. That was enough to come up with a plan. He just needed to find out where this auction would be held and how to get inside. The word ''auction'' didn''t really ring any bells, but if Gleam was being held there, then there was still a chance to save her. Alexander was also telling him that this might be a good thing, and hope was still alive. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The man continued, likely sensing Rusty''s desperate need for information. "The auction house is located in the Merchant District. It''s heavily guarded but access is granted to everyone that can pay the initial entrance fee. My apologies that this issue arose but there was no indication for this monster''s owner to have been alive." "Merchant District¡­ entrance fee¡­" Rusty muttered, committing the details to memory. Alexander chimed in, offering guidance as always. "Okay, we have at least two weeks, probably a bit more than that, they always push back on these things." The man in the dark robe, still cautious, took a step closer, perhaps feeling bad about letting the tamed beast out of his hands before it could be returned to the rightful owner. "If you plan on attending the auction, you should know that these events attract all sorts - merchants, nobles, adventurers, and even some less savory characters. It''s not just about having money. This Gleaming Mana Ant is quite a rare monster and it will probably go for a steep price. You seem to just be an F-rank adventurer, it might be better to give up on this endeavor¡­" "What? You want me to abandon Gleam?" Rusty felt offended at the idea of abandoning his friend. "I was just trying to give you some advice! Hmph!" "Sir. Please calm down, let me handle the rest." The old man looked at the receptionist and nodded. Finally, he retreated back towards the door that he came from and Rusty was left alone with the woman from the guild. While there was still hope for Gleam''s safe return, things looked grim. Rusty didn''t plan on staying in this large city. He had no idea what to do now and also needed to find a safe spot to converse with both his guides to figure out what this auction was about. "My apologies for these circumstances but these are the laws. But, would you like to take back the items that you left behind at the guild? We still have them stored." "My items?... Sure?" Rusty wasn''t sure what the woman meant, but he nodded and agreed. It seemed he couldn''t retrieve Gleam through normal channels anymore. Alexander had warned him about revealing his status to others, so he needed to be directly next to Gleam and have her status identified to confirm his claim. Since she was at the auction house and not with him, proving his ownership was difficult. The people here didn''t seem to care one way or the other, and his status as an F-rank didn''t help matters either. "Here, this should be all." While he was contemplating his next move, the woman brought out a tray with a few items. Rusty recognized that these belonged to the F-rank adventurer named Albert, who had apparently left behind some of his belongings. It was normal for adventurers to leave items they didn''t want to lose at the guild, and one of the items on the tray was clearly a key. Rusty picked up the key from the tray, examining it closely. It was a simple iron key, worn but sturdy. On one side he could see a four-digit number perhaps something that could help identify the lock it opened. The other items on the tray were a small pouch of what appeared to be basic adventuring supplies: a few vials of healing potions, some dried rations, and a worn-out map of what seemed to be the area he found himself in. There were scribbles on it with a big red circle in the area where the dungeon for F-ranks was situated. The receptionist, noticing his preoccupation, offered a sympathetic smile. "If you need any more assistance or information about the auction, please feel free to ask. We can also provide you with directions to the Merchant District if that would help. The key to your inn room should still be valid for another month." "My inn?" "Yes, is this not a key to the inn where you were staying?" Before Rusty could answer, Alexander chimed in and he just repeated his words verbatim. "Ah, yes. I suppose it is¡­ Could you remind me where the inn was situated? I haven''t been in the city for a while¡­" The receptionist, noticing the genuine confusion in Rusty''s voice, offered a reassuring nod before continuing the conversation. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course. The inn is called the Copper Lantern. It''s located near the western gate of the city. It''s not too far from here, and it should be easy to find." She pointed towards the map of the city that was hanging close by. Rusty relied on Alexander to take in this information and later guide him there. Soon he grabbed all the items from the tray and stored them in his satchel. "Great, we''ve got a place to stay. For now, let us go to this Copper Lantern and lay low and use it as a temporary base. We will probably be stuck here until that auction, unless¡­" "Unless you want to leave, I''m not sure if we will be able to¡­" Before Alexander could finish the sentence he felt something holding him back from continuing. "Shut up, we will save Gleam! Just guide me to this Copper Lantern Inn." The Copper Lantern Inn, as indicated on the map, was situated near the western gate of the city, and he needed to get there quickly. Alexander''s guidance, combined with the map provided by the receptionist, helped him navigate through the darkened streets of Argossa. At this point, the sun had gone down and the only people roaming the streets were guards and drunk adventurers. As he made his way through the city, he couldn''t help but notice the change to the landscape. The buildings that were previously sturdy and well-kept, were now gradually giving way to less maintained structures. The Copper Lantern Inn loomed ahead, its sign creaking gently in the cool evening breeze. It wasn''t as grand as the adventurer guild building he glimpsed earlier and some of the people inside were quite rowdy. This inn was quite a large two-story building that was much longer than it was wide. The sign swinging above the door read "Copper Lantern Inn" in faded copper letters. The exterior was unremarkable but sturdy, with wooden beams and stone walls that had seen better days. The windows glowed warmly from the inside, casting a welcoming light into the dark street. As Rusty approached, he noticed a few patrons stumbling out of the inn, their faces flushed and voices raised with laughter. The inn''s main room was bustling with activity, but Rusty paid little attention to the scene; his focus was on getting inside and finding a place to regroup. The innkeeper, a burly man with a thick beard, light green skin and a permanent scowl, stood behind the counter, polishing a tankard with a rag. He looked up as Rusty entered, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the armored figure. "Evenin adventurer" The innkeeper grunted. "What can I do for ya?" Instead of answering, Rusty took the key from his satchel and held it out in the palm of his hand. The large man glanced at it briefly, then tilted his head to indicate where Rusty should go. "Just head up on the stairs there, the room will have the same number." Rusty nodded and trudged up the stairs, his metallic frame creaking with each step. Some of the patrons who were drinking noticed his loud steps but were more interested in the large key he was holding. Unbeknownst to him, they started looking at each other with intent in their eyes as if this key was something they recognized. Soon Rusty moved up the stairs and arrived at a long hallway, his room number was quite a ways off so he continued walking until he reached the end of the hall. There, he found the door marked with the number that matched the key. He inserted the key into the lock, turned it, and heard a click. Pushing the door open, he saw that the room contained little more than a small bed and a tiny window. The room was probably no wider than two meters and about three meters long - clearly just a place to sleep and nothing more. "Looks about right¡­" Alexander''s voice echoed in his mind as he entered the dusty room. It was clear that no one had been here for quite some time. Luckily, Albert had made a down payment for this place, and no one had intruded during his absence. However, just as Rusty was about to step inside and close the door behind him, he heard a voice calling out from the corridor he had come through. "Well, well, well¡­ if it isn''t our little Albert, finally decided to come back?" The voice was unmistakably taunting, and filled with condescension. He turned slowly, his metal frame creaking slightly, and saw a tall, wiry man leaning against the wall. Behind him were two other men, both grinning widely while showcasing yellow teeth¡­ Chapter 67 – Unpaid Dept. Rusty''s gears turned in tension as he assessed the situation. The wiry man, clearly the leader of the trio, had a cruel smirk plastered on his face. He was draped in ragged but functional clothing, the kind that suggested he was no stranger to a rough life on the streets. His companions, both stockier and wearing mismatched armor, had the look of seasoned thugs who''d seen more than a few bar brawls.''Who are these people Alexander, what do they want from me?'' His instinct was to ask his guide for help. He was still a living armor monster that had no idea how people operated. The man he was impersonating was Albert, an F-rank adventurer. It was normal for some people to have known him before he died. "They must be old acquaintances of Albert - probably not the friendly kind. Be careful, Rusty. They look like they could be part of the thieves'' guild, or be rogue adventurers, first examine their status so we might get a better idea of what we are dealing with. If this is what it is, they probably want money. Perhaps Albert had borrowed some money, this could be troublesome¡­" Rusty straightened up, his metal frame creaking as he faced the men. He activated his identification skills and was able to peek at their basic levels and classes. Name: Var Classification: Thief L21 Type: Human Name: Ethan Classification: Fighter L18 Type: Human/Orc S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Name: Normann Classification: Fighter L17 Type: Human The information from Rusty''s identification skills confirmed Alexander''s suspicions. These men were low-level adventurers or criminals, perhaps seeking to exploit Albert''s previous misfortunes. The wiry man was called Var and he had the thief class. The two that were with him were both fighters and one seemed to be a half-orc. ''Their levels are relatively low compared to mine¡­'' While Rusty had recently undergone a new evolution and his level was low, monster levels functioned differently than human levels. Humans wouldn''t change their forms as monsters did; instead, they would gain new classes. Each class had its limits, which were identified during the identification process. Rusty had gone through three evolutions, amounting to more than thirty-five levels. In theory, he was much stronger than anyone here. ''I wonder what these guys want, I hope Albert didn''t have some type of gambling addiction, otherwise, this could go badly¡­'' Alexander noted a possibility while Rusty wondered what a gambling addiction was. Var, the thief, seemed to be the leader, while Ethan and Normann, the two fighters, served as muscle. The man who was partially orc was taller than the rest and had more pronounced muscles and the last one was somewhat average. Var''s smirk widened as he noticed Rusty''s hesitation. He pushed himself off the wall, taking a casual step closer, his hands resting lightly on the hilts of the twin daggers strapped to his belt. The two fighters flanked him, their eyes fixed on Rusty with the kind of hunger that predators reserved for cornered prey. "Albert, I know you''re in that tin can, you can''t fool me, I''d recognize that sniveling voice anywhere." Var strutted forward, his voice dripping with false familiarity. "You''ve been gone for quite some time. We thought maybe you''d skipped town, forgotten about your little¡­ obligations. But here you are, back in the flesh. So, what''s it gonna be? You planning to settle up with us, or are we gonna have to get¡­ persuasive?" Rusty''s metallic body tensed as he struggled to decide what to do. It seemed that Albert owed these people some sort of debt, or at least, that''s how they saw it. He might have borrowed money from them or perhaps taken something that didn''t belong to him. Either way, Rusty found himself in a precarious situation, one he would prefer to avoid. Since coins appeared to be highly valued in this world of adventurers, he decided to try bartering. "How much¡­ Do you want?" Var chuckled darkly, exchanging glances with his two companions. The sound was low and mocking, as if the idea of negotiation amused him. "How much, you ask?" Var moved, taking another step closer, his voice oozing with sarcasm. One of his blades moved up in a strange motion that Rusty didn''t understand. For some reason he started licking the blade before speaking further. "Oh, Albert, you''ve been away so long, you''ve forgotten how deep in the hole you are. You see, it''s not just about the coin anymore. You owe us for time, for interest, and for the inconvenience of having to track you down. But since you''re so eager to settle¡­ let''s say fifty gold pieces. Up front. That should suffice right boys?" ''Fifty gold pieces? Is this thief insane?'' ''Is that a lot?'' Rusty asked Alexander who seemed offended by the sum the man presented. ''Of course it is, they are clearly lying or this Albert was a true moron to get himself into it¡­ Well, considering where he ended up he very might have been¡­'' Var smiled at the two other goons that just started laughing. It was clear that these three wanted to get something from him and wouldn''t take no for an answer. "What? Goblin got your tongue? Do you not have enough? Don''t worry if Stolen novel; please report. Rusty stood frozen, his metal frame rattling slightly as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. He probably didn''t have fifty golden pieces as most of his coins were copper and silver. These thugs were clearly trying to take advantage of him. ''Rusty, stay calm. They''re bluffing to some extent. We can''t give them what they want and they probably know it.'' ''If they know it then what do they want from me?'' Before Alexander could answer the leader brandished his dagger in front of his face to the extent of poking his metal helmet. "This armor looks too good for you, it will probably go for a few gold coins, it should be a good start¡­ take it off?" "You want my armor?" "Hah, look at this guy, he thinks this is the only thing that we want." Var chuckled while looking back to his men who just nodded. He could feel the situation slipping out of control. The thieves were clearly intent on taking more than just money from him, and their leering expressions made it obvious they wouldn''t leave without getting something valuable. This was starting to annoy him; all he wanted was to summon his guides and discuss Gleam''s situation. He wasn''t Albert, and Albert''s debts weren''t his. The armor he wore couldn''t be removed, as it would reveal the dead body inside. Var, their ringlider, was getting uncomfortably close and seemed oddly at ease while scratching his armor. This was something Rusty had painstakingly worked on in the Soul Forge and wasn''t about to relinquish to some low-level thug. Alexander suggested that he should temporarily back away since they didn''t have enough information, but Rusty was becoming increasingly enraged. The fact that he couldn''t immediately save Gleam had already made him angry, and he refused to be intimidated by this peculiar individual. "Huh?" The thief paused as he noticed that he couldn''t move his hand. Rusty hand used his metallic gauntlet to just grab the dagger the man was using. His power was cleary above his opponents so even when Var attempted to pull it back, he found himself unable to. Then to make things worse, a metallic helmet made its way towards his face and collided straight with his nose. "Argghh¡­" A string of blood flew up as Rusty headbutted Ver away The room erupted into chaos as Var stumbled backward, clutching his nose, his eyes wide with surprise and pain. Ethan and Normann, taken aback by the sudden escalation, moved to draw their weapons, their expressions shifting from amused to alarmed. Luck was on his side, as the inn was built in a minimalist fashion with barely enough space for two people to stand side by side in the narrow corridor. The men were on the larger side, so with their arms spread out, they needed to approach him one by one. Rusty took advantage of this and readied his shield. Seizing the opportunity, he bashed his shield into the leader, who was unprepared for his victim to fight back. "You bas¡­argg¡­." Var''s chest almost caved in as Rusty''s shield connected with it. The wiry man was shoved backward into the half-orc henchman, who tried to stabilize him. A contest of strength ensued, with the two men pushing Var from the other side in an attempt to topple Rusty. However, with his current evolution, Rusty''s stats far outmatched those of the two fighters, who were now being pushed back. Var, though initially confident, was now in a state of shock and pain. The headbutt had left him reeling, and the clash with Rusty''s shield had only made matters worse. Eventually, the group of three were pushed away and tumbled together to the ground. Var shook his head and instantly went for his nose that had been broken by the collision with the iron helmet. However, just as he was about to get up a pointy sword found its way towards his eyes. There he saw the person he was trying to extort, ready to take his life. "W-wait!" ''Don''t do it Rusty!'' Rusty responded while glancing down at his foes. He could easily sink his sword through the man''s skull and be done with it. The other two men behind him weren''t a problem either and they didn''t seem too eager to confront him either. The only reason that he stopped himself was Alexander''s warning. ''You can''t kill people openly in the city without reasonable cause, if the guards get here your identity will probably be revealed, just let these scumbags go for now, they probably won''t be coming back.'' "... Leave if you don''t want to die." The thugs quickly realized they were outmatched and that their target had undergone several level-ups. In a world where power was determined by levels, resisting would be unwise. Var was sent flying by another shield bash, crashing into the wall. His back slammed against a wooden beam with a loud thud, knocking the wind out of him. He slumped to the floor, dazed. "I''m not ¡­ going to repeat myself¡­ leave!" Rusty did his best thug impression while repeating the words that Alexander whispered to him. The two men looked at each other and then quickly helped their leader up to his feet. They let him lean on their shoulders while quickly retreating, their previous bravado replaced with fear. Var, still clutching his broken nose and gasping for air, glared at Rusty with hatred but also disbelief. Blood trickled between his fingers, but the look in his eyes made it clear that he knew they were beaten. "You''ll regret this, don''t think that this is over!" Var hissed, his voice muffled by his injured nose. "You think this is over? We''ll be back, and next time, you won''t be so lucky." "I won''t?" Rusty replied while taking a step towards them. Instantly, the three took off running as if a flesh-eating monster was after them. Rusty didn''t bother to follow but instead put his sword back into the scabbard and the shield onto his back from where he previously took it. ''People are strange¡­ was it really wise to let them go? They even said that they will be back¡­'' ''Don''t worry, Rusty. All low-level criminals talk big, but as long as we stick to the main streets, they probably won''t do anything rash. They likely only tried this because Albert was an easy target. They can''t afford to cause a scene in the inn either, so we just need to be careful from now on.'' ''If you say so¡­'' "But for now, let''s head back to the room. We don''t want to draw any more attention than we already have." As they spoke, a few doors creaked open, and some curious onlookers began to peek out. Rusty turned away from the escaping thugs, his footsteps echoing down the narrow corridor as he made his way back to the room. The onlookers quickly averted their gaze as he passed by, not wanting to get involved in whatever had just transpired. Once inside the room, Rusty closed the door behind him, the noise of the latch clicking into place a welcome sound of temporary safety. The dim light from the small window cast long shadows across the floor, and the stillness of the room reminded him of the dungeon. He was now in Albert''s old room and could finally relax. ''You handled that well, Rusty, but you need to be more cautious, don''t just attack start attacking before knowing everything.'' ''Hah, don''t listen to him Rusty, You should have at least gouged out that impudent swine''s eye out. Now they will think you''re weak, they might even try to use a child to get closer to you before they stab you in the back!'' ''What nonsense are you spouting? Don''t listen to him, Rusty.'' Once Rusty was inside of the room he sat down on the lone bed and called Aburdon out. His second guide had seen the whole scene play out and from his perspective, Rusty had been too lenient. ''You need to strike fear into the hearts of men! You can not show any weakness in these situations!'' ''Showing mercy isn''t weakness.'' ''Hah, this is why you were betrayed by your ally''s hero!'' ''So? You were abandoned by yours!'' ''Do you two always have to argue¡­'' Even though he was a monster who didn''t feel any fatigue, the whole situation involving Gleam was exhausting. He had no idea what he should do or where to even start. This auction that they were speaking of seemed like the last hope but perhaps there were other ways of going around everything. ''It''s just part of our charm Rusty, so what do you wish to know?'' ''Explain to me what this auction is and how am I supposed to save Gleam from it!'' ''I''ll leave that to you, little hero.'' Alexander didn''t respond to Aburdon''s taunts and instead started explaining everything. ''Just like the name states, it''s an auction, but this one is far from ordinary. It''s an event where the rich and powerful gather to bid on rare items, creatures, and sometimes even people. These auctions are sometimes secretive, illegal, and usually well-guarded. The only way to access such an event is through a fee of probably a golden coin. Once we are inside, we will have to wait until Gleam shows up and bid for her with the money you have¡­'' ''So it comes down to these coins? How many do I need?'' ''As many as you can get.'' Rusty nodded and quickly accessed his inventory, retrieving every copper, silver, and gold coin he had managed to gather. With the help of his two guides, he counted the coins several times. Judging by their reactions, it was clear that this amount wouldn''t be nearly enough to bid on something as valuable as a Gleaming Mana Ant, he would need to get more¡­ Chapter 68 – Familiars "So, ten silver coins amount to one gold coin?""Yes, but the copper coins are divided into two? Big and small?" "Mhm." "That feels a bit unnecessary¡­ why isn''t it also just ten?" "Because simple food costs just a few small copper coins, a silver coin is worth a hundred of them, so they decided to make a larger one to simplify transactions for goods of slightly higher value, like tools or better-quality food. It''s all about convenience, though I agree it can be confusing at first." If Rusty had a face then he would be frowning now. Between his metallic fingers were two copper coins, one thicker and larger than the other. Alexander along with Aburdon were just teaching him about this strange currency and how the people of this world operated. They were trading these small pieces of metal for other goods, even weapons and armor. He now found himself in a situation where he needed to gather several of these to comfortably win the Auction Gleam was in. "How many of these do I need for Gleam?" "That''s hard to say¡­ the more the better. Gleam was still only an F-rank monster, even though rare¡­ I don''t think it should go over twenty gold coins. I''m not sure¡­" Gleam had a bond with Rusty which had not yet faded. Going by the rules of this world, he shouldn''t have to pay anything. However, it seemed that things weren''t equal and the strong dictated which rules were enforced and which weren''t. Even though the bond had not been canceled, it would be with some form of magic after the auction was over. Then, Gleam might not be able to adventure with him anymore, something that he didn''t want to happen. "What can I do to get more coins quickly?" "Have you tried making some with the copper you have?" Asked Aburdon his black light form pulsating inside of the room. "Yeah¡­ it doesn''t work for some reason, I can only recreate weapons and armor." Rusty took out a bar of copper from within his inventory. Compared to the small copper coins it was much larger and heavier. If it were possible to turn this into coins through his system then his troubles would be instantly over but it wouldn''t be that simple. "Well, our Rusty can recreate anything that he previously crafted right? So in theory, he could sell everything he made." Aburdon proposed while Alexander chimed in from the side. "That''s not a bad idea. He could probably get rid of all the bronze weapons, and we still have a lot of those monster parts lying around. All of them could be melted down into ingots and repurposed into weapons, but¡­" "But?" Rusty liked the sound of this plan. He had stored large quantities of living bronze armor parts and some iron variants in his storage space. At this point, he was able to recreate both iron and bronze equipment pieces. He could make a large number of bronze swords and shields, but Alexander saw a problem. "Bronze weapons aren''t something adventurers use much. You probably noticed - even at the lower levels, they prefer crude iron weaponry or jump straight to steel." "That''s true¡­" He tried to recall the gear that adventurers liked to use and it was usually iron armor and leather. Most of the material in his storage was bronze which meant that he probably wouldn''t be able to trade it in for that much. "We can probably still sell them in bulk but that probably won''t be enough." "Are there any other methods?" "You could take on some quests, maybe gather rare materials or hunt monsters. Adventurers often get paid handsomely for bringing in difficult-to-find items or taking out dangerous creatures but¡­" "Why is there always a but?" "Hah, sorry¡­ but for you to take on quests that are worthwhile, you''d need to go through a rank-up test and I''m not sure if that will be possible." Rusty prodded for more answers, and Alexander began to explain. In this world, adventurer ranks corresponded to monster ranks. Albert was a Copper-rank adventurer, or as most people called them, an F-rank adventurer. For Rusty to enter a higher-tier E-rank dungeon, he would need to become an Iron-rank adventurer. This posed a problem. Typically, the main way to achieve a higher rank was by having one''s status evaluated by the guild. The guards used a low-quality item that couldn''t detect the possession skill, but this wouldn''t work within the guild. Even if the skill managed to deceive the guild''s device, it would only display Albert''s old status - that of a lower-level fighter, much weaker than the thugs he had just faced. With such a low level, he wouldn''t be able to convince the guild to grant him a higher rank. His options would then be limited to the F-rank dungeon he had just come out of, which would yield a much smaller amount of money. "I''m also not sure how they handle things now. I think it was possible to ask for a personal test and fight against a higher-tier adventurer, if you won, then you got the higher rank, if you lost then you needed to pay a fine and couldn''t take another one for at least a month¡­ but¡­" "What did I say about buts?" "... Well, you still need to reach a minimal level to be eligible for that test and with Albert''s body being like that, it probably won''t work¡­" "Hey, isn''t there an easy solution to that problem?" As Alexander and Rusty were conversing, the bored Aburdon called out to them. He sounded bored as he didn''t have the opportunity to talk much. Alexander had been human and also an adventurer in his past life but the demon lord had some insights as well. "Oh? What''s the solution?" "Quite simply, if the body is too low leveled to fool the identification device, then how about we get another one?" "Oh¡­ that does sound simple!" Rusty liked that idea but Alexander instantly tried to stop this line of thinking. "No, you can''t!" "Uh? Why can''t I?" "Yeah, why can''t our little Rusty not just get a better, stronger body? There are many E-rank adventurers in this city, just pick one, and no more problems!" "That''s what I thought. You just want him to kill someone and take his identity!" "Why, of course? Why shouldn''t he? Rusty is a monster, we could solve this entire problem in one day if we just target the right person~" Rusty wasn''t sure what to think. The idea of killing another adventurer and using their body instead made some sense. Albert''s identity was becoming troublesome, especially since he was being targeted by criminals. If Rusty could switch to someone else, it would solve a lot of problems in a short amount of time. And time wasn''t something he had in abundance, so this tactic seemed to have some merit. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Rusty, don''t listen to this idiot!" a voice interjected. "It''s not like you can just find someone thin enough to fit into your current body. If they have any close friends, they''ll figure out something''s wrong almost instantly!" He had to admit that finding a dried-out body with a functioning head was rather lucky. This one was perfectly mummified by the spider''s special poison and wasn''t decomposing. If he took on a new body, it would probably start to stink and leak bodily fluids. "Then what? Will you let him take the adventurer test and get identified? Or go to the other dungeon that is probably swarming with people looking for him?" "Well¡­" Alexander was at a loss for words, unsure how to convince Rusty to see things his way. If things continued as they were, Aburdon might force him into unspeakable actions, like ransacking the merchant district and killing people there for money. He could even use his twilight metal body as cover during the night, and no one would know it was him by day. Congratulations Call Guide has reached the maximum level. Congratulations the requirements to upgrade Call Guide have been met. Congratulations Call Guide has evolved into Lesser Familiar "Huh?" While the two guides were at it, Rusty noticed that his Call Guide skill had gone past level nine and evolved. He didn''t expect it to go any further as at this point, his two guides weren''t using up any of his mana and he could have them out indefinitely. "What a peculiar feeling¡­" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What''s happening?" Both Aburdon and Alexander started going through some kind of transformation. Their bodies were radiating brighter light so to stop people from peeking through the little window he raised the bed to block it. Once the light subsided they continued to look exactly the same but something had changed. Name: Alexander The Betrayed Hero Classification: Familiar Spirit Type: Spirit of Light Hit Points [ HP ] 1/1 Magic Points [MP] 5/5 Strength 1 [ G - ] Agility 1 [ G - ] Dexterity 1 [ G - ] Constitution 1 [ G - ] Intelligence 1 [ G - ] Wisdom 1 [ G - ] Willpower 1 [ G - ] Name: Aburdon Fallen Demon King Classification: Familiar Spirit Type: Spirit of Darkness Hit Points [ HP ] 1/1 Magic Points [MP] 5/5 Strength 1 [ G - ] Agility 1 [ G - ] Dexterity 1 [ G - ] Constitution 1 [ G - ] Intelligence 1 [ G - ] Wisdom 1 [ G - ] Willpower 1 [ G - ] Rusty was quick to notice a new window inside of his system that presented itself to him. Through it he could identify his new helpers and both of them had actual stats. All of them were at the lowest and they both seemed to lack any skills, so he wasn''t sure if this had been a helpful change. "Hah¡­ I can feel it¡­ mana! Does this mean¡­" While Rusty was looking through the status screen Aburdon started cackling. The demon lord had always made it clear that he wished to leave and now he had been given some power along with a body capable of storing some mana. Instantly he attempted to use it and to Rusty''s surprise there was a spell forming. "Yes¡­. YESSSS! ¡­ y¡­e¡­¡­" He sounded excited but suddenly his voice started to break and his form burst into nothingness. When looking at the status screen, Rusty noticed that the five points of mana that Aburdon was given had gone down to zero. The moment they did, he was whisked out of existence and vanished from the room. "Idiot¡­" "What happened?" "Not much, he used up too much mana so his form could not sustain itself. This happens to familiar spirits that overtax themselves. Don''t worry, you''ll be able to resummon him again after a cooldown period." "I see." Rusty looked at the status screen again and saw a timer of thirty minutes ticking down. He now had the option to summon Aburdon as either a guide or a familiar. Summoning Aburdon as a familiar required a higher upfront cost of MP but did not seem to generate a constant drain on his mana. The bed wasn''t worth using, so he decided to leave it at the window to prevent anyone from peeking in. However, the problem of needing more money remained. First thing in the morning, he planned to visit some stores, as Alexander had suggested, to sell the excess bronze and iron weaponry. Once that was done, he needed to consider whether Aburdon''s advice was the right path forward. He didn''t feel guilty about killing adventurers in self-defense, but the situation felt different now. Alexander was trying to convince him that it wasn''t worth the trouble, but Gleam remained a priority. If there were no other viable options, this might be a course he would have to consider. "Are there really no other ways?" "You could try buying some armor from the stores, turning it into more weapons, and then upselling them later. But I''m not sure the merchants will appreciate you flooding the market with cheap iron weapons, it could become troublesome." "That''s not good¡­ if only I could hide my status and take that adventurer test¡­" "Hm hide your status¡­ Wait maybe there is a way¡­" "There is?" "Yes, summon that idiot again, he might be the key here." The timer finally reset so he was able to summon Aburdon again. A moment later, Aburdon reappeared in a swirl of darkness, his form solidifying into the familiar demon lord. One change that Rusty noticed was a set of red eyes in this new form, one set that Alexander also had but that was golden. "That was¡­ uncomfortable, I shan''t do that again¡­ blasted form of a familiar¡­" Aburdon returned annoyed at his vanishing which seemed to have been an uncomfortable experience for him. His familiar form was still somewhat ethereal but solid enough to interact with the physical world. The red eyes glowed faintly as he looked around the room. "Aburdon, you can use some of your magic now, right?" "Not really, I only have five mana points¡­ do you know how much mana I had when I was the demon king!" "Rusty¡­ can you make him shut up for a moment so I can ask him something?" "Aburdon, can you be quiet and answer Alexander''s question?" The demon lord was still compelled to follow all of Rusty''s orders. He was forced to quiet down and Alexander was able to ask him one important question. "Good, you only have five mana but that should be enough to cast ''Alter Body Status'' can you do that?" "Alter Body Status? ¡­ I suppose I could do that, but it won''t last for long." Alexander who now had eyes wiggled around in joy. Rusty could tell by this spell''s name what it was all about. "Can you change my status?" "Well, not yours - that would use too much of the mana I''m lacking. However, if it''s the body inside you, I could probably make it appear as a higher-level fighter. But why bother? Why don''t we just hunt down a rich merchant and get this over with instead!" "Shut up, Aburdon. That will just get Rusty killed. He isn''t an assassin or a thief; he''ll get noticed!" Soon, Alexander explained the spell Aburdon could use. It required barely any mana and was commonly used by necromancers on dead bodies. The spell had limited purposes but could alter certain aspects of a body''s status. Some used it to conceal the cause of death or disguise a person''s true identity for various unsavory reasons. All they needed to do was make it appear that Albert was a level twenty-five fighter, which was the minimum requirement for the E-rank test. Once that was accomplished, the higher-tier dungeon would be unlocked for them. Inside, they could potentially gather much better materials or even ambush adventurers to seize their loot, something that Aburdon was for. "I see, thank you two, we will begin first time in the morning!" "Oh joy, I can''t wait, I haven''t been in a human city in a while¡­ or in one that wasn''t destroyed~" "Rusty, just get rid of him, he''ll just get us killed." "Hah, if you listen to this idiot hero this will take a year! Remember Rusty, always cheat if you can and if someone discovers it¡­ just get rid of them!" The two argued for a while, but he had already begun to make up his mind. As dawn broke, Rusty decided to put the plan into motion, but with caution. First, he would visit the merchant district to dispose of all the weapons he had created. Once that was done, his career as Albert the Adventurer would officially start. Then, perhaps with some luck, in two weeks, he would have enough gold to save Gleam. Chapter 69 – Peddling Metal As the morning sun filtered through the cracks of the worn-out building he called his temporary home, Rusty prepared for the day''s mission. He sorted through his inventory, selecting the best bronze and iron weapons he had crafted. Though they weren''t the most valuable, they were functional and would fetch a reasonable price if sold in bulk.Once he had selected the weapons, he used his SP to generate multiple copies of the same quality. His guides had warned that it could be dangerous if they encountered an exceptionally skilled craftsman. All the replicas were identical, which might raise suspicion. If that happened, they advised him to claim that he had received them from a peculiar craftsman with a unique skill that allowed him to produce such identical items or just keep his mouth shut. "Remember, Rusty, we need to keep a low profile. The merchants might get suspicious if you sell too many weapons at once." Rusty nodded, understanding the need for caution. Aburdon, however, was less worried about subtlety. "Just sell them quickly and get out. If anyone asks questions, just remind them of the last merchant who pushed too far." Aburdon cackled menacingly but Rusty wasn''t sure what the demon lord meant. He had not attempted to sell any weapons before so there was no ''last merchant who pushed too far'' "There was a merchant that pushed too far?" "Hm, our young Rusty doesn''t seem to understand wordplay or jokes, don''t worry about it, you''ll eventually understand. I meant that in a more hypothetical sense, of course. You know, as a warning. Merchants of the lesser races can be quite¡­ nosy. It''s best to keep them in line." "Lesser races?" "Of course? Every race is below the demon race!" "Is it?" Rusty glanced in the direction of his other guide Alexander who was quick to dismiss Aburdon''s assertion. "Don''t listen to him, Rusty. There''s no such thing as ''lesser'' or ''greater'' races. It''s just the way some beings try to justify their power or actions. Treat everyone equally and they will respect you." "Hah, just like you did hero and got stabbed in the back? That worked out well for you, didn''t it?" "Shut up!" Rusty sighed as the two guides continued their bickering. He found their banter entertaining at times but it often made his decision-making more complicated. With the plan now set, Rusty stepped out into the bustling streets, the sun casting long shadows as the early morning light filtered through the narrow alleys. The city was beginning to stir with activity as merchants set up their stalls, filling the air with the mingling aromas of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats. Rusty''s monster senses picked up the scents, and though he couldn''t fully appreciate them, he was made aware that the body hidden within his armor could taste food if he allowed it. Rusty''s metal frame clinked softly as he moved, his form was nothing out of the ordinary as he blended in with some of the other early-rising adventurers. Now that the sun had risen he had the opportunity to look over this large city. It was much different than the underground dungeon he came from but there were also some similarities. The city''s layout was a chaotic yet functional mix of winding streets and towering buildings, much like the dungeons Rusty was familiar with. The side alleys reminded him of the narrow corridors and the stone buildings of the temples on some of the other floors. The buildings were constructed with stone and timber, their roofs overlayed in red and brown tiles. The streets were uneven, worn from years of foot traffic, and the occasional clatter of hooves echoed as carts passed by. Rusty observed everything through his visor, taking note of the market district''s layout as he walked towards it. ''So this is the market? Who should I go to first?'' He had arrived at the main square with many street vendors and merchants around. Some of them were just sitting down on rugs filled with items, others had wooden stalls with food. It was early in the morning so the customers hadn''t arrived. This made it an ideal time for Rusty to do business. His deposition of not needing any sleep was very handy when it came to shopping as most people were just waking up or getting past a hangover. "Look for a smith or an armory stall. They''re more likely to buy weapons in bulk, and they might not ask too many questions if the price is right. But first, we should look around and get an idea about the prices before we make a decision." "Yes, yes. Find someone who looks like they could use an influx of goods. And remember, Rusty, if they get too nosy, we can always¡­ persuade them with a slight nudge¡­" "A nudge?" Rusty asked but before Aburdon could answer he was interrupted by Alexander. "There will be no nudging!" The two started arguing again and he was forced to order them to stop. "Examine the prices then and figure out how much the bronze and iron weapons should go for¡­" For Rusty, this arrangement was quite convenient. After his Call Guide skill evolved, he could summon both guides in either their Familiar form or their previous forms. The mana cost for the skill had become so low that he could slowly regenerate his MP even with both guides active. They could see whatever he saw, hear whatever he heard, and give him constant real-time advice. While their bickering was annoying, he needed both of them in this city. Rusty approached the stall, which was adorned with an assortment of weapons: swords, shields, and other metallic goods. The man on the other side didn''t look like a full-fledged blacksmith. He looked quite young and sleep-deprived, his hands slowly polishing a large sword while his head tilted to the side. ''Is that a blacksmith?'' He asked and got a reply from Alexander. ''No, that''s probably a blacksmith''s apprentice or maybe his son. They usually get them to sell weapons outside the smithy where more people gather. We won''t find any enchanted weapons here but it''s enough to get rid of the bronze and iron weapons you made.'' Rusty approached the stall, his metallic steps echoing softly against the cobblestones. The young man behind the counter looked up with bleary eyes, his fatigue evident. Despite the disheveled appearance, there was a certain shrewdness in his gaze that suggested he had experience in the trade. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Good morning." Rusty said as guided by Alexander to show proper decorum when interacting with the merchants. "I have some weapons to sell. Could you tell me if you''re interested?" The apprentice''s eyes narrowed as he assessed Rusty. Before him stood a man about two meters tall, clad in a full suit of armor. While the voice confirmed it was indeed a man inside the armor, the apprentice''s attention was drawn to a peculiar bundle of items strapped to Rusty''s back. It was wrapped in what appeared to be a gray bedsheet and secured with cheap string. Various weapons protruded from the bundle, revealing a large quantity contained within. "We''re always interested in new stock. What kind of weapons do you have?" Rusty''s spatial satchel was not large enough to contain all the weaponry so he decided to use the bed from his inn room to assemble a backpack. Thanks to his crafting skills he was able to create something sufficient for this occasion. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The apprentice''s eyes widened as Rusty unwrapped the makeshift bundle to reveal an assortment of bronze and iron weapons. Swords, daggers, and sabers were inside and even a few spears made their way in. He could tell that they were crafted by an average blacksmith as none of them were particularly high-end but neither were they low-end. "These look¡­ decent." The blacksmith''s apprentice said, eyeing the weapons with skepticism. "But why so many? And why are they all bronze and iron? Usually, we don''t see such a bulk of lower-tier items. Most adventurers prefer higher-quality gear, especially if they''re serious about their business." Rusty already had a sales pitch prepared that his guides came up with the previous night. "I recent-lly acquired these from a craftsman who was getting out of the business. He had a large stockpile he wanted to liquidate q-quickly, so I took them off his hands. I''m just looking to resell them to¡­ interested buyers. They''re g-good quality for their tier, and I''m offering them at a reasonable price¡­" Congratulations Possession skill has reached level 3. ''Oh?'' While talking, he received confirmation that his skill had evolved further. He had been using the body inside his armor for some time, and the more he spoke, the easier it became to move the flesh. The stuttering and pauses he once experienced had lessened, and the weight felt lighter. If this progress continued, he envisioned being able to fight comfortably with the mummified remains of Albert inside him. "I see, that makes some sense¡­" The young man began rubbing his chin thoughtfully. It wasn''t unusual for blacksmith shops to close down, leading to old unsold stock being sold at a low price or even given away for free. While the weapons here weren''t exceptional, they still had their uses. Iron could be melted down and repurposed into steel weaponry, and bronze was a decent choice for practice weapons. While there was a use for them, he had a limited amount of money and would be punished by his master if he overspent. The young apprentice scratched his head, clearly weighing the situation. Rusty couldn''t tell much from the young man''s expressions as he had not yet been among the people of the races. This was a simple human, but some of the merchants had animalistic features that would only complicate things. "I might need to consult with my master before taking all of this off your hands. But I can give you a rough estimate of what we could offer." The apprentice pulled out a peculiar apparatus that Rusty had never seen before. It featured several rows of marbles connected by strings, each row a different color. The apprentice began shifting the small, round objects around as if performing a complex task. "Ah, an abacus. Not many people use them these days, but not everyone has the skills to count without one." Alexander commented and Rusty took the opportunity to glance around, observing other stalls and getting a better feel for the market. He understood the numbers and the writing but didn''t really have a point of reference to know how much everything was worth. First he would need to try earning money to truly understand its value. "Remember, Rusty, don''t let them lowball you too much, These weapons are still worth something, even if they''re lower-tier. You have to negotiate." "Yes, and if they refuse to pay a fair price, we might have to ''persuade'' them¡­" "No, we won''t." Just as they were back to arguing the merchant finally spoke out. "Alright, here''s what I can offer for the whole lot. For the bronze weapons, I''ll give you ten silver coins. For the iron ones, maybe fifteen silver coins. That totals to about twenty-five silver coins, which is equivalent to just over two gold coins." ''Hm, is that good or not?'' Rusty glanced at the young man feeling that the offer seemed a bit low but had no idea. After consulting with his guides he replied in a monotone voice. "Hmm, I see. I was hoping for a better price considering the quantity and quality. How about twenty-five silver coins for the bronze weapons and twenty silver coins for the iron ones? That would be a total of thirty-five silver coins, or three and a half gold coins." The apprentice''s eyes widened slightly at Rusty''s counteroffer. "That''s quite a jump. I''ll need to check with my master. He''s usually very particular about pricing, especially with bulk items." "That''s fine¡­ I''ll see if another merchant will offer me a better price, then I''ll get back to you later¡­" ''Yeah, just like that, Rusty. Make him think that another merchant might offer you a better deal, even if they won''t. We can always withhold some of the truth.'' ''Oh? I see that even the great hero has a knack for a bit of deception when it comes to bartering.'' Aburdon cackled. "Alright then, I''ll check with my master and see what we can do¡­" The man scratched his forehead but didn''t seem particularly concerned. Rusty, on the other hand, ventured into the bustling marketplace, slowly investigating each stall. He visited every booth that sold weapons or armor, comparing deals. While each place offered a slightly different price, none were significantly better than what the young man had offered. With time being of the essence, he spent only a bit over an hour on this endeavor before eventually returning to the apprentice blacksmith''s stall. When Rusty returned, he found another man at the stall - a short but stout figure with a beard, resembling the dwarves he had encountered in the dungeons, though dressed differently. The man was in the midst of lecturing the young apprentice, punctuating his words with a firm smack on the apprentice''s head. "How many times have I told you not to doze off? What if someone grabs one of the daggers and runs off?" Rusty paused at the sight of the older man reprimanding the apprentice. The stout figure was clearly the blacksmith, and from the way he carried himself, it was evident he was someone of authority. The older man noticed Rusty and turned to address him, his demeanor shifting from stern to more professional. "Ah, you must be the one my apprentice mentioned earlier, listen here, even if you look around here, you won''t get much better prices, at most I can meet you halfway, take it or leave it." Rusty''s armor clinked loudly as he contemplated his next move. He placed the weapons he had brought onto the table once more, and the blacksmith examined them with a critical eye. The man clicked his tongue, an expression of mild annoyance, sparking Rusty''s curiosity. "Is there something wrong with them?" "Wrong? Not exactly. These are ordinary, but they''re not worth the metal they''re made of. I''d rather have some copper and tin ingots instead¡­" The blacksmith replied in an annoyed tone as if he thought his creations were a waste. "Ingots?" He had assumed that selling raw materials would be less lucrative than presenting fully crafted weapons. However, he now realized that a more skilled blacksmith could forge a superior weapon from the same ingot and sell it for a much higher price. Additionally, the metal could be used in an alloy mixture or for armor, making the base resources more valuable to some than lower-quality weapons. ''Wait, Rusty, we can probably profit from this¡­ look there to the right. Ask the blacksmith if he would sell that to you.'' Alexander spotted an opportunity as he brought his attention to a barrel to the side that contained broken pieces of weapons and armor, many of them rusted and corroded. "Um¡­ how much does that cost?" "Huh? You want that scrap pile?" "Yes¡­" Chapter 70 – Iron Adventurer Test. "This isn''t so bad. If we keep going like this, we''ll have enough gold in no time"Rusty commented as he played with a large sack of gold coins he had earned in a day. There were already close to five gold coins inside, and he hadn''t even had to work that hard for them. However, as usual, one of his guides was there to set him straight. "It would be unwise to continue like this, Rusty. People might start getting suspicious if this goes on¡­" "They will? But I''m just selling ingots, and people don''t have a problem buying them." "There''s a limit to what you can do, and we''re not in a position to stand out." "But you''re the one who told me to do it!" "I know, and now I''m advising you to stop. Seven gold coins are already plenty. We should pause for now and try something else. After some time has passed, we can do it again." During his visit to the blacksmith''s stall, he was advised to grab the barrel filled with scrap metal. He sold his weapons and used the gold to buy the scraps, which he then converted into various ingots. Once that was done, he returned to sell them off for a profit. It was an ingenious way to earn money, and it seemed there was no end to it. The city they were in had an abundance of rusty steel and iron, along with corroded chunks of bronze and brass. He could pick up pieces of old fences and discarded junk from the ground that no one wanted and turn them into fresh ingots through his system. Even if he used up all the living armor monster parts he had stored, he wouldn''t run out of base materials for a while. The only problem was the suspicious looks of the vendors he visited. After being done with one blacksmith, he started visiting the others, and that''s where the trouble began. The more Rusty moved through the market, the more people started to take notice of his repeated visits to various blacksmiths and merchants. The allure of easy gold had blinded him momentarily to the fact that merchants in a bustling city were a close-knit community, and word spread quickly. His rapid and unusual ability to produce high-quality ingots from seemingly worthless scraps raised eyebrows, and questions began to circulate about his true nature. Rusty sighed, staring at the sack of coins that felt heavier in his hands after Alexander''s warning. It wasn''t that he didn''t trust his guides, but at this pace, it would be easy to gather the gold needed for Gleam''s auction. Still, he had noticed the strange looks and whispers, so it was wiser to lay low for a few days. Perhaps this was a good time to visit the adventurers'' guild. His possession skill had advanced further, and Aburdon could now use a technique to alter his status, which should grant him access to the higher-tier dungeon. "Alright, I''ll stop for now, we can try visiting the guild before it closes for the night." "That''s a good idea, best we just ask one of the receptionists about the higher rank, I''m not sure how they handle things these days¡­" Rusty tucked the heavy sack of coins away, leaving only a small amount in his outer satchel while stashing the bulk in his hidden inventory. If someone attempted to rob him, they would find only a modest sum. He then made his way through the bustling market, where a few gazes still lingered. It was clear that people were growing suspicious, and he considered changing his armor the next time he showed up. As he walked through the city, he kept an eye on his surroundings. One particular large statue caught his attention, something his guide, Alexander, seemed familiar with. It depicted a gallant-looking man clad in a magnificent suit of armor, wielding a strange sword covered in runes. They passed this large statue a few times already and whenever they did, Aburdon would tease Alexander about it. "They could at least clean it from time to time, is that moss I see? Such a shame, to desecrate the statue of such a great hero~" "..." Alexander didn''t reply, but Rusty could tell that he recognized the figure depicted by the statue. Perhaps after they were done saving Gleam, he would ask him about it. For now, though, his focus was on gaining entry to the new dungeon. There, he could further his level and grow stronger. As an E-rank monster, his next evolution would push him to the pinnacle of that rank - maybe even allow him to skip straight to D-rank if he was lucky. Rusty made his way through the bustling streets, his mind occupied with thoughts of the new dungeon. As he approached the Adventurers'' Guild, the grand building loomed ahead. Now that it was still day, many more people were around, adding to the lively atmosphere. The crowds heightened the lively atmosphere, and the inside felt just as intimidating as before. Many of the adventurers had strength far superior to his own, and if anyone realized he was a disguised monster, it would all be over. As he made his way inside Rusty noticed the variety of adventurers present. Some were heavily armored, bearing the scars of countless battles, while others were dressed in lighter, more agile clothing, carrying staffs or bows. The atmosphere was lively, with groups of adventurers discussing strategies, sharing stories, or negotiating rewards for completed quests. His goal today was to gather more information about the guild and familiarize himself with how things operated. As he began looking around, the first thing he noticed was a giant board filled with strange papers. Each paper had a stamp in the corner, displaying a letter representing a rank and a corresponding color. From time to time, an adventurer would take one of the papers down and bring it to one of the counters. "That''s the Adventurer Mission Board." Alexander explained, his voice filled with the knowledge of someone who had been an adventurer in the past. "It''s a good way to earn money while leveling up. People often request monster parts or items from the dungeon. There''s no reason not to take one of those missions when heading into the dungeon." After familiarizing himself with the board he glanced in the direction where some adventurers were being rowdy. There was a part similar to a pub area, filled with long wooden tables and benches, where adventurers gathered to drink, eat, and share stories. The scent of roasted meat and ale wafted through the air, mixing with the laughter and loud conversations. Rusty could hear snippets of their conversations, mostly boasting about recent conquests or strategizing for upcoming ventures. Stolen novel; please report. "That might look like a regular pub, but that''s where parties are usually formed and people discuss their next mission. If you want to discuss things in private, some rooms can be rented, even ones with magical enchantments that block out any sounds." Alexander was like a tour guide, explaining to him anything he glanced at. They were inside the main hall but other rooms and facilities were behind closed doors. One such place was an infirmary, another the place Gleam had been kept for a month in storage. In the back there was a large training area where adventurers practiced their combat skills, honing their abilities before delving into the dangerous dungeons. Sparring with others was a good way of leveling up skills and much safer than fighting monsters in the dungeon. Though tempted to explore further, Rusty reminded himself that his primary goal was to inquire about gaining access to the higher-tier dungeon. He approached the reception area, where several receptionists were busy assisting adventurers. Most of the people here were human, but there were also a few other races, like elves and beastmen. Rusty chose a queue leading to a shorter woman wearing large glasses and waited his turn. While waiting, Rusty grew increasingly fascinated by the various humanoid races present. To a monster like him, they all seemed quite similar but unique in their own peculiar ways. They communicated in different manners, some waving their hands around as if it would enhance their results. For a creature who wasn''t even a year old, it was all quite fascinating. The world was vast and filled with strange things, and he was beginning to truly appreciate his newfound freedom. "How can I help you today?" When it was finally his turn, Rusty approached the receptionist, a woman with soft features and rather large glasses. Her glasses made her eyes appear larger than they originally were. The combination made her very approachable to most normal adventurers. "Good afternoon, I''m interested in learning more about the higher-tier dungeons and the requirements needed to access them. I''m currently an E-rank adventurer and was hoping to advance further." "The Higher-tier dungeons? Could I have your adventurer card?" "..." Without replying he just handed over Albert''s card that was still only copper ranked and the girl took note. "Copper rank, you wish to take the Iron rank test then?" "Yes." After copper came Iron and then silver, he wasn''t sure what to expect but with his guides here, he was sure that he would be able to get through any possible test. The young woman examined the card before giving it back and then eventually gave him the information he desired. "To access the E-rank dungeon you will have to be at least an Iron rank adventurer if you wish to go alone. However, if you gather a party of at least four people with at least one Iron adventurer, you will be permitted to enter the upper levels." This was new information to Rusty. It seemed that some of the rules could be bent if he formed a party of four people. This was not something that he could use as adventuring with others around him would just be too dangerous. What he was more interested in was this Iron-rank test that the receptionist was talking about and soon he recieved his answer. "As for the test, first please place your hand on the measuring orb so I can confirm your current level." "...This is it, Aburdon, cast the spell." "Do I have to?" "Yes, you do!" "But it gives me a headache to use up all of my mana." Aburdon replied to Alexander as he wasn''t too willing to continue with their plan. What he needed to do was cast the spell that would alter the status around Albert''s remains, something that would cause him to vanish due to the lack of mana. "Aburdon¡­" Rusty needed to get involved and finally, the demon king relented. "Fine! Have it your way¡­ Ugh¡­" The spell effect was activated and focused on the body within his iron case. Aburdon faded away after spending all of his mana but no one could see or tell that anything was happening from outside. This spell was only temporary but it just needed to work for a few seconds to fool the magical orb he was placing his hand on. "Fighter, level twenty-one, this is indeed enough to take the test¡­ But are you sure you wish to continue, how about you take some time to prepare?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do I need to?" "Technically not but it would be much easier if you have your second class unlocked before taking the test." Rusty shook his head in refusal. He was already familiar with how human classes worked, thanks to Alexander and Aburdon. In the city, there were temples where individuals went to gain a new class. At level twenty-five, the process could begin, allowing them to choose from several classes, much like how Rusty had been given multiple bodies to inhabit during his recent transformation. "It''s fine, I''m confident!" "Is that so¡­ Well, then I''ll schedule Mr. Albert in for the next Iron-rank test, and by the looks of it, you are in luck, one will be held tomorrow at ten in the morning. Do you have any further questions?" "... Could you tell me about the test in more detail¡­" "Oh?" The lady behind the counter was surprised about the question. Most people were already aware of how adventurer tests operated and it was something a person would know before attempting to take it. Alexander gave him a few vague answers that didn''t tell him much. He was a hero who skipped a few ranks and wasn''t sure what they should expect. "Hey¡­ is this going to take much longer?" Behind him a line was beginning to form as he was taking his sweet time discussing things with the receptionist. To avoid being exposed any further, Rusty decided to speed things up. He quickly decided to focus on the essentials and leave the rest for later. "Never mind, I think I''ll figure it out as I go¡­ Thank you for your help, I''ll be back tomorrow for the test¡­" "Alright then, good luck on your test tomorrow. Be sure to arrive at the training grounds on time. If you need anything else, feel free to ask." "Training grounds¡­" He muttered to himself as he headed toward the guild''s exit. There were a few lingering gazes, but as usual, no one confronted him directly. Ignoring them, he focused on getting back to the inn where he had set up his temporary hideout. This time, there were no thugs trying to extort him, but he found himself with nothing to do. Before he could make any future moves, he needed to raise his adventurer rank, and leaving the city at night was ill-advised. The night was uneventful and he just continued to discuss things with his two bickering guides. They were constantly at each other''s throats but it made time fly by faster and soon enough, the sun was rising again. He headed out early in the morning, with all the tips and tricks he received from both his helpers he was determined to ace this trial. Once that was done, he could begin doing missions and farming monster remains for more money. Rusty arrived early, giving himself time to observe the training grounds before the test began. The area was surprisingly bustling with activity even as early as six in the morning. People of shorter stature, clearly not full adults were swinging around wooden weapons and hitting training dummies under the supervision of more experienced adventurers. It seemed that the guild was not only a place for seasoned warriors but also for those just starting their journey. As Rusty watched, he noted the variety of training exercises being conducted. Some groups practiced combat formations, while others focused on individual techniques like swordplay, archery, and magic casting. Even a few adventurers were sparring with each other in a roped-off area, drawing a small crowd of spectators. The atmosphere was intense, filled with the sound of clashing weapons, grunts of effort, and the occasional shout of encouragement or instruction. Rusty found himself even more intrigued and even wondered how fun it would be to face some of these strong opponents in a fair fight. However, there was only one reason he was here and that was to save Gleam. Eventually, time started passing and the Iron-rank adventurer test was about to begin¡­ Chapter 71 – Forming A Party. Rusty stood near the entrance of the training grounds, watching as a small crowd of adventurers gathered for the Iron-rank test. He shifted uneasily. Despite all his preparations, the uncertainty of what awaited him gnawed at his nerves. This test was crucial - not just for his rank, but for the freedom it would grant him to explore more dangerous dungeons and gather the wealth needed to rescue Gleam.Thanks to his armor and possession skill, he was disguised well enough. It seemed that the identification skill he could use wasn''t widely known. Even the archer classes, who could identify monster levels, only had an inferior version called "Recognition." This was why they relied on magical tools to gather information on statuses. His guides theorized that his superior skill came either from his monster nature or the fusion of the skill with his very being. ''Just stay quiet for now, It''s better if you don''t talk with the other adventurers.'' ''Sure.'' He leaned against one of the walls, glancing around. The people of this world seemed to gravitate toward one another for some reason, forming groups of various sizes with strange dynamics. Rusty noticed that these groups typically developed some kind of leader, whom the others listened to. These leaders came in many forms - some were stoic and reserved, while others were loud and boisterous. As the minutes ticked by, more adventurers trickled into the training grounds for the Iron-rank test. Rusty kept a low profile, avoiding drawing attention to himself. He observed his fellow test-takers with quiet curiosity. Many seemed confident, chatting amongst themselves, while others fidgeted nervously. Some wore flashy gear, no doubt trying to show off their experience, while others looked like they barely scraped together enough equipment to even qualify. A few adventurers seemed to be sizing each other up, eventually throwing some choice words at each other. Rusty wasn''t sure what this was about but quickly realized that these adventurers weren''t allied with each other like the monsters within the Dungeon. First, they would always shout at each other, then sometimes push before weapons got pulled. However, before any true battle could start it was broken up by a loud chime. A group of guild officials stepped forward, led by a middle-aged man with a commanding presence and a large scar across his face. Though not particularly tall, he had a broad, muscular build, with a bit of fat causing his belly to protrude slightly. His weapon of choice appeared to be a large axe strapped to his back. A silver rank badge gleamed on his chest, and his voice boomed across the training grounds. "Welcome to the Iron-rank test! My name is Garren, and I''ll be overseeing today''s proceedings. Those of you who pass this test will advance to Iron rank and gain access to more challenging missions and dungeons. But remember, this test isn''t just about strength - it''s about teamwork, strategy, and adaptability." ''Teamwork?'' Rusty was somewhat confused by the man''s words. He had expected a test of strength, perhaps a fight against one of the higher-ranked adventurers to prove he wasn''t weaker than them. Instead, it seemed they would be doing a group exercise with people he wasn''t familiar with. Gleam had been the only partner he had ever fought alongside, and she was different from these strangers. There was no trust between them, something essential for teamwork to thrive. ''Ah it must be one of those tests, you''re really unlucky Rusty'' ''What do you mean?'' Alexander quickly identified what this was about and started explaining. ''They will probably make you form a temporary party with the other adventurers. Then you''ll have to complete some kind of task, probably in the E-rank dungeon.'' While this didn''t sound too bad, for Rusty, who was trying to conceal his identity, it posed a problem. He would have preferred being tasked with hunting E-rank creatures, where he could safely use his twilight armor. Instead, he was forced to rely on his weaker iron form, which, if damaged too much, could reveal his true nature. If the party he joined realized he was a monster, they would likely attack him or report him to stronger adventurers. ''Can I do something about it?'' ''Probably not. I doubt they''d hold a special test for a random adventurer, and even if they did, you''d be exposing yourself to the guild. It''s better to take the test as it is.'' Rusty listened intently to Alexander while Garren continued his explanation. The crowd of adventurers buzzed with activity, each person preparing for the challenges ahead. Some of them were friends and hoped to get on the same teams. However, the guild had other plans for this test. "Your test will begin with the formation of teams, each team will consist of four members. You''ll be randomly assigned to a team, and together, you''ll need to complete a series of tasks designed to test your coordination, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle pressure." Garren then waved toward a large table where numbered tokens were laid out. "These tokens will determine your team. Each token corresponds to a number. You will draw a token, and the number will dictate which team you join. Once you''ve drawn your token, proceed to the designated area marked with your number." ''Those slimy little things.'' ''Is something wrong Aburdon?'' ''Can''t you see how they are cheating?'' ''They are cheating?'' The tokens were on the table and could be picked up by anyone. All of them were face down without giving away their number. Only the adventurer candidate that picked them up would be able to tell what they took. However, Aburdon knew better and could spell subterfuge from a mile away. ''I bet some people will get into better groups and have already paid for it. Those tokens are probably marked in some way, so whoever is running the scam will know how to assemble the teams!'' ''Which means?'' ''It means that you, as a lower-level fighter, will probably be a leftover case and designated to a weaker party.'' Rusty watched as adventurers hurried to the table, nervously picking their tokens. If what Aburdon said was true, then he might end up in one of the worst groups. Nevertheless, he needed to pick up one of the tokens and wait to be assigned. He approached the table and picked one at random, receiving a token marked with the number ''6''. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Eventually, all the tokens were taken, and the Adventurer Guild moved to the next phase. They brought out a blackboard with a list of numbers, each representing a party that would be formed. Rusty looked at it to try to find the number six and found it in the last group. Initially, he was unsure how to locate the other three, but the guild had assigned each team a separate number as well. Since he belonged to the eleventh group, it meant that there were forty-four people taking the exam. "Please gather together into your assigned teams." Garren called out to everyone and the groups started to form. The adventurers raised their tokens in the air to call out to their temporary companions. To Rusty that was trying to keep a low profile, this was a challenge. He watched as teams quickly formed, with some members eagerly discussing strategies while others simply clustered together in silence. Rusty''s team, number eleven, seemed to be one of the last to come together. ''Those are the only ones left, just go to them and try to act natural Rusty.'' ''Ok¡­'' It was easy to find his party as they were the only ones left without a third member. Rusty cautiously approached his team, doing his best to suppress the nervous energy building up. Three figures were waiting and all of them turned in his direction as they noticed his metallic footsteps. "Are you group eleven?" "Yes, you must be our fourth member, welcome." A young man greeted him with a smile on his face. He was slightly shorter than Rusty and quite lean. A bow was strapped across his back along with a quiver of arrows. His sharp, angular features and keen eyes suggested he was the type to keep his distance in battle, likely a scout or ranger. His leather armor was worn but well-maintained, indicating some experience in the field. ''This looks quite unbalanced¡­'' Alexander commented while Rusty examined the other two party members. To his surprise, one of them was a familiar-looking woman, also carrying a quiver. His guide''s comments were starting to make sense - he was apparently stuck with two archers. The last person was rather small, belonging to a race known as halflings, who wouldn''t be of much help in direct combat. The person had braided her and was also more on the feminine side, something Rusty was slowly getting used to being able to identify. Before saying anything, Rusty used his skill to identify them all, keeping his focus on the woman archer, whom he finally recognized. Name: Layla Classification: Archer L 23 Type: Human Name: Norkas Classification: Archer L 24 Type: Human/Elf Name: Odelette Classification: Thief L 22 Type: Halfling ''They are all weak¡­'' Rusty complained internally while glancing to the side to identify one of the adventurers from another group. Name: Adger Classification: Fighter L 25, Warrior L 2 Type: Human Most groups here had at least one more advanced adventurer, someone who had attained a second class. Though he wasn''t exactly sure how, a person could visit the church and undergo something like a baptism to achieve a new breakthrough. This ceremony was exclusive to the intelligent races, while monsters like himself could evolve on their own. They attained a new class with various bonuses similar to an evolution but did not change their appearance as they did with monsters. Rusty stared at his new team members, feeling uneasy. The group seemed underwhelming compared to the other teams, especially with two archers and a thief. As Alexander had pointed out, it was a rather unbalanced team. While they might excel at ranged attacks and stealth maneuvers, they lacked the raw strength needed for close combat. Thieves relied on someone to keep the monsters occupied so they could land their backstab attacks, while archers needed distance to effectively use their bows - rendering them far less effective in close-quarters combat. "Looks like we''re the odd bunch." Layla, the woman Rusty recognized, muttered with a wry smile. Her tone was casual, but her sharp eyes betrayed the underlying tension she felt. "Hey, don''t worry about it, at least we have one fighter with us!" The halfling, The halfling, Odelette, chimed in with a cheerful voice, trying to lift the group''s spirits. Despite her small stature, she seemed brimming with energy, clearly more optimistic than the rest. She looked at Rusty with hopeful eyes, her straw-like braided hair bouncing slightly as she shifted her stance. "Yeah, you''ll be our frontliner, right? Keep those monsters off us so we can do our thing!" Odelette added, patting Rusty''s armor as if to see how sturdy it was. Rusty on the other hand remained rooted in place, just looking down at the person half his height, not knowing how to react. "..." "Um¡­ how about we introduce ourselves first then?" The one to break the silence was the half-elven archer Norkas. "That''s a good idea!" Replied the halfling girl. Norkas stepped forward as he took the lead. "I''ll go first. My name''s Norkas, half-elf, as you can probably tell." He gestured to his slightly pointed ears. "I''m an archer and I''ve been adventuring for around a year and a half now, mostly scouting and taking out enemies from a distance. I''m hoping we can all work well together and pass this test." Rusty was intrigued by the introductions, something he had never experienced before. While adventurers saw him as a monster, he didn''t view them simply as enemies. Their culture was fascinating to someone as young as him. Thanks to Gleam, he understood that good companions could make life more enjoyable, and this group, in particular, seemed rather cheerful. Next up was Layla, the female archer who Rusty recognized. She had been one of the first humans he encountered in the dungeon and almost got herself killed when being assaulted by someone. Her level seemed to have grown since then, enough to take the test for the next rank. "I''m Layla, a human. I like to think I''m pretty good with a bow and I''m also good at detecting hidden enemies but not too good with traps¡­" She was more reserved than the other two, her gaze shifting around as if she wasn''t feeling too comfortable in this group. Layla''s voice trailed off, her discomfort clear in the way she fidgeted with her bowstring. Next, Odelette stepped forward with a bright smile, full of energy. "I''m Odelette! Halfling thief and trap expert! I''m small but quick, so I can disarm traps and sneak past enemies like it''s nothing. Just leave the sneaky business to me!" She had quite a bubbly personality, something the other two adventurers seemed to appreciate. Rusty on the other hand stood there like a stone statue not really knowing what to do and only once Alexander gave him a nudge did he react. ''Introduce yourself Rusty, you''re making the other three uncomfortable, just say that your name is Albert.'' "I''m Albert" He said, his voice and tone sounding strange and raising some brows. "I am quite sturdy so¡­ I''ll fight in the front?" Rusty proudly presented his large shield and longsword to the group, attempting to mimic their earlier presentations as best he could. His movements were a bit stiff compared to theirs, but fortunately, adventurers came in all shapes and sizes. A person like him, who barely spoke, wasn''t anything unusual. They quickly assumed he was just the awkward, silent type. "... Alright, now that we''re all introduced, we should start thinking about how we''re going to work together." Norkas said, taking charge once again cleary trying to assert himself as the temporary leader of the group. Strength wise he was below Rusty but it was better if someone competent took center stage as he still had no idea what was waiting for them. "It''s obvious we''re not the strongest team here, but we can use our strengths to make up for it." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before he could continue another loud chime resounded from the adventurer guild side and they all looked at Garren. It seemed that time for pleasantries was over and now that the teams had been assembled they would be moving to the dungeon. "Alright, adventurers, it''s time to move out! Follow the guild officials to the dungeon entrance. Once inside, you''ll be given maps marking the dungeon route that will test your abilities to work as a team. Remember, this is not just about strength but how well you cooperate under pressure. Good luck!" The adventurers, now organized into their respective teams, began gathering their gear and preparing for the test. Rusty''s team followed suit, moving in silence. He glanced around without saying a word. His disguise was working a lot better than he had anticipated. If everything went well, then after this test was over he would be able to set off into the dungeon on his own¡­ Chapter 72 – First Battle In A Party. "Can you get it over with before the day is over? Some people need to earn coin to survive.""Don''t scare the newbie''s idiot, let''s just go get a mug of ale and come back tomorrow." A small commotion was unfolding at the entrance of the E-Rank dungeon, something many had grown accustomed to. A large group of people walked through a fenced-off area, while other adventurers were denied entry. The adventurer test was underway, and to ensure its legitimacy, the dungeon had been sealed off to prevent others from entering. Something like this didn''t go too well with other E and D-rank adventurers who used this place as a hunting ground. Their livelihood depended on getting monster parts and chests from within this place. Rusty could hear the grumbling from the disgruntled adventurers as his group neared the dungeon entrance. Despite the complaints, the small party''s of four didn''t care; they were far too busy being tense. They passed the checkpoint, guarded by a small squadron of guards similar to those at the F-Rank dungeon. However, the people here were of a higher level, and their equipment was noticeably better. Rusty glanced up at the large arch he was passing through, which was connected to a sturdy fence. Unlike before, there was no tunnel of trees forming a pathway - just an empty road leading toward a massive rock structure, reminiscent of a mountain but not quite. "I remember this... If I''m not mistaken, this dungeon is a giant maze with only a few floors, much larger than the one you came from, Rusty." Alexander''s claim was quickly confirmed when the officials lined up the participants and handed each team a map, detailing the route they were expected to follow. It was just a snippet of the first floor, but even that was enormous. Large portions of the map were missing, and several red markings indicated strictly off-limits areas. It became clear that this dungeon was far more dangerous, and encountering monsters of various levels on the very first floor was a real possibility. "Listen up, don''t wander around, only follow the route specified by the guild, the dungeon is a treacherous place and you will lose your life if you aren''t careful." Garren''s voice boomed again, ensuring everyone understood the gravity of the test. "Stick to the marked paths, stay with your team, and remember: this is not just a hunt for monsters. You''re here to prove you can think, plan, and survive as a team." The weight of those words hung over Rusty''s group as they moved closer to the dungeon entrance. Norkas, their self-appointed leader, furrowed his brows as he studied the map, muttering something to himself. Layla leaned in to get a better look, while Odelette, the halfling, was practically bouncing on her feet, too full of energy to stand still. "You''ll be entering in order of your teams, use this time to examine the maps and check your supplies, you might need them." "The Guild has given us a few low-quality potions, at least this is better than nothing." Layla commented as she rummaged through the small pouch handed to their group. Inside were a few basic health potions, barely enough to sustain them if they faced prolonged combat. Rusty watched her distribute them, handing each member one. He took the potion and examined it closely, the liquid sloshing inside the glass vial. His sturdy form didn''t rely on potions at all as he used metal ingots to restore his parts. However, it was better to pocket it to keep up his disguise. "Alright, team. This is the route we''re supposed to take." Norkas was done studying the map and he pointed to a section near the entrance. His finger traced a path to something that looked like a larger chamber. "It looks like a straight shot at first, but once we reach this fork, we''ll need to veer left. There''s probably a checkpoint here, and that''s where we''ll likely encounter our first challenge. It could be a puzzle or maybe some monsters. Either way, we''ll need to be prepared." Layla nodded in agreement, her gaze drifting from the map to the distant entrance. There she could see some of the adventurers going in, their formations giving her an idea about how they should proceed. "I''ve heard this dungeon is full of traps. Perhaps, we should let Odelette take the lead once we''re inside." The halfling beamed at the mention of her name. "You got it! I''ll make sure we don''t step on any nasty surprises. Just watch my back, big guy!" Rusty felt a gentle smack to his thigh that came from the small person. She smirked at him in a strange fashion that he didn''t understand. He wondered if this was some type of attack and if he should retaliate but considering that the other adventurers were just smiling, everything had to be fine. "Alright, leave it to me?" He responded in an awkward tone, something the other party members quickly noticed. Fortunately, despite realizing he wasn''t much of a talker, they didn''t shy away from asking questions and working to strategize. Norkas brought up an important issue early on, asking about everyone''s skills and directing the first question to Rusty. "Albert, right? Can I ask you something?" "Mmm... sure?" "Do you have any taunting skills, by chance?" Rusty paused for a moment, thinking about his abilities. He didn''t have anything that fit the description. In his previous experiences with Gleam, he usually attracted monsters by engaging them directly, while his ant companion preferred to hide in holes to avoid being targeted. In this party, however, he would need to keep monsters away from the two ranged adventurers and the thief - something he had never done before. "No, I don''t¡­" "Ah¡­ that''s a shame but how about this." The man had his own spatial satchel and took out a small pouch. The moment he did, the two girls from the party scrunched up their noses at the pungent smell. "W-what is that smell?" "Egh¡­ keep that away!" "Haha, you''re overreacting." Norkas shook his head as he handed the pouch to Rusty, who lacked a sense of smell. Poison and disease didn''t affect him, so a pouch that reeked of rotten fish wouldn''t be much of an issue. Still, after taking the pouch and inspecting it, Rusty wasn''t sure what it was for. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is...?" "It''s a special mixture of herbs and monster parts. It should attract the monsters in the dungeon to you. Sorry about the smell but I''m sure you''ll get used to it..." Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Classification: Smelly Pouch Type: Item Description: A pouch filled with an alchemical concoction that attracts monsters. The effect will linger for a few hours unless washed thoroughly. ''Hah, this guy came prepared for the occasion, luckily you don''t have a nose.'' Alexander didn''t know what to say, it was a useful item for the occasion but it made Rusty smell like a dead goblin and caused the other adventurers to keep their distance. "Sure, no problem..." Rusty was about to tie the pouch to his waist when Layla and Odelette quickly intervened. "W-why don''t you put it in your spatial bag for now, and take it out once we''re inside the dungeon?" "Y-yeah, that would be better!" "Mmm¡­ sure?" Rusty wasn''t sure what this was about but nodded and stored the pouch in his spatial satchel. The stench lingered for a few minutes before finally dissipating. Once the smell faded, the group visibly relaxed, though they kept a wary eye on Rusty''s spatial satchel as if fearing the pouch might somehow escape. Norkas, ever the tactician, spoke up again, this time more confident now that everyone had shared their role. "Alright, with Albert up front, Odelette will take point when we encounter traps, and Layla and I will provide cover from a distance. We''ll stick together, avoid unnecessary risks, and stay sharp. How does that sound?" Layla and Odelette both nodded in agreement. Odelette, bouncing slightly on her toes, seemed excited about the challenge. Layla, on the other hand, appeared more reserved, her earlier discomfort still evident. Rusty nodded as well, adjusting his helmet, trying to appear natural. His acting had been steadily improving, and by now, he felt confident in his role as a human. Eventually, every other team entered into the grand maze and it was finally their turn. Rusty''s group stepped forward, the entrance loomed ahead, a dark maw cut into the rock, the faint echoes of previous teams already lost inside. Garren stood by the threshold, giving each team a stern nod as they passed. "Good luck, group eleven. Make sure you come out in one piece." Garren spoke, his voice gruff but laced with genuine concern. The team began entering the dungeon but paused briefly when they noticed Rusty hesitating. A strange feeling washed over him just as he was about to take his first step inside. It was eerily similar to the sensation he had experienced in the old dungeon, and unsettling fears floated through his mind. "Is everything okay, Albert?" Asked Layla. "Ah¡­ sure, let''s go..." Rusty replied. Alexander and Aburdon had reassured him that no other dungeon heart could trap him again, but the fear still clung to him. Rusty had once been enslaved to a dungeon and feared it might happen again. Still, after a brief hesitation, he steeled himself and stepped forward into the maze, gripping a shield in his left hand and a longsword in his right. The air immediately felt cooler, the sounds of the outside world fading into the distance as the stone walls of the maze surrounded them. The light from outside grew dimmer, and soon the only source of illumination came from the glowstones embedded into the walls, casting an eerie, pale light that barely revealed the path ahead. Rusty took the lead, gripping his shield tightly as the others fell into formation behind him. Odelette darted forward to examine the ground, her sharp eyes scanning for any hidden traps. Layla and Norkas, bows at the ready, kept their arrows loosely nocked, prepared for anything. The dungeon''s oppressive silence was broken only by the soft footsteps of the party and the occasional distant drip of water. The path seemed straightforward at first, just as the map had indicated, but tension hung thick in the air. The walls were smooth, almost unnaturally and quite different to the layout Rusty was familiar with. No destroyed temples were anywhere, just flat stones with strange carvings he did not understand. ''Are all dungeons different?'' While moving forward he posed a question to Alexander. ''There are a few types, this one is a grand maze. When you reach the middle a boss will probably be waiting before you can proceed into the lower levels.'' ''I see¡­'' This was quite a fascinating discovery - there was more to dungeons than Rusty had originally assumed. He would soon come to realize that dungeons produced more than just undead creatures and magical beings. As the team rounded the corner and arrived at the area Norkas had mentioned earlier, they encountered their first enemies: creatures walking on two feet but with the appearance of lizards. The creatures ahead hissed, their reptilian forms standing between the party and their path forward. Their scales shimmered in the dim light of the dungeon, each holding crude weapons - rusted sabers and makeshift spears. Rusty stopped himself from going further into the chamber as he knew that once he was spotted, the creatures would toss themselves at his temporary party. Classification: Adolescent Lizardman L8 F+ Type: Humanoid/Lizardfolk Description: Lizardmen are a humanoid type of monster usually encountered in swamps or marshlands, known for their agility and pack mentality, they are dangerous when encountered in groups. They often use weapons of various qualities. "They''re Lizardmen." Norkas whispered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned their movements. "The strongest is only around level eight and still at F-rank, but they can be tricky if they surround us." Odelette grinned, already crouching low, ready to sneak ahead. "Let me scout ahead, I can flank them from the shadows and pick off the stragglers." Norkas shook his head at the proposition and pointed to all the light sources within the room. "That might be a bad idea, we should let Albert go in first and get their attention instead, if one of them spots you, it will be troublesome. Instead, use the chance to sneak up behind them, and go for that archer first. These monsters like to run and call for help, can you do that?" "Alright!" "Layla, we''ll support Albert while he attracts the monsters." "Of course!" The party was prepared for their first battle, facing a group of five lizardmen. Two wielded spears, two rusty steel sabers, and one carried a bow. Rusty''s role was to make noise and draw their attention. It was also time for him to strap the smelly sack to his belt. With the sack secured, he moved forward with long strides, quickly drawing the attention of the monsters, who identified him as the enemy. As Rusty stepped forward, the pungent stench from the pouch hit the air, and the effect was almost immediate. The lizardmen turned their heads, sniffing the air with their elongated snouts, their eyes narrowing in on the source of the smell. Their hissing grew louder, signaling to one another as they readied their weapons. The archer, perched behind the group, notched an arrow and aimed it in Rusty''s direction. Rusty lifted his shield to block the incoming arrow and charged forward. His job was to keep the monsters occupied, but he had other plans. Though he wore lesser armor made from standard materials, he was still an E-rank monster and a special one at that. His stats were far higher than those of the lizardmen, or even many Iron-ranked adventurers. The arrow whistled through the air and clanged off his shield, harmlessly ricocheting off the stone wall beside him as he pressed his charge. The two lizardmen wielding sabers charged at Rusty, their weapons raised. He collided with the first one, sending it flying back with a well-placed strike from his shield. The force shattered some of the creature''s teeth and slammed it against the wall. The second lizardman tried to assist, but after a wild swing that Rusty easily dodged, it found his sword thrust into its side almost instantly. His party was momentarily stunned as they saw Rusty in the disguise of Albert brutalize the monsters with minimal effort. Even when the two spear-holding lizardmen came to aid their friends, they weren''t able to do much. Rusty''s sheer strength and speed overwhelmed the lizardmen. As one of the spear-wielders thrust its weapon toward him, he sidestepped the attack with ease, twisting his body and bringing his longsword down in a swift arc. The blade backed by a skill bit deep into the lizardman''s shoulder, cutting through its scaled hide. It let out a sharp hiss before crumpling to the ground. The other spear-wielding lizardman didn''t hesitate, attempting to plunge its weapon into Rusty''s back. Instead of piercing through, the spear bent to the side, as Rusty''s iron armor was too thick to penetrate. Moments later, the creature found itself struck by two arrows: one pierced the back of its head, the other its heart. The last remaining archer began to retreat, only to taste its own blood as a dagger sliced through its throat. Odelette''s blade flashed in the dim light as she darted in from the side, ending the first confrontation. Chapter 73 – Unforeseen Trouble The first battle had ended almost as quickly as it began. Rusty stood in the aftermath, his blade still dripping with lizardman blood, while Odelette wiped her dagger clean with a quick flick of her wrist. Layla and Norkas, who had expertly loosed their arrows in support, exchanged a glance, both silently impressed by the seamless efficiency of their team."Well, that went smoother than I expected." Layla said, her voice betraying a hint of relief. Norkas on the other hand was more surprised at the feat he just saw, even somewhat worried at the strength of the temporary comrade he saw. "Yeah, mostly because of our friend Albert¡­" Odelette on the other hand was excited while she crouched near the lizardman. She rummaged through its gear with her quick hands trying to find anything that could be pawned off later. "Did you see him send that lizardman flying?" "Yeah, that was surprising¡­" Norkas, the archer, couldn''t shake the growing suspicion as he observed Rusty. The sheer power Rusty displayed felt unnatural - far beyond what someone with just one class should be capable of. But despite his misgivings, Norkas hesitated to confront his new companion. Having someone that strong in the party wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. Besides, this was a guild-sanctioned test; there was no immediate reason to believe Rusty was one of those notorious adventurer hunters who preyed on the weak. The thought nagged at him, but Norkas reminded himself that the guild had safeguards in place. Hidden members were stationed at various points, ensuring stronger monsters didn''t stray too close. This was a controlled environment, after all, not a lawless wilderness where crimes went unnoticed. For now, he would keep his concerns to himself and hope his instincts were wrong. With a strong tank at the front, their chances of passing would increase and this was enough for him to take a chance. ''I think that archer is wary of you Rusty, it would be better if you toned it down when fighting monsters, you''re still an E-rank monster, something even Iron adventurers can''t fight alone.'' For a moment, Rusty forgot that he was there just to pass a test. His body instinctively reacted to the monsters in front of him, everything becoming a blur as his instincts took over. Before leaving, Alexander had warned him not to use all of his skills, but it was hard to conceal the advanced passive weapon techniques he had trained in. ''It''s not my fault that they are this weak¡­ the beetles were stronger.'' ''Sure, even in the same rank, some creatures and classes will be stronger than the others, you are probably above all the other E-ranks, maybe already a plus.'' ''Should I be worried?'' ''That archer seems to have caught on, the two others I don''t think so¡­ but at most, they will probably assume that you''re just hiding your status, which isn''t anything that rare.'' Rusty silently acknowledged Alexander''s advice. His instincts as a former dungeon monster made it difficult to gauge human expectations. He was far stronger than an average E-rank adventurer, something the others seemed to notice despite their best efforts to mask it. He needed to be more cautious if he didn''t want to draw suspicion, especially from Norkas. "Let''s keep moving." Norkas said, his voice calm but his eyes still flickering toward Rusty from time to time. "The sooner we reach the checkpoint, the better. We don''t know what else might be lurking deeper in the dungeon. Let us get back in formation and go." The team moved forward, more aware now of their surroundings. The walls seemed to close in as they navigated through the twisting passages. Every step felt heavier, the oppressive silence broken only by their footsteps and the occasional sound of shifting stone. Odelette darted ahead again, checking for traps and disarming any that she found along the way. Rusty was not far behind her, ready to block any potential threats that might target the two archers. He was now more mindful of his surroundings and party members. By adopting a more measured pace, he allowed the others to shine. Layla and Norkas worked in tandem, taking out smaller threats from a distance. Rusty''s main task was to keep the monsters focused on him, while they picked them off with their arrows. Meanwhile, Odelette attacked their blind spots, sometimes using her daggers to finish them off, and other times to weaken them by slicing their leg tendons. As they rounded another corner, the party came across a larger chamber, dimly lit by the pale glowstones embedded in the walls. At the far end of the room was a stone pedestal, atop which rested a small, intricately carved box. It emitted a faint glow, almost as if trying to lure the adventurers in. The sight reminded Rusty of the treasure room on the tenth floor, causing him to pause and scan the area, wary of any hidden monsters guarding it. "That must be one of the tests, the guilds markings are on the chest." He whispered while urging everyone else to stop. "But this looks too easy. The room''s too open¡­ There''s probably a trap waiting." Odelette grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Leave it to me!" It was a strange feeling to be in this party, even though they weren''t together long Rusty was starting to see the advantages. He wasn''t very nimble nor could he detect the pressure plates hidden in this chamber but the little halfling could. It was similar to the room he trapped adventurers in but the placement was a lot more random here. Eventually she arrived at the chest area but held herself back from just taking it. "Hm¡­" "Any problems Odelette?" Norkas called out to their thief who had stopped at the "If I lift this, it''s going to trigger something... but don''t worry, I''ve dealt with these traps before! This looks like an old model and it won''t activate based on exact weight, but it will trigger if there''s too little," You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. She explained, her eyes fixed on the small chest before her. Though her head barely reached above the stone pedestal, she was still able to reach it. From her spatial satchel, she pulled out a large rock, one she could barely lift, and placed it beside the chest. Despite the added weight, the trap didn''t react, allowing her to carefully lower the container. "See, what did I say, easy like taking candy from an ogre!" She hefted the chest over her head and started running in their direction. The sight of such a short person carrying something so large was oddly amusing to Rusty. However, his amusement was fleeting, as their victory was short-lived. With the chest in their possession, they only needed to open it and move on to the next location, but someone had other plans. "Wait¡­ who is there?" Layla called out to the party while pointing towards one of the open corridors. Soon from within a dagger came flying out and it collided with the rock Odelette left on the pedestal. The dagger hit the rock with a sharp clang, sending small chips of stone flying. Odelette, caught off guard, nearly dropped the chest in surprise. Norkas was the first to react, his bow already drawn, eyes narrowing as he scanned the dim corridor where the dagger had come from. Layla quickly followed suit, an arrow notched and aimed at the dark opening. "Show yourse¡­" Before Norkas could finish the sentence, the rock that had been hit rolled forward and down from the pressure plate it was on. As the rock slid off the pedestal, a deep rumbling noise echoed through the chamber. The trap had been triggered. The corridor from which the dagger came slammed shut and they found themselves trapped inside. Everyone''s eyes widened in horror as a strange white mist suddenly erupted around them. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I¡­ it''s sleeping mist..d-don''t¡­" Odelette tried to warn everyone as she dropped the chest but even she had already been affected by the gas. All of them tried covering their mouths with something to fight off the effects, but the mist was too potent. Odelette, the first to inhale the sleep-inducing gas, swayed unsteadily before collapsing to the ground. Norkas and Layla, their bows still drawn, coughed and staggered as the mist overwhelmed them. Rusty, being immune to poisons and gases, was the only one unaffected and wondered what he should do in this situation, luckily Alexander was there to raise a good point. "Be calm Rusty, it''s just sleeping mist, it won''t kill them. This test was implemented by the guild so they probably chose this route for a reason." "What do you mean?" "There probably won''t be any monsters appearing and now that the trap was triggered, probably some guild officials are already on their way here but¡­" "Is there a problem?" "Whoever knocked that rock off its pedestal is still out there, and they might be targeting someone here. We need to be careful. First, check Odelette''s satchel - if she''s a thief, she may have some special smelling salts to counteract the effect, or perhaps a potion." There was truth in Alexander''s words. It would be strange for the guild to set up a trap that was too deadly for the candidates. However, that didn''t mean there wasn''t real danger. Rusty knew how these kinds of traps worked, and soon the sealed pathways would reopen. Whoever threw that dagger, or even monsters could flood the chamber, quickly massacring his unconscious party. Rusty wasted no time, his target was Odelette''s satchel which wasn''t much different then the one he took from the previous dungeon. He crouched beside her, his metallic fingers swiftly rummaging through her satchel. As expected, she had an assortment of tools: lockpicks, a small set of vials, and there, a small bottle with a sharp, acrid smell. Rusty couldn''t really smell it due to his lack of nostrils but could use his identification skill to confirm that these were the smelling salts Alexander was talking about. ''The place is clearing up, place them against the wall and then make them smell the salts. It won''t wake them up immediately but it should work.'' He followed the instructions and repositioned the three against one of the walls. Then, he popped the cork from the small bottle and held it under their noses, starting with Norkas. After a moment, he noticed an adverse reaction to the smell, and his first party member finally began to wake up. However, just as Norkas was regaining consciousness, the walls that had sealed themselves began to shift and rumble, opening up to let whoever was outside in. "Ugh¡­ what¡­?" The archer felt groggy but the sight of an ominous man wearing iron armor jolted him awake. He felt out of it but quickly remembered the incident with the sleeping mist. He could see two other people next to him but before he could check on them he was handed a small bottle with a rather rancid smell. "Use this to wake the others." "Huh?" At first, he wasn''t sure why he had been given the item, but soon the reason became clear. Not far from them, a group of monsters began to file in. Most were the same Adolescent Lizardmen they had faced before, but among them were higher-ranked ones. These stood half a head taller, with more muscle and superior weaponry. Classification: Lizardman L5 E- Type: Humanoid/Lizardfolk Rusty left to engage the group in combat, following Alexander''s instructions. It was better for his party members to provide him with ranged support rather than for him to fight them alone. He was aware that if he allowed the three to perish, he might fail the guild exam. Retaking the Iron Adventurer test would require waiting an entire month, which would make rescuing Gleam highly improbable. He didn''t hesitate as the new group of Lizardmen poured into the chamber. The higher-ranked ones carried better-crafted spears and shields, their scales gleaming in the dim glowstone light. There were two of the larger ones in the back and five of the smaller ones in the front. They were not enemies that he would be normally afraid of but this iron suit he was wearing and the dead mummified Albert inside just made things harder. This was a team endeavor, and Rusty was not alone. If what Alexander had told him was true, the three wouldn''t simply run away but would actually assist him - something that intrigued him. He had faced other adventurers before, and more often than not, they did attempt to work together. With that in mind, he raised his shield and stopped holding back. The first monster he collided with was sent flying once again. As the first Lizardman sailed through the air, crashing into one of its companions with a sickening thud, Rusty stood firm, his shield raised and sword at the ready. It was a strange feeling, fighting for a purpose other than leveling up or gathering resources. He could see the two young women slowly rousing from their slumber. He was the only thing standing between them and being mauled by the humanoid lizards, their survival depended on him not abandoning them in this time of need. "Wake up, Layla, Odelette! We''ve got company! Wake up, we have to help Albert." He could hear Norkas shouting at the two to wake up to help, even shaking the smaller one until she responded. Layla groaned, her eyelids fluttering as she fought to focus on the approaching threat. Odelette, recovered faster only to see most of her items on the ground. However, instead of asking questions she just grabbed her daggers and got ready to aid her new party member. ''Hah¡­'' Rusty held off the charging monsters, and even when they jabbed at him with their spears, they couldn''t do more than leave scratches. Fortunately, they had no blunt weapons¡ªjust blades, arrows, and other sharp objects to poke him with. He clashed with them multiple times, usually managing to block most of the damage with his shield while landing a few direct hits with his longsword. However, the two evolved lizards, having had enough of merely watching, finally charged at him, their sabers raised. The two evolved lizardmen stormed forward, their sabers gleaming under the dim glowstone light. Rusty braced himself, recognizing that these larger monsters posed a much more serious threat than their smaller counterparts. With a low growl, one of the lizardmen lunged, its saber aimed directly at Rusty''s chest. He raised his shield just in time, the impact reverberating through his arm. The second lizardman, quicker than its size suggested, flanked him, slashing horizontally at his exposed side. Rusty was expecting to get hit and lowered his stance to receive the blow but right before the saber connected, an arrow embedded itself in the monster''s eye socket. The Lizardman hissed out in agony as it stumbled backward clutching at the arrow protruding from its eye. The other adventurers had gotten back on their feet and joined the fight. However, one question still lingered - who had thrown that dagger, and where were they now? Chapter 74 – Unknown Dangers. The room was filled with the sounds of clashing weapons, the grunts of the lizardmen, and the rhythmic thud of arrows being loosed from bows. Rusty''s shield caught another saber strike, but with the renewed support from his companions, the tide of the battle shifted. Norkas was already in his element, taking well-aimed shots from the back, while Layla, now fully awake, fired her own arrows in rapid succession. Odelette darted between the skirmishes, a blur of motion as her daggers found weak spots in the monsters'' legs.Rusty''s iron body bore several nicks and scratches from the battle, but it was holding up. The thick cloth lining beneath the metal protected his mummified body from being exposed to his new companions. The group of seven lizardmen had grown as reinforcements charged through the corridors, but now their numbers were dwindling, and victory was near. However, even as victory drew near, Rusty''s thoughts lingered on the dagger that had struck the rock. He knew no dungeon monster would deliberately target a trap with such precision, which meant it had to be another adventurer. Someone in these tunnels wanted to harm them, and he couldn''t understand why. Though his current identity was Rusty, he was now Albert, and it was possible that someone was still after him - just like the three thugs who had tried to extort him. Yet, he couldn''t rule out the possibility that one of his companions might be the true target. The last of the lizardmen fell to the floor with a final, guttural hiss as Rusty cleaved through its scaled chest. Around him, the others were regaining their composure. Norkas, breathing heavily, wiped sweat from his brow while Layla lowered her bow, her eyes scanning the room warily. Odelette finished off one of the wounded lizardmen with a precise strike, then stepped back, taking a moment to catch her breath. "That was... closer than I''d like." Norkas muttered, though his voice held a note of appreciation as he glanced at Rusty. He had to admit, Rusty had kept them alive, holding the line almost single-handedly until they could regroup. "Yeah, we almost didn''t make it, if it weren''t for Mr. Albert, we would have never made it." Layla added, still eyeing the room and specifically the pedestal on which the chest had previously stood. It seemed like she wanted to say something but before she could, the smaller halfling girl yelled out cheerfully. "We did it!" Odelette exclaimed, twirling one of her daggers in the air before sheathing it with a flourish. Her grin was infectious, despite the tense situation they had just been through. "That''s what I''m talking about! Perfect teamwork, those stupid lizards had it coming! Now what''s in the chest!" Rusty wiped the lizard''s blood from his sword and gave a silent nod, though his thoughts were still focused on the unknown threat. Odelette on the other hand launched herself at the chest they had taken and quickly picked the simple lock on it. However, her cheerful expression was replaced with disappointment after she took out a badge with the guild''s mark on it. "Drat¡­ Was this just part of the test?" "Yes, that''s one of the badges we need to retrieve to complete the exam, there should be another one at the last location¡­" Rusty glanced at a badge that appeared to be made of wood. The sight of it sparked a memory, and without hesitation, he leaned down toward one of the fallen lizardmen. With a single hand, he effortlessly flipped the creature over, startling the other adventurers. Before anyone could question his actions, he grabbed something attached to the monster''s back. "Is this it?" "Ah¡­ yes, that looks like the other one¡­ but why would it be here and on that monster?" His three party members stared in confusion at the second badge now in Rusty''s hand. With both badges in their possession, they no longer needed to continue deeper into the dungeon, but the discovery raised more questions. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I see, so that''s what happened" "Did you figure something out?" Rusty heard Alexander''s voice quickly after giving the badge away and he responded. "I have a theory. Your group was likely meant to reach the final area, facing fewer monsters. The badge was attached to one of them, waiting for you to find it. But the fact that it''s here means whoever threw that dagger probably lured the monsters from that area to us. And I doubt they were working for the guild..." ''What was their goal?'' ''Either they didn''t want your group to succeed in the exam or they were targeting someone specifically.'' Rusty glanced at the three companions he barely knew. Like Albert, they could have found themselves entangled with the wrong people or crossed paths with dangerous thugs. There was much he didn''t understand about their culture or motives. Being a monster wasn''t easy as he was not aware of the nuances of this world. He only knew that adventurers, and the various races, could kill for almost anything: a grudge, resources, or even a stray look - things he still struggled to comprehend. Before Rusty could contemplate Alexanders'' words some footsteps echoed out of one of the now opened corridors. The other party members heard them as well and quickly readied their weapons again. He was now used to working in this small group and moved forward to intercept whoever was going to come out of that corridor. The footsteps didn''t belong to a lizardman and were cleary more human in nature. ''Rusty, it could be the culprit¡­ get ready.'' Alexander had advised him to be cautious, and Rusty took the warning to heart. He was well aware that some adventurers, especially those of silver rank, were stronger than him. Even with the entire group fighting together, victory against one of them would be uncertain. His true body had a durability that could contend with a silver rank, but revealing that would mean blowing his cover. If the task became too difficult, fleeing would be the wisest option. Yet, for some reason, the thought of abandoning these three felt wrong, even if it meant saving his own life. It was as if he was slowly beginning to think like an adventurer, something he wasn''t sure how to feel about. It didn''t make sense as if they discovered his true nature, they''d likely turn their swords on him without hesitation. The sound of footsteps grew louder as the group braced themselves, weapons at the ready. Rusty stepped forward, his shield raised to intercept any immediate threat. The dim light from the glowstones cast long shadows across the chamber, heightening the tension. Alexander''s warning echoed in his mind, and Rusty gripped his sword tighter, preparing for the worst. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Suddenly, from the far corridor, a figure emerged - a man, tall and lean, dressed in dark leather armor. His face was unobscured and the moment his other party members saw him, they started lowering their weapons. The man was someone they knew as he was part of the guild staff. He was quick to stop and raised his hands at the pointed bows and swords in his direction. "Calm down, I''m from the guild. Didn''t mean to spook you lot. Guild sent me to check on things when the mist trap went off. Seemed like you handled it well¡­ but¡­ what''s with those all monsters?" The guild official began surveying the area and immediately sensed that something was wrong. There were far too many monster corpses - far more than the guild had anticipated. The test site was under the guild''s supervision to some extent, with workers stationed at various points to keep stronger monsters away. Clearly, something had gone awry, and the official wasted no time in asking questions. "What happened here?" The guild staffer asked, his voice filled with concern as his eyes darted between the fallen lizardmen and the adventurers. Norkas, who had taken on the role of party leader was the first to respond. "You might not believe us but someone set off the sleeping mist trap that we disabled." "They set it off? What do you mean? Tell me everything that happened and leave nothing out." The man was taken aback by the claim but quickly composed himself and asked for more details. Rusty listened quietly, relieved that he wasn''t the one who had to explain. Norkas then recounted what had happened and started off with how they arrived in the room with the chest. He then recounted how someone threw a dagger into the chamber and then also probably lured the monsters to finish them off. The guild official raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhat skeptical of their tale. "So you''re telling me that someone triggered the trap in an attempt to kill you? Then somehow lured in the monsters here to kill you?" "Yes." "Hm¡­ unless you can prove it somehow¡­" The man wasn''t convinced and even when Odelette brought out the dagger that collided with her rock to present as evidence, the man just shook his head. "I see the dagger, but this alone doesn''t prove someone deliberately triggered the trap to harm you, It could have been a stray shot, or someone else attempting the test, perhaps even a stray monster." He shrugged, almost dismissing their claim outright. Norkas tightened his grip on his bow, clearly frustrated. "You''re seriously going to dismiss this? Monsters don''t just target rocks on a pressure plate trap that spawns sleeping mist!" Rusty didn''t say anything as his party members started arguing with the guild member. Instead, he listened to Alexander who quickly told him to do something instead. "Rusty, this won''t lead anywhere, it would be better if you all left now before something else happens." He agreed with his guide that the task was to obtain the two badges in order to complete the examination. Now that they had both badges, it no longer mattered who had thrown the dagger. It was too dangerous to stay here with unknown enemies lurking about. After listening to Alexander''s guidance on what to say, Rusty stepped forward toward the guild official and began to speak. "Excuse me but we both have badges, right?" Rusty said, his voice sounding calm yet firm. "Uh, yes?" The other party members stopped talking and the guild official responded. "The task is then complete if we return we will have passed the test, yes?" He asked again and the man paused for a moment before nodding. "Sure. You just need to give those badges to Garren as proof." After he received the answer he turned to his three party members who also needed to return with him for this to be successful. Even if he took both badges and returned by himself, if everyone else died he wouldn''t be given the iron rank card. "Then shouldn''t we leave?" "You might be right Albert¡­ Staying here longer puts us all in danger, it would be better to let the guild handle the rest." Norkas, their temporary leader nodded in agreement. It was safer to retreat now when they had the chance. The man before them could be a hidden enemy so his decision to leave found no protests. "Mr. Albert makes a good point, let''s just leave, we have completed the task laid out by the guild." Layla agreed with Rusty and Odelette didn''t seem to care one way or another, the only thing she was interested in was getting more money, something Rusty also could get behind. "If you all say so? Then let''s just go but perhaps first, we should take all of the loot!" The room was littered with monster remains, some of which could be sold to the guild for a decent amount of coins. The guild official watched as they gathered the most valuable parts. He took his time examining their claim, inspecting the chamber thoroughly before eventually disappearing down the corridor from which the dagger had been thrown. Rusty and his party decided to retreat for the time being. Having already successfully completed their iron rank test, they preferred not to tempt fate any further. "That was smart Albert, for all we know that guild member could be with the person that tried to mess with us." As they were walking back, Norkas complimented Rusty on his quick thinking. Layla seemed shocked by this statement while Odelette didn''t respond as she was busy counting the amount of money they would receive for the harvested monster parts. They made their way back through the winding corridors of the dungeon, the tension from the recent battle began to dissipate, though an undercurrent of unease remained. "Do you think we can really trust that guild official? What if he''s somehow involved in this? We don''t know who we''re dealing with." Their temporary leader wasn''t amused by the incident in the dungeon but Odelette more cynical words brought him back to reality. "Can we do anything about it if he is involved?" "... You''re probably right, if the guild is involved in this, they could target us if we make too much noise about the issue¡­" Rusty listened from the sidelines, trying to understand the adventurers he wasn''t very familiar with. It seemed that power was still paramount in their society, much like in the world of monsters. Even if they had evidence, confronting a more powerful entity could be unwise and might just get them killed. It was probably better to remain silent and hope that whoever was responsible wouldn''t seek further trouble with them. ''Strength is all that matters¡­'' He mumbled to himself, but his thoughts were interrupted by his guide, Alexander. Rusty had chosen to summon only him as his sole helper, as having both out at once would create too much chaos during battles. ''Is it the only thing that matters?'' ''Is it not?'' ''Do you think you would have done better without the help from those three kids? Or were they actually helpful?'' ''Hm¡­'' Rusty wasn''t sure, as he hadn''t been allowed to use his true form in that battle. However, that didn''t mean Alexander was wrong. Rusty lacked skills for opening locks and detecting traps. Additionally, having ranged support was a big help while fighting monsters. The arrows fired by the two adventurers prevented him from getting scratched on several occasions. ''But weren''t you betrayed by your party before?'' ''Uh¡­ well that''s true but¡­'' Alexander didn''t know how to respond, as this was undeniably true. Having party members could be highly advantageous, but also risky. His guide had been betrayed by companions in the past, yet for some reason, he still clung to the belief that being in a party was ultimately a net positive. ''Well¡­ accidents can happen but there is no replacement for a good party!'' ''Hm¡­'' ''Why don''t we focus on getting out of this dungeon first!'' ''If you say so.'' The group pressed on, making their way back through the winding corridors of the maze dungeon. The thrill of battle had faded, leaving behind a heavy, unsettling silence. All of them were eager for this strange day to finally end. Fortunately, without any further incidents, they reached the dungeon''s exit, where more guild members awaited their return. None appeared perturbed, and it was clear that word of the strange attempt on their lives had yet to reach them. Chapter 75 – Party Over. "Ah, finally we''re out, and it didn''t even take that long!""You''re right, Miss Odelette." Layla smiled at the smaller halfling girl as they ventured outside the dungeon. Guild officials were already waiting for them, and most of the other parties that had finished their test were long gone. Odelette raised an eyebrow at how Layla had addressed her and quickly corrected her. "Miss? Come on, we went through that whole dungeon together. Just call me Odelette!" Layla chuckled softly and nodded. "Alright, if you insist. Odelette it is." Their camaraderie had grown naturally after the ordeal they''d shared. Rusty watched quietly as the two talked, unsure of what was unfolding before him. It seemed similar to his own relationship with Gleam, who was still captured by these strange beings made of flesh. As they neared Garren, the silver-rank adventurer, the party''s archer moved to Rusty''s side with a question. "Albert, can I ask you something?" "Yes?" "How were you able to resist the sleeping mist when we were in there? Rusty had anticipated this moment, as Alexander had already instructed him on how to respond. "This helmet is special as it can resist most airborne toxins, like the sleeping mist." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I see, a special helmet¡­" Though Rusty was still a monster pretending to be human, he needed to conceal his true identity. Most adventurers without special abilities or items would be vulnerable to poisons, paralysis, or sleep. Norkas eyed Rusty''s helmet suspiciously, squinting slightly. Rusty sensed that this wasn''t a good sign, but before he could react, the silver-ranked guild official approached them. "I see you''re the last team to return in one piece. Do you have the badges?" Garren''s voice sounded tired, as if he didn''t care much for the well-being of their party and he only wanted proof of their completed task. Norkas, their temporary leader, nodded and handed over the two badges. "Good, looks like you''ve completed the task. Mark it down." Garren turned to another guild worker holding a clipboard, who quickly took note. It seemed that was all the confirmation needed, and before Rusty or anyone else could ask questions, Garren spoke again. "You can come get your new cards tomorrow. That''s all for the test, you can return to the city." The guild official''s quick dismissal hung in the air as the group exchanged glances. After all they had been through - facing near-death, unknown threats, and even possible betrayal, this ending felt anticlimactic. Their temporary leader looked like he wanted to ask something but ultimately decided against it. "Thank you, sir." Norkas replied, lowering his head slightly. Garren turned away to address the other guild members, who seemed eager to leave. Meanwhile, their group gathered for one last conversation before parting ways. "I wonder if everyone made it out alive... Were we the only ones who had trouble with outside interference?" Norkas asked, his frustration evident. He didn''t like that he had nearly lost his life, not to monsters, but to someone else''s meddling. He wasn''t sure if the attack had been aimed at him or at someone else in their temporary party, but without investigating further, they couldn''t be sure. "Maybe we should ask the guild about it?" Layla suggested while the halfling girl shook her head in disapproval. "Do you really think they''ll tell us anything? They could be in on it! I say we lay low for a few weeks. With the monster parts we gathered, we can easily live well for a month, feasting on all sorts of delicious food!" Layla nodded thoughtfully, while Rusty remained silent. He wasn''t truly paying attention to the conversation. These issues didn''t concern him anymore. In his mind, his only goal was to earn more money and rescue Gleam. After that, his adventuring days would probably be over. He hadn''t yet thought about what he would do afterward, but for now, he was focused on one thing at a time. ''Can I leave now?'' Rusty asked Alexander for advice, unsure of what to do. The test was apparently over, but he still had to wait until the next day to receive his new iron card. Only then would he be able to officially enter the dungeon. ''It''d be better if you stayed with them for now. We still need to divide the earnings from the monster parts between the four of you.'' ''Divide them? Even when I killed most of the monsters?'' Alexander chuckled. ''That''s how parties work. They might give you a bigger cut since you did most of the work, but first, you need to sell the parts and that requires you to return to the guild. Just tag along with them for now, they will probably do that first.'' Just as Alexander finished his sentence, the temporary party leader brought up the issue. "How about we head back to the guild and sell those monster parts first?" "Oh, good idea, leader!" Odelette chimed in, which surprised their temporary leader. "Leader?" Norkas responded in a flustered tone at Odelette''s casual title for him. Layla on the other hand just chuckled while Rusty remained silent. The three quickly realized their companion, Albert, was the strong, silent type and didn''t push him for conversation. That didn''t stop them from mentioning him occasionally, to which he responded with as few words as possible. Eventually, the group arrived at the guild building where they were greeted by loud shouting coming from inside. "Doesn''t it feel more rowdy than usual?" Layla inquired as their group moved in through the guild entrance. Inside they could see a small group of people arguing with the guild receptionist wearing large glasses. The woman seemed in distress but she was being protected by some adventurers as well. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "There is something not right about that test of yours, how did my brother get injured this bad?" "Please sir, calm down, accidents happen, even during the rank up tests¡­" Rusty and the others paused as they entered the guild hall, taking in the scene of commotion before them. An armor-wearing middle-aged man with a deep scowl was standing at the counter, pointing accusingly at the guild receptionist. His voice carried across the hall as he gestured toward the limp form of another man being held up by a healer nearby. Blood-soaked bandages were wrapped around his left arm, that had been severed near his forearm. "You call this an accident? He went in for a simple rank-up test, and now he''s missing an arm! You''re telling me that''s normal?" The receptionist, clearly flustered, tried to respond calmly. "Sir, I understand your frustration, but the guild cannot guarantee complete safety in dungeons, even during tests. All participants are made aware of the risks¡­" "My brother didn''t sign up to get ambushed by monsters that shouldn''t even be in that part of the dungeon!" The man cut her off, fury etched on his face and his group continued to listen. "So it wasn''t us that were the only us, maybe that''s why Garren looked so tired?" Norkas pondered while the others just nodded. They continued to listen to the conversation but eventually even the guild master appeared to take care of the issue. Once the burly man was there, the other adventurers went silent. It was clear to Rusty that the leader of the guild was powerful and without many more words being spoken, the group that had been complaining retreated. "It might be best to just get our coins and leave. I don''t like what''s happening here, the guild might be hiding something." The others nodded in agreement and headed to the guild''s trading counter to exchange the monster parts they had collected. Despite the unsettling events, the area remained bustling with activity. Unlike the main guild area, this section had counters protected by reinforced metal bars to ensure the safety of the guild workers inside. Rusty noticed that when it came to money, these adventurers were serious. This was where they received mission rewards or exchanged materials for cash. The exchange process here was specialized and more efficient than asking around at the main guild counters. There were three booths, and after waiting for about ten minutes, it was their turn to approach one. "Good evening. Are you here to turn in a mission contract, sell monster parts, or perhaps some equipment?" The guild bought a wide range of items from adventurers, including weapons and armor found within dungeons, though the deals were usually less favorable than going directly to a blacksmith. It was a convenient way to offload unused items quickly, even if it meant accepting a five to ten percent lower price. Most adventurers preferred the speed and ease of this process over spending half the day haggling with merchants. "We want to sell lizardman parts." "Of course, please place the items on the special holding tray there." Rusty wasn''t familiar with this process and continued to watch as a large shelf emerged from under the counter. It resembled a sizable box, slightly over one meter wide and with a similar depth. Using his mana sense, Rusty quickly realized that this was a magical item, much like the spatial satchel he had discovered in the dungeon. His suspicions were soon confirmed. His party members began retrieving the monster parts they had collected, distributing them among themselves. Even Rusty had some lizardmen tongues and claws stored in his bag. One by one, they placed the parts into the box, which seemed to have no bottom as the items vanished into it. "Ugh, it stinks¡­" Odelette commented as they finally deposited all the bloodied monster parts. They hadn''t had time to properly dislodge them, so instead of just taking the claws, they had cut off the lizardmen''s limbs near their hands and feet. This didn''t seem to bother the clerk behind the counter, who remained unphased for some reason. Rusty could only attribute this to the magical barrier he could sense, thanks to his mana sense. Once all the monster parts were deposited into the magical holding tray, the guild clerk gestured for a brief pause. She tapped a glowing rune embedded in her desk, causing a soft hum to fill the air. It took a few minutes, but eventually, a scroll emerged from a slot beside her. It detailed the quantity of materials submitted along with other relevant information. "Let''s see¡­ this will amount to¡­ one gold coin and four silver coins." "Not even two gold coins? Are you sure you got the right amount?" Odelette frowned after hearing the meager amount that they were getting. They still had to split the money between four people which would leave her with not that much. "Most of the parts are damaged and will require our staff to process them again. If they were in better condition I could offer you a higher price, but in their current state, this is the best we can offer." The clerk explained politely, her voice flat and unyielding. Odelette sighed in frustration but didn''t press further. They had little choice in the matter if they wanted to offload the monster parts quickly. It was possible to receive more if they picked out the claws and other parts that were profitable but none of them had the time or skills. To Rusty, this was quite an annoyance. His current quest was to earn more money, and gaining just a few silver coins wouldn''t help him much. ''This might be more difficult than I expected. What monsters bring in the most gold?'' While his party members were busy talking to the guild clerk, Rusty took a moment to look around. The answer to his question was right in front of his metallic visor. A nearby noticeboard held all the information he needed, divided into several sections that listed the most desirable items and their prices. The names of the monsters and items didn''t tell him much, but fortunately, his guide was with him. ''Alexander, can you remember those before we leave?'' ''Uh¡­ it might be better to ask Aburdon instead. I don''t think I can take all of this in with just a few glances.'' Rusty felt a bit disappointed but reminded himself that both his guides had their strengths and weaknesses. Aburdon was knowledgeable in the arcane arts and often lingered in the Soul Forge library, likely possessing a far better memory than Alexander. He could probably absorb information much quicker. Alexander, on the other hand, had been a hero and a warrior which meant he would probably be better at guiding him towards those monsters or telling him how he should act like a human. As the group finished their exchange, Rusty silently mulled over the disappointing earnings. One gold coin and four silver pieces barely made a dent in his goal to amass enough money to free Gleam. He needed a plan that went beyond scraping by on lizardmen parts. With the list in front of him, he had a new strategy. First thing in the morning, he''d get his card replaced and have Aburdon memorize all the necessary information. Then, it would finally be time to scour the iron-ranked maze. This was his best chance to make real progress. "Well then, how about we give Albert 5 silver coins and each of us keeps three each?" Once they had gotten all the money, the party moved over to one of the free guild tables. There Norkas surprisingly presented a plan of giving Rusty most of the money, something he didn''t expect. He thought that all of these adventurers were far too greedy to share their resources. "Think that''s fair!" Layla nodded with confirmation and Odelette did the same. "Yeah, we wouldn''t be alive if it wasn''t for him, he also took care of most of the lizardmen!" Rusty just nodded; earning half a gold coin was still good enough for his efforts. Now that he had his money and had added it to the coins he''d earned from selling metals, it was time to leave. However, before he could stand up, the others started talking again. "Now then, on to other things. Can I make a proposition?" Their temporary leader spoke up, and everyone turned to listen. "I think we did well in the dungeon. What if we formed an official party?" Odelette chimed in, clearly liking the idea. "Oh, that''s not a bad idea! We just need one more fighter at the front to help Albert, and we''ll take over that dungeon in no time!" "Sorry, but... I already have other plans." Layla said, declining before Rusty could give his own thoughts. "That''s a shame, but we could still form a party with the three of us," the leader suggested. "Ah... sorry, but I also have other plans." Rusty said, mirroring Layla''s response before Norkas could continue. He had realized that working with others had its benefits, but also its downsides. While the group provided safety, it meant fewer experience points for him and the need to share resources and money. This was for the best. Norkas blinked in surprise at Rusty''s refusal. He had been so sure that everyone would be on board. A flash of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly recovered and smiled. "I see. Well, if you ever change your mind, don''t be a stranger." Odelette pouted, which made Layla feel a bit guilty about the situation. Everyone had their own reasons for becoming adventurers and their own ways of doing things. With that, the temporary party was officially dissolved, and their paths would now diverge. However, perhaps in the future, their journeys would cross once again. Chapter 76 – Back To The Grind. "Finally... What took you so long? Were you really having more fun with that idiot hero than with your own demon king?""He was just better suited to help me interact with the adventurers, now that the test is over, I don''t need him as much." Rusty replied to Aburdon, whom he had finally summoned after returning to his empty inn room. The party had already disbanded, leaving him alone once more. Aburdon, the demon king bound to Rusty, scoffed at the response, his pride clearly wounded by the idea of being less useful than Alexander, the hero. The black orb of light that represented the demon king hovered above Rusty''s head, as though trying to assert its superiority as a companion. Despite his smugness, Aburdon knew he couldn''t refuse an order from his master. Initially, Rusty had wanted both of them to be summoned at the same time as three heads, after all, seemed better than one or two. But the two bickered continuously, like an old married couple, and only caused more problems. It was easier to summon them one at a time. Now that Rusty was becoming more accustomed to the adventurer''s life, it was fine to let Alexander rest for a while. "Next time, wouldn''t it be better to just take all the money for yourself? They would''ve let you pass the test if you gave them the badges, wouldn''t they?" "I doubt it. Working as a team was part of the test. It was better not to push my luck." "Hoh?" Rusty responded, aware that Aburdon wasn''t being completely honest. He had already figured out that both of his guides had their own agendas. The demon king often urged him to kill, betray, and plunder - strategies that could lead to faster progress, but with much higher risks. Alexander, on the other hand, advocated for teamwork, discipline, and a slow but steady progress. The hero also had a soft spot for humans, encouraging Rusty to spare them, even when doing so could hinder his quest to save Gleam. "If you continue down this path, you''ll just be crawling along at a snail''s pace. If you wish to save your friend, wouldn''t it be better to use everything at your disposal?" "What do you mean?" Aburdon floated closer as if trying to whisper into Rusty''s ear. "You''ve already encountered adventurers, seen how they operate. Even during the test, you saw them take treasure and monster parts, didn''t you?" "Yes, that''s right. What are you getting at?" "Why don''t you just steal everything from them? Here''s the plan: first, we buy a detailed map of that maze. I bet they''ve got one that marks all the best spots." "Best spots for what?" "For an ambush, of course, my dear Rusty!" "An ambush? You want me to kill them?" Rusty wasn''t sure how to feel about this suggestion. The adventurers were technically his enemies, but at the same time, they could become allies. As long as he maintained his identity as Albert, they''d treat him as one of their own and even offer help. "Well, if you want to be a goody-two-shoes like that stick-in-the-mud Alexander, you don''t have to kill them. Just knock them out if you prefer. Once they''re out of the way, we grab their spatial bags and take all their loot! How''s that sound?" "Hmm..." Aburdon finally laid out the plan, and Rusty wasn''t completely opposed to it. After observing how things worked at the guild, he knew he could sell the extra monster parts without much trouble. "That doesn''t sound too bad. They''ll probably have some coins on them too. If I leave them alive, Alexander won''t have anything to complain about..." "Exactly! You could even use a place like that chamber with the sleeping mist. Once they''re asleep, you just grab their stuff and disappear!" Rusty mulled over Aburdon''s plan, recognizing its advantages. It wasn''t much different from what he''d done in the old dungeon, luring unsuspecting adventurers into traps and killing them for experience points wasn''t anything new. This wouldn''t be any different, and adventurers were practically walking loot boxes, just waiting to be opened. However, he knew Alexander would likely complain if the killings continued, and there was also the issue with the guild. If adventurers kept dying, the guild would eventually send an even stronger party to hunt him down, which was exactly what he wanted to avoid. It was smarter to play it safe and leave them alive for now, at least until the situation called for more drastic measures. "I''ll think about it, but first we''ll go to the guild and look through that board, will you be able to remember the monster names and prices?" "For my superior intellect, something like that is child''s play." "Good¡­" Rusty nodded and waited patiently, still bound by the rules of this place. His body, incapable of sleep, felt restless as he remained confined to the small room, with little to do besides listening to his guides bicker. At the crack of dawn, he gathered his belongings and headed back to the guild. Today, he had three tasks: first, to retrieve his iron card; then, to study the board for the most profitable monsters; and finally, to head into the dungeon and begin his exploration. Once inside, he had no intention of leaving for a while. This would likely be the last time he returned to the guild for at least a week. The auction day had not been announced just yet but he probably didn''t have much longer than two weeks to get a sizable amount of money. Even if he couldn''t come up with the required funds in time, he had no intention of giving up. If it came down to it, he would bloody his armor again without hesitation. As Rusty entered the guild, he noticed it was quieter than usual. The usual bustle was missing, and it seemed that none of the other participants from the rank-up trial had arrived yet. Alexander had mentioned something about adventurers celebrating with drinking and partying after accomplishing something noteworthy. Rusty wasn''t fully familiar with the customs yet, but he did notice a few adventurers passed out drunk in the corners, evidence of last night''s festivities. He approached the guild receptionist, who, to his surprise, was the same one who was arguing with some adventurers yesterday. "Ah, what can I do for you, sir?" The receptionist stifled a yawn, covering her mouth with one hand. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "I''m here to collect my iron adventurer card." Rusty replied, keeping his voice steady and low, trying to act as natural as possible.The receptionist blinked a few times, clearly still groggy from the previous night''s events. She quickly straightened up and began sifting through paperwork on her desk. "Of course. Could I have your old adventurer card?" "Here." Rusty had his card ready and handed it over. The woman took it and grabbed a pre-prepared list from the side. She scanned through the names, eventually confirming that "Albert the adventurer" was on the list. Then, she reached for a stack of new cards. The stack was sizable, though Rusty noted it seemed smaller than the number of people who had participated in the trial. She flipped through the cards, stopping halfway to pull out Rusty''s new one. His old card had a copper tint, but this one gleamed with iron. The back bore the Adventurers Guild insignia, while the front displayed his name, rank, and the details of where and when the card was issued. Rusty accepted the card, glancing briefly at the rank now etched into the metal. His mind was already wandering as the significance of this upgrade hit him. With this, he could finally return to his main mission. "¡­ Remember, if you lose this card, we can remake it, but there will be a fee¡­" The woman continued, but Rusty had already mentally checked out. He turned on his metallic heel, cutting her off mid-sentence. He was tired of playing along with these adventurers, tired of pretending to care about their customs. The mummified body inside the armor might have felt lighter, but it was still uncomfortable. Once he was back in the dungeon, he could finally enjoy his freedom again. "Thank you, and goodbye." "Ah... Have a nice day, sir." The receptionist muttered, watching as he walked away. She placed his old card aside and resumed her work, her curiosity lingering on the odd adventurer for just a moment longer. She watched as Rusty walked toward the exit, only to stop suddenly and turn around with urgency. His pace quickened as he charged back toward her, catching her off guard. "Um¡­ was there something more?" She asked, her glasses almost falling off her nose as she flinched. "Yes¡­ Do you happen to have maps for the Iron-ranked dungeon?" "For the Dungeon of the Maze? Absolutely! We have the newest and most updated maps with all the pointers an Iron adventurer would ever need!" She quickly replied with enthusiasm like an experienced merchant. Rusty almost forgot the most crucial part of his preparation - the map. He needed it, and not only it as Aburdon had to memorize the creatures and treasures listed on the guild board. The map of the Maze Dungeon had three levels, each requiring its own corresponding map. The first level cost one silver coin, but the second and third were pricier. Still, Rusty knew this was a necessary investment. Going in blind was too risky. Without something to help him orient himself, the maze would live up to its name, and he could easily become lost in its winding corridors. He fished out one silver coin from his satchel and deposited it down on the counter. The woman smiled at him and the trade had been made. "Will this be all or would you perhaps be interested in other maps? Or perhaps some supplies?" "No, this is enough¡­" Rusty retreated once again, this time heading toward the side room where he had received his coins the day before. The room was mostly empty now, though a few adventurers were still turning in items for profit. Without engaging anyone, Rusty quietly approached the board displaying various numbers and information on monsters and rewards. Aburdon, hidden inside Rusty''s armor, floated near his visor and began scanning the board. As ordered, he quickly processed the information. Rusty barely had to wait as Aburdon''s ability to memorize things was almost instant. With the essential data now stored in Aburdon''s mind, Rusty felt more confident about his upcoming journey into the dungeon. He was ready to head back into the depths and truly explore it for profit. The main mission board at the guild displayed a variety of requests from different people. From what he understood, if he wanted to accept a quest, he would need to take the request form from the board and hand it to the receptionist. Many of the missions involved leaving the city to act as a bodyguard or some type of guard in other towns. However, the ones that interested him most were the requests for monster materials. These missions had a time limit and could potentially earn him more money, though they didn''t always guarantee a reward. Some of the missions couldn''t be reserved in advance. The first person to return with the required items would receive the reward. It was a risky move to focus on certain requests but thanks to Aburdon''s memorisation skills, he could later decide on the most worthwhile ones. Once he was done looking through all of the information, it was finally time to leave. His pace increased, the crowds of people still not formed which allowed him to arrive at the exit to the city quite fast. The journey to the dungeon was uneventful, with a few adventurers trailing behind while others returned from their own missions. The scenery grew familiar, and after flashing his new iron-rank card to the guards, he continued inside. ''It feels similar, yet somehow different...'' Rusty had returned to the dungeon, unnoticed by the other adventurers who paid little attention to the lone iron-rank fighter. The walls were smooth as before, offering no cover from view. If he intended to ambush other adventurers, it certainly wouldn''t be in one of these corridors, where there was nothing to hide behind. ''Can you really do it?'' sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Of course, I am the demon lord!'' ''So, where should I go next?'' ''That depends what are you looking for, my dear rusty? Rare monsters? Perhaps boobytrapped rooms to lead those pesky adventurers in? Or maybe we should just skip to the first area boss?'' Rusty held onto the map while letting Aburdon absorb the details. Unfortunately, he wasn''t the fastest reader, but he could at least understand the symbols. This dungeon was different from the one he was used to. One major difference was that every level was a maze, and another was that each one was guarded by a boss monster, similar to the one he had faced on the tenth floor. ''Alexander mentioned that these bosses are regularly killed by adventurers, so for now, let''s just focus on finding some regular monsters to hunt, something above those Lizardmen, true E ranks.'' ''I see you''re being daring today Rusty. If I''m correct¡­ and I am always correct, then there should be some orcs around the wester area, they should a good way to get that metal heart pumping!'' ''But I don''t have a heart?'' ''It''s just a way of speaking my dear Rusty, try to keep up~'' ''...'' He didn''t appreciate the mocking tone, but lacking human sensitivities so he wasn''t too bothered by it. Soon, Rusty was navigating the dungeon corridors, guided by Aburdon, who directed him at every turn. It was as if he had a natural radar, always aware of his position without the need to constantly check the map. The plan was in motion, and Rusty couldn''t wait to shed his current disguise. As soon as he entered the dungeon, he had used the loadout feature to remove Albert''s body from within his armor, instantly feeling much lighter. However, he couldn''t yet return to his original monster form. Too many adventurers were still roaming the tunnels, a problem that was quickly becoming a headache. He encountered a few lone lizardmen along the way and also a variant of some from his old dungeon. Some skeletons blocked his way, their bones obsidian in color and their movements much quicker then the ones he was familiar with. Classification: Obsidian Skeleton Soldier L3 E- Type: Undead Description: An evolved version of a skeleton monster, their black bones are much more resistant to shattering when compared to their lesser evolved forms. The description had been accurate, but just like before, with the help of his elemental discharge skill, the creatures quickly turned to dust. Unfortunately, there weren''t many of them here - certainly not enough to farm experience points and grow stronger. Their bones or the powder they turned into weren''t highly valued, but even a few copper coins were worth taking, so he collected everything he could. ''Don''t worry, Gleam, I''ll save you one way or another...'' With his path laid out before him, he ventured deeper into the illuminated corridors. Although the adventurers posed a threat to his life, soon enough he would receive a very helpful skill that would allow him to resume his old tactics. Chapter 77 – Detection. Several obsidian skeletons charged at a large person wearing iron armor in a well-lit corridor. His movements were swift as he sidestepped the first skeleton''s swing, bringing his mace down on its exposed spine. The obsidian bones cracked but didn''t shatter immediately. The sword hummed with a faint glow, a trace of light elemental energy coursing through it. With a quick twist, it was swung upwards now cutting through the black bones like butter.The two skeletons advanced, their jagged iron weapons raised in unison. Their opponent didn''t retreat; instead, as one of the bladed weapons swung down, he caught it with his metal gauntlet. His sword thrust forward, piercing the monster''s skull in a single, decisive blow. The third monster didn''t fare too well, soon having his skull exploded by one strong radiant punch. ''Not bad, Rusty. Your control over the light has gotten better but remember, not all monsters are weak to it, the light won''t work on the Orcs nor on the Lizardmen, the darkness on the other hand¡­'' Rusty looked down at the bones on the ground. He had already figured out that it was more lucrative to not turn these bones into dust. The purifying energies of his light skill would cleanse the evil undead energies from the bones, rendering them worthless to anyone who was trying to use them for things like alchemy or crafting. At least that was what Aburdon claimed as he was explaining how his light worked on the monsters here. Once he defeated these three, his system gave him a notification of him gaining a new level and also a new skill. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L3 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 242/242 Magic Points [MP] 202/202 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 89 [ E ] Agility 65 [ E ] Dexterity 64 [ E ] Constitution 92 [ E ] Intelligence 70 [ E ] Wisdom 72 [ E ] Willpower 71 [ E ] Durability D Detect Life L1 Passive Skill When focusing it becomes possible to detect living creatures within a certain radius. The range and clarity improve with each level. Rusty glanced at the new skill notification, his gauntleted hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The skill, Detect Life, didn''t seem particularly useful for navigating the maze-like dungeon, but it could prove helpful for his future plans. Almost instantly, Aburdon, who had a direct view of Rusty''s status screen, chimed in. "This is quite useful, Rusty! It might be just what we needed for my¡­ I mean our plan to work~" "Oh? How so?" Rusty asked, his curiosity piqued. "Why don''t you try activating it first and see?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nodding, Rusty activated the skill while picking up the shattered black bones scattered around him. As soon as he did, a strange sensation washed over him. He could sense something behind one of the walls - a presence, moving around and emitting a faint pulse. From one of the nearby corridors, he detected three more of those pulses approaching, causing him to flinch. Even before their footsteps reached his ears, the skill gave him a clear picture of the approaching group of adventurers. Quickly, he activated one of his pre-set loadouts. To fight the skeletons, he had swapped his usual gauntlets for his twilight variant. The iron suit he was required to wear as an adventurer wasn''t his best. It couldn''t harness his elemental skill either, but switching out his gauntlets was a temporary fix and much easier to explain to anyone he might encounter. Most, if not all, adventurers likely wouldn''t notice that the gauntlets belonged to a living armor. Even if they did, they''d likely assume he was just an adventurer wearing monster gauntlets, not suspecting that he was a monster himself. "Ah, a lone adventurer?" From around the corner, three figures emerged: two men clad in heavy armor and an archer dressed in lighter leather gear. Rusty studied them for a moment, recognizing their setup immediately. Now that he was familiar with how adventurers typically operated, he knew this wasn''t an ideal party composition. They only had an archer to scout for traps and hidden threats, while the other two were simple frontline fighters. There was no mage for support, no healer, and no proper trap expert. It became clear that these adventurers weren''t here for a serious mission. They were likely just farming materials from the dungeon''s upper layers, avoiding the more dangerous depths. Still, even a casual group could become a problem if they realized what Rusty truly was. He remained alert, carefully gauging their movements while picking up the bones on the ground. ''Be careful, Rusty. There are no laws in these dungeons, and people go missing all the time. Never trust anyone when they outnumber you and especially those of the many races¡­" Aburdon warned, his voice firm in Rusty''s mind. As the group drew nearer, he remained silent, unable to speak without Albert''s body inside the armor. He straightened himself out, his frame being wider and taller than most regular human men. In his left hand, he gripped a sturdy kite shield, while his right hand held a longsword. The stance was unmistakable and ready for combat. The approaching adventurers instantly recognized the posture and tried to diffuse the tension. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "Friend, we''re just passing through. No need to worry..." One of the men spoke, his voice calm but cautious. ''Don''t trust them, Rusty.'' Aburdon''s voice rang out again. ''Look at their hands. Those two fighters are ready to draw their swords. Be prepared for anything!'' Rusty''s eyes quickly scanned their movements. The archers'' posture was relaxed, but the two armored men had subtly shifted, their hands resting too close to their weapons. Aburdon''s warnings were precise and constant, much different from Alexander''s. The demon king was ever watchful, always pointing out threats to Rusty''s life or how people might deceive him, and read to strike when he was distracted. Nevertheless, Rusty wasn''t looking for trouble, at least not yet. This dungeon was different from the other he had explored. It lacked the irregular corridors and small crevices where he could hide or stow his helmet in a hole to disappear from sight. If he began openly attacking people here, the chances of being discovered were far too high. His new Detect Life skill was already alerting him to a presence behind the nearby wall, someone who could potentially hear the battle and come looking for trouble. It was better, for now, to let the adventurers pass while keeping his guard up. Rusty subtly adjusted his stance, giving them enough room to walk by without seeming too confrontational. "... These new adventurers are getting ruder every day," One of the men muttered as they passed. "Hmph¡­" The other grunted as if to agree. Rusty kept silent, watching them carefully as they moved on. Once they were at a safer distance, their grumbling voices carried back to him, but he stayed focused, alert for any signs of a double-back or sudden attack. Letting them pass was the smart move for now, but he remained ready for anything. ''Letting them go, are you? They were sizing you up, Rusty. You should''ve struck first, taken their gear, and disappeared. They could''ve been loaded with valuables! It''s because of that fool Alexander that you are slowly losing your ways of a monster but don''t worry, if you stick with me, will get you right back on track!'' Aburdon scoffed at the decision to let the adventurers pass, but from Rusty''s perspective, the risk was too great. He didn''t want to be hunted by adventurers again. If he were to take resources from them, he''d do it smartly. Now that he had the life detection skill, targeting smaller parties like this one would be easier, but for now, he wanted to grind the normal way. ''Someone''s behind this wall. It could have been dangerous.'' ''That wall? Don''t worry. Even if they heard you, there''s no path leading to this corridor. Next time, just ask!'' ''Umm¡­ sure? How about you tell me where those orcs are first?'' Rusty felt like Aburdon was pushing him to take on more than was safe. It was true the demon now knew the dungeon''s layout, and asking him would have probably eased Rusty''s mind. Still, he was trying to get used to this place, and murdering adventurers right away felt like a bad idea. First he needed to find himself a challenge as these black skeletons weren''t much of a money maker. The orcs and their body parts sold for three times as much and he would probably also be able to take their items for restructuring. Soon he was on his way and with the life detection skill he found himself detecting some movement not far from his location. ''An area with orcs should be nearby, let us hope it hasn''t been cleared out yet.'' After getting into this dungeon Rusty realized that it wasn''t that easy to earn money. All adventures were competing for limited resources. The dungeon only had a limited amount of monsters and treasures inside. The trio that he passed were probably returning back to the city as night had already drawn close. His biggest advantage over these fleshy people was that he didn''t require sleep. Once they were slumbering or having parties, this place would belong to him. Rusty moved swiftly through the winding corridors, led by Aburdon''s almost flawless memory of the dungeon''s mapped layout. His new Detect Life skill pulsed gently in the back of his mind, alerting him to the presence of both adventurers and monsters nearby. Eventually he appeared at a clearing, where an encampment of orcs was waiting for him. Classification: Lesser Dungeon Orc E L3 Type: Humanoid Description: A weaker subspecies of orc, commonly found mostly in dungeons. While lacking the intelligence of more evolved orcs, they are formidable in packs. Just as expected, he found the monster that he was looking for. It was around his height, green and muscular, with jagged tusks protruding from its lower jaw. There were just two of them, probably due to the fact that this place had been cleared out by someone else. Rusty could see scratches on the walls and holes in the ground that were in the process of mending themselves. With his skill to detect mana, it was quite obvious how the dungeon was healing itself. Despite their weaker classification as ''Lesser Dungeon Orcs'' Rusty knew they would still pose a challenge if not handled properly. They were E-rank monsters just like him and considered something that shouldn''t be handled alone. However, that was by adventurer standards and he was not the average adventurer. With the help of his new skill, he knew that no one was watching and now he could finally return to his original form. ''That''s better¡­'' Rusty activated the first loadout that turned him into his original body. Gone was the regular iron shell, replaced by the more grayish-dark twilight metal he had become used to. He instantly felt an increase in mobility, power, and durability. The orcs snorted and muttered in their guttural language, unaware of his presence. This would be his first true test in this dungeon, and it was time to put both his body to the test. Thus he prepared himself to charge forth but before he could, his guide protested. ''Wait Rusty, what do you think you are doing?'' ''Huh? I was just going to defeat them?'' ''Sure¡­ but why would you want to fight them together? There is no logical reason to do so! Listen here, your life is tied to my life, so it''s something very precious. Because if you die, then I will fade away into oblivion!'' Aburdon started ranting and he just listened. It was obvious that the demon lord only saw himself as the most important being and wanted to preserve his own existence at all costs. Rusty understood that, but he still found Aburdon''s constant scheming irritating. Even so, the advice he gave wasn''t always wrong. ''So, what do you suggest? Should I just lure them out?'' ''Precisely, Divide and conquer, my dear Rusty. Why face two when you can deal with them one at a time? Orcs are strong but not particularly smart. We can lure one away and dispatch it quickly. Once it''s gone, the other one will be easy prey.'' Rusty sighed inwardly but agreed. Despite his instincts telling him to charge headlong into battle, it would be smarter to follow Aburdon''s plan. He just had been itching for a proper fight but this was not the time for it. Rusty positioned himself at a bend in the corridor, where the walls provided decent cover. He then picked up two small rocks, throwing one in the direction of his target and the other in the opposite direction. The orc grunted in surprise, turning its head to locate the source of the disturbance. Its beady eyes locked onto the small stone that had just bounced off its shoulder, and without hesitation, it let out a low, guttural growl. It barked something incomprehensible to the other orc before trudging forward to investigate the source of the noise. The other orc, on the other hand, followed the sounds of the rocks bouncing down the opposite corridor, its heavy footsteps growing fainter as it distanced itself. Rusty remained perfectly still, watching the first orc approach his hiding spot, oblivious to the trap it was walking into. ''Patience, Rusty¡­ Wait until it''s just close enough¡­'' Aburdon whispered as if incapable of shutting up for even one minute. The orc''s muscular frame loomed closer, its crude axe dragging along the dungeon floor, sparks flying as metal scraped against stone. Rusty felt the tension building in his metallic limbs, his fingers gripping his weapon as he got ready to strike. Then, just as the orc was about to pass his cover, Rusty exploded into motion. He used the usual tactics, shield bash to the chest and then a follow-up attack with his sword. The orc grunted, stumbling back but quickly regaining its footing, raising its axe high for a retaliatory swing. Rusty, however, was faster. His sword thrust forward lodging itself into the monster''s shoulder and drawing blood. The orc roared in pain as Rusty''s sword lodged deep into its shoulder, dark crimson blood splattering across the dungeon floor. Despite its wounds, the creature was relentless, swinging its heavy axe in a wild arc, aiming to cleave Rusty in half. But Rusty, with his enhanced stats from his twilight metal form, easily sidestepped the attack. The axe slammed into the stone wall, lodging itself into it and becoming stuck. Rusty seized the opportunity and lunged forward. His blade glowed red as he targeted the monster''s nape. The monster''s head flew threw the air and the rest of its body slumped forward as it was easily dispatched. One was defeated by another and still remained and was charging right at him. This was a great opportunity to test if his darkness affected the fleshy variants of these monsters just as Aburdon claimed. Dark energy erupted from his body, surging toward the approaching orc. The creature immediately began to tremble, as if struck by poison. The reaction was similar to how humans had reacted earlier, but not as intense. Despite the pain, the orc remained on its feet, pushing forward, relying on brute strength to resist. ''This is interesting¡­'' In a way, he was pleased that his opponent wasn''t just another training dummy. Though his goal was to make money, the thrill of battle still burned within him, and these orcs made for fascinating sparring partners. Chapter 78 – Desynthesis. ''That was fun, but are you sure these will sell for anything? Why would anyone want this?''Rusty asked, his confusion apparent in his tone. ''Don''t ask silly questions, Rusty,'' Aburdon replied, with a somewhat awkward tone. "There are some things kids like you shouldn''t be thinking about. Just know it was on the board and it''s a component for a potion that people use... for various reasons, that you don''t need to know." Rusty glanced at the defeated Orc lying before him, its body already cut in several places. The tusks fetched a decent price, as did the ears and eyes. Aburdon had also instructed him to remove some of the inner organs, like the liver and heart. Taking the whole body would lower the value of the loot. But there was one part in particular that was the most valuable - a set of dangling orbs between the monster''s legs that looked almost comical. Rusty stared at the Orc''s body, particularly at the orbs Aburdon had mentioned. A strange feeling washed over him - a mix of amusement and disgust. Some of Aburdon''s and Alexander''s memories still lingered in his mind, stirring up those emotions. Despite the oddity of the situation, it was valuable loot. After a brief stretch and a quick nick with his dagger, he dislodged the orbs, leaving the other protruding appendage behind. ''Are you sure this is the most valuable part? It''s certainly... big, but the consistency is strange.'' ''Rusty... stop playing with the Orc''s ''parts'' and put them away! Out of my sight, this instant!'' Aburdon''s voice was sharp, clearly appalled by Rusty''s casual handling of the squishy organ. To Rusty, still new to the world of monster parts, this was an unfamiliar experience. As living armor, he''d never considered examining trophies after battle. However, the loot was precious and he had defeated two orcs already but afterward, he was made aware of one problem. ''This feels... inefficient¡­'' Rusty muttered to himself. He wasn''t particularly skilled at harvesting these parts. Back when he was in the small party of four adventurers, the thief or one of the archers always handled this task. His job was simply to watch their backs while they worked. They weren''t much better at it than he was, but at least he could focus on what he was good at - killing monsters. ''How much money will I lose if I don''t do this?'' ''You want to leave the processing of the monster materials to the guild? If you do that, we''ll lose about twenty to thirty percent of the money¡­ I''m not sure if that''s the best idea.'' If Rusty had a face he would be frowning. He didn''t like the idea of losing that much money, but taking time to harvest parts also meant fewer creatures to hunt, which cost him coins too. If each unprocessed body lost him twenty or thirty percent, he''d just have to hunt more to make up for it. Another option was to harvest the parts later, once he was back at the inn. For now, he decided to stuff the other Orc''s body into his storage space, along with the organs he''d already cut out. ''I''ll just deal with this later¡­'' He thought. Then, something strange happened. His inventory system made a distinction between the unprocessed Orc corpse and the one he had cut up. It reminded him of how he could store living armor parts and exchange them for bronze ingots. Apparently, the same applied to monster bodies and parts. With just a few well-placed clicks, his inventory system could dismantle the monster bodies he had stored, separating them into valuable components.
The Lesser Dungeon Orc remains will be lost during the process of desynthesis, do you wish to continue?
''It''s called desynthesis?'' At first, Rusty hesitated, but there was no reason to hold back. Once the process began, the system flawlessly dissected the Orc''s corpse into all the important parts and even some he had avoided due to time constraints. Every valuable piece was neatly extracted and placed back in his storage in a stack. The rest of the body was consumed in the process, but it didn''t matter; the processed organs were what counted. ''Neat!'' Rusty thought, cheering at his newfound discovery. This would make hunting and harvesting so much easier. Aburdon, however, was shocked at the system. ''What is this strange system? How can it do so much? That hero won''t explain anything to me either!'' To Aburdon, the former demon lord, the world''s system had always been nothing more than a record-keeping tool, tracking his accomplishments and skills. There was no such thing as a Soul Forge, and certainly, it didn''t automatically perform tasks like processing bodies into valuable parts. Even spatial magic required effort, and most magical items couldn''t perfectly disassemble materials into ingots or organs. Where was this process taking place, was there a hidden pocket dimension where it was processed by some type of being and then generated here? It didn''t make any sense to him, someone who had lived for hundreds of years and seen it all. ''This is going to save so much time, Now I can focus more on hunting instead of harvesting! and the process has already started!'' Rusty thought with excitement as he glanced around the chamber. It was a small encampment of E-rank Orcs. According to the guild''s information, there should have been up to ten Orcs here, but so far, he''d only encountered two. The area was a popular target for adventurers and was periodically cleared out. Normally, with adventurers regularly around, the monsters wouldn''t respawn right away, allowing the area time to regenerate. But Rusty wasn''t human - he was a living armor monster. Unlike other adventurers, he could stay here indefinitely, allowing the creatures to respawn without needing to move on to a different location. It made hunting much easier, as for a few seconds after they materialized, the monsters remained stationary. Even now, Rusty moved silently behind one of the green-skinned creatures as it began to form, materializing right before his eyes. Thanks to his Mana Sense skill, he could clearly see the process in detail. First, pale mana particles gathered from the ground, swirling and twisting into the rough outline of an Orc. The body took shape first, followed by the limbs, and finally the head, complete with tusks and scars that added to its menacing appearance. Rusty watched in fascination as the creature solidified, completely unaware of his presence. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The moment the Orc finished materializing, Rusty seized the opportunity. With deadly precision, he plunged his blade into the creature''s head before it had a chance to react. It gurgled, blood spilling from its mouth along with the iron blade that had pierced through its skull. Rusty quickly yanked the sword out, being careful not to damage the valuable eyes and tusks. The Orc collapsed to the ground, its body disintegrating into mana particles as it perished. ''This will be easy~'' This cycle would repeat itself. The dungeon was a machine that created monsters endlessly, and Rusty had become part of that machine, exploiting it for his gain. His system''s new abilities meant he could hunt with brutal efficiency, maximizing his profit while minimizing risk. The only downside was that the dungeon''s regeneration took time, so Rusty would need to remain patient between hunts. "Quite a way to gather materials, but... we can do better than this, can''t we, Rusty?" Aburdon''s voice broke the silence. Rusty had spent several hours farming the Orcs. One appeared every ten minutes, leaving him with nothing to do for most of the time. Though his new system feature had made the process more efficient, it still wasn''t optimal. Killing only six or seven Orcs an hour, while safe, wasn''t going to cut it for long-term profit. What Aburdon said was true as it was time to move on and find more lucrative methods of earning money. "You''re probably right. What do you think I should do?" Rusty asked, knowing Aburdon had been scheming for a while and had disclosed parts of the plan previously. Aburdon had already crafted a plan for targeting adventurers, especially while they slept, and now seemed like the perfect time to put it into action. "We already learned the best way to deal with adventurers during your little Iron-rank test." "Do you mean, the sleeping mist?" "Bravo, Rusty. You''re learning!" Aburdon replied, his tone smug as always. The plan was simple: use sleeping mist traps to put adventurers to sleep, then loot them off all their belongings. In this vast maze dungeon, there were several locations with traps already in place. With Aburdon''s keen navigation skills, all Rusty needed to do was move to these locations and wait for adventurers to arrive. Once they did, he could trigger the trap, let the mist do its work, and rob them blind while they slumbered. The plan felt simple yet effective. Adventurers who hunted orc monsters like him could be the real treasure in this dungeon. It didn''t take him long to arrive at one of these locations, which differed in several ways from the chamber he had visited with his previous adventuring group. Back then, someone had knocked down the substitute weight, an incident still on his mind, though ultimately irrelevant to a monster like him. ''This looks like a similar pressure plate trap. Why don''t we stick to the method they used? You should be able to trigger it from that corridor or we could use one of the shadows for cover if you have enough mana to remain hidden.'' Rusty nodded and glanced toward another passage. A small chest sat on top of the pressure plate, perhaps containing an accessory he could use later. Once the adventurers arrived, he could use his bow to knock it down. The walls were designed to close in once the trap was triggered. Blending with the shadows was also an option but it was better to use that skill as a backup plan when escaping. Now, all he had to do was wait for someone to show up, and in the meantime, he could pass the time by killing a few wandering monsters. Aburdon had chosen a spot where adventurers were sure to pass through, and they waited. Rusty used his free time to battle skeletons, lizardmen, and a new creature an oversized, flesh-eating bat. The bat was especially annoying, producing disorienting sound waves while clinging to the ceiling. It would swoop down to attack while he was preoccupied with other monsters and usually flee once he started firing arrows in its direction. Eventually, his life detection skill activated, signaling that his first victims were approaching. ''Here they come, Rusty. Stay perfectly still and take aim. Once all of them are inside, shoot the chest!'' Footsteps echoed in the distance as Rusty focused on the number of people approaching. His life detection skill was proving useful, covering a range of almost fifty meters. He could sense four people heading his way, and soon their voices filled the chamber. Three of them sounded female, with only one male among the group. "Hey, you''re sticking too close to Richter." "Richter just likes me more than you. That''s not my fault." "That''s not true, I''m his favorite. Isn''t that right?" "Girls, please, calm down. I love you all the same - how could I choose between you?" ''That''s a strange conversation¡­'' Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty thought, holding perfectly still with his bow and arrow ready. He could tell that two of the females were sticking unusually close to the male, with the third trailing slightly behind. While he was aware of some human courting rituals, having multiple people this close seemed like abnormal behavior to him. Rusty listened intently to the group''s banter. Though he found their conversation strange, he quickly dismissed it. It wasn''t his concern what these adventurers did in their free time or even during their hunts. His only objective now was to trigger the trap and loot them once the mist had done its work. He could feel the tension of the waiting game, his metallic fingers twitching, ready to release the arrow. The adventurers entered the room, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. They were probably aware of the pressure plate hidden beneath the chest, but that didn''t matter. As long as they stepped into the center of the chamber, his plan would still work. "Lilly, go grab the chest." "Why should I? You just want Richter all to yourself, don''t you?" The two girls began arguing, their attention fixated on Richter. Neither wanted to budge, which made Rusty wonder if they''d even move closer into the chamber. Fortunately, the third woman intervened to settle the matter. "Can you two be quiet? The monsters will hear you. Fine, I''ll do it... but I''m sharing the bed instead of you!" "Hey, that''s not fair!" "That''s cheating!" For some reason, their conversation was making Rusty angry. Memories that belonged to Alexander, the late hero and his life of chastity, stirred with rage as if something about the situation was deeply wrong. He couldn''t understand why, but the frustration was there, bubbling beneath the surface. Finally, the third woman stepped forward, and Rusty took aim. Just as she approached the pedestal to place a replacement weight, he released the arrow, knocking the chest down. "W-who did that?" "Huh?" The four adventurers, preoccupied with their flirting, were caught off guard. Before they could react, the walls began closing in, and the sleeping mist rose from the floor. Rusty could barely make out their gasps for air and frantic screams as the trap took hold. "That reminds me of the old days, The succubi never left me alone... Ah, it''s hard being popular." Aburdon made a few sly comments while Rusty just waited for the blocked door to open itself up again. As the chamber door slowly slid open, Rusty cautiously stepped forward, peering inside at the now unconscious adventurers. The sleeping mist had done its work perfectly. They lay sprawled on the ground, their weapons and gear scattered about. "Look at them, Rusty. Helpless, vulnerable, and brimming with valuable loot. These adventurers come into dungeons expecting danger from monsters, but they never expect someone like us to be lurking, always so gullible." His guide gloated while Rusty silently observed the scene. Two of the women lay unconscious, draped over the man - one of them had animal ears, while the other appeared to be fully human. The third, a pointy-eared elf, had collapsed in the middle of an attempted retreat, her body sprawled a short distance from the trio. Now, they were all there, defenseless and vulnerable - with no one capable of stopping his next move. Chapter 79 – The Iron Bandit. "Huh? Why is it so cold?"A man''s voice echoed in the large, open chamber. He clutched his head, trying to ease the pounding headache. His name was Richter, and just moments ago, he had been enjoying a regular trip into the maze dungeon with his three companions. It took him a second, but then he remembered - someone had triggered the trap, releasing the sleeping mist. "What?" His vision, initially blurry, sharpened, and he realized why he was so cold. His expensive armor was gone. Even his silk shirt was missing, leaving him stripped down to his underpants. The same fate had befallen his companions - three women, all missing their newly bought adventuring gear, left with nothing but their undergarments. Panic surged through Richter as he scanned the room, realizing the extent of what had happened. His beloved sword, the one he had saved up for months to buy, was gone. The enchanted rings he wore on his fingers were gone. Even his prized potion belt was missing. His heart pounded, his mind racing to comprehend how they had been so thoroughly robbed without waking up. "W-What happened?!" One of the women, Lilly, stirred awake, her fox-like ears twitching as she heard Richter''s voice. She, too, quickly realized her missing armor, her face turning pale. "Where''s all our stuff?" The other two adventurers, a human named Kara and an elf called Elara, began to rouse as well. Elara, usually the calm one, sat up slowly, a deep frown creasing her face. "We''ve been looted? They even took my boots?!" She glanced around the room, searching for any clues, but the stone chamber was empty aside from their discarded bags, a few torn pieces of clothing, and a small pile of crude weapons. All eyes turned to the pile. The items were crude, worthless, barely fit for use. It seemed that whoever had robbed them had left these behind out of pity. "Who did this? Do they expect me to use this rusty sword?" Richter staggered to his feet, anger boiling inside him. He sifted through the pile of crude weaponry and pulled out a rusted iron blade. Holding the sword high, his hand trembled with fury. The blade was chipped, dull, and barely held together at the hilt. It was a mockery - a pitiful replacement for the finely crafted weapon he had lost. His heart raced as he glanced back at his companions, all of them sharing the same stunned expression. "Whoever did this... they''re going to pay!" Richter shouted, nearly hurling the rusted sword to the ground in frustration. But with nothing else to arm himself with, it was the only weapon available. They were four unarmed adventurers, and even this broken sword was better than bare fists. "T-There''s something coming¡­ maybe we shouldn''t be shouting!" Lilly, the fox-eared woman, said, wrapping her arms around herself. Her ears twitched, picking up sounds of movement from one of the corridors. The maze was still teeming with monsters, and it became clear they needed to retreat. Without wasting any more time, the group hastily grabbed whatever crude weapons they could. As soon as they saw a Lizardmen emerge from the shadows, Richter barked the command. "Run, and don''t look back!" "Why did they have to take our boots¡­ this floor is so cold!" "Don''t talk, you''re bite your tongue!" "Ahhhhh!" ****** Unbeknownst to the group of adventurers, the person who had robbed them wasn''t that far away. Rusty stood in the distance in one of the empty corridors, his life detection skill informing him about the adventurers departing. "Bah, we should have just killed them." "If we kill them, then an investigation by the guild might be launched, Alexander said that the guild won''t investigate robberies as much as murders." Aburdon grumbled, not entirely satisfied with Rusty''s approach. While robbing adventurers of their gear was effective and avoided the unwanted attention that murder would bring, it still felt inefficient to him. Rusty, however, was pragmatic about the situation. Looting them and letting them go meant they''d likely survive, return to town, and replenish their supplies - making them future targets. "I wonder how much this will go for?" Rusty was looking at the display of his system with all the icons representing the loot he had gotten. The armor set that the person called Richter had was made from some kind of strange alloy. It wasn''t steel but something that condensed mana and also had strange magical words written over it. There were also many accessories, some that he had already equipped to exchange his old ones. "Probably not that much." "What do you mean?" Aburdon interrupted his thoughts as he answered his question. Then he quickly explained himself. "Those four if they survive will probably report everything to that guild or even the guards. The armor that one human was wearing is quite peculiar, it will get identified the moment you try to sell it to any merchant and that''s why I said, you should have just killed them!" "Are you sure?" "Of course!" "Isn''t there some way to sell it though?" "There is but¡­" Aburdon had a point but he also couldn''t keep his knowledge hidden away. Rusty already knew how to manage his words around this demon lord who liked to withhold information. The armor set he''d taken from Richter was unusual, and selling it could attract unwanted attention, but there were still ways of getting around that problem. "A thieves Guild should exist in that city." "A thieves Guild?" Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The glowing orb of black light hovered closer as Aburdon continued by explaining to Rusty what this guild was. "A Thieves Guild is an underground network of criminals who specialize in smuggling, fencing stolen goods, and performing jobs most people wouldn''t dare to touch. They''re like the adventurer''s guild, but for, well, the less savory types." For some reason, Rusty felt like Aburdon had some appreciation for this guild of thieves. It was an organization that lacked proper rules and was less honorable. Perhaps it reminded him of the way demons handled things by force and subterfuge. "They operate in the shadows, far away from the eyes of the law. If you want to get rid of that armor without anyone noticing, they''ll be your best bet." Rusty considered this. A Thieves Guild? He''d never dealt with criminals before or at least, not intentionally. The three thugs who had attacked him at the inn might have been members. He wasn''t sure what to make of it, but the loot adventurers carried could fetch a high price. They didn''t seem to carry much gold on them, likely storing it in the city''s banks for safekeeping while they ventured out. He''d heard that one could open an account with just an adventurer''s card, making it easy to secure their valuables. "How do I find this Thieves Guild?" Aburdon let out a low, sinister chuckle. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "In every major city, there are certain signs. You''ll need to keep an eye out for the subtle clues - symbols scratched into walls, strange patterns in the cobblestones. But the easiest way is through the black market. Find a merchant who deals in questionable goods, and they''ll likely be connected." Rusty nodded, mentally storing the information away. He later needed to consult Alexander about further information. He had gone through this city in his past and knew a few things, maybe even where this Thieves Guild was located. Getting this amount of gear from adventurers was great but without a place to sell, it would be pointless. "Let us continue then, lead me to the next sleeping chamber." "If you wish." The two vanished into the maze, continuing their quest to find more treasure. Rusty relentlessly fought off various monsters like Orcs and Lizardmen, while also setting traps for unsuspecting adventurers. Although he didn''t need sleep, Aburdon warned him not to overdo it. Rusty was playing the role of an adventurer, and some people might have taken note of his actions. If he stayed inside the maze for too long, it could raise suspicion. Nevertheless, his priority was still to rescue Gleam and then leave this place, so he decided to spend a few more days hunting before returning to the city. The date for the auction could be announced at any moment, and he still needed to check on that. "Excuse me." "Yes¡­ is there a problem?" Eventually Rusty had emerged from within the maze dungeon. He had spent close to five days roaming around the first floor, killing monsters and setting off sleep gas to rob the adventurers inside. Once he emerged he was approached by one of the city guards. "You seem to be still in possession of your goods, have you seen anyone suspicious inside of the dungeon?" "Suspicious? No, I have not¡­" Just like Aburdon had claimed, there was a downside in letting people live. The place seemed to be in an uproar after multiple people got robbed blind. Rusty replied quickly, his voice hollow and devoid of any nervousness. His metallic body was incapable of sweating, and his experience with adventurers had already grown so handling such a question was not a problem. "Very well. Just be cautious. Whoever''s behind these thefts is clever, using traps and tricks to avoid detection. If you hear anything or see anyone acting out of the ordinary, report it to us. They seem to target everything and everyone, we believe they should be in possession of a rather large spatial bag or backpack." The soldier nodded. Ordinary people didn''t have access to the kind of massive storage system Rusty had. They couldn''t just make things vanish into thin air. Instead, they had to stuff items into bags, and if the opening was smaller than the item''s size, it simply wouldn''t fit. Rusty, however, had taken everything - even large suits of armor that wouldn''t fit into a regular bag of holding. Without carrying anything that resembled such a bag, no one would suspect him as the potential perpetrator, something Aburdon had already explained to him. "I have not seen anyone like that, can I go now?" "Of course, Adventurer. Be on your way, and remember, report anything unusual." "I will¡­" The guard gave Rusty a final scrutinizing look before stepping aside, allowing him to pass through the checkpoint. Rusty walked while glancing around and saw a few complaining adventurers, some of his most recent victims. All of their belongings were inside of the system inventory and selling them back to the merchants would probably be unwise. It was better to first sell all the monster parts he had amassed and then search for that Thieves Guild Aburdon spoke about. "We wouldn''t be in this mess if you''d taken me instead Rusty!" "I don''t think there is a mess¡­ I still hunted a lot of monsters, just look at all those parts." The moment Rusty left the dungeon he replaced his demonic guide for the hero. Alexander gave him an earful about robbing the adventurers blind but he couldn''t deny the facts that he had earned more through this. Some of the adventurers even had monster parts which he could now sell to the guild for profit. "You need to get that bag ready, don''t even try using your special storage in the guild or when other people are looking." "I''ve been trying to but there were a lot¡­" Once he arrived in the city, the first thing he did was slip into a secluded alleyway. There, he retrieved one of his looted items: a much larger bag of holding. After ensuring no one was watching, he began depositing the desynthesized monster parts he had collected. A small dark hole appeared in the air as claws, eyeballs, and hearts tumbled into the bag. Opening his storage to transfer everything was draining, as it consumed a significant amount of SP. During his dungeon hunts, he had to keep some SP in reserve to swap out his loadout, but now he was free to use up everything. "That''s all of them. See, I told you that it was fine." "We will see, I just hope they won''t make a fuss." Alexander seemed unsettled by something, but Rusty didn''t have time to worry about it. Nearly five days had passed, marking almost a week since he arrived in this strange city. Gleam''s auction was set to take place in a week or maybe two, leaving him with little time to gather more money. Although he had earned a lot from the dungeon, he still needed more. After filling his bag to the brim, Rusty headed to the adventurer''s guild. This time, he didn''t need any guidance¡ªhe simply got in line and waited for his turn. Just like before, the guild worker pressed something to open a spatial box. That was his cue to take out his bag and hold it steady. Once he was in position, a small flood of monster parts began pouring out, drawing the attention of a few onlookers. Normally, processing monsters took time, so most adventurers just hacked off limbs to maximize what they could fit into their bags. But thanks to the system, Rusty was able to perfectly sort everything and even remove the blood, making the process remarkably clean. The guild clerk''s eyes opened wide as he saw the torrent of perfectly preserved parts. Soon the magical device responsible for counting the monster parts began whirring, calculating the value of the bounty Rusty had brought in. "W-Whoa! This is impressive!" The clerk exclaimed, his hands moving quickly to grab the money that Rusty was owed. After witnessing all the well-preserved parts coming out of that bag, he wasn''t even surprised by the high reward the magical device indicated. "You''ve really outdone yourself this time. This batch will net you quite a sum." Rusty felt a swell of pride at the praise but did not reply to the man. Instead, he noticed that some of the adventurers were looking at him in strange ways. He was given a large sack filled with coins that he promptly deposited into his spatial bag. ''Remember this well Rusty, it''s not good to show off at least not until you''ve made a name for yourself.'' ''I''ll keep that in mind.'' Soon, Rusty left the guild, his earnings having more than doubled. While this pace was promising, he wasn''t sure it would be enough to buy Gleam back at the auction. What he needed to do was gain access to the Thieves Guild and, more importantly, the black market. There, he could sell off the stolen goods he had acquired. However, he had no idea how to find it; his guides had been frustratingly vague in their descriptions, and Alexander wasn''t sure of its location either. He was a hero, not a thief, and while he could recognize the mark of the guild, he had no idea where it was situated. "Well, look who it is¡­" Luckily, he had gained some attention and a bit of notoriety. From the distance, a familiar voice called out to him and they weren''t alone¡­ Chapter 80 – Old Friends. Rusty turned his head toward the voice, his visor locking onto the person who had just spoken. A group of figures emerged from the shadows of a nearby alley. The one who had addressed him was a familiar-looking lanky man with a smirk plastered across his face. He wasn''t alone, and he certainly wasn''t the leader of the group. In the center stood another figure - bald, a bit below two meters in height, with a face covered in tattoos and scars. He was wearing a heavier suit of armor but his face was exposed."Thought you''d never see us again, Albert?" ''It''s those thugs again, and this time they''ve brought friends.'' Alexander whispered to Rusty, who had also recognized the group entering the alley. Rusty had been on his way back from the Guild after depositing the monster materials he''d collected. He''d taken a shortcut through the alley to reach the inn where he was staying. It was the middle of the night, and the city gates wouldn''t open for a few more hours. These thugs seemed to have been waiting for him, only approaching once he was alone and out of sight of the city watch. ''I was wondering who these people were, But they don''t seem like much of a threat. Can I kill them all?'' Using his life detection skill, Rusty had sensed a few people waiting in the alley ahead. The skill worked in a peculiar way - the stronger the life signal, the more intensely it resonated in his metallic head. With it, he could roughly gauge someone''s power level. Even this new, armored individual was no match for him. Compared to the monsters inside the dungeon, this guy was on the level of an E-rank Orc at best. ''Normally I would be against it but they clearly mean business, their intentions are obvious, they are here to kill you and this alleyway is probably the perfect place to make people disappear¡­'' Alexander assessed the situation for Rusty. It was probably just as he suspected. Rusty didn''t respond but stood still, watching as the larger thug stepped forward, his knuckles cracking with a loud pop. The group numbered five men in total, three in the front and two behind him. The moment he was halfway through the alley the three with the lanky man stopped him from the front, while two quickly closed off the escape route from the back. ''That''s what I wanted to hear!'' Rusty was eager to crack some skulls, irritated that these thugs had now harassed him not once, but twice. However, just as the moonlight gleamed off the hairless man''s bald head, Alexander suddenly stopped him. ''Wait, Rusty. Don''t kill that baldie.'' ''Oh? Why not?'' ''Those tattoos he''s got - one of them belongs to the thieves'' guild. He might be our way in!'' Rusty''s visor flickered as he heard Alexander''s words. The bald man, covered in tattoos and scars, wasn''t just some common thug - it seemed he had ties to the very organization Rusty had been searching for. The Thieves Guild. He still had all the stolen goods from the adventures stashed away in his system inventory. Perhaps this bald man was a key to getting him inside the black market. ''Hah, those idiots¡­'' Before the battle could begin, one of the thugs pulled out a strange scroll. At first, Rusty saw it as a potential threat, but Alexander urged him to let them use it. The scroll began glowing with a white light, and soon the alley was enveloped in a peculiar spell. ''A silencing spell. No sound will escape this alley. Those idiots just signed their own death sentence.'' Rusty had studied basic spells in the Soul Forge library and recognized this one immediately. It was commonly used for robberies and murder - perfect for keeping unwanted attention away. In the darkness, with sound completely muffled, no one would know a fight was taking place. This meant Rusty didn''t have to worry about keeping up his human guise or avoiding attention. He started by stepping back, wildly swinging his blade around as if in panic - deliberately giving the thugs a false sense of confidence. The thugs grinned, taking the bait. The armored man among them wore heavy gear, equipped with a shield and mace. It was clear they had come prepared for someone in heavy armor after their last failed attempt. "Hah, you lost to this coward?" "Be careful. He''s stronger than he looks," The lanky man warned as the bald one closed in. "Don''t worry. I''ll pry him out of that shoddy armor - but remember, all his belongings are mine." The lanky man nodded as the bald one stepped forward, ready to deliver a shield bash. To them, Rusty appeared like a cornered animal, but they hadn''t realized they were the prey. The thug charged, moving at a surprising speed, aiming to slam into Rusty''s kite shield. But when they collided, the expected outcome didn''t happen. Instead of sending Rusty crashing into the wall, he stood firm, unmoving, as if he were made of solid iron. "What?" Confusion flickered in the thug''s eyes as Rusty hadn''t even flinched. Then, something began to change. His metallic form, which had appeared to be ordinary armor, shimmered and shifted, transforming before their eyes. His armor switched to the all-rounder form, something his enemies didn''t expect. Before the thugs could react, a dark fog spilled across the ground, engulfing the already shadowy alley in pitch-black darkness. "W-what is this? I can''t see anything!" One of the thugs yelled, panic creeping into his voice. "Agh¡­ is this poison?" The black mist was taking effect. Everyone caught in it felt weak, their bodies growing heavy and dizzy. They didn''t need to check their statuses to know they were afflicted by some kind of debilitating status effect. But by the time they realized it, it was already too late. The alley was now drenched in darkness, a thick fog that disoriented the thugs. They coughed and staggered, trying to find their footing in the growing sense of panic. Their silencing spell had done them no favors and now they were blind and defenseless. Rusty''s metallic form moved within the mist, his footsteps loud but unable to echo out into the city. The bald leader swung wildly, his mace slashing through the air, but it connected with nothing. He couldn''t see Rusty anymore, and his frustration grew as the fog sapped his strength. He cursed under his breath, realizing they had vastly underestimated their target. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Suddenly, a blade pierced through the mist, striking the lanky man in the leg. He screamed, dropping to his knees, but the sound was swallowed by the silencing spell with only the people inside of it being able to hear. Rusty emerged from the darkness behind him, his sword glowing red as it sliced through the man''s nape, cutting through his jugular instantly. Blood spurted briefly from the lanky man''s neck, but his body crumpled silently to the ground. The thugs were still reeling from the poisonous mist, disoriented and powerless, their confidence shattered. The bald man, the leader, was furious. His tattooed face twisted in rage, eyes darting around in a futile attempt to find Rusty in the oppressive darkness. His mace swung again, cutting through but finally colliding with something, one of his allies'' faces. The thug screamed in agony as his cheekbone shattered from the force of the blow. His cry was quickly joined by others as the rest of the group suffered devastating injuries. One by one, they fell, their bodies crumpling under Rusty''s brutal assault. The dark mist that had enveloped the alley began to thin, gradually lifting to reveal the grim scene beneath it. "Shit¡­ Let''s talk about this¡­" As the fog cleared, a crushing reality hit the bald man - he was the only one left alive. The four other thugs lay on the ground, their arteries severed in vital places, blood soaking the alleyway. It was clear now: Rusty was too strong for them and bartering was probably the only way out. "Now hold on there, I''m sure we can work something out." ''What do you think, Alexander?'' Rusty stood victorious. The battle seemed over, but the man facing him hadn''t fully given up. He still gripped his shield and mace, refusing to capitulate. The darkness that cloaked the alley wouldn''t last much longer, and Rusty lacked the mana reserves to maintain it. He wanted entry into the Thieves Guild, but trusting this man seemed like a mistake. If he tried to infiltrate the guild, he''d likely be attacked again. ''I wouldn''t trust him. He''ll stab us in the back the moment we turn away. There''s a better way, but first, you need to knock him out.'' Alexander''s plan was clear: knocking the man unconscious was necessary. Rusty stepped forward, his towering metal form looming in the dimly lit alley. The bald man''s grip tightened around his mace, but Rusty could see the fear creeping into his eyes. The mist was clearing, and with it, the last of the man''s confidence. "Let''s talk!" "..." Rusty didn''t respond. Albert''s remains were not inside this form. Instead, he launched forward, mimicking the shield bash the man had used against him. His opponent tried to brace himself, but was knocked back. As the man staggered, gasping for breath, Rusty swapped his sword for a mace. A few exchanges later, his opponent''s head met the blunt force of twilight metal, and he crumpled to the ground. ''Like this?'' ''Think you went overboard¡­ his head''s bleeding. Better use one of those potions you grabbed from the other adventurers, or he won''t make it.'' The man was unconscious, his HP slowly dropping. He wouldn''t last long. Rusty quickly searched through his stash tab, pulled out a potion, and poured it over the man''s head. The wound began healing rapidly, his life saved at least for now. ''Okay, he''s out cold. Now what?'' Rusty was still unsure what to do with the thugs. Alexander usually wasn''t one for sneaky tactics, often advising him to leave people alone. However, he seemed to hold a particular disdain for thugs like this one - seeing them as little more than monsters rather than people. ''If I''m not mistaken, now that he''s knocked out, you should be able to use your possession skill on him. But since he isn''t dead, it might not work as well as it did with Albert''s remains.'' ''Oh... now I get it!'' After the explanation, Rusty understood the plan Alexander had in mind. ''You want me to use his identity as a member of the Thieves'' Guild, don''t you?'' ''Yes, but that''s not all. This guy should be a true member, which means he should be able to register you as one.'' Alexander began explaining how the Thieves'' Guild worked - or at least how it did in the guilds he''d encountered when he was alive. It was similar to the Adventurers'' Guild, but harder to infiltrate. Thieves hid behind passwords and concealed locations. To register a new member, someone already in the guild had to vouch for them. ''So, you want me to possess this person, access his memories to get inside the guild, and then have him vouch for me as a new member?'' ''Exactly, that''s the plan.'' ''But won''t they get suspicious if after he registers me, he vanishes?'' ''It should be fine, these people operate differently than the adventurers guild, if one thief vanishes they will just assume he was killed by some old enemy and not by someone that he registered. "I see, this Thieves Guild sounds less honorable than the other one¡­ I bet Aburdon would agree with this." "I bet he would¡­" Alexander replied, though his tone was far less enthusiastic. Still, as Rusty''s guide, he was obligated to help, whether he liked it or not. These thieves and thugs were villains with many enemies. At any moment, an old friend or family member of one of their victims could seek revenge, and that was something everyone in their guild was keenly aware of. His possession skill had leveled up as he had been using it constantly. It worked well on a dead and mummified body but he had never attempted to seize control over a living person. The man was wearing heavy armor already, so he just needed to cover his face with his helmet and give it a try. Rusty crouched over the unconscious thug, his metallic fingers curling around his helmet as he prepared to remove it. The man beneath him was still alive, so Rusty wasn''t entirely sure how his possession skill would be affected. He placed the helmet over the man''s head and activated the ability. ''Here we go... this feels different than before¡­'' There was a slight resistance at first. Unlike the dead, whose bodies offered no protest, the living had a mind of their own, a flickering remnant of self-preservation. The man''s mind fought back, but in his weakened state, Rusty''s willpower overwhelmed him. Rusty''s vision dimmed briefly, and then he felt a jolt as if he''d been pulled into a different body. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, he wasn''t looking at the world from his metallic frame anymore. He was seeing through the thug''s eyes, feeling the weight of his armor, the dull ache in his muscles, and the dizzying sensation of pain lingering from their short brawl. It took him a moment to adjust - his control over the man''s body wasn''t perfect, like walking in shoes that didn''t quite fit. But it would do for now. ''Is this what humans feel? It wasn''t like this with Albert.'' Previously, the body he possessed had been long dead, unable to move on its own, requiring Rusty''s metallic shell to function. But this was different. This man''s body was fully alive, capable of standing on its own. Rusty''s true form stood nearby, helmetless. The thug now wore Rusty''s helmet, his face hidden beneath it. From the outside, he looked like any ordinary person - convincing enough to get Rusty into the Thieves'' Guild. Rusty flexed the man''s fingers, testing the limits. His movements were sluggish, but the thug''s body responded. He stood up on shaky legs, dusting off the armor. He could feel the dull throb in his skull where Rusty had bashed him, but the healing potion had worked wonders. ''That''s it. Looks like you''ve got control, now use his memories to pinpoint the location of the guild and their password. '' Alexander''s voice echoed in Rusty''s mind as he was stuck with him even if he discarded his main body. Rusty took a moment to tap into the thug''s memories, sifting through the murky haze of pain and confusion clouding the man''s mind. It wasn''t as easy as he thought it would be. Unlike Albert''s remains, this body still had an active consciousness, albeit dulled from the fight and the potion. ''Come on¡­ show me¡­ there, that should be it!'' Rusty muttered under his breath as he concentrated. Slowly, fragmented memories began to surface. Images of back alleys, secret handshakes, and dimly lit taverns flickered in his mind like pieces of a puzzle. He saw a symbol - a strange black coin and recognized it as the sigil of the Thieves'' Guild. Now that the truth was out, he just needed to go there and register himself as a new member¡­ Chapter 81 – Thieves Guild A knock echoed through the narrow alleyway. The man wearing dirty, torn clothes stood before a thick iron door, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light of a nearby lamp. The rats scurried away, startled by the unexpected sound. The man seemed angered by the lack of response but eventually, he heard some movement on the other side. Soon a latch was opened and a pair of eyes appeared through the doors Peephole."What do yer want?" "Let me in!" The badly dressed man took out a handful of something and dangled it in front of the slit the man on the other side was peeking through. It looked like some cheap jewelry, something that had been stolen recently. The man on the other side just snorted without opening the door. "What''s the password?" "Password¡­ ah yeah¡­. was it? Antwerp?" "..." "Sure it is¡­ wait for a moment there, I''ll let you right in¡­" The man that looked like a beggar smiled, his yellow teeth showing as he heard more movement on the other side. It sounded like multiple latches were being drawn back from behind the door. The heavy iron door creaked open, revealing a narrow, poorly lit passage that led further into the building. The man who had peered through the peephole stepped aside, giving the dirty-looking figure room to enter. He was a grizzled, burly man with scars lining his face, the kind that said he''d seen his share of brawls. His eyes glimmered with suspicion, but he didn''t press further on the password but instead waited for the man to enter. "Get in¡­" "Sure friend¡­ can I sell it inside?" "Yeah, just get in¡­" The burly man gripped a club in his left hand, hiding it behind his back. As soon as the other man walked through the door, the club was immediately brought down. The door slammed shut behind him, and the thief''s screams were muffled. However, one person was fully aware of what had just transpired. He appeared from around the corner, clad in heavy armor. ''So that''s what happens when you give the wrong password?'' Alexander remarked to Rusty, who lumbered forward, now possessing the mind of the thieves'' guild member. Through reading the man''s thoughts, Rusty had learned the true password needed to pass through that door. Thanks to the man''s memories, he knew the password changed every week. Every guild member had to memorize the passwords for the correct week and they changed every month. Often, beggars like the unfortunate man he had just seen would pick up an outdated password. When they tried to enter, they were swiftly dealt with. Rusty, now possessing the body of the bald thug, stood near the entrance to the thieves'' guild. The heavy door ahead, thick iron and layered with scratches from years of use, loomed ominously. The scene that had just unfolded - the beggar being lured in, only to be struck down for using the wrong password- was a brutal reminder of the guild''s ruthlessness. ''Good thing you got the right one. Just don''t mess it up, or you''ll end up like that guy.'' ''That guy didn''t look that strong, he can''t defeat me.'' ''The thieves in the guild are like roaches, they might not stick together like the adventurers but they will defend the entrance at least.'' ''I''ll be careful then?'' Rusty, still adjusting to the unfamiliar sensation of inhabiting a living body, approached the door, his new body heavy and sluggish. The memories of the thug helped guide him, but it wasn''t the same as his usual strength or agility in his true form. He was probably weaker than when possessing Albert and he wasn''t sure what would happen if this fleshy body was injured. He had left his main body inside of his system and if anything went wrong he was ready to activate one of his loadouts. His hand collided with the door as he knocked. He could sense some movement inside so he just waited. After a few moments, the small slit in the door opened, and once again, a pair of watchful eyes peered out. Unlike before, the eyes seemed sharper this time with a little blood running through the middle. "Again? You better not be with this old guy! What''s the password?" Rusty hesitated, drawing on the fragmented memories of the thug. He mentally sifted through the jumbled information, making sure he had the right answer. Then, in a gruff voice, he muttered. "Schwertfisch" "... Come in." The eyes behind the slit narrowed slightly, but after a brief pause, there was the familiar sound of heavy locks being unlatched. The door creaked open just wide enough for Rusty to squeeze through. As he stepped inside, the dim light of the alley was replaced by the flickering glow of oil lamps hanging from the walls. This was not the Thieves Guild but just one of the entrances. The building was one of the local taverns. There was an open door leading to a wine cellar, one way going up and a large sideways-placed Tun that was almost the height of an adult. It had a large wooden tap in the lower midsection but for some reason, it didn''t look like it had been used in a long time. The beggar he had seen earlier was no longer there, but fresh bloodstains marked the ground. Alexander glanced at the blood splatter and how it trailed towards a large wine barrel. He instantly understood what had happened. ''The entrance to the guild must be behind that barrel. They must have dragged that poor fool in there after knocking him out.'' Alexander didn''t say anything, unsure of his theory. He had heard rumors of the Thieves'' Guild selling people into slavery, and this beggar might face the same fate for trying to enter without being a member. Perhaps the man''s future lay in the dark mines, or maybe they would simply throw him back onto the street after roughing him up. ''I hate this flesh... I can''t wait to get back to my true form ¡­ what is even that?'' This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Rusty muttered to himself, adjusting to a new sensation. Inhabiting a living body was vastly different from possessing Albert''s mummified corpse. As a living suit of armor, he had no sense of smell or fatigue, but now, all sorts of rancid odors assaulted his nostrils. The guard who had let him in reeked of body odor, and the entire place had an intense, unpleasant smell. Rusty had never realized humans dealt with this constantly and wished he could leave the body as soon as possible. The path in one direction was noisy, leading toward the tavern. However, he wasn''t heading there. Before he could ask for directions, the man he had given the password to walked toward the large barrel. Using the same club he had hit the beggar with, the man struck a hole in the wall. There was an audible click as something socketed into place. A mechanism activated, causing the front cover of the barrel to slide aside, revealing the entrance to the Thieves'' Guild. "What are you waiting for? Go on in." He nodded silently at the man, offering no reply, then quickly stepped through the opening. His body was slightly above average in size, so he had to squeeze himself through. Once inside, the entrance began to seal itself, leaving him in a small, dimly lit corridor that led to a ladder descending downward. ''I see... the guild must be in the old sewers. Makes some sense.'' ''What the hell is that smell¡­'' ''You better cover your nose, Rusty. This won''t be a pleasant journey.'' Rusty, now just a helmet on the man''s head. When he first entered, his visor had been up, allowing the door guard to see his face. Now, as the stench hit him even harder, he had to pull the visor down, hoping it would help him endure the foul odors. He descended the ladder, arriving in a damp, murky space where the water reached his ankles. Each step felt strange, as if he was stepping into something squishy. He used the man''s recent memories to guide himself. His goal was to reach the black market, but the journey was proving more difficult than he had anticipated. ''They use these strange markings to indicate the way to the real entrance. I think it''s in that direction¡­'' Alexander, who was connected to Rusty as his guide, helped him navigate through these fragmented memories. He identified some carved symbols on the walls as secret codes only guild members could decipher. With their guidance, he continued through the sewers. This place reminded him of the dungeon but without any monsters to fight, instead it was filled with flies and rats. The air in the sewers grew heavier with each step Rusty took, the stench intensifying as he trudged through the murky water. His thoughts were split between navigating the darkened tunnels and the repulsive sensation of his new, fleshy vessel. Every step felt unnatural, and the feeling of squishy debris beneath his boots only added to his discomfort. ''Why would people willingly go down here?'' Rusty muttered and Alexander quickly answered his question. ''They wouldn''t and neither would any guards or knights be willing, that''s why they put the guild here.'' ''I see¡­'' ''People adapt to whatever keeps them alive. You''d be surprised what they''ll endure.'' After a few minutes, Rusty finally spotted another marking on the wall - a small, barely visible symbol shaped like an inverted triangle. It was etched into the stone and partially obscured by grime, but the thug''s memories recognized it as the final indicator. This was the way to the guild''s black market. Rusty''s pace quickened, eager to get out of the foul water and closer to his objective. He arrived at what appeared to be a dead end, but he knew better. The man''s memories had revealed a way to pass through the wall, similar to the method the door guard had used earlier. To the side, there was a small hole in the wall, just the right size for the black coin he carried. Sliding it into the socket, he heard a familiar click, and the wall began to shift, slowly opening to reveal the path ahead. ''This must be it!'' He cheered as he moved deeper, the narrow tunnels began to open into a larger chamber. Flickering torchlight illuminated the walls, casting eerie shadows along the uneven surfaces. The faint sounds of voices and movement became clearer the closer he got. His skill to detect life confirmed everything, he was in a place with a lot of individuals and they were quite busy. ''This is it. You''ve made it to the market, so this is how it looked¡­ It''s similar to one that I visited on my journey¡­ or at least I think it is¡­'' Rusty paused at the edge of the chamber while Alexander tried to recall his past. From here, he could see the layout: a sprawling underground market hidden beneath the city, with various stalls set up along the damp stone floors. Thieves, smugglers, and black market traders bartered openly, selling stolen goods, rare artifacts, and illicit substances. The place was teeming with activity, but the whole operation was cloaked in shadow. The traders wore hoods or masks to conceal their identities, and even the buyers moved with caution, careful not to draw too much attention. Rusty scanned the area, searching for the next step in Alexander''s plan. His goal wasn''t just to reach the black market but to find someone of high enough rank within the thieves'' guild to register him for future transactions. There were two reasons for this. First, he planned to return here after raiding the Dungeon and robbing more adventurers. Second, he didn''t have much time left. His mana was draining rapidly, and he only had a few mana potions to sustain the possession. Though the potions worked like mana crystals, they were far less efficient. If this place operated like the markets above ground, he wouldn''t have time to haggle so he needed to hurry. ''This is the black market but they should also register newbies here, if this guy''s memories are correct, you just need to pay half a gold coin to register first and then another half of it in stolen goods to be accepted.'' S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''That''s a lot¡­'' ''See it as an investment for the future, Rusty, sometimes it''s better to look at the future rewards.'' ''Investment? People use strange words¡­'' Rusty glanced at his MP indicator, realizing he needed to act fast. He quickly scanned the area, searching for something resembling a reception desk. The Thieves'' Guild was nothing like the Adventurer''s Guild - here, no one would offer assistance. Instead, everyone remained on guard, eyeing each other warily. Bloodstains on the walls and floor served as grim reminders of the frequent fights that broke out between guild members. The first part of the guild he entered was the black market. It wasn''t just for guild members; sanctioned merchants were also welcome here. These merchants were more valuable than the lower-ranking thieves, as they brought in large sums of money. They specialized in purchasing stolen goods and sometimes even people. Later, they''d smuggle these goods out of the city, reselling them in places that appeared respectable and clean. If something was too volatile they would even take them to other countries or present them on auctions where the profits were usually higher. The second part was further away, from the bustling market, where guild members congregated to discuss operations and coordinate their illicit activities. It was also where the guild kept its most valuable secrets, including the identity of the highest-ranking members and the locations of its hidden stashes. If Rusty wanted to be fully integrated into the thieves'' network, he would need to make his way there eventually. But first, he had to ensure his registration into the black market so he could freely trade stolen goods and gain access to the guild''s resources. His destination was a third area, somewhat resembling the Adventurer''s Guild above. It featured a small, shabby bulletin board filled with requests for stolen goods, some even providing maps to the buildings the thieves were tasked with robbing. This area was farther from the black market and had the appearance of a rundown bar. Behind the counter stood another burly man, similar to a guild receptionist. This was the person he needed to speak with. Rusty approached, keeping his face neutral under the helmet, though he could feel the strain of maintaining control over the fleshy body. His mana reserves were dwindling faster than anticipated. When he reached the counter he placed five silver coins down and slid them across the counter without a word. The man glanced at the five coins before him and just grinned. "Registering a newbie? You know the rules, if they can''t get the merchandise here in a week, you''ll get punished." Rusty nodded, he somewhat knew the rules and once this was over, he needed to quickly get back into his old body before his possession skill wavered and it probably wouldn''t last for more than a few minutes now¡­ Chapter 82 – Battle In The Sewers. "Give me yer coin?""Huh?" "The coin? You do have it right?" "Oh¡­ yeah¡­" ''Rusty are you okay?'' ''I''m fine but this human¡­ he is fighting me, I think I''ve used the possession skill for too long.'' Rusty was momentarily disoriented as he fumbled through the thug''s clothes, searching for the thieves'' guild coin. The token served as his key to open the secret passage, their equivalent of an adventurer''s card. Despite the mana potions, his abilities were starting to falter. It was possible the man he had knocked out was waking up, and Rusty''s skill was struggling to keep him subdued. He needed to register himself and leave quickly. He slapped it down onto the counter with a bit more force than intended. The burly man on the other side raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he inspected the coin. After a brief moment, he gave it back along with an almost identical one that looked old and used. "Alright, give this to them." The man didn''t explain much but this coin looked slightly different than the one he was using now. Luckily, Alexander had enough knowledge about the thieves guild to enlighten him without having to ask questions that he should know. ''That must be a temporary token, I bet these entrances won''t open if you try to use it after the trial period is over. They will probably give you a permanent one when you bring in the loot. It''s an interesting way of getting new people in and they get one gold coin for each new member, not something most lesser criminals can afford.'' Everything started making sense but Rusty felt the strain of maintaining control over the body, as his possession skill wavered dangerously. His connection to the thug was weakening, and he could feel the man''s consciousness pushing back. Time was running out, and Rusty knew he had to act quickly before things spiraled out of control. If he was exposed in the den of thieves, his plan to save his friend would be over. With the temporary coin now in his possession, Rusty didn''t waste a moment. He nodded weakly at the burly man behind the counter and turned to leave, doing his best to suppress the disorienting sensations that plagued him. Each step felt heavier, his vision flickering as the thug''s mind struggled to resurface. ''Stay focused, Rusty, You''re almost done. First, we need to get out of here, you''ll be able to get back to your real body outside.'' Alexander urged Rusty to flee the black market. With the temporary thief token, he would be able to instantly return disguised as Albert. Rusty staggered out of the bar-like area, the temporary token clutched tightly in his hand. His control over the thug''s body was slipping, each step becoming more of a struggle as the man''s mind fought to break free. The stench of the sewers and the oppressive atmosphere of the thieves'' guild did little to help his focus, but he pushed forward toward the exit. After stumbling through the black market and bumping into a few people, Rusty broke into a run. Some thieves shouted at him in anger, but luckily, none gave chase. He retraced his steps back to the entrance he''d come through. There, he grasped a hand lever to activate the mechanism as there was no need to use the coin token or a slot that would fit it on this side. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''He''s getting louder¡­'' The man''s voice began echoing in Rusty''s mind as his consciousness started to return. Rusty could feel the man''s arms resisting his control, moving up to clutch his helmet in an attempt to remove it. If the man''s head was freed, he''d quickly regain full awareness, so Rusty focused on running. The passage opened just enough for him to squeeze through, and he darted forward. "Argh... g-get off..." The person he was possessing shouted, his hands clawing at the helmet, though not yet able to tear it off. Rusty still had control of the man''s legs, propelling him through the foul-smelling sewers. Rats squeaked and scurried away as he passed. He didn''t know where he was going, but he needed to put some distance between himself and the thieves'' guild entrance before his possession skill wore off. Once the man was fully conscious, Rusty planned to take care of him and dispose of the body. But as he rounded a corner, something unexpected blocked his path. "Woah¡­ hold on there, friend. This is a private party." "Did someone rat us out?" "Could be, but even if you want to join, you''ll have to wait in line!" Two people stood in his way, both looking like members of the guild. Rusty''s possession skill was failing fast, and he could feel the man''s consciousness clawing its way back to the surface. The thug gritted his teeth and, with a powerful motion, managed to rip off his helmet, throwing it as far as he could. Rusty, who was reduced to the helmet itself, flew through the air and collided against a nearby wall, eventually splashing into the foul-smelling sewer water a few meters away from the two thieves blocking the path. "Hey, I think I know this one¡­ What are you doing here? Thought you had business to take care of?" One of the thieves asked, recognizing the man Rusty had been possessing. He moved closer for a better look. The man slumped against the wall, gripping his head, clearly in pain. To the two onlookers, however, he seemed like someone under the influence of drugs, something they found amusing. They burst out laughing, pointing fingers at him, oblivious to the scene unfolding behind them. Rusty, now free from the thug''s control, quickly activated one of his loadouts. The helmet, which had tumbled into the sewer water, began to rise. Metal formed around it, starting with the torso, which rapidly expanded to fill the narrow corridor. A massive suit of living armor materialized, much bulkier than the standard varieties typically encountered in dungeons. "Y-you i-idiots¡­ t-turn around¡­" The thug stammered, clutching his head, and tried pointing to the monstrosity taking form behind them. "Hah, are you drunk? You never could handle your liquor." A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. One thief laughed at the man, oblivious to the warning. It wasn''t until they heard the metallic crunch of shifting armor that they finally turned their heads. But by then, it was already too late. Before them stood a towering behemoth of metal, over two meters tall and impressively wide. One of its enormous fists was already in motion, barreling toward the first thief. The massive metal fist connected with a sickening crunch, sending the first thief crashing into the sewer wall. He slumped to the ground, bloody and unconscious before he even hit the floor. His companion barely had time to register the monstrous suit of armor looming over them. Rusty had now fully transformed into one of his metallic forms, choosing the largest for this occasion. Spikes jutted from his knuckles, now drenched in the first thief''s blood. The remaining thief stumbled backward, his eyes wide with terror. He fumbled for his dagger, but in his drunken state, he was unprepared for the horror before him. Rusty''s larger form closed the distance in an instant, his longer strides giving him the advantage. His fist collided with the thief''s torso, sending him flying into his unconscious companion. The spikes pierced through flesh, leaving the man in critical condition almost instantly. "N-no, stay back, y-you monster!" Rusty''s towering form scraped against the tunnel''s ceiling as he approached. The man he had just possessed cowered against the wall, helpless as the metal giant loomed ever closer. He was an evil person, his memories were filled with taking things that didn''t belong to him, wanton murder, and other crimes that made him undeserving of mercy. Alexander who usually pleaded to him to forgive the adventurers, did not even call out to him. This man was not someone that deserved to live longer and he would take Rusty''s secret to the grave. "N¡­no¡­" The thug stammered, his eyes wide with fear. He tried to back away, but the narrow space of the tunnel left him nowhere to escape. Rusty''s massive metal hand reached out, grabbing the man by his throat and lifting him effortlessly into the air. The thug''s eyes bulged as Rusty tightened his grip, cutting off the man''s air supply. The thief struggled, clawing at Rusty''s unyielding metal fingers, but his efforts were futile. ''Rusty there might be more of them here, make it quick.'' Alexander''s voice echoed in Rusty''s mind as he exerted the maximum amount of force he could. With a final squeeze, Rusty snapped the man''s neck, his body going limp in his grasp. Rusty let the corpse fall unceremoniously into the sewer water with a splash. He Turned his attention to the two thieves he had disabled earlier, Rusty noted they were still alive - but not for long. He brought his metal foot down onto their heads, finishing the job just as he heard footsteps approaching from deeper in the corridor. ''I knew it, these two were just lookouts for the people inside¡­ we have two options, either we run now and come back later or we take care of them, now.'' Rusty already knew how people operated - if he left even one of them alive, they would likely report his presence in the city. He couldn''t let that happen. If he was forced to flee, his plan to save Gleam would fail. One of the reasons he chose this larger form was to serve as a distraction. Even if he was discovered, he could always shift back to the Albert form and probably remain undetected. From within the sewer corridor, where the two thieves had been standing guard, two more men emerged. Before they could even register what had happened to their comrades, Rusty charged forward. This was his slowest form, but in the cramped sewers, speed didn''t matter. His massive body blocked the only exit. For some reason, these men had cornered themselves in a dead end. "What the hell is that?" One of them yelled while fumbling for a weapon. They seemed disoriented. Neither wore much armor, and one of them was still in the process of fastening his belt. This gave Rusty the perfect opportunity to close in, driving his spiked fist into the first man. The other managed to land a shallow strike on Rusty''s side, but his armor didn''t yield to the steel blade. Ignoring the weak attacks, Rusty continued to pummel the first thief until he lay dead, then turned his attention to the second one. The second thief, barely prepared for battle, dropped his blade and began to backpedal. He had no idea what this was about and how a monster wandered into the underground sewers. However, he was not just going to give up. While he didn''t have a weapon, he had something strapped to his belt, a vial of orange liquid that reminded Rusty of something he saw in the dungeon. "Eat this you fucking shit!" He shouted, confident his tactic would work, but he hadn''t anticipated what happened next. The concoction hurtled toward Rusty, but just before it made contact, he snatched it out of the air with both massive hands. A muted explosion echoed through the tunnel, muffled by his iron palms. Though his hands were left mangled and missing a few fingers, within seconds, to the thief''s shock, they began to regenerate. "W-what...?" With his explosive potion failing, the thief had no time to react before Rusty descended on him, his spiked fists tearing into the thief''s body, puncturing him with relentless fury. The man''s dead buddy slumped backward against the wall as he drew his last breath. Signs of Rusty''s spiky fists were all over the place but he didn''t care much as this was not yet over. With the help of his life detection skill he could tell that there were two more people further in, thus he continued forward. It wasn''t that far and the sewer water started to dry up as he came to a strange looking chamber. It was different than the many sewer corridors under the city and looked like a temporary dwelling with even a doorway that was opened. He could tell that the last two people were inside and once he forced his way through, he recognised one of them. "The hell?" First, he spotted a man - much larger than the thieves he had encountered earlier. His bald head was marked with strange tattoos, but Rusty''s attention wasn''t on him. It was on the figure lying on a makeshift bed nearby: Odelette, the adventurer with the thief class whom he had met during the adventurers'' test. ''I see¡­ so that''s what they were up to here.'' Alexander''s solemn voice echoed in his head as he quickly pieced together what had been happening. His guide was furious, but it seemed luck was on Odelette''s side today. They had arrived just in time - before anything terrible had happened. The small woman was unconscious, either drunk or drugged by the thieves who had clearly intended to take advantage of her. While she was partially naked, the cloth covering her nether region was still intact, indicating that nothing had taken place yet. The sight stirred memories in Rusty, reminding him of his first kill. That time one of the adventurers found herself in a similar situation. He did not understand the dynamics between people then, But he did now. He understood much more about the vile nature of what was unfolding before him and even his guide urged him to enact violence on the person before him. The towering armored figure that was Rusty stepped further into the chamber, his eyes locked on the tattooed man who seemed to be caught off guard. The man''s gaze darted between Rusty and the unconscious form of Odelette. His surprise was short-lived as he darted forward. His level was above the others and Rusty''s life detection skill informed him that this man wouldn''t be that easy to beat. Name: Berton Classification: Fighter L 25, Brawler L 19 Type: Goliath "I don''t know what you are... but I don''t like uninvited guests!" Rusty charged forward, but the man didn''t back down. His skin was pale, but just before they collided, his fists became engulfed in a strange dark sheen. It looked as though they had turned to dark metal. When they finally clashed with Rusty''s iron fists, a sharp clang echoed through the chamber. The spikes on Rusty''s knuckles couldn''t pierce the strange armor-like effect and instead, they bent to the side. Berton''s darkened fists connected with Rusty''s metal frame, sending shockwaves through the chamber. The impact was far stronger than Rusty anticipated, and for the first time in this form, he felt the sting of real resistance. The force reverberated through his body, causing cracks to form along his spiked knuckles. Despite the damage, Rusty pressed forward, unwilling to back down. This man, Berton, was unlike the thieves he had encountered earlier¡­ Chapter 83 – Iron Fists. The man named Berton snarled, eyes filled with confidence as he launched another punch. His dark-metal fists moved with unnatural speed and power, denting Rusty''s armor with every blow. Rusty staggered, his towering form momentarily off balance, but he refused to yield. His armor groaned under the strain, but the metal that comprised his form began to shift, repairing the cracks before they became true injuries. His stock of iron had become extensive and he was only limited by the SP he could use in this battle.''Careful, Rusty. This guy''s dangerous - he''s a lot stronger than the others and much more experienced.'' S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alexander warned his metallic master, but Rusty already knew. This man wasn''t like the common thugs he had crushed earlier. He fought like someone who had seen plenty of battles, a true fighter, and his strange ability made him a tricky opponent. Yet, Rusty wasn''t new to these things, even the strongest ability had a weakness or would falter eventually. The large man pressed his advantage, hurling a series of rapid punches that clanged against Rusty''s body, each one reverberating like thunder through the chamber. The force of the blows forced Rusty to step back, his metal limbs struggling to absorb the damage. For a moment, he just covered himself up, protecting his helmet where his monster core was from the damage. His forearms were especially thick but they were still dented under the onslaught. His iron shell groaned under the pressure, it was clear that this Goliath was relying on nothing but brute force. His current form was primed for defense, and Rusty pitted it against this assault. He patiently waited, his opponent grinning as if he was assured of his victory. He even stopped regenerating his body to push his opponent into an unfounded sense of superiority. Eventually, his metallic back slammed into this chamber''s walls and it seemed as if the battle was lost. ''Rusty, this guy is a Brawler, the skill he is using is only limited to his hands and legs, don''t give him enough space to perform more strikes.'' Alexander called out to him as the hits continued to fly and his body continued to give out. Rusty had faced monsters before that used their claws and teeth for attacking but never a true striker. However, his guide knew of one technique that was effective against them. The man was punching and kicking but he was still keeping some distance between them and there was a reason for it. "I don''t know who sent ya, but you''ve crossed the wrong man!" The man shouted, convinced of his impending victory, as he charged forward. However, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. Rusty, who appeared to be a man encased in a suit of armor, had something up his sleeve that the man hadn''t anticipated. Just as the man''s fist hurtled toward Rusty''s head, the living armor did something unexpected - he grabbed his helmet and flung it into the air, revealing that there was no human inside. "Huh?" Berton hesitated, stunned by the realization that he was fighting a monster. But despite throwing his head into the air, Rusty''s body didn''t stop moving. He could control it without being physically connected and seized the moment of Berton''s hesitation to his advantage. His massive hands reached out and gripped his opponent, activating a skill he''d stolen from a zombie. His grip tightened with unnatural strength, and he could feel Berton''s wrists nearly snapping under the pressure. "L-let go of me!" Berton stammered but Rusty wasn''t finished. He followed up by increasing the weight of his body. With a powerful push from his legs, he toppled the man while maintaining a firm hold on his wrists. Even this muscular warrior from the Goliath race couldn''t withstand the sudden increase in weight. Berton crashed to the ground, the rocks beneath them cracking under the force. Now pinned beneath Rusty''s bulky frame, he found himself unable to move. Although Rusty couldn''t control two metallic shells simultaneously, he had a few seconds of partial control before the switch would occur. Despite being separated from his body, the loadout system was still active. Once triggered, a new frame began to materialize from the helmet Rusty had tossed into the air, while the old shell clung tightly to his opponent. Though the skill-binding Berton would soon deactivate, Rusty still had a moment to act. As his helmet flew upward, it shifted, and Rusty switched to his regular all-rounder form. With part of his torso and one arm already formed, he had enough to finish this. Sword in hand, he plummeted toward the man''s exposed head, aiming to end the fight. Berton''s eyes widened in sheer panic as he realized what was happening. The towering goliath, who had seemed so confident moments ago, was now immobilized under the sheer weight of Rusty''s old armor shell. His darkened fists were being clamped down by an unmoving force and his strength was not enough to move out of the way. The blade gleamed in the dim light, its sharp edge descending toward Berton''s unprotected head. The man thrashed violently, his muscles bulging as he tried to break free, but the weight of the previous shell and the crushing hold Rusty maintained on his wrists made it impossible. For a moment, time stopped as Berton''s eye caught the blade''s tip moving down as if in slow motion. "N-no W-ait¡­" His words were cut off by the sharp whoosh of Rusty''s blade slicing through the air, followed by a sickening crunch. The sword pierced through Berton''s skull with deadly precision, splitting his head open. His body jerked violently for a moment before going limp beneath the weight of Rusty''s discarded armor. The goliath''s eyes remained wide open, frozen in shock, as blood pooled beneath him. Congratulations you have gained a level. With the immediate threat neutralized, Rusty landed beside the lifeless form of Berton, his new body now fully solidified. He took a moment to assess the situation and reflect on his victory. The system''s prompt informed him of the strong enemy''s departure. Despite his success, Rusty wasn''t sure if his actions had been entirely wise. After dispatching the four weaker foes, he could have retreated, but instead, he''d pressed forward, driven by an unusual sense of curiosity. ''You did well, Rusty. If we''d been any slower, then this poor girl would have¡­'' Alexander didn''t finish the sentence, but Rusty understood the weight behind it. These people took such matters seriously. The act the man had been about to commit against his acquaintance was a grievous taboo in their society. It was something that should never happen, and yet, these beings of flesh seemed unable to fully control their darker urges. It was something that Rusty found baffling. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ''A shame... He probably had some good skills.'' Rusty glanced down at the defeated Berton once more while retrieving his discarded shell, depositing it back into his storage system with a shake of his head. Berton had clearly been a person with a unique class. Perhaps he had possessed valuable abilities. The man''s proficiency with hand-to-hand combat had been admirable, and absorbing a passive skill to improve his own close-quarters fighting wouldn''t have been a bad outcome. ''Does he at least have some coins?'' Rusty glanced at the nearly naked body of the defeated man. It didn''t seem like Berton had been carrying a coin purse. Members of the thieves'' guild were known to stash most of their money in hidden locations, rather than carry it with them, especially when navigating these tunnels where anyone could be forced to pay a toll. There were likely some unspoken rules about not robbing each other too much, but such rules rarely applied to the strong. ''Rusty, better switch to Albert. If that girl sees you in your current form, things could get troublesome.'' ''Ah, Okay.'' This wasn''t an issue for Rusty; he had planned to return to the guild in a form that allowed him to speak anyway. Odelette the Thief, his previous temporary companion, had advanced in her training and recently acquired the Rogue class. She had leveled up twice during their adventures and somehow gained the third later. Rusty had noticed that only individuals with at least two classes were permitted access to the underground area and its associated black market. Name: Odelette Classification: Thief L25, Rogue L1 Type: Halfling ''I bet the girl asked someone to vouch for her to gain access to the guild but she was fooled by these scumbags¡­'' Even now, Odelette remained dazed and out of it. While Rusty was immune to status effects, she appeared to be under the influence of something similar to the sleeping gas they''d encountered in the dungeon. As he looked at her, she seemed to be merely dozing off, completely unaware of the danger she had just narrowly escaped. Rusty also found himself puzzled by the man''s choice of target. Berton, a member of the Goliath race, was more than twice her size, while Odelette was a Halfling, small and fragile by comparison. It was a peculiar combination that Rusty couldn''t quite understand. ''Hey Rusty, that''s rude, you should not look at a lady in such way.'' ''In what way?'' ''Just put that blanket over her until she wakes up!'' Alexander was somewhat annoyed by the girl''s uncovered body. Rusty had no sense of decency so looking at a half-naked woman wasn''t something that registered as inappropriate to him. However, he respected Alexander''s request and found a blanket nearby, draping it over Odelette''s small, unconscious form. The blanket covered her completely due to her small stature and he was now free to look around this chamber. ''Is there anything worthwhile here?'' First, he went through the man''s belongings but regretfully he was the type that didn''t use weapons. Rusty scanned the chamber, stepping over Berton''s lifeless body with the heavy clank of his metal feet. The room was sparse, hastily set up, with minimal belongings scattered about. He knelt down by a small chest tucked into the corner, prying it open with ease. Inside were a few silver coins, a dull dagger, and what looked like a map scribbled with rough lines. It appeared to show a series of tunnels, possibly a layout of the city''s underground network. ''This looks like the city map and those red scribbles might be other entrances into the sewers. That will come in handy.'' The map displayed several other entrances to these underground sewers. It depicted where some traps were and even other entrances to the black market they could take. Now that they caused a scene here, it would be better to leave and come back through a different pathway. Someone would certainly notice the dead bodies outside and one entrance was quite close to this location. Rusty swiftly folded the map and tucked it into his spatial satchel. The chamber now felt eerily quiet, with Odelette''s breathing being the only thing to offset the silence. It seemed that whatever they gave her was quite potent as even after a loud battle she didn''t even move a muscle. ''Can I just leave her here, she will be alright, right?'' He turned to Alexander, unsure whether he should involve himself further in Odelette''s situation. She had been saved, and all her belongings remained untouched and not far from her sleeping body. The token of temporary thief guild membership was also there, likely something the group of thugs had given her to earn her trust. Rusty suspected that Aburdon would oppose helping her any further. From his perspective, leaving her behind would be the safest option as other groups might retaliate if they discovered he had disposed of their allies. ''Just take her with us. She won''t slow you down. If that map is correct, we just need to backtrack and take the next fork to the left. We''ll emerge at a barn. If she hasn''t woken up by then, we can leave her there.'' Alexander, on the other hand, urged him to take her along. Truth be told, Rusty realized that her small size wouldn''t pose much of a problem. He was also aware of some of the social structures in this world. If he helped her now, the small woman would be indebted to him in the future. He saw this not just as an act of virtue but as a strategic investment - something his two guides might not fully appreciate. While Alexander seemed eager for Rusty to help others without expecting rewards, Aburdon believed it was better to impose on others without offering anything in return. Rusty, however, felt that a balance between the two perspectives was ideal. If he gave something to someone, he expected a favor in return; investing in future help could prove beneficial. Since he was still new to the city, having people indebted to him seemed like a smart move. After nodding in agreement, Rusty began gathering all the items that belonged to the Halfling. He found a small spatial bag and dark leather armor that would fit her perfectly. Once he collected everything that looked usable, he placed the items near her body and rolled them up in a large blanket along with her. With Odelette securely bundled in the blanket, Rusty hefted her onto his shoulder and began the cautious trek back through the sewers. His metallic footsteps echoed softly against the stone walls, blending with the faint trickling of water beneath him. The stench of the underground seeped through the air, thick and humid, but Rusty remained unaffected. He conversed with Alexander who proved to be worse at reading maps than Aburdon. They passed the bodies of the men he defeated earlier and after grabbing their purses and weapons, he made his way out of the sewers. Odelette remained unconscious throughout the journey. Occasionally, her small body shifted as Rusty walked, but she remained otherwise still, breathing softly beneath the blanket. Following Alexander''s guidance, Rusty took the left turn, which brought them closer to their destination - the hidden barn entrance. He inserted his coin into a concealed slot in the wall, which triggered the space to open, revealing a ladder. Slowly, he climbed up, eventually arriving at their new destination. "Moooo¡­" Rusty was greeted by an unfamiliar creature. For a moment, he thought it might be a threat, but the animal seemed slow and docile. It appeared uninterested in him. First, he carefully pushed the rolled-up blanket with Odelette in it through the opening, and then he climbed up himself, emerging into a large barn filled with farm animals. The pen he found himself in was occupied by cows, but in the distance, he could hear the clucking of chickens and even the soft neighing of horses. Rusty''s current armor housed Albert''s mummified body within. He eventually noticed that his friend was beginning to wake. They had made it out this time, but Rusty wasn''t sure if his actions would come back to haunt him. There was always the possibility that someone had seen him, and once he returned, his life could be in danger. Still, without selling the numerous weapons he had taken from the adventurers, saving Gleam might be impossible and for his friend, he would even put his own life in danger. Chapter 84 – Awkward Helper. "Ugh¡­ What is that smell? and what''s this moist feeling"Someone with a higher-pitched voice groaned, her voice gradually getting louder as she returned to consciousness. "Huh? Ack!" Her eyes opened to a pink appendage slogging over her cheek. The animal it was attached to was a normal cow, and it was licking her for some reason. Odelette awoke to the unpleasant sensation of a cow''s tongue dragging across her cheek. Startled, she flailed her arms, pushing and pulling but something was wrong. Her whole body was wrapped up in something and the only thing sticking out was her head. "Ugh... stop, you stupid cow! What is this? Where am I?" Odelette''s nose was assaulted by a mix of smells no lady her age should ever have to endure. As she rolled away from the cow licking her face, she nearly collided with a large pile of cow excrement. Her eyes widened as she frantically tried to stop herself, but she had already gained too much momentum. Just before her face could meet the disgusting pile, someone grabbed her from the other side. It was only then that she realized she wasn''t alone. "You should keep it down. Others might be listening." "Huh? Is that... Mister Albert?" Odelette blinked in confusion, struggling to process what was happening. Her mind was still hazy from whatever had knocked her out, and the combination of smells and sensations left her disoriented. She looked up at the figure who had stopped her unfortunate collision with the dung pile - Albert, or at least someone who looked like him, was holding her steady. His cold hands had a surprising strength as he effortlessly lifted her back onto her feet. "W-what... what happened? Where am I? What are you doing here?" Odelette stammered, her voice filled with confusion and panic as she glanced around. The stinky blanket she was wrapped in was slowly coming undone. "You don''t remember?" The voice, unmistakably Albert''s, brought her a strange sense of comfort, even though she had never seen his face beneath the armor. They had gone adventuring together during the adventurer''s test, but he had never removed his armor, only speaking in that same monotone voice from time to time. Now, hearing it again from inside the familiar armor, she was certain it was the same person who had saved her from the sleeping gas during the test. "It is you, Mister Albert, and... oh, right, those bastards... Did they slip something into my drink!?" Odelette grasped her hair in frustration, tugging at it as fragmented memories of the incident started to return. "Argh¡­ I should have known! They were acting too friendly! How did I not see it?" Odelette''s frustration bubbled over as she yanked at her messy hair, her thoughts racing. Rusty gave her a moment to collect herself, watching silently as her emotions simmered. Though she didn''t fully recall the events that had transpired, the betrayal and humiliation were written all over her face. Rusty, however, didn''t quite understand the emotional depth of her distress - but Alexander did. ''She was lucky we got there in time. Maybe not remembering is a blessing, she''s still young'' Odelette was as animated as ever, just like during their adventuring days. At one point, in a sudden burst of energy, she dunked her head into a bucket of water the cows were drinking from. Rusty didn''t understand the reasoning, but Alexander explained it was probably her way of clearing her head. Surprisingly, when she pulled her face out of the water, she seemed calmer. "Ah¡­ that''s better. But¡­ now that I think about it, why is it so cold? Ack! Where are my clothes?!" Only now did she look down to see that her chest was exposed to the elements and that perhaps sticking her head into the bucket was not the best idea. She looked to Rusty who pointed in one direction before speaking. "There." Rusty pointed toward the discarded blanket, where her belongings lay. Odelette, who had been partially undressed by one of the thugs, suddenly realized the state she was in. Being a monster, Rusty didn''t care about seeing a woman''s body, nor did he feel any excitement over it. He had only taken her belongings because Alexander had told him to. He continued staring blankly, unaware of the awkwardness. The halfling woman, however, felt a sharp wave of embarrassment and hurriedly skittered back to the blanket. ''Hey, Rusty, look away!'' ''Why should I?'' ''It''s improper to stare at a lady when she''s undressed!'' ''Is this a people thing?'' ''Yes, it is! Now turn around so she can change!'' ''Fine¡­'' Rusty, after being scolded by Alexander, finally turned around. While Odelette dressed, she vented her frustrations, with Rusty listening quietly and responding whenever she asked a question. "I knew something was off with those guys¡­ I was just too eager to get into the guild. Damn it!" Odelette tugged at her leather armor, securing the clasps with shaky fingers. "Stupid¡­ stupid!" She kicked the blanket away, sending it tumbling into a pile of hay. Rusty tilted his head, listening to her frustration but not fully grasping the deeper emotions she was wrestling with. He only knew that her distress was about more than just the immediate danger she had been in. After a moment, her voice softened. "When I get those bastards, I''ll cut off their balls! ... But wait... how did I get here? What even happened? I don''t remember." There was a brief silence as she tried to piece together what had transpired. Her memories were hazy, and things weren''t adding up - especially when it came to Albert. Something about the situation didn''t feel right, but she hesitated to ask Rusty directly. After a pause, she finally mustered the courage to speak. "Do... do you know where those bastards are? What they did to me?" "Oh? Those people? You don''t need to worry about them - they''re all dead now." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "Huh?" Odelette was stunned by Rusty''s matter-of-fact tone. She had assumed Albert had found her after the worst had already happened, but now, hearing this, she realized something was different. She scanned her body, finding no bruises or signs of harm. It dawned on her that perhaps her attackers hadn''t even had the chance to touch her before Rusty intervened. "What do you mean, they''re all dead?" "Um... because they are?" "Did you kill them all?" "Yes, I did." Odelette stared at Rusty, her mouth slightly agape. Though she had fought alongside Albert in the recent past, she hadn''t realized he was this strong. There were at least five enemies she could count, and the big bald man seemed especially formidable. For a moment, she wondered if Albert had been hiding his true strength all along - perhaps he was secretly a silver-ranked adventurer. But before she could dwell on that, something else struck her as suspicious. "Wait... if you killed them, does that mean you know about the underground tunnels beneath the guild? Are you a member?" "I just became one.See, I have the temporary token, just like you," He didn''t see any problem in showing Odelette his thieves'' guild coin, knowing she was also a member. It quickly dawned on her that she was quite lucky and her old acquaintance had saved her, though she wasn''t sure why. Still, she didn''t care to question it too much. He was her benefactor, and as a thief, she understood that sometimes it was better not to ask too many questions, especially when dealing with someone who might be as strong as a silver-ranked adventurer. Her gaze shifted to Rusty, who continued to stand still, his metallic body gleaming in the dim barn light. She couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something different about him. The way he moved, the way he spoke - it was far too detached, far too mechanical. She couldn''t help but wonder if there was more to him than met the eye. "Mister Albert... you''re ¡­ You''re a swell guy, aren''t ya!" "I am?" Rusty was a bit surprised at her reaction and at the slap of affirmation that she gave him on his metallic posterior after getting dressed. He turned around to see a bright grin on Odelette''s face who seemed to have recovered from the encounter rather well. ''She seems to be someone that doesn''t overthink things too much¡­'' Alexander commented on her rather cheerful demeanor in a rather happy tone. The girl was a bundle of joy during their adventurers and her rage seemed to have diminished after hearing that the people that tried to assault her were dead. "Well, I have the coin and all my stuff back thanks to you Mister Albert, you''re quite the swell guy¡­ but I don''t have much to offer in return, except maybe my everlasting gratitude!" Odelette''s grin faltered for a moment, her eyes narrowing with mischief. "But don''t think I''ll owe you forever, Mister Albert! I''m going to repay this debt someday, so watch out!" Rusty remained quiet, unsure how to react. Loyalty and favors weren''t tangible to him, but if Odelette said she owed him, he supposed that was good enough. Her gear and clothes wouldn''t be worth that much and the daggers she used were too small for his hands. Odelette picked up her spatial satchel and strapped it to her belt, giving the barn one last glance. The cows chewed lazily in their pens, seemingly oblivious to the strange visitors in their midst. "Alright!" Odelette said with renewed energy. "Let''s get out of here. The faster we get away from this stink, the better." She began stepping away, eager to leave this place behind, but Rusty remained where he stood, unmoving. While her instincts urged her to flee, for him, the night was far from over. He had the map to the sewers and a plan to return to the black market disguised as Albert. Gleam''s auction was just around the corner, and he needed to offload all the loot he had gathered through less-than-legal means. "Is something wrong, Mister Albert? Let''s get out of here! How about we get something to eat, it''s on me!" "No, nothing''s wrong but I still have something else to do." "Oh¡­" Rusty''s acquaintance seemed disappointed by his response, though he couldn''t understand why. This would have been the perfect opportunity to strengthen his bond with a new friend, but as a living armor, he failed to pick up on the social cues. "Oh, alright then..." She muttered, casting him a glance. Despite the brief moment of awkwardness, she quickly put on a cheerful front once more. "Well, I guess I''ll head back then! But hey, you better be careful out there, Mister Albert. You know how this city is - full of people looking to take advantage of you." "I''ll be careful." He replied nonchalantly, looking down at the smaller halfling''s face. Her expression shifted slightly, and for the first time, he was able to recognize the emotion Odelette was feeling - disappointment. She quickly masked it with a smile, then started moving toward the barn''s exit. When she reached the door, she turned back and waved. "Mister Albert, I won''t forget this! I''ll be sure to pay you back one day!" "Sure?" He responded, awkwardly raising his hand to mirror her waving motion. Finally, she was gone, and he was left alone. Alexander waited a moment before the ball of light representing his being floated out of the armor, illuminating the barn. They stood in silence for a while, but Rusty could sense that his guide had something to say. "What?" "Nothing, you still need to work on your people skills¡­" Alexander sighed. His bright form dimmed slightly as if expressing disappointment. Rusty tilted his head, not quite understanding. "But I completed the task. Odelette is safe, her belongings are returned, and we parted ways. What''s left to do?" Alexander let out a small chuckle. "It''s not always about completing tasks, Rusty. Sometimes people - humans, halflings, whatever, need more than just the basics but perhaps I''m just being a busybody, we need to focus on saving your other friend first." His guide refrained from explaining social dynamics, knowing that Rusty wasn''t quite ready to absorb it all. As a living armor recently exposed to the diverse races of the world, it would likely take many months - or perhaps years before he truly understood what life was about. First, they needed to ensure that Rusty would live long enough to grasp such complexities, and saving Gleam was part of that mission. "Well then, could you show me that map again? I think there''s another entrance to the guild nearby¡­" "...Aburdon really is better at reading maps than you." "Hey, I''m trying!" Alexander wasn''t great at instantly recalling points of interest on maps, and perhaps it would be better to switch him out for his second guide. Rusty hesitated, though, because the two of them always ended up bickering when together. However, he needed to barter and also remember the thieves'' guild password for the coming week, and for that, Aburdon was the better choice. "Hah, Leave it to the hero to get my precious Rusty in more trouble!" "What trouble? He did the right thing by saving that girl!" "Did he now? What if they had powerful friends? What if they catch his scent and slay us when we return to the sewers, have you thought about that?" Just as he expected, the moment he allowed Aburdon to show up, his dark orb form instantly began berating Alexander. The two were like an old married couple, bound by a shared history that they constantly brought up. Sometimes their interactions were amusing, but most of the time, they just created problems when he had to choose a side. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''ll see you later, Alexander. For now, I need Aburdon to help me navigate the black market." "Hah! Rusty needs me more than you! You''re a useless hero now just like in the past¡­" "Says the demon lord who was defeated by this useless hero." Aburdon seized this opportunity to gloat, but Alexander quickly rebutted his claim. Even though both of them had died in the end, Alexander was the one who won the duel between the two and Aburdon didn''t know how to retort. Rusty quickly made Alexander go back to the Soul Forge before any more insults were thrown between the two. Quickly after he brought out the map and had Aburdon go through with it and with his help he was led to a third secret entrance. The first one was at a pub, the second one at a barn but this third one was a disused well hidden behind a crumbling wall at the edge of a decrepit alleyway. The entrance was partially obscured by overgrown vines and crumbling bricks, making it easy to overlook. He wasn''t sure how the thieves made it look so believable but it looked like it had not been used in forever. Soon his form disappeared into it as he delved back into the sewers, his aim to sell all his stolen loot. Chapter 85 – Auction Approaches. Rusty slipped through the hidden entrance, his heavy, metallic frame surprisingly silent as he descended into the old well. The stone walls were slick with moisture, and the air was thick with the pungent scent of damp earth and sewage. Rusty didn''t mind; as living armor, he didn''t need to breathe. His body moved more naturally than before, each step emulating the way a human would walk.Aburdon, who had memorized the entire map of the sewers, became Rusty''s guide. He led him through the twisting, narrow tunnels that stretched beneath the city. The demon lord''s haughty and nonchalant tone was a sharp contrast to Alexander''s more compassionate voice. "Take the next right, then descend the ladder. The black market entrance is just ahead. Aren''t you glad you switched to me? You''ve made a marvelous choice, Rusty, but it would be even better if you never called that fool again. I''m the only guide you''ll ever need~" Aburdon silently congratulated himself for guiding Rusty back to the same black market entrance. On the way, they passed the area where Rusty had defeated the thief guild members. Unsurprisingly, someone was investigating the scene, and the guard there eyed him with malice. His armored body had been swapped to Albert''s armor - a fresh version that lacked any of the scents he had absorbed in this area. Before Rusty could move forward, a strange creature approached him. It resembled a dog-like monster, but with an unusually large nose. The creature sniffed the air in his direction, its nostrils flaring as it tested the scent. After a moment, it seemed disinterested, as though the scent he gave off wasn''t worth its attention. ''See, I told you they wouldn''t be able to track you if you replaced your body completely. Use this tactic whenever you need to escape someone in the future.'' ''I will.'' It was a useful tactic, though it required him to spend resources on a new body and either discard the old one or store it. Once he completed the process, all traces of scent were erased, making him untraceable. He could even swap out his helmet, but for that, he needed to damage it first. If he simply changed his loadout, the helmet would shift into a new version but retain the old smells. However, restoring it replaced all the internal metals, allowing him to evade the noses of tracking hounds. "Never seen you around here¡­ are you new?" Asked the thief after pulling the doglike creature to the side. "Yes," Rusty replied in a monotone voice which was starting to sound more humane with each day. "¡­ I don''t suppose you''ve seen anyone suspicious, huh?" The man was missing a few teeth and one of his eyes, giving him a menacing appearance. He leaned in as if trying to intimidate Rusty with his ugly face, but the living armor stood still, unaffected. "No, I didn''t see anyone. Did something happen?" It was clear the man was irritated by Rusty''s nonchalant response. His expression darkened, and with a grunt of frustration, he spat to the side before waving him through. "None of your business. Move along." The guard was initially suspicious, but after a quick look, he eventually let Rusty pass. There were some noises coming from around the corner but he couldn''t see the bodies of the people he had slain anymore. Now that the thugs that were after Albert were dead and he made it into the thieves guild, there were probably no more obstacles waiting for him here. He continued back to the black market entrance and used his coin to slip through the secret door and was right back where he started. The pungent mix of sweat, smoke, and rot greeted him, but now he wasn''t in a living body so it did not bother him anymore. Stalls were crowded together, with vendors peddling stolen goods, exotic weapons, and even magical artifacts. Shady figures negotiated in low voices, their deals drowned out by the constant buzz of the underground marketplace. Rusty''s metallic footsteps were masked by the noise, his armored form blending in among the assortment of mercenaries and thieves that frequented this place. ''I need to become a permanent member first, how much should I give them for it to be only five silver coins?'' Aburdon peeked into Rusty''s inventory screen to assess their situation. Rusty needed to return some of the loot to the man who had lent him a temporary coin and exchange it for a permanent one. He had arrived around ten at night, and now, three hours later, the same man was still there. He approached the area that resembled an adventurer''s guild again, though it seemed busier than before. Apparently, this guild operated more during the night. The burly man stood behind the same rundown bar, as gruff as ever. Rusty approached him just like last time but before he could present anything, the man spoke up. "A new face? Are you a newbie?" ''Ah that''s right¡­'' Rusty nearly made a blunder by calling out to the man. Previously, he had been disguised as one of his attackers, but now he was in the form of Albert. Catching himself, he decided not to say anything and instead pulled out his temporary guild token, placing it on the bar counter. The man raised an eyebrow at Rusty''s silence but eventually nodded, accepting the token without question. He likely assumed Rusty had received it from another guild member. These tokens possessed special attributes and a low-level enchantment, but Aburdon had assured Rusty there was no way he could be traced back to the now-dead thug he had inhabited for that brief hour. "So, did you come to complete the registration?" "Yes." "Then let''s see it, I hope for your sake that you''re not wasting my time¡­" There were other thieves around here looking at them. They seemed to be ready for something and smiling. Rusty wasn''t sure what it was about but it wasn''t anything good. It was possible that whoever was unable to bring in enough loot for a full registration got punished in some kind of way and if the items he took out didn''t satisfy this bartender, then he could be in for another fight. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Rusty stood silently, reaching into his satchel and retrieving several items he had looted during the dungeon raids. Following Aburdon''s instructions, he placed them carefully on the counter, trying to gauge the reaction of the burly bartender. Reading human expressions wasn''t Rusty''s strong suit, but he watched closely. The bartender''s eyes scanned the pile of valuables with casual disinterest at first, though something in his gaze shifted - there was a hint of recognition. "Not bad, newbie¡­" The man grunted. "These items aren''t half bad. You''ve got a keen eye for value. You''re going to make a fine thief - or more likely a bandit, by the looks of it." He chuckled, suggesting that Rusty''s bulky, armored appearance seemed more fitting for a brute than a nimble thief. Rusty''s form, indeed, was better suited for intimidation than the stealthy approach or subterfuge. While there were thief classes that focused on stealth and agility, bandits thrived on brute force and fear. Still, this underground guild didn''t discriminate based on skillset. Fighters, brawlers, even priests could join as long as they proved their worth. It seemed Rusty had passed this test - for now. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Did you take these from some dead adventurers or did you ¡­ Ah, it doesn''t really matter, here you''ve earned your membership." The bartender took away Rusty''s temporary thief coin and replaced it with a similar-looking one, but this new coin was made of a more precious metal. It lacked any specific markings and resembled an ordinary silver coin at first glance, but Rusty knew its true value. This coin granted him full access to the guild, where he could now freely sell all the stolen goods he had collected from robbing adventurers. With this permanent token in hand, Rusty was officially part of the underground network, able to trade and operate without the limitations of his previous temporary status. As Rusty pocketed the permanent coin, a strange sense of accomplishment settled over him. Though he hadn''t been given any official title or recognition, it felt like he had completed a quest he had set out to achieve. It had been a multi-part mission that brought him all the way here, and now a new opportunity had opened up: he could finally start selling all the loot he had stolen. However, to be cautious, it was wiser to offload the items gradually, spreading out his profits to avoid drawing attention from the wrong people. He was still a rookie in this place, and some might target him once they noticed he was carrying a large sum of money. The process was similar to selling items above ground. Although the black market merchants were more stingy than regular ones, Rusty was still able to get reasonable prices for the items he had taken. Enchanted armor and weapons sold the best, fetching prices only about twenty percent lower than what they would go for in a store. This meant they would fly off the shelves quickly, and he''d have no trouble making more money. After another hour of making his way around the black market, he had sold a good portion of his loot. Even potions, lockpicking tools, and jewelry - some of which adventurers wore even though they had no enchantments on them - found eager buyers. It was a resounding success, with a third of his loot now gone. ''I think that should be enough for tonight, you don''t want to seem too suspicious Rusty. People have been watching you but that''s normal but before we leave, let me glance at their mission board, maybe we can find something interesting there.'' ''Fine with me.'' Just like in the adventurer guild, this place also had their own board for missions. However, instead of monster parts it listed bounties, heists, smuggling operations, and even assassination contracts. Rusty approached the dimly lit corner where the thieves'' guild mission board stood. Several shadowy figures were gathered around, eyeing the various postings with a mix of greed and caution. Aburdon hovered inside Rusty''s helmet, scanning the board for any particularly lucrative or strategic opportunities. The missions were organized by difficulty and payout, with some marked in red, signaling high risk or especially dangerous targets. Similar to the adventurers'' guild, the thieves'' guild had its own ranking system, though it had one less rank, as only individuals with dual classes were allowed to join. Rusty was currently at the first rank - Obsidian -which was symbolized by the black coin he had received. The guild seemed to follow a particular theme with its rankings; the second was Jade, and beyond that, the prestigious Moonstone rank. "Hmm¡­ What have we here? This one looks interesting¡­" Rusty followed Aburdon''s direction to a mission posted at the very top of the board, written in cryptic symbols and code. It was a high-level contract - one that likely required a more experienced team. The reward, however, was substantial: 200 gold coins for retrieving a specific magical artifact from a heavily guarded noble''s estate. "But alas, I don''t think you''re ready for something like that¡­ perhaps when you''re a C-rank monster." He wasn''t planning on committing any murders inside of the city but perhaps if an adventurer that was listed on this board appeared before him, he would reconsider. In a sense, this guild also bought up body parts, just ones belonging to people of the intelligent races. Each killing contract was only completed after bringing an ear of the person killed or one of their fingers. The guild would then identify the person who had been killed and only then would he receive the rewards. While these contracts were intriguing, Rusty knew he was ill-suited for breaking into people''s houses while wearing his armor. He had a skill that allowed him to hide in the shadows, but he couldn''t maintain it for long. Eventually, he departed from the strange underground place. It was late at night, but the streets were still bustling with activity. After ensuring he wasn''t being followed, he returned to the inn to wait for morning. His pile of gold was slowly increasing, but it likely wouldn''t be enough to secure his friend''s release from captivity. When the morning sun finally rose, he headed toward the auction house where Gleam was supposed to be sold. He still wasn''t certain if she was in this city, as the system wasn''t picking up her location, but there was little he could do except wait and grow stronger. If, for some reason, she wasn''t there, he wasn''t sure what he would do. However, for now, with his spirits high, he continued his daily adventures. He spent another two days in the dungeon, hunting monsters and occasionally ambushing unsuspecting adventurers with his sleeping trap. However, word of his tricks was spreading, making theft increasingly difficult. Killing orcs eventually became his only source of income but the items he gained through his robberies were selling well and eventually, the day arrived. "Hear ye, hear ye!" Rusty returned from one of his dungeon dives, thrilled to find he had leveled up again. Finally, something was changing. At the auction house, he encountered a small group of people gathered around a well-dressed man. He held a large scroll in his hand, and it appeared he was about to announce when the next auction would take place. "The Luxe Auction House is going to open its doors to the public in five days time! We will be showcasing a collection of rare magical artifacts, including rare elixirs, enchanted weapons, and - " The man paused dramatically, his gaze sweeping over the eager crowd. " - the coveted Stellar Scepter, an artifact said to grant its wielder unimaginable healing power!" Rusty felt a bit disappointed as the man continued to talk and only mentioned some obscure artifacts or potions he didn''t recognize. However, right at the end, he finally gave him the information that he desired. "We shall also present a grandiose collection of magical beasts and monsters, ready to be tamed for the right price! The auction starts at sundown five days from now! Please remember that the highest bidder always wins and whoever isn''t able to produce enough coins, will be required to pay with their very freedom!" The auctioneer''s voice boomed through the crowd, making some of the participants excited. Rusty felt a shiver run through his metallic frame as this was it. He finally had a date with Gleam''s name on it and in five short days, he would finally be able to bid for his friend''s freedom. ''Five days¡­ I must get more¡­'' He murmured to himself before venturing away, there were only five days remaining and he still needed to get more gold¡­ Chapter 86 – Finishing The Preparations. "Quick, I saw him run through here!""After him, don''t let that bastard escape!" A thunder of footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridor. The thick walls, marred with scratches, belonged to the local E-rank dungeon. Inside, a group of six men were chasing a hoodlum who had dared to steal from adventurers. After more than a week of this cat-and-mouse chase, they had finally cornered him, and today, they were determined to catch this menace once and for all. "..." "I don''t see him... Are you sure he went this way?" The leader of the group, a broad-shouldered man with small bear-like ears, barked at his companions, his breath heavy from the chase. The corridor funneled into what seemed like a dead-end chamber, the only light coming from the faint glow of dungeon crystals embedded in the walls. His axe gleamed under the eerie blue light as he scanned the area, his patience wearing thin. "I swear, I saw him!" One of the younger adventurers spoke up, panting heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "He went this way. He couldn''t have just vanished!" The chamber they found themselves in was closed off, with four large columns placed in the center. It was dimly lit - an area designed as a trap. If anyone moved too close to the center, a mechanism would trigger, sealing the entrance behind them. Monsters from the dungeon would then be funneled in through hidden compartments above and below. It was a danger the group hoped to avoid. "Could he be hiding behind one of those pillars?" "Are you stupid? Look at the width of them. No grown man in armor could fit behind those." The leader, maddened by his companions'' bickering, took a deep breath, his sharp ears twitching as he listened intently. The corridor was deathly silent, save for the quiet hum of dungeon magic coursing through the walls. No footsteps, no shuffling. It was as if the hoodlum had disappeared into thin air. "Unless this guy''s some kind of master at hiding, there''s no reason to assume he''s still here... And if he was that skilled, he wouldn''t need to hide from us in the first place." The leader scratched his chin, scanning the room while listening to one of his men talk. There were no signs of anyone having been there, nor any indication that someone was hiding behind the pillars. His men spread out, moving to the left and right to check behind them, but still, they found no one. It crossed his mind that a high-level skill might be in play, but if that were the case, the person using it could easily kill them all before they even realized what was happening. Only high-level assassins could blend so perfectly into the shadows, and someone of that caliber wouldn''t bother robbing low-level adventurers. "You''re right, no point in wasting any more time here." He signaled his men to back away, their irritation clear. They had been chasing the same elusive target for days, only to be tricked time and time again. The perpetrator wore armor similar to dungeon monsters from the lesser F-rank dungeon. Everyone knew that it was a disguise to avoid detection but each time he managed to somehow evade their pursuits. With nothing left here for them they decided to retreat back to the dungeon''s entrance, eager to regroup and plan their next move. Little did they know, their elusive target was right under their noses the entire time. Rusty, cloaked in shadows, had been using his Basic Elemental Meld ability to blend seamlessly into the chamber''s dark crevices. There wasn''t much shadow to work with, so he had reduced his form to just a helmet, but luckily, his pursuers were focused on the pillars in the center of the room, ignoring the dark corners where he could hide. ''That was close. If they''d stayed a few moments longer, my mana would''ve run out¡­ I think, this might be a good time to stop before they catch me¡­'' Rusty thought, switching his loadout to return to his Albert form for now. He wasn''t sure if his pursuers were still waiting for him outside, so it was safer to use his official disguise. Everyone was searching for someone resembling a living armor, and thanks to his system, he could switch between various armored forms to keep hiding. ''But will it be enough?'' Three days had passed since the auction announcement, and he had less than two days to gather everything. The sum his guide had instructed him to collect was almost in his inventory, and with all the loot from his recent robberies, he just needed to sell it off to reach his goal. It was good news, but Rusty had lived long enough not to be fooled by temporary victories. Just like in the past, there were always factors beyond his control. He knew better than to celebrate before succeeding in his mission to save Gleam. ''What''s my current level at¡­'' Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L7 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 253/253 Magic Points [MP] 32/210 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 99 [ E ] Agility 73 [ E ] Dexterity 72 [ E ] Constitution 103 [ E+ ] Intelligence 78 [ E ] You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Wisdom 80 [ E ] Willpower 79 [ E ] Durability D ''Close to half way, but will not be able to get to E+ or D- before the auction.'' Rusty glanced at his experience bar, which was more than half full, and realized he could expect at most one more level-up before the auction date. His leveling drive was starting to slow down, but he was still making steady progress toward the next big change. Additionally, he had successfully gained new skills from the green-skinned monsters that were compatible with his absorption skill. Not only those monsters, but also the adventurers he robbed had become his targets. He had hoped to acquire a mana manipulation skill to begin his journey as a caster, but there weren''t any orc shamans or mages with such skills nearby. Instead, he had learned some other tricks that might come in handy. Provoking Shout Active Skills Forces enemies within range to attack the person performing this skill. The skill can be resisted by individuals with high willpower. One of the skills he took belonged to the more advanced fighter class. It was one that the temporary adventurer party had asked him about and he lacked. While it wasn''t great when he was fighting alone, once Gleam joined him on his adventures it would probably prove available for her survival. Lesser Fury Active Skills For a short amount of time, it enhances all physical stats, and can''t be used repeatedly. This skill was one he had acquired from one of the orcs. They had two similar skills; the other was called Lesser Berserk, but for some reason, it wasn''t compatible with Rusty''s physiology. This one was a downgraded variant with fewer side effects and could be triggered at any time at the expense of mana. The other skill required the user to amass some damage before activation, vastly enhancing their stats but at the cost of their sanity. At least, that was how Alexander had explained it when Rusty had asked for clarification. The orc monsters seemed to use skills to enhance their muscular bodies to the extreme but he was a suit of armor, lacking any adrenaline glands or hormones to induce rage and bloodlust. However, his leveling up had also granted him some of his own skills that were achieved only by living-armor monsters. Fortify Armor Active Skills Temporarily increases defense by hardening the armor''s material, reducing damage taken for a short period. Can be activated to negate damage from heavy attacks but also lowers agility when used. It was a useful skill that allowed him to temporarily raise his durability. Once activated, he would be almost impervious to physical damage. Even the large orcs with their hammers and axes wouldn''t be able to scratch his body while this skill was in effect. With these three new additions, he had become even stronger than before, and perhaps it was time to use the next two days to pursue an even greater boost. ''I can''t rob anyone anymore but I still have two days left, I should be able to advance further down the labyrinth.'' Rusty had now spent more than a week exploring the first large floor of this dungeon. With Aburdon''s help, he had never felt lost, and hunting monsters was becoming increasingly easy. This place was much larger than the F-rank dungeon he had originated from, but it also felt more constraining. Many adventurers wandered these halls, but the further he ventured in, the fewer people he encountered. The people of this world were different from him and had varying motivations. Rusty''s two main goals were to become stronger and save his friend. He didn''t hunt enemies for wealth or fame, but those adventurers did. Their reasoning for being there felt somewhat shallow, and they were limited by their own motivations. Fear was a powerful emotion, and with little more than the desire to earn money while putting themselves in danger, they often faltered, stifling their progress. Fear was not something Rusty truly understood, though he was aware of its existence. He still wanted to live, and now that he was no longer bound to the old dungeon, defeat meant his body wouldn''t be restored. He had taken his freedom, but that also made him like everyone else - mortal. Still, he didn''t have time to dwell on such grand ideas. Instead, he focused on his mission, wandering through the corridors until he reached the stairs leading to the lower labyrinth floor. ''This is different from the last dungeon¡­'' "Potions! Get your potions!" "Ropes, fresh clothes, rations - we''ve got everything!" The area before the stairs was much larger here. It was a safe zone, where no monsters could wander in, and the Adventurers'' Guild made full use of it to their advantage. They created a safe zone for people to rest and resupply. Small stalls dotted the area, run by merchants peddling essential goods like potions, weapons, and food. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes bustled about, some preparing to descend deeper into the labyrinth, while others rested from their battles, recounting tales of the dangers they had faced. It was a lively place, a sharp contrast to the eerie silence of the dungeon halls Rusty had just left behind. ''There is even a sleeping area but also, everything costs twice as much as in the city.'' One thing he had noticed about the people of various races was their greed. The dungeon was a deadly place, yet any help provided here always came with conditions. Even if someone was on the brink of death, no aid would be given unless they had something to trade. While money wasn''t always necessary, something had to be offered in return - sometimes even just a favor to be called in later. Rusty scanned the crowd, trying to gauge the strength of the monsters below by observing the adventurers heading down. This was still an E-rank dungeon, and while he was a monster of that level, stronger ones lurked beneath his metallic feet. Fortunately, no one from his old party was around to call out to him, allowing him to head directly for the long staircase leading down. There were a lot of adventurers here, more than he expected but no one seemed to be too interested in him. Some gave him a few fleeting glances but most of them were still busy discussing the iron bandit, the name that he had garnered after his form had been discovered after a few robberies. Rusty descended the long staircase, each step echoing softly through the stone corridor as the safe zone above faded into the distance. The deeper he went, the more the air grew heavier, saturated with the faint scent of damp earth and something else - something far more dangerous. Unlike the upper levels, where low-rank iron adventurers casually strolled, the lower labyrinth floors were much more treacherous. At this level it was a possibility to encounter an E+ rank monster and sometimes even a mutated D- rank. The dampness in the air came from the change in the walls'' composition, which became saturated from the rising vapors and moisture. Lizardmen and Orcs still roamed this level, but they had their own large chambers, where both monster types were concentrated in high numbers. Some chambers were said to be filled with shallow swamps and poisonous fog, which explained the heavy, damp air. Rusty didn''t have to worry about the poison - only the moisture, which could cause his iron body to rust, was a problem. ''Now then, Aburdon, find me a safe place to test the monsters down here.'' ''Ah yes, Aburdon the Lord of Maps, at your service my lord.'' Aburdon replied in a mocking tone that Rusty was starting to pick up on. The more he wondered about the world of the intelligent races, the more he learned about their culture. The air grew colder as Rusty ventured further, the sound of dripping water echoing in the passage. He instinctively reached for his weapon, his senses heightened. The deeper floors of this dungeon were notorious for their tricky layout and stronger monsters, but it was exactly what Rusty needed if he wanted to level up before the auction. ''Keep your guard up, a cluster of creatures should be up ahead, that is if no other adventurers got to them first.'' Just as he expected, the first area was a dud. No monster had persisted and the whole place had been looted. This was quite normal as they were close to the safe zone. To find more bounties he needed to go in further and so he would. He ventured into the next corridor with hastened steps, his mind preoccupied with the arrival of his main mission''s end. He eventually encountered a group of orcs that were stronger than the previous ones and engaged them in battle. Their levels were higher, and the danger was greater, but he persisted. With each swing of his sword, time continued to pass, and the battle turned into a test of endurance - something the orcs were lacking. His body absorbed their cleavers, and by fortifying himself, he took no damage at all. The monsters roared, entering a berserk frenzy, but he didn''t buckle under the pressure and continued his onslaught. Eventually, nothing remained but a large piece of damaged iron armor that began restoring itself back into shape. Experience points flowed into him, making him stronger, but it wasn''t nearly enough. He needed more, and before the two days were up, he had to advance further and prepare himself for the unknown auction he needed to participate in. ''Don''t worry Gleam, in two days, we''ll be back together¡­'' Rusty pulled his sword from an Orc''s body and turned his attention to a new corridor. He seemed to have triggered some kind of trap, as the chorus of frantic roars reverberated off the dungeon walls and drew closer to his position. He welcomed this; more monsters meant more experience and more parts to sell - something he desperately needed for the culmination of his quest. Chapter 87 – Auction Starts. "Are you going to take part?""Me? Nah, why would I waste my money on the entrance fee?" "But there might be something good there." "Hah, be my guest. Go fight it out with those rich merchants and high-level adventurers if you want. I''m saving that silver for some beer." "Now that sounds like a good investment. Count me in!" The two men laughed as they eyed the small line of people gathered outside the local auction house, waiting for it to open. Today was the day of the grand auction, but the only way in was by paying a steep entrance fee - a clear attempt to keep poorer patrons from participating. Rusty was nearing the end of his journey. Two days had passed, and now, after braving the lower labyrinth floors and battling the toughest orcs and lizardmen, he stood before the grand auction house. His worn metallic frame was patched up, gleaming faintly in the soft light of the evening sun. He''d done it. He''d gathered the gold he needed. It wasn''t easy - pushing himself to the brink, taking on groups of stronger monsters, and trading the spoils of war. But now, the moment of truth had arrived. The auction house was grand, towering above the market square, with golden accents and banners fluttering in the breeze, bearing the symbol of Luxe Auction House. Rusty watched as the well-dressed crowd mingled and gossiped, exchanging knowing glances and discussing their latest acquisitions. Some looked like nobility but there were also others like him, wearing bulky armor and clearly adventurers. They were all gathered here with one goal: to win something rare and valuable. But for Rusty, it wasn''t about treasure. His prize was much more personal - the chance to save Gleam, his friend and only companion. Rusty had shifted into his Albert form, appearing as an unremarkable yet well-armored adventurer, blending seamlessly into the crowd. As he stood there, memories of Gleam, his small ant companion, resurfaced. He remembered how she had fought fiercely to save him in the dungeon''s depths and the caves below. Twice she had saved his life - once by carrying his helmet away from the monster beetles, and another time by rescuing him from the spiders. However, she had been captured by humans and had been missing ever since. Today, Rusty vowed to finally end all of this and bring her back. He approached the entrance, catching a glimpse of the rich crowd, some eyeing him with suspicion, others ignoring him entirely. The entrance fee was steep, but Rusty had more than enough to pay it now. He handed over the coins, and the guards stepped aside, allowing him entry. ''This is supposed to be a grand auction house? It looks like an overgrown shack.'' ''It looks fine to me.'' ''Hah, not that I expected you to have an eye for these things, hero.'' While waiting, Rusty heard Aburdon and Alexander''s voices echoing inside his helmet. He wasn''t truly alone as the spirits of both the deceased demon and the hero were with him today. Rusty had chosen to bring them along for this occasion, uncertain of what the day might hold. Each guide had their strengths and weaknesses. They were constantly bickering and clashing with one another but if it meant getting Gleam back, Rusty was willing to endure their arguments. Between the two of them, one was bound to have the right answer for whatever lay ahead. ''Quiet down you two, you''re making me nervous!'' ''Are you turning more human, I didn''t think suits of armor could become nervous?'' Aburdon responded in a slightly mocking tone. Rusty wasn''t sure if he was nervous as he only knew the word existed and that this seemed like a moment when a person might feel that way. His body lacked the physiology to experience emotions like a true human, but for some reason, a strange tingling sensation spread through his helmet. It was similar to what he felt when facing a powerful opponent capable of ending his life. Rusty took his place in the queue and waited patiently. The auction was set to begin in about an hour, but a large crowd had already gathered. One thing he noticed was that there were two entrances, and one allowed people to enter much faster. A closer look revealed a difference between the two lines: in his line, most were adventurers or modest merchants wearing worn-out clothes, while the other entrance was filled with better-dressed individuals who didn''t resemble warriors or any adventurer types he had seen before. ''This must be the class divide Alexander spoke about.'' After arriving in the city, Rusty had worked hard to fit in, and part of that meant understanding the local culture. The people of various intelligent races seemed to divide themselves into groups. Some of these divisions were based on race, but others depended on wealth. Adventurers were a unique group, mingling with each other regardless of race or background. But above them all were the nobles - people who commanded respect and were not to be offended. The nobility were the true rulers here, a hard pill to swallow for someone like Rusty, who was a monster. In his world, strength or victory in battle determined who was right. Yet, time and again, he had encountered weak individuals who were feared and revered, protected by much stronger guards who could easily slay them. It was baffling. The world wasn''t only driven by the greed for money but by strange blood ties and inherited power - concepts he, as living armor, couldn''t fully grasp. "Please, present your coins. If you do not have the entrance fee, kindly move along," a voice called out, breaking his thoughts. Eventually, he arrived at the front of the queue, and Rusty reached into his pouch, handing over the required coins. The guard glanced at them, then nodded in approval, allowing Rusty to step inside. The Luxe Auction House interior was vastly different from its unassuming exterior - a grand hall stretched before him, illuminated by glowing orbs of light suspended in midair. Rows of cushioned seats lined the room, each facing a grand stage draped in crimson curtains. Above, intricate chandeliers sparkled, casting an ethereal glow over the hushed crowd that had already gathered. Rusty scanned the room. A lot of the attendees were wealthy merchants or perhaps nobles, their affluence evident in their extravagant outfits and the entourage of servants or bodyguards accompanying them. They sat in personal booths overlooking the lower level of the auction, where Rusty needed to find a free spot among the other regular adventurers. The venue was neat and clean, with guards stationed almost everywhere. He took a moment to assess his surroundings and had his guides check for the best escape routes. Retrieving Gleam had been his mission from the start, and he intended to see it through, even if it meant resorting to drastic measures. While weapons weren''t permitted, armor was allowed. He had been thoroughly searched for any hidden weapons and was eventually granted entry. However, this didn''t concern him; by activating one of his loadouts, he could be fully armed with everything he needed. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Rusty had prepared various contingencies for a quick getaway if the attendees refused to return Gleam. Although Alexander disapproved of the idea, Rusty was ready to unleash poison, darkness, and alchemical bombs if it meant getting his friend back. He had no intention of living as an adventurer and would flee at the first opportunity. But that was merely a contingency plan - something to be executed only in a time of crisis. His guides, Aburdon and Alexander, had finished checking for potential threats and escape routes. Their voices were hushed now as they quietly observed the unfolding scene. The auction hadn''t started yet, so he took the opportunity to listen in on the conversations around him. "What are you aiming for?" "I heard they''ll be selling some elixirs. You?" "I''m waiting for a boss monster core. I heard they''ll be auctioning those off today - I need one for my sword." "Those guild bastards always try to monopolize those..." "Yeah, but what can you do?" The chatter was somewhat interesting, but it didn''t help him figure out when Gleam would be presented. There were a lot of people here, and from what he understood, the auction had three phases. First, some mediocre items would be presented to get things going. Only after that would the truly valuable items be rolled out. Once that was done, a final round of lesser items would be auctioned off to close the day. Alexander had told him it was best if Gleam appeared among the last items, as it would make it much easier to buy her back. Most of the wealthy merchants and nobles wouldn''t stay until the end, leaving him a chance to get her at a lower price. The auction''s crowd grew and eventually, a large portion of the seats had been filled. Merchants exchanged rumors, adventurers whispered strategies, and the wealthy flaunted their riches with subtle gestures of arrogance. A soft chime echoed through the room, followed by the quieting of the audience. The auctioneer appeared - an older man in a lavish crimson robe and a black top hat. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Luxe Auction House''s grand event of the month!" Rusty listened to him speak, the tone sounded a lot different as it was somewhat theatrical and overblown. The same could be said for his hand gestures that he performed with almost every word he spoke. "Tonight, you will witness rare treasures, powerful artifacts, and beasts not seen in the wild for decades. Remember, fortune favors the bold. So, place your bids wisely." Some people from the crowd leaned forward, captivated by the man''s presence. Others sighted as if they had seen the same words be spoken on multiple occasions, and wanted him to just move on with it. Rusty stayed still, his metallic form stuck in place as he waited with anticipation. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the man talked, he noticed the wooden paddle resting against the armrest of his seat. The number "45" was printed on it, representing him and his seat for the auction. When bidding, he would need to raise the paddle and wait for the auctioneer to confirm his offer. The last person to hold up their paddle would be declared the winner. Once the bidding concluded, he would follow the auction house staff to claim his winnings. "Now then, let the auction begin!" The auctioneer''s grand proclamation was met with a bout of polite applause as the first item was brought onto the stage - a simple ring of minor enchantment, said to enhance the wearer''s stamina. Rusty''s eyes remained fixed on the stage, but his mind was elsewhere, fixated on Gleam and the mission at hand. He didn''t care about these early items; they were bait to warm up the crowd. As the auctioneer listed off the ring''s properties, Rusty decided to make a recount of all the money that he had in possession. Alexander had advised him to gather around twenty gold coins to be safe, but he had managed to collect five more. It was quite a sum, considering one gold coin could sustain a family of four for a month. For adventurers, though, things were far more expensive, and their items often sold at exorbitant prices. He had robbed others, slain monsters, and sold nearly his entire stash of metals from his storage. There was nothing left in his possession that he hadn''t pawned off. Now, it was time to spend it all. The bidding started small, with a few casual adventurers throwing up their paddles, hoping to buy the item at a lower price than usual. Rusty kept his number 45 paddle down as there was only one thing he was here for. As the first few rounds progressed, the auctioneer introduced increasingly valuable items: enchanted weapons, rare potions, and even some unidentified relics recovered from ancient ruins. Rusty noticed the room''s energy shift, with each item commanding higher bids and drawing the attention of the wealthier patrons. He had no interest in the relics or magical items being auctioned off, but the constant vagueness of the auction was starting to gnaw on him. There was no way of knowing for him that Gleam was even here and with each no item presented, he worried more. Aburdon''s voice echoed in his mind, trying to keep him grounded. ''Relax, Rusty. Keep calm. You''ve planned for this. If something goes wrong, you can just kill them all! Just drench this place in your darkness, and it will all be over! That''s why we bought all those mana potions! '' ''I agree with Aburdon¡­ just not with the last part. Stop trying to get Rusty to kill everyone, you insane bastard! '' Alexander chimed in but also seemed annoyed by the demon lord''s words. ''Stick to the plan. Most of the big spenders are here for more lucrative items. I bet no one here will even go over ten gold coins.'' ''I hope so¡­'' The auction continued, and the crowd wasn''t thinning¡ªin fact, even more people were arriving. The first phase had come to an end, and a brief ten-minute break was announced. Some people took the opportunity to visit the restrooms, while others grabbed a bite to eat or even drank alcohol. Rusty remained seated, still as a statue, though he had to stand a few times to let people in and out of the row. Eventually, the auctioneer returned and began speaking again. The second phase of the auction began, with a hushed excitement sweeping through the crowd. The auctioneer''s voice became more intense, reflecting the anticipation of what was to come. It was time for the rare, valuable items - the ones that had drawn in the wealthiest patrons and the most determined adventurers. Rusty''s focus sharpened. He could feel the tension building in the room as higher bids were being placed, and more exclusive items were unveiled. The first item in this phase was a brilliantly crafted sword, said to be infused with the essence of an ancient storm wyvern. The blade crackled with faint sparks of lightning, drawing gasps from the crowd. Bidding was fierce, with wealthy merchants and adventurers throwing up their paddles, eager to outbid one another. Rusty kept his paddle down, ignoring the murmurs and rising excitement. Next came a large dragon''s scale, shimmering with an iridescent glow. It was rumored to hold the essence of the beast''s regenerative power, capable of being forged into powerful armor. The price skyrocketed, leaving only the richest still competing for it. The gold coins that he managed to gain paled in comparison to the endless coffers these rich nobles and merchants possessed. Finally, after what felt like hours, the crowd began to thin. Some of the wealthiest patrons, having won their treasures, were leaving with smug smiles, their entourages carrying their new acquisitions. The energy in the room dipped as the auctioneer moved into the final phase, which Rusty hoped would bring the one thing he had waited for, Gleam. The next few items were far less impressive - trinkets, lesser magical items, and rare herbs - but still, there was no sign of Gleam. Rusty''s anxiety was rising, and even Alexander''s calming words weren''t helping. Aburdon kept silent, as though sensing the moment wasn''t right to stir trouble with his haughty tone. At long last, the auctioneer motioned toward a side door, through which one guard entered. The man pushed on a large wooden cart draped with a dark velvet cloth, wheeling it into position at the center of the stage. Rusty''s mental mind raced; this had to be it. He leaned forward, straining to see through the cloth blocking the view. "Next, we have a unique creature, captured from the depths of the dungeon¡­" Chapter 88 – Back Together? "¡­Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you - an extremely rare find. A Dungeon-born monster, unlike anything we''ve seen in recent years!"The auctioneer dramatically pulled the velvet cloth off the cage, revealing Gleam. The audience gasped collectively as the small, white ant, about the size of a small dog, sat in the middle of the cage. Her ivory exoskeleton gleamed under the lights, giving off a faint, otherworldly glow. Rusty''s heart - or what passed for it in his armor - tightened. Gleam was shackled, her legs bound with strange metallic bands that prevented her from moving too much. She twitched but remained still, seemingly exhausted. Rusty could only imagine the horrors she had been through. "This here, ladies and gentlemen, is not just a regular ant but a ''Gleaming Mana Ant'' a very rare find indeed! According to our research, it has demonstrated intelligence far beyond that of its kind and can even use magic on its own - magic attuned to light, something almost no other monster is capable of!" The crowd murmured in amazement as Gleam''s cage was displayed prominently on stage. Her shimmering white exoskeleton, illuminated under the lights, made her stand out from anything else auctioned that evening. Rusty clenched his fists, the metal of his gauntlets groaning softly as he fought to keep his emotions in check. His friend, the one who had saved him, was now a spectacle for these people. He had learned to distinguish some of these people''s expressions, and he didn''t like any of them. His rage began to grow, to the point where his armrest started to splinter under his tightening grip. ''Rusty, calm yourself! If you damage something here, you might be thrown out before you can even make a single bid!'' Alexander shouted, trying to calm him down. ''Judging by the number of guards around us, it would be best if you didn''t do anything rash, Rusty. Calm your nerves before it''s too late.'' Aburdon agreed with Alexander for once. Although he had joked about killing everyone here when the time came, he didn''t believe they would leave in one piece. There were far too many guards - many at least on Rusty''s level, and some even stronger. As just an E-rank monster, even with his darkness element, Aburdon knew he wouldn''t stand a chance here. "We will begin the bidding for this rare ''Gleaming Mana Ant'' with five gold coins!" The auctioneer announced, waving his hands dramatically, some of the people were intrigued but luckily most of the big spenders were already gone. He had prepared for this, gathered every coin he could, but even at the starting price, his gold could dwindle faster than expected. He knew Gleam was valuable, but seeing her displayed like this, exploited for her rarity, filled him with fury. Before he could even lift his paddle, others already started bidding. "Six gold coins!" A voice from one of the nearby seats called out. Rusty recognized the person from somewhere, but he couldn''t place them as most humans looked too similar to him. "Hey, isn''t that one of the people from back then?" Alexander asked, and Aburdon quickly confirmed. "His name was Eugene, as I recall. And my memory is never wrong." "You''ve got a good memory..." Rusty muttered, unsure of what they were talking about as he didn''t remember anyone by that name. "Was he someone important?" "Well, he was involved in taking Gleam out of the dungeon that one time. You were a bit preoccupied with your fury, so you probably didn''t notice." Rusty tried to recall the incident, but the memories were hazy. His mind had been clouded by rage during Gleam''s capture. He''d been focused on getting her back, chasing after a group of humans until he hit the dungeon''s boundary. It seemed that Eugene had been one of the two non-adventurers there at the time. Now, for some reason, he was bidding on Gleam. "Seven gold coins!" Rusty finally raised his paddle, marked with the number "45." "Eight gold coins!" The voice rang out almost immediately after Rusty raised his paddle. His chest tightened as he scanned the room, looking for the source. It wasn''t Eugene. A man in a deep blue cloak stood up from one of the private booths reserved for wealthier patrons, his face hidden beneath a shadowed hood. Beside him stood two hulking figures - clearly bodyguards, their armor gleaming menacingly under the auction house lights. Rusty hadn''t noticed them before, but now they were hard to miss. "Ten gold coins," Eugene called out, sounding confident as he matched the mysterious bidder without hesitation. The room buzzed with murmurs as the bidding escalated, and Rusty felt that this wouldn''t be that easy. He had hoped to not involve many people in this bid but for some reason, there were more people interested in Gleam that he had thought before. "Thirteen gold coins." The man in blue said in a calm yet somewhat threatening tone. Rusty''s hand tightened around his paddle. He had enough to go higher, but his resources were finite. For some reason, these people sounded quite confident but perhaps he was mistaken. "F-fifteen!" Eugene''s voice was no longer calm as he raised the bid by another two gold coins. It was clear he had exceeded his self-imposed limit and was likely dipping into his reserves. The other person in the booth, though potentially wealthy, didn''t have limitless funds - a fact Aburdon had taken note of. ''Those people have bid on several other items and won a few. That last one must have really strained their coffers, they shouldn''t have much left.'' Rusty could only hope his nosy guide was right. For now, he waited, watching as the two bidders continued their battle. "Sixteen!" One of them called. "Sixteen and a half..." "Eighteen!" As the bid reached eighteen gold coins, the auction hall began to fall silent. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "I hear Eighteen, will I hear Nineteen from the nervous gentleman there? If not, I''m afraid this incredible creature will be sold to the discerning bidder in the blue cloak!" Rusty felt that this was the moment to go in, he still had a chance. Eighteen gold was already more than he had wanted to spend, but this was his only chance to get Gleam back. With a deep breath, he raised his paddle once more. "Twenty gold coins!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A murmur rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned to him. The auctioneer grinned, clearly pleased with the sudden escalation. For a moment, the room fell silent. Even Eugene glanced over, clearly surprised at the boldness of the bid. Rusty could feel their gazes on him but his disguise was sound and as long as the money was there, he would be safe. The man in the blue cloak shifted slightly, his posture tense somewhat tense. One of his bodyguards leaned in, whispering something in his ear. It seemed that there was something to Aburdon''s words. They were cleary starting to count their coins, perhaps already over the limit. "Twenty gold coins, going once¡­ going twice¡­" The auctioneer''s voice echoed again as he stretched out his words. He was there to sell the items for as much as he could. Doing this was done by giving them some time to decide, while also keeping it short to push them over the line and in this case, it seemed to show some results. "Twenty-one!" The man called out while sounding a lot more annoyed than when he was bidding together with Eugene. Rusty took it as a sign that they also didn''t have much money left and continued with confidence. He knew of bluffing during bartering at this point and his voice was produced by a deadman''s corpse, it would never be any nervouisness in his voice as it was produced by his possession skill. "Twenty-two gold coins." The man in blue paused again and the auctioneer tried to yank a bit more out of his two targets. "Twenty-two and five silver¡­" "Twenty-Three." Their back and forth continued with longer pauses as his opponent tried scrunching for more money. Eventually, he declared his final price of twenty five and finally, the battle had been won. "Going once!" "Going twice!" "Sold! To the gentleman with paddle number forty-five!" The auctioneer''s final call rang through the hall, and with that, the mallet came down. Rusty''s grip on the paddle loosened as he had almost crushed it. It was over. Gleam was his again. The crowd clapped politely, some casting curious glances in his direction, but he paid them no mind. All that mattered was that he had won. "Congratulations, if you wish to take your prize, please follow our staff to finalize your purchase or remain here as there are still other items to bid for!" The auctioneer said with a courteous nod while his people placed the cloth back over Gleam''s cage and rolled her out of the auction. He knew the procedures and there was nothing more that he was trying to bid for. All of his money would be gone after he paid for Gleam and robbing others would probably not be possible for a while but he didn''t care. All he wanted was to get his friend back, their adventurers were only starting as the world was their oyster. "Now then, for our next item¡­" Rusty instantly stood up and followed the auction staff through the hall''s back entrance. He had spent nearly every coin he owned, but he was about to get Gleam back, and that was all that mattered. The grandiose atmosphere of the auction house faded as he passed through dimly lit corridors, descending into the building''s storage area where the goods were collected after the sale. All the glitz and glamor vanished, replaced by a gritty, more practical environment. The storage area was lined with shelves filled with items, guarded by auction house staff standing watch over the various treasures. Rusty''s focus, however, remained solely on Gleam who had been carted out a few moments before he was allowed to leave the auction. "This is where you''ll finalize the payment, sir." The attendant who he was following gestured him to a desk. Behind it, another old man sat with piles of papers and a large ledger. Behind him stood two armored men, both with hands on their weapons and ready to attack. "Please give me your number sir." "Here." Rusty knew the procedures thanks to Alexander. He gave the man the paddle that he bid with and this prompted the man to look through his paperwork. "Ah yes, Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant, good choice sir, that will be, twenty-five gold coins." The auctioneer didn''t pronounce Gleam''s full evolution form, but this man clearly knew it. It was really happening. He had spent nearly a month down in the dungeon to free himself from the Dungeon Heart, and another three weeks to finally gather enough money to save his friend. If he had stopped at the twenty gold coins Alexander had proposed, this wouldn''t have been possible. Nor would it have worked if he hadn''t continued with the robberies or joined the thieves'' guild. "Do you have the money? If not¡­" The man asked, and as he spoke, the two guards stepped forward. Rusty knew that anyone who couldn''t present the gold immediately would be captured. It was forbidden to bid without having enough money. The payment had to be made on the same day as the auction, and no one was allowed to leave the premises until the debt was settled. These rules were in place because of previous robberies and people changing their minds after spending too much money. Rusty reached into the pouch strapped to his belt and slowly pulled out a heavy sack of coins, the metallic clink echoed through the room as he placed it on the desk. The attendant just nodded and took the sack into his hand. He undid the bit of twine that tied it together and poured out the contents on his desk. A cascade of coins spilled across the desk, gleaming under the dim light. Not all of them were gold as some were silver but he knew that there was exactly the sum they required of him. "Hm¡­ 25 golden coins, It seems everything is in order. Congratulations on your purchase." The man didn''t need to count as he had a skill that did it for him. With one glance he could tell that the total amount of the contents added up to exactly twenty five golden coins. He then gestured toward one of the armored guards, who left the room to retrieve Gleam. Rusty felt a flood of relief. Soon, he would have her back. Moments later, Gleam''s cage was wheeled into the room. Her pale, silvery-white form shifted weakly in the confines, her antennae twitching as if sensing Rusty''s presence. Despite the shackles, her glow seemed to brighten slightly at the sight of him. Their connection had been cut but he knew that their bond would be reignited if he touched her. "Now then, you''re free to go once you sign the ledger, we will provide you with a scroll to end this monster''s previous bonding contract, free of charge. With this key you will be also able to open the cage whenever you wish, the enchantments are temporary but they can restrain the monster for a few more days." Rusty used Albert''s memories to replicate his old handwriting and sign off in his name. He didn''t need the scroll, but he could always sell it later. Now, with his old friend standing before him, strange emotions welled up from his metal chest, barely contained. Without the contract being triggered, he couldn''t understand what his friend was saying. But at last, the moment had come for it to be renewed. The bonding contract with ''Gleam'' is being reestablished please wait¡­ The moment Rusty heard the system message and saw the window appear before him, he could barely contain his excitement. It only took a moment, but soon his status was updated. The previously grayed-out letters representing his bond with Gleam shone brightly once again. Congratulations the bonding contract with ''Gleam'' has been reestablished. "..." "......" " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " It took a moment, but after touching one of Gleam''s antennae, he finally rekindled their connection. His small, silvery friend was in distress, but she was okay. Her body was bound to the box, and she had been restrained, which only made things worse. However, it was all manageable now - his friend was there, and all he needed to do was get them both out of there. As Rusty gently caressed Gleam''s antennae, she seemed to relax. He could feel her confusion, fear, and exhaustion, but underneath it all was a spark of relief. She knew she was safe now. Rusty picked up her cage with both his hands and started walking, the exit to the auction house being quite near. He was let outside by a few guards and the door was closed behind him as he found himself in an alleyway behind the auction house but something fell off. "We need to leave, now!" Alexander''s voice resounded in his helmet as he shouted. Something was indeed wrong and it seemed that someone had been waiting for him. Chapter 89 – No Escape. Rusty barely had time to register Alexander''s warning before he heard footsteps echoing in the alleyway. Shadows shifted, and figures emerged at both ends, boxing him in. Rusty tightened his grip on Gleam''s cage, his mind racing. The figure at the far end of the alley stepped forward, his blue cloak flowing behind him. It was the same man who had bid against him in the auction house. Flanked by two towering, heavily armored guards, the man moved his hood out of the way to reveal his face."Don''t make this more difficult than it has to be, adventurer. Relinquish the monster to me and you can leave." The man''s voice was smooth but laced with a warning. He looked to be a man over sixty, his hair already gray. Rusty adjusted his stance, positioning Gleam''s cage behind him. The man''s eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity, and he continued speaking, his tone deceptively calm. "I''ll even be generous," He said, producing a small pouch and shaking it so the sound of coins rang through the narrow space. "Twenty gold coins, right here. Not as much as you''ve paid, but I suppose your life should be worth more than five measly gold coins? It''s a fair price, and I''m not here to spill unnecessary blood. But if you refuse¡­" Not only were there two armored men with him, but also an additional two soldiers blocking the side paths of the alleyway behind the auction house. The door leading back inside was thick, and he had heard it shut firmly behind him. Even if he tried to run back, getting through would likely be impossible. The auction house was a tall building, but he wasn''t much of a climber. Rusty needed to decide - to fight or give in to their demands. " ¨B?¨B " "What? You want me to leave you here? I won''t!" Gleam called out to him from within the cage. She sounded quite distressed, her small, ant chirps quite faint. She seemed to want him to relinquish her to save himself. Rusty glanced down, slightly mad that she would even propose such a solution. There was no way he''d hand her over now, not after everything they''d been through. The blue-robed man took a step forward, his guards advancing in tandem, closing the space between them. His eyes narrowed as he gestured to the guards, impatience flickering across his face. "Very well, then. You leave me no choice but to take it from you by force." ''Rusty this doesn''t look good, those people mean business! Maybe it would be better to think this through and¡­'' ''Shut up, I''m not giving Gleam up again!'' Alexander attempted to reason with Rusty, realizing these people weren''t just simple adventurers. Their armor surpassed the E-rank level, and the most troubling figure among them was the one in robes. He carried himself like someone well-versed in battle and could very well be one of the worst opponents Rusty could face. But Alexander''s thoughts and shouts couldn''t reach him, as a burst of darkness erupted in all directions. "Oh?" The man in blue raised an eyebrow as Rusty''s shadowy energy surged outward in a strange, mist-like form. Shadows spilled from Rusty''s body like liquid smoke, flowing toward both sides of the alley where the armored men stood. It was a preemptive strike that none of them expected from someone who looked like a frontline fighter. The four guards faltered slightly, but their leader remained steady, raising a strange, crooked staff Rusty had never seen before. With a quick gesture, the man raised his magic weapon, and the gem atop it glowed, casting a shimmering blue shield - not around himself, but around Rusty. The magical barrier flickered as Rusty''s shadows surged against it, and to his surprise, his previously unstoppable attack was fully contained. The dark mist swirled around in a circular pattern, unable to penetrate the blue wall of energy the man had conjured. Rusty''s attack lacked raw power, functioning more as a debuff meant to weaken enemies upon contact. But unless it touched their bodies, it had no effect - and it seemed the man in the blue robe knew this all too well. "Interesting skill, but did you really think a little dark mist would make me cower? The darkness element is an interesting choice and I''m not sure how you are fine in there, but sooner or later you''ll run out of mana to sustain it¡­" He said mockingly while holding his staff towards Rusty''s location. "You clearly lack the understanding of magic needed to wield those powers effectively, just give it up, you''ll just damage the young lady''s monster and that will be troublesome." Rusty found himself in a serious dilemma. He''d assumed that if he could just surround the area with his black mist, everything would be fine. Once his enemies started weakening, he''d planned to make a break for it. Even though he was cornered, this wasn''t a dungeon; he was in a city teeming with various intelligent races. He had places to escape to, like the thieves'' guild, and he''d even thought of diving into one of the wells or hoping that any late-night city guards might stall his pursuers. ''What should I do¡­ '' Rusty wondered, seeking help from his guides as his initial plan started to crumble. He quickly retrieved some explosive potions from his stash tab and hurled them at the shimmering mana field. Covered by shadows, his attackers couldn''t see him going through his inventory - just the explosions bursting against the shield. "Hah, what was that? A goblin-fire potion? You must be joking¡­" The mage holding the shield laughed, as though the idea of his barrier breaking from such a low-quality potion was absurd. ''This isn''t looking good. That mage is likely above D-rank; nothing we have in our inventory will work on him, and those soldiers are probably all stronger than you, Rusty¡­'' Alexander observed grimly. The man in the blue robe seemed to be a powerful mage, at least a rank above Rusty. The only reason they hadn''t been incinerated by magical flames was Gleam as it was clear they wanted to capture her alive. Using powerful offensive spells would likely kill her instantly and Rusty, who was defending her. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ''Then what am I supposed to do? Just give up and die?'' Rusty snapped, his frustration increasing as he tossed all his remaining potions at the shield. Small explosions burst against the barrier, but none pierced through. Gleam, as a light-aligned creature, was somewhat protected from the dark mist, but the constant barrage of explosions was rattling her cage and causing enough damage that Rusty had to stop. ''Wait¡­ that might not be a bad idea'' Aburdon suddenly chimed in, surprising both Rusty and Alexander with an unexpected plan. ''You want me to die?'' Rusty asked, bewildered by the response. ''Well¡­ in a sense. Don''t you have a corpse inside yourself already?'' ''Yeah? But I''m not sure where you''re going with this¡­'' ''Just listen, I''ll explain, and if this fails, we''ll go with the backup plan!'' ''There''s a backup plan?'' ''What do you take me for? I didn''t become the Demon King by accident! Now, here''s what we''re going to do¡­'' Rusty was unsure where Aburdon was headed with this, and his mana was dwindling fast. He''d already splashed one mana potion over himself, but he couldn''t keep the dark element attack up forever. As Aburdon laid out his risky, improvised plan, Rusty realized it wasn''t half bad - and maybe, just maybe, it could work. ''I see¡­ it might just work¡­'' As Aburdon finished explaining, Rusty nodded his head. He stopped the barrage of potions and let his hands drop, feigning surrender. Aburdon''s plan was bold, bordering on reckless, but if executed properly, it might just turn the tide. First, he opened up Gleam''s cage with the key he was given, letting her move onto one of his hands and then he stopped the production of the pitch-black mist. '' ( ¨®©n¨° ) '' ''Don''t worry Gleam, everything will be fine, just follow Aburdon''s plan, we don''t have another choice.'' '' ( ?? ? ?? )? '' Gleam didn''t seem too happy about the order but she wiggled her antennae as she understood the assignment. She had been stuck in a cage for more than a month now and all her attempts at escaping had been thwarted. There was much at stake here and this did seem like the only way out of it. After a few tense seconds, the darkness swirling inside the mana barrier began to die down. The mage watched Rusty carefully, noting his lowered stance and the way he seemed to sag under the weight of his armor. At last, Rusty fell to one knee and raised his hands in a display of surrender. "About time." The mage sneered, lowering his staff. With a muttered incantation, the blue barrier flickered and dissolved. "But why is the ant¡­" He noticed one oddity, the white ant that had been in the cage was now out in the open, with the cage and key discarded to the side. While it would not be a problem for the man to re-capture it again, he wondered what the armored man was trying to achieve. Soon he would realize as with one swift and desperate motion, the ant was tossed high into the air. "Bastard! What is the meaning of this!" The mage''s eyes narrowed with fury, but before he could conjure a new spell, Rusty unleashed another surge of dark mist to cloud everyone''s vision, filling the alleyway with shadows once more. The blue-robed mage had no other choice but to bring up another barrier around him to stop the spread of the dark mist. Gleam flew high into the air and landed on the wall quite gracefully. The ant stuck to the bricks on the wall and looked down to the barrier around which Rusty remained. Soon after she made her way back up and quickly crawled to the rooftop to disappear from sight. The mage attempted to cast a secondary spell but he was too slow and perhaps afraid to hurt the creature he wished to capture alive. "You will regret this!" The mage glared furiously as the mana-filled bubble of darkness dissipated, revealing Rusty, sword and shield in hand, looking battle-ready. He ignored the mage''s seething gaze and the guards'' shouted profanities, instead activating one of his newest skills, ''Provoking Shout'', and charging at the mage with all his strength. "Get out of the way, you fools!" The mage barked as his two armored guards immediately sidestepped. They cleared a path as their leader raised his staff, the jewel atop it glowing ominously. Flames began to flicker around it as the mage chanted a spell in a language Rusty couldn''t understand. Determined, Rusty sprinted forward, aiming straight for the mage as if he had nothing left to lose. But before he even reached halfway, the mage''s spell erupted - a blazing fireball shot forth, slamming into Rusty''s shield and burning through it, sending him hurtling backward. Rusty''s armored form crashed against the metal door of the auction house, leaving a slight dent. His shield, which had once withstood the blows of orcs and lizardmen, now bore a gaping, charred hole. The mage''s spell had torn through his shield like it was nothing, and he found himself stunned, sprawled against the auction house''s metal door. His helmet had been flung into the air, clanking down on the hard rocky ground to reveal a face that looked rather pale. "...Is he dead?" One of the armored men called out as the body of their adversary just continued to slide down while slipping forward. There were no signals of life coming from him, they also couldn''t see anything to indicate that they were breathing. The guards took cautious steps toward Rusty''s unmoving form, their weapons at the ready. The mage, confident in his victory, lowered his staff and gestured to his men. "Check if he''s breathing, but be quick. I want that ant found before it scurries too far." One guard advanced, nudging Rusty''s exposed neck with the tip of his sword. The pale face before him was blank, with a glassy stare but no blood trickling to indicate an injury. Yet it was clear that he was looking at a foe that wasn''t there anymore. "He''s gone. Looks like the fireball finished him off, that darkness magic must have caused his body to look like this¡­" The man could tell that there was something wrong with this corps here. It was a lot paler than what a fresh body should look and assumed that magic was at play. "Using cursed magic drains the body of its vitality. He must have burned through his mana and died to the plague of darkness¡­" They gathered around the defeated foe, convinced of their victory. However, everything was unfolding just as Aburdon had predicted. The enemies assumed that Albert''s body was his true form and that he had perished during the fight. The fact that they hadn''t received any experience points from the battle would not raise suspicion as they believed he had succumbed to his own darkness spell and was merely a dead man walking, someone who had effectively died by their own hands. Rusty''s helmet lay against a nearby wall, waiting for their departure. This was his true and critical body part. The plan had been to feign death and hope they would leave him behind. With no chance to defeat them or escape, this was his only path to survival. However, Aburdon had miscalculated, as events began to stray from their intended course. "... Take his remains; we can''t leave any proof behind. That ant couldn''t have gone far. One of you, climb to the roof and search. You there, go get the tracker! Hurry up, We don''t have time! We need to get that monster before the day comes." The mage barked orders, and to Rusty''s dismay, they began lifting his body. While this was still manageable - since he only needed his helmet for survival it became concerning when one of the guards seized it. Now, Rusty was being hauled off somewhere, while Gleam remained hidden in the city. While they were unaware of his true form, he still needed to play along. Things weren''t looking well but not all hope was lost as his partner was free and he was not alone either¡­ S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 90 – Captured. "( ¡ñ¦ä¡ñ )""Why are you looking at me like that?" "( ¡ñ¦ä¡ñ ) ¡­" "How was I supposed to know those humans would take him with them? In the demon world, no one cares about leaving a body in an alley! They''d even insist on leaving evidence to show strength!" "( ? ? ? )" "I know, calm down, little lady. I''ll help you get Rusty back, don''t worry. We just need to follow them. They''ll never expect an escaped monster to be tracking them while they search for you." Atop a building, an ant hid behind some bricks. She wasn''t entirely alone as a ball of black light hovered just in front of her head. Aburdon''s plan had partially succeeded: Rusty was being hauled away by their enemies. Ideally, they would have left his helmet behind so he could reform himself, but that hadn''t happened. It seemed these people didn''t want to leave any evidence of their crime, which complicated things. "Well, we''re lucky my hunch paid off, at least." "( ? -?)?" "A hunch? Did I say hunch? No, of course, I knew it would work from the start, my little ant friend!" "( ?? - ? )" "Stop looking at me like that and let''s focus on the task at hand, shall we?" Aburdon tried to change the subject as Gleam stared at him with her unblinking ant eyes. His idea had come to him in a flash while they were enveloped in Rusty''s mist. With little time to think, he took a gamble. Since Gleam shared a bonding contract with Rusty and his guides were connected to his soul in some way, Aburdon had figured he could work with that connection. A deep bonding contract involved a degree of soul sharing and imprinting, magic Aburdon had researched extensively in the past. So, he took a chance and attached himself to Gleam instead of Rusty. And it worked. As long as he stayed close to the ant, he would not fade away. To make things even better, his demonic heritage even allowed him to communicate with her. Gleam stared at Aburdon''s spectral form, her antennae twitching with frustration and worry. Rusty was being taken away, and although she trusted her partner, the odds seemed stacked against them more than ever. Gleam shifted on her legs, glancing from the alleyway below to the narrow street where the soldiers and mage were now carrying Rusty''s body down. She was small and agile enough to follow, but she''d need Aburdon''s guidance - and a touch of luck. "Fret not, my little friend. I have this city''s plans memorized. Coupled with your tracking skills, this should be rather easy. Just remain quiet, and they will never notice! However, watch your step, if they hear us then this will be quite a short rescue attempt." " ( ? ?¦Ø?? )? " "Oh? Have you learned something that could help us? What is it?" Gleam wiggled with her antennae and then began casting. Her aura flickered, and a hush fell over the air. The soft sounds of the night grew faint, muffled as if blanketed by an unseen veil. Aburdon blinked in astonishment before praising Gleam''s new achievement. "Ah, I see. You''ve mastered a silencing spell! Clever ant. Your levels didn''t rise, where did you learn it?" " (????? )? " "Oh? It was like that? You must have a knack for magic if you can copy spells in such a fashion, bravo. " Gleam nodded, her small eyes glinting with pride. She knew how to maintain silence now, a spell she''d picked up during her captivity. She''d watched her captors silence rowdy creatures one by one until their cells fell into utter quiet. Over time, she''d deciphered the patterns, feeling the currents of the spell''s binding energy as they pulsed through the air. It had taken patience, but with each use, she''d come closer to grasping its essence. "Marvelous. Use it well now, and we can get far closer to them than they''d ever suspect." Aburdon glanced ahead. The soldiers and the mage were nearing a carriage hidden under a tarp at the end of the alley, likely their escape vehicle. "We''ll need to stay in close range to hear where they plan to take him. Use your skill to cover our movements." Without a sound, Gleam moved across the rooftop, scurrying over ledges and gaps, keeping her tiny form low and tucked into the shadows. With Aburdon as her guide, she tailed the group, her silence spell reducing even the creak of a rooftop tile underfoot to a mere whisper. Aburdon monitored the soldiers, listening carefully, his attention divided between watching Rusty''s abductors and guiding Gleam. They were almost to the carriage when one of the soldiers spoke. "Take him away, let them dispose of the body¡­" By now, the mage had taken his leave, his lofty status apparently too high for him to bother chasing after a runaway monster ant. In his place, a group of shady figures in hooded cloaks arrived at the scene. Rusty was tossed into a darkened carriage, which began moving down the dimly lit streets. Gleam followed close behind, with Aburdon''s shadowy form blending seamlessly into the darkness. "If I''m not mistaken, they''re heading toward the city slums. Has their nobility always handled things like this?" Aburdon was surprised by how blatantly they operated in the open, even in the dead of night. It seemed the mage and his guards were confident that their influence or connections in the city could cover for them. Gleam and Aburdon, however, had a clear advantage in stealth, especially with her newly acquired silencing spell. They crept silently along the rooftops, shadows among shadows, as the carriage rumbled down toward the slums. Gleam''s tiny form and agility allowed her to keep up, darting from rooftop to rooftop with Aburdon guiding her like a seasoned scout. As they neared the slums, the carriage turned down a hidden alleyway before stopping in front of a small, dimly lit warehouse. It was a rundown building, with ivy crawling up the stone walls and patches of crumbling mortar. Gleam paused on the ledge of a nearby rooftop, watching as the hooded figures pulled Rusty''s body out of the carriage and dragged him inside. She held her breath as the warehouse doors creaked shut. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "This seems like the end of the line, but why a warehouse? Why not just throw him into the sewers or the moat?" Aburdon pondered the scene as it didn''t make much sense. The mage could have probably melted Rusty''s whole body to hide it or they could have disposed of it in many other ways. What was the point of bringing it into such a secluded location? It was as if they needed that body for something or had some kind of use for it. "Could it be some kind of forbidden spell? Necromancy perhaps?" "£¨?????_????£©" Gleam twitched her antennae, her irritation rising at Aburdon''s constant babbling. Rather than helping, he kept prattling on while she struggled to focus on maintaining the silencing spell. As a low-level monster, not even E rank, holding the spell for this long while chasing a moving carriage was no small feat. "Yes, yes, I know. There''s probably a window or a hole you could squeeze through. But be careful. This building is unusually well-defended. They even have someone patrolling outside¡­ what could they be doing in there?" Aburdon was intrigued by the activity, but Gleam''s only concern was retrieving her partner. They had only just been reunited when Rusty was taken again, and she wasn''t about to let him disappear without a fight. She hurried down the wall, keeping to the shadows. Her silvery-white carapace wasn''t ideal for stealth, as it reflected any light that caught it. But, thanks to the tall grass, she managed to cross to the other side of the building unseen. Once there, she waited for the guard to pass before approaching a small window barred with rusty metal. Though small herself, the opening was even smaller. Fortunately, her mandibles were sharp; after a few minutes of nibbling through the center of one bar, she managed to slip inside. Inside, she found herself in a dim, cobwebbed room filled with debris and dust. "This place doesn''t look like it''s been used in ages, but if they''re bringing people here, maybe there''s a hidden passage somewhere?" Aburdon wondered aloud, wondering if this building might be connected to the thieves'' guild. From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than an abandoned warehouse, empty and neglected. The room they entered was littered with trash, but faint sounds came from deeper within. Gleam skittered up onto the ceiling and crept slowly forward, inching toward the source of the noise. "Just put it with the rest of the bodies¡­" "Alright." Gleam peered around the corner to see a few people talking. Their hoodies had been taken down to reveal their faces. They were all humans that she did not recognize but one thing was clear, they had her companion with them. They were at the end of their conversation as soon after her arrival. She wasn''t sure what they did but suddenly a hole started to open up, with circular stairs going down. "How interesting, it''s not magical but mechanical in nature." Aburdon called out while Gleam was attempting to not pass out from the overstrain on her mana reserves. The silencing spell had been on for a while and even though it didn''t use that much MP, she didn''t have that much of it either. Luckily, these people were not paying much attention to what was happening around them. A few of the cloaked figures descended the now-open staircase, carrying Rusty''s limp body. They had taken his helmet with them, so following closely behind was still necessary. Gleam''s antennae drooped slightly, feeling the weight of her exhaustion. She would need to recharge her mana soon or risk falling behind. "Hang in there, Lady Gleam. Just a little more. We need to get down those stairs without them spotting us." The mechanism that had opened the path below started creaking; it was clear the way forward would soon close, so they needed to hurry. Gleam scurried down the wall, dropping onto the steps and inching forward with quick, careful movements. Just before the stairs transformed back into a solid rocky floor, she managed to slip through a gap and found herself inside what looked to be a cylindrical chute leading down. "Oh? The mechanism is still running?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, Gleam was a skilled climber, so she had no trouble clinging to the wall. The steps leading downward shifted on their own, sliding back into the wall they emerged from. The people that were descending with Rusty reached a cavernous underground room at the base of the hidden staircase. Dim, flickering lights hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. They carried Rusty''s further in and only once they were a distance away did Gleam descend. Her MP was almost gone, so she had to continue with caution. Her limbs were now producing some sound but she managed to keep it to a minimum. Some rubble fell along the way but luckily the mechanism retracting the stairs produced enough sound to mask her descent. Eventually, she popped her head through the only exit to see inside the underground chamber. It was a round chamber with multiple paths branching off in various directions, reminding Gleam of the dungeon she had come from. Numbers were marked above each corridor leading out, and at the center of the chamber stood a peculiar stone monument. It resembled an obelisk, carved with strange symbols. In the center of these symbols was a crescent moon encircling a scythe - a symbol Aburdon vaguely recognized. "That''s strange... I''m sure I''ve seen this before, but where?" The demon king was surprised he couldn''t recall the origin of the symbol. There was no time to dwell on it, however; they needed to press on. The moment they arrived, one thing became clear - Rusty was not the only person brought down here. From within the many corridors, unsettling sounds began to echo: cries, screams, and sobs. "Hoh? Is this some kind of prison? But why would they bring a corpse here? Are they performing some kind of dark ritual right under the city? Some of these symbols are ancient, they should belong to some kind of deity¡­" Something was undeniably wrong with this place. Faint traces of mana pulsed along the walls, saturated with dark, sinister energy. This chamber held the presence of gods and in this case, it was a malevolent one. The evil deities demanded blood sacrifices from their followers, and Aburdon suspected that Rusty, along with the other captives, was meant to be offered up to them. "Let''s go Gleam, it''s better if we get out of this place, evil god worshippers do not like to barter¡­" Gleam didn''t waste time with a response, quickly scampering across the floor of the cavern, staying low to avoid detection. The cloaked figures had gone down one of the side passages, and though they were far ahead, she could still sense where Rusty was taken. Her tracking skill allowed her to find him but she could also feel him through their bond and knew that he wasn''t far away. The corridors branched into a series of winding passages, lined with cells carved roughly from stone. Some held gaunt prisoners whose hollow eyes followed her as she crept past, but most were empty. The air grew colder, and a faint smell of decay hung in the darkness. Aburdon''s voice broke the silence, his tone edged with unease. "It doesn''t seem they care about their prisoners'' well-being, which god accepted such sacrifices? Could it be the god of the dead? or perhaps the god of blood?" " (??_?) " Gleam didn''t know what the ball of light was talking about and she snapped her mandibles in anger to shut him down. To her dismay, even though this guide could come along, she could not order it around. It seemed the bond with Rusty only offered her limited control over this being. At one point, Gleam darted up toward the ceiling, hiding herself behind a jagged rock formation. These corridors were uneven, as was the ceiling, which in this case was a boon. The men who had taken her friend began to return, splitting off in various directions. "( ?¡ã?¡ã) !!" "Is that Rusty''s helmet? Did they separate it from his body?" Gleam peeked out from her hiding place, spotting Rusty''s remains being tossed onto a large pile near a row of cells filled with prisoners. However, his most important part had been taken by one of the kidnappers and was transported elsewhere. Though Rusty could regenerate from his helmet alone, it would still be wise to retrieve Albert''s body. Without it, moving through the city during daylight would be a considerable challenge but would it be possible and wise to attempt it? Chapter 91 – Back Together. "When do we start the ritual?""Patience, we will begin once the high priest arrives!" "But¡­" "Hush young one, I know that you are eager but we must not question the high priest, we must assemble as many offerings as we can before the deadline!" "I¡­ I understand¡­" Two men spoke to each other, ignoring the moans of discomfort coming from the nearby cells. A lone creature hid behind a pile of rubble, watching them converse in words she didn''t understand. Her insect-like eyes and antennae peeked out slightly, fixed on the iron helmet one of the men held. "( ? ¨C ? ) ¡­" "It would be better to bring Rusty''s head back to his body, but perhaps it might be better to wait it out¡­" A black orb of faint light talked to the ant that was there, its voice sounding unnervingly calm, as though Aburdon was savoring the craziness of it all. Gleam, however, felt no such enjoyment. Her gaze darted between Rusty''s helmet and the ominous figures before her. She was well aware of her limits; her mana reserves were practically depleted, and in her current state, any spell-casting would likely draw attention. But waiting too long could spell disaster for Rusty. " ( ` ¦Ø ¡ä ) ¡­" She chittered softly, her antennae quivering with frustration. She wanted to charge forward, snatch the helmet, and scurry off, but she knew she''d have no way to escape undetected. "Hold your ground, my dear Gleam, let those fools chat away and your mana recharge, Rusty will be fine. Remember, at any time he can access one of his loadouts, oh but I suppose you weren''t there when he attained that skill?" Aburdon murmured as he tried to keep Gleam from doing something stupid. In his mind, she was still just a child and children were prone to emotional outbursts. It was best if she remained hidden and only moved when a chance presented itself. "They''ll leave it unattended eventually. These kinds of rituals are often theatrical. You''ll have your chance and if not, then there are probably ways to shift their attention¡­" His spherical form turned toward one of the holding cells. Most of the people inside were half-dead, but a few looked like they might cause trouble for the guards. If they managed to set these captives free, the ensuing chaos could provide enough distraction to slip past unnoticed. However, this approach was risky - they lacked crucial information about their enemies. Dozens of guards could potentially arrive to block their escape. For now, it seemed wiser to remain hidden and find a way to sneak out without raising an alarm. Gleam''s antennae twitched in agreement as they decided to wait. Hidden behind the rubble, her gaze stayed fixed on Rusty''s helmet. She watched as the two men eventually ended their conversation and moved into a different corridor, which she cautiously followed. She stuck to the shadows, though her body reflected a bit of the torchlight here and there. Luckily, only a few prisoners noticed her movements, and their shouts and questions went ignored by the guards. In the next chamber, Gleam spotted a raised altar smeared with dried blood and littered with body parts from humans and other beings. The man with a particular fondness for Rusty''s helmet set it aside on a table near the altar. The two men then turned to face a grotesque amalgamation of body parts sewn together in a twisted form. They began chanting in a language Gleam couldn''t understand, but she sensed this might be her chance to snatch Rusty''s helmet and make a quick escape while they were distracted. "Blood and guts¡­ This is truly a cult of some evil god, Could it be the Lord of Torture and Despair Skuldar? Those do seem like his runes¡­" Commented Aburdon while Gleam''s mandibles clicked impatiently, signaling her increased feeling of dread at the sight of the bloodied patchwork. She could feel her mana trickling back at a frustratingly slow pace, each precious drop of magical energy like a lifeline she could barely grasp. Her gaze never left Rusty''s helmet as it lay, unattended and tantalizingly close, on the table by the altar. The dark, throaty murmurs of the cultists filled the chamber, their voices blending with an unsettling echo that seemed to rattle the walls. Every instinct in her tiny body screamed to move now - grab the helmet and flee before things escalated further. "Patience little one, let your mana come back and then we strike, the time is almost there." Luckily, Aburdon was there to dissuade her from rushing in. Instead, she took a few steps back, retreating from the chamber. She waited for a few minutes as the men continued their strange chanting, until she had enough MP to cast the silencing spell once again. It was now or never. She let the veil of soundlessness envelop her body once more and slipped back into the gory chamber. With her silencing spell activated, Gleam approached the table, every move measured to avoid detection. Rusty''s helmet sat within reach now, its dull sheen reflecting the flickering torchlight around the room. The chanting of the cultists grew louder, their voices rising in a rhythmic, ominous crescendo. Aburdon''s spectral form floated beside her, urging her to stay calm and focused as she crept toward the helmet. "Careful, Gleam¡­ They''re distracted, but if they sense us, it''s over." " ( ? ?¦Ø ?? ) " Gleam''s mandibles clicked softly in recognition. The sound around her was gone but her body was still visible. Her shiny silvery exoskeleton needed to avoid all the lights as it could reflect the light and alert the guards to her position. This was not an easy feat but she was determined to save her friend. Her small ant legs skittered forward, going up the walls and even on top of the ceiling as she moved cloer and closer to the table where Rusty was. But then, as fate would have it, one of the cultists paused in their chanting, his gaze shifting just as a faint glint of light bounced off Gleam''s carapace. His eyes widened. "What was that?" He hissed, narrowing his gaze as he instantly turned around and scanned the room with his eyes. " ( ?¡ã ? ¡ã ) !! " Gleam froze while on the ceiling. Some wind entered the chamber and blew on the torch making the light hit her body. She quickly skittered into a darkened corner but could not move anymore. The cultist took a cautious step forward as he attempted to see if there was an intruder there. "It''s probably nothing, come, brother, we must not stop the chants, or the high priest will punish us." "It was probably nothing, you are right as always¡­" The cultist hesitated, casting one last glance around the dimly lit chamber before turning back to the ritual. Gleam remained perfectly still, her mandibles tightly clenched as her body pressed flat against the ceiling''s dark crevices. She watched, breath held, as the men resumed their chant. The rhythmic sounds filled the room again, echoing through the stone chamber and this was her cue to move. She seized this narrow window of distraction, slipping silently down the wall until she was positioned directly above the table where Rusty''s helmet lay. With the help of her sound-concealing spell, she dropped down, her face now level with that of her long-lost friend. She hadn''t existed in this world for very long and had nearly lost hope while captive among these strange humanoid creatures. But now that her dear friend had returned for her, she was determined to repay him by rescuing him when he needed it most. "Gleam, what are you doing here!?" " ( ?? - ?? ) " "You came to save me?" Gleam nodded, extending her small, dexterous legs to brush against Rusty''s cold surface. The helmet felt heavier than she remembered and looked slightly different, but she didn''t care. Even with the added weight, it was manageable. She grasped him firmly with her forelimbs, lifting him into the air before scurrying off the table in a hurry. Holding her breath, she zigzagged through the shadows, carefully dodging patches of torchlight as she made her way out. "Hold steady, little one. We don''t want to make any hasty moves now that we''re so close." Aburdon commented as Gleam ran towards the exit and Rusty quickly replied, his head bouncing around while being held up in the air. "Aburdon is with you? So it did actually work!" "Did you ever doubt me, my dear Rusty?" "Well, after they carried me off¡­ I kind of did." Rusty answered Aburdon as he noticed his presence with Gleam. The ant kept her pace swift, darting along the shadows with Rusty in tow. Her loyalty outweighed her exhaustion and every small step brought them closer to freedom. Eventually, they made their way out of this strange occult chamber and arrived back at the corridors. "Gleam, you''re incredible. I was supposed to save you but you saved me instead!" " ( ?? ? ?? ) " Encouraged by Rusty''s words of gratitude, Gleam''s antennae gave a proud little twitch. Her silencing spell was still active, though just barely, and she knew she''d only have one final burst of speed before her reserves were fully depleted. They rounded the corner, and she moved as quickly as her insectoid legs could carry her. By the time they returned to the room with the captives, her spell had faded, but it didn''t matter now. Rusty''s body was already in one of the open cells among the other discarded prisoners, standing upright as though ready. She was surprised to see a pale human figure inside, though she recalled Aburdon''s mention of this earlier as it seemed this human form was now part of Rusty''s new self. **** ''That was way too close.'' Rusty observed his body standing there, and now that Gleam had brought his helmet over, he could both see it and feel it once more. Though he could move his body without his head attached, his vision remained limited to what his helmet could see. His body pushed aside a few reeking cadavers, finally reaching out to take his head from Gleam''s tired grip. He could tell she was exhausted as her MP was down to exactly one point. "You''ve worked hard, Gleam, now leave the rest to me!" " \\ ( ??? ) / " "I''m glad to see you too!" Once his head was back on his shoulders and securely attached, Rusty took a moment to assess his surroundings. The damp, cold air of the chamber pressed against him as he felt restored. His body shifted as he activated one of his loadouts to change him back into his regular twilight form. Previously he had shifted the Albert armor into one with twilight armor included as he had been planning to use his darkness element from the start. Now he shifted back into his regular form, with no human body on the inside to hold him back. Gleam safely scurried up his arm to rest on his shoulder and finally, the duo was truly reunited. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. " ?( ??? )?" "We aren''t quite out of trouble yet, we need to get out of here in one piece, did you perhaps spot any ways to move out of here or not?" " ( ? -?) " "You didn''t? But there are many corridors here that we could use?" Now that Rusty was back in his main body and equipped with a loadout, Albert''s remains were safely stored in his inventory. They didn''t need to use the main exit to get out of here; if Gleam found a corridor wide enough, she could carry his helmet out again. Alternatively, they could hide somewhere together while she dug an escape route. As he considered their options for getting out, Rusty noticed something intriguing: someone familiar was here. "Isn''t that girl here again? This is the third time now, isn''t it?" It wasn''t the halfling girl he had rescued before, but someone else he knew - Layla, the girl who had helped him kill his first human enemy. She had been part of the adventurer party that helped him during the exam. For some reason, she now found herself in one of the cells. Unlike the lifeless bodies scattered around, she was leaning weakly against one of the prison bars. "Ah, now I remember!" Before he could formulate a plan, Aburdon''s voice interrupted him. Alexander was not with him at the moment as he couldn''t have his bright, luminous form wriggling inside his body while these people were transporting him. It was good to know that he could give Gleam one of them to instruct her but for now, Rusty needed to focus on whatever Aburdon was saying. "You remember what? A way out?" "No, I remember where I saw that moon and scythe symbol! It was on the man who tried to attack this girl! bI probably couldn''t recall it as it was before the Soul Forge was fully activated." Aburdon proclaimed this revelation in a joyous tone, as if a great mystery had just been unraveled. This event had occurred even before Rusty''s first evolution, but his memories remained linked with his guides. It seemed Aburdon had finally managed to rekindle the connection to those long-forgotten memories. "It was?" "Indeed! Now it all makes sense. I bet the person who set off that trap in the dungeon was part of this cult! They even went to the trouble of bringing her here to finish her off. With this, the mystery is solved!" "I see¡­ but does it matter?" "My good rusty, I would be glad to explain to you the joys of making sense of mysteries but I think we have more pressing matters at hand." Rusty''s gaze shifted to Layla, who remained slumped, barely conscious, behind the bars. Her disheveled appearance spoke of days, if not weeks, of confinement. He could see the faint rise and fall of her chest, indicating she was still alive, though weakened. It seemed that she had been captured not long after they completed the adventurer examination. The significance of her presence in this cult''s hideout was an enigma, but rescuing her might add another ally to their side. Gleam, perched on his shoulder, noticed his focused look and tilted her head curiously. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "A friend? I''m not sure¡­" Before he could make a decision, Gleam asked him a question about Layla. Rusty hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Gleam was his friend, but he didn''t truly consider any of the humans in the city as allies. His presence here was temporary, driven solely by the mission to rescue his friend, and now that he had accomplished it, retreat seemed like the wisest choice. The identity of their potential enemies was uncertain, and perhaps leaving Layla behind was the safer, more logical option - a point that Aburdon also agreed on. "The girl will only slow us down, we should get out of here while we have a chance." " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " Gleam seemed confused by this situation so he would need to decide. Would he help her out now and perhaps also set the other people free, or should he just sneak away while no one was looking? Chapter 92 – Underground Cult. "?????????? ??? ??????? ???? "Strange chants echoed from a distant corridor, their rhythm interrupted by the clank of metal footsteps. Rusty was on the move, his metallic frame tensing as he shoved a few corpses out of his path and arrived in the middle of a dead-end corridor. Before him lay a row of closed cells, each apparently requiring a key to open. Inside, he could make out battered people - some chained to the walls, others curled up on the cold floor. "We don''t have much time, Rusty, If you''re going to decide, it has to be now, but in my lordly opinion, we should leave." Rusty hesitated, unsure how to proceed. Aburdon had always prioritized their survival above all else - a view Rusty largely agreed with. Yet he couldn''t help but wonder if giving these people a chance might be the better option. He had no clear escape plan from this place, nor any idea how many cultists lay in wait below. Releasing the prisoners would certainly create a diversion, but it would be impossible without the keys. The bars, though rusty, were forged from an unfamiliar metal that resisted his attempts to store or manipulate it. He was a monster forged from metal, with the peculiar ability to store it. However, there were limits; one was that he couldn''t store alloys or metals above his own grade. Since arriving in the city, he''d explored various smithies and shops selling all kinds of equipment. He had seen weapons made from strange materials, and after some research, he realized that metals, like monsters and adventurers, also had their own rankings. The bronze that formed his initial body was on the lower end, around F-rank. Iron and even steel were a step above, at E-rank. But there were metals with far superior properties, much like his own Twilight Iron, which was edging into D-rank classification. As an E-rank monster, he was unable to store any metals ranked above his own level, meaning that this rusty metal had to be at least D-rank. Breaking it with his own strength or weapons would be challenging. To open those cells, he would need the keys - and he already knew where to find them. "One of those cultists had a keychain on them. I could probably snatch it while they''re chanting, but sneaking up on them would be best¡­" " (?? ? ??)? " "Oh, you can help me sneak up on them?" " (? ??? ? ??? )? " "You''ve learned a silencing spell that will help me? Why that''s great Gleam!" " (,,>©n<,,) " "But you don''t have enough mana to cast it right now? Oh, that''s fine, I still have some potions left!" Rusty''s satchel had been taken, along with all his belongings, during the scuffle with the mage. Fortunately, he still had access to his personal stash tab and storage system, where a few items remained. His supply of metal and items was running low as he had converted much of what he could into coins. This meant he would need to be cautious in the upcoming confrontation, as he could only heal himself a few more times. "?(???)?" From his stash, he retrieved a small vial containing a vibrant blue liquid and carefully poured it over Gleam, aiming at her head. She chirped happily as her silvery body absorbed the restorative energies from the potion. Instantly, her MP began to rise, and she readied herself to cast her silencing spell. With a gentle wiggle of her antennae, Gleam cast a pale white light around him, extinguishing all sound in his immediate area. Ordinarily, his every movement was accompanied by metallic echoes, even after he''d gotten rid of all the rust. But with the spell active, there was nothing but silence. The spell reminded him of the mage he''d faced before arriving here. During that fight, he had realized just how vulnerable his otherwise sturdy body was to magical energies. When a fireball had struck his shield, he''d been stunned for several seconds, even though the shield had absorbed most of the impact. Something within the spell had disrupted the mana flowing through his body and his monster core. It seemed that living armors like him had a particular weakness to magical attacks - a fact he would need to remember in the future. "If you''re set on helping these lesser beings, perhaps it would be better to use your previous form," Aburdon suggested while making his way into Rusty''s armor. "Hm?" Rusty replied, momentarily distracted. The dim light in the corridor kept him hidden from the prisoners, who hadn''t yet noticed his presence. Aburdon halted him from venturing further, explaining his reasoning. "While I don''t support this plan of yours, if you''re going to go through with it, there''s a more effective way." "Oh? Like what?" "Well, didn''t you buy a few health potions?" "Yes, I did, I have a few in my storage." "Excellent. Then we''ll use them - but for that, it would be best to switch to your adventurer form." "... Ah, you''re right! That would work much better." Rusty agreed, quickly catching on to Aburdon''s plan. After stepping back, he switched to the loadout featuring the Twilight Iron version of his Albert armor. The human body was not within this one and he could still use all of his elemental skills. Aburdon clearly wanted him to heal some of the stronger prisoners before unleashing them on the cultists. If they were outnumbered, Rusty could make up for that by empowering these fighters, and maybe even one of the prisoners knew a way out of this place. It was, indeed, a far better strategy than the haphazard plan he''d been considering. "Let''s go then!" " ( ? ''? - ''? )? " Gleam clung to his shoulder as the two finally emerged from the shade. With the silencing spell active, they slipped through undetected. From the corner of his visor, Rusty spotted Layla, who still seemed dazed. For now, she''d have to wait as he needed to get the keys first. Quickly, he moved down the corridor toward the source of the strange chanting. The two cultists who had carried his body earlier were still there, engrossed in their ritual. They knelt before a grotesque patchwork of flesh, emitting an eerie screeching noise. The air in the room crackled with dark, vile energy that Rusty couldn''t fully comprehend. But one thing was clear: the cultists were far too absorbed in their ritual to notice him standing there, bow drawn and arrow ready. He aimed at the first cultist and activated his skill, ''Power Shot''. It enhanced the speed of the arrow, turning it slightly red as it flew towards the target. The silence spell cast by Gleam meant that even the release of his bowstring wouldn''t alert the cultists, who were fully entranced by their ritual. The arrow pierced through the air, finding its mark in the back of one cultist''s head with deadly accuracy. The force of the impact drove the cultist forward, impaling him against the twisted statue they were worshiping. A dark spray of blood erupted, coating the statue in a fresh crimson streak. The remaining cultist gasped, his chant cut short as he stumbled backward, eyes widening in horror as he saw his companion''s lifeless body slumped against the altar. Before he could react, Rusty had already knocked a second arrow, ready to silence him too. "( ?? ? ?? )¡­!!" Gleam''s tiny antennae twitched in excitement as she watched Rusty let the second arrow fly. Regretfully it was a bit short of the intended target and embedded itself into the man''s shoulder with a sickening thud. The man cried out, clutching at the wound. The element of surprise was gone now, and he scrambled to reach the dagger at his belt. " ( ?? - ?? ) " But Gleam was quicker. She extended her forelegs, her mandibles clicking as she summoned a mana bolt, hurling the crackling sphere of energy directly at the cultist. The spell collided with his chest, sending him staggering backward, his grasp on the dagger loosening. Seizing the moment, Rusty dashed forward, drawing his sword in a swift, fluid motion. The cultist barely had time to look up before Rusty plunged the blade straight through his chest, pinning him to the ground. The cultist gasped, his eyes wide with shock before he slumped over, lifeless. "Good work, Gleam, did your casting speed increase?" " ( ?? ? ?? )? " sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You didn''t have much to do so you tried to train your mana manipulation skills? That''s great!" Rusty praised his friend as he pulled his sword free. Gleam chirped softly in reply, her antennae twitching as she settled back on his shoulder. Rusty bent down to inspect the cultist''s belt and quickly located the keychain they''d noticed earlier. He held it up, the metallic keys clinking softly in the silence. Aburdon materialized beside him, his black form inspecting the keys. "One of these must unlock the main exit. But there may be other doors we haven''t seen yet." Rusty nodded and pocketed the keychain, then glanced at the bodies of the fallen cultists. Their blood was pooling around the monstrous statue, which, disturbingly, seemed to be absorbing it. He had never seen anything like it before, but instinctively felt it was best to pull them away from the statue. After dragging the bodies aside, he searched through their belongings and found a replacement spatial satchel similar to his old one. Inside, he discovered an assortment of strange items - dried bones, human hands, and other unsettling objects. Deciding to discard anything that might alarm the other races, he emptied the satchel of its grotesque contents, then attached it securely to his belt. "We can still turn around Rusty, are you sure you want to do this?" Rusty paused, considering his options. He had the keys and could try to escape alone. He still had a bit of mana left and a few potions - perhaps just enough to conceal himself in the shadows. The place was littered with bodies, rubble, and thick webs. This meant that it might be possible to find a hidden corner. However, he knew there were trackers more skilled than Gleam, so hiding carried a high risk. Eventually, someone would come across the cultists and search the area for him. Helping the others escape seemed like a safer bet. He could always abandon his body to hide away during the initial confrontation. Rusty was more worried about Gleam sticking out as a sore thumb and perhaps having those people act as a distraction was the best option. "Yes, some of them might know the way out and a few of them looked strong." "Don''t come crying back to me when your plan backfired!" "I won''t, now Gleam, remember to stick close to me, they will think that you are my tamed beast." " ????(? ?? ? - ? ) " The plan was set, and it was time to act. Rusty retraced his steps back to the prisoners and moved toward the cell where he''d spotted a few promising individuals. He instructed Aburdon to assess them and decide who should be prioritized. With only three low-quality healing potions, they needed to make each one count. "If we''re choosing, then that woman over there is probably the best option. She seems to be a priest, so she might be able to heal more of these lesser beings. Then, that man looks to be the strongest of them all" To Rusty''s surprise, the person Aburdon had singled out was in the same cell as his acquaintance. He pointed him towards two people, one a lady priest and the other a musclebound warrior. The man looked to be in terrible shape and bound by several layers of shackles. Rusty approached the cell, the keys clinking softly in his metallic grip. The prisoners'' eyes widened as they noticed him - a hulking suit of darkened iron armor with a glimmering, insect-like creature perched on his shoulder. They stared in both hope and fear, unsure of his intentions. Gleam wiggled her antennae at them, the mana inside of her body emitting a gentle glow that eased their minds. The priestess, an elven woman with matted silver hair, leaned weakly against the wall. Despite her exhaustion, her gaze was sharp and alert. Beside her lay a tall, muscular human warrior, his body battered and bruised. Though unconscious, the raw abrasions on his wrists and ankles hinted at his attempts to break free from his bonds. Layla, the one familiar face in the cell, was slumped against the bars. As Rusty opened the door, she recognized him almost instantly. "T-that armor¡­ Mr. Alb..e..rt?" Her voice was faint, and though her wounds were severe, she was alive. The young woman appeared delirious from her injuries, barely able to keep her head up. She was barely keeping her head straight so for the time being, he decided to use the first potion on her.The other prisoners watched him warily, likely assuming he was part of the cult. With Layla''s help, though, he could change that perception. If she vouched for him, he could more easily gain their trust - a suggestion Aburdon had wisely offered. "Yes, it''s me¡­ here, drink this." From his storage, he withdrew a vial of thick, shimmering red liquid and held it to her lips. Layla drank in small, labored gulps, the color returning to her cheeks as the potion took effect. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus her vision, and then gasped as her strength returned enough for her to sit up. "Why¡­ why are you here?" "I''ll explain later, for now, we need more help¡­" With Layla beginning to look steadier, he turned his attention to the priestess. Her eyes met his as he approached, narrowing slightly in appraisal. "Can you heal the others?" He asked, offering her the second potion. She nodded, though her voice was weak. "If I regain my strength but my holy p-power is¡­" "I also have a mana potion, this should be enough, right?" He uncorked the potion and carefully tilted it to her lips. She drank slowly, visibly relieved as the restorative liquid coursed through her. Once some of her injuries had been healed, he handed her a mana potion to help her restore some of that holy power she was speaking about. Her breathing steadied, and though she was still weakened, she had enough strength now to drink the other potion by herself. "Thank you," She said while Rusty moved over to the third person, the warrior lying on the floor. Rusty crouched down, prying open the warrior''s mouth, and began carefully pouring the last potion down his throat. Just as the liquid touched his tongue, the warrior''s eyes shot open. He lunged forward as if waiting for this opportunity but was held back by the shackles still binding his hands. "You bast¡­ huh?" The warrior coughed, coughing up some of the potion. His gaze darted around the room, taking in the priestess, Layla, and then Rusty, whose imposing armor was the last thing he expected to see. "Easy, friend, save that strength for those people that brought you here¡­" Rusty responded while taking a step back to go through the keys. The man was confused but he wasn''t an enemy and now that he had some help, it was time to conquer this underground dungeon filled with cultists. Chapter 93 – Wrong Plan? "What''s going to happen to us¡­""What if those people return?" "I want to go home¡­" Rusty looked at the various people before him, beginning to wonder if helping them had been a mistake, especially given the Priest''s erratic behavior. After he had restored her health and provided her with mana potions, she went to work. But instead of healing the strongest fighters, she focused on the youngest and most frail among them. In Rusty''s battle-ready mind, this didn''t make sense as they needed more capable soldiers on their side and not more liabilities. Fortunately, the strongest among them appeared to be the warrior Rusty had just healed. Despite his earlier weakened state, the warrior regained his strength faster than Rusty expected. The shackles that had bound him seemed to have unusual properties - once they were removed, his health began to recover on its own, and his wounds closed with superhuman speed, even without further potions. This made Rusty wonder if he should keep those chains for himself. The only issue was that the chains were made from an unknown metal that his system wouldn''t allow him to use directly. He could carry them in his stash tab, though that space was limited. Fortunately, the large spatial satchel he had found in the underground chamber was spacious enough to hold them. When the warrior tore the chains from the wall in a fit of rage, Rusty saw the potential for a hidden weapon, one he might wield in the future. Thus, while the others were helping everyone else, he stuffed one of the chains into the satchel. "Mr. Albert, you have my gratitude, but how are we going to leave this place? Do you know a way out?" Layla, his acquaintance from the adventurers'' guild, finally spoke up, her voice barely a whisper. "There''s a mechanism that opens a stairway up, but I''m not sure how to activate it - or how many enemies we''re facing," He replied, struggling to keep his composure. The people here were an unpredictable variable, one that could turn against him at any moment. If things got too chaotic, he was prepared to shift into his more slender form and make a quick escape. "I think we have two options, either we try to activate the mechanism and wait for it to form the stairs, or we¨C" Before he could finish, the large man he had healed with his potion cut in. In his hands a rock that he promptly crushed and threw the dust to the side. "Or we destroy their base and kill them all! Those bastards dared to deceive me; I''ll slaughter every last one of them!" The man''s voice echoed through the chamber, his anger intensifying, much to Rusty''s dismay. The last thing they needed was this much noise. Although going deeper into the underground cult lair might be beneficial, he was wary of the figure the cultists called the High Priest. Escaping using the existing mechanism seemed a safer option, but it would likely alert their enemies to their location. "Please, calm yourself - they''ll hear us! We have no idea how many there are. Let me tend to the wounded first." The lady priest called to the burly man, her voice barely a whisper. The warrior spun around, his eyes narrowing as if her plea had struck a nerve. His face twisted in fury, but he took a slow breath, struggling to rein in his anger. His gaze flicked to the mangled bodies scattered around, and eventually, he just nodded. He turned and began to move out of the cell, pausing at the door to look back. "If anyone comes, you''ll hear it. Make it quick." It seemed he intended to act as the lookout. He headed to the end of the corridor, but Rusty waved him down just before he could go on his way. "What do you want?" The man barked at him in an annoyed tone but Rusty didn''t react. "There are some weapons there. Better than going empty-handed." Rusty replied, gesturing toward a darkened room filled with bodies. Before moving over to help, he''d placed some of his own weaponry there along with the daggers he took from the two cultists. They were probably inferior to what these people were used to, but still better than bare fists. The man nodded, moving toward the room. For a moment, he looked taken aback by the sheer number of corpses but quickly set about collecting a weapon. With an iron axe slung over his shoulder, he resumed his post at the corridor''s end, ready to keep watch. Rusty returned to the other holding cell, where an unexpected scene was unfolding. " (¡Ñ _ ¡Ñ ) " "Gleam?" Rusty murmured, noticing his ant friend intently watching the elven lady as she channeled her healing spells. Gleam''s antennae twitched with curiosity as she observed the priestess''s energy manipulation. Rusty could tell she was doing something specific - trying to imitate the woman''s movements and magic. Gleam hadn''t often had the chance to witness different types of magic up close, and, to Rusty''s surprise, there seemed to be more than just curiosity in her gaze. "Oh, the young lady must have been busy while we were gone." Aburdon remarked, noticing before anyone else that Gleam was subtly mimicking the mana patterns of the spell, shaping them according to her own understanding. At first, Rusty wasn''t sure what to make of it, but then he saw a new spell appear in Gleam''s status window, one they could potentially use: Lesser Cure of Light Spell A variant of the lesser cure spell, attuned to the light element. ''That spell will be more potent than regular healing spells.'' Aburdon added, being the first to comment as he too noticed the new spell in Gleam''s status screen. Rusty hadn''t asked, but his demonic guide was quick to explain why this particular spell would be more powerful than standard healing magic. ''Normally priests use their healing spells by channeling divine energies from their deity but Gleam here learned a more pure form of it - without relying on a divine being... Since it''s attuned to her natural light element, it will heal quicker and potentially have better effects on higher undead.'' Rusty took in the information, and it made some sense to him. He''d seen priests use divine healing spells in the dungeon before, but his own light-elemental skills seemed different - more efficient, using less mana and taking less time, yet with a stronger impact against undead monsters. It seemed that light was a more advanced form of healing. With Gleam''s new spell, it might be wise to focus on undead creatures for quicker leveling, since she could likely use this cure as an offensive spell as well. ''Once we are finished here, you must let me teach our little lady some fundamentals!'' ''Sure but first why don''t we put her skill up to a test?'' S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty marveled at Gleam''s progress as the little creature was developing abilities faster than he''d thought possible. Without a second thought, he decided to put Gleam''s newfound skill to the test. He approached Layla, whose strength was returning but who still winced with each movement. "Alright, Gleam, try using your spell on her." Rusty whispered, patting his ant companion lightly on the head. Gleam''s antennae glowed softly, and she cast a faint, warm light over Layla. A soothing aura surrounded her, gently knitting her remaining wounds together and revitalizing her instantly. Her face went from pale and drawn to a more natural, healthy flush. "This light¡­ is that tamed creature doing this?" Layla was surprised by the instant healing that allowed her to pick herself up from the ground. Rusty had decided to let Gleam test the spell on someone he could somewhat trust, and it was a success. However, there was a small problem: as soon as the spell finished, Gleam''s body slumped, her insect legs trembling as her breaths came faster. She settled back onto Rusty''s shoulder, looking more exhausted than before. "That was impressive, Gleam, but let''s save your strength. No more healing for now." "Their name is Gleam? That''s a cute name - thank you, Gleam." Layla added, with a warm smile and her hand trembling as if she wished to give the silvery insect a pat on the head. "(?? ? ??)" Gleam''s expression brightened, clearly pleased to be praised by two people at once. Rusty made sure to speak loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear, wanting to make it clear that this ant was a friend, not a foe. Now that they''d seen her heal a person, they would likely assume she was merely a tamed creature. "We need to start moving¡­" Layla nodded, moving beside Rusty as they made their way out. He filled her in on the weapons he had stashed, and after picking out one of the cultist''s daggers and an iron bow, she looked ready to do some damage. While the elven healer stayed back to tend to the injured, Rusty and Layla moved toward the spot where their lookout was supposed to be stationed. Instead of keeping watch, however, the man had ventured in deeper and was now studying the stair mechanism. The door could be opened with the keys Rusty had taken from the fallen cultists, but there was one issue. "I remember this¡­ it was really loud. If we activate it, it''ll definitely give away our position," Layla whispered, recalling her initial descent. Rusty nodded, knowing she was right. Activating the mechanism would likely draw unwanted attention, alerting enemies to their escape route. If they triggered it, they''d need to prepare for a fight - and one that could come from both sides. "What are you two mumbling about? Spit it out." Growled the large man, clearly annoyed as he saw Rusty approach. "It''s about the way out. If we use this, we''ll need to hold out for a while before the steps assemble. There are cultists above us who will try to block us as we ascend. And once we activate it¨C" The man raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. He seemed unimpressed, possibly because he saw himself as the strongest among them and didn''t care much for elaborate plans. "Ah, I get it. Those bastards are busy praying to their shitty god and will come running the moment we activate this thing¡­ Great! I''ve got a plan, then. Come with me, you two." He declared with a smirk, cracking his knuckles as he turned back toward the corridor where all the people were. Soon they were back to hatching a plan and it seemed that Rusty would be getting the short end of the stick. "Listen up here you lot! Move your arses if you want to live. Anyone that can stand come with me. We need to move some things!" Despite his gruff demeanor, the man turned out to be a surprisingly effective leader. His voice wasn''t especially loud now, but it held a calm confidence that eased some of the tension in the group. Before long, people were moving with purpose, gathering whatever they could find - rocks, logs, and even the bodies of fallen cultists and stacking them in front of all entrances to the central hub area, creating makeshift barricades to slow down the approaching cultists. The plan was straightforward: Rusty, Layla, and the man would hold this position, preventing the cultists from breaking through, while the healer and those well enough to move ascended the exit route. Once everyone else had made it through, Rusty and the others would fall back. It was a simple strategy, though Rusty had hoped to join the first group heading up. But their temporary leader, perhaps recognizing Rusty''s combat abilities, had decided he''d be more useful guarding the area. As they were finishing fortifying the room, suddenly some voices and steps echoed from the distance. Someone was approaching from one of the corridors and they didn''t seem to be friendly. It was one of the coultists, holding a torch and moving towards their direction. He came to a stop before an entrance that was blocked by a pile of random furniture. "What is the meaning of this! What''s going on¡­ ARGhhh¡­" Before he could continue speaking an arrow flew through the air and connected with his forehead. It was shot by Layla and instantly the cultist slumped to the floor, his torch clattering to the ground and casting eerie shadows across the room. Layla lowered her bow, giving Rusty a quick nod, while the large man smirked approvingly at her deadly accuracy. The flickering torchlight illuminated the barricade of broken furniture and piled rubble, casting long shadows on the stone walls that seemed to twist and dance like spirits of the dead. "There are more of them coming, this is it, get ready!" Even before Rusty could activate his life detection skill, the warrior shouted. "They''re coming!" His voice was sharp, signaling the healer to activate the stairs that led up behind them. The entire place began to rumble as she inserted one of the cultist''s keys into a socket in the wall, while another person pulled a lever on the opposite side of the chamber - a lock impossible to open without at least two people. Shouts erupted from the other side as the cultists spotted their fallen comrades'' bodies and rushed forward, realizing something had gone horribly wrong. Rusty quickly notched an arrow and took aim, his focus narrowing as he fired through one of the gaps in the barricade. The arrow flew true, striking one of the approaching cultists. Beside him, Layla did the same, her iron bow releasing an arrow with deadly precision. The battle had begun. The cultists charged, their footsteps a relentless drumbeat echoing through the corridors. Their voices echoed from the distance and melded together as they charged. There was a sort of fanatical unity in their approach as they continued to run at them and never stopped even after losing multiple members to arrows. he warrior stood at the center of their defensive line, waiting for the first cultist to breach the barricade. Gripping an iron axe with both hands, his expression was a mix of anticipation and rage. While Rusty and Layla held back the main corridor, two side entrances remained vulnerable, and enemies were already pushing through in an attempt to break in. Time was of the essence, and the stairs were slowly unfolding behind them. Many were still injured, barely able to walk, and the situation was growing dire. Rusty began to wonder if perhaps Aburdon had been right - that he should have taken a more covert approach rather than the plan that was now unfolding before them. ''How do the humans say it?... Ah yes¡­ shit! ¡­ '' Chapter 94 – Retreat. "Intruders!""Kill them all!" "For the slaughter!" With the cultists bearing down on them and their backs literally against the wall, Rusty felt a tinge of regret. The barricade groaned under the force of the fanatical attackers pressing against it. Rusty braced himself, glancing back at the stair mechanism. He could hear the blocks shifting into place bit by bit, and he noticed some of the injured trying to move as the steps unfolded beneath them. He wasn''t sure how long it would take for the entire path to form, which meant that every second counted. He tightened his grip on his bow, his fingers moving with practiced ease as he loosed another arrow. Cultists on the other side were dropping with choked screams, but their numbers kept growing. Layla, beside him, kept her composure, pulling arrow after arrow from her quiver. Meanwhile, the burly warrior at the center of their defensive line roared, cleaving down any cultist unlucky enough to break through one of the side entrances. He fought with a wild abandon that was almost terrifying to watch, cutting down enemies as if his fury alone fueled him. ''Considering their numbers, perhaps this plan would''ve been better¡­ if we were going up the stairs instead'' Explore new worlds at empire Aburdon muttered from within Rusty''s armor. There were far more cultists than any of them had anticipated. It was clear that they would have likely been overwhelmed if they had attempted to push deeper into the lair. A small army of robed figures was advancing, and for every cultist they killed, two more seemed to take their place. Eventually, the cultists even began using the bodies of their fallen as shields, pushing forward and slamming against the barricades. "Layla, keep shooting - here, use my arrows." Rusty handed her the rest of his arrows while sprinting to the side. This wasn''t looking good. The barricade was close to breaking, and he could see cultists preparing to force their way through. Anticipating this, Rusty had set a halberd nearby for just this occasion, ready to wield it with his polearm passive. As he passed the arrows to Layla, she nodded in thanks and turned her focus back to the oncoming horde. Rusty lunged forward, driving his halberd into a cultist attempting to squeeze through a gap in the barricade. He thrust forward with his weapon, putting every ounce of strength into the blow and forcing the cultist backward. But as soon as he pushed one enemy back, another took its place, and the barricade began to give under the relentless assault. Behind him, the rumbling stairs continued to unfold, each stone block sliding into place with agonizing slowness. Time seemed to be slipping through his fingers, but he had no intention of giving up. The cultists moved like a mindless zombie horde, and though his light-based skills wouldn''t work here, he had other options. After driving his polearm into one of the cultists and shoving with all his might, he managed to create a small gap in the barricade. Moving quickly, he reached into his new spatial satchel and pulled out a yellowish potion he had carefully prepared for emergencies like this. He flung it through the opening he''d created, and as it collided with one of the cultists on the other side, a massive burst of flames erupted, spreading outward and igniting the hooded figures nearby. "ARGHHhh¡­" The evil god worshipers started screaming as the flames roared to life, illuminating the corridor in a blinding blaze. The potion Rusty had thrown was a middle-grade blaze potion, meant for desperate situations. Cultists writhed in agony, their robes engulfed, some dropping to the floor in a futile attempt to smother the flames. The intense heat created a temporary barrier as the burning figures fell into one another, slowing the cultists'' advance for precious moments. "They are retreating!" Rusty informed his allies as his potion ignited the main path, creating a wall of fire just as the alchemist had promised. Even if doused with water, the flames would keep burning for a solid few minutes. With the main path blocked, they could now focus on defending the two side passages, where the berserker warrior was holding his ground with fierce swings of his axe. Despite the temporary reprieve from Rusty''s potion, the cultists pressed forward, relentless in their assault. The flames cast long, flickering shadows across the blood-spattered walls, the smell of burning flesh filling the air. As the cultists began to spill in from the side passages, the berserker warrior roared, cleaving down two with a single swing of his axe, and it seemed to be enough to stem the tide. Layla and Rusty now focusing on the side passages were able to help and push back the advancing madmen. Eventually, Rusty was even able to resemble some of the barricades back into place, holding back the enemies that were trying to enter through the narrower side paths. Things were looking well for this haphazardly thrown-together party but from within the main corridor, more trouble was approaching. They heard it - a deep, guttural chanting from somewhere within the cultists'' ranks. The High Priest emerged, his robes billowing like shadows, and in his hand, he wielded an ancient staff carved with runes that glowed an unnatural crimson. His eyes, dark as the void, swept across the burning corridor with calm, calculating malice. The priest raised his staff high, his voice booming with a harsh incantation. The flames from Rusty''s potion seemed to flicker and warp as if affected by some unseen force. The cultists around him writhed in ecstasy as he chanted, and an unsettling energy pulsed outward, rolling over the barricades like a dark tide. Suddenly, the flames dimmed and died, leaving only smoldering embers in their wake. The High Priest had somehow quelled the blaze, and with the last flicker of flame extinguished, he pointed his staff toward Rusty and his companions. "Enough games, bring the sacrifices back, the lord of blood demands it!" The priest shouted, his voice dripping with disdain, and with a swift motion, slammed his staff to the ground. A crimson wave of energy surged forward, crashing into the barricades and blasting debris across the room. To make matters worse, the red energy that seeped from the spell enveloped the other cultists, triggering an eerie transformation. Despite their wounds - from cuts, arrows, or burns - they staggered to their feet once more. Their eyes turned cloudy, blood seeping from their sockets, and dark veins bulged across their skin as they advanced with unnatural vigor. The eerie transformation of the cultists sent a chill down Rusty''s nonexistent spine. Their bodies began mutating into grotesque, inhuman forms, covered in cancerous-looking lesions. Blood dripped from their open wounds, yet somehow they continued to move forward. The wounds seemed to pulse with a strange, crimson energy, as if it were sustaining them despite the damage. ''That''s a blood frenzy curse! We need to retreat! Those things are much worse than regular zombies.'' Aburdon warned Rusty and he took it to heart. It was clear that he was out of his league if he tried to face them head-on. The cursed cultists were in a state that defied reason - stumbling forward with twisted limbs and blood-seeped eyes, oblivious to pain or fear. Layla''s face paled as she saw the horrific transformation, but she didn''t falter; she raised her bow, and lodged one of her arrows right into one of those bloodshot eyes. "..." To her surprise, the transformed cultist didn''t even flinch as if his body was unable to register the pain. Instead, he roared out in annoyance and started charging forward. The High Priest remained in the back as if he was waiting for them to fall into despair, his dark eyes glinting with satisfaction as he watched the scene unfold "We need to retreat. Gleam do it now!" "( ? ''? - ''? ) ?" Rusty wasn''t about to die here. What time they had bought for the prisoners would have to be enough as he needed to retreat to save himself. He''d learned long ago that a backup plan was essential, and he had two: an expensive incendiary potion and his partner. Although she had used up her magic energy earlier, Gleam could recharge it quickly. He had told her to gather her mana and prepare a powerful spell. Mages could make spells stronger by chanting longer and steadily adding more mana to them. Rusty had learned of this trick''s existence since coming to the city, and now he wanted to see just how powerful Gleam''s mana bolt could get. Instead of targeting the advancing monsters, Gleam aimed her spell at the ceiling near the chamber entrance. Her antennae glowed with a fierce blue light as she gathered mana, forming a pulsating orb of energy above her head. With a deep breath, she braced her tiny form, aimed, and launched the spell. The force of the recoil was too much for her small ant body, and she was flung back against a nearby wall. Fortunately, Rusty was ready as he quickly scooped her up onto his shoulder, and together, they began their escape. The mana bolt surged forward, crackling as it collided with the stone ceiling, erupting in a flash of light and sound that shook the entire chamber. With a thunderous boom, the ceiling above the cultists shattered, sending massive chunks of stone crashing down. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring their enemies from view, and for a brief moment, everything went silent. When the dust began to settle, Rusty could see that several of the transformed cultists had been crushed or pinned beneath the heavy stones. Their twisted, bloodshot eyes glared up at him, still filled with a frenzied hatred even as they struggled to free themselves from the rubble. The High Priest, unharmed and standing behind the fallen stones, looked up, his expression no longer calm and composed. His eyes narrowed, clearly annoyed by the disruption, but he quickly raised his staff, a surge of crimson energy gathering at its tip. He was preparing another spell, one that the group on the other side wasn''t willing to wait for. "Back, we need to go back!" This time it was Layla who shouted in panic, fear tightening her voice as she pulled Rusty back with her. Rusty glanced at the High Priest one last time, realizing they''d bought themselves only seconds. The priest''s crimson energy gathered and crackled ominously, casting blood-red shadows along the walls. However, between them and the High Priest stood that man Rusty had saved, his eyes unwavering. "There you are, you damn bastard, I will tear you apart!" Rusty wasn''t entirely sure what was happening, as he knew it was possible to fall back to the stairs and use the narrow entrance as a defense. If they could, they could even try to collapse the doorway behind them to buy more time. Yet, for some reason, the man beside them refused to retreat. Instead, he charged at the High Priest, hurling the iron axe Rusty had crafted just as the priest was about to finish his spell. Instead of trying to retreat, the man decided to face the man alone. ''This is our chance, Rusty! We have to flee!'' Aburdon called to him. Rusty took one last look at the berserker before turning away, ready to make his escape. Both he and Layla sprinted without looking back. He wasn''t sure what the man was doing but it didn''t seem to be a noble sacrifice but instead a grudge he had with that High Priest. Layla''s breathing was ragged beside him, she didn''t seem to have much more stamina left, something he didn''t need to worry about. Gleam clung tightly to Rusty''s shoulder, her silvery exoskeleton still faintly glowing from the magic she''d just unleashed, though her energy reserves were clearly low. Rusty could feel her tiny body tremble against his neck, exhausted but still alert, antennae twitching as if sensing the danger that loomed just behind them. They reached the stairway just as the final blocks locked into place, a soft glow signaling that the mechanism had completed its cycle. Many of the prisoners were already partway up the stairs, having climbed in desperation even before they were fully formed. Now, with the High Priest having turned every cultist into a bloodthirsty beast, panic was setting in, and they scrambled upward in sheer terror. "Up, quickly!" Rusty urged the injured forward, pushing them up the steps. Layla assisted as well, steadying the weaker prisoners as they limped upward. He didn''t really care to aid anyone as he wasn''t even part of any of their races. If his true form was discovered, it was more than possible that these people would treat him as if he were part of those cultists. In truth, his only real friend here was Gleam, and his primary goal was reaching the top. "Mr. Albert, there are probably going to be some guards waiting up ahead, I''ll leave them to you!" It seemed that his temporary acquaintance Layla misinterpreted his actions but his only care was to get up and finally, escape this predicament together with Gleam. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Understood" Rusty replied with a curt nod, though he had no idea how he''d handle any guards waiting above. His skills were best suited to dark, confined spaces - not open battlegrounds where he''d likely be outnumbered. But he had little choice and moved forward, though a strange feeling of conflict nagged at him. The smart move would be to leave these people behind, use them as shields against the guards, and make his escape. He didn''t owe them anything, and he certainly didn''t expect any of them to risk their lives for his. His metallic steps echoed against the rocky stairs that wound in a spiraling ascent. The injured people clung to the side walls, allowing him to move quickly through the middle. When he glanced up, he could see a faint light shining through, and it appeared that the cultist guards stationed above had been alerted to their presence. Ahead, he spotted one of the former prisoners, now armed with one of his weapons, charging forward with a few others following close behind. ''That''s the exit. I''m almost there, but what now?'' He was nearly free, Gleam perched alertly on his shoulder. The exit to this underground lair of madmen lay just ahead - just a few more steps, and he''d be free. But would it really end so easily? He was unsure but either way, today he and his friend would be free and would be able to face this strange word together. Chapter 95 – Defeated? "The sacrifices are running away, stop them!""Kill everyone, slaughter them before they escape into the city." Rusty sprinted up the stairs as fast as his metallic body allowed him to. He could hear shouts and screams coming from above. The clamor of cultists and the pounding of boots above echoed down the spiraling stairway as Rusty charged upward. The chaos behind him spurred him to move faster, though his metallic joints strained under the pressure. Gleam clung to his back instead of his shoulder while trying to regain her mana for the battle ahead. He had left the terrifying cultist high priest behind and was now attempting to free himself. His goal had never been to rescue these people or to oppose the strange cultists. Some of the people here seemed to have misunderstood his motives, but it wasn''t worth the effort to correct them. What he needed to do was escape this hell hole and leave the city overrun by humanoid creatures. Rusty just wanted to finally enjoy his freedom - something he couldn''t truly accomplish while his friend Gleam had been captured. "( ¨®©n¨° )" "Sorry, Gleam. I don''t have any more mana potions on me. Just rest for now; I''ll get us both out of here." Read new chapters at empire After reassuring his partner, he noticed a faint light shining from above. The exit was there, and he wouldn''t let anyone stand in his way. During his trek up he had passed many of the injured prisoners, one of them being the priest. She had stopped climbing and instead started healing the people who were unable to ascend further. Rusty did not stop or even glance her way and instead kept his own well-being in mind. As he finnaly approached the exit he heard a person scream. A man who had been given one of his weapons had just been stabbed through his chest. He was in the process of being pushed down the secret exit but Rusty was right behind him. He threw his polearm, making it fly past the stabbed man''s shoulder and right between the eyes of the cult member that had just stabbed him. The polearm struck true, embedding itself deep into the skull of the cultist. The figure crumpled like a marionette with its strings cut, the force of the impact sending it sprawling backward. The wounded man, now free from the immediate threat, slumped against the stairwell wall, blood pooling at his feet. Rusty didn''t spare him a second glance. He had no time to stop, no time to help. Gleam, still clinging to Rusty''s back, glanced at the dead man for a moment. Her antennae wiggled briefly, but she lacked the mana for another healing spell. Without his healbard, Rusty switched to his sword and shield once more. Lowering his center of gravity, he activated a skill to increase his weight and charged forward. Another cultist stood in his path, but the man''s dagger merely bounced off Rusty''s metallic form as he barreled past and charged outside. They finally emerged above ground, finding themselves in a seemingly deserted building that had been taken over by these strange people. However, after the secret exit mechanism had been triggered, more cultists appeared than they had encountered previously. Rusty had feigned death while being transported to this place, and Gleam had slipped past unnoticed. Neither of them had seen this many guards earlier, which suggested reinforcements had come from elsewhere. Even more might have been on their way so they needed to leave now. ''It seems they don''t want this place to be discovered. It''s probably going to be hard to get out of here¡­ And what is that? They''ve kindly put up a lovely silencing barrier around the whole place, why isn''t that grand?'' Aburdon called out to Rusty in a somewhat mocking tone. The demon lord had always opposed the plan to rescue the other prisoners, and now he was gloating over the apparent failure. The silencing barrier shimmered faintly, barely visible to Rusty thanks to his mana-sensing skill. He had hoped that, once above ground, it would be easy to escape. Even though it was still nighttime, his plan had relied on chaos - prisoners shouting and running would have forced the city guards to intervene. Now, however, things looked grim. More cultists had gathered in the area, some wearing heavy armor, while others were armed with bows, loosing arrows in Rusty''s direction. "Gleam, stay on my back!" "(£¾©n£¼)" He raised his shield to protect his head as several arrows flew toward him. Most bounced harmlessly off his armor, but a few left scratches and even small dents. He had already burned through many of his metal reserves and was running low on sp. Switching to other loadouts and repairing himself would soon not be possible. The cultists appeared from all sides, some charging at him with spears others shooting arrows. It was quite difficult to progress forward, his back against the entrance in an attempt to shield Gleam from harm. After identifying the archers and bouncing a few arrows back he decided to sprint forward. To his dismay he was intercepted by two armored men, both holding large tower shields that he couldn''t push against. It reminded him of the adventurers, where the heavily armored warriors would keep monsters at bay while the archers pelted them from a distance. That''s exactly what the cultists were doing to him - shield-bearers advancing in unison, using their bulk to push him back, while the archers continued to rain arrows on his body. Slowly, the damage started to accumulate and he needed to do something. He glanced to the sides. If he ran now, there was a high chance Gleam would get hit, something he was trying to avoid. ''Should I switch out and make a break for it?'' He wondered if he should use SP for a last-effort loadout change. In his larger form, he could let Gleam enter his body, where she would be relatively safe. However, there were people behind him. If he did that, it would be obvious he was a monster, and he could end up being hunted by both sides. "Kill them all, use the fire bombs!" Before he could decide, one of the cultists shouted from the side. In his hand, he held a vial containing a red liquid. Rusty had been in this city long enough to know exactly what it was - and what would happen if he was hit by it. If that potion struck him, Gleam would be in serious trouble. However, Rusty wasn''t truly alone in this struggle. Despite Aburdon''s complaints about the plan, he had still managed to gather some allies through it. An arrow shot out from behind him, striking the cultist''s wrist just as he was about to throw the fire potion. The vial slipped from the man''s grasp, shattering on the ground and setting the cultist on fire. Layla had finally climbed up and joined the fight. She wasn''t alone, either - four more armed allies emerged through the opening, with the elven healer close behind them. Their wounds were mostly healed now, and they were ready for battle. "Bastards! Die!" The cultists surged forward as chaos erupted, but Rusty stood firm, heartened by the reinforcements at his side. The clash above ground escalated into a chaotic melee. Layla, alongside the newly armed and reinvigorated prisoners, fought ferociously. Her arrows flew with pinpoint accuracy, injuring cultists from a distance. Meanwhile, the others, wielding weapons forged by Rusty, charged into the fray with desperation and fury. Rusty, now surrounded by both friend and foe, knew it was time to make a bold move. While everyone else fought for their lives, he needed to escape. This had gone on for far too long, and now it was every man for himself. But a shield-bearer stood directly in his path, blocking his way. Despite several attempts, Rusty couldn''t force the man aside or break through his guard to make a run for it. These cultists were surprisingly well-trained, holding their formation with strange discipline. What unsettled Rusty most, though, was the look in their eyes. They fought with a strange, almost frantic desperation - not as though they were afraid of losing to their immediate opponents, but as if they feared something far worse than the battle at hand. The cultists fought with a maddened fervor, shouting praises to their Lord of Blood even as they bled out on the ground. They seemed unstoppable, driven by a force that defied comprehension. Yet, amidst the chaos, Rusty''s mind was clear and he pushed on. Now facing just one opponent, Rusty decided to go all out. He activated his Fury skill, followed by Fortify Armor and Weight Control. His MP plummeted dangerously close to depletion, but this was his final gambit. If he didn''t break free now, he never would. With his enhanced strength, resistance, and sheer weight, Rusty slammed into the shield-bearer like an unstoppable force. The impact was devastating. The shield-bearer was hurled to the side, his heavy shield spinning through the air, torn from his grasp. Rusty didn''t pause to savor his victory - he surged forward, barreling straight into the group of archers who had been tormenting him earlier. The archers scrambled to aim at his vulnerable joints and weak points in his armor, but their efforts were futile. Rusty was no human but a living armor; he was a monster. Bolstered by his skills, arrows that found their mark barely slowed him. Only a direct hit to his core could stop him now, and Rusty had no intention of letting that happen. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "S-Stop hi¡ªagh¡­" One of the archers was struck by Rusty''s shield and slammed into a nearby wall. The impact shattered his ribcage, and blood poured from his mouth as he collapsed lifelessly to the ground. This was it. Rusty had blasted through everyone standing in his way, and now the exit from this hellhole was finally in sight. Shouts echoed behind him, but he paid them no mind. As long as Gleam was with him, there was no reason to look back. Freedom was just within reach, and soon, they would both be free. Rusty burst through the final barrier of cultists, his shield clanging as he deflected desperate strikes aimed at stopping him. The cool night air hit his frame as he emerged from the abandoned building. He was now outside and freedom was at his metallic fingertips. However, his relief was short-lived. While the chase behind him was ongoing another force blocked his escape. They emerged through the soundproof barrier - men clad in heavy armor, similar in design to his own but far thicker and more robust. Their metallic frames glistened in the moonlight, the silvery surfaces reflecting faintly, eerily reminiscent of Gleam''s carapace. Each carried identical equipment: a large oval shield in their left hand and a longsword in their right. The shields bore an engraved figure - perhaps a deity - whose identity tugged at the edge of his memory, though he couldn''t quite place it. "Oh no, this might be bad¡­ Rusty, it might be better to retreat¡­" "Retreat, now?" Aburdon muttered, eyeing the well-armored troops steadily approaching. At a glance, they were far stronger than the cultist group they had encountered earlier, and their numbers seemed overwhelming. With a quick sweep of his surroundings, his skill confirmed the grim reality - they were surrounding the entire building, cutting off any chance of escape. His heart sank as he stepped back toward the entrance he had just used, where the sounds of fighting still raged. "Rusty, we have to escape somehow! Don''t let those silver zealots catch you - if they get too close, they''ll surely discover the possession skill, and it''ll be over for both of us!" He was not sure what this was about but those people looked awfully similar to the descriptions of paladins that he heard about. In this world, there were multiple gods, good and evil. Perhaps the lair of these evil god worshipers had been already found and they had been planning to raid it all along. Rusty''s gears whirred as he processed the situation. The so-called paladins were closing in, their movements coordinated, their shining armor unmarred by the grime and chaos of the battle he had just escaped. Between the cultists'' desperate frenzies and these disciplined warriors, his chances of survival seemed to be rapidly dwindling. Just then, a tremendous explosion echoed from within the building. A blast of crimson light surged out, breaking through the soundproof barrier and coloring the sky red. Everyone that was in the immediate vicinity was sent flying to the sides. The secret stairs leading down into the air were blasted upwards with the pillar which they dissolved into ashes. From within this crimson pillar of energy, a lone man rose. He was floating, robes fluttering in the evil slaughter energies his god imbued him with. It was the high priest Rusty had left behind. His tattered robes were now mended by the pulsing energy that surrounded him, a malevolent crimson aura crackling with raw power. The high priest''s eyes glowed like twin blood moons, and his voice boomed across the battlefield, filled with divine wrath. The pressure emanating from this being was truly tremendous. Rusty didn''t know what he was looking at and had never encountered a creature with such overwhelming power before. His gaze was drawn to what the high priest held in his left hand: the severed head of the warrior Rusty had previously helped. The man who was seemingly a berserker was quite strong. If that man hadn''t stood a chance, Rusty realized, then he wouldn''t fare any better. The cultists who remained alive dropped to their knees, chanting fervently. The paladins, unfazed by the display of power, took formation, their shields locking together as they advanced. Rusty knew better than to admire the spectacle. The priest''s ascension was no blessing - it was a death sentence for everyone present. "Rusty!" "I know!" Aburdon urged him to hide, but there was nowhere to go. The paladins were dangerous, but the high priest was on an entirely different level. The crimson energy radiating from him distorted the air, warping the surroundings. Dark bolts of energy crackled, unleashing enough force to instantly vaporize the building''s structure. It was clear this place wouldn''t hold much longer, and staying here was a death sentence. But how could he possibly escape? "Form the barrier! Stay in formation! Contain the heretic!" A shimmering golden dome began to materialize around the area, a divine barrier meant to suppress unholy power. The high priest laughed mockingly, raising his hand to unleash a barrage of energy blasts. Each strike shook the earth, sending shockwaves that shattered nearby walls and tossed cultists and paladins alike into the air and even the previously imprisoned innocents. "N-no!" Layla cried out from the side as a bolt of energy hurtled toward her, but to her surprise, someone stepped in front to shield her. For a brief moment, she noticed an ant perched on the man''s back before the energy bolt struck. The impact sent him flying through the air, his body twisting at unnatural angles as he was flung away... Chapter 96 – Sneaky Escape. Layla watched in horror as the chaos unfolded. The explosion from the high priest''s ascension had left the battlefield in disarray. Debris rained from the sky, mingling with the cries of the injured and the battle orders barked by the paladins. Her bow trembled in her hands, but she forced herself to focus. The man who had shielded her was flung away and crashed into a wall. She could see parts of his body from under the rubble and he was not moving at all.She crouched behind the rubble, her heart pounding as the clash of divine and unholy forces intensified around her. Streaks of crimson and golden energy now illuminated the once-dim battlefield, the air vibrating with power. Every crackle and explosion felt like a hammer striking her chest, but she held tightly to her bow, refusing to let fear paralyze her completely. The paladins were like an unyielding tide, their silver shields locked together as they steadily advanced on the high priest. They chanted prayers in unison, the words ringing with divine authority. The barrier they conjured shimmered and pulsed, straining to contain the high priest''s overwhelming energy. Yet, despite their coordination, the priest seemed unbothered, his laughter echoed over the carnage as he unleashed another blast of crimson light. Her mind raced, ears ringing from the relentless explosions and the sound of rubble crashing down around her. Wounds were accumulating across her body, but she forced herself to stay calm. Despite being new to adventuring, she knew that giving up would spell the end. Her gaze locked onto a particular pile of debris. A metallic foot jutted out from beneath it. A friend of hers was laying there, someone who had already saved her life on numerous occasions. Albert had appeared out of nowhere, rescuing her not just from these cultists but also during the adventurer''s test. She was certain now that these people had marked her as a target ever since the incident in the F-rank dungeon. Their bodies bore the same ominous symbol: a scythe crossed with a crescent moon. It seemed that once they set their sights on someone, escape was impossible. The attacks hadn''t stopped after the adventurer test. She had been ambushed in her sleep, only to awaken in a cold, dark cell. From time to time, other prisoners were dragged out, bloodied, and battered, for strange rituals that demanded their blood. She hadn''t been spared either. It was a memory she desperately wished to forget. But now wasn''t the time to dwell on it. The person who had saved her needed help, and she couldn''t abandon him. She wouldn''t. Layla steadied her breath, forcing herself to focus despite the chaos. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but she couldn''t leave Albert beneath the rubble. Her hand gripped her bow tightly as she moved forward, her body low to avoid drawing attention. Around her, the battle raged, divine and unholy energies clashing in an unrelenting storm. At this point, all the cultists, save for their High Priest, had been eliminated. Their bodies had been reduced to bloody paste, swirling ominously around the occult mage in a grotesque display of power. The paladins, meanwhile, advanced in a disciplined formation, their barrier successfully trapping their lone enemy in the center of the battlefield. Above them, the High Priest hovered, whirlwinds of crimson energy crashing against the divine shield. Despite the violent assaults, the barrier held firm. The tide of battle shifted and the paladins began to advance in hopes of ending this madness. "Come on, Mr. Albert. Don''t you dare give up now!" Layla sprinted to the pile of rubble where she had seen the metallic foot poking out. Her heart pounded as she dropped to her knees and began digging frantically. She heaved away chunks of debris with all the strength she could muster, the rough edges cutting into her hands. She wasn''t sure if Albert was even alive under there, but the thought of leaving him buried and alone in the midst of this chaos was unbearable. Around her, the battle raged on. The High Priest was no longer laughing; his crimson energy blasts were growing more erratic, more desperate. The paladins had managed to close their formation, their shields glowing faintly with holy runes as they steadily advanced. Their leader - a graceful figure wielding a shining longsword advanced, clearly aiming to end it all. Layla paid them little attention, her focus entirely on the task at hand. She began by uncovering the lower portion first, as too much rubble was covering the rest. Her strength wasn''t great, but eventually, she managed to expose part of Albert''s chest. However, just as she was about to reach his head, the entire place trembled, and a strange burst of energy knocked her aside. A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield. Layla instinctively ducked, covering her head as a shockwave sent debris flying in all directions. When she dared to look up, she saw that the High Priest had unleashed another wave of crimson energy. This time, however, it seemed to have been his last one as he found himself with a sword buried in his chest. The paladin leader had been victorious and the madman had been defeated. The High Priest snarled, his malevolent aura flickering out as his body crumbled into dust. "T-the lord¡­ will come for all non-believers¡­" The battlefield began to collapse, the weakened structure of the building finally giving way. Layla cried out in terror as she saw more rubble falling onto her friend. Desperate, she charged forward in an attempt to shield him, but before she could reach him, one of the nearby paladins intercepted her. His firm grip stopped her in her tracks, preventing her from reaching Albert, who was quickly being buried under the falling debris. "No, no, no! Let go of me, I have to¡­" The paladin said nothing but swiftly grabbed her and carried her out of the collapsing building. The others followed suit, rushing to save as many of the remaining prisoners as they could before the structure crumbled entirely. She struggled against the man that was holding her but her cries fell on deaf ears as the group retreated to a safe distance. Behind them, the remains of the battlefield crumbled into a dense heap of dust, wood, and stone, burying everything beneath. Discover stories at empire "No!" Layla screamed, her voice hoarse from exhaustion. "He''s still under there!" The paladin set her down gently, his expression filled with strange calmness. "Miss, please. If we stayed, you''d be dead. We''ll search for survivors when it''s stable but first, let us treat your wounds." Her fists clenched as she glared at the armored figure. "You don''t understand! He saved me. I owe him my life!" "I understand, If someone remains beneath that rubble, we''ll find them. Please believe, we Paladins of Ghelene do not abandon anyone!" Layla sat at the edge of the ruined battlefield, trembling with frustration and helplessness. The priests of Ghelene had healed her hands which had been bleeding from clawing at the rubble earlier but even when the pain was gone, she could not relax. The paladins had set up a perimeter around the collapsed site, their holy wards shimmering faintly as they worked to stabilize the area. She wanted to scream, to beg them to hurry, but she knew better than to antagonize those who might be her only hope of recovering Albert - or what remained of him. Their leader turned out to be a graceful woman with long golden locks and a gaze filled with compassion. Even now, she was aiding the injured, using her magic and skills to heal them alongside some of the other priests. Eventually, they began combing through the rubble in search of any survivors - and potential cultists. They had witnessed all of the cultists being turned into monsters by their High Priest, and then into fuel for his dark magic, but the risk still remained. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the paladins uncovered the area where Layla had last seen Albert. She sprang to her feet, nearly stumbling from exhaustion. "There! That''s where he was!" The paladins nodded, and two of their strongest members stepped forward. Together, they lifted a massive slab of stone, revealing a space beneath. For a moment, hope surged in Layla''s chest. But as the dust settled, her heart sank. She saw the body of her savior, contorted at strange angles, his neck clearly broken. He had not shown his face to her previously, but it was clear that this was the suit of armor he had worn. "This¡­ is this really the person you were searching for?" One of the paladins asked. "Y-yes! He was the one who saved me and all the others. If it wasn''t for him¡­" The two paladins exchanged confused glances. One of them knelt over the remains, his palm glowing with a pale silver light as he activated a skill. He eventually stood up, his expression even more puzzled. "Are you certain? This person has been dead for many months. And you say he was the one who set you all free?" "W-what? Months? That can''t be¡­ we took the adventurer exam together¡­" "Some type of vile magic has been used here, and this armor, the metal, is strange¡­ please come with us¡­" "Strange what do you mean, I don''t understand?" Layla''s mind went blank after she heard the paladin claim that Albert had been dead for several months. If this person was dead, then with whom was she interacting this whole time? Unbeknown to her, the person who occupied the armor had left a long time ago and had no idea that someone held him in such high regard. ****** A few moments before the entire area collapsed, a lone white ant burst out from the rubble. On her head, she wore an iron helmet, oddly crafted to fit her small form. With it on, the ant charged forward, skittering out of the danger zone amidst the shouts echoing behind her. "I suppose it wasn''t a waste of time to make the ant helm back in the Soul Forge." Aburdon''s voice echoed inside the helmet, his form faintly illuminating its interior. "That we would use it in such a fashion¡­" "I told you it would work!" "(?? ? ??)" "You''re doing great, Gleam! Couldn''t have done it without you!" Rusty exclaimed to his partner as she carried him to safety. After their separation, he had gained access to the Soul Forge, where he had fashioned a helmet he hoped would fit his friend. Initially, he intended it as a gift, but in this situation, it served another purpose. His helmet was his core, and through the use of SP, it could shift into the ant-shaped version. With it on, Gleam could carry him effortlessly to safety without worrying about dropping him. Under the rubble lay Albert''s long-dead corpse - a loss that Rusty found regrettable, as he had grown attached to it. Yet his decision was made after Aburdon informed him of the dangers posed by the strange paladins. Even a demon lord like him recognized the threat they posed. It was best to discard that identity and start anew. Though he had worked hard to rise to the rank of E-rank adventurer, leaving it behind didn''t trouble him. There would always be future adventurers who perished, and if necessary, he could assume one of their identities. Still, he wasn''t entirely certain if he would ever need to do so again. For now, his sole objective was to escape the city and start over. " ( ? -?)? " "That''s a good question, where should we go now?" Gleam skittered beneath the shadows of crumbling alleyways, her tiny legs carrying her swiftly over cobblestones as the city echoed with distant chaos. The fight raged on in the distance and city guards were on high alert. Rusty contemplated their options but he wasn''t sure where to go. His SP was now close to zero and he would not be able to restore his body, they needed a place in which he could stay for a few hours. "We need somewhere discreet, Gleam. Somewhere we can rest." "(,,>©n<,,)" "Ah sorry, I forgot that you have never been in this city." Rusty wondered if they should attempt to visit the thieves guild but before making a decision, Aburdon gave him a better idea. "Hm¡­ I suppose leaving the city for now would be best, how about we go there?" "There?" "Just leave it to this demon lord!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aburdon had the whole plan of the city in his head and knew all the places. Rusty decided to follow his advice and Gleam chirped her agreement. She adjusted her course to follow Aburdon''s instructions. While there were people patrolling, they were busy looking in the direction where the fighting was taking place. This gave Gleam the advantage of slipping through the quieter, shadowed streets unnoticed. Following Aburdon''s guidance, they soon arrived at an old warehouse near the city''s merchant district. "Is this the place?" "Yes, now quickly before they spot us, It''s early morning, they will probably be leaving soon!" This place was active and inside they found multiple wagons filled with various goods. Gleam looked around and then moved towards what looked to be an opened window. There was some movement inside but the people there were far too busy checking their cargo to notice the silvery ant crawling in. "This is perfect, Gleam, let''s find a wagon we can hide in. If they''re heading out of the city, we''ll hitch a ride." "(?? ? ??)" Once inside, Gleam chirped, nodding enthusiastically as she crawled toward the nearest wagon. Rusty activated his life detection skill, scanning the area for any nearby movement. Whenever someone approached, he warned her to duck and hide. Eventually, they reached a row of carriages laden with barrels, crates, sacks of grain, and other goods. Rusty''s attention was drawn to a wagon near the rear of the warehouse, stacked with finely woven textiles. Large rolls of fabric rested atop the sturdy cart, while the merchant overseeing it seemed too preoccupied with organizing the shipment to notice the ant''s approach. "There, Gleam, climb into that wagon. There should be enough space to hide between those white rolls, it will conceal you nicely." Gleam leaped onto the wagon, her small size making her nearly invisible amidst the commotion. She found an opening in one of the fabric rolls, her tiny mandibles tugging at the edge until she managed to crawl inside. Nestled within the soft material, she settled down, creating a secure hiding spot. With a soft clink, Rusty''s helmet detached and came to rest beside her. Together, they paused, regaining their strength and quietly pondering what the future might hold for them. Chapter 97 – Leaving Town. The merchant adjusted his hat, squinting against the early morning sun as he watched the last of his cargo being loaded onto the wagon. Thick rolls of fabric - prized imports from the southern provinces - lay neatly stacked, their vibrant patterns hidden under protective canvas. He ran a hand over the edge of the wagon, ensuring the ropes were securely tied, his fingers brushed against the coarse texture of the covering to check for any oddities."... Did that part always stick out like that?" He noticed an oddity there, a little bit of the white fabric was sticking out. He leaned over in an attempt to check but right as he did, a voice from behind him resounded. "Are you finished? We need to leave, we are already behind schedule." "Ahh¡­ yeah, everything is fine¡­" The man nodded and leaned away from the wagon where the fabric rolls were packed. With one last glance at the odd protrusion, he decided it wasn''t worth delaying further inspection. Satisfied that the cargo was secure, he adjusted his hat once more and waved to the coachman. "Alright, let''s get moving!" The convoy began to rumble forward, the heavy wagons creaking as they rolled onto the cobblestone streets. Everything seemed in order, yet a persistent unease gnawed at him. The city had been in chaos since the battle with the cultists last night. Word spread fast, even among those who kept their heads down. Now that a strange cult had been exposed in this city, the merchants wished to do nothing more than to get out. They knew that once the Ghelene believers entered the city, it was bad for business. "Do you think they will let us through?" "I hope so, we should still make it ¡­ but it might be close." Two of the merchants had a discussion as their wagons filled with wares rolled forward. They knew that these paladins would start searching every store and every part of the city for signs of this cult. The marketplace would probably be closed and some of their wares could be confiscated due to these zealots, some of them who were corrupt. It was best to quickly leave the city and return later once things had settled and these people had left. "Then we should hurry, do you have it?" "Yeah¡­" The man nodded, showing off a large sack to the other merchant. The clang of coins resonated as he shook it. Unbeknownst to them, the fabrics in the rear wagon began to shift. Nestled safely beneath the rolls of fabric was a silvery-white ant. She was not alone; beside her lay a small metal helmet and a darkened orb of light. "Lady Gleam, it would be better if you stayed still," Rusty whispered. "( >©n< )" "Is it that uncomfortable? Sorry, Gleam, but we have to stay quiet for now. Once we''re outside the gates, we''ll have a chance to flee!" "(? ''? - ''? )?" "That''s my Gleam!" Rusty encouraged his companion, who was clearly struggling with the bumpy ride. The streets were paved with rough stones, making the wagon lurch and rattle as it moved. It was far from a smooth journey. Despite the discomfort, they needed to remain calm. If anyone discovered they were hiding among the merchant''s wares, it would spell disaster. Rusty, now without a proper adventurer''s body to inhabit, relied entirely on this escape plan. The plan was simple: stay concealed within the merchants'' goods and wait for the right moment to make their move. If all went well, they would escape together once they were safely beyond the city gates. The merchants'' convoy trundled along the cobbled streets, making its way toward the towering city gates. The sunlight was climbing higher, casting long shadows across the bustling thoroughfare. Around them, the city seemed tense, with citizens speaking in hushed tones and guards patrolling in pairs. Word of the cultist battle had spread like wildfire, and the looming presence of the Paladins of Ghelene only added to the unease. Rusty, snugly nestled alongside Gleam beneath the tightly packed rolls of fabric, activated his Life Detection skill once more. It was faint at this distance, but it allowed him to sense movement outside their wagon - a subtle precaution as they neared the gates. The convoy slowed, and the distinct clink of armor grew louder. The guards stationed at the city gates were stopping each wagon for inspection. Their stern voices carried through the air as they ordered the merchants to halt. "All vehicles are subject to inspection." Barked one of the guards, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. Inside their wagon, Rusty felt Gleam twitch nervously. Her tiny antennae brushed against the fabric surrounding them, conveying her unease. He didn''t understand fear too much as he was still only a piece of armor but after using the possession skill and interacting with humans, he was quickly learning. Rusty''s attention was divided between the people bustling around the gate and his SP count. Enough time had passed since their arrival for him to switch to a new loadout, if necessary. While he could fight if it came to that, he knew it wouldn''t be the best idea. The priority was to remain unnoticed. If worst came to worst, perhaps Gleam could escape on her own while he pretended to be nothing more than a small, ant-shaped helmet. "Stay calm, Gleam. Everything will be fine¡­" Rusty whispered reassuringly but he wondered if they would truly be fine. "( ¨®©n¨° )" "Listen to Rusty, Lady Gleam, even if they discover you, they''re unlikely to associate you with those madmen. You''re just an ant, and Rusty''s just a helmet. They might even assume you''re part of the merchant''s wares!" Aburdon''s tone was oddly gentle. Rusty suspected it was more out of self-preservation than genuine concern. If Gleam started trembling and drew attention, they''d all be discovered - and Aburdon would share in their fate. Rusty knew the demon king was only on his side because their lives were bound together. If Gleam were caught, Rusty would have no choice but to fight, and that was the last thing Aburdon wanted. For now, staying hidden and calm was the only path to survival. Rusty could hear the murmurs of other merchants as they nervously handed over documents and coins, hoping to expedite the process. The clinking of armor drew closer, and Rusty activated his Life Detection skill again. One guard lingered near their wagon longer than the others. "What''s in here?" The guard asked, his voice gruff and filled with suspicion. "Just textiles, sir." The merchant replied, trying to keep his tone even. "High-quality imports from the south. See for yourself." Rusty''s metaphorical heart sank as he felt the guard''s weight press against the side of the wagon. The canvas covering rustled as the guard untied a corner to peek inside. Gleam froze, her tiny body pressing deeper into the folds of fabric. "( >©n< )..." "Don''t move, Gleam. Humans require their eyes to see, even if they touch you, just stay still!" Rusty called out softly in a way only Gleam could hear. Meanwhile, the guard''s hand reached into the wagon, brushing against the fabric rolls. His fingers lingered dangerously close to Gleam''s hiding spot, and for an agonizing moment, Rusty braced for the worst. If the guard pulled her out, their entire plan would crumble. Rusty''s mind raced, formulating contingencies. If the man grabbed Gleam, he would immediately activate his loadout. Appearing in his largest form would likely stun the guards, giving him just enough time to grab Gleam and run. He already knew the layout as this gate led to the F-rank dungeon where he had first emerged from. The city was encircled by a moat, meaning he would have to cross the bridge. He doubted the guards would let him escape without a chase, but he had a plan. In the chaos, he could launch Gleam into the safety of nearby bushes along with his helmet. From there, he would use his headless body as a decoy while his core and Gleam made their escape. It was a simple, desperate plan, but it was all he had. Thankfully, it didn''t come to that. After a tense moment, the guard withdrew his hand, leaving Gleam untouched. Rusty allowed himself a silent sigh of relief, knowing they had narrowly avoided disaster, at least, for now. "Looks fine to me." The guard muttered while stepping back. "Move along." The merchant exhaled and lowered his head at the guard. "Thank you, officer. Safe travels to you." As the wagon began to roll forward again, Rusty felt a wave of relief wash over him. Gleam let out a tiny chirp of joy, her antennae quivering with excitement. "( ????? )!" "Well done, Lady Gleam." Aburdon murmured. "You''ve nerves of steel for such a small creature." "( ?_?'' )" "Why, you hurt me lady Gleam, that you would accuse me of sarcasm!" Gleam seemed perceptive enough to sense Aburdon''s true inclinations, but now wasn''t the time to dwell on it. The convoy creaked onwards, its wheels groaning under the weight of merchant goods. Rusty remained vigilant, relying on his limited-range life detection skill to keep track of everyone nearby. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The caravan comprised three carts filled with merchant goods, along with several other carriages. While there were plenty of people present, most of them didn''t appear battle-ready. This was a truth Rusty had only recently begun to grasp. Previously, he had assumed that the people of this world were more like adventurers: strong and willing to risk their lives in combat. However, the reality was different. Most of the population wasn''t much stronger than an average F-rank monster. Many were part of the civilian class, with roles such as villager or farmer - classes seemingly assigned to them at random. Around the age of ten, people in this world could visit a nearby shrine where they would be assigned a class that would shape their future. Unlike monsters, who were inherently born for battle, these people had other purposes. Some were suited for crafting items, while others focused on farming or producing goods to trade and sell. Rusty still didn''t fully understand the intricacies of this system, but one thing was clear: the majority of these people posed no threat to him or Gleam. While this knowledge offered a small measure of reassurance, it didn''t lessen Rusty''s vigilance. His focus remained on the convoy, ever-watchful for any signs of danger. For now, at least, their presence went unnoticed. The convoy finally passed through the city gates, and the bustling noise of the city began to fade. Beyond the walls lay the open road, flanked by fields and sparse clusters of trees. The merchants sighed in relief, their conversations shifting to lighter topics now that they were out of the guards'' reach. "The harvest has been thinning lately. I wonder if the gods are angry?" "Perhaps, but luckily there are other ways we can earn our keep!" "That''s true. Not every city has three dungeons nearby! We can upsell all these monster materials and even those textiles!" Rusty overheard the two merchants discussing business and started to wonder when the best time would be to make his move. While he couldn''t see much around him except for Gleam and the fabric rolls, it was clear they were moving farther and farther from the city. The wagon he was in remained empty of other living beings, so he decided it was time to summon his second guide, Alexander. The familiar white orb of light appeared beside him, and with it, they could finally discuss their next steps. "Why isn''t it the useless hero?" Aburdon sneered. "Shut it." Aburdon wasted no time mocking Alexander for his absence during the fight with the cultists. "Why should I? But perhaps it''s for the best. Some of your friends showed up¡­ That Priestess of Ghelene was there, wasn''t she?" "..." Alexander fell silent, as if unwilling to answer the question. Rusty wasn''t sure what was going on there, but it didn''t seem important. What mattered now was figuring out what he should do next. He had escaped the dungeon of his birth and left the city behind. The world was starting to open up to him, but he wasn''t sure how to survive in it. He needed to focus on his options, and he hoped that Alexander and Aburdon might have some ideas. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "Yeah, they still argue the same as they did before¡­ I''ve gotten used to it¡­" Rusty answered Gleam while the two listened to the two bicker like an old married couple again. "Quiet down you two, I need your help!" He finally gave the order, and the two guides fell silent immediately. Rusty had accomplished several of his goals so far. The first was breaking free from the dungeon, which he had managed over a month ago. The second was rescuing Gleam, which was now nearly complete. They just needed to escape the merchant convoy, and then they would be in the clear. But that was where things stalled as he wasn''t sure what his next goal should be. "Where should I go? What should I do?" "Oh, quite the existential question there, Rusty." Aburdon answered in the usual mocking tone. Rusty sighed metaphorically, wishing he could roll his nonexistent eyes. "I''m serious. We''re out of the city, and for now, we''re safe. But¡­" Rusty tried to continue but Alexander quickly interrupted him. "But you are afraid that something bad will happen in the future if you just aimlessly set out into the wide open world?" "Uh¡­ something like that¡­" He had been born a monster, something that should have remained in a dungeon, bound to its dark confines. But now he was free, and the world seemed to be his oyster - a very terrifying oyster. Rusty had believed himself to be relatively strong compared to the average adventurer. He had aced the tests and even managed to kill monsters like orcs. However, after encountering that one mage - and later, the High Priest - he wasn''t so sure he was ready to face the great unknown. There were forces in this world that could crush him like a bug. If he and Gleam were to survive and thrive, they needed to grow stronger before challenging such powerful beings. And yet, despite the fear, a part of him yearned for those battles. "Or perhaps he''s contemplating his life?" Abrudon asked, breaking the silence. "My life?" "Why, yes! You are now free of the shackles that once bound you. Ready to set out and conquer the world!" Abrudon declared with an almost theatrical flourish. "Conquer the world?" "Indeed! You must set your sights high, my dear Rusty. Why not aspire to become the next Demon King? With my help, you could easily bring the Demonic Dukes under your control. And this time¡­" Abrudon began cackling like the villain he once was. Despite the grandiosity of his words, there was an undeniable truth to them. Rusty felt it too - an unquenchable yearning to experience all that this world had to offer. He wanted to push himself, to use every ounce of his skill, and to challenge the truly powerful forces that roamed this land. There was so much he longed to do, so much he ached to see, that the fear of the open world that had once gripped him began to fade. In its place, a growing sense of excitement and hunger took root - a yearning for the boundless possibilities ahead. Chapter 98 – Future Plans. "You want Rusty to fight a Demonic Duke? I thought you were mad, but this is outright idiotic.""He has to aim big! With those fascinating abilities he has, and the Soul Forge, it will be possible!" "You just want him to take your revenge on the Dukes who betrayed you." Alexander interjected sharply, his voice, as always, tinged with annoyance. "Don''t think I don''t see through your ploy, Aburdon. You''re trying to convince Rusty to fight your battles for you." Aburdon chuckled, and if he hadn''t been just an orb of light, the sound would have been a menacing cackle. "Oh, Alexander, always so quick to accuse. Of course, I want revenge. Those treacherous dogs turned their backs on me, and the mere thought of it sets my soul ablaze. But tell me, hero, is revenge truly such a terrible thing?" Alexander folded his arms - or at least gave the impression of doing so as a glowing sphere of light. "Yes, when it consumes you like this. Rusty isn''t a tool for your vengeance. He deserves to make his own path, not inherit your grudges." "And what about you, Alexander? Don''t tell me you don''t harbor grudges of your own. What about the companions who abandoned you, the people you couldn''t save, the choices that haunt you? Don''t stand there on your pedestal and pretend you''re free of bitterness." Alexander flared brightly for a moment, but soon his light dimmed. "That''s not the same, Aburdon. I won''t let the past chain me or dictate my actions." "It''s not? Don''t lie to me, hero. I know how you feel. I know what emotions stir within you - especially after seeing those Paladins of Ghelene. What was that woman''s name¡­ ah, right, Seraphina. Did she not betray you? Along with all those other fake ''heroes''?" Alexander''s light wavered, flickering like a torch caught in the wind. For a moment, the hero''s orb dimmed to near darkness. "That''s enough! Can you two stop flickering around? You''re going to get us caught!" "( ?? - ?? )" Gleam nodded subtly as the two orbs continued their ruckus. While their voices could only be heard by her and Rusty, their flickering lights were visible, drawing attention. The more they moved erratically, the greater the risk of being noticed by the merchants or anyone nearby. Rusty shifted his focus back to the present, realizing that if the two guides couldn''t contain their rivalry, it might endanger their fragile escape plan. "Look, I''m not sure who these Demon Dukes are, but first, we need to get out of here. I need you two to focus! Now, what do you suggest I do to escape?" Rusty found the idea of facing powerful enemies intriguing, but this wasn''t the time for such conversations. He was still stuck inside a cart filled with textiles, and Gleam was beginning to look tired. Unlike him - a seemingly immortal piece of armor that didn''t need rest - Gleam was just a regular monster. She needed food and sleep. Her usual diet of mana crystals from the underground dungeon was unavailable here, and the strain was beginning to show. "Depends on what our goal is," Aburdon mused. "We could jump out into the bushes and make a run for it. I doubt those adventurers would give chase for long. They''re here to guard the merchants, not hunt monsters." "Our goal¡­" Rusty repeated, his voice trailing off as he contemplated this issue. "(?¡ª?¡ª)" Gleam offered no response, looking as though she was about to fall asleep. Her weariness triggered a memory for Rusty - the day they first met. Gleam had fallen asleep on him after his evolution, in the safety of a cave filled with crystals. It had been a simpler time, spent hunting monsters with the reassurance of having a safe place to return to. Maybe that was what they needed now. "How about¡­ a place to stay first?" "Oh? A place to stay? Do you wish to have a home? I thought you were more the adventurous type." Rusty''s proposal clearly caught Aburdon off guard. Monsters like him - living armor were not known for building homes. They usually wandered aimlessly, driven by instincts. However, Rusty was not a simple monster, he had his own goals and even fears. He knew that having a hideout was needed for survival. "Having a base to come back to is a good start, but the question is, where?" Alexander chimed in, directing his words not to Rusty but to Aburdon. "Well... we''re heading to one of the nearby cities, but there are many more ahead. Rusty could always take on the form of a fallen adventurer - or perhaps one of the locals..." "One of the locals? What do you mean?" Alexander asked. "With Rusty''s unique skills, why not have him become an artisan? A larger home with a workshop would provide the perfect cover for our nocturnal activities. Even without the soul forge, he should be able to craft simple weapons to keep up his guise." Aburdon explained, a faint smugness in his voice. "You want him to become an artisan? Like what, a blacksmith?" "Precisely!" Aburdon''s tone brightened with enthusiasm. "Why should Rusty limit himself to just one persona? With his versatile loadout, he can easily switch between multiple identities. Imagine it - if he were a respected resident of the city, we wouldn''t have to keep running! Even if one of his identities becomes a criminal, we can just discard it!" Alexander''s light flickered in contemplation as he saw the merit in this proposal. "I see... that''s not even a stupid idea." "I do not propose stupid ideas, hero. I leave those to you!" Aburdon gloated, his tone practically dripping with self-satisfaction. Rusty, meanwhile, deliberated over the suggestion. The notion of adopting a stable cover and building a place to call home had its appeal, especially given their current circumstances. His guide was right. If Rusty had another body to occupy, one with a good enough reputation, perhaps he wouldn''t need to leave the city at all. It was a sprawling place, and the Paladins were unlikely to search homes without cause. Right now, though, he was on the run, with no clear direction for the future. The idea of finding a place he could gradually develop into a sanctuary was becoming increasingly appealing. "That doesn''t sound bad, but where should I stay?" The two orbs turned toward him, their flickering movements slowing as they noticed his genuine interest in the idea. "Well, I do know the map of the area. We''ve got a few options to consider¡­ There are three cities nearby that might serve as a starting point." Aburdon began while Alexander decided to wait before adding his own two cents. "First is Dallbrim, a port city close to the western coastline. It''s bustling with trade, particularly shipbuilding and repairs. You''d have easy access to imported materials for your soul forge. If you posed as a blacksmith or armorer, you''d blend in perfectly." "Dallbrin huh? I''m not sure if that''s a good idea, the nearest dungeon is far away, it''s a port city with a lot of trade but I''m not sure if we would be able to earn enough coin to buy a workshop¡­" There were several problems with this choice and one of them was the lack of a dungeon. "Rusty you used up all of your money right?" Asked Alexander. "Yes? Ah, without a dungeon, I won''t be able to earn any money!" "That''s right and another thing, I''m not sure how well the locals would accept a blacksmith that wears heavy armor all the time, some of them might get suspicious¡­" "Hah, nonsense, we''ll just cover him up with a robe so no one will be the wiser!" Aburdon replied to Alexander while Rusty shook along with the wagon they were in. Gleam at this point had already managed to doze of and wasn''t even listening to what they were talking about. "I''m not sure if that would work¡­ but perhaps¡­" "... Or you could go to Blackthorn Hold! It''s near a vast network of caves with an E-rank dungeon at its heart. Perfect for gathering rare materials and gaining strength. The city itself is rough, though - more of a haven for mercenaries and thieves than respectable artisans. But if you''re looking for somewhere to grow stronger without too many prying eyes, it''s ideal." Alexander flickered in disagreement. "Yes, if you enjoy living in a pit of lawlessness and filth." "You''ve been complaining a lot, but I don''t see you offering any better options. Dear Rusty, it''s probably best not to trust our hero''s bad memories of these places. Just trust in my knowledge instead!" Aburdon cackled, his voice filled with amusement. He had thoroughly studied all the information from both guilds, and Rusty knew this guide of his wasn''t always motivated by his best interests. It was likely that at one of the locations, Aburdon had something to gain. One of the places was a bustling area filled with merchants - no shortage of commerce, but certainly no opportunities for earning through monster hunting. The other, however, was more like a den of thieves, where Rusty would have to be on constant alert for corrupt officials and robbers. Luckily, he still had the thieves'' guild coin, tied not to his old Albert persona, but to his current self. It might give him an advantage in that shady location. "How about we find a developing city? Somewhere where the prices are low and people are actually looking for an artisan. We won''t have much luck in places that have long-running history." "But where then?" "I''m not sure¡­" "If you aren''t sure, then don''t speak!" Aburdon snorted. "How quaint. Such places are nothing but breeding grounds for underdeveloped economies and local corruption. There is a reason why they are failures, we should go to an already developed city!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty started to consider Aburdon''s point, but he wasn''t entirely convinced. His goal wasn''t just about making money - it was about building a future where he could lay low, build strength, and protect Gleam. A less populated city offered fewer variables working against him but in a larger one, he would be able to hide himself among the crowd to avoid detection. "What about somewhere between the two? A smaller city with trade, but also a community where I could grow without attracting too much attention. It doesn''t have to be a major port or a city with multiple dungeons around it." "So, a place that already is showing hope? Hmm¡­ Well, there was a city like that. I wouldn''t say that it''s developed but much better than the average small town. However, it''s near an area with orc tribes and some other barbaric tribes. It has a dungeon but it is unable to prosper due to the constant conflicts nearby." "Oh, what is its name?" Rusty asked as the description sounded quite interesting. A place with ample battle outside but also one where he could retreat behind some strong walls and rest. "It''s called Ferndale." Aburdon said, with a hint of reluctance. "It''s located at the edge of a forest region, right on the border between civilized lands and the wild territories. The dungeon there is said to be only partially explored, which could be used to our advantage as an out-of-place living armor, wouldn''t be seen as strange." Rusty''s interest was piqued. In the previous city, his presence had been too unique, always drawing the attention of adventurers. But perhaps in this new dungeon, he could find a place to continue his leveling efforts. Once the day broke, he could return to his new base of operations with all the loot he''d gathered. By day, he would be a humble artisan, blending in with the city''s residents; by night, a menace within the dungeon, hunting for more power. Rusty was deep in thought as the wagon trundled along. The discussions between Aburdon and Alexander had given him plenty to consider, and Ferndale seemed like the most balanced option. Yet, they weren''t free to make any decisions just yet. First, they needed to escape. "Let''s decide after we''re out of this mess." Rusty said decisively. He glanced over at Gleam, who was now softly snoring. "Agreed." Alexander responded. "We can make plans later. First, we need to get off this wagon and out of sight." "Finally, something we can all agree on! But if I may propose something?" Aburdon chimed in, his tone smug as always. "Yes?" "We should probably remain here a while longer. This caravan is heading toward the port city of Dallbrin. Around halfway, we''ll reach a crossroads - likely in two days'' time. These merchants are sure to take a break there. Once night falls, we can make our escape and decide where you wish to go next, Rusty." "And we entered a wagon heading to the first city you propose, by accident huh?" "Oh? Are you accusing me of something, hero?" Rusty rolled his non-existing eye sockets while letting the two bicker for longer. He decided to go along with this plan and wait for these two days. This whole situation made him want to create a smaller version of his armor, something that could hide in small areas like this while being able to move. The journey continued uneventfully over the next two days. The merchants talked amongst themselves, occasionally checking the cargo but thankfully never suspecting anything unusual. Gleam managed to regain some energy, though she remained cautious, curling up beside Rusty to avoid drawing attention. By the time the caravan reached the crossroads, dusk was falling, painting the horizon in shades of orange and purple. The merchants decided to make camp, setting up a ring of wagons and lighting fires for warmth and cooking. Rusty, hidden deep within the textile cart, waited patiently, his thoughts focused on the mission. As the night deepened, the camp grew quiet. The merchants and their guards had taken turns on watch but seemed otherwise relaxed. Gleam stretched beside him, her ant features shimmering faintly in the moonlight filtering through the gaps in the cart. "It''s time." "Finally!" Aburdon urged Rusty while both he and Alexander occupied his helmet. Once there they made his eye sockets glow, one in a more radiant white while the other remained a sinister black. However, right as Rusty was about to activate his loadout and change into his more slender form, something unexpected happened. An arrow came flying from the distance, striking their cart along with the others as shouts erupted from the darkness beyond the camp. Rusty froze in place, his senses sharpening as he scanned the surroundings with his life detection skill. The merchants stirred from their sleep, guards scrambling to grab their weapons. "Bandits?!" People shouted and his skill confirmed it, the whole camp was surrounded and perhaps waiting for the best moment to escape had been a mistake... Chapter 99 – Some Help Is Fine. "That''s a lot of noise and a lot of people¡­"The night erupted into chaos as the camp scrambled to defend itself. Rusty remained still, his mind trying to adapt to this unexpected twist. Gleam perked up beside him, her antennae twitching with unease. The merchants shouted to one another, their voices strained with panic. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " "Stay down Gleam, they probably don''t know that we are here¡­ if I understand people''s behavior correctly, then they are here to steal the goods so we might be safe in here if they just don''t find us¡­" Rusty communicated silently with Gleam, compelling her to stop moving even as a few arrows pierced through the wagon''s canvas. His life-detection skill was picking up numerous signals outside, but he couldn''t distinguish friend from foe. This was supposed to be his shortcut to Ferndale, his new area of operations. Yet, just as they were about to sneak through, disaster struck, leaving them stranded. "Rusty." Aburdon''s voice cut through his thoughts, urging decisive action. "If those bandits find this cart, you''ll be in a worse position. Do you really want to sit here and hope they miss you? I say we get out while the adventurers and merchants are still keeping them busy!" Aburdon''s argument made sense. Amid the chaos, most of the bandits would be preoccupied with fighting humanoid opponents, giving a monster ant like Gleam a chance to slip away unnoticed. Gleam was rested enough to cast a silencing spell, making stealth a viable option. "But what about the merchants? Are we just going to abandon them to their fate?" "Hah! You expect Rusty to risk his life for some random merchants? That''s absurd! Our survival comes first," Aburdon retorted his tone rough. Alexander was maddened at this suggestion. His protest revealed the good-hearted nature he couldn''t suppress. He wanted to help, but Rusty wasn''t convinced it was a wise idea. Without Albert''s body stored in his inventory, he couldn''t convincingly pose as an adventurer. While he could shift into his armored form to resemble one, that guise came with a critical drawback - he wouldn''t be able to speak. Then there was the matter of odds. It seemed clear that this small merchant caravan had gravely underestimated the dangers of this treacherous route. Rusty weighed the options as the camp fell into further disarray. The muffled clanging of swords and the crackling of flames reached his metallic ''ears'' through the canvas of the wagon. The merchants'' terrified shouts mingled with the bandits'' battle cries. He could feel Gleam trembling slightly beside him, her sharp instincts picking up on the growing carnage and chaos. Alexander''s voice chimed in again, this time in a more pleading tone. "Rusty, listen. Perhaps you can help these people. With your skills, we could¡­" "We could what? Involve ourselves in the petty squabbles of these insignificant people? What have they ever done for us? If any of them see Rusty for what he truly is, they''ll kill him on the spot! And what about Lady Gleam? Her form could be exposed during the chaos of a fight. We must flee instead! Don''t listen to this fool of a hero!" Rusty sat silently amidst the clamor, his mind a battlefield where Alexander and Aburdon waged a war of ideology. The life-detection signals from outside painted a vivid image of the chaos unfolding. Merchants scurried for safety, their movements frantic. The guards were outnumbered, their efforts barely holding the line against the bandits. "Gleam¡­ get ready, we will use the chaos to retreat!" "Hah, I knew you would see it my way!" "No¡­ you can''t be serious, we have to help them.!" Aburdon gloated, reveling in his argument, while Alexander desperately tried to convince him to reconsider. Rusty, however, knew that fighting was highly disadvantageous for him. As an unknown third party, he had no idea how either side would react if he revealed himself. For a moment, he considered hiding and waiting for the battle to end. But waiting wasn''t always the safest option either. If the bandits won, they would undoubtedly search every wagon - or worse, take them all to their hideout. Once there, Rusty would be trapped in yet another prison, just like the one he had barely escaped from when dealing with the cultists. That harrowing experience was still fresh in his mind. No, waiting was too risky. Using the chaos of the battle and the cover of the dark night, Rusty resolved to run. It was his best chance at survival. " ? ( ^?^ ) ? " Gleam didn''t seem to care one way or the other and began casting the silencing spell. There didn''t appear to be any mages on either side, so no one would be able to detect her use of mana. Soon, a soft white light enveloped both of them, signaling it was time to move. "Rusty, maybe if¡­" "Be quiet, you two! We need to focus on escaping from here!" With the command given, both Alexander and Aburdon were forced to become silent. Rusty''s glowing eye sockets dimmed as Gleam began her careful movements, sneaking out from the fabric she had been hiding beneath. Her sharp mandibles made quick work of the material, cutting an opening to slip through. She skittered across the cart with silent precision, heading toward the rear. Rusty, still perched on her head, surveyed the scene as they reached the back of the cart. From there, they could see the full scope of the chaotic battle raging in the darkness. What they saw was quite gruesome. The camp was ablaze with chaos. Fires crackled, their light casting eerie, dancing shadows over the battlefield. The merchants and their guards, overwhelmed and underprepared, fought desperately to defend their lives and goods. Bandits surged like a tide, wielding crude weapons and overwhelming force. Some wagons were already on fire, and scattered belongings littered the ground - an unsettling mosaic of panic and despair. Rusty''s life-detection skill painted a grim picture. The camp''s defenders were outnumbered three to one. Merchants cowered behind crates, while their guards formed a shaky line against the bandits. The attackers were well-coordinated, their movements suggesting a seasoned gang accustomed to raids. The odds for the merchants seemed slim. As Rusty and Gleam slipped from the wagon''s cover, they paused behind a thick stack of crates. "See? Look at this mess. And you wanted to help these fools, Alexander? They''re already finished. Rusty, we''re wasting precious time just standing here." Aburdon''s voice broke the silence but they continued with the escape, even as the two guides continued barter. "Even so¡­ This is wrong. We could turn the tide. Rusty, if you distract the bandits and give the merchants a chance, they could probably escape or perhaps launch a counter attack." "Did you miss the part where they''re outnumbered and outmatched? A distraction would only expose Rusty! Don''t let your misplaced nobility get us killed." Rusty ignored the argument, focusing instead on scanning the battlefield. The bandits weren''t only after goods; they were brutal and methodical, cutting down anyone who resisted. The merchants were beginning to flee, abandoning their carts as guards fell one by one. This was a good opportunity and he would use this confusion to their advantage. "Quick Gleam, now is the chance, let''s go for those bushes!" " ( ?? - ?? ) " The small monster ant darted swiftly, using the shadows for cover. There wasn''t much ground to traverse, and the chaos around them ensured that no one paid them any attention. Soon, the pair reached a dense thicket of bushes and dove straight in. This was it. There were no pursuers, and the flickering light from the burning flames didn''t reach this far. They were finally safe. Gleam continued to skitter forward without hesitation, but suddenly¡ª "Gleam stop." Rusty called out to his partner and she stopped. The voices of the bandits and adventurers clashing could still be heard and they weren''t fully safe so she was cleary confused. " ( ? -?)? " "No, I''m fine but could you lower me down." Gleam nodded and used her forelimbs to carefully lift Rusty off her head. Once he was on the ground, he activated one of his loadouts. His helmet began to expand, pieces of armor materializing and assembling themselves into a full suit. Within moments, the transformation was complete, and he stood in his familiar all-rounder Iron Twilight armor form. Now back on his own two legs, the distant flames danced and reflected against his metallic surface, casting an imposing silhouette in the dark. "Have you reconsidered, Rusty?" Alexander asked, his voice seemingly hopeful but Aburdon sounded far less happy. "I hope not! You aren''t seriously going to charge in there to help those ¡­ those insignificant pests?" "Charge in? No but¡­ I can at least do this." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty wasn''t entirely sure why he was doing this, but something about abandoning the group didn''t sit right with him. It felt as though, in some small way, they had helped him. Their presence had enabled his escape from the city, and letting them be slaughtered left a strange, bitter aftertaste. Perhaps Alexander''s constant complaints had finally worn him down, but whatever the reason, Rusty decided to act. He wouldn''t directly help these people as doing so would be far too risky but there was one thing he could do from his position without putting himself in too much danger. Thanks to her small size, Gleam was able to squeeze through the bushes with ease, and now Rusty found himself behind the bandits. They were encircling the merchant caravan from all sides, but most of their forces were concentrated here. It was clear they wouldn''t anticipate an attack from their rear - let alone one that could affect such a wide area. While Rusty had no intention of engaging them directly, he did possess skills that worked exceptionally well against humans and other intelligent races. Using the last moments of Gleam''s silencing spell, he crept closer to their position. Once he was in place, he began to execute his plan. Rusty crouched low behind a pile of rocks and activated his limb control ability. His right armplate moved, and the gauntlet flew forward, its metallic gleam catching the faintest glimmers of moonlight. The bandits, engrossed in their brutal work, didn''t notice the metal hand moving into their midst. Suddenly, with a small thud, it landed at the center of the group. Some of the bandits noticed that it was there but were unable to comprehend what this was until it was too late. Black smoke began to seep out, thick and heavy, expanding rapidly and engulfing the bandits. The smoke swirled and writhed as if alive, infused with Rusty''s dark energy. A pitch-black glow pulsed intermittently within the shroud, casting eerie shadows that made the bandits freeze in their tracks. One by one, the bandits began to cough violently, clutching their throats as if choking on the oppressive air. The smoke wasn''t lethal, but it drained their strength, filling their lungs with an unnatural weight and sapping their will to fight. Rusty had used this tactic before; and to maximize the effect the darkness needed to escape from within his body parts. The smoke spread quickly, and soon, the once-confident attackers were on their knees, wheezing and disoriented. Their weapons clattered to the ground, and the bandits who had been coordinating the assault now squirmed helplessly. From the other side of the camp, the besieged merchants and their defenders noticed the sudden turn of events. The bandits'' rear line had crumbled and even the ones not there had stopped their assault out of confusion. They were looking around, trying to find the enemy that was responsible for this black miasma but before they could, the adventurers shouted out. "Now''s our chance!" The defenders seized the opportunity, loosing a volley of arrows into the incapacitated bandits. The projectiles struck true, and several bandits fell instantly, their cries lost in the chaos. The merchants rallied, some grabbing what weapons they could find and joining the fray. The sudden burst of resistance turned the tide, and the attackers, demoralized and weakened, began to retreat. Rusty watched from his vantage point, satisfied that the merchants were gaining the upper hand. He didn''t linger. With the camp still in turmoil, he turned and motioned to Gleam, who had been waiting in the shadows. Together, they slipped away into the night, leaving the merchants to finish what remained of the fight. As the pair moved through the forest, Rusty glanced upward. Two large spheres illuminated the night sky - the moons of this world, rarely seen together. One glowed with a deep, dark blue hue, while the other shimmered faintly red. Their combined light reflected off his metallic frame, casting an ethereal glow as he walked through the shadows toward his next destination: the city of Ferndale. He wasn''t sure what awaited him there, but one thing was certain - he was finally free to carve his own path and pursue his desires. "You did the right thing, Rusty. You may not realize it, but you''ve saved lives tonight." "Is that so?" Rusty responded to his guide, the bright white light from his right eye socket casting a glow. His reflection in the left socket was Aburdon, his pitch-black form barely visible against the night. "Bah, that was just a waste of magical energy, energy that you might need! What if they attacked us instead?" Rusty knew Aburdon wasn''t wrong. One wrong move in this treacherous world, and he would be dead. He wasn''t in a dungeon anymore and there was no dungeon core to restore him now. He didn''t know what happened to monsters that died in the outside world, but he wasn''t eager to find out. "Now then¡­ in which direction is this Ferndale and how long will I need to walk there?" While his guides continued to bicker, Rusty asked his question. He was deep in a darkened forest, with no clear idea of where to go. His navigation skills were virtually nonexistent. "On foot? Probably at least a week from here but it could take longer¡­" "Hm¡­ well then, let''s go!" " (?? ? ??) " Gleam chittered softly beside him, the sound a reassuring one, as if expressing her enjoyment of the situation. Together, they pressed deeper into the forest, leaving the chaos behind and focusing on the uncertain journey ahead. Chapter 100 – Crawling Through The Night A woman pressed her back harder against the rough wooden post behind her, trying to stifle her trembling breath. Around her, other captives huddled in similar terror, the flickering firelight from the goblin campfires casting grotesque shadows on their faces. The creatures laughed and barked orders in their strange monster tongue, dragging struggling victims into the darkness beyond. She didn''t dare look at the others taken before them - those whose cries still echoed faintly through the encampment.Her heart raced when she saw three goblins approach her group, their wicked grins and filthy weapons promising nothing but pain. She gripped the arm of a woman next to her, both trembling as the short monsters moved closer. There was no hope, no sign of anyone who could help them but then, suddenly something strange happened. The commotion began as a distant clatter of weapons, followed by guttural goblin screeches. It wasn''t unusual for goblins to squabble among themselves, but this was different. The cries of alarm and the sound of steel clashing grew louder, closer. A strange metallic screech echoed in the night, followed by the unmistakable sounds of something hitting the ground. The goblins stopped in their tracks, their expressions shifting from glee to alarm. One barked an order, and the three turned to rush toward the disturbance. The woman wondered if adventurers had come to save them but the lack of coherent voices was alarming. She craned her neck to see beyond the firelight, but the smoky air and the goblins'' frantic movements blocked her view. A heavy thud resounded, followed by the sharp cry of a goblin silenced mid-scream. More of the goblins became alert, running off into the dark forest where their voices were silenced. One by one, the little green monsters were being exterminated, by who or what she could only speculate. The woman''s heart pounded in her chest as the chaos in the goblin camp escalated. She clutched the arm of the woman beside her, both frozen in fearful anticipation. The firelight danced on the crude weapons left behind by the goblins as they rushed into the forest to confront whatever had disrupted their plans. The shrill cries of the goblins gave way to unsettling silence, broken only by sporadic, metallic thuds and the faint hiss of something sharp cutting through flesh. A moment of eerie quiet followed. The air felt thick with tension, each passing second an agonizing eternity. The woman strained her ears, hoping for a clue, but all she heard was the shallow breathing of her fellow captives. Then, a goblin staggered back into the camp, clutching its neck where black smoke oozed from a deep wound. Its eyes widened with terror as it fell to its knees before collapsing face-first into the dirt. The smoke dissipated, leaving a foul, lingering scent. The sight drew gasps from the prisoners, their eyes glued to the dead goblin. The woman dared to lift her gaze, and what she saw chilled her further. Emerging from the shadows was a figure unlike anything she had ever seen - a knight in grayish, imposing armor. Its form glinted faintly under the moonlight, edges sharp and angular, yet it moved with an unnatural fluidity. A pair of glowing, piercing eyes radiated from within the helmet''s visor, one a stark white, the other as dark as the abyss, as though the figure itself had been forged from the night. It moved forward with an eerie calmness, holding a sword submerged in darkened miasma. The night fell silent with only the breathing of the nearby bound women. The armored figure approached, its blade growing near. The captives recoiled in fear, their minds racing to make sense of what was happening. One of the women, her auburn hair matted with dirt and sweat, whispered in awe, her voice trembling. Find your next adventure on empire "An adventurer... he''s here to save us!" Her words were laced with hope but one of the other women shrieked in terror. "No! No, he''s not a man! It''s a monster! Look at it! It''s a Living Armor! It''s here to finish us off!" The knightly figure paid no mind to their reactions. It stopped just before the captives, towering over them, its presence overwhelming. The sword it held shimmered ominously, the haze of black mist replaced by cold iron. The woman who had called him a monster sobbed quietly, resigned to what she believed was her end. But instead of striking them down, the figure crouched low and raised its sword. The sharp edge met the ropes binding their ankles, cutting through effortlessly. The captives froze, confused by the unexpected act of mercy. Was this just an adventurer wearing monster like armor or a dream invoked by their fear? One by one, the bindings around their wrists and ankles were severed. The women exchanged glances, too afraid to speak, unsure if this was some cruel trick. When the last woman was freed, the figure stood, its glowing eyes scanning the goblin camp. "Why¡­ why is it¡­?" "I don''t know¡­ but be quiet¡­ maybe it will go away¡­" The armored knight turned away from them without a word, striding into the heart of the goblin camp. Its movements were swift yet measured, as if it had no regard for the chaos it caused. It ignored the captives entirely, as though they were insignificant to whatever mission it pursued. The women sat motionless, unsure whether to run or remain where they were. Some whispered frantic prayers of thanks, while others stared at the knight''s retreating back in wide-eyed confusion. "What is it doing?" "It''s¡­ gathering something?" All of them sat there, petrified with fear, as the monster prowled through the goblin village. It focused mainly on collecting crude weapons, but also gathered various items like iron bars and even pots. Methodically, it piled everything onto a sturdy-looking cloth made of deer hide - another item scavenged from the village. Eventually, the monster returned to them. But instead of attacking or finishing them off, it began patting them down. The women froze, not daring to move a muscle as the cold iron gauntlets brushed against them. This creature was truly bizarre; it took some of their belongings - coins, earrings, and even shoes. Strangely, it felt less like they were being rescued and more like they were being robbed. Yet, no one dared to complain. After all, the goblins had been slain, and their lives were far more precious than any material possessions they had lost. As the armored figure finished its peculiar search, the women exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to feel relieved or alarmed. Some clutched at their missing belongings, while others dared not even breathe too loudly. The monster or adventurer carefully secured the scavenged items into its leather sack before tying it shut. Some of the women could have sworn that some of the items had vanished but they assumed that their minds were just playing tricks on them. "Maybe it''s not a monster?" "It¡­ took my earrings, what kind of monster does that?" "Shh! Don''t provoke it¡­ I think it''s about to leave." The women started to whisper among each other as their ''savior'' began to retreat. They were almost sure now that this being didn''t want to harm them but it was hard to place trust in such a strange figure. As the armored being stepped further away from the captives, one of the women noticed something peculiar. A small, ghostly white ant leaped from a pile of goblin remains and landed on the armored figure''s shoulder. The creature paused for a moment and even looked their way, then settled into place. "Did you see that?" The woman whispered, pointing at the silvery ant that had now vanished with their strange savior. "What?" "I didn''t see anything, maybe we should leave?" The other women showed no interest in the ghost ant as the stench of the goblins'' bodies and the carnage around them was already almost unbearable. In time, they managed to find the strength to stand and survey their surroundings. The village, once bustling with tens of goblins, had become a desolate wasteland of death and silence. Fires still crackled here and there, their flickering flames casting ghostly light over the lifeless goblins. The strange being had taken all the crude weapons, leaving only remnants of the chaos. The oppressive aura of danger that had once suffused the village was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness. From the distance, they suddenly heard something - shouts accompanied by the flicker of torches moving toward them. But this time, it was not a monster. The voices were human, speaking their language. Adventurers had arrived to save them. ******* Unbeknownst to the others, Rusty was already making his escape. His iron reserves had been depleted for the auction and his previous repairs, so he scavenged what he could from the goblin camp to rebuild his stock. Each piece of crude iron, every bent sword, and broken spear was an opportunity for Rusty to restore his form in the future. There were far too many items for him to carry, and his SP was limited. He was forced to use some of the goblin''s belongings to fashion a makeshift sack, though various weapons jutted out, scratching at his metal frame. "I''m glad we rescued those women, but did you really have to take all of their money?" "But if I''m going to open a shop in a city, I''ll need money, right?" "Well..." Rusty responded to Alexander, who had eagerly supported the idea of attacking the goblin village. Aburdon, as always, was against it, so Rusty decided to try a different approach. His two guides often bickered, their minds being polar opposites. Rather than choosing just one of their approaches, he decided to merge both. He agreed to help rescue the women, but only under a few conditions. One was that he would not assist them in returning to their hometown, and another was that he could take any belongings that seemed useful, just as Aburdon had advised. "Of course it was! This isn''t a charity, silly hero. We need to take what we need to survive!" "If only you weren''t there to fill his head with nonsense..." Alexander sighed as he nestled within Rusty''s right eye socket. It hadn''t been long since the incident at the merchant caravan, yet their journey had made little progress. Navigating through the dark forests while avoiding detection was adding another week to their travels, and the frequent battles with monsters threatened to delay them even further. Despite the setbacks, Rusty remained unfazed. To him, this little expedition was an exciting adventure. However, there was a small problem. "( -©n- )" "Are you still feeling bad Gleam? Just wait a moment, I see a cave there." While Rusty was feeling great, his friend Gleam wasn''t in full health. It seemed that gleaming ants had a very specific diet that required a constant infusion of mana. Without mana crystals or mana potions to supplement her diet, Gleam''s health was beginning to deteriorate. This was another reason Rusty had been hunting monsters like goblins - hoping to find mana-rich materials. Fortunately, one of the monsters he had defeated was a goblin shaman, and its monster core was now safely stored in his inventory. They just needed to get to a safe location where she could rest and perhaps sleep while he thought of where to head next. Rusty and Gleam made their way into the shadowy cave, the mouth of which was hidden behind a thicket of dense foliage. Inside, the air was cool and slightly damp, with the faint sound of water dripping from stalactites. Rusty set down his makeshift sack of scavenged materials near the cave wall, the metal clanging softly against the stone. Gleam staggered slightly, her usual energetic movement replaced with dulled movements. "Alright, this should be a good spot to rest. Let me get that monster core out." "( ? - ? )" Gleam perked up slightly, her antennae twitching with renewed interest. She crawled toward Rusty, her eagerness clear despite her sluggish movements. Rusty reached into his inventory and retrieved a small glowing crystal. Its dark green hue pulsed faintly in the dim light of the cave, but it wasn''t strong enough to cast shadows on the walls. Monster cores came in all shapes and sizes, but this one more closely resembled a mana crystal than a traditional core. Gleam scuttled forward, her mandibles parting as she emitted a soft, excited chittering sound. "Wait!" Aburdon''s voice rang sharply in Rusty''s mind. "Don''t let her just eat it. There is too much mana in that monster core, it could last us for a week." Gleam froze, tilting her head as though confused. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "(? -?)?" "Oh, it could? But how? Should I crack it into smaller pieces?" "No, that will just destroy it! Instead, we need to use some water. You''ve gathered some pots from those mindless goblins right?" "Ah, I did." Rusty wasn''t entirely sure how this would work, but if the monster core could sustain Gleam for longer, it would ease his concerns about her health. The idea intrigued him, so he decided to give it a try. He had a pot scavenged from the goblins, and gathering water was simple since the cave was near a stream. Though Gleam was tired, she still helped by collecting sticks and dried leaves for the fire they needed to build. Once all the preparations were complete, Rusty set about creating what he could only describe as mana soup. First, they made a fire with the help of Gleam''s magic. It took them a few tries and Alexander needed to explain a few times how to properly ignite kindling, but soon a steady flame crackled in the cave''s entrance. Rusty placed the pot over the fire and filled it with the clear stream water he had collected. As the water began to simmer, he carefully lowered the monster core into the pot, following Aburdon''s instructions. The core pulsed faintly as it sank, sending tendrils of shimmering green mana into the water. The liquid quickly changed color, transforming into a faintly glowing elixir. Gleam''s antennae quivered with excitement, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as she watched the process. "Monster cores from magical creatures are often used as a base for mana potions, boiling them hastens the process. Now, don''t forget to stir it, the mana needs to be distributed evenly." Rusty went through the crude items he got from the goblins and found something that resembled an iron ladle. It was bent in several places but was good enough to stirr the mixture. After around ten minutes the glow softened, and the water became a uniform pale green. " (¤Ã ¡ä?` )¤Ã " Gleam chirped softly, her eagerness crystal clear. "It should be ready?" Rusty asked and after Aburdon confirmed, he finally let Gleam take a few sips. She bent her small frame toward the pot and sipped delicately from the edge. Her movements grew steadier with each sip, the faint flicker of her natural luminescence returning. After a few moments, she stepped back, her antennae twitching happily. "She looks much better already." Alexander remarked. "Good job, Rusty." "Yeah, yeah." Aburdon muttered. "Now don''t waste what''s left. Seal it in something and keep it safe." Rusty nodded and used his SP to store this item in his stash tab. With the pot there he had gained some more time. Now they needed to continue trekking towards their new destination and start their new life. Chapter 101 – Searching For Bodies. "Gaaahhh¡­"A ball of magical energy collided with a short, green monster, propelling it forward into a shining blade. In an instant, the monster''s head flew through the air, landing with a dull thud on the forest floor. Goblin bodies littered the ground, their blood soaking into the grass and weeds. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty heard the familiar sound of the world''s system announcing his level-up. Now that all the monsters had been defeated, he could finally stop and check his progress. He opened his status window, along with those of his friends. She was leveling up quickly and would probably reach her next evolution before he did. Name: Gleam Classification: Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ F ] L5 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 37/37 Magic Points [MP] 67/67 Stamina Points [SP] 43/43 Strength 28 [ F - ] Agility 48 [ F ] Dexterity 34 [ F ] Constitution 32 [ F - ] Intelligence 51 [ F ] Wisdom 52 [ F ] Willpower 48 [ F ] Durability F "You''ve been steadily leveling up, Gleam!" "(?? ? ??)" "Oh, yeah, I also did, It shouldn''t take long, these outside monsters are quite high-level. But it''s a lot harder to find them in this forest." Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L10 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 261/261 Magic Points [MP] 210/210 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire 107 [ E + ] Agility 80 [ E ] Dexterity 79 [ E ] Constitution 110 [ E + ] Intelligence 85 [ E ] Wisdom 87 [ E ] Willpower 86 [ E ] Durability D Rusty noticed that two of his stats had now reached E+ rank. This iron form seemed to progress faster than his previous bronze one, with him gaining more and more stats with each level up. He wondered if this meant he could reach D rank soon or if it might be better to wait and spend another evolution in the E plus rank. His guides had given him a few pointers about this, advising that it might be wiser to hold off. If his stats were higher during an evolution, there was a chance of attaining a superior evolutionary form. This applied not only to his physical form but also to his skills and abilities. However, now that he was out in the world with only Gleam to rely on, reaching D-rank more quickly might be critical to his survival. For now, he decided to hold off and make the final choice back at the Soul Forge. "This is taking a while." Rusty muttered, his gaze scanning the dense trees. "This forest seems endless." "Well, they do call it the Everlasting Black Forest." Alexander replied from nearby. Rusty nodded as he bent down to pick up some crude iron weapons the goblins dropped. The iron content wasn''t great, but it was still better than having to mine for it, as he''d been forced to do with copper and tin to produce bronze. He was free now - free of the dungeon that had given birth to him and far from the confines of the city he''d first known. The vastness of this world, teeming with strange and fascinating creatures, was something Rusty had yet to fully grasp. "So, this is true freedom?" "( ? -?) " Gleam climbed onto Rusty''s shoulder, giving his helmet a playful poke with her antennae. She seemed curious about what was on his mind. "Oh, it''s nothing," Rusty said, his voice thoughtful. "I was just thinking about the future¡­ and how it''s not all that different from what I''ve already seen." Rusty was still close to a newborn existence. Just a few months ago, he had been created, and now he found himself set free in the vast expanse of this strange world. He was still trying to wrap his hollow brain around what he should do or what his purpose might be. One of his goals was to create a lair - a place to call home and return to after his journeys. With that in mind, he was traveling toward the town of Ferndale. One thing he had noticed was how much empty space this world contained. There were vast stretches of wilderness with little in between. While raiding goblin villages and outposts within the thick forest, he found them scattered hours apart. It seemed that the large cities, particularly those built by humans, dominated the land, leaving much of the wilderness untouched. Though Rusty appreciated the wide-open emptiness, the monotony was beginning to wear on him. The endless sight of similar trees and forest critters during his trek was growing dull. He found himself wishing he could reach the town faster. As he walked, his thoughts drifted to the workshop he planned to set up. While the shop would serve as a cover for his more clandestine nocturnal activities, Rusty wondered how the people of Ferndale would receive him as a craftsman. His current skills were limited to creating basic iron weaponry and possibly steel items without enchantments. Yet, he hoped that in the future, his abilities would evolve to include more advanced and magical creations. The idea of building something lasting and meaningful - both for his lair and his craft - kept him motivated as he pushed forward through the endless trees. "These don''t look too good either¡­" "Another failure?" Rusty''s thoughts were interrupted by Aburdon, whose black, orb-like form hovered over a group of human corpses the goblins had been devouring. Rusty frowned. He was still searching for a replacement body for Albert''s but had yet to find one in good enough condition. It seemed well-preserved or mummified corpses were rare in this world - or perhaps he needed to search in a similar kind of location to where he had found Albert''s remains. "Bah, they''re all half-eaten and already decomposing¡­" Aburdon''s tone was clearly annoyed as he hovered from one half-eaten body to another. "Perhaps we should just ambush a few adventurers and be done with it? If we can''t find a good corpse, we can just make one!" Before Rusty could respond, Alexander''s glowing orb form interjected sharply. "That''s out of the question, you bloodthirsty demon!" Rusty sighed as the two began bickering again. It wasn''t the first time their opposing views on morality had clashed, but ultimately, the decision would fall to him. The thought of killing a party of adventurers lingered in his mind. He could assume the form of one of them and pose as a lone survivor. However, there were complications. Adventurers were often tied to nearby cities or guilds, and their sudden disappearance could attract unwanted attention. It seemed wiser to find someone within the forest - someone disconnected from the cities - before moving forward. Slaying a local blacksmith was another option, but it posed risks of its own. People might become suspicious if he suddenly appeared clad in heavy iron armor. Every choice carried its dangers, and Rusty knew he needed to tread carefully if he wanted his plans to remain unnoticed. After witnessing the High Priest and the Paladins in action, he realized just how insignificant he was in comparison. Unless he reached the level of that robed man, he could hardly hope to make himself stand out. Yet, there was a certain thrill in all of this; hiding among those who would see him dead was undeniably intriguing. "Oh, these even have a golden coin here." While finding a dead body for his possession skill had been delayed, Rusty was making steady progress in regaining his lost wealth. His storage was now brimming with iron salvaged from goblin weapons, and the green creatures seemed to have a fondness for sparkly coins as well. Rusty''s metallic fingers clinked softly as he sifted through the pile of coins the goblins had hoarded. Most were plain copper, but scattered among them were a few valuables¡ªlockets, amulets, and bracelets that he could pawn off once he settled somewhere. All of these items had been taken from the people the monsters had kidnapped and attacked. Sometimes, they were merchants passing through the woods; other times, bandits or simple farmers. From what he had heard, these small green creatures were a persistent plague. They reproduced quickly and had an unsettling method to ensure their numbers: women of other races were used for this vile act, while the men were killed and eaten. It was a grim but effective tactic. Despite their cunning, the goblins were weak. Their crude weapons couldn''t even scratch his metallic frame, and their poisonous arrows were useless against him. To them, he was like a neutral predator, hunting them day or night without fear of their defenses. "Are there any spider caves nearby?" "Hm¡­ I think there might be some arachnids around here, but these won''t be as easy to kill as the dungeon ones, Rusty." "I''ve noticed. These monsters don''t react well to my light or the dark." His elemental attacks weren''t proving very effective against the creatures he''d encountered. It seemed his light abilities only worked well against undead or darkness-aligned monsters. Against anything else, they were limited to startling or blinding his enemies. Similarly, his darkness abilities weren''t much use against the goblins, working better on humans or other intelligent races. Still, the darkness could be useful for cloaking himself in a shroud to mask his movements and attacks. But it seemed most monsters had some kind of inborn protection against it. "Arachnoid monsters usually preserve bodies." Alexander replied again. "Slowly liquefying their insides while they drain them. So, if you''re looking for preserved bodies, with not much on the inside, this might be our best bet." The two of them turned toward the black orb as Alexander spoke. Aburdon didn''t have a mouth to show expressions, but his smug satisfaction was palpable. He clearly relished being needed for his knowledge. "Oh my, what would you two ever do without me?" Aburdon cackled, fully aware that he was the only one with knowledge of the area''s layout. His memorization skills were unparalleled, but Rusty couldn''t help but wonder if relying on him so heavily was wise. Once he reached the city, he resolved to get his own map and start practicing navigation himself. Perhaps some of Aburdon''s abilities had already rubbed off on him after their souls merged, along with Alexander''s. It wasn''t such a far-fetched idea to think that, in time, he might acquire all the skills these two had possessed when they were still alive. He wondered if the tales they both told him were all true as they made them appear as the two strongest beings in the world. If he could gain all of their power, wouldn''t that make him the most powerful being to ever walk this world? The thought of such a thing made him giddy with anticipation but he would need to go through several evolutions to get to such a point. "Just tell me what you know, Aburdon." " (?_?) " Gleam nodded as she to was starting to get annoyed with Aburdon''s character. The demon lord seemed to be happy that he was getting under their skin but quickly answered as he was now compelled by Rusty''s direct order. "Well, yes and no." "What do you mean?" "Well, there are giant spiders as some like to call them around but, you won''t find them in caves." Aburdon paused dramatically, clearly savoring the moment as Rusty and Gleam waited impatiently. "They live in the upper canopy of the forest high up in the trees, hidden among the leaves and branches. Their webs are nearly invisible to the untrained eye, and they rarely descend to the ground unless provoked or hunting. This makes them exceedingly difficult to locate, let alone kill." Aburdon lowered his voice, his glow dimming as if he was trying to tell a scary story at a campfire. "They aren''t that difficult to kill, I''ve hunted them before." Alexander interrupted which caused Aburdon to buzz with frustration. "Fine, Mister Know-it-all. Why don''t you enlighten us about these ''easy-to-kill'' spiders? Since you''ve ''hunted them before,'' I''m sure you have a foolproof plan." Rusty groaned inwardly and stopped the two from arguing again. "Both of you, focus. What do me and Gleam need to know?" "The spiders here are different from dungeon varieties. Their main strength is their environment. They use the height of the canopy to their advantage, descending on silken threads to snatch prey before retreating upward again. Their webs are their deadliest weapon¡ªthin, strong, and coated with a paralytic toxin that affects most living creatures." "Paralytic toxin? Then I should be fine?" Rusty retorted knowing well that substances like poison would not affect his iron body. "Yes, your inorganic constitution will make you immune but¡­" Alexander turned slightly to point himself at the silvery ant on Rusty''s shoulder. "Gleam will, perhaps it would be better for her to remain in the backline for now and assist you with her spells." " (?`?¡ä?) " "It''s okay Gleam, I''m sure that there is something that you can help with!" Gleam wasn''t too happy to hear that she would perhaps need to sit this one out. Luckily, Alexander already had an idea of what she should be doing. "There is something she could do, these webs are drenched in these toxins which are highly flammable, the weakest fire will ignite them like dry tinder. If Gleam can use her magical energy to produce a controlled flame spell, she can burn through the webs quickly, creating safe paths or even driving the spiders out of hiding." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty nodded, taking in Alexander''s suggestion. Gleam perked up slightly at the mention of her potential role. She tilted her head as if considering the challenge, then gave an enthusiastic nod of agreement. While she wasn''t specialized in fire spells, she had gone through mana training. Shifting it to align to flames would be a challenge but after mastering the silence spell, this shouldn''t be a problem. " ( ????? )? " "Great, then it''s settled." Rusty said, looking up at the thick trees above them. While there were no spiders or webs there he was already looking towards the new challenge. "So¡­ will we have to keep an eye out for these webs, or do you know where these spiders gather?" "Hah, leave it to me rusty, I''ll guide you there!" Soon, the group departed for their next destination: the arachnid-infested parts of the black forest. As the trek continued, it became clear that these monsters would be trickier and more dangerous than the goblins. The villages that had once dotted the landscape ceased to appear and the ones resembling them were devoid of anything and covered in thick webbing. It was clear that the apex predator was not the goblin anymore but something lurking deeper, just waiting for them to step into their territory. Chapter 102 – Hunting Spiders. An unsettling change in atmosphere marked the transition from goblin-infested forests to the spider''s domain. The air grew colder, and shafts of sunlight struggled to penetrate the canopy above. Fine, shimmering strands of webbing hung like veils between the trees, glistening faintly whenever light touched them. Occasionally, faint scuttling sounds echoed from above, putting everyone on edge."Are you two sure that this is going to work?" "Getting cold feet Rusty? But I guess you''re made from cold iron!" Aburdon cackled inside Rusty''s helmet as the group approached the spider-infested forest. They had made sure to arrive during the day, knowing the webs would be somewhat visible in sunlight. The glinting strands reflected faintly, revealing the network of traps, but the thick canopy of trees filtered the light, leaving much of the forest shrouded in shadows. The dimness provided perfect cover for the monsters lurking out of sight, ready to pounce. "No... but won''t the entire forest burn down, along with all the preserved bodies these monsters hold?" Rusty asked. He hadn''t been in this world long, but he understood how fire worked. If the webs were as flammable as Aburdon and Alexander claimed, setting them alight indiscriminately could spark a wildfire. The blaze might spread through the Everlasting Black Forest, consuming kilometers of wilderness. Worse still, such an inferno could attract the attention of nearby settlements or even the local adventurer guild - a complication they couldn''t afford. "That''s a valid concern." Alexander admitted, his tone calm. "But the flammable toxins are usually concentrated in the capture nets these spiders create. Their lairs and the wrappings around their victims aren''t as combustible. So, if we stick to the plan and lure one or two spiders first, we should avoid any large-scale fire." "I see." Rusty nodded, turning his helmeted head toward Gleam. "Gleam, be ready with those flame spells. Once I give you the signal, cast it. Can you handle that?" "( ?? ¦Ø ?? )" Gleam chirped confidently, her antennae twitching with excitement at the chance to show off her magic. She quickly skittered down from Rusty''s shoulder and took cover behind a tree that wasn''t completely veiled in webbing. Her body quivered slightly as she glanced up at the enwebbed trees. Her instincts screamed of danger, but she was ready. While the spiders were scary, with her friend Rusty around, she knew that there was nothing to fear. Rusty stepped forward, his iron frame gleaming faintly in the filtered sunlight. Carefully, he trudged into the maze of webs, the strands sticking to his metal plating but failing to harm him. The material was incredibly strong and sticky, pulling him to a halt almost immediately. With each step, more of the sticky fibers clung to him, forming an unyielding trap. Despite his immunity to the paralytic toxins coating the threads, the sheer tensile strength of the webs immobilized him. He glanced back at Gleam, who peeked cautiously from behind the tree, her small silver body reflecting the faint light. "I''m stuck already?" Rusty muttered, testing the web''s strength with a few futile tugs. He was surprised and it made sense while this whole place was deserted. If he couldn''t get in more than a few steps, then other adventurers or even monsters probably couldn''t either. "Let''s hope your plan works." Before long, the forest grew eerily silent, broken only by the faint clicking of approaching legs. From above, a massive spider descended on a silken thread. Its dark-brown, fur-like covering glistened faintly in the sunlight that filtered through the canopy. Its many eyes gleamed as they focused intently on its prey. Mistaking him for an adventurer ensnared in its web, the spider clicked its fangs menacingly, creeping closer with deliberate caution. Rusty, however, remained calm and waited. The monster moved slowly, taking its time to inspect what it believed was its latest catch. Rusty struggled against the webbing, managing to free an arm briefly before becoming even more entangled. It was clear that the more he struggled, the tighter the web held him. Finally, he stopped moving, feigning defeat. To the spider, his stillness signaled that its toxins had done their work. Satisfied, the creature descended fully to the forest floor. Its movements were slow but purposeful, its fangs shone with venom as it prepared to strike. "Now, Gleam!" A small marble-sized orb of fire shot from behind the tree, streaking toward the webbing surrounding Rusty. The flames ignited on contact, spreading rapidly across the toxic strands. The sudden blaze caused the spider to screech and recoil, its sensitive legs catching fire. The creature thrashed violently, dropping to the ground as it tried to extinguish the flames, but it was too late. The web burned away, freeing Rusty and consuming the spider in one swift motion. Rusty stumbled forward, shaking off the remnants of the burnt webbing clinging to his iron frame. Though the sticky burning threads engulfed him, they caused little actual damage to his metallic body. Behind him, the spider thrashed violently, its movements erratic but still full of life. Wasting no time, Rusty reached for his sword. With one swift motion, he drove the blade into the monster''s head. The spider''s eight legs twitched wildly in all directions, its body spasming in its final moments. Soon, the creature stilled, lifeless "Good shot, Gleam!" "( ?? ? ?? )? " Gleam chirped, waving her antennae excitedly. She looked proud of her success, her confidence boosted by the small victory. The flames continued to churn for a while but just like Alexander mentioned previously, they did not consume the entire forest. Eventually, they reached a part of the webbing that wasn''t as flammable and sputtered out, leaving only faint smoke and scorched remains in their wake. "I told you it would." Alexander said smugly. "Now we know the plan is viable, so you can execute it on a greater scale." "I suppose even a broken clock is right twice a day¡­" Aburdon muttered in a rather disappointed tone, while Alexander finally had something to gloat about. "Now, let''s move along with the plan." This was just the first test of their grand master plan. They stood on the outskirts of the spider monster territory, where the concentration of these monstrous spiders was relatively low. This allowed them to safely test their theory. The experiment confirmed that the forest wouldn''t ignite into an uncontrollable blaze. Now that the sticky threads had burned away, they were free to search for their target: well-preserved bodies for Rusty. " (?? ? ??)? " "Oh, you''ll check? But what if something happens?" Gleam was quite the climber and some nearby spider cocoons were hanging up in the trees. She wanted to go there to check but Rusty hesitated. Gleam''s enthusiasm was infectious, but the sight of the dangling cocoons high in the canopy made him wary. Each of the silken prisons swayed gently in the breeze, like morbid fruit waiting to fall. If there was anything he had learned from this world so far, it was to never underestimate even the smallest threats. He turned to the monster spider he had just defeated for confirmation and activated his identification skill. Just as expected, the monster was not something his friend would be able to handle that easily. Classification: Giant Forest Spider E - Type: Arachnoid Description: Chard remains of a giant forest spider. This monster is commonly found in large forests. This spider poses a threat to travelers, particularly at night, when its dark exoskeleton provides excellent camouflage. The creature''s webs are highly adhesive, and toxic making them nearly impossible to escape once ensnared.Known for weaving enormous, intricate webs high among the trees, this monster serves as a natural predator within its habitat. Its nature is not solitary, finding strength in high numbers. The explanation was longer than what he was accustomed to, but his skill had continued to level up, allowing him to gather far more information about this world on his own. "I don''t think that''s a good idea, Gleam¡­" " ( ? ? ? ) " "It''s not that I don''t trust you, but there might be more of them hiding in there, what if one jumps out?" " (? ''? - ''? )? " "Well, I''m glad that you are confident in your abilities but there might be too many there to handle¡­" Gleam was more of a caster than a fighter. These spiders had higher strength and constitution than her and were ranked above her as well. It was entirely possible that within those cocoons lurked the spider''s offspring, not just the bodies of adventurers he was searching for. It was much safer for Rusty to climb the tree instead. His body was remarkably durable, and even if he were pierced by the spider''s fangs, their venom would have no effect on him. " (???¦ä???) " "Don''t look at me like that¡­ How about this? Why don''t you stick to my shoulder, if more spiders appear, we''ll take them on together?" " ( ?? ? ?? ) " After a back and forth, both of them agreed to climb it together. While Rusty''s climbing skill wasn''t good enough for dungeon walls, trees weren''t as much of a problem. Rusty approached the base of the tree, his metallic fingers flexing as he tested the bark''s grip. The wood gave a satisfying hold, and Gleam scurried back onto his shoulder, her silvery body shimmering faintly as she prepared to ascend with him. However, before advancing further a shift in his body began taking place. His frame became elongated as he switched into his more dextrous form. Only then did their ascent begin. Rusty moved steadily, his iron frame making faint scraping noises against the bark. Gleam adjusted her stance, balancing on his shoulder, her antennae twitching at every distant sound. The hanging cocoons swayed closer with each step upward. The higher they climbed, the denser the webs became but as expected, they lacked any toxins or stickiness. Gleam flicked her antenna toward a particularly large cocoon, her silent way of indicating their first target. Rusty nodded and adjusted his path. The cocoon was suspended from a thick branch, its silken strands anchored firmly to the surrounding foliage. As he reached out to examine it, the cocoon jerked slightly, sending a ripple through the nearby webs. Gleam froze, her body tense, and Rusty paused, his hand hovering mid-air. "Something''s inside?" "Be ready." Alexander''s voice echoed within his helmet as his right eye shone brightly with his light. "If it''s alive, it might not be friendly." Rusty placed his foot on a sturdy branch and used his arm to steady himself against the large tree. With careful precision, he began cutting into the oversized cocoon using his sword. As the fibrous shell gave way, the contents were revealed - a humanoid figure trapped inside. However, the body was in a grim state, as numerous smaller spiders had already begun gnawing at it. The exposed hole allowed light to spill into the cocoon, prompting some of the spiders to scatter and attempt an escape. That was something Rusty couldn''t permit. Continue your saga on empire Classification: Miniscule Giant Forest Spider G+ Type: Arachnoid Rusty''s skill identified these smaller arachnoid creatures as G-rank monsters, ones he could dispatch without much trouble. Though their size was smaller than that of Gleams, they were still formidable, each about as large as a man''s head. Rusty wasted no time. His sword flashed as he slashed at the retreating smaller spiders, cleaving through their webbing and fragile exoskeletons alike. Gleam sprang into action, her antennae glowing faintly. Instead of using her spells, she engaged the little monsters directly. She leaped forward, surprising Rusty, and ferociously bit the spiderlings to death. Her silvery carapace was quite resistant to the smaller monsters'' bites, which allowed her to unleash her ant fury. It was quite the sight to watch Gleam ferociously tear through the G-rank spiders. Despite her small size, she moved with precision and speed, her mandibles crushing exoskeletons with ease. She leaped from one tiny spider to the next and made sure that none of them escaped. Rusty, on the other hand, focused intently on stabbing his sword into the cocoon, ensuring that whatever was inside didn''t make it out alive. Eventually, the area was dripping with greenish liquid seeping from the monsters'' bodies. "Remind me not to get on your bad side," He remarked while seeing all the severed bodies of the forest spiders. "?( ?? ? ?? )?" "Yes, I admit I underestimated you, but¡­ are you okay?" Gleam tilted her head in confusion. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "( ? -?)?" Though the battle was over, Rusty noticed Gleam moving much slower than usual. She had been tearing through the spiders like a whirlwind but had inadvertently ingested some of the strange fluids they were composed of. "Ah, I think our lady Gleam has overdone it. Don''t worry, she''ll just be out of commission for a minute or two. Those toxins usually wear off quickly." Aburdon chimed in as he also noticed that the effects of the paralyzing toxins were starting to take effect. Gleam on the other hand let out a pitiful groan. "(¡ä?¦à?`)" She stopped moving, clinging weakly to one of the larger branches. Her body felt stiff, the paralyzing toxin taking hold. Rusty chuckled softly, removing his helmet as he moved to help her. Gently, he picked her up and placed her inside his chest plate right through his exposed neck, then placed his helmet back on to safely lock her inside. "Don''t worry, Gleam,You''ll be safe in my body. Just rest for now." Gleam chirped softly, clearly embarrassed at what she had done. " (,,>©n<,,) " Rusty had designed his new body with a few specific features in mind, all stemming from his time spent trying to save his friend. The interior of his chest had been modified with care - a small metal shelf installed so Gleam could be secured and safe. She wouldn''t slide into his legs or be harmed in transit. It was the perfect little hideaway, offering protection whenever she needed it. "I wonder, maybe if my body becomes larger, Gleam could stay inside and cast her spells from within?" Rusty asked and Alexander was the first one to respond. "I suppose that could be a possibility, but perhaps we should first get through this first?" Rusty nodded and used his sword to prod the spider cocoon, peeling it open for a closer look. With the spiders dead, he could finally examine the body inside. It was far from pretty - riddled with holes, the face half-melted and partially devoured. He grimaced at the sight. If he ever tried using this body, anyone who saw his face would likely assume he was some kind of undead monster. "This one''s a dud." He muttered to himself, moving on to the next cocoon. He hoped one of them might contain something viable - something he could actually use. However, neither of them contained any humans but regular animals instead. It seemed that he would need to move further into the forest and put himself in more peril before he would discover his new identity. Chapter 103 – Strange Cave. "This makes it¡­""Fourth one." Before Rusty could count, the glowing black light in his eye socket replied to inform him about the number of spider lairs that they had inspected. He was in the process of descending from one of the trees, his iron frame clanking softly as he landed on the ground. It became clear that finding a usable body would not be a straightforward task. This was already the fourth attempt, yet the spider webs held nothing but half-eaten bodies, animal remains, and old skeletons. Rusty sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as his metal limbs touched the ground. The forest seemed endless, and though his metal body granted him limitless endurance, the constant climbing and searching had taken its toll. Each failed attempt only deepened his frustration. "We''re not making much progress here." Rusty muttered, resting his sword against his shoulder. Alexander''s calm voice chimed in, steady as ever. "Patience, Rusty. The forest is vast. We''ll find one eventually." Aburdon, on the other hand, was far less sympathetic. "Perhaps you''re just unlucky. Or maybe the universe has a sense of humor. That would explain this predicament of mine..." Rusty would have rolled his eyes - if he had any. Instead, he opened his chest plate briefly to check on Gleam. The little ant twitched slightly. She had recovered from the toxins but had, for some reason, become quite fond of the little hiding spot inside his chest. She had even asked if she could add softer materials, as though planning to build a nest of her own. Rusty had to remind her that when he swapped out his loadouts, the proposed nest would inevitably be destroyed. That had finally discouraged her - at least for now. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) " "Yeah come to think of it, the day is ending, it will be hard to avoid those threads¡­" Gleam mentioned the time of day, they had spent the entirety of it searching for a good replacement body. During the day, the spiders were far less active, relying more on their traps and nests for hunting. But as night descended, their behavior would change. They''d emerge in droves, actively hunting anything that wandered into their territory. The group had wandered deeper into their territory and the odds were turning against them. "We can''t keep pushing forward in the dark. We need shelter." Rusty nodded, his iron form glinting faintly in the dimming light. "Let''s find somewhere safe before it gets any worse. I can light the way." After reaching into his inventory, he pulled out a torch, its flame sputtering to life after some help from Gleam. With just a few sparks, the torch''s flame sputtered to life and cast flickering shadows around the area. Gleam perched on his shoulder again, her antennae twitching nervously at every sound. " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don''t worry we''ll be fine, we just need to find some temporary shelter!" Rusty tried to reassure Gleam. He was a monster, one who didn''t require sleep, and could easily stand guard through the entire night. Once daylight returned, they could resume their search for that elusive replacement body. He had to find one before they reached the next settlement. Still, Rusty knew the forest offered no guarantees. It was entirely possible they wouldn''t find anything here - or worse, they might stumble into a dangerous situation. Yet, despite the odds, he wasn''t in a hurry. Patience was a virtue his metal body afforded him, time was one of his allies and with each slain spider, his experience points grew and he was one step closer to evolving. They moved carefully, the torchlight illuminating the dense forest but doing little to ease the creeping dread. The sound of skittering legs grew more frequent, accompanied by the occasional gleam of many eyes reflecting in the dark. More than once, the group was forced to fight off ambushes from smaller spiders, Rusty''s sword and Gleam''s magic keeping the group safe. However, it became clear that the attacks were increasing in frequency and ferocity. ''If it wasn''t for the silence spell, we might have been overrun by now, we have to find shelter somewhere and wait it out¡­'' Rusty was well aware of the dangers lurking in this forest, and his concern for his friend weighed heavily on him. As a living armor monster made of metal, he was something the spiders couldn''t truly digest. Their only likely target was Gleam. The torch they carried allowed them to spot the nearly invisible threads and burn a path forward, but it also acted as a beacon, drawing the spiders closer with every passing moment. Rusty knew their current strategy wasn''t sustainable. What they needed was shelter - somewhere safe to stay hidden and still in the darkness until daylight returned. Finally, they stumbled upon the entrance to a cave, its yawning mouth offering the promise of temporary safety. Rusty glanced back at the others. "This should do for now. We''ll set up camp here and wait for morning." The group - comprising a suit of armor, an ant, and the two glowing orbs that served as Rusty''s eyes moved cautiously inside. Rusty''s torch cast eerie, flickering shapes on the walls before he quickly extinguished the flame. Navigating in near-total darkness posed no challenge for him as he had spent much of his existence in the dim confines of a dungeon. It seemed the webbing didn''t extend this far. Perhaps this cave could serve as a safe haven for the night. The cave was dry, its jagged walls tapering inward the deeper they ventured, creating an oppressive yet secure barrier against the dangers outside. Rusty found a relatively flat section of the cavern floor where they could rest. Satisfied with the location, he sat down in silence, Gleam making her way inside of his chest again as they waited. "Are we just going to wait here until morning?" Asked Aburdon, who seemed quite bored with the situation. "I suppose we will?" "Well, that''s rather boring¡­" Rusty had taken to keeping his two guides summoned throughout the entire day and night cycle. After the initial summoning, his mana would gradually recharge, allowing them to remain with him indefinitely. Like Rusty, they didn''t require sleep, food, or breaks. However, unlike him, they weren''t as adept at staying occupied during long stretches of inactivity. Rusty could sit in complete silence for hours, unmoving and content. The two guides, on the other hand, seemed to thrive on finding ways to bicker with each other, filling the quiet with their ceaseless chatter. As the hours passed, the oppressive silence of the cave was broken only by the faint skittering of spiders outside. Occasionally, the group could hear the crunch of something being dragged across the ground, followed by the grotesque sound of flesh being torn. It was a grim reminder of the danger lurking just beyond the cavern''s entrance. Rusty sat motionless, his iron frame blending seamlessly with the dim surroundings, while Gleam rested inside his chest plate, occasionally peeking out through the narrow gaps. Alexander and Aburdon floated inside his helmet, their glowing orbs casting faint light from within his eye sockets. "This is intolerable." Aburdon finally broke the silence. "Is there really nothing that we can do here? Why don''t we move deeper into this cave, what if we find something there?" "We seem to be safe here. Why should we push our luck?" Alexander said, his tone laced with doubt as he questioned the sanity of such a decision. They were still surrounded by monsters, and without the constant use of the silencing spell, Rusty''s clanking metal body would be discovered quickly. "If we rush out, we risk being surrounded and overwhelmed." "Bah, aren''t you supposed to be the adventurer? Where is your adventurous spirit?" Aburdon interjected with his usual sarcasm. "It died when I did" Alexander replied dryly. "( ?? ? ?? )" "Yeah, they''re quite the pair, aren''t they?" Rusty said, directing his words toward Gleam. "Don''t worry about them. Try to get some rest." Gleam, the only one in their group who actually needed sleep, had been snoozing inside Rusty''s chest compartment off and on. She now seemed unusually alert, her small antennae twitching as her head poked out. Her tiny eyes scanned their surroundings while the others continued their bickering. "( ? -?)?" "There''s something there?" He asked while trying to look in the direction of where her antennae were pointing at. There he saw some strange markings on the ground. Once he focused more he noticed that it looked similar to tracks left behind by the convoy of merchant carriages he was involved in recently. Rusty tilted his head, the glowing orbs in his helmet glowing brighter as he studied the tracks Gleam had pointed out. They were faint, etched into the dirt and stone floor of the cave, but unmistakably artificial. The distinct grooves, likely made by wheels, suggested recent passage. "Tracks? Here?" Aburdon who was bored out of his mind muttered, his interest showing. "Could there be other people here?" "Those tracks aren''t too fresh at least a few weeks old. They probably left already." Alexander responded to Aburdon''s question almost instantly, attempting to dissuade Rusty from investigating further. He knew the demon lord all too well and suspected he''d try to convince Rusty to take unnecessary risks. Meanwhile, Rusty crouched closer to the faint tracks on the cavern floor, his metal fingers tracing the shallow grooves. He wasn''t an experienced tracker, but the markings clearly led deeper into the cavern. Perhaps there was something worth discovering ahead. "Wasn''t this spider-infested forest supposed to be off-limits to merchants?" Rusty muttered, suspicion creeping into his tone. He''d spent enough time around humanoids to know they rarely put themselves in danger willingly. Using roads to transport goods was the norm; venturing into a forest thick with spider webs was downright reckless. "It shouldn''t be used, no" Aburdon replied, his voice laced with disdain. "But if cutting through it saves a few days of travel and spares them some toll fees? Greed makes people do stupid things." "Sometimes it''s not just greed" Alexander added, offering another perspective. "If someone''s on the run, they might take a harder path to avoid pursuit. A forest full of spider monsters isn''t just dangerous - it''s a deterrent. Perfect for evading anyone chasing them." Rusty considered this explanation as he straightened up, his glowing eyes fixed on the tracks. Whatever had happened here, it wouldn''t make sense unless he investigated further. His curiosity was piqued, and despite Alexander''s caution, he was already leaning toward delving deeper to uncover this mystery. The tracks could mean survivors - or worse, fresh danger. "We''re going deeper." Rusty proclaimed in a resolute voice which caused his group to react in various ways. "?( ??? )?" "Typical." "Hah, I knew you couldn''t resist." Gleam seemed eager to see what lay deeper inside, her antennae twitching with curiosity. Alexander, on the other hand, was clearly uneasy, while Aburdon gloated, pleased that something intriguing might finally await them. With the decision made, the group moved cautiously further into the cave, using the tracks as their guide. Rusty led the way as Gleam perched comfortably on his shoulder. Her mana reserves had replenished, allowing her to recast her silencing spell to keep those metal joints silent. "Could this be some kind of hidden shortcut?" Alexander wondered. "The walls... they look worked on by someone. Not natural." As they ventured deeper, it became clear he was right. What had seemed like a natural cave entrance gave way to a man-made tunnel. The walls had been deliberately enlarged, likely to allow larger objects or creatures to pass through. "It could have been a mine" Aburdon suggested a hint of greed in his tone. "What if we stumble upon gold or precious gems here?" "I doubt it" Alexander replied dismissively. "If there was anything valuable left, this place wouldn''t have been abandoned so easily. Sure, the spiders make it dangerous, but with enough investment, adventurers or soldiers could clear them out. There''s probably nothing worthwhile inside." "At most, this is an escape tunnel, something a noble or merchant had built to flee without being seen." "Why are you so sure? It could have been made by that Thieves Guild of yours to smuggle goods. What if there are some hidden treasures inside?" Rusty listened silently, his thoughts focused on the tracks ahead. Whether it was treasure, danger, or merely an abandoned tunnel, there was only one way to find out: keep moving forward. The faint grooves of the tracks continued, winding further into the tunnel and occasionally intersecting with strange, shallow scrapes that seemed too irregular to be natural. Gleam perched attentively on his shoulder, her antennae twitching as her tiny eyes darted from one shadow to the next. Aburdon''s occasional mutterings of greed and speculation echoed faintly, while Alexander remained on watchful, ready to call out if he saw any danger. "Can you two quiet down? Something doesn''t feel right here." The tracks they were following eventually led to a wider chamber, and the air grew heavier, carrying a faint, acrid scent of decay. Rusty''s senses picked up a distant, rhythmic tapping sound that seemed to reverberate through the tunnel. It was faint but unnerving, like the slow march of a predator pacing just out of sight. He stopped before entering the chamber as he saw something inside: several carriages, their frames webbed up in thick, silken threads, were scattered across the cavern. The carriages bore intricate designs that had long since dulled under layers of dust and cobwebs. Rusty approached the nearest one cautiously, his sword at the ready, while Gleam hopped off his shoulder to inspect the ground near the wheels. "Carriages. Multiple." Rusty muttered, his eyes scanning the chamber. "This wasn''t just a passing group. It was a convoy¡­ like that one." "They didn''t just abandon their goods. Looks like there was a fight¡­ Was it those spiders?" The carriages were still loaded with boxes and various goods, though half were smashed or scattered. Something didn''t add up. These merchants had made it this far, which meant they''d somehow handled the spiders outside - but here, they''d been overwhelmed. Those spiders hunted from treetops; ambushing was their way. They didn''t nest in caves. So, what had drawn them here? Or was there something more at play? " (???¦ä???) " "It''s okay Gleam, stay calm." Gleam scurried back to his shoulder after a quick survey of the ground, her delicate antennae twitching in erratic, agitated movements. Rusty reached up instinctively, offering a reassuring pat to calm her. But her unease mirrored his own, and for good reason. There was something here, lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting. The air felt heavier now, a faint weight of danger pressing against his senses. The devastation around them told a grim story: whoever - or whatever - had done this was strong enough to annihilate an entire merchant caravan. Half-crushed crates, spilled goods, and shattered wheels lay scattered like broken bones in a graveyard. The question gnawed at his mind: was the creature still here? If it was, had it already spotted them? and was he strong enough to beat it¡­ Chapter 104 – Undead Spider. Rusty''s iron frame remained perfectly still as he scanned the chamber, his glowing eyes dimming as they swept across the remnants of the caravan. The rhythmic tapping sound in the distance grew louder, carrying an ominous weight. It wasn''t random; there was intent in the sound, as though whatever made it wanted to be heard - or was too large to move silently."Stay sharp, something''s alive in here and it might be responsible for Alexander commented, his voice more of a whisper. Gleam chirped softly, moving onto her usual perch on his shoulder. She didn''t speak, but her silence spoke volumes. Even the usually boisterous Aburdon refrained from his usual sarcasm, knowing well that if Rusty died, then so would he. The tapping grew closer, its echoes amplifying in the cavernous space. The acrid stench of decay intensified, and Rusty''s grip on his sword tightened. He shifted into a defensive stance, preparing for the worst. Then it appeared. Out of the darkness, something enormous moved into the torchlight''s faint glow. The rhythmic tapping ceased as it stepped fully into view: an undead spider monster of grotesque proportions. Its once chitinous exoskeleton now bore the rotting marks of decay, webbed with necrotic veins glowing faintly green. Eight skeletal legs, jagged and splintered, scraped the ground as it moved, leaving faint trails of black puss. The spider''s eyes were hollow, pits of greenish light that flickered like dying embers. On its back, webbing pulsated grotesquely, as though something alive and unspeakable squirmed beneath the surface. "What''s a corrupted arachnid doing in a place like this?" Alexander whispered as if afraid the monster might notice, even though he knew no one could hear him conversing with Rusty. Rusty, on the other hand, remained calm. Instead of succumbing to fear, he used his identification skill to determine what kind of monster they were up against. There was still time to retreat; the monstrosity stood motionless, not yet lunging forward. When the classification appeared, it confirmed that Rusty was in over his head. However, there was one small detail suggesting he wasn''t entirely out of options. Classification: Enjoy exclusive content from empire Corrupter Arachnid D- Type: Undead/Arachnoid Description: A corrupted giant spider reanimated by dark necrotic magic. Its decaying body serves as a vessel for absorbed victims that are forced into its hollow husk. The Corrupter Arachnid is highly aggressive and unpredictable, capable of infecting its victims with necrotic webbing that paralyzes and weakens them before assimilation. Known for its durability and venomous attacks, it preys indiscriminately. Rusty could see the mentioned absorbed victims sticking out of its abdomen. He was a monster who lacked a sense of disgust by Alexander was being quite vocal about it. Arms, legs and even faces were pushing out of its rear end, it was as if the monster fused bodies onto itself creating a grotesque patchwork of torsos and limbs, their mouths frozen in silent screams. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " Gleam''s antennae twitched violently at the sight of the monster. As an F-rank creature, she found an entity two whole ranks above her utterly terrifying. Rusty wasn''t much better off - being only an E-rank himself, winning this battle seemed almost impossible. Yet, he wasn''t backing away. There was a reason for that. By some stroke of luck, this monster might actually be something he could handle, despite its higher rank. "Feeling adventurous, Rusty? What are you planning to do with those?" Aburdon remarked, watching the living armor rummage through his inventory before equipping a bow and arrow. The monster''s body, a chitinous arachnid form, appeared impervious to physical blows. Its undead nature only made it more daunting, allowing it to fight on even without a head or brain. Unless Rusty could locate and destroy the corrupted core within, the monster would likely continue to fight relentlessly. "I might be able to win¡­" "You might be able to win? I''m not sure if we should be doing something on a hunch." Alexander retorted, his gaze fixed on the stationary target. The monster didn''t seem to react to their presence, likely because Rusty was a monster himself - a living armor, not truly alive. Undead creatures were notorious for their hatred of the living, driven by an insatiable hunger to attack anything with a life force. Rusty''s unique nature as a non-living construct granted him a brief advantage, but it wasn''t one he could depend on for long. Rusty nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring, the metal of his fingers creaking slightly. He aimed carefully, his glowing eye sockets seemingly narrowing as he searched for the creature''s weak point. The corrupted core was likely hidden deep within its body, but he had a theory based on the necrotic veins pulsing across its decayed frame. The glowing green lines converged around its abdomen, which consisted of a grotesque mass of fused victims and writhing webbing. "It should be somewhere around there¡­ right?" He wasn''t quite sure about his theory but he was willing to give it a try. His situation looked dire but there were still several ways for him to survive. Previously he had noted a few smaller openings in the walls, ones that a gleamnig ant wearing a miniturised helmet could fit through. If all seemed lost, he was willing to retreat to hide. However, he did have one big trump card against this monster and that was his light elemental skill. The projectile whistled through the air, glowing brightly white and struck the monster''s abdomen. It struck the monster''s abdomen with a sickening thud, embedding itself deeply into the writhing, grotesque mass. A ripple of energy surged through the creature''s form, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, a small radiant explosion took hold and the monster screamed. The sound wasn''t like anything Rusty had heard before. It was a layered echo, a mix of the shrill cries of the absorbed victims and a guttural, inhuman roar. The spider''s massive body twitched violently, and its skeletal legs scraped against the ground, sending shards of stone scattering. The corrupted green veins across its body pulsed brighter, radiating a sickly glow as it turned its hollow gaze directly toward Rusty. "So much for the element of surprise." Alexander muttered. "Nice shot, but I think you just made it angry." Aburdon added with a dry chuckle while the undead spider charged. Its skeletal legs propelled it forward with a terrifying speed but there was something that he noticed, a limp. The light elemental arrow that he had used had done more damage than he initially thought. The Corrupter Arachnid''s movements were erratic, and its right side lagged slightly, as though one of its legs had been weakened by the blast. Rusty quickly nocked another arrow, his focus sharp as he prepared to exploit the weakness. The chamber shook as the arachnid''s charge reverberated through the ground. Rusty sidestepped just in time as the creature''s massive legs smashed into the stone floor where he''d stood moments earlier. The impact sent debris flying, forcing Gleam to cling tightly to his shoulder. " ( ? ?? ¡õ ?? ? ) " "Hang on tight Gleam!" Rusty sprinted to gain distance, his heavy iron body eerily silent thanks to Gleam''s spell. He kept his focus on the creature, firing another light-infused arrow into its side. Normally it would be impossible to harm this creature with his regular iron arrows, however it was luckily a monster type that was undead, something that his light elemental was highly effective against. The second arrow struck true, burying itself in the creature''s flank and unleashing another burst of radiant energy. The Undead Arachnid howled again, its twisted legs faltering as the necrotic veins along its abdomen began to dim. The light elemental damage was clearly taking its toll, and the creature''s movements grew more erratic. Yet, it was far from defeated. The corrupted arachnid retaliated, spewing forth a torrent of webbing from its distended abdomen. The strands glowed faintly green, pulsating with strange evil energy. Rusty dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the sticky mass as it splattered against the cavern wall, hissing and smoking as it corroded the stone. "That stuff looks nasty," Aburdon remarked while looking at the stones melting. "You better not let that touch you. I''d hate to see you end up part of its... collection." Rusty ignored the demon lord''s commentary, focusing instead on the battle. Though he had some spare iron to restore his body, the net posed a big obstacle to his escape. It appeared to have both acidic and sticky properties; getting entangled in it could spell his defeat. One wrong move could end everything, as this was the stark difference in strength between him and a being a full rank above his. The corrupted arachnid reared back, its skeletal legs scraping against the cavern floor in frustration. Despite being an undead monster, it seemed to possess a mind that could feel rage. It continuously attempted to shoot Rusty down with its webbing, but he used the environment to his advantage. Large stalagmites provided good cover, and scattered boxes left behind by the merchants offered temporary protection, able to withstand at least one hit. However, the chamber was steadily becoming enshrouded in corrosive webbing. If he took too long, he would eventually be left with no choice but to move forward. "( ?? ¤Ø ?? )!" "Are you sure? That could be dangerous" Gleam chirped from the sidelines as she leapt onto the wall. She seemed to have a plan and quickly skittered away in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, Rusty continued pelting the monster with arrows from a relatively safe distance. To his dismay, the arrows were far less effective than he had anticipated. The simple undead he''d faced in the dungeons before had been purified outright by his attacks, but this creature wasn''t. Perhaps it was due to the difference in ranks or its monstrous spider body. Regardless, he pressed on, losing arrows until his mana reserves dwindled, leaving him with little to sustain his skill. "It''s still not dead, Rusty. Perhaps a retreat is in order?" Aburdon''s tone carried a note of skepticism. The monster had lost a significant amount of health, its body riddled with holes and several limbs missing. Yet, it remained standing, still capable of fighting. "No, we''ll stick to Gleam''s plan!" Rusty replied firmly, determination etched on his face. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The demon lord remained silent, suppressing the urge to comment on the absurdity of the situation. His advice had been cast aside in favor of an ant''s whimsical deliberations - a notion he found both frustrating and deeply amusing. Rusty, on the other hand, activated one of his loadouts, shifting into his largest and sturdiest form. His body expanded, reinforced with thick armor, and a massive tower shield materialized in his grasp. He braced himself, fully aware of the risk, but resolved to trust in his friend''s plan. "Here I am! Come at me!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern. He struck his shield with his sword, the sharp clang reverberating as he aimed to draw the monster''s attention. Everything hinged on it targeting him directly, buying Gleam the time she needed. The corrupted arachnid''s glowing, hollow gaze snapped to Rusty, and its massive body lurched forward, propelled by its remaining legs. Rusty stood his ground, gripping his shield tightly as the monster charged. With a roar of fractured, otherworldly voices, it launched a barrage of glowing green webs. They splattered against Rusty''s massive shield, hissing and smoking but failing to penetrate the dense iron plating. The shield was doing its job. The webs couldn''t trap him, and the monster''s attacks, though relentless, were absorbed by the bulk of the shield''s enchanted structure. As the creature closed the gap, its legs crashed against Rusty''s barrier, causing vibrations to echo through the cavern. Yet, he held it together and with his weight increasing to cover for the lack of mass he was successful in stopping this maddened charge. The spider reared back, the part of the spider in front gnashing its fangs as it got ready to attack again. But that''s when Gleam made her move. Leaping from a hidden crevice above, the glowing ant hurtled down, her tiny form landing deftly on the monster''s grotesque, pulsating back. Her antennae twitched as she channeled her mana, the glow around her intensifying. "Now, Gleam!" Rusty shouted. Gleam''s tiny frame shone like a star in the dim cavern as she unleashed her healing spell, the same one she had learned in that cult''s underground dungeon. The spell wasn''t meant to heal in this case. Against the undead, its effects were devastating. Once activated, it rippled through the creature''s entire body, causing it to freeze in place. The spider let out a screech that pierced the air, its voice a chorus of tortured souls as the radiant light spread through its body. The necrotic veins pulsing across its exoskeleton began to disintegrate, unraveling into ash. The writhing mass of absorbed victims fused to its abdomen and writhed in agony before fading into wisps of green mist, their tormented souls finally freed. The spell tore through its form, disrupting its very essence and leaving it paralyzed, vulnerable to Rusty''s next move. Rusty didn''t waste a moment. With the corrupted arachnid frozen in agony, he dropped his shield and drew his longsword, its blade starting to gleam with a radiant glow. The weapon wasn''t particularly special but with his elemental skill, it was more than enough to finish this creature off. He thrust the blade forward, driving it deep into the monster''s spidery head. Once embedded, he unleashed all of his remaining mana. The monster lit up from within, its dark, necrotic veins seared away by the purifying light. It shrieked again, a horrifying sound that echoed through the battlefield - still not dead, even with the blade buried in what should have been its cranium. Its core remained intact, hidden somewhere deep within its monstrous form. The creature thrashed violently, slamming into Rusty. He summoned every ounce of strength and discharged his final elemental skill. With one last desperate effort, he drove the blade even deeper. The monster resisted fiercely, spewing corrosive webbing that splattered across his body, burning through his plated armor. Even though his body sizzled he refused to relent and finally, it was over. The monstrous spider''s legs collapsed beneath its massive weight, and its enormous body fell to the ground with a deafening thud. Its hollow eyes dimmed, the eerie green glow extinguished forever. " (???¦ä???) " "I''m fine, Gleam, don''t worry!" His body was still sizzling from the webbing; one of his legs had fallen off, as had his left arm. Luckily, he did not have any internal organs. As long as his helmet and the core inside it remained intact, he could not be killed. Now that the battle was over, he heard the message confirming that he had leveled up. Gleam had leveled up as well, and it seemed she was now ready to advance to a new evolutionary stage - one that would likely allow her to reach the next rank. Chapter 105 – Three Heads. The dim cavern finally fell silent, save for the faint crackling of web remnants still dissolving into nothingness. Rusty surveyed the battlefield, his glowing eyes sweeping over the fallen arachnid''s massive form. The air still reeked of decay, but as a being without a nose it didn''t bother him much. Instead, he focused on assessing the aftermath.Pieces of the corrupted arachnid were strewn across the cavern floor, faintly steaming where the radiant energy had burned away its necrotic magic. The once formidable monster, a whole rank above him, now lay in pieces. Its grotesque abdomen was partially reduced to ash, its limbs sprawled lifelessly like shattered branches. "Well, Rusty," Aburdon broke the silence, as the quartet looked over the battlefield. "Congratulations on not dying, luckily all this noise didn''t attract the other spiders, otherwise we would be in trouble." The monsters outside the cave seemed too afraid to peek inside. The reason likely had something to do with the D-rank monster. Rusty assumed they were hesitant to enter its territory, similar to the group of insectoid monsters he had encountered back in the dungeon. Those monsters, too, avoided invading each other''s personal space - at least until he disrupted the balance and, with Gleam''s help, eventually killed them all. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) ! " "You''ve managed to reach level ten?" Rusty ignored Aburdon and focused on his friend Gleam. A quick glance at her status screen confirmed it - she had reached level ten. This meant she could undergo another evolution. The realization prompted him to check his own status, though killing the monster hadn''t been enough to push him to the next milestone. It had, however, rewarded him with multiple levels. Now at level thirteen, he was less than two levels away from returning to the Soul Forge. "That''s great! I wonder what the choices will be!" "(?? ? ??)" Gleam was clearly thrilled with her progress; she had been stuck in F-rank for far too long. Just as before, Rusty could review her evolutionary possibilities. This time, though, Aburdon and Alexander were also present to offer their advice. Although the battle had just ended, they appeared to be safe for the moment. Rusty turned his attention to Gleam''s display to examine the possibilities for her evolution. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire Lesser Horned Myrm Ant Queen [ Insectoid ] [ E ] A rarer horned variant of the Lesser Queen of the Myrm Ant species. Once fully grown, it becomes immobile to focus solely on producing offspring. Lesser Mana Myrm Ant Soldier [ Insectoid ] [ E- ] A larger, magical variant of the Lesser Myrm Ant Soldier. While its body is only slightly larger, its carapace shines with magical energy, and it can cast low-level spells. Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] [ E + ] A direct evolution of the rare Lesser Magical Gleaming Ant. This monster prioritizes enhanced magical attacks, featuring an increased body size to accommodate its heightened mana pool. Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] [ E- ] A direct evolution of the Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant. While its size remains the same, its magical abilities are further enhanced by its special mana absorbing body. "Oh? I can see the monster ranks now?" Rusty quickly ruled out the first option, turning Gleam into a Queen. That path was incompatible with their goals. The soldier variant also posed a challenge since neither he nor Gleam wanted her to increase in size significantly. This narrowed the choices to two: an enhanced version of her current form or a seemingly stronger evolution that could potentially push her to a rank higher than Rusty''s own. Having Gleam reach the pinnacle of E-rank was an enticing prospect, but Rusty knew he needed to weigh the options carefully. Gleam''s next evolution could greatly impact their synergy as a team. Keeping her in her current smaller form was undeniably more convenient. However, this was a harsh world, and survival for two weak monsters was difficult. Even a simple undead spider could kill them both if they didn''t possess a direct counter like his elemental skills. Rusty turned to his companions for advice, hoping their insights might help clarify the decision. "What do you think about these choices?" Aburdon was the first to respond. "Well, Rusty, if you''re asking me, I''d say the Magical Gleaming Ant sounds like the most versatile choice. Bigger mana pool, stronger magical attacks - it''s a solid step up without completely changing her nature. What we need for survival is more immediate power!" As expected, Aburdon prioritized survival above all else, choosing the highest-ranked option. Alexander on the other hand believed that they should go for the other choice "I agree it sounds promising, but you shouldn''t dismiss the Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant. Its mana-absorbing body sounds promising, and she will retain her smaller size. Staying inconspicuous could be just as important for us in the long run." Rusty nodded. Both suggestions had merit, and he turned his attention to Gleam. She chirped excitedly, her antennae twitching with eagerness. "What do you think, Gleam? In the end, this choice is yours to make." " (¨q?_??) " There were pros and cons to both choices but he wanted her to be the one to pick it. She heard what the two guides had said, so now she just needed to make up her mind. Gleam paused, her small body trembling with anticipation as her glowing eyes darted between Rusty and the monstrous remnants of the corrupted arachnid. After a moment of reflection, she chirped decisively and pointed one delicate antenna towards one side, indicating that she wished to become the Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant. "I think that''s the right choice for you, Gleam." " (?? ? ??) " Rusty nodded, the movement of his iron helmet reflecting his agreement. Gleam''s choice made sense. While the allure of immediate power was tempting, they needed to think about the bigger picture. Choosing a lower-ranked evolution wasn''t necessarily a setback; it opened the door to more future options. Though it meant they''d have to kill more monsters to reach higher levels, it also increased the likelihood of unlocking better evolutionary variants down the line. In this world, the requirements for evolution were hidden and often influenced by luck. Both he and Gleam were anomalies - miracles in their own right. The fact that they had come this far was nothing short of astonishing. Under normal circumstances, a Gleaming Ant like Gleam would have perished in her nest, never amounting to more than another casualty. Likewise, Rusty should have remained a soulless, mindless piece of living armor, trapped forever in that dungeon. "Alright, if that''s what you want, then let''s go for it." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty nodded, affirming Gleam''s choice. He selected the evolution path for her, and a soft light enveloped her form. However, as expected, not much of a change occurred immediately - her transformations were always gradual. Instead, Gleam began to feel drowsy, needing a safe place to complete her evolution. To accommodate her, Rusty removed his helmet, allowing Gleam to climb into his body, which was currently in its enlarged form. Even if she grew slightly during the process, he''d still be able to contain her inside, keeping her safe from any lurking spiders or other threats. "Hop in, Gleam" "(?? ? ??)~!" Gleam responded with a cheerful nod and skittered up Rusty''s leg. She squeezed into his body through the neck area, settling inside before he placed his helmet back on. Based on past experiences, Rusty estimated it would take a few hours for her transformation to complete - likely until morning. With Gleam slumbering safely inside, Rusty turned his attention to other matters. He needed to examine the undead spider''s lair and its remains. To his surprise, the spider''s body contained several parts that might prove useful. "Do you think I could use one of these, instead?" He questioned both his guides as he approached the defeated spider monster. While parts of its body had disintegrated from the holy energy, a large portion remained intact. His attention was drawn to the grotesque remnants of human limbs, heads, and torsos fused into the corrupted arachnid''s body. Rusty inspected these with a mix of curiosity and intent. Rusty had been searching for a new body to help him blend in among humanoids. While there wasn''t a complete body here, he wasn''t certain he needed one. A torso with a head might suffice - or perhaps even just the head. He''d simply need to adjust his armor to ensure it stayed in place. "Ah, I see. Well, in theory, the possession skill should work on just a head. And there are a few to choose from here." Aburdon confirmed but Alexander was slightly more skeptical. "You want to use these half-eaten faces? Most of them are missing their eye sockets, people will think that you''re a monster." "I am a monster though!" "..." Rusty replied with a chuckle as he picked out one of the heads. The tongue lolled awkwardly, and one side of the face was nearly caved in, revealing bone beneath patches of decayed flesh. Even for his standards, this one seemed... impractical. "I probably can''t use this one¡­" After admitting that Alexander might be right, he tossed the head aside. Once on the ground it cracked and turned into particles of dust. He moved on to another potential candidate. This one was marginally better - its face was mostly intact, though the expression was locked in a growl of horror. Rusty turned it over in his hands, considering how it might look once attached to his body. "This one isn''t the worst but¡­ will my face be stuck like this?" "Potentially, the possession skill has its limits." Aburdon replied while Rusty continued sifting through the pile of limbs and heads. Although there were a few promising options among them, he wasn''t limited to just these choices. This entire area was the spider''s lair, and deeper within, there might be other hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. After carefully salvaging three heads, Rusty turned his attention to the wreckage of the merchant convoy. Perhaps among the scattered debris, he could find something useful to aid him on his newfound adventure. Soon he trudged over to the remnants of the merchant caravan, his heavy footsteps clanking against the stone floor. The area was littered with broken wooden crates, splintered barrels, and various other discarded wares that bore the marks of neglect and decay. Many items were reduced to little more than debris, their value long eroded by the damp and the presence of the monstrous arachnid. Still, there was a faint hope that something of importance might remain. The first thing Rusty noticed as he sifted through the wreckage was the unmistakable stench of death. Even though he lacked a nose, the presence of decomposing remains was tangible. More corpses lay scattered among the ruins, some mutilated beyond recognition, while others appeared to have been partially consumed. Rusty grimaced as he nudged a body aside with his boot, careful not to disturb it too much. Amid the grim scene, he stumbled across a satchel that had been hidden beneath a partially collapsed wagon. The leather bag was soaked and rotting, but its contents appeared mostly intact. Inside, Rusty found a bundle of documents, surprisingly well preserved and only stained by dried blood. "These look important¡­" The first document appeared to be a roster, listing the names of the caravan''s crew and passengers. Several names were circled, accompanied by brief annotations: apprentice blacksmith, merchant''s heir, retired adventurer. Rusty''s gaze lingered on the entry for the blacksmith apprentice. The name was somewhat visible and there was even a small description next to it, a distinctive scar on his left cheek. Rusty''s gaze shifted to the heads he had salvaged earlier. One of them bore the same scar. "Could that be him?" This was exactly what he needed: an identity to blend in with the locals. The man had been an apprentice blacksmith - an occupation Rusty could relate to in a way. He had no idea how long the bodies had been lifeless, but once he activated his possession skill, it might be possible to measure it from his memories. His guides had already warned him against possessing individuals with high-profile backgrounds or known family connections. If a sibling or relative of the deceased were to suddenly show up, his entire disguise could be compromised. Fortunately, when it came to blacksmiths and other common folk, few people paid much attention. He could always claim to be someone with a coincidentally similar name and profession if questioned. Rusty held up the scarred head, his glowing eyes scanning its lifeless features. It was eerily intact, aside from some minor bruises If the possession skill worked as intended, he''d gain not only control of the head but perhaps snippets of its former owner''s memories - enough to convincingly mimic the apprentice blacksmith''s persona. "Alright, this one will do for now. Let''s see what else I can find here." The trip into the forest had been successful; he now possessed half of the puzzle. All that remained was to find the adventurer persona he needed. However, upon examining the two remaining heads and cross-referencing them with the documents, it became clear that neither was suitable. "A shame. One belongs to the merchant heir, and the other to a criminal. It''s better if we don''t use them, Rusty," Remarked Aburdon, whose quick reading skills came in handy once more. The first head belonged to a criminal slave who had been in transport. Assuming the identity of a slave was out of the question for obvious reasons. The second, that of the young merchant heir, was equally unsuitable as he was far too young and almost certainly too well-known. With that, he placed the head into his inventory, ensuring it wouldn''t decompose further. The arachnid''s body had somehow preserved the flesh of its victims, but now that the creature was dead, the natural process of decay had resumed. After securing the head, he returned to scouring the caravan, hoping to uncover more useful items. Among the wreckage, he found a pouch containing several gold coins and a few steel weapons that had survived intact. Toward the back of the ruins, Rusty came across a partially intact crate bearing a merchant''s emblem. Inside, he discovered an assortment of tools - likely belonging to the apprentice merchant whose head he now possessed. His search continued as he tried to gather anything he could sell later but regretfully most items had been destroyed. After a few hours, the cavern brightened with the first light of dawn, Rusty finally stepped back, surveying his findings. Gleam''s transformation continued inside him and it seemed to have started to conclude. He had a head to blend in with, some gold for trade, and a small stash of supplies. Although he was still missing an adventurer, he was a big step closer to his goal. Chapter 106 – Gleaming With Style. Name: Gleam Classification: Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ E - ] L1 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 101/101 Magic Points [MP] 151/151 Stamina Points [SP] 112/112 Strength 2 [ E - ] Agility 11 [ E - ] Dexterity 9 [ E - ] Constitution 2 [ E - ] Intelligence 17 [ E - ] Wisdom 11 [ E - ] Willpower 8 [ E - ] Durability S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. E - Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire ''All of the stats went up. The difference in ranks is truly staggering. It''s a miracle I managed to win against that monster at my current rank¡­'' Rusty thought to himself as he examined Gleam''s new stats. She had just evolved into an E-minus monster, and both her health and magic points had increased significantly. Recalling his own stats from the same rank, he noticed that his body started with higher HP but a lower amount of MP than hers. However, not everything could be boiled down to numbers. His durability was far greater than that of most monsters he had encountered. Additionally, size and skills played a crucial role, often enabling bursts of power that surpassed the raw stats on display. " ( ????? )? " Gleam had climbed out of his metal body by now and was looking at her reflection in a puddle of water. She had changed slightly, her carapace had become sleeker and seemed to shimmer in the faint light. Her antennae were longer, more finely tapered, and pulsing faintly with a silvery glow. The transformation had left her with a more elegant and agile appearance, retaining her compact size while amplifying her magical prowess. She tested her agility by darting back and forth with sharp, precise movements, chirping happily as she adjusted to her new form. With her evolution she had also acquired some new skills, one was the previously mentioned body that apparently absorbed the ambient mana in the surroundings. Basic Mana Body L1 Passive Skill Allows the user to absorb mana in the surroundings increasing their passive mana regeneration by fifteen percent. In short, it was a skill that increased her passive mana regeneration, allowing her to regain MP faster. Unlike a trait, it was a skill, meaning it could be leveled up¡ªlikely by casting more spells and continuously regenerating her magical energy. However, this wasn''t the only skill she had acquired; there was another as well. Basic Dash L1 Active Skill Enhances running speed allowing the user to run faster than they normally should. Lesser Ray of Light Spell A simple spell that generates a blinding ray of light. Lesser Shield of Light Spell A simple spell that generates a shield of light that can both absorb physical and non-physical damage. Besides some new skills, she had also gained two new spells. One allowed her to create a barrier around her body, that could both deflect blows from weapons but also other spells. He had seen her generate it a few moments ago, illuminating the whole cavern with her light. " (¡ã©–¡ã) " Soon, a beam of light erupted from her mouth as she tested the second spell. The spell produced a bright white beam that shot out with incredible speed, traveling far before colliding with a wall and causing moderate damage. It appeared slightly more powerful than a mana bolt spell but consumed more than twice the amount of mana. While it seemed that its only use would be against undead monsters, it could also be charged for a prolonged period giving it some damage potential. However, this prolonged use had a downside as Gleam''s excitement was short-lived. Moments later, she collapsed to the ground, her mana pool completely drained from using the spell. He chuckled softly and brought over the mana-infused water they had leftover from the goblin shaman. "I know you''re happy, Gleam, but you really need to learn to conserve your mana" "( ? ? ? )" She looked briefly crestfallen but perked up quickly after sipping the revitalizing water. Rusty watched as Gleam gleefully bounced around after recovering her mana. Her newfound agility and magical prowess would certainly come in handy during their adventures. Her evolution had clearly reinvigorated her, and Rusty couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride. He felt like a big brother watching his little sister taking a giant leap in life. Now that both of them were E-ranks they could tackle bigger and badder foes. The cavern now felt less oppressive with the monster gone and the morning light filtering faintly through the cracks above. Yet, Rusty knew this was just the beginning. Their journey to survive, evolve, and eventually reach the top was just beginning. From what he knew, no one could truly claim that they were strong until they at least reached the B-rank and he wasn''t even close. "Alright, Gleam, let''s gather up what we can and get moving. This place might not stay safe for long." "Rusty is right, once those forest spiders realize that this one is now dead, they might flood this cavern but while we are here, why don''t I propose something?" Aburdon commented as his black orb shone brighter in Rusty''s eye socket. "What is it?" "Those Marchants probably came here for a reason, do you agree?" "Um¡­ sure?" Rusty nodded, ensuring he had gathered everything worthwhile and stored it in his inventory system. The process had drained his SP, rendering him unable to switch loadouts for at least the next hour. "Well, I''m sure if we head there, we''ll reach our destination faster. And now that we have the blacksmith''s head, why don''t we just move along?" Their purpose for venturing into this dangerous, spider-infested forest was to find a proper body for Rusty''s metallic form. The blacksmith''s head was already stored in his inventory, and he needed a few more moments to recharge enough SP to retrieve it. Rusty still hadn''t delved into the memories of the man he intended to impersonate. "But what about the adventurer? Wouldn''t it be better to search the forest a little more?" "Bah, we can find a dead adventurer somewhere else! The world is riddled with them!" It was clear that Aburdon didn''t want to linger in the forest any longer. He wasn''t wrong - finding a dead adventurer to inhabit wouldn''t be too difficult. If none were available, they could always target a living one. However, Rusty knew Alexander would be firmly against harming the living. Still, with the blacksmith''s persona, Rusty could likely begin building his lair. They had collected some gold and items during their journey, which could be used to purchase a building and convert it into a smithy as his cover. Money, the driving force behind all humanoids, was a concept Rusty didn''t fully grasp but found undeniably useful. With his skills, he had numerous ways to earn money, and through wealth, he could acquire the materials needed to enhance his arsenal and grow stronger. "What do you think, Gleam?" " (?? ? ??) " "I see¡­" Rusty nodded at Gleam''s nonchalant response. She didn''t seem to care whether they stayed or moved on; her focus was entirely on her new evolution. Even now she was looking at her own reflection, seemingly entranced by the sleekness of her new body. He needed to make a decision, and to be honest, he wasn''t keen on scouring the forest for more bodies. The process was inefficient, and it didn''t yield much experience either. Rusty was close to reaching level fifteen, the cap for E rank. There was also the possibility that more dangerous monsters lurked deeper in the forest. Defeating another undead spider or something similarly challenging would accelerate his progression toward his next evolution. "It could be dangerous inside" "Yes, but it could shorten our journey exponentially. I''m getting bored of this forest" Aburdon responded to Alexander with a hint of irritation. It seemed that he wasn''t too fond of this place and perhaps he wished to return to a place with a speck of civilization. In the past he was a great demon lord, a king that had it all. The things that Rusty was doing would be tasks given to the lowest of demonic soldiers and perhaps he disliked the idea that he was now such a lowly being. "Well, perhaps there are more valuable things further inside, it wouldn''t be bad to get more gold. Alright, Aburdon. Let''s follow the path the merchants wanted to take. Rusty nodded and made sure that he had everything that he wanted from this place as it was time to move on. Gleam was still bouncing around testing her newly gained agility. However, once she saw him moving further towards the tunnels she quickly skittered after him and perched herself on his shoulder just like she did in her previous form. The moment she did, Rusty noted that her weight had slightly increased probably due to a sturdier carapace. . With their course set, Rusty led the way deeper into the tunnel, his glowing eyes casting a faint light in the dim cavern. Gleam perched on his shoulder for a better view, her antennae twitching in rhythm with her excitement. The carved tunnel showed clear signs of human activity - smoothened walls, discarded tools, and even a few remnants of torches long since extinguished. It wasn''t just a natural pathway; someone had deliberately created it. "I bet those sneaky humans used this tunnel for smuggling" Aburdon said with a sly chuckle. "Smuggling?" Rusty asked, his curiosity piqued, as Aburdon sniggered inside his helmet. "Think about it. Why else would someone go to such lengths to create a tunnel like this?" Rusty was still new to this world, but he had already learned one thing - merchants couldn''t be trusted. They always seemed to offer him the worst deals possible, and he was certain he''d lost a large amount of gold while bartering with them. At that time he needed all the money he could get to save gleam, something a few merchants noticed and abused. "What could it have been¡­ drugs? Slaves? Perhaps even some forbidden demonic items? I wonder, who is the true demon here?" "..." Alexander remained silent, offering no input. His grumbling, however, betrayed his irritation. The former champion of humanity clearly didn''t want to admit that the people he had once sworn to protect could engage in treachery akin to that of demons. However, as they passed further it became more obvious that the demon lord had been correct. "Looks like a dagger wound, not one caused by a monster. They must have killed him and discarded the remains¡­ Perhaps they left him here as a warning," Along the way, they had stumbled upon a half-decomposed skeleton slumped against one of the tunnel walls. It was likely someone who had met their end during a journey. Aburdon, intrigued, observed that this might have been someone who defied the merchants - perhaps a slave or an individual who opposed their ways. Whoever it was, they had been killed here and left to rot. "Perhaps¡­ could this be the source?" Aburdon muttered in a somewhat contemplative tone. "Did you realize something?" Rusty asked, noticing the shift in Aburdon''s demeanor. "Well, the bodies of the recently deceased tend to attract monsters. Those who die with strong resentment generate a great deal of malevolent energy - enough to lure undead creatures" "Would one dead body be enough?" "Perhaps not but¡­" They continued to walk and soon they discovered another secret of this place, more bodies than they had previously expected. The tunnel stretched on, revealing a grim tapestry of death. Skeletons lay in varying states of decay, some crumpled as if they had fallen where they stood, while others were bound with rusted chains that had fused to the walls. These were no ordinary casualties of war or disease - they were prisoners, discarded slaves, and nameless souls who had been left to rot. Rusty knelt by one of the skeletons, his metallic hand brushing against the brittle bones. Many bore deep scars, some inflicted by blades, others by instruments of torture. It was clear that whoever had perished here had done so in agony. "No wonder that creature was attracted to this palace¡­" Alexander commented as he examined the discarded bodies. In this world, the undead were a grim reality, and some people failed to understand that leaving unpurified bodies exposed could attract vile creatures. On the wall behind the corpses, etched symbols began to draw their attention. Though distorted by claw marks, it wasn''t difficult to piece the design together. "The Thieves'' Guild" Rusty remarked as he was a member himself, he still carried his coin emblem as proof of his ties. Slowly, they were unraveling the dark truth about this place. Perhaps the blacksmith, who had unwittingly ventured into these tunnels, would have faced a grim future - enslaved or worse had he not fallen prey to the arachnid. "I see. Quite clever. They probably rounded up unsuspecting commoners and turned them into slaves. No one would dare bother them in a forest teeming with monster spiders." Auburdon sounded as if he was complimenting this group, Alexander on the other hand was disgusted. "Is this what their new world order looks like? Do they even care?" Rusty wasn''t sure what his guide was talking about but it seemed to have something to do with his old friends. He wanted to ask Alexander to elaborate on his thoughts but suddenly, he noticed something. The group''s exploration of the tunnel took a dire turn as the air grew heavier, the scent of decay had become intense, making Gleam shiver in fright. ''My life detection skill isn''t picking up anything but would it react to dead corpses?'' Suddenly, the faint scraping of bone against stone echoed through the passage. Rusty halted, raising a metallic hand to calm his friend down. Gleam''s antennae twitched, her light spell illuminating the way forward. They saw it - a skeleton shifting, its bony fingers clattering against the ground. One by one, other skeletons began to stir, an eerie green glow igniting in their eye sockets. "Are they coming to life?" The bodies they had passed were beginning to reanimate. A surge of greenish energy pulsed through the area as a strange phenomenon took hold. While Rusty had experience with dungeon-born monsters, this was something new. His metallic fingers tightened into fists as the skeletons began to rise. Each lifeless body moved with the same eerie green energy, the glow flickering like ghostly flames in their hollow eye sockets. Rusted weapons, still clutched in bony hands, scraped against the stone floor. "Wait, those are¡­" But the undead skeletons and ghouls were not his only problem. From holes in the tunnel walls, smaller spider-like creatures began to crawl out. Their bodies resembled spiders, but their heads were disturbingly humanoid with sharp teeth and empty eyesockets. They seemed connected to the monster he had just defeated - and perhaps the reason why these undead had started to reanimate. Chapter 107 – At The Cap Again. The tunnel had transformed into a nightmarish battlefield. Rusty stood at attention as the skeletal army rose, accompanied by the grotesque humanoid spiders. Each enemy emanated an aura of malice, the green glow of necromantic energy mingling with the faint silver shimmer of Gleam''s light. She chirped nervously, her antennae quivering as she perched on his shoulder." ( ?? - ?? ) " "It''s fine Gleam, they only have numbers as long as there aren''t any D ranks among them¡­ we will be fine!" Rusty unsheathed his twilight-iron blade and held his shield steady as the monsters attacked. Their focus seemed to be on Gleam rather than on him. It was clear that these creatures were drawn more to the living than to the inanimate magical object he was perceived to be. " ( ????? ) " "I don''t think they are underestimating you Gleam¡­" His friend pouted as the monsters seemed to regard her as the easier target of the two. Moments later, the battle erupted in an echo of clashing metal, shattering bones, and piercing screeches. Rusty surged forward, his sword cleaving through zombie heads and undead spiders alike. Although their enemies were numerous, they proved to be surprisingly weak - especially after Gleam unleashed one of her new spells, the Lesser Shield of Light. The result was unexpected and not something Gleam had planned. Once the shield materialized around Rusty - its intended target the monsters recoiled as though stricken with fear. While the shield was designed purely as a defensive ability, it seemed to have an unintended secondary effect on the undead creatures. They were repelled by the light, behaving as though it functioned as a persistent debuff spell. "Good going gleam, keep that shield up and stay on my shoulder!" " ( ????? )? " Gleam chirped as the shield enveloped them in a radiant glow. The spiders with humanoid heads screeched as they lunged forward, undeterred by the shield''s damaging effect. Their grotesque forms became a blur of motion, but as they neared, the radiant magic halted them in their tracks. This gave Rusty the perfect opportunity to strike, his blade plunging into their twisted bodies and defeating them with a single, well-placed blow. You have gained +54 experience points. You have gained +48 experience points. He ignored the system messages awarding him for slaying the F and F-plus rank creatures. In the past, monsters like the ant queen and the centipede had been formidable foes at this level. But now, as an E rank, he faced no real challenges against these lesser creatures. They fell to his blade effortlessly, as if he were slicing through butter, and he was rapidly accumulating experience. Congratulations you have gained a level. "... Perhaps?" The swarm pressed against him relentlessly, but his attention was fixed on the system notification. His level had just hit fourteen - only one more to go before he could evolve again and enter the Soul Forge. The thought invigorated him, and with renewed determination, he faced the oncoming horde. They were nothing more than crawling experience boxes, each one bringing him closer to his goal. The tide of battle was shifting in Rusty''s favor. Gleam''s Lesser Shield of Light continued to repel the undead and humanoid spider creatures, giving Rusty the upper hand. Gleam''s chirps were almost rhythmic as she released spells from time to time, sending the monsters back. " (¡ã©–¡ã) " A ray of light burst forth from her mouth, piercing through multiple zombies and undead spider hybrids in its path. Both of them gained large amounts of experience points as the creatures continued to swarm from a single general direction. If these monsters had any sense of tactics and surrounded them all at once, they might have been in real trouble. Instead, the creatures attacked in an almost single-file line, making their disposal surprisingly easy. Time passed and soon the tides were shifting, the relentless assault was slowing. Soon, there was an eerie silence as the last monster was defeated. The half decomposed zombie dropped down to its knees after having it''s head lobbed of. Once it was down, Rusty heard a ding. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty felt a surge of energy course through his metallic frame as the system notification flashed in his mind. He had reached level fifteen - the cap for his current rank. This was the moment he had been anticipating: evolution. "Finally¡­" Rusty muttered, his voice laced with excitement. Gleam chirped triumphantly, her antennae flickering with faint silvery light as she perched on his shoulder. The tunnel was now littered with the remains of the undead and the humanoid-faced spiders, a testament to their battle prowess. "Looks like you''re ready for the next step, I wonder how that place has changed, haven''t been there in a while¡­" Aburdon remarked. He and Alexander had been with Rusty permanently for some time now. Previously, they had been confined to the Soul Forge, waiting for Rusty to summon them. During those times, they could only observe the changes in the Forge before Rusty stepped inside. Now, with the ability to return freely, Rusty realized he could grow a bit stronger before venturing into his new lair. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " "Oh, don''t worry Gleam, I won''t be gone for long but also, It would probably not be wise to do it here¡­" "We better find a safe location, we don''t know if there are any more of these undead monsters here." Rusty''s eye socket glowed brighter as Alexander nodded in agreement. They were out in the open, and he would be temporarily incapacitated during his evolution. What they needed was a place where he could hide safely for a while. The two remained near the spider-infested area, having been fighting for quite some time. While those creatures usually stayed close to their nests, the noise might have attracted other predators. There was also no guarantee that more undead weren''t lurking in these tunnels. Rusty hadn''t been able to salvage much from the monsters they defeated. There were no cores left behind, and he wasn''t sure if their parts had any value. For now, they pressed on, carefully scanning their surroundings. The abundance of bones and corpses they''d encountered earlier had disappeared as most had already come to life to attack them. After some time, the small openings in the walls, where spiders once crawled through, vanished altogether, signaling they were leaving the arachnid territory. "There¡­ a hidden passage. More Thieves Guild nonsense, I presume? Mortals really do waste their energy on unnecessary things." Aburdon muttered as they came to a dead end. Upon closer inspection, they noticed a mechanism embedded in the wall. Rusty recognized it immediately - it could be activated using his Thieves Guild emblem which was in his possession. Rusty approached the concealed entrance Aburdon had pointed out. The "hidden" nature of the passage was betrayed by faint markings etched into the stone, symbols only a member of the Thieves'' Guild might recognize. He crouched and pressed his metallic hand against the wall''s damp surface as he sought a mechanism. "There it is¡­" After searching carefully, Rusty found a well-concealed latch. Opening it revealed a coin slot, clearly designed for his guild-issued coin. After a moment of deliberation, he inserted the coin. The mechanism activated with a faint click, and moments later, the wall began to shift, revealing a hidden room. At first glance, it appeared to be a simple dead end. Gleam chirped with excitement, her antennae glowing faintly as she hopped off Rusty''s shoulder and darted inside. The light she emitted illuminated a relatively secure space, untouched by the chaos they had just escaped. "That mechanism must control the passage" Alexander observed, pointing to a lever embedded in the wall. The room was sparsely furnished, containing a table and a few chairs. A small ventilation shaft provided some airflow. It was clear this place had been constructed by the Thieves Guild and could only be accessed by its members. "At least I got my coin back." The coin he had placed earlier had reappeared on the other side, ready for him to retrieve. It was clear that the lever embedded in the wall would open the path forward, but now that he was inside this hidden chamber, it seemed to be exactly what he needed. "Hm¡­ how about I just evolve here?" "That isn''t the worst idea you had but is this place truly safe?" Aburdon was a bit skeptical but Gleam chirped with enthusiasm. " (?? ? ??) " "You''ll protect me while I''m evolving?" He was happy that his friend would protect him while his body wouldn''t be able to move. Before he could make a decision he heard the door he walked through closing behind him. There was another switch near it on this side which was probably the opening mechanism so he didn''t mind it, instead he just sat down on the chair as he made a decision. "Let''s do it, monsters shouldn''t be able to get in here. Does anyone disagree?" "I think it should be fine?" Replied Alexander. "If Gleam conceals her mana and doesn''t cast any light spells, the undead shouldn''t notice us, I suppose?" Aburdon added his opinion and it was time to evolve. Before moving on to the Soul Forge he made sure to look at his status to see how his status screen was looking. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L15 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 276/276 Magic Points [MP] 228/228 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 121 [ E + ] Agility 92 [ E ] Dexterity 91 [ E ] Constitution 126 [ E + ] Intelligence 96 [ E ] Wisdom 98 [ E ] Willpower 97 [ E ] Durability D Two of his stats had reached the higher E-plus rank, and the rest weren''t far behind. As he reflected on his progress, memories of everything he had endured so far came flooding back. He couldn''t help but wonder where this journey would ultimately lead him. He longed for strength and dreamed of exploring the vast, open world brimming with adventure. But he also understood the harsh reality of his path - power was essential. To continue, he would need to evolve, to push his limits constantly. Without that drive, his journey might come to an abrupt end before it had truly begun. "All right, Gleam. I''ll leave everything to you." " ????(? ?? ? - ? ) " "Thank you." Rusty knew that while only a short amount of time would pass in the outside world, he would likely spend several months inside the Soul Forge. Each time he entered, he found he could remain there longer than before. He used this time to train - honing his blacksmithing skills and battling replicas of monsters he had previously defeated. He often wished the strong cult leader could appear in the training room so he could test himself against a truly powerful opponent. However, the Soul Forge required him to have defeated a creature before it could be recreated. His body eventually slumped into the chair, arms dangling as his consciousness faded. Moments later, he found himself standing on the bridge before the floating castle. Both of his guides were absent. "I don''t think they can leave the castle" It seemed Aburdon and Alexander were bound to the structure while he remained outside. Wasting no time, Rusty made his way across the bridge and into the Soul Forge, eager to see his new body. His excitement was palpable, and he quickened his pace as he loosely looked around the area to see if he could spot any changes. This space sometimes shifted around and produced new things and chambers. "Not much has changed... I think" "Ah, Rusty, there you are" Aburdon floated out to greet him as he entered through the castle''s gates. Alexander followed shortly after, heading in the same direction as Rusty - toward the Soul Forge. Rusty gave his guide a nod but didn''t stop to chat. He hurried forward, anticipation surging through him as he neared the forge, eager to see the choices for his two new bodies. The doors flew open as she charged inside and just like last time, he had exactly three new bodies before him. Two looking quite interesting with one resembling the one he occupied now, just with a slightly different tint to it. "Hmmm¡­ those two look strong¡­" "Oh, how interesting¡­ I like the one on the left, why don''t we go with that?" Aburdon commented as he floated forward over to the armor on the left. It wasn''t surprising that the late demon lord was drawn to that body as it looked quite demonic. First of all, it had a dark, almost obsidian hue, with jagged, flame-like accents running along its edges. The chest piece bore a grotesque, grinning face molded into the metal, its eyes actually glowing ominously. Wicked, claw-like gauntlets completed the intimidating look, making it clear this was a form designed to instill fear and dominate. Alexander, however, was less impressed. "And I suppose you''ll have Rusty rampaging around looking like one of your old generals, Aburdon?" He asked while floating towards the armor on the right side. "This one, Rusty, is far more befitting of your character." The armor Alexander gestured to was vastly different. Gleaming white with golden trim, it radiated a soft, warm light. The design was elegant, almost angelic, with smooth, flowing curves and a radiant emblem of a sunburst etched into the chest. The pauldrons flared out slightly and the gauntlets ended in a refined, functional design. A flowing cape of light fabric completed its form giving it the appearance of a holy knight. "It''s similar to those paladins¡­" Rusty approached both armors, his eye sockets now devoid of any light as his two guides were floating around him. The two on the sides were half a head taller than the one in the middle who looked like his current body. At one glance it was just something made from another type of metal so he focused on the two on the sides. They looked rather magnificent, much more intricate than his current body and instantly made him want to choose one of them. "Could these two be higher than E+ ranks?" Rusty wasn''t entirely sure, but after seeing Gleam''s evolutionary options skip a small rank, it seemed possible that he could do the same. His two guides were already embroiled in an argument over the choices before him. Each insisted he select the armor that aligned with their perspective - Aburdon''s sinister, dark energy or Alexander''s radiant, light-filled ethos. It felt as though choosing one of these armors would be akin to choosing between them, a decision that seemed almost symbolic. He didn''t need to make a choice now. Rusty knew he had plenty of time to decide. He turned his attention away from the ongoing debate, letting his mind wander. That was when he noticed it - a new door had appeared in the chamber. Above it, glowing letters spelled out: *Summoning Hall* Chapter 108 – New Forms. Classification: Lesser Darkness Armor [ D - ] Type: Magical/Inorganic/darkness Description: An empty vessel waiting to be filled by a demonic soul. This armor is capable of enhancing dark abilities, amplifying the wearer''s potential for destruction. Classification: Lesser Light Armor [ D - ] Type: Magical/Inorganic/light Description: An empty vessel waiting to be filled by an angelic soul. This armor is capable of enhancing light abilities, amplifying the wearer''s potential for recovery Classification: Twilight Steel Armor [ E + ] Type: Magical/Inorganic Description: An empty vessel waiting to be filled by a soul bearing the power of both light and dark. This armor is capable of enhancing both light and dark abilities. "I can actually identify these now?" Rusty scratched his metallic head while murmuring to himself. Before him stood three armor types: two ranked D-minus and one E-plus. The two on the sides were far more eye-catching than the one in the middle, which appeared to be a modest upgrade from his current iron body. Though the middle armor was crafted from a new Twilight Steel alloy that would likely improve his defenses, it seemed underwhelming compared to the others. ''Twilight Steel Armor¡­ that reminds me, didn''t I unlock a new skill at level fifteen?'' Rusty''s thoughts raced as he considered his recent evolution. Reaching the threshold had opened up new opportunities, but the potential threats in the area had kept him from checking his system screen until now. Finally, with time and safety on his side, he decided to take a closer look. Usually, the skills he gained during each evolution were tied to his elemental affinities, and this time seemed no different. Lesser Twilight Embrace Active Skill The user calls upon twilight energies to increase their fighting power. At first glance, the skill didn''t seem particularly powerful. Its description reminded him of the Fury skill, which boosted his physical stats. However, the mention of "twilight energies" and the vague phrasing hinted that it might do more than just enhance his physical abilities. He wouldn''t know for sure until he tested it. ''Should I head to the training room to try it? Or perhaps¡­'' Rusty''s thoughts drifted back to the decision at hand. The new skill was intriguing, but the armor options also needed careful consideration. Since acquiring his Iron Body, he had resolved to improve himself using his own crafting skills. With access to new metals and alloys, he might be able to forge something superior - perhaps even using the materials from the black or silvery-white armor, rather than settling for the Twilight Steel in the middle piece. Then there was the mysterious new chamber that had appeared after his evolution. That, too, demanded investigation. One problem he noted with the armor choices was the materials. Each piece was distinct: the middle armor retained both elemental affinities, while the ones on the sides seemed to favor one element at the cost of rejecting the other. Choosing either of the side options could force him to specialize, potentially losing the ability to wield both elements. "...And that is why this glorious demonic shell is the best option!" Aburdon declared as his shouts filled the soul forge main chamber. "No human - or any of those puny other races - will be able to stand before the darkness!" "Hah! And what good will that darkness be against undead monsters like the ones we encountered? Light has always been better against such creatures!" Alexander retorted, bringing up issues with monsters. Their bickering snapped Rusty out of his thoughts. It was clear both guides had strong opinions and were determined to sway him toward the elemental armors tied to their respective elements. Still, Rusty hesitated. He liked the flexibility of using both light and dark elements - a capability he might lose if he followed their advice. The middle armor suddenly seemed more appealing. It might lack the raw power or specialization of the other two, but it maintained his dual elemental affinities. ''I can always reach D-rank later, and if I get better at crafting, couldn''t I just make one of these specialized bodies myself?'' Rusty was a living armor monster, a unique being who could craft his own shells. In a way, he wasn''t bound by the world''s strange system or its rigid classifications. He could be the architect of his own evolution, shaping his destiny rather than being forced into one of the predefined paths laid before him. At first glance, it seemed like he had three choices here. But the more he thought about it, the clearer it became that the middle option was the right one. While it might lack the dramatic flair of the others, it offered the flexibility he valued. He could forge his own parts, and perhaps, in the future, even create specialized variants that enhanced specific elements. A lot of this, of course, hinged on the materials at his disposal. If he could craft a body using an alloy that amplified dark energies, he could emulate the other armors'' unique strengths without sacrificing his dual elemental affinity. ''Why didn''t I think of it sooner, why not use both if I can!'' Rusty decided to sneak away to the workshop area first, intending to explore it before venturing into the new chamber. Upon arrival, he quickly noticed that the space had changed to accommodate his recent evolution. The iron bars he had used to craft his previous body were now replaced with Twilight Steel. The forge had been upgraded as well, and all the smithing tools had been enhanced, gleaming with the same steel. It was a promising setup, but as Rusty examined the materials more closely, he realized there were no elemental metals available. At least for now, he wouldn''t be able to recreate the two stunning, elementally attuned bodies he had seen earlier. ''Could it be because they''re D-rank, and I''m still just E-rank?'' He pondered over the thought while surveying the workshop. Everything here seemed designed to let him reconstruct his shell using the improved Twilight Steel. The furnace, forge, and smelter looked more robust and ready for days of crafting. Satisfied for now, Rusty left the workshop and made his way to the new chamber. Hovering before it were his two guides, already waiting for him and arguing again. "So, you truly don''t know what''s in there?" The black wisp asked, hovering impatiently in front of the summoning chamber. "How many times do I have to tell you? This wasn''t in my soul forge" The white wisp shot back, drifting closer as if to inspect the chamber more thoroughly. Alexander had been the original owner - or at least the previous user of the soul forge. During the bonding process with Rusty and Aburdon, his gift had somehow been transferred and altered, reshaping into this new soul forge. Its current form, resembling a towering castle, was as much a mystery to him as it was to the others. This chamber before them was entirely new, and none of them knew what awaited inside. "Stop bickering, you two. Let''s just go in and find out" Rusty said, cutting through their argument as he stepped forward. Without hesitation, he pushed the door aside, ready to uncover whatever secrets lay within. The Summoning Hall was vast, its design a stark contrast to the rest of the Soul Forge. Where the forge was practical, this chamber exuded an aura of ancient arcane power. High vaulted ceilings stretched into the dim glow of arcane light, with intricate carvings etched into every surface. These carvings depicted scenes of summoning rituals: mages surrounded by swirling glyphs, various creatures emerging from enchanted circles, and battles taking place in strange environments. At the center of the room lay an enormous summoning circle, etched into the black stone floor with glowing inlays of silver and gold. The patterns pulsed faintly, as though alive, synchronized with some unseen heartbeat. Around the circle stood towering statues of robed figures holding staves, their faces obscured by hoods. Each staff radiated a faint light - some cold and blue, others warm and golden, mirroring the twilight that ran through Rusty''s essence. Suspended above the circle was a crystalline orb, slowly rotating in midair. It illuminated this whole vast closed-chamber with a serene, shifting light that alternated between hues of deep purple and fiery yellow, reminiscent of the twilight sky. "Remarkable" Aburdon murmured, his usual arrogance giving way to genuine admiration. "This chamber holds power. I can feel the echoes of countless summoning rituals within these walls." "This¡­ is incredible!" Rusty muttered as he slowly approached the central summoning circle. His life had been short, and sights like this were entirely new to him. The intricate arcane symbols carved into the walls radiated an otherworldly glow, their meanings utterly foreign to him. Yet, even without understanding, he could feel the immense concentration of magical energy condensed in the chamber, particularly at its heart. Despite the awe-inspiring presence of the room, Rusty was still unsure of its purpose. Fortunately, he wasn''t alone. His guides, as always, were there to assist, and Alexander''s words suggested he had noticed something. "Hmm¡­ there seems to be a console over there." "Console?" For a moment Rusty wasn''t sure what he meant but Alexander instead of explaining floated towards something that resembled a magical control panel. There was a large orb in the middle with many strange glyphs made of silver and gold. After approaching it he noticed that the surrounding symbols started shimmering as if reacting to his presence. "What is this used for? How do I use it?" At first, he thought it resembled some of the mechanisms the Thieves Guild used for opening secret passages, but this was far more intricate. It pulsed with mana, and there were no switches to pull, levers to toggle, or slots to insert anything - only a large orb at its center. "Hm, could you try placing your hand on the central orb there, Rusty?" Alexander''s suggestion was clear, and Rusty saw no reason to refuse. Nevertheless, he hesitated for a moment, his metal hand catching the light as he reached toward the orb. Thanks to one of his skills, he could sense the dense surge of magical energy emanating from the device. Yet, he also understood that this soul forge posed no threat to him. His metallic fingers trembled slightly before he steeled himself, lowering his hand to make contact. The moment his fingertips touched the orb, the entire panel came alive. Glyphs etched into its surface began to pulse in a strange, rhythmic pattern. For a brief moment, he considered pulling his hand back. But Alexander, observing calmly, didn''t seem alarmed. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Then, suddenly, all the flickering symbols stopped. Before him, a large rectangular screen materialized, seemingly woven from pure magical energy and sightly transparent. "Oh¡­ what is this? It resembles the world window... but what''s that white arrow in the middle?" The screen was mostly blank, save for a few strange icons and accompanying words. One icon resembled the summoning circle at the center of the room, labeled ''Summoning.'' Another depicted an open book, with the words ''User Manual.'' "User Manual?" "Hah, this looks like¡­" Alexander trailed off, but it was clear he had some understanding of what the screen represented. Aburdon, on the other hand, hovered closer, his ethereal form circling the screen as if trying to unravel its secrets. "How fascinating, what kind of Arch-mage designed this object? It radiates high-tier arcane power¡­" Rusty wasn''t sure what to do, but after a moment''s hesitation, he decided to remove his hand from the orb. As he did, something unexpected happened - the white arrow in the center of the screen shifted to one side. He froze, watching the screen intently, wondering if the arrow would move again, but it remained still. The mystery deepened. Rusty still had no clear idea what this place was or what purpose it served. His eyes lingered on the User Manual icon. It seemed like the obvious place to start, yet when he reached out and tapped the screen experimentally, nothing happened and his iron finger just phased through it. "Ha ha¡­ Rusty, place your finger on the orb and just do as I say." Alexander chuckled after seeing it and it seemed that he had noticed something. "Oh, do you know what I should do?" "Probably. This looks like something from my old world¡­" "Old world?" "That doesn''t matter, just place your finger back on the orb and then slowly slide it to the left side." "Um¡­ okay?" He wasn''t sure what was supposed to happen but he followed the instructions. His metal finger was placed down on the orb and slid to one side while still touching it. The moment he did, he could see the white arrow sliding along with his finger movement. "Ah, it started moving?" The screen responded to Rusty''s movements, the white arrow gliding across its surface with a surprising smoothness. He paused for a moment to see how it would react, and sure enough, the arrow halted, waiting patiently for further input. His curiosity grew, and he began rolling his finger lightly across the orb, watching as the arrow moved in sync with his motions. For a moment, he was captivated by the responsiveness, marveling at the subtle control he seemed to wield. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Eventually, he caught himself. This was no time for idle experimentation¡ªhe still had no clear understanding of what this summoning chamber was all about. "Had enough fun Rusty? Sometimes I forget that you''re not even a year old¡­" "What do you mean? I''m an adult! I''m already an E rank!" "Sure¡­ now then, just place the arrow over that book icon." "I know!" Rusty replied, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance at how Alexander seemed to treat him like a child. Without waiting for further explanation, he guided the magical arrow onto the icon displayed on the screen. It seemed obvious to him - if he touched the icon with the arrow, something should happen. Yet, when he did, the screen remained unresponsive. "..." "What am I doing wrong? Why isn''t this working?" He muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "You probably need to tap the orb now. "Tap it?" Rusty repeated as he did not really understand the full logic behind this device. Still, he followed the advice and gave the orb a tap, but the screen remained unchanged. "No¡­ I mean, tap it twice in quick succession" "Tap it twice¡­ quickly?" This magical device was utterly baffling. Rusty couldn''t fathom why he needed to move his finger over the orb and poke it in such a specific way. Wouldn''t it be far simpler if he could just touch the icon directly on the panel? "Like that?" He asked, glancing at Alexander. "Almost. Do it a bit faster, and make sure the cursor stays on the icon" Rusty sighed but tried again. His first attempt failed as he tapped too slowly. On his second try, he tapped quickly but let his finger slide off the orb, causing the arrow to veer away from the icon at the last moment. Finally, on his third attempt, everything clicked. The arrow stayed steady, and the screen responded instantly. The white arrow transformed into a spinning hourglass, and after a brief pause, text began to appear on the display. He leaned in, reading carefully. It was a manual - a guide detailing how to use the summoning chamber and what benefits it could offer. Chapter 109 – Trouble Brewing. The chamber was dim, lit only by the sickly red glow emanating from a series of runes etched into the stone floor. A group of robed figures knelt in a circle, chanting low and guttural verses in a forgotten tongue. At the center of the room, atop an altar stained with dried blood, rested the decapitated head of a cultist. It was pale, lifeless, and yet, under the guidance of the ritual, it seemed unnervingly animated. The mouth twitched, the eyes flickered with an unnatural crimson light. The man, seemingly a High Priest stood before the altar, draped in robes that shimmered with a dark, otherworldly energy. His face was hidden beneath a featureless metal mask, save for two slits through which his piercing, blood-red eyes burned. In his hands, he held a ritual dagger, its blade serrated and carved with intricate patterns that seemed to drink in the ambient light. "¡­ Reveal to us your sight, O Blood Lord, your loyal servants beg for your guidance." His voice was both commanding and reverent, echoing throughout the chamber as he plunged the dagger into his own wrist, allowing his blood to flow freely. The room fell silent as the crimson liquid dripped onto the altar, which seemed to stir with strange unholy energy. The blood began to shift and writhe, and, as if forming tiny red capillaries, it extended upward, reaching toward the head that hovered ominously above it. Suddenly, the head''s eyes shot open, glowing with an intense, malevolent crimson light. The cultists surrounding it remained motionless, their stoic demeanor suggesting this was a sight they had witnessed many times before. Even as the head emitted strange, growling sounds - its jaw clattering unnervingly as it reset itself into place, they did not waver. "The Blood Lord graces us with His sight¡­ Now speak, brother! Why has our temple been desecrated? Tell us who is responsible for this blasphemy!" The leader of the group shouted, his voice reverberating through the dark, oppressive temple where they had gathered. The head jolted, its cold red gaze locking onto the masked man before it spoke in a strained, husky voice. "...wHiTe¡­ a¡­nT, aRm¡­OR¡­" Its words came slowly, disjointed, and nonsensical. The priest who had slit his wrist stepped forward, placing a bloodied hand on the head''s pallid cheek. The crimson capillaries from the altar connected to his flesh, pulsating as if alive. A shiver ran through him as his essence melded with the head''s lingering consciousness. Behind his mask, his eyes glowed brighter, consumed by a vivid vision. Strange creatures invaded his mind¡ªone of them vaguely human yet undeniably otherworldly. "Ughh¡­" the priest groaned, staggering slightly as the occult spell took hold. The head began to bulge grotesquely, its flesh swelling unnaturally before abruptly imploding, spraying blood and innards across the chamber. Without hesitation, the priest flicked his hand to the side, discarding the mangled remains onto a grisly pile of similar heads the cultists had already examined. "This being¡­ was it the one responsible? The other visions¡­ they also reveal it." The High Priest staggered for a moment, regaining his balance as the glow in his eyes faded to their usual blood-red hue. His expression was unreadable beneath the mask, but his tone indicated anger. "This creature¡­ it is no ordinary foe" The leader murmured, his voice laced with unease. "Its aura is tainted - neither human nor entirely monstrous. Its power bears the marks of both light and dark¡­ Twilight? But how? Such a blasphemous existence!" The other kneeling cultists remained silent, their heads bowed. Exhaustion weighed heavily on them, their stamina nearly depleted from the grueling ritual they had been performing. They dared not speak, nor even lift their gaze toward the leader. The grisly collection of heads before them was the result of their desperate efforts - retrieved mostly through grave digging and sacrilege. Each belonged to one of their fallen brethren, their lives and deaths examined for answers. The cult sought to unravel the mystery behind the recent catastrophe in Argossa, where one of their concealed lairs had been exposed - a calamity on a scale they had never experienced. Even more alarming was the fact that one of their high priests, a powerful servant of the Blood Lord, had been defeated. Their ancient enemies, the paladins of Ghelene, had delivered a devastating blow, leaving the cult reeling as they struggled to recover and understand how it had happened. "We must uncover the truth behind this. Find this blasphemous being and all who aided them. We will offer their blood and souls to our Lord. Only then will his wrath be appeased!" He turned to a figure lurking in the shadows, a wiry man clad in a patchwork of leather and chainmail. A pair of cruel daggers hung at his hips, their hilts etched with symbols of the Blood Lord. "Bloodshade." The priest beckoned the man with a commanding voice. "Take your hunters and track this creature. I expect results swiftly. Do not fail me." "It will be done, High Priest. The blood will flow." The man referred to as Bloodshade bowed before the hooded man and soon his form vanished from within this dark temple¡­ Meanwhile, within the confines of the newly discovered summoning chamber in Rusty''s Soul Forge, the living armor studied the shimmering screen before him. Oblivious to the events unfolding far away, he pondered the strange potential of the summoning system he had accessed. "So¡­ if I understand this correctly, that summoning circle over there will send me somewhere to complete a ''quest''... is that right?" Rusty asked while looking at the small text on the semi-transparent screen, if he was a human he would certainly be squinting. Fortunately, he wasn''t alone. Aburdon and Alexander were there to fill him in. "Seemingly so." Alexander, still going through the instruction manual, replied with a distracted tone. Though he had more experience with this place than the others - and was once the old master of the Soul Forge he couldn''t recall anything like this ever existing. He had to assume it was a development that occurred after his soul had been fused with the monster and the demon. "But¡­ why would I do that? What if I die? And what will I even get in return?" Rusty wondered as the idea of being summoned by someone seemed dangerous. It reminded him of the time he was a monster in the dungeon, forced to do the bidding of the dungeon heart. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire "Well¡­ for the time being, it seems like you''ll be granted experience points - at least to some extent. Then there''s also a mention of rare materials and schematics for the forge and also some other rewards once the chamber further develops¡­" "Hmmm¡­ I don''t like this¡­ maybe I shouldn''t use it." Rusty muttered. "What''s there to be worried about? There''s nothing you can lose!" To Rusty''s and Alexander''s surprise, Aburdon seemed uncharacteristically supportive of the idea. He was usually the one who urged Rusty to avoid risks, to be fearful of the unknown, and even to abandon others just to save his own life. Yet now, he appeared eager for Rusty to step into an uncertain situation that could potentially enslave him. "Could you explain why?" "Hah! I suppose you two haven''t finished reading yet? Fine, let me explain it to you." Aburdon scoffed at the two that had not gone through the whole instruction manual and started explaining why there was nothing to fear. "First of all, don''t worry, your immortal soul will not die. Even if the body you inhabit is destroyed, your essence will merely return to the Soul Forge. You''ve experienced this before, haven''t you?" Aburdon''s voice was smooth and confident, echoing slightly in the vast chamber. Rusty found himself recalling his own origins - how their souls had merged, and the many times he had inhabited new shells. It seemed his essence merely attached itself to different bodies, unable to perish even when those bodies were damaged. He considered the logic of Aburdon''s words. If his essence couldn''t be destroyed, and if everything created in the Soul Forge seemed to exist to serve or support him, then perhaps there truly was little to fear. What Aburdon was saying began to make sense but he still had some concerns. "What if I''m trapped somewhere, or worse, what if they find a way to harm my soul?" "Unlikely." Aburdon reassured him with a flicker of amusement. "The summoning merely sends a fragment of your essence to animate a temporary vessel - one crafted from the summoning circle itself. Think of it as wearing a different suit of armor for a short time. Even if that suit is destroyed, your core essence will snap back here, completely intact." "Wait, so¡­ I can''t be destroyed doing this?" "Well, you can but you will just return back here as if nothing happened. " Aburdon replied smugly. "The only limit is time. The summoning chamber allows access for a finite duration - an hourglass''s worth, so to speak. Whatever you accomplish must be done within that window. The rewards, too, are tied to your performance during that time. Fail to make the most of it, and you''ll walk away with only the scraps of effort." Rusty was lost in thought as he began rereading the instructions. It became clear that a few laws governed this new device. One of them stated that it had a limited number of uses. Once summoned and tasked with completing a mission, he would receive rewards - but a cooldown period would be initiated afterward, during which he couldn''t access the device or return to that place. Although time flowed differently outside the Soul Forge, there was still a strict time limit within. If each mission required a cooldown, then his opportunities to complete more missions would be constrained. Another concern gnawed at him: where exactly would he be sent, and would his actions in that realm affect the real world outside? His physical body was currently in suspended animation, hidden in a chamber with Gleam. Would being summoned extend the time required for his evolution? "What do you think Alexander, is it safe?" He wasn''t much of a fast reader, so he relied on his two guides. Alexander was the one who had enabled him to access this instruction manual and seemed to be more informed than Aburdon, who had quickly gone through it. The idea of serving another master didn''t sit well with him, but if there were free rewards that allowed him to gain more power, then this chamber might not be such a bad idea after all. "I don''t like to agree with him, but this should be safe." "Haha, that the hero would agree with me on something!" Aburdon cackled as he heard Alexander approve of his assessment. This was all that Rusty needed to give this strange summoning chamber a try. He wasn''t sure where or what he would be doing but if he could earn more experience points and better materials for the forge with it, then it was worth it. "So¡­ how does this work?" "First, you have to click the summoning icon on the display." "Alright!" Rusty hesitated only briefly before following the instructions. He placed his finger back on the orb and carefully guided the arrow toward the "Summoning" icon on the glowing display. This time, his movements were more confident, the earlier trial-and-error having taught him the quirks of the strange interface. Once the arrow hovered over the summoning icon, he tapped the orb twice in quick succession. The screen flickered momentarily before displaying a new set of options. Rusty leaned closer, his shiny body reflecting the screen light. Quest: Necromancer''s Helper Difficulty: Hard Description: A necromancer summons you to defend his lair from an onslaught, help him defend his lair. "Oh?" He glanced at the first mission and it seemed interesting. He would be summoned to defend someone''s lair, something that he was trying to create in the next city he would go to. He didn''t know how strong his enemies would be but the quest window was informing him that it wouldn''t be an easy quest to fulfill. "Necromancer? Let''s pass on this, for all we know he deserves it!" "Hah? What are you even saying?" Before he could say anything, his two guides were already back to arguing. He quickly glanced back at the two other options on the screen, wondering which of them he should pick. From what the instruction manual said, if he chose one the other two would be lost. The remaining options on the screen glowed faintly, their titles enticing and mysterious. Rusty''s gaze shifted to the next quest description, curious about what other tasks the summoning chamber might have in store. Quest: Artifact Recovery Difficulty: Medium S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Description: A group of adventurers seeks your assistance in retrieving a stolen artifact from a band of ruthless mercenaries. Chase them down before they get away and retrieve it. "Chasing down thieves? Interesting¡­ and the last one is¡­" Quest: Monster Combat Difficulty: Easy Description: Defeat the other summoned monster in a one on one battle and defend your summoner''s honor. Rusty glanced over the three options, pondering which one to choose. It was clear that selecting a higher difficulty would yield greater rewards, but the risk of dying during the mission meant he''d walk away with nothing. "Let''s go with the first one, Rusty. I''m sure that necromancer has plenty of minions you can hide behind. If you run down the clock, you''ll still get some rewards." Aburdon suggested, his black orb-like form floating next to the screen. Of course, Alexander had his own opinion and he seemed to favor the middle option. "The middle one doesn''t sound too difficult, and those adventurers will probably assist you during the mission. Everyone knows the key to fighting undead is taking down the necromancer. If he falls, you''ll be forced to defend him - and probably fail, those bastards love blowing up their minions to save their hide." Alexander raised a valid point - if Rusty ended up as just another minion, he''d likely be used as a shield. His chances of survival seemed slim. However, the middle option didn''t appeal to him much either. He was a living armor monster, not a hound. What if those mercenaries were too fast or mounted on horses? How could he possibly chase them down? Then there was the third option: a straightforward duel between monsters, with seemingly no additional complications. "Perhaps I should go with that one first¡­" While he wasn''t one to shy away from a challenge, there was no reason to rush into danger. Testing the summoning chamber with the simplest mission first seemed like the most prudent choice. Before his two guides could voice any objections, he clicked on the third option. Chapter 110 – Summoning. Rusty tapped the screen, selecting the Monster Combat quest. The glowing interface immediately responded, the shimmering text dissolving into streams of light that coalesced into new instructions. The chamber around him hummed with energy as a low, resonant chime echoed from the summoning circle. ''Monster Combat'' quest has been picked, please stand in the summoning circle to continue. The user''s status will be concealed during the summoning. Some of the user''s abilities will be locked. The new prompt was intriguing. He wasn''t sure how much of his status would be concealed, but it was probably better if most of it was. On the downside, there was also a part mentioning that he might be unable to use some of his abilities, leaving him feeling uncertain. Fortunately, one of his guides was there to clarify things. "Ah, I bet this includes your loadouts and perhaps the stash tab. Better prepare the weapon you want to have beforehand." Alexander commented, bringing up the fact that Rusty was the only monster who could change his form using SP. He would be placed in a temporary form created through the summoning ritual. His inventory and loadouts would likely be inaccessible, so it made sense to decide on the form he wanted to take before entering. The summoning manual didn''t specify that he couldn''t use one of his alternate forms - such as the bulkier or lankier ones he had crafted the last time he was here. ''It would be great if I knew what I was facing¡­'' Rusty considered his options carefully, pacing around the summoning chamber as the energy within the runes intensified, pulsating like a heartbeat. He glanced at the forms available to him. One was his larger, bulkier frame - the one with the highest destructive power and defense but the lowest agility. Then there was his lighter model, which allowed for greater joint flexibility and even climbing. Finally, there was his current body, balanced and without any significant weaknesses, though it lacked any standout strengths. ''If it''s just a duel, this form would probably be best.'' After a moment''s hesitation, Rusty made his decision. He activated a loadout, and his body shifted into the towering, heavily armored configuration. To complement its bulk, he selected a massive iron tower shield and a poleaxe. With no idea who - or what he''d be facing, a versatile weapon capable of piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage seemed like the smartest choice. "Alright, this should be fine¡­ now do I just walk onto the summoning circle?" "It does seem so Rusty, good luck." Alexander replied seemingly agreeing with the current setup. Aburdon on the other hand was a bit more ironic. "Oh, I''m sure you won''t need luck, Rusty. Just try not to embarrass yourself too much out there." Aburdon cackled as he floated closer to the summoning circle, his interest in the magic at work evident. Rusty paid him no mind, his towering form clanking as he adjusted the massive tower shield in his left hand and the hefty poleaxe in his right. The weapon''s shaft was much thicker than a standard poleaxe, custom-built to accommodate his enlarged hands. After reaching the center of the circle, Rusty suddenly felt an unseen force rooting him in place. Lines of glowing runes spiraled outward from his feet, forming an intricate, shifting pattern that danced across the floor, alive with power. "Here we go¡­" Rusty muttered, steadying himself as the energy surrounded his body. Strange straight lines appeared over his frame which then turned into a checkered pattern. He didn''t understand it but his whole body was glowing blue. Soon he saw a projection of his frame floating up along with his own conscience. For a moment he could see his frame standing inside of the summoning circle before the world went dark¡­ ****** "What''s wrong?" "I think she can''t do it¡­" "Is she really unable to summon a monster? How did she get into the academy?" The voices of teenagers filled the large arena-like structure. Many people were gathered, all of them wearing similar uniforms of a prestigious Mystwood Academy of Summoners, the premier institution for training those with the rare ability to summon and command otherworldly beings. Its name could be seen at the magical training arena where an event was taking place. In the center of the arena, two young women stood on opposite sides of a glowing summoning circle. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I don''t think Katherine will even need to do anything at this point¡­" "The Grandwell family has produced another genius, even if Gwendolin did manage to summon something, she could never win¡­" "That''s true, the Rainstar family might be finished¡­" The crowd murmured amongst themselves as Gwendolin Rainstar stood frozen at the edge of the summoning arena. Her palms were clasped tightly together, and her heart pounded in her chest. Strands of her raven-black hair had come loose, falling messily over her pale face, which seemed even whiter than usual under the weight of her stress. The whispered ridicule of her peers echoed through the arena, each cutting word striking her pride like a dagger. Gwendolin''s grip tightened on the small crystal pendant around her neck - a cherished gift from her late grandmother. Closing her eyes, she took a trembling breath, summoning the courage to perform the spell she had practiced countless times. On one side was Katherine Grandwell, golden-haired and radiating confidence. Her smug smile made it clear she relished the attention. Her family was renowned for their summoning prowess, and Katherine had already proven herself by summoning higher orc variants and other various E-rank creatures, a true genius for her age. She adjusted her ornate silver-and-blue robe, clearly enjoying the murmurs of admiration from the audience. ''Oh, why isn''t it working¡­ I was able to do it a few times but nothing is coming out now¡­'' Gwendolin stood there, her simple academy robe hanging awkwardly on her wiry frame. She clutched the silver charm around her neck, trying to channel her energy. Summoning wasn''t just a skill but a magical ability - one that required precise focus and adherence to the summoning ritual. If a caster failed to channel their energy correctly, the ritual would inevitably fail. When she was alone, the process wasn''t particularly difficult. But under the scrutiny of prying eyes, she could never seem to focus enough to summon anything - not even the weakest G-ranked monsters. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "She''s just going to embarrass herself again." "Does she even belong here?" "Katherine''s going to wipe the floor with her." Katherine smirked and raised her voice, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Maybe you should sit this one out, Rainstar. Spare yourself the humiliation." Gwen clenched her fists, her heart pounding. She wanted to respond, to shout something clever or cutting, but her throat felt dry, and the weight of all those expectant eyes pressed down on her. She focused on the summoning circle before her, it had materialized but nothing yet had appeared. "Miss Rainstar" The instructor''s voice cut through the noise, commanding attention. "Are you able to perform your summoning? If not, then I would ask you to step back and vacate the arena for the other students." "I¨C, I can do it!" Gwendolin blurted, her voice trembling as if she was about to cry. She tightened her grip on the pendant, her knuckles whitening. The crowd''s murmurs of doubt sharpened, but she forced herself to block them out. She had no choice but to try again - one last desperate attempt to prove herself. Closing her eyes, she whispered the summoning incantation under her breath, each syllable quivering with raw emotion. She imagined the swirling energy of the summoning circle responding to her plea, her mind reaching into the unknown void where summoners drew their companions. ''Focus... Breathe... Feel the pull of the magic, like Grandmother taught me.'' The pendant in her hand grew brighter, a faint, comforting warmth emanating from it. Her fear began to wane, replaced by a flicker of hope. Meanwhile, Katherine yawned theatrically, earning a few chuckles from the crowd. "Oh, Gwendolin, we don''t have all day," Katherine sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "Some of us have real magic to practice." Gwendolin tried to ignore her, but her focus continued to waver. She knew this would be her last attempt as the instructors would not allow another failure. Her thin fingers trembled as she anticipated yet another disappointment. Then, something unexpected happened. She felt a force pushing from the other side, as if from a place beyond the void where summoned creatures originated. It pressed forward, almost as though it were being guided by her emotions. The energy in the arena shifted as the magic summoning circle before her started to react. Gwendolin''s eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with azure light. The arena fell silent as the summoning circle flared to life. Runes inscribed on the ground began to spin and shift, glowing brighter with every passing second. Even Katherine paused her mockery, her smug grin faltering into a look of mild annoyance. Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire "What''s happening?" "Is she actually... summoning something?" "No way. It''s probably a fluke." The onlookers still didn''t believe she could complete the magic ritual. Even if she succeeded, they were certain the summoned minion would be weak. To no one''s surprise, a grayish orb of light emerged from the magical circle. Its strange, muted coloring gave it an almost corrupted appearance as if it were a twisted version of a wisp. "What''s that? Did she summon a Will-o''-Wisp? But why does it look like that?" Laughter erupted among the crowd as they beheld the summoned creature. It appeared to be nothing more than a dim ball of light, a being known for its utter lack of combat ability, useful only for lighting a path for adventurers. It was even weaker than a G-rank creature, something incapable of attacking or defending itself. The laughter of the crowd echoed through the arena, but Gwendolin couldn''t hear it. Her heart was pounding as the grayish orb hovered, pulsating faintly, just above the center of the summoning circle. She had expected something - anything but not this. Her hope was slipping away like water through her fingers. The laughter, the jeers, the disappointment¡­ they were all crashing down on her at once. However, the orb began to shift. A flicker of flame sparked within the dull, gray sphere, faint at first but growing stronger with every passing moment. The laughter in the crowd faltered, replaced by murmurs of confusion. The orb of grayish light pulsed, swelling in size as flames erupted across its surface. It ignited into a blaze that shimmered with a spectrum of colors, like a twilight sky filled with vivid hues of orange, purple, and gold. The flames danced erratically, as if alive, casting long, flickering shadows across the summoning arena. "What in the world is that?" Whispers rippled through the crowd as the flames began to take shape, coalescing into an enormous silhouette. From the radiant blaze emerged a towering figure, its massive, armored frame shimmering as though freshly forged. Embers and ash swirled around its metallic body, glowing faintly in the flickering light. With a thunderous clang, a poleaxe slammed into the ground, followed by an iron tower shield whose immense weight cracked the stone beneath it. "What is that, an iron golem?" "No¡­ it looks different?" The murmurs of the crowd turned to stunned silence as the towering figure fully emerged from the summoning circle. Its frame was immense, easily twice the size of a human, and its armor gleamed with a dark, otherworldly sheen. The poleaxe in its right hand radiated an aura of authority and destruction, while the tower shield on its left seemed impenetrable, as if it could hold back an army. Gwendolin blinked, her mind struggling to process what she had summoned. This wasn''t the simple F-rank creature she had expected. The being before her was something far beyond anything she had previously summoned or her peers. Her trembling hands loosened their grip on her pendant as her disbelief was overtaken by awe. Across the arena, Katherine''s smug smile had vanished, replaced by a tight-lipped expression of uncertainty. She took a step back, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the towering figure. The instructor, who had remained silent during the earlier ridicule, stepped forward, their gaze fixed on the towering armored figure. A faint glow emanated from the instructor''s monocle as they analyzed the summoned being. Their eyes widened slightly in surprise, though they quickly composed themselves. "Miss Rainstar..." The instructor began, their tone more serious now. "Do you have any idea what you''ve summoned?" Gwendolin shook her head, her voice catching in her throat. "N-no, I... I just followed the ritual... It just... came to me." She truly didn''t know what to expect; her only wish was to summon an F-rank monster. Even if she lost the battle, at least she wouldn''t be deemed a total failure by the other summoners. However, as she observed their reactions, she noticed something strange. The mockery on their faces had vanished, replaced by expressions of genuine shock at what she had summoned. "Well then, let me tell you - this is a living armor. A unique iron living armor, E-rank. Well done." The man announced after identifying the creature and for the first time in this summoner academy, she heard someone praise her. She felt like crying, but there was no time for tears. Her opponent Katherine, wasn''t going to let this go unchallenged. Still, Gwendolin felt a hint of pride swell inside of her chest. She had done it. She had summoned something and that something was extraordinary. ''But a living piece of armor? Did I have an affinity for those?'' She wondered to herself as she studied the grayish tint of the monster. It looked unusual for a living armor - larger, with weapons that appeared more refined. Its behavior was just as peculiar. Instead of standing still and awaiting orders like a typical summoned creature, it moved its head, scanning the arena and observing everyone present. It was as if this wasn''t just a simple summoned monster, but one with intelligence and a sense of self. From the other side of the arena, Katherine scoffed, though her tone betrayed a hint of unease. "An E-rank living armor? Impressive for you, Gwendolin, but don''t think it''ll save you. My red orc warrior will tear through that hunk of metal like paper." The crowd murmured in anticipation as Katherine raised her hand, commanding her summoned creature. The red orc snarled, its twin axes glinting menacingly as it pounded its chest, ready for battle. Its crimson skin seemed to shimmer with a faint magical aura, a sign of Katherine''s potent control over her summon. Gwendolin swallowed hard. She had no experience commanding something like this. The monster stood there silently, and she stared at it, her mind flooded with uncertainty. ''What should I do? Should I call out to it like Katherine always does? But¡­ what if it refuses my orders? Sometimes monsters don''t listen¡­'' Her thoughts spiraled as she imagined every possible failure. But just as she was about to lose control, she heard something that stopped her cold. ''Hello.'' ''Huh?'' The summoned monster¡­ it had a voice. And somehow, it was speaking to her. Chapter 111 – Too Easy. Gwendolin froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. The voice was deep and resonant, imbued with an unmistakable intelligence. It echoed not through the air but directly in her mind, bypassing the physical world entirely. Its tone carried a subtle questioning quality - something that seemed impossible without sentience. Although she wasn''t particularly skilled at summoning, she had successfully called forth lesser creatures in the past. None of them had been capable of speech or independent thought. Bound by the summoner''s contract, they could not act without direct orders, nor could they communicate with their caster. In essence, they were no more than golems formed from mana, existing solely to obey commands. There was a way for a summoned creature to gain sentience: if a summoner formed a bond with the monster, it would become their familiar. This bond allowed the creature to think for itself and, in some cases, even communicate with its caster. This, however, was different. The monster before her was not her familiar. She lacked the strength to form such a bond, nor had any summoned creature chosen her to enable such a connection. However, there were exceptions to this rule: the more intelligent monsters. These were exceedingly rare and notoriously difficult to summon, let alone control. They belonged to a category of their own, retaining a sense of autonomy even before the summoner. It wasn''t uncommon for such monsters to go berserk if they deemed the caster who had brought them into this realm unworthy or inferior. ''W-what if it attacks me?'' Gwendolin''s mind raced. The possibility of the monster attacking her was high as she had heard countless tales of summoning disasters, especially when sentient monsters were involved. She knew she lacked the training and knowledge to handle such a situation, and the realization struck her like a cold wave: this was the worst possible outcome. Surely, this giant metal monster would turn on her and attack. To her surprise, it did not react aggressively. Instead, it responded - not through words, but to her very thoughts, as though it could read her mind. ''Why would I attack you?'' The words - or rather, the thought - sent a shiver down Gwendolin''s spine. She stared up at the towering figure, unable to decide whether she was more terrified or intrigued. The living armor tilted its head slightly as if mimicking a gesture of curiosity. Its empty eyes locked onto hers as it continued to stare. The crowd, still buzzing with whispers, seemed a thousand kilometers away. Gwendolin''s world narrowed to this improbable, intelligent being that now stood before her. "You... you can hear me?" She whispered, her voice quivering. ''I can. And I assume you can hear me too?. That is ¡­Interesting, usually, that would require a body. Is it a connection similar to the one I have with Gleam?'' The voice was calm, almost casual as if the monster was just as surprised as her. It murmured something about sparkling light and bodies that she didn''t understand. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to maintain composure, unsure how to respond. She couldn''t let her confusion show - not in front of Katherine, the crowd, or this¡­ thing. The living armor''s head turned slowly, scanning the arena again. Its gaze seemed to linger on the other summoned creature, Katherine''s red orc warrior. ''Ah, I''ve never seen a red orc before, is it stronger than the green ones? This must be part of the ''Monster Combat'' Quest!'' ''Quest?'' She had no idea what the monster was talking about but it seemed to have identified the other summoned monster as an enemy. This soothed her nerves slightly as it seemed the monster was somewhat focused on the other and not on harming her. She was still not sure if she could control this being of metal but before she could continue the conversation, they were interrupted. "Miss Rainstar!" The instructor''s voice broke through her momentary stupor. "You must command your summon to engage. This is a duel, not a staring contest." Gwendolin flinched, her face flushing as she realized the entire arena was waiting for her to act. Across the arena, Katherine tapped her foot impatiently, her red orc growling and flexing its massive arms. "Well, Rainstar?" Katherine called out, her tone sharp with mockery. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Are you going to make it do something, or should I put it out of its misery for you?" The previously startled crowd began to calm down. Katherine, still exuding an air of superiority, boasted confidently about her impending victory, despite her opponent''s success in summoning a creature. After all, there was more to a summoner''s duel than simply conjuring a powerful monster. To the onlookers, the summoned creatures appeared to be of similar rank. This meant that victory would come down to the summoners'' skill and in this case, most believed Katherine''s expertise gave her the upper hand. "I¡­ yes! Uh¡­ Mister Living Armor attack the Red Orc Warrior!" Gwendolin finally reacted, stretching out her hand. A small magic circle appeared above her palm, spinning slowly. It was a command circle with glyphs within it - an essential tool for summoners to direct their monsters. The circle shone brightly, and her voice echoed across the arena as she issued her command. To everyone''s surprise, the monster didn''t move. Instead, it turned its gaze toward her and just stood there. "Hah! She can''t even control her own summon? Isn''t that an automatic loss?" "I knew it was a fluke! Get out of the arena!" The audience''s jeers rang out, their earlier astonishment giving way to mockery. Gwendolin somehow remained composed, her expression betraying no sign of panic but instead acceptance. She had anticipated this outcome. If a summoned monster was more powerful than its summoner, it would naturally resist commands, acting of its own accord. This was precisely why so many believed her defeat was inevitable. Without proper instructions and guidance from the summoner, even the most powerful monster would fail to secure victory. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ''Mister Living Armor?'' ''Huh?'' ''I''m not a Mister, I''m Rusty! And don''t worry, I''ll take care of that orc.'' However, to Gwendolin''s surprise, the living armor did not remain still for long. After correcting her about its name, the large metallic form shifted. It raised its massive tower shield with its left hand and gripped the poleaxe with its right. Gwendolin wasn''t sure what to make of this. The monster seemed to possess more autonomy than she had expected. It was as though it already considered itself a familiar, one that had been named by someone else, and now she was merely borrowing its power. **** Rusty arrived in this strange place and took a moment to assess his surroundings. Thanks to his mana sense skill, he could tell that a powerful mana shield surrounded the entire arena, placing a barrier between him and the summoner. The circle from which he had materialized was inside this dome, locking him in with the other monster. At least the other creature was confined to the same spot, which made things a bit easier for him. The one who had called him here was peculiar - a scrawny girl dressed in a baggy robe who communicated with him through thoughts. She seemed harmless, weak even - not someone he would typically concern himself with. Then there were the others: a crowd of people, their gazes twisted in what he recognized as mockery. For someone like him, who took pride in his strength and his evolution, this was maddening. It felt as though they all believed he couldn''t defeat the slightly larger orc - a monster he was already quite familiar with. ''Y-you will?'' He stepped forward as the girl''s voice echoed in his mind. Earlier, she had tried to give him an order, but it hadn''t worked on him at all. He sensed the spell being blocked by some unseen force, leaving him to wonder if, on missions like this, he would always be immune to the summoner''s control. ''Yes, leave it to me! This won''t take long!'' He declared, boasting of his capabilities as he strode forward confidently. The people in the audience pointed out with their fingers, surprised that he was moving on his own and responding to the summoner''s orders in a strange way. The massive red orc across the arena roared in defiance, its twin axes glinting ominously in the light. Katherine smirked, her tone just as confident as ever. "So, the tin can can move. It won''t matter. Red Orc Warrior, engage!" She commanded. Her voice rang with authority, and the red orc charged forward with a guttural roar, its movements surprisingly agile for its size. The ground trembled slightly with each step it took, its eyes locked onto Rusty as it raised its axes high. Rusty took a long look at the enemy before him. He wanted to ask Aburdon and Alexander about this place, but his guides, along with several other skills, were locked. Just as they had predicted, he couldn''t access his inventory or loadouts and his stash tab was locked away as well. If he lost his shield and poleaxe, he wouldn''t be able to replace them. The same applied to damage; without access to his resources, he couldn''t use any iron to repair himself. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire The other monster shot forward, a red haze within its eyes as it attacked. Rusty raised his tower shield to meet the charging foe. The orc swung both axes down in a devastating arc, aiming to crush him under their weight. *CLANG!* The axes collided with Rusty''s shield, sparks flying as the force of the blow sent a tremor through the arena. The crowd gasped. Rusty didn''t budge an inch. His shield absorbed the impact like a stone wall against a wave, and with a practiced twist, he shoved the orc back, creating just enough distance to retaliate. Rusty swung his poleaxe in a wide arc, aiming for the orc''s midsection. The orc barely managed to leap back, avoiding a direct hit but not escaping unscathed - the poleaxe grazed its chest, leaving a reddish line where the weapon had struck. The orc howled in pain, staggering back a few steps. The crowd, which had sneered at Gwendolin moments before, was now captivated. Whispers of astonishment rippled through the spectators. "That metal golem is holding its own against the orc?" "Did it block those axes without flinching?" "Rainstar''s summon¡­ it''s actually strong?" Gwendolin watched in stunned silence, her fingers clutching the silver pendant. She couldn''t believe her eyes. Rusty wasn''t just strong - he was skilled, calculating, and independent. She wasn''t entirely sure what to do next but knew she had to stay calm. This might be her only chance to prove she belonged at the academy. Katherine, on the other hand, was fuming. "You''re not going to show me up with that pile of scrap metal!" She shouted. "Red Orc Warrior, activate frenzy, destroy that heap of metal!" She made a slicing motion with her hand, and a red glow enveloped the orc as it roared louder than ever. Its movements became erratic, wild, and ferocious as it charged Rusty again, this time with reckless abandon. Rusty stood his ground, his tower shield at the ready. The orc''s frenzied strikes came faster, each one heavier than the last, but Rusty''s defenses were impeccable. The metallic clang of each impact echoed through the arena like a symphony of war. ''Mister Rusty, be careful¡­ w-what skills do you have? I¡­ I don''t know what to do¡­'' The girl panicked, but Rusty couldn''t understand what the big deal was. He didn''t realize that summoned creatures couldn''t use their skills without the caster''s permission. Normally, Gwendolin would have to perform the proper incantation to grant him access to his abilities. Without that, as a summon, he was restricted to relying solely on his physical form - putting him at a clear disadvantage against the Red Orc, who had the full support of its summoner. ''Hah, I can use Frenzy just as well!'' Rusty proclaimed as a red haze similar to the one the Red Orc was surrounded with erupted from his metallic body. He was not a simple summon, he was his own monster capable of performing all his skills by himself. Rusty''s declaration echoed in Gwendolin''s mind, sparking confusion. She barely understood how this was possible, but there was no time to dwell on it. The arena erupted as Rusty lunged forward with surprising agility, his poleaxe glowing faintly as it carried another skill of his, enhancing his blow even further than before. The poleaxe came down with a thunderous crash, glowing with the red haze of Rusty''s activated skill. The Red Orc raised its axes to block, but the sheer force of the blow drove it to its knees, the ground beneath it cracking under the impact. The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers, their previous mocking words replaced by astonishment. Rusty wasn''t just holding his ground - he was dominating the fight. Katherine''s smirk faltered. Her Red Orc, now visibly struggling under the relentless assault, looked less like a terrifying monster and more like a cornered beast. She clenched her fists, her voice sharp with frustration as she barked another command. "Red Orc Warrior, retaliate! What do you think you are doing? Defeat that junk heap at once! It''s just a living armor with no weight, use your charge to push it down!" The orc roared in defiance, pushing back against Rusty''s poleaxe and swinging its axes in a furious whirlwind. Rusty stepped back, his tower shield absorbing the blows effortlessly. Despite the orc''s raw power, its movements were growing more erratic. Frenzy, while formidable, came at a cost: the harder it fought, the more it drained itself. In a desperate last-ditch effort, the monster obeyed its summoner''s command and charged recklessly. The tactic was simple - tackle the iron monstrosity to the ground. After all, it was just an empty suit of armor. The orc, large and muscular, weighed several times more than the armored figure. The collision was imminent. With all its might, the orc surged forward, expecting to overwhelm its opponent. But to everyone''s astonishment, Rusty didn''t budge. He remained rooted in place, as though he weighed several tons. The ground beneath him cracked under the sudden, immense pressure as if his weight had suddenly increased in an instant. ''Nice try orc, but this is it for you¡­'' A deafening clang rang out, followed by a sickening crack. Rusty''s poleaxe cleaved into the Red Orc''s armor-like hide, shattering the defensive layer and embedding deep into its side. The momentum of the charge was halted abruptly, the orc''s massive form crumpling to the ground. The crowd erupted into a mix of stunned gasps and cheers as the Red Orc let out a groan before collapsing, its body turning into mana particles as it had been defeated. Rusty stepped back, yanking his weapon free with a metallic screech. He loomed over the fallen orc, his own frenzy skill fading away. For a moment, he stood still, wondering if this was the end of the mission. But the system offered no confirmation. He glanced at Katherine, the opposing summoner. She was doing something, mana was gathering around her form and the summoning circle, it seemed that this was not quite over yet. Chapter 112 – Twilight Embrace. ''Maybe I should have gone with one of the harder missions instead.'' Rusty wondered to himself as he watched the orc vanish before his eyes. He had chosen the easiest mission to gauge how dangerous this new summoning chamber was, and it seemed he wouldn''t face much of a challenge. While the creature was stronger than the dungeon orcs he had previously encountered, it wasn''t much of a threat - and it was alone. Additionally, the creature required its summoner for skill activation, a big weakness that he, as an aware monster, did not share. Rusty could effortlessly chain together his strikes, skills and independently decide the best course of action for any situation. Katherine grit her teeth as her Red Orc faded into motes of mana, leaving not even its axes behind. Her frustration was palpable, and the crowd''s sudden enthusiasm for Gwendolin''s strange summon only worsened her mood. She wasn''t done yet, though. Not by a long shot. Katherine slammed her foot into the ground, her voice booming over the arena. "Impressive, Rainstar, but let''s see how your tin monster fares against something real!" The summoning circle beneath her flared to life, its intricate glyphs radiating with fiery mana. Katherine''s lips moved rapidly as she chanted a complex spell, her mana visibly pouring into the circle. The heat in the arena spiked sharply as something new was summoned. "It''s not over yet? Didn''t Katherine''s monster lose?" "You idiot, it''s not over until their mana depletes, they can summon as much as they want, the one with more mana will usually win." The crowd erupted into murmurs. They had all seen the red orc go down in a decisive defeat, but Katherine''s defiance kept the duel alive. Most people their age wouldn''t have enough mana for successive summonings, yet she was somehow managing it. Rusty, however, noticed something peculiar. During her chant, the girl had quickly grasped a red crystal, one that emitted an intense burst of mana. The energy flowed into her body, resembling the way mana crystals had restored his own MP in the past. "Hey, can you do that?" "Stay quiet, it''s better not to get involved with the Grandwell house, you know how they are¡­" "Yeah¡­" This sparked a buzz around the arena. Several spectators cast glances at the instructor overseeing the match. Rusty wasn''t entirely sure what was happening, but the atmosphere hinted that not everyone approved of her actions. His own summoner remained silent, her head bowed, but her tightly clenched fists betrayed her frustration. Rusty briefly considered asking what this was all about but refocused on the fight at hand. Maybe this "easy" mission wouldn''t be so easy after all. ''So, what''s she summoning now? A bigger orc? Maybe a big spider?'' ''No¡­ it''s probably that one¡­ oh no, what will we do?'' Rusty asked himself, though it seemed his ''summoner'' had heard his thoughts. He was still trying to make sense of this strange situation, it was possible to shield his mind from her - but only if he fully concentrated. Her distress was obvious, and it stirred something within him. Though he lacked a heart, it felt as though something was pumping excitement through his being. He had chosen the easy option, but deep down, he craved a challenge. He wanted his body to be tested, to push his limits, and to grow stronger through the fight ahead. From the glowing circle, flame mana erupted, coalescing into the form of a massive salamander. The creature roared as it emerged, its fiery scales radiating waves of heat. The air shimmered around it, distorting its imposing form. The salamander''s tail, a long whip of living fire, lashed out, leaving scorch marks on the ground. Its molten eyes locked onto Rusty, and it bared fangs that dripped liquid flame. Classification: Lesser Flame Salamander E+ Type: Beast/Fire Description: A monster native to volcanic regions, it is highly resistant to flames of any kind and a distant relative of dragons. "It''s a Lesser Flame Salamander, that living armor is finished!" "That summon''s flames will melt it in no time." ''Melt?'' The crowd erupted into cheers once more as the next monster made its appearance. Rusty had never faced anything like it before. It was larger than his current form, with a long, sinewy body that exuded menace. Its sharp teeth gleamed, but he doubted they could pierce through his shield. What truly concerned him were the flames. As someone with blacksmithing experience, he understood the effects of high temperatures on iron all too well. Prolonged exposure to that heat could be disastrous for him. Metal expanded when heated, and since his body was made of iron, any sudden alterations could disrupt his movements. If his body warped while he was in action, it could create a serious problem. "Go forth Salamander!" Katherine gave the command and the fiery salamander circled Rusty, its molten eyes narrowing as if assessing its prey. The crowd''s energy surged as they anticipated the battle between fire and steel. Gwendolin stood frozen, unsure how to assist. She clutched her pendant, hoping that Rusty''s strange independence would carry them through once more. Rusty raised his shield and started observing the monster as it moved closer. Then, the creature pounced, launching a straightforward but ferocious attack. Its jaws clamped down on his shield, emitting intense heat as it attempted to gnaw through the iron. The searing energy radiating from its mouth was a real issue, and Rusty could feel its effects beginning to take a toll on his body. For the moment, his shield held firm, but it was clear that this monster was far stronger and heavier than the red orc he had faced earlier. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. An exchange of blows soon followed, with him landing a few shallow cuts with his poleaxe which gave him some range. His approach was somewhat strategic as he was trying to get a feel for what he was facing. The monster was quite strong and outranked him so he needed to be careful. His strategy was paying off as he managed to thrust his pointy end of his pole axe into the creature a few times, leaving shallow wounds behind. "That monster is still not going down¡­" "Now that I look at it¡­ what is that thing? Is it a unique?" The crowd began murmuring once again, and Rusty could see a large vein bulging on Katherine''s forehead. It was clear she didn''t appreciate the attention her opponent was getting, nor the fact that her powerful monster still couldn''t take down Rusty, who had switched to a defensive stance. In frustration, she suddenly barked an order, mana flowing into another command spell. "Salamander, use your flame breath! Melt that ugly thing!" The monster, now about ten meters away, halted its pursuit and reared back, its tail flicking in preparation for the devastating attack. The air shimmered with heat as it gathered flames in its throat, its molten eyes glowing brighter with every passing second. Rusty, still gripping his shield, quickly assessed the situation and realized that, in his current form, dodging the attack would be nearly impossible. Instead, he made the decision to brace for impact, raising his shield to absorb the attack. He believed his thick tower shield should be able to withstand the full force of the fiery blast. The salamander''s body tensed, its jaws parting as it prepared to unleash a torrent of searing fire. ''Here it comes! I just need to block it and then counter attack!'' Rusty thought to himself, his mind calculating the best way to mitigate the incoming blast. Just as the salamander released its fiery breath, a burst of heat and light filled the arena. The flames crashed against Rusty''s shield in an explosion of molten fury. For a moment, everything was a blur of blinding red and orange. The crowd gasped, and some even recoiled at the intensity of the attack. He focuses all his will on holding his ground. His shield groaned under the pressure as the heat licked at the edges of his armor. He could feel the iron beginning to heat up, warping ever so slightly with each second. However, he persisted through it while his body just slightly turned red. For a moment he remained in place, waiting for the heat to lower before attempting a counterattack. However, to his surprise, this wasn''t over. The summoner raised her hand again and performed the same command letting the salamander fire off another blast of heated energy, something that he didn''t expect. ''What? It can do this multiple times?'' From his experience with E-ranked monsters, Rusty knew they shouldn''t have that much mana. This breath attack likely consumed a large amount of MP, but strangely, the monster didn''t seem to lose any power as it unleashed the flames. It didn''t take long for him to realize what was happening: mana from the summoner was flowing into the monster, replenishing its energy. He reacted quickly and activated his Fortify Armor skill before the heat could intensify any further. Though the skill allowed him to endure the second blast, a third one was already on the way. His own mana reserves were dwindling rapidly as he relied on the fortification skill to protect himself. The ground beneath him was beginning to turn to glass, and if not for the skill, he would have likely started melting by now. Using his bulky body to absorb the flames had been a mistake, but he hadn''t anticipated that the summoner could continuously replenish the monster''s mana while he had no access to mana crystals to replenish his own. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Oh no, Katherine''s mana is getting replenished by the mage gemstone, what should ¡­ what should I do, if this continues my summon will lose¡­ but what can I do? ''Oh¡­ can you do that too?'' ''Huh? Can I do what?'' As Rusty was trying to come up with a strategy, his summoner''s thoughts suddenly resounded in his mind. ''Can you do what she''s doing? Give me mana?'' ''I¡­ I should be able to!'' It seemed the young girl had been too stunned to help until now. She had been caught off guard, but the realization finally struck her - she was a summoner just like Katherine, and she could also channel her mana into her summoned monster. While she didn''t have any gems to accelerate her mana recovery, she could still provide a boost by refilling his mana reserves, even if it was just once. ''Then do it!'' While he still had some options, if his mana was fully replenished then he could try a different more aggressive strategy. Soon, Gwendolin focused and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She had only recently learned how to channel her mana directly into a summon, and this was her first real test. Her hand shook slightly as she reached out toward Rusty. A faint, shimmering light surrounded her, and for a brief moment, her connection with Rusty deepened. Soon her mana was flowing into him and he could see his MP rising. ''This should do it¡­ let''s try that!'' Before evolving, he had received a new skill - one he hadn''t yet been able to fully test. Though he understood how to use it, this would be his first time activating it in a true battle. Soon, his body began to shimmer as black and white energies surged and enveloped him. He activated ''Lesser Twilight Embrace'', a skill that called upon twilight energies to amplify his power. As the skill took effect, he could feel the rush of strength coursing through him. His stats shot up, granting him great boosts in attack, agility, and even defense. The arena fell silent as Rusty''s body was consumed by swirling black and white energies. His iron form gleamed with a spectral glow, the twilight energies creating an ethereal halo that seemed to darken the very air around him. The oppressive heat radiating from the Lesser Flame Salamander no longer felt as overwhelming; instead, the energy coursing through him made him feel invincible. The crowd gasped as they watched Rusty step forward, his movements suddenly fluid and eerily precise. With his shield still glowing orange from the residual heat of the Salamander''s breath attacks, he raised his poleaxe, the weapon shimmering with twilight energy. Even Katherine paused, her mana flow stopping as she observed the sudden transformation. "What is that?! Did the summoner give it some kind of buff?" "I''ve never seen anything like it¡­" Rusty didn''t wait for the crowd''s murmurs to subside. He darted forward, faster than anyone had expected. Despite the Salamander''s flames surging toward him, he gripped the heavy shield tightly and charged ahead. His metallic body emitted a screeching sound with every step, echoing through the arena. Though this was his bulkier form, he was moving faster than he ever could in his normal body. He could feel his MP draining rapidly as he sustained the skill, knowing he had to end the confrontation quickly. The Salamander lashed out with its flaming tail, aiming to halt Rusty''s advance. Yet, the empowered living armor anticipated the attack, pivoting smoothly and raising his glowing shield to absorb the brunt of the strike. Sparks exploded as the molten appendage collided with his shield, but Rusty barely slowed. Instead, he twisted his poleaxe and aimed a devastating counterstrike at the creature''s exposed flank. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire The blow landed with a resounding crack, the twilight-imbued blade cleaving through the Salamander''s fiery scales and drawing a howl of pain from the beast. The crowd erupted, some cheering wildly while others gasped in disbelief. The Salamander staggered, its body wreathed in flickering flames that seemed to dim slightly as it reeled from the injury. Katherine''s eyes widened in shock, and she quickly resumed her mana flow to bolster her summon. "Salamander, don''t let it get close! Keep it at a distance!" She commanded, her tone implying panic. However, Rusty refused to let the creature escape. As it swung its tail toward him again, he released his shield and gripped his poleaxe with both hands. With one empowered cleave, he severed the flaming tail in a single, decisive strike. The monster roared in agony as its tail crashed to the ground. It sizzled momentarily on the arena floor before the flames subsided. Rusty didn''t relent. The Lesser Twilight Embrace continued to surge through him, amplifying his every motion. With his shield abandoned, he could now fully wield his poleaxe, launching into a flurry of brutal strikes. Each swing carried the weight of twilight energy, leaving trails of black-and-white afterimages in its wake. Bolstered by his summoner''s mana, Rusty seamlessly chained power strikes together, unleashing a relentless barrage of blows that quickly overwhelmed his opponent. Katherine clenched her fists, pouring more mana into her summon in a desperate bid to turn the tide. The Salamander''s flames flared anew, its body surging with revitalized energy. It lunged at Rusty with jaws wide, aiming to crush him in one decisive move. But Rusty was faster. Pivoting sharply, he sidestepped the attack and spun his poleaxe in a wide arc. The weapon struck the Salamander''s neck with a thunderous crack, slicing through layers of fiery scales and lobbing it clean off. The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, their eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding before them. No one thought that it was possible but the battle was over and the underdog had been victorious. Chapter 113 – Getting Angry. As the Salamander''s decapitated body crumbled into motes of flame, Rusty stood victorious, his glowing poleaxe resting on the ground. His Lesser Twilight Embrace faded, leaving his metallic form steaming from the residual heat of the mana his body was encased in. The crowd''s cheers and gasps filled the arena, and Gwendolin finally let out the breath she hadn''t realized she was holding. Katherine was trembling, her face a mixture of rage and disbelief. Her hand still clutched the red mana stone, though its glow had dimmed. Rusty could tell the girl had exhausted its power, and resummoning a monster of this caliber would likely be impossible. There also appeared to be side effects from using the crystal; the young summoner was visibly out of breath. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, shifting from awe to skepticism as they pieced together what had transpired. Congratulations! You have completed your mission. Due to an unforeseen factor, the mission difficulty rating will be reevaluated. Please stand by. ''Oh?'' While Rusty was glancing at the fading monster, a system message appeared before his gleaming metal head. The mission was marked as complete, but the presence of the salamander had evidently caused the difficulty rating to increase. The battle with the first monster had been relatively straightforward, but the new one was no pushover. This highlighted a critical issue: he couldn''t rely on the difficulty ratings. He would need to figure out what was causing these discrepancies and he knew who to ask for help. ''I''m sure Alexander and Aburdon will know what''s wrong here¡­ so, does this mean I get to go back now?'' There was a strange hourglass on his system window, its sand trickling down as it circled around. Rusty wasn''t sure what it meant, but after a moment, a sixty-second timer appeared. It seemed he would be sent back shortly. Yet while his mission was technically complete, the events around him were far from over. The arena fell silent after the Lesser Flame Salamander''s defeat. Katherine''s chest heaved as she tried to steady her breathing, her trembling hands betraying her. Fury radiated from her - at the loss, at the crowd''s shifting loyalty, and perhaps at herself. Whispers about the red mana stone grew louder, and the instructor who had conveniently ignored her actions so far finally seemed inclined to intervene. "This isn''t fair! She must have cheated!" Before the instructor could say anything, Katherine''s venomous voice rang out, cutting through the murmurs. She jabbed a shaking finger toward Gwendolin, then swung it toward Rusty. "That... thing is unnatural! There''s no way she could win otherwise!" Gwendolin opened her mouth to reply but faltered, her words sticking in her throat. The accusation had left her momentarily stunned. The crowd exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. They knew Katherine''s claims were baseless but were hesitant to get involved. ''Why is everyone always against me? Why?'' Rusty stood silently, the timer ticking down on the system window. Gwendolin''s thoughts echoed in his consciousness - despair, fear, and anger swirling together like a storm. Though his summoning was temporary, he could feel her emotions boiling over, demanding release. Gripping his poleaxe tightly, Rusty shifted his gaze to Katherine, her shouts echoing across the arena. Twilight began to encase his metallic form, shadows rippling across his frame as if alive. "Hey, what is that summon doing?" Murmurs of alarm spread as others noticed Rusty''s sudden shift. He had raised his hand, gripping the poleaxe in a stance resembling someone about to throw a javelin - aimed squarely at Katherine. The crowd collectively held its breath. Even the instructor, who had conveniently ignored Katherine''s earlier actions, took an uneasy step forward, his hand outstretched as though he might intervene. "Stop¡­" Before the teacher could call out, Rusty performed the throwing motion, hurling his poleaxe at Katherine who was standing on the other end of the arena, next to one of the summoning circles. It cut through the air like a comet, trailing black-and-white energy. The arena''s mana shields flared to life, intercepting the weapon just inches from Katherine''s face. The force of the impact made the shield shimmer violently, and the reverberation echoed through the space like a thunderclap. Katherine shrieked and collapsed to her knees, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the poleaxe hovering mere inches away, vibrating against the barrier. For a moment, the entire arena was silent, save for Katherine''s panicked gasps. Then, like a dam breaking, the crowd erupted into laughter. "She almost fainted!" "Did you see her face? Priceless!" "Not very dignified, is she?" Katherine''s face burned with humiliation as mocking laughter rolled through the stands, momentarily drowning out her own flustered attempts to recover. Amidst the jeering crowd, no one noticed the ominous development - the poleaxe still radiated energy, a metal hand stuck to it, channeling both light and darkness. Suddenly, a colossal explosion ripped through the arena, catching everyone off guard. The blast was so powerful that it cracked the mana shield, its force pushing through the weakened barrier. Katherine barely had time to raise her hands in defense before the shockwave tossed her backward. The instructor sprang into action, his own mana surging as he leapt to intercept her fall. A shimmering new shield enveloped them both, protecting them from the worst of the debris and chaos unleashed by the cataclysmic event. Rusty stood there, his right hand missing. He had remembered one of the old techniques he used to win fights. Mixing both light and dark energies led to those energies going berserk, producing large blasts. He had hoped to do more damage, but the amount of darkness and light he could infuse was quite low. Now, the timer had reached zero, and it was time to return. For a moment, he glanced at his summoner, Gwendolin. She was stunned, just like everyone else here, perhaps even more so. Her negative emotions faded as she saw Katherine''s shocked expression, and Rusty could feel it. He looked at the destroyed poleaxe, which was turning into particles of mana along with his body. The quest was over, and now it was time to return. As his body faded away, he saw Gwendolin reach out in his direction as if she were trying to stop him from disappearing. He could feel sadness wash over him as he sensed her emotions, as if she didn''t want him to leave. He wasn''t sure how to react, but just before he completely faded away, he managed to transmit a few words, finding her behavior somewhat daunting. "Become stronger, so that they don''t look down on you¡­" Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. With that, he was gone; his body faded from the arena, and he felt his soul being tugged back towards the Soul Forge. The body he had just lost reappeared, this time with the hand he had used to overload his twilight energies. Even the poleaxe was back, and another system announcement awaited him. Congratulations on your return. Calculating rewards¡­ please wait¡­ He was back in the grand summoning chamber and just as promised he would be given some rewards. Rusty didn''t expect to gain much from the quests as it was marked for easy but perhaps after defeating the Salamander he would be given something more exceptional. Congratulations on your return. Calculating rewards¡­ please wait¡­ Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire ''Monster Combat'' Quest difficulty will be raised from easy to medium, please wait for the rewards¡­ Received Small Experience Talisman x3 Received Large Advanced Axe Schematic x1 Received Lesser Flame Enchantment Talisman x1 "Oh!" He cried out in joy as he saw the rewards appear in his storage system, which was now unlocked again. According to the instruction manual, completing this quest would grant him some experience, though he wasn''t sure how it would be implemented. It seemed tied to the experience talismans he received, but there was more to it. Along with the talismans, he had been given schematics for a weapon and an enchantment talisman as well. However, before he could take the items out of storage, his two guides called out to him. "Rusty! What were you thinking? Why did you attack that young girl?" Alexander exclaimed, his tone sharp as if he was trying to scold a child. "Haha, what do you mean? He did great! Did you see the look on that brat''s face? I bet she won''t be so pompous in the future!" Aburdon retorted, clearly pleased by what Rusty achieved during his quest. Alexander was displeased with Rusty''s actions, while Aburdon seemed to revel in the fact that he had put the noble girl in her place. Reflecting on his actions, Rusty realized he wasn''t sure why he had that outburst. It was almost as if the girl summoner had influenced him somehow. Still, he couldn''t help but wonder - would he have received even more rewards if he had defeated the summoner? After all, summoners were the source of their summons. If he could take her down, wouldn''t her summon vanish, ensuring his victory? If not for the powerful mana shield protecting her, he might have tried it sooner. "Oh quiet down you two and instead answer some of my questions." The two instantly froze when he raised his voice in a commanding tone. He had just been through an intense battle, but there were things he still needed to know. If he was to use the summoning chamber to his advantage, he had to understand exactly how it calculated the rewards and what he could do to influence them. "Do you know why the quest suddenly increased in difficulty?" He posed the question to the two and Alexander was the one to reply. "I think there could be a few reasons, one of which is how you handled the first monster." "How I handled it?" "Yes. Perhaps if you had struggled more, the other summoner wouldn''t have reacted in such a way. She seemed quite angered by it." "Oh?" As he thought back to the red orc, he realized he had defeated it rather easily, without even needing to use any of his extensive skills. "But maybe there was nothing you could do, and it triggered automatically? It could have been a trap¡­" "A trap? Is that something the Soul Forge could do?" Rusty was surprised by this possibility. He had trusted the Soul Forge to be a place where he could gain more power, not something that might work against him. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This place could have a mind of its own, perhaps it realised that the challenge was too simple so it offered you a chance at better rewards? You probably wouldn''t have gotten that flame talisman if you didn''t defeat that salamander." "A mind of its own?" Rusty wasn''t entirely sure what Alexander was talking about. Was the Soul Forge not just something within his soul that helped him build it up? But if it was connected to his soul, it might have reacted to his own desires, creating a more difficult scenario because the first one had been too simple. He would need to conduct a few more tests to be certain, but being greeted with greater challenges wasn''t all that bad - especially since they came with rewards. "Oh, right, how do I even use these?" After speaking with Alexander, Rusty retrieved the talismans he had acquired. As he pulled them from his storage system, they shimmered faintly in his metallic hands. He examined them closely, trying to decipher their purpose while his guides hovered nearby, eager to chime in. The first items were three Small Experience Talismans. They resembled pieces of paper inscribed with strange magical symbols, along with some writings he could understand. These talismans featured golden letters and a golden outline along their edges. Though Rusty wasn''t sure how to use them, he felt fortunate to have his guides present. "Interesting, It seems similar to magic scrolls. You''ll probably need to channel some of your mana into it to activate the item." Aburdon floated closer, hinting that Rusty should treat it like any other one-use magical item he had encountered before. Wasting no time, Rusty decided to test it. However, instead of the talisman activating, he was met with an error message. Error: Small Experience Talisman can not be used within the Soul Forge environment. "Makes sense. It''s best if you use it after you''re done with your evolution, Rusty" Alexander commented, having also seen the error message. Rusty felt a twinge of disappointment, but he understood it was likely better to use the talismans before he maxed out his experience points. Shaking off the thought, he next retrieved the Large Advanced Axe Schematic, which resembled the weapon the Red Orc had wielded. The schematic was a straightforward blueprint, far superior to the weapons Rusty had crafted on his own so far. It appeared to be designed for him to create by himself. The blueprint outlined every detail: from the type of flame he needed to use, to the specific tools required, down to the precise number of hammer blows on each side. Rusty knew it would probably take a few attempts to get it right, but the axe had the potential to become a powerful weapon in the future - or even a profitable product to sell once he established his smithy in the real world. The final item was the Lesser Flame Enchantment Talisman. It was similar in appearance to the first talismans but had red letters and a fiery outline along its edges. The borders flickered with tiny tongues of flame, and Rusty could feel a warm energy radiating from it. "This will come in handy," Aburdon remarked, hovering closer. As the group''s magic expert, he quickly identified its use. "I assume you can use it to imbue one of your weapons or tools with flame properties. It''ll probably make your attacks even more devastating, especially against enemies weak to fire." Rusty turned the talisman over in his metallic hands, studying the intricate runes engraved on its surface. He wasn''t entirely sure how it worked, but with only one in his possession, it would be best to save it for an improved steel weapon - perhaps a sword or a polearm. Satisfied, he carefully stored all his newly acquired items. With everything settled, Rusty turned his attention to the console for one final check. "I see... so I can''t use it again" The icon representing the summoning circle was now grayed out, and no matter how many times he clicked on it, it wouldn''t open. He searched for a timer or some indicator but found none. It seemed this was a one-time-use quest, and he would need to wait until his next evolution to attempt it again. "Oh¡­ what is that?" To his surprise, a new icon had appeared. It resembled a notebook and was distinct from the instruction manual. Without hesitation, Rusty pressed it. A new window opened, and a familiar name appeared: Gwendolin Rainstar. Chapter 114 – Time To Craft. Rusty stared at the display in front of him. On it was the image of a gloomy-looking girl - the summoner he had interacted with earlier. Her picture was grayed out, leaving him uncertain about its significance. Fortunately, Alexander seemed to have some understanding of these strange contraptions, so Rusty decided to ask him. "Do you know what this might mean?" "Hm¡­ It could be that after you successfully complete the quests, you can be summoned again by a summoner you''ve interacted with before. Though, I might be wrong¡­" "Is that so? But it doesn''t seem to be working right now." "Well, she probably needs to attempt a summoning first. But it might also just be some kind of record of summoning missions and nothing more. We''ll probably have to wait and see." "Was there any mention of this in that manual?" After Alexander shared his speculation, he turned to Aburdon, who had previously gone through the entire manual. "Hm, there wasn''t anything like that mentioned before. How strange¡­" The three decided to revisit the manual. When they brought up the interface, to their surprise, an additional section had appeared. The new section confirmed Alexander''s theory: after a successful mission, the connection with the summoner would be saved, and future quests involving that summoner could become available. "How interesting, this means that if you, dear Rusty, complete multiple missions with a particular summoner, you may form a deeper connection - something akin to a bonding contract." The manual was somewhat vague on the details, but it hinted that Rusty might be summoned to battle monsters on behalf of the young girl. While the prospect of fighting for her didn''t particularly interest him, the potential quest rewards certainly did. However, Rusty couldn''t help but wonder how this arrangement would work, especially given his limited access to the Soul Forge, which was only possible during evolution. "Hm¡­ I think there might be nothing more for me to do here¡­" The summoning chamber was vast, but there wasn''t much Rusty could interact with beyond the console and the now-dimmed summoning circle. For a moment, he wondered where exactly he had been summoned to and whether the time spent in the summoning chamber still aligned with the Soul Forge''s temporal flow - or if more time had passed in the real world, where Gleam was waiting for him. With those thoughts lingering, Rusty made his way back to the main forge chamber, where the three lifeless bodies awaited him. There he noticed one oddity, the summoning chamber sign was also dimmer now, probably indicating that it was out of order. Soon, he headed not to the smith part of the soul forge but to the library instead. Rusty was now permitted to use twilight steel as his primary resource for crafting new bodies and weapons. Previously, he had created a lankier version of himself and a larger, heavier variant. This time, he planned to do the same, making only marginal improvements to the designs since he hadn''t had much time to study. He reminded himself that the library offered new guides and knowledge on advanced smithing techniques. With access to these resources, he could likely level up his basic smithing and forging masteries - perhaps even evolve them further. Rusty entered the library, his metallic footsteps echoing softly against the polished stone floor. The vast chamber stretched out before him, with towering shelves of books and manuals. He noted that this place had become larger than before, with bookshelves that he had not seen before and it seemed that he had his work cut out for him. He approached a section that used to contain crafting manuals and noticed that another case had appeared which contained new crafting manuals specifically dedicated to Twilight Steel. The shelf gleamed faintly as if resonating with the energy of the material it detailed. Rusty scanned the titles quickly, picking up one labeled "Fundamentals of Twilight Alloy Forging" and another titled "Mastering Blacksmithing Techniques: Twilight Steel and Beyond." "These sound oddly specific, different from before." The instructions were more about handling the new alloy and how to shape it correctly and went past the fundamentals that he had already studied before. He settled at a nearby table, its surface already equipped with tools for note-taking and sketching designs. Rusty opened the first manual, its pages illuminated by the soft candle glow of the library. Aburdon didn''t say much as he immersed himself in the books, scanning through their pages. Meanwhile, Alexander remained outside, inspecting the forge and taking a keen interest in the newly improved smithing tools. Rusty, however, stayed focused on the fundamentals of working with twilight steel. These detailed guides explained methods for achieving balanced forging with this advanced material. Twilight steel, he learned, was still based on iron but included an essential addition called high-carbon. This alloy was created by combining iron with altered carbon in a process involving something called a blast furnace. Although pre-prepared ingots of twilight steel were readily available for his use, Rusty recognized the value of understanding the entire process. He couldn''t always rely on the system to handle everything for him - mastery of blacksmithing required a deep awareness of every step of the craft. "The melting point is a lot higher for twilight steel than regular steel, interesting¡­" One thing quickly became apparent: his new body would still surpass regular steel in strength. From what he knew, steel-based Living Armors would be somewhat weaker than his old iron body, while this new form made with twilight steel could rival even a D-rank monster at least when it came to durability. He was eager to begin crafting weapons and his new suit of armor, but he understood the importance of thoroughly reviewing all the books before experimenting. Rusty recalled his earlier attempts at working with iron, which had resulted in multiple failures. This time, he was determined to approach the process with greater speed and efficiency. Rusty absorbed the crafting manuals like a sponge, focusing on every nuance of twilight steel forging. Each page revealed new complexities about the alloy - its propensity for retaining enchantments, its resistance to extreme conditions, and its compatibility with mana infusion. This point in the manual stood out the most as it implied that this alloy was well suited for enchantments but this was not something he was capable of doing, as for that he would require mana skills similar to Gleam''s. ''The mana conductivity will still increase my twilight skills though If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The manuals offered step-by-step instructions for advanced forging. Rusty paid particular attention to the section on tempering methods, noting that twilight steel required a precise cooling technique to stabilize its mana-conductive properties. Cooling it too quickly or too slowly could result in brittle fractures or diminished magical resonance. Rusty paused at a detailed diagram showcasing a forge setup designed specifically for working with twilight steel. The illustration depicted a secondary bellows system, which introduced a steady stream of infused mana vapor into the forge''s flames. This innovative design ensured that the material remained malleable without sacrificing its innate magical properties. It was fascinating, and Rusty made a mental note to recreate something similar when he eventually built his forge in the city. While Rusty could recreate ingots and weapons using the system, he still needed to forge them manually first. Time within the Soul Forge was limited, and the duration required for each evolution would only grow longer as he progressed. If he wanted to advance efficiently, he needed to forge better weapons and armor components outside of this place. The Soul Forge offered immense advantages, but it also had its limitations. To complicate things, some stronger materials available in the real world might not be recognized by the system, making it crucial for Rusty to expand his skills beyond the forge''s boundaries. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time seemed to fly as he worked through the books, spending several days poring over new and improved schematics for weapon designs. While none of them matched the intricacy of the Advanced Axe Schematic, they were just a step below in quality. Once he had absorbed all the knowledge he could from the manuals, Rusty moved on to the next phase of his plan: crafting his designs. The forge provided Rusty with pen and paper, and his now more dexterous fingers allowed him to make use of them. Inspired by watching Aburdon draw up schematics, Rusty decided to try his hand at it. While his guide could wield a brush with ease in the Soul Forge, Rusty knew this wouldn''t be possible in the real world. Just like smithing, he needed to master the skill himself. At first, his efforts were clumsy. His metallic fingers wobbled, and the lines he drew rarely matched what he envisioned. However, after several attempts, a system window appeared: Basic Penmanship L1 Passive Skill The art of writing by hand. Basic Drawing L1 Passive Skill The art of creating drawings or diagrams. After hours of trial and error, Rusty unlocked these two skills. With them, his metallic fingers grew steadier, and he managed to recreate some of the schematics Aburdon had shared. Though his versions lacked the same level of precision, they were a large improvement over his earlier attempts. Rusty persisted, consulting his guides and practicing relentlessly until his skills leveled up further. Finally, he produced two armor designs that he felt genuinely satisfied with. The first design was the bulkier model, which he decided to name ''Ogre'' Variant. It had a greater size than the previous model and retained its imposing bulk, but Rusty had managed to incorporate advanced joint mechanisms that allowed for more fluid movements without sacrificing durability. The Ogre Variant''s plates were interconnected using a combination of reinforced twilight steel and a more flexible alloy version that he still needed to produce. This enhancement would grant the suit slightly more mobility, even for its massive frame. Rusty added spikes and reinforced edges to critical areas, ensuring it could double as a walking fortress and an offensive powerhouse. The second design, which Rusty named the Wraith Variant, was tailored for agility and unconventional maneuverability. He meticulously reworked the framework, making it even lighter by thinning the twilight steel plates without sacrificing structural integrity. To enhance its mobility, Rusty developed an intricate joint system, enabling the Wraith Variant to twist and bend in ways that were unnatural for most humanoid forms. The segmented limbs further contributed to its flexibility and range of motion. As a finishing touch, Rusty incorporated specialized hooked hands and feet, allowing this form to climb with ease. This addition eliminated the need for Gleam to carry his helmet around everywhere, making the Wraith Variant an efficient and self-reliant design. Both designs incorporated the newfound knowledge he had gleaned from the crafting manuals and now it was time to rebuild himself from scratch. Rusty returned to the forge chamber, eager to bring his designs to life. The dim, fiery glow of the smithing area surrounded him as he began assembling the materials. Twilight steel ingots sat in neat stacks, their surfaces shimmering faintly. He pulled up the schematics for both the Ogre and Wraith Variants and stuck them to a board on the wall. "Are you ready Rusty?" "Yeah, let''s do this!" Rusty answered Alexander who had joined him in the forge. This guide had also gone through this and could offer him some pointers while he worked. Soon Rusty started, the Ogre Variant would be first. He began by heating the twilight steel ingots until they glowed white-hot. The forge tools, upgraded specifically for twilight steel, exuded twilight energy as Rusty hammered the molten metal into shape. The bulkier plates for the chest, shoulders, and legs were the first components he tackled. He followed the tempering instructions meticulously, using the secondary bellows to infuse mana vapor into the flames. This kept the metal malleable while preserving its magical properties. While he failed a couple of times to keep the mixture right, eventually he succeeded. As the plates cooled, they retained a deep, metallic grayish sheen, a hallmark of perfectly forged twilight steel. Next, Rusty focused on the joint mechanisms. These were critical to improving mobility. Using a combination of twilight steel and the flexible alloy he''d learned to create, he crafted interlocking components for the shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles. These joints, reinforced with overlapping segments, allowed for an increased range of motion without compromising the armor''s bulk. Finally, Rusty added the finishing touches. He lined the shoulders and gauntlets with sharp spikes, reinforced the edges along the arms and legs for added durability, and began crafting the helmet. Initially, he envisioned a fearsome ogre-like design, but after realizing it would take too long, he opted for a simpler approach. The helmet featured human-like eye sockets, allowing for a design that Aburdon and Alexander could inhabit. While Rusty had considered removing the eyes altogether to keep people from attacking his core within the helmet, he discovered that doing so interfered with his vision. The eye sockets had to remain, adhering to specific proportions otherwise he would be blind. It took Rusty an entire week of continuous work to complete the first variant. The process was riddled with multiple failures, but eventually, something clicked. With that breakthrough, he moved on to creating the Wraith Variant. The Wraith''s construction progressed much more smoothly than the Ogre''s and required fewer materials due to its thinner armor plating. The streamlined design not only saved time but also reinforced the focus on agility and efficiency, marking a stark contrast to the heavier, more cumbersome Ogre Variant. The segmented limbs were the most challenging aspect of this design. Each segment required precise measurements and perfect alignment to achieve the unnatural flexibility he envisioned. Rusty crafted dozens of small, interlocking pieces, testing and adjusting them repeatedly until they moved fluidly. He also added a streamlined helmet with a smooth, featureless faceplate, enhancing the form''s eerie, otherworldly appearance and slits for his eyes. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire With both variants complete, Rusty took a step back to appreciate how far he had come. His crafting skills had improved significantly, as evidenced by the updates on his system window. Both Basic Smithing Mastery and Basic Forging had surpassed level nine, evolving into enhanced versions that no longer carried the "basic" prefix. Once upgraded, his crafting techniques had improved drastically, and the quality of his creations had become markedly superior. Nevertheless, his work was far from over. While his two new shells were ready to be stored away, he still needed to recreate his weapons and shield. He had already spent three weeks here and wasn''t sure when he would be forced to leave. Determined to make the most of his remaining time, he pushed forward without resting. Before the timer ran out, he planned to craft every possible weapon combination, use the new axe design he received from the summoner chamber, and decide which weapon would receive the enchantment talisman. "So much more work to do¡­ I hope Gleam is doing okay¡­ Should I make armor for her?" He asked himself and then returned to work. Chapter 1 - Prologue – Something Awakens. High above the clouds, upon a majestic flying castle crafted from darkened stone and ethereal magic, two figures engaged in a fierce battle. One was a man donned in silver armor, wielding a radiant blade in his right hand. The second figure, in stark contrast, was dressed in a pitch-black suit of metallic armor. The atmosphere pulsated with tension as the two formidable beings locked eyes and disappeared just before colliding and unleashing a spectacular clash of magical energy. Gripping his enchanted sword tightly, the man in gleaming silver armor faced his opponent with unshaken determination. His piercing blue eyes locked onto the fiery gaze of the adversary, whose twisted, horned visage exuded pure malevolence. As the confrontation intensified, the ominous figure''s obsidian wings unfurled, casting a foreboding shadow over the battlements of the soaring fortress. A thunderous roar echoed through the air as the clash between the two warriors unfolded, forcing both men to momentarily retreat. Strangely, they seemed to have sustained a comparable amount of damage. One left behind trails of radiant energy, a testament to the holy power coursing through his enchanted blade, while the other exuded fumes of shadowy darkness, a manifestation of the malevolence that fueled his dark prowess. "You are strong hero but haven''t you realized it, are you this much of a fool?" "Be quiet demon, the time for words has ended, accept your fate at the end of my blade!" "I see¡­ Then die!" The demon clad in pitch-black armor unleashed a terrifying surge of dark energy, materializing into demonic heads that hurtled themselves toward the so-called hero. However, just before the ghastly heads could collide with the handsome man, his silvery armor emitted a bright glow. Mysterious symbols emerged, weaving into a luminous shield that dispersed the fiendish spell. "How are you able to counter my death spell?" "I am protected by the goddess; your demonic mana has no hold over me!" The demon posed the question, swiftly met with a response as the hero charged forward. The clash of these two beings, each wielding immense magical power, unfolded in a more direct and upfront battle. The once-majestic castle walls began to crumble under the relentless pressure of their magical and physical attacks. Before long, the combatants burst through the ceiling and continued their fierce duel beneath the vast expanse of the night sky. The confrontation between the hero and the demon elevated to new heights as they soared through the open air, exchanging blows and magical projectiles that illuminated the night. The once-gigantic flying castle became riddled with holes from the relentless barrage of attacks before they both landed on a large, flat section of a collapsed roof. As the battle unfolded, it became apparent that one individual was gradually inching toward victory, signaling the impending conclusion of this epic clash. The hero swung his radiant blade with precision, each strike guided by the divine energy coursing through him. The demon countered with dark and twisted spells, yet the blade drew near with every clash. Soon, the demon''s arm was severed and disintegrated into rays of light. The demonic individual collapsed onto his knees in defeat. Despite being out of breath, the hero grinned triumphantly and pointed his sword at his fallen adversary. "This is the end for you, Demon King Aburdon. Your reign of terror ends today; humanity has won, and I shall guide them!" "Haha¡­" The demon king began laughing while clutching his shoulder that had been severed along with his arm. Even when he tried to activate his regenerative abilities, it would not regrow due to the corruption of holy energies that had invaded his wound. "What''s so funny, fiend? You have lost!" "You are indeed a mighty hero, but your sheer stupidity overshadows your might. Have you not realized it yet?" The hero didn''t release his grip on his blade and his gaze remained fixed on the weakened demon king. Though his opponent was in a weakened state, the hero understood that it didn''t necessarily mean the demon king was devoid of one last trump card. However, the demon remained on the ground, his eyes fixed on something unfolding behind the hero. "Realized what? I''m not going to fall for your tricks. At least try to die with some dignity." "Oh, I will but it seems that your so-called ''allies'' wish to bury you with me." Laughter erupted from the demon king''s mouth, and it was followed by a brightening of the night sky. The hero, sensing something amiss, turned his head to take a glance. His eyes widened as he saw numerous bright rays streaking through the sky, resembling a massive meteor shower. "No¡­ why would they¡­ they were supposed to only activate the magitech cannons if I failed¡­ but I''m still alive; they should know this." After exclaiming in disbelief the man took out a white medallion from beneath his armor, adorned with a symbol representing the alliance that he was fighting for. Frantically, he activated the medallion, attempting to communicate with his supposed allies and halt the impending disaster. However, to his horror, there was no response. His once allies in his quest against the demonic forces, seemed to have turned a deaf ear to his desperate plea. "You see, hero, your allies have abandoned you. Did you really think those bastards would allow someone with as much power as you to exist? You probably don''t even know why this war was started in the first place; you were nothing more than a puppet for them all!" The hero''s eyes widened in realization, and a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. The meteor shower wasn''t meant for the demon king alone; it was meant to obliterate both the hero and the defeated demon in one fell swoop. Betrayal stung deeper than any wound he had suffered in the battle. In a desperate bid for survival, the hero channeled every ounce of his remaining energy into a protective barrier, creating a shimmering dome around himself and the demon king. The celestial meteors collided with the magical shield, causing a spectacular explosion of light and energy that sent shockwaves through the sky. For a moment, it seemed like he might actually survive, but he had used up most of his energy in the previous battle. In his current state, he was not much stronger than the average high-knight, and soon the explosions engulfed the entire area, shattering the radiant shield that was supposed to protect him. His body was tossed towards the demonic being he swore to defeat. The last thing he saw before everything went black was the demon king''s eyes filled with pity. Both of them would die this day, and the true perpetrator of their demise would go unpunished. Both individuals were filled with immense rage, but their screams were quickly silenced by the mass of explosions, along with the demon castle exploding with them. The hero and the demon king, once bitter enemies, now found themselves entwined in the same tragic fate. As the remnants of the flying castle rained down from the sky, the once-majestic structure now resembled a celestial funeral pyre and marked the end of an era. The hero''s entire life flashed before his eyes, beginning with his arrival in this strange world. Memories of the beautiful princess who welcomed him flooded back. He reminisced about the years of training and hardships he endured to reach this point, only to realize that everything may have been a lie, perhaps planned from the beginning. Yet, his thoughts weren''t the only ones present. Strange visions of a younger horned boy filled his dying mind. He witnessed the boy crying over the charred remains of other horned beings, presumably his parents. The boy''s sadness and indignation were something he could perceive, along with many more old memories of his past deeds. However, this feeling didn''t last long, as both men soon faded away into the void, their consciousness along with them. From a safe distance, the people responsible watched as the shockwaves collided with their armies and magical weaponry responsible for this disaster. There were many individuals here, some showed faces of triumph, others of disgust or uncertainty. The demon king along with the hero were presences that couldn''t be ignored. They all quickly rallied their troops to investigate the crash site. "Could he have survived?" A woman asked, her voice resonating with authority and a touch of sadness. She stood amidst the gathered group, adorned in an intricate nun''s habit that seemed out of place amid the war-torn landscape. Her eyes, however, were sharp and discerning, revealing a depth of wisdom that surpassed her outward appearance. "It is unlikely, Sister Seraphina. The explosion was immense, and even someone of his prowess would struggle to survive such a cataclysmic event. We planned to eliminate both the hero and the demon king and it seems to have succeeded." A man with a stern expression, clad in elaborate mage robes, responded to Sister Seraphina''s question. The moment he brought up the planned assassination, a deep scowl adorned her lovely face. "Please don''t say it like that, it was all god''s will. He would have brought ruin to the kingdom¡­" "Hah, whatever makes you sleep at night, lass." A third person decided to chime in, he was shorter than the mage and priestess but a lot wider. In his hand, he was holding a large axe and his red beard covered most of his face. "Think what you will, Ungrim." The woman replied while turning away from the laughing dwarf. Soon a fourth member approached the three, a man dressed in intricate armor with a crest adorning his chestplate. The moment he did, many of the surrounding soldiers started to bow and just the three individuals that were previously talking retained a more casual air about them. "If Malakai believes that we were successful, then it is probably so. However, it won''t hurt us to verify his death." "If it''s Prince Leander''s wish." Seraphina nodded while also looking out into the distance. There a man of unprecedented beauty and elongated ears stood. An elven man of unparalleled grace, observed the aftermath of the cataclysmic event from his vantage point. His keen eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any signs of movement or survivors. The once mighty flying castle had been reduced to smoldering debris, and the area below was scarred by the impact of the celestial meteors. As the armies closed in on the crash site, the elf turned around to leave. Everyone else ignored him and instead ventured towards the scene of devastation. It took them many days to sort through the rubble, but eventually, the mage named Malakai approached the epicenter of the crash, examining the charred remains of the once-proud flying castle. His trained eyes scanned the area for any lingering magical residue. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke. "There is no doubt. The hero and the demon king are no more. Our plan was successful." A heavy silence hung in the air as the gravity of their actions settled upon the group. Prince Leander, however, remained composed. His regal demeanor betrayed none of the internal conflict that may have brewed beneath the surface. "The hero fulfilled his purpose, and so did the demon king." Prince Leander said, his voice carrying a sense of closure and relief. "The kingdom is safe from the threat they posed. We have accomplished what needed to be done. Gather up their remains, we shall return to the kingdom with good news." Seraphina nodded, her expression conflicted but resolute. Ungrim grunted in agreement, still uninterested in the moral intricacies of their actions. Malakai, though seemingly satisfied, couldn''t shake the feeling that something was amiss. As the group prepared to leave the desolate scene, a faint whisper of wind carried an echo of distant laughter - a haunting sound that seemed to linger in the air. The three remaining members of the group exchanged uneasy glances, unsure if they were merely imagining things or if the remnants of the hero and demon king still lingered in some form. Little did they know that the consequences of their actions would unfold in ways they could not anticipate, and the threads of fate were not so easily severed. The epic tale of the hero and the demon king might have reached its tragic conclusion, but the journey of another was just about to begin. ***** A new life had awakened - a creature without a form, resembling a gray amoeba. It floated comfortably in a void filled with nothing but darkness. The being had just been born, and it had no idea where it was or what it was. It simply floated around without a care for the world, lacking much intelligence to ponder its existence. Having just been created, it knew not of its purpose or whether such a concept was even relevant. It had no care in the world, lacking any real senses besides feeling some sensations on its outer shell, rendering it unable to perceive anything. From time to time, it bumped into other beings just like it, their amoeba-like bodies bouncing off each other as they floated in the vast open space. However, this one, in particular, was a bit more curious than the others. It attempted to bend its body to maneuver around or even poked the other shapeless creatures whenever it collided with them. In the middle of one of these curious outbursts, something novel occurred. A phenomenon made its way into the space filled with shapeless creatures. It was a strange occurrence that elicited a reaction from the many beings in this dark expanse. Most saw it as unfavorable and utilized their limited capabilities to move away, but the curious bundle of gray matter was different. Instead of fleeing, it moved toward the cluster of strange energies, eventually colliding with it. After the contact was made, a bright light flashed, illuminating the void. For a moment, it showcased the endless expanse that these creatures had found themselves in, along with the countless numbers of them. Resembling jellyfish with a more pale coloring, they seemed to be composed not of flesh, but of some other form of energy. The moment the light appeared, they began to scatter and reacted as if the radiance caused them pain. The curious one from among them, who had approached this strange phenomenon, felt something new. Emotions that it had no capacity to comprehend started rushing in. For a moment, it felt anger, then quickly switched to sadness, and again rage took over. Strange visions of worlds and events that it never knew were rushing into its very core, altering it. The entity it made contact with looked like a bundle of white and black energy, and its gray body was now absorbing this peculiar energy form which was causing changes. Its once gray and lackluster body began to shift; the creature was transforming. Initially, the surface turned pure white, shedding the gray tone, and made the amoeba appear as if it were made of pristine white snow. However, not long after, it began to darken. It was as if the absorbed dark and radiant energies were engaged in a battle inside this new being''s body. The newborn creature was experiencing something new: pain. Its entire body was being torn apart by the conflicting energies, and during the ordeal, strange images presented themselves. At one point, it saw a peculiar being with pointy things protruding from its head. This being was surrounded by other similar individuals, all bowing before it as if in worship. Shortly after, the vision shifted to a new individual, this one devoid of any pointy extremities and surrounded by fewer creatures that were showcasing peculiar expressions that it didn''t understand. Together with these images the formless being was receiving a lot of information. It senses were becoming overloaded with everything it was experiencing and its body was about to collapse. To preserve itself, it attempted to counteract these two conflicting energies by attempting to contain them within its body. Miraculously, it succeeded, and its form, which had been shifting between two colors, settled into a darkened silver luster that remained. Proto Nucleus has evolved into Divine-Demon Nucleus Something echoed throughout its being as it finalized its form. The shape of its body remained somewhat similar, but it had grown twice in size. The grayish tone was no more, replaced by a shiny dark silver shell. The information overflow that it had been fighting against had settled down, but the energies were still present. However, before this being could ponder its situation, a new occurrence hit the empty void. Suddenly, strange rifts started appearing everywhere. They produced various colors and beckoned to the residents of the void. The other grayish amoebas were drawn to these rifts and willingly entered through them. The curious one didn''t feel as compelled as the others, but one of the openings seemed to be calling out to it. Slowly, it ignored the previous events and headed toward the rift, answering the beckoning call. '' A¡­ R¡­ ISE!'' As it went through the rift in space, it felt as if it were traversing through something akin to a strange membrane, requiring effort to push itself through. Due to its enlarged body, it became momentarily stuck within the rift. After shifting back and forth a few times, it managed to squeeze itself through. Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over it as it found itself in an unfamiliar place. Its senses expanded further, and it felt as if it were changing its shape to fill something up. ''SER ¡­VE ¡­ PROTECT ¡­ DES ¡­TROY ¡­ ARISE!'' The voice became more audible than before, and the commanding tone was apparent. The being was instructed to arise, and so it tried. It managed to open its eyes, or in this case, something different which allowed it to fill its vision with the new scenery. The void from which it came was no more, replaced by an unfamiliar landscape. As it attempted to move, it sensed that the shapeless body it had previously occupied had also transformed. It observed strange protrusions that weren''t malleable but instead allowed only rigid movement. The newborn being attempted to move these new limbs, and when it did, a strange screeching sound was produced, followed by a lot of rattling as the being tried to propel the new body forward. Progress was slow, but it was beginning to understand how to use this new body which was somewhat similar to the memories it had been given. The being identified the upper limbs as arms and the lower ones as legs, which it could move. The only problem was the loud, distinct sound that it could now hear whenever it tried to do something. After a few moments, this same sound attracted some unwelcome guests - more creatures walking on two legs but somewhat different. These creatures weren''t identical but shared similar parts from which its body was created. They were draped over their limbs, and one was even wearing an almost exact replica of its own body. "???? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????." "??''? ???? ? ????? ???? ?? ?????." There were three beings in total, and they produced a strange sound from their upper orifices, which this new being identified as mouths. The memories continued to flow in, but it could not yet understand the language being spoken. Its contemplation was interrupted by the voice it had previously heard, giving it a direct order. ''PROTECT, KILL, DESTROY!" The message was quite clear, and when it glanced into its right hand, it noticed some type of metallic object there. In response to the voice''s demand, it felt somewhat enraged. It raised the object it was holding and started moving towards the trio. It felt an urgent need to protect this place, to kill whoever was here, to destroy everyone in its path. It charged forth, producing various screeching and clacking noises. Its footsteps echoed throughout the place, and it took in the new sensation of sound while trying to fulfill the order. Soon, it swung the metal object at the first person in front of it, ready to take the head with one quick movement. However, it did not go as the newborn being had planned. As it swung down to hit its target, the person just moved out of the way. "????, ??? ????!" Instead of hitting the living being, the metal weapon collided with the ground. At this point, something struck its chest area, sending it flying against the wall. The moment it collided with the wall, a metallic clang echoed through the area, and it could feel that some of its limbs had been torn apart. One of them landed on the floor, while another one rolled into the distance, where one of the beings it was trying to attack stepped on it. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "???? ??? ?? ???? ????, ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ? ??? ???? ???????." Unable to fully comprehend the words of the other beings, it could identify that the tone was mocking its demise. Before it could stand up again, a fast-moving object collided with its head, sending it flying into the air. It rolled around the area before coming to a stop close to one of its enemies'' feet. At this point, it could see the rusted-over body that it once occupied - a strange metallic shell that mimicked the humanoid form. It began to blame the voice that had ordered it towards its demise for this failure. The enemies it faced were far too strong, and the body it was given was far too weak. It could only remain in that spot as the beings it now identified as humans clobbered it over the head with a heavy metal object. It could not resist, nor could it restore itself back to its previous shape. Soon, its vision went blurry, and nothing but the void awaited it. This place was different, it was not the same void that it had been created but something much colder and devoid of anything else. The feeling was uncomfortable but soon it heard the same voice once more. ''ARISE MINION'' It was much clearer than before and it found itself being summoned yet again. As the being was called forth from the void, it felt a surge of energy. This time, it emerged in a different environment. It found itself standing in a dimly lit chamber surrounded by strange symbols and runes on the walls. The air was thick with an otherworldly essence, and the being realized that it had taken the same form as before. The more it existed, the clearer the memories became. It started comprehending its existence as some sort of metallic creature. It looked at its limbs, mostly rusted over plates of metal. Many small holes within its body continuously produced loud sounds, something it now realized was not conducive to survival. Learning quickly from its last encounter, it understood that the more it moved, the more likely a group of humanoid assailants would arrive to slay it. Not sure what to do, it observed the changed scenery and found itself in a collapsed temple. Before it was a small circular basin with some water, and upon glancing into it, it saw its head, which looked like a helmet that would be adorned by something called a knight. With the help of the memories it was gaining, it acquired more knowledge, allowing it to identify itself. It was a monster found in places called dungeons, categorized as living armor. This revelation didn''t help much, but as it focused on the reflection showing a rusted piece of armor, a strange feeling washed over it. The creature desired to know more about itself and what it was. Suddenly, as it tried to decipher its origin, something strange appeared before it. Floating words with strange symbols began to materialize, and it started to slowly understand. If it was correct, then this thing before it was called a status screen, and it had all the information that this creature desired¡­ Chapter 2 - 01 – Status. Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 10/10 Magic Points [MP] 10/10 Special Points [SP] 10/10 Strength 5 [ F - ] Agility 1 [ F - ] Dexterity 2 [ F - ] Constitution 5 [ F - ] Intelligence 2 [ F - ] Wisdom 5 [ F - ] Willpower 2 [ F - ] Durability F A lone, corroded suit of armor stood before a basin of water, gazing at a strange table that had appeared. Whenever it tried to grab it with one of its metallic hands, it just phased through. After a few attempts, it gave up, realizing that perhaps there were some things in this world that couldn''t be touched but only looked at. Soon, it started focusing on the numbers and letters presented to it, unsure of their significance. It didn''t know if a higher number was better or perhaps the lower one. It also noticed the prevalence of one particular letter ''F''. Next to it, there was a little line that it identified as meaning something lesser. This letter accompanied a series of strange numbers and was placed in a bracket next to it. The living suit of armor knew that there was some meaning to this, but it wasn''t quite sure. This was not the only thing it could see on this screen. As it continued to stare and poke at it, a secondary one appeared on the side. There were more tables there, but they were smaller, filled with text, and separated. When looking at the first screen, it managed to decipher the letters above it, which gave it the name ''Status Screen,'' and the words below it were supposed to be ''Basic Attributes.'' When looking at the other screen, it got the words ''Skill List'' from it. For the time being, it took its time to try to go through these skills it had. Basic Power Slash Active Skill Perform a powerful slash attack Lesser Metal Body Passive Skill Increases the body''s defense. Defense is dependent on durability. ??? ??? ??? There wasn''t really much to look at there as it was mostly empty. It somewhat understood the first two skills but wasn''t aware what was the problem with the last one. It was filled with question marks and even if it continued to stare at it nothing happened. Was this a good amount of skills or was it not? The memories that it absorbed were indicating that it wasn''t a good thing and after recalling his first defeat, it had to agree. ''Who am I? Am I weak? What is my purpose here? What is this place? Why do I have to protect it?'' The creature moved past the status screen as it started asking itself more questions. It had been compelled by the strange voice to attack those beings, but now it didn''t know what to do. It had lost and was destroyed, but somehow it had returned to this world in the same form as previously. The feelings that it was going through were strange and it didn''t like what it was feeling. ''... I am ¡­ not It ¡­ I am something ¡­ What am I? '' The monster started hearing a voice inside of its head and it could identify it as a sort of internal monologue. Its thoughts were becoming clearer and it was starting to comprehend that it was some sort of being. It looked at the status screen and started going through the words. It took a moment but it was able to read the classification that was presented there. ''Am I ¡­ Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor? or not?'' There was something that didn''t fit there; it could understand what a name was, but this description felt a bit foreign. It could comprehend that a name wasn''t like that; there was a feeling associated with it, something more intimate, more familiar. The monster armor continued to read the name constantly and finally reached an epiphany. ''Damaged Armor¡­ Bronze Armor ¡­ Corroded Bronze Armor ¡­ Corroded Armor ¡­ Corroded? That doesn''t sound right, what is corroded?'' This new being started to ponder his existence and the meaning behind this word. Soon another word entered his mind that had a similar definition but affected a different type of metal, rust. For some reason, this resonated with its very being, and at that moment, it made a decision. The open status window started to shift around. It was as if the world had taken notice of the decision and decided to alter things according to the will of the metallic creature. The clacking and corroded body started shining in a pale light as if something had changed, and before the monster could figure it out, another window popped up in front of it. The ''Named Monster'' title has been acquired. New words appeared on the status screen which the monster now called Rusty examined thoroughly. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 15/15 Magic Points [MP] 15/15 Special Points [SP] 15/15 Strength 10 [ F - ] Agility 6 [ F - ] Dexterity 7 [ F - ] Constitution 10 [ F - ] Intelligence 7 [ F - ] Wisdom 10 [ F - ] Willpower 7 [ F - ] Durability F Named Monster Title A title gained by a monster possessing a name. It offers various bonuses and opens new evolution options. The title appeared in the section related to his skills and was somehow moved to the side as if it was different than the rest. After reading the explanation Rusty didn''t really understand the meaning but he was sure that he knew the word evolution. He instinctively knew that it was something important for his future survival. Besides the addition to the name, it witnessed the numbers going up, more than doubling in some places. Rusty felt that the body was starting to move a bit better and that he could exert more force with his metallic limbs. His mind had become clearer, and the most important thing he discovered was a strange sense of himself. ''I am a he?'' Previously, Rusty couldn''t see himself as anything other than a genderless creature, but now he was convinced that he was male. It was something that the memories he had absorbed before were, for once, agreeing upon. Now armed with a newfound sense of self, Rusty, the living armor, was ready to tackle a new issue. It involved this place that he found himself around, the voice that was telling him things he should be doing, and the strange denizens that were walking around him. Rusty was not the only one living here, as there were other monsters beside him. As he was finishing up identifying himself, another creature walked past him. It looked a lot different than him, as it was not made out of metal but instead just bones. Rusty didn''t know what this being was, but it didn''t seem too interested in the metallic being before it. The skeletal thing rattled past him without stopping and went on its merry way as if nothing was wrong. ''What is that?'' He asked himself while glancing at the strange walking pile of bones. The shape was similar to his but it was much thinner. The way it walked was also different but it was still had a humanoid shape. The more Rusty stared at the crfeature the more he was interested and to his surprise he started seeing some words hovering about the monsters head. ''Lesser Skeleton L1?'' There it was, the identity of the being he was trying to identify, and just like with his last find, another popup window had been triggered. This time Rusty wasn''t as surprised as before, and he just read what he had received. Identification skill has been acquired. This one was added to the skill screen under skills. Identify Passive Skill A skill used for identifying the unknown. While this was similar to the title, Rusty noticed that there was something different. This time around no numbers went up, it seemed that these titles were different from skills or at least from this one he had gotten here. After acquiring this new skill he also noticed something peculiar. It was as if information related to it was injected into the core of its very being. He instinctively knew what it was for and to test it, he looked down at some thing. Identification: Rock Just a regular-looking rock ''Oh?'' Identification: Dungeon floor S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The floor inside of a dungeon ''Eh?'' Identification: Water Just some water, it could be dirty. ''Hm?'' Identification: Rubble Rough fragmented stones that were once part of something. ''Um?'' Rusty wasn''t sure what to make of this skill, it felt like these descriptions didn''t really offer anything new. The strange memories that he had been slowly digesting were more useful. Nevertheless, it was an interesting thing to do and he continued to look around this darkened chamber. Identification: Destroyed Statue Once a depiction of a goddess that was part of a temple. The statue reminded him of one of the human beings that he encountered recently. The features were more feminine than masculine and it seemed that there was a wing attached to the statue part that had mostly been destroyed. As he was examining this thing before him, a sound resounded withing his being to inform him about something new again. Congratulations, Identification skill has reached level 2 ''Oh? Level 2?'' The skill it had been using had apparently leveled up, and it informed him about the possibilities. Rusty started becoming aware that leveling up skills was somehow advantageous, and a higher number was always better than a lower one. Eventually, the piece of living armor moved on from this issue as it reevaluated itself and its capabilities. In his right hand, he was holding a weapon that, with his newly gained identification skill, he could name. It was a corroded sword that looked similar to his damaged metallic body. It didn''t look sharp nor that it would last for long, but it was his. His body wasn''t too fast as he was lumbering around and seemingly around the same speed as the lesser skeletons here. The boost it received from gaining the title raised his attributes slightly but he didn''t feel that much powerful and none of the letters had changed either. ''PATRoL! MOvE! PrOTECT'' As he was trying to figure some more things out, the voice inside of his head started echoing again. It felt like it was crackling a bit in some parts and that it was slightly quieter, but he was still forced to obey. Before him, a strange path emerged; it was as if he was looking at the scenery from a different vantage point as the information was given. He knew that the voice wanted him to move to a certain spot in this place, and he was compelled to do its bidding. ''Who are you?'' ''Did you make me?'' Rusty was intrigued by the disembodied voice, but it didn''t answer his inquiry. It remained silent, and then after a minute had passed, it repeated the same message as before. This time around, the living armor heeded the call, as it felt that something bad would happen if it didn''t. Soon, it was moving through this strange place in which it had appeared, the void it came from now nothing more than a distant memory. Previously it was impossible to take a good look at everything but now he was seeing many new things. His identification skill went into overdrive as he continued to use it on everything that he could see. Rusty felt a strange connection to the environment as if it was alive. The dark chamber was filled with all sorts of things, crumbled statues, shattered pillars, remains of unidentified creatures, and many corridors illuminated by braziers. As Rusty moved forward, he encountered more creatures similar to the lesser skeleton he had observed earlier. They varied in appearance and also gear. Besides swords, they were holding spears, maces, and shields. Some of them were even wearing rusty armor similar to the body that he was made of. This was not the only type of monster, as he witnessed beings that were the same as him. The moment he encountered another corroded armor he was ecstatic. Immediately he made his way towards one to greet it but even after he arrived before it, the other piece of armor didn''t acknowledge his existence. It was the same with the skeletons, it was as if they couldn''t see him or even each other. All they did was lumber around this place moving along similar paths that he was ordered to. After a series of encounters with different monsters, Rusty started to notice patterns in their behavior. It became apparent that these creatures were not acting independently but rather operating under some unseen influence. The voice in Rusty''s head, the strange paths that emerged before him, and the scripted movements of the monsters hinted at a controlling force, orchestrating the events within the dungeon. This force also affected him, but for some strange reason, he felt that he could resist it to some extent. While he felt compelled to take the path that he was given, for brief moments he could venture away from it. When he tried, he would be reminded by the voice constantly until he returned to the correct spot. It was something that was starting to annoy him, but at this time, he was unable to free himself from this outside influence. After a few hours of exploration he found himself in a wide open chamber with various other monsters. Just like in the corridors it had many torches or braziers lighting it up but also some light was coming from a small crack in the ceiling. It contrasted with everything else and Rusty was intrigued. He ventured forth toward the illuminated spot that was falling radiating tree onto a tree stump. Rusty was drawn to something there, a lone green leaf that was resting on a thin branch. It was an anomaly in this dark, rusted dungeon, and he couldn''t help but feel a strange connection to it. Reaching out with his metallic hand, he gently picked up the leaf, marveling at its vibrant green color. It felt fragile yet alive, a stark contrast to his own damaged and corroded form. Just like before he tried to identify this object and to his surprise he was given an answer rather quickly. Identification: Leaf Of Vitality Once consumed, rises the constitution attribute slightly. ''Consume?'' Rusty was interested but also confused. He was a sentient piece of armor, not a true living being who could eat or consume things. This thing was supposed to raise his constitution by a certain amount, but he wasn''t sure how this consumption should take place. He tried recalling some of the memories he had access to, and images of humanoid creatures putting things into their upper orifices emerged. ''Like this?'' The type of suit of armor that he was had a proper helmet and a visor. He mimicked the visions from his memories by opening this visor and putting the Leaf of Vitality into his helmet. However, it didn''t seem to have worked as the leaf just ended up falling into the empty space that was the inside of his armor. It remained there without having its essence consumed or absorbed and his constitution never was raised. He was somehow confused, but the identification skill probably didn''t lie; there was perhaps a way to get something out of this green item. However, before he could take another crack at it, something in the distance occurred. One of the skeletons started producing a strange shriek while charging towards a dimly lit corridor. Soon after, its skull came flying out of the opening and alerted the other monsters within. All of them, along with Rusty, looked at three individuals emerging from within. At first, he thought that it was the same ones that had caused his previous demise, but after closer inspection, Rusty realized that these were different. One was a human clad in worn-out armor, carrying a sword that looked like it had seen better days. Another was someone with elongated ears with a bow slung across their back, and the third was a lot shorter wielding a massive warhammer. Their expressions were serious, and their eyes scanned the surroundings as if they were expecting trouble. "Th-that¡­ on¡­ sw¡­ed it." However, there was a fourth individual that none of the monsters, and neither him, had previously seen. A more slender-looking person was hanging on the wall and shouting something to the group of three that had just charged in. Rusty was starting to decipher their language, but he still wasn''t quite sure what they were trying to communicate. ''KILL!'' Rusty felt a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The voice in his head was loud, and he felt compelled to move forward. The recent memory of having himself smacked by similar creatures was still vivid. The sensation after his demise was uncomfortable, and he did not want to repeat it. However, he was feeling something else, something that made his metal body tremble, and he somehow identified it as the feeling of excitement¡­ Chapter 3 - 02 – Your Skill Is Mine. Three adventurers burst into a spacious chamber teeming with low-level monsters. The skirmish commenced as they swiftly dismantled an undead skeleton, triggering a small wave of other creatures to surge toward them. Despite being outnumbered, they showed no signs of perturbation in the face of adversity. As they advanced through the corridor, a fourth member of their party emerged before them. A woman, clad in light leather armor, had concealed herself from the creatures, clinging to the wall unnoticed. "What''s wrong, you gave us the signal?" "We have a problem." "What happened?" One of the adventurers asked the woman who descended from the wall with a somewhat annoyed tone. "One of those things ate the leaf." "It ate the leaf?" "Yes, I told you that it ate it, so it ate it! It''s one of those living armor things!" The adventurers exchanged glances, a mix of confusion and intrigue painted on their faces. They had encountered various monsters in dungeons before, but the idea of a living suit of armor consuming something was beyond their usual experiences. "Are you sure? Living armor that eats vitality leaves?" "I''m telling you, it happened! It picked up the leaf and put it in its helmet, and then the leaf disappeared inside!" The adventurers redirected their attention to the open chamber, where a rusty suit of armor stood. The creature appeared to be observing them, its visor emitting an almost inquisitive vibe. It was encircled by various skeletal monsters and a few others of its kind, but it was the sole one that remained stationary, distinguishing itself from the advancing pack of creatures. "Well, we can''t let it go. That leaf is crucial for our mission, and we need to complete it to get the money. Let''s take care of the undead first; try not to damage that rusty armor monster. Those leaves are delicate." The leader of the group who seemed to be the human clad in worn-out armor shouted out some orders while the other three nodded. The adventurers quickly formulated a strategy, efficiently dispatching the oncoming small horde of monsters while ensuring they avoided harming the peculiar living armor. Unbeknownst to them, the corroded suit of armor kept his eye on them, intrigued by how they behaved. The way they moved, coordinated, and fought together was quite fascinating. ''Is this called strategy? The way they move seems to be with purpose¡­'' Rusty, the living armor, was among the group of monsters in this large dungeon chamber. Initially appearing ordinary, they cleverly utilized the rubble to their advantage. The adventurers observed how they strategically manipulated the environment, compelling the monsters to approach in a specific manner and avoiding confrontations with more than one or two at a time. Clearly, they were using the surroundings to prevent getting surrounded, something that seemed unfavorable. Despite an initial urge to charge in mindlessly, Rusty managed to restrain himself from attacking the group of living beings. His previous encounter had imparted some valuable experience, leading him to believe that repeating the same tactic would yield similar results. Instead, he chose to observe while his more impulsive allies risked their lives. Eventually, an idea began to form in his mind. What if he used the same environment to his advantage and approached the group from somewhere the other monsters weren''t? As the battle between the adventurers and the monsters unfolded, Rusty adeptly navigated through the shadows, applying his newfound understanding of strategy. Amidst the noise of clashing weapons, monster roars, and occasional shouts from the coordinating adventurers, the screeching sound produced by Rusty''s corroded armor went unnoticed. Stealthily advancing through the chaos, he approached the group from an unexpected angle. The adventurers, engrossed in the ongoing battle, appeared to overlook the lone suit of armor, which seemed indistinguishable from many others. While Rusty got closer, he began to analyze the adventurers'' skills and tactics. The one in worn-out armor exhibited remarkable strength and durability, deflecting attacks with a well-worn sword. The archer with elongated ears showed incredible accuracy and agility, effortlessly dodging incoming strikes while firing arrows with precision. The shorter member of the party wielded a massive Warhammer, delivering powerful blows that could crush bones and armor alike. ''KILL!'' His mind surged with animosity toward the group of four, the internal voice making it increasingly difficult to focus until it became unbearable. Sword in hand, Rusty finally succumbed to the urges and leaped out from behind a thick, collapsed pillar. Though his initial plan had been to take his time and approach while his brethren kept the adventurers busy, even with this hasty approach, he successfully closed the gap. "Huh? Watch out!" The leader of the adventurers called out to the long-eared person that Rusty was targeting. The man in worn-out armor swiftly positioned himself between Rusty and the elven individual. In this impulsive leap, Rusty felt a surge of excitement as he tightly gripped his sword with both hands and swung downward. Instinctively activating his skill, Basic Power Slash, a red glow enveloped his weapon. The speed of the downward swing hastened, and he sensed the weight increasing. This was his opportunity to defeat his enemy. His opponent hastily raised his sword to guard, and Rusty''s sword connected. The man, slightly off balance and caught off guard by the surprise attack, couldn''t fully block the corroded weapon. Rusty experienced a sense of achievement, envisioning his sword connecting with the man''s shoulder and cleanly severing it. However, there was a crucial factor he hadn''t taken into account - the durability of the weapon he was wielding. ''Eh?'' The adventurer leader wore a worn-out suit of armor that protected critical parts of his body, including the shoulder Rusty had targeted. At the moment Rusty''s sword connected with this metallic armor, the weapon gave out. Instead of witnessing the man''s shoulder being torn to pieces, the corroded sword was shattered. The only evidence left behind was an indentation where Rusty''s Power Slash had landed. "Shitty piece of armor!" His opponent seethed with rage; although the hit didn''t penetrate, the leader of the adventurers felt sharp pain emanating from the afflicted shoulder. Now without a weapon, Rusty attempted to tackle his enemy. However, just like before, a boot landed on his chest plate, propelling him back toward the collapsed pillar where he had been hiding. Despite the heightened stats from gaining the title, he was unable to react in time. As his back collided with the rubble, some of his armor pieces scattered to the sides. "This is getting annoying, let''s clean these fuckers up!" The battle continued with more vigor as the adventurers took it a bit more seriously now. It was impossible for the low-level monsters to even land one good hit on the party of four. The difference in skill, experience and power was too drastic, there was no way that the monsters could win. Even if they outnumbered the party five to one, they all fell after getting hit once or twice. Rusty struggled to stand amidst the scattered armor pieces. Missing a leg and an arm, with some of the other plates fallen off, he found himself unable to reassemble as the connections between the pieces were lost. Before he could react, another blow struck his body, this time delivered by the shortest adventurer wielding a big Warhammer. "Hey, be careful, one of them has the leaf inside." The slender one from the group shouted at the stocky one, who didn''t seem to care that much. Soon the battle was over, with the adventurers emerging victorious against the remaining monsters. The chamber, once teeming with undead creatures and living armors, now echoed with the sounds of heavy breathing and the clinking of weapons being sheathed. "Hah, that could have gone better, is everyone alright?" "Aye." "Indeed." As the dust settled, the adventurers regrouped, assessing the situation. The leader, still nursing his injured shoulder, shifted his focus to the battered living armors they intentionally didn''t fully destroy. His attention honed in on one lying next to a pillar, exhibiting a hammer-shaped hole through its chest. "That vitality leaf better be in one of these damn armors..." Frustration marked the leader''s tone, aggravated by the injury to his shoulder. He then turned to the woman who had been in the chamber beforehand, noticing her annoyance with what he was insinuating. "What? You don''t believe me? Why would I lie?" The leader sighed, acknowledging the glare from his party member. Nonetheless, still seething from the encounter, he chose to vent his frustration on the armor that had caused him pain. With one smooth kick, the helmet went flying to the side and landed between the legs of the female party member. She picked it up, still frowning. At this point, Rusty had not been slain, and could feel a strange sensation inside his broken body. The leader of the adventurers had thrust his hand through the hole, searching for the leaf that Rusty had swallowed. However, something else occupied Rusty''s thoughts as he came to a realization - he was extremely weak. The gap in power and speed against these humanoid creatures was insurmountable. Even after sneaking up and activating his strongest skill, he couldn''t inflict any serious damage on his opponent. The situation was profoundly disheartening for the young monster, unsure of what course of action to take. Given a body and a set of skills that weren''t particularly impressive, Rusty experienced a peculiar feeling within his core, yet couldn''t fully comprehend it. The desire to become stronger and achieve victory welled up within him, but the path forward remained unclear. The situation felt increasingly hopeless, and a sense of impending demise lingered, reminiscent of his previous defeat. "There it is¡­ you were actually right¡­" "See, I told you!" It became evident that once the leaf was extracted from his body, Rusty would lose any significance to the party of adventurers. His brethren were undergoing the same fate, being searched and subsequently hammered to death. Rusty resigned himself to an inevitable demise, preparing to enter the void once more. Yet, to his surprise, one member of the party did something unexpected. "Hey, what are you doing?" "Never doubt me again you idiot!" In a fit of anger, the woman stuck Rusty''s helmet onto the party leader''s head. She playfully stuck out her tongue in his direction, while the other two party members laughed at her childish behavior. It appeared that she was merely being playful, and no one made a big deal out of it. However, for Rusty, seeing his helmet on the man''s head changed the perspective. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. The voice that had been updating him whenever a skill or title was gained began to speak again. Time seemed to slow down as Rusty was presented with the opportunity to choose from the three options laid before him. Universal Language Passive Skill Allows a person to understand spoken words and writing of the Universal Language. Basic Power Thrust Active Skill Perform a powerful thrust attack. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Basic Swordsmanship Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a sword, is required to unlock more powerful sword skills. ''What is this?'' Rusty found himself pondering, having never seen something like this before. While he understood the concept of skills, acquiring them in this manner was something new. Weighing his options, he considered the first one, which would help him understand these creatures better, but deemed it unnecessary given the knowledge from the memories he was granted. The Power Thrust seemed intriguing, likely an alternate version of his Power Slash skill. However, when he examined the third option, his decision was clear. What he needed were more potent skills, not ones similar to what he already possessed. Basic Swordsmanship offered the prospect of acquiring such skills, making it the obvious choice for him to pursue. Do you wish to learn the Basic Swordsmanship Passive Skill? Please confirm to begin the process. After concentrating on the third option, the voice resounded inside his head once more. It asked him if he wanted to learn the skill and presented two choices. There was a large green button with the word ''Yes'' on it and another red one with the word ''No.'' Rusty had made up his mind and quickly gazed at the big green button, waiting with anticipation. Soon after, he heard the voice again, and the process began. Beginning the process of skill absorption ¡­ Please wait as the skill is absorbed from the host. "Haha, you made her mad again¡­" "Hey¡­ come bac¡­ huh?" The adventurer whose head Rusty now occupied felt that something was off. The moment the helmet settled onto his head felt strange, but he didn''t think much of it. There wasn''t supposed to be any danger involved since the creature had been defeated, and even if it were alive, without being connected to the body, the helmet wasn''t deemed dangerous. However, as he tried to remove it, he found it unyielding. "The hell? It won''t come off? What is with this thing?" "Stop pretending, if you think that''ll start feeling bad for you¡­" "No, I''m not joking¡­ this thing won''t come off¡­ ugh ¡­ my head¡­" To everyone''s surprise, it didn''t seem like their party leader was faking it. A moment after the helmet settled on his head, he found himself going down onto one knee as sharp pain took over. It felt like his head was being pierced by something, and he couldn''t do anything about it. Even after clutching the helmet with all his might, he could not pry it off, and it began to glow, indicating that something indeed was happening. "G-get this thing off me!" The adventurers frantically tried to assist their leader, but the helmet resisted all attempts to be removed. The glow intensified, enveloping both the helmet and the leader''s head. They didn''t know what was happening but it wasn''t anything good. The dwarven member of the party finally decided to do something more drastic as he grasped his Warhammer and told the others to back away. "Keep still, aye?" "Wait, what if you¡­" "There is no time, lass!" "D-do it!" There was no way for them to know what was transpiring, and their leader understood this fact. He lowered his hands so that his dwarven companion could take aim. The other two looked at the predicament with concern in their eyes, realizing that they couldn''t simply pry the helmet off with her grip strength alone. Soon, the large hammer flew at the corroded helmet at a precise angle. Thanks to the dwarf''s excellent aiming skill, after the impact, the helmet flew right off and landed to the side. The human leader''s head was bruised and bleeding, but he was still alive. Quickly, the others rushed to his side, pouring a red liquid over the wound. Miraculously, it seemed to alleviate the pain and mend the hole that had been left behind. "Leader, are you okay?" "Do I look okay to you?" The man responded to the elven companion as his eyes scanned the chamber for the helmet that had caused him pain. Quickly grabbing the dwarf''s large hammer, he charged at the source of his problems. The helmet was promptly squished and shattered under the harder metal, leaving nothing but bent pieces behind. The other adventurers watched as their leader relentlessly flattened the piece of living armor until there was almost nothing left. Out of breath, he moved towards the remains of the armor''s body and promptly delivered retribution as well. At this point, the one responsible for his pain was no more, as Rusty found himself traveling through the void once again. Unbeknownst to the adventurers who believed they had defeated the monster, Rusty was being restored by the forces inside this dungeon. In another corner of the dungeon, a new suit of corroded armor began to shiver as life was bestowed upon it. Occupied by the entity that had caused the adventurer leader a great deal of grief, for some reason, it held both of its metallic hands up as if cheering itself on. Despite having been defeated, it seemed unfazed, as this encounter had given it something new, and perhaps this was how it could become stronger. Chapter 4 - 03 – Skill Absorption. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 15/15 Magic Points [MP] 5/15 Special Points [SP] 0/15 Strength 10 [ F - ] Agility 6 [ F - ] Dexterity 7 [ F - ] Constitution 10 [ F - ] Intelligence 7 [ F - ] Wisdom S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 10 [ F - ] Willpower 7 [ F - ] Durability F A lone armor stood around two identical beings but it was certainly not the same. The way it moved and articulated was strange, even now it was swinging its arms around wildly while looking at something before it. The two other suits that were there didn''t react to the peculiarities of their brethren nor were they capable off it. ''It''s there! I became stronger!'' Rusty rejoiced while looking at the skill window with two brand new skills. One of them was the one that he absorbed from the adventurer while the other appeared out of seemingly nowhere. He could only assume that it was the one that he couldn''t previously identify as all the question marks were gone. Skill Absorption Active Skill Allows the user to absorb and learn compatible skills if certain criteria are met. Basic Swordsmanship Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a sword, is required to unlock more powerful sword skills. ''The question marks have disappeared? I wonder why?'' He was curious as before, but his curiosity was overshadowed by his joy. Two new skills had been gained, which had to mean that he was stronger in some way. The Basic Swordsmanship skill was already at work, as he could feel the movements of his corroded sword becoming better. It was somehow telling him how to guide it and increased his offensive capabilities to some extent. ''But how did that work?'' Rusty recalled the strange incident with the human adventurer. He had been defeated yet again, but after a part of his body was placed on the human''s head, the skill was activated. Being a sentient suit of armor, he didn''t perceive the head as part of those beings. His helmet could come off if he wanted, and at this moment, he took it off. The slit in the visor acted like his eyes, but he could move his body even when it wasn''t touching it. ''Hm¡­'' While pondering, he attempted to rub his metallic chin, but his helmet had been placed down on a large rock. As he contemplated this situation, some audible noises entered his non-existent ears. On the sides, two other living armors were lumbering around, and when he glanced at them, he had an idea. Quickly, he grabbed his own head and appeared before his brethren. ''What if, I do this?'' Armed with some inspiration he grabbed the helmet of his look-alike. The other living armor monster who was walking by stopped in its tracks but didn''t attack. It had become clear that these beings didn''t see him as an enemy as the voice that commanded them all kept everyone in check. Once the other monster''s helmet was removed he used his body to carry over his own helmet and replaced the old one. ''Hmm¡­ it didn''t work?'' To Rusty''s surprise, he didn''t hear the voice of the world that had previously presented him with a choice of three skills; it had not appeared. The feeling that was present when he occupied the human''s head was also different; it seemed that he couldn''t use his new skill in this way. However, he did not stop with just this one test and instead moved on to the second piece of corroded armor to try it on them. ''Not working¡­'' The feeling was the same, and soon the corroded armor went out to patrol their designated dungeon spot. Rusty was left confused about the issue, but this didn''t stop him from approaching a different type of monster, one of the skeletons that occupied this dungeon. It was the most prevalent type here, and they carried various weapons, not just swords. Thus, he approached one that was holding a sword along with a shield that looked like a washboard. The monster stopped after a metallic helmet was placed on its head, but it surprisingly didn''t look that out of place. Skill Absorption has failed to activate, the cooldown period has not ended yet. Please wait until the cooldown period has ended. ''Oh?'' The voice of what he only knew as the world echoed inside his metallic head. It provided him with an explanation and also gave him a series of numbers that were constantly changing. If he understood this correctly, then he would need to wait a prolonged amount of time before this skill could be activated again. ''Hey, wait!'' As he contemplated this newly gained knowledge, the skeleton friend that he had placed his head on started moving away. To his surprise, this monster was rather fast, and he needed to give it his all to keep up with the pace. It took him a good few minutes before he was able to regain his helmet. The timer that had been presented had been lowered during this time and confirmed his previous assumption. With not much else to do but wait, he decided to explore this large dungeon. "Move!" The voice resounded inside his head and forced him to patrol like the rest, but without any enemies around, he was able to get a better look at the dungeon he occupied. There were many corridors, some quite tight while others were spacious. Rusty navigated the corridors with the clanking sounds of his corroded armor echoing through the dungeon. The walls were adorned with dimly lit torches, casting flickering shadows that danced along the cold stone surfaces. As he explored, he stumbled upon a peculiar spacious chamber that was devoid of most of what the others had. The only eye-catching thing inside was a large staircase leading down. This was not the patrol route that the voice wanted him to take, as he was just passing through, but for some reason, this piqued his interest. Once inside, he made his way towards the stairs, and there he experienced something strange; he was not able to move down the stairs, and even approaching them was quite hard. Rusty tried to analyze the situation. It seemed as if an invisible force was preventing him from descending the stairs. Frustrated but determined, he attempted to take a running start, but just as he was about to approach the opening to the stairs, the voice resounded. It was much louder and seemed angered by the attempt to go down this wide set of stairs. ''LEAVE, FORBIDDEN!'' Rusty froze in place, his metal frame trembling with the force of the command echoing in his head. The voice was not one to be ignored, and the sheer power behind the words made it clear that descending those stairs was not an option. As the echoes of the command subsided, Rusty hesitated for a moment. The desire to explore the forbidden depths of the dungeon clashed with the overwhelming compulsion to obey the voice. It was a peculiar situation that he did not have an answer for but it seemed that he was stuck for now. With a reluctant sigh - or the metallic equivalent of it - Rusty turned away from the stairs and resumed his designated patrol. The voice seemed appeased, and as he moved through the dungeon corridors, he couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to this place than met the eye. The dungeon was not just a maze of stone walls and dimly lit torches; it held secrets and hidden passages that piqued Rusty''s curiosity. Although his primary purpose was to follow the commands of the voice, the desire to uncover the mysteries of the dungeon grew stronger within him. As Rusty continued his patrol, he encountered other monsters. Besides the previously encountered skeletons and living armors like himself, there were also strange small creatures called goblins. Other species that he encountered were spiders who liked to crawl up on the ceilings and hide in dark places. Then there were smaller things like rats and insectoids. The green ones didn''t seem to like him too much, as when he approached they started throwing rocks at him. There was something different about them, as if they had their own little section of the dungeon just for themselves. The voice inside his head also kept him from venturing forth into the areas that were marked by strange totems. After getting to know more of the denizens of this dungeon, Rusty also noticed one thing. Each one of them had a certain number applied to their classification. Skeleton L3 ''Mine is at one, will I get stronger if it goes up, just like with the skills?'' Rusty''s identification skill was the only one that had been going up, and as it increased in levels, more information was produced when he identified things around him. Previously, he couldn''t even see the levels of his dungeon brethren. Now he knew that there was some way of becoming stronger, but how would he achieve this? Would it just go up by itself or was there something to it? Then the answer somehow presented itself to him, as he was walking through one of the smaller corridors and passing next to another living armor they bumped into each other. The two staggered for a moment while being pushed against the side walls. You have gained +1 experience points. ''Huh?'' Rusty heard something that he never heard before, and when glancing at his status screen, a leftover log was still there. He had gained an experience point, and the source of this was something that was stuck on his pauldron. After bumping into the other corroded suit of armor, he squished a small monster arachnid onto the wall. It was quite small and just died from the weight, but it still counted. The spider was turned into some green goop that was running down the wall. Rusty gave the dead creature a few pokes before opening up his status screen to look for a few more answers, and there he discovered another new number that had gone up. There was an actual indicator for gaining levels, and he just needed forty-nine more of these experience points to fill it up. ''If I got one experience point for this small creature¡­ what will happen if I defeat a bigger one?'' His head turned towards the living armor that had passed him by. It was just slowly lumbering along without a care in the world. Rusty knew that the monsters here were different than him; they wouldn''t react even if he got closer and took off their body parts. Perhaps this was the way to get stronger, by slaying these beings that weren''t truly alive. He clenched his corroded sword and approached the other armor piece. His corroded frame generated a lot of noise, but this creature didn''t seem to mind. It just continued on the path that had been given to it by the voice. Even after Rusty was standing right behind it with his arm raised and sword glowing, it didn''t do a thing. However, before the basic power slash could claim its first life, the voice resounded inside Rusty. "STOP! ALLY!" It stopped him in the middle of the downswing and didn''t allow Rusty to finish the attack. The authoritative command kept him in check as it referred to the other living armor as an ally, a term loosely known by Rusty who didn''t really consider it. The term made him question his desire to gain experience and if it was something worth continuing. However, he couldn''t really see these other monsters as true allies but more like prisoners who had to adhere to the voice commands. ''Do allies force others to do their bidding?'' As he pondered this, the other living armor continued its patrol, seemingly unfazed by the attempted attack. Rusty couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to these creatures and this dungeon than he understood. The voice had labeled them as allies but he wasn''t sure about that. What if the voice considered him an enemy, wouldn''t all these so-called allies destroy him instead? This was something worth pondering, as Rusty was aware of his relative weakness. It would be impossible for him to contend with so many monsters that were driven by the authoritative voice. This left the other fleshy creatures as the best source of those experience points, but they were not something that he could deal with at the moment. Instead, he turned his attention to some other creatures within the dungeon, ones that perhaps could provide him with something. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. Another smaller being fell to his sword as he continued his carnage. As Rusty wandered through the maze-like dungeon, he continued to assault smaller creatures. Smaller spiders, rats, and even slugs on the walls were all fair game. They didn''t seem to be part of the control structure of the internal voice, and there were many of them here. It was quite easy to dispatch them as, for some reason, they were slow to react to his advances. With each successful strike, Rusty felt a surge of satisfaction as his experience points increased. The green goop from the defeated creatures splattered on his corroded armor, adding a gruesome touch to his appearance. Despite the macabre scene, Rusty continued his relentless pursuit of experience points, driven by an instinctual desire to become stronger. Thanks to relative ease for dispatching these beings, he had managed to gain the remaining forty-nine points rather easily. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L2 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 16/16 Magic Points [MP] 15/15 Special Points [SP] 6/15 Strength 11 [ F - ] +1 Agility 6 [ F - ] +0 Dexterity 7 [ F - ] +0 Constitution 11 [ F - ] +1 Intelligence 7 [ F - ] +0 Wisdom 10 [ F - ] +0 Willpower 8 [ F - ] +1 Durability F Rusty was now a level two Damaged Rusty Bronze Armor and had gained three whole attribute points. Considering that all of them had increased by five when he gained his title, the increase seemed rather small. His maximum hit points had gone up, and after leveling up, he also noticed that his magic points were restored instantly. However, his special points remained low, and they were regenerating at a very slow pace compared to the magic points. This also reminded him about his previous tests, the time to acquire some new skills had come so he homed in on another skeletal monster who was holding a sword along with the shield. His helmet made its way onto the creatures cranium and he was presented with a new message yet again. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. Basic Shield Bash Active Skill Perform a bash with a shield. Even though the message told him that it found multiple compatible skills, he was only presented with one option. There was also another peculiarity, the skill was in a grayish tone this time around while previously it was a lot brighter. Nevertheless, he focused on the skill just like before and waited for another message just like last time. Insufficient SP to learn this skill, please try again when you have sufficient SP. ''Not enough SP?'' Rusty was perplexed by this result as he continued to try to select the skill. The skeletal monster eventually started walking away, and he had to retrieve his helmet. He recalled that after absorbing the skill from the human, his Special Point counter had gone down to zero. It seemed that he would need to wait quite a bit more before he was able to use this absorption skill again. While he was lacking SP, this didn''t deter him from anything. It was possible for him to level up his attributes by defeating small insects and rodents. While this was a slow process, he was not really in a hurry. The resources that he was given would eventually recover, and he would be able to gain some skills with time. So, he started his first leveling drive, and the small creatures that had lived here in peace would soon know fear... Chapter 5 - 04 – First Kill. "Are you sure we should be here?" "Yeah, don''t worry, it''s just the first floor, there are only goblins, skeletons, and rusty armors around; they are all trash." "I don''t know¡­ wouldn''t it be better to go to an easier dungeon? The monsters from the lower levels sometimes travel to the upper ones¡­" "Hah, that very rarely happens, and if something does, I''ll just protect you." An older teenager responded to a girl who was slightly younger than him. Both of them were slowly going down a very long set of stairs leading to a mostly empty chamber. Within it were paths leading to different places, each marked and given a symbol. "Oh, I know those, we should probably avoid the goblins, right?" The girl pointed at one of the markings and the young man that she was with nodded. "That''s right, the goblins are weak, but they work in larger groups. It would be hard to deal with just the two of us, but we should be fine if it''s just one or two of those green bastards." The young man laughed while puffing out his chest. He was wearing a cheap set of armor along with a sword strapped to his side. The younger girl had some leather armor, and her weapon of choice was a bow that she was already holding in her hand. Even though there was no danger in sight, she seemed worried about this little expedition. "As I said, stop worrying. The monsters here are rather weak. How about we just go get some skeletons? Those guys are quite slow." The man pointed to another path on the right side of the chamber. "What about the living armors?" "Those bundles of rust will fall apart from one good kick. Nothing to worry about; they are actually weaker than a skeleton, just take a few more hits, are really slow, and you can hear them coming instantly." "If you say so¡­" The girl nodded while the young man continued to grin. He moved in close and placed his hand around her waist, which made her slightly frown. "Don''t worry, just stick close to me, and there won''t be any problems." For a moment, she noticed that he had a strange expression when getting this close. Her instincts were telling her that something was wrong, but due to some circumstances, she needed to get stronger. Leveling up in this dungeon was the fastest way to alleviate her troubles. Even if her companion wasn''t the most trustworthy, without him, she would have been unable to come to this place. "How about you lead the way, then." "Sure thing, just leave it to me." After wiggling out of his grasp, she made the man move in front. He was just a regular fighter type, while she was best at ranged combat. Their combination had an obvious synergy, and she intended to use it to battle the monsters here. Soon, the two disappeared into the corridor and were on their way to adventure. ***** Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L7 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 20/20 Magic Points [MP] 17/17 Special Points [SP] 8/15 Strength 16 [ F - ] +1 Agility 8 [ F - ] +0 Dexterity 8 [ F - ] +0 Constitution 15 [ F - ] +1 Intelligence 8 [ F - ] +0 Wisdom 12 [ F - ] +1 Willpower 10 [ F - ] +0 Durability F ''Is there any way to hasten this process? How long have I been doing this?'' Rusty lowered his head and gave out a sigh as if he was a human. He had spent many days exterminating small critters and bugs around the dungeon and at this point was having an issue finding more of them. Sometimes humans wandered in but he was lucky enough to avoid them for now. It didn''t seem like they wanted to stay in this dungeon too long or at least not on this floor. One more discovery was a set of stairs going up, which like before he couldn''t approach. Rusty was even unable to enter the large empty chamber before the stairs started and could only glance at them from far away. It seemed to be an even more forbidden zone that the voice inside of his heart kept him and the other monsters away from. However, he was able to resist the orders some more, and perhaps his higher levels had something to do with it. ''If I could only grind something else¡­'' Rusty produced a new word that he somehow knew the meaning of. If he continued like this, his levels would only continue to rise at a very slow rate. It was impossible for him to attack the other monsters in the dungeon, which left the humanoid creatures that came from the stairs above as his targets. He had done his best to observe their movements from a safe distance while the other monsters had been destroyed. There was one main reason that he did such a thing, and that was his current level, which he was afraid to lose. The levels of his allies ranged from one to five. He was now the highest-level monster wandering this dungeon floor. After observing the deaths of his fellow creatures, he realized something. Every one of them had an assigned level that they always returned to. It didn''t seem to decrease, but it also wasn''t increasing either. It was possible that if he died now, his level would be reset, and he would again be a level one monster. This was something that he wanted to prevent at all costs, as the multiple days of killing critters would go to waste. Resisting the voice wasn''t easy; at most, he could slow himself down and wait for the orders to subside. Eventually, as the battle came to a close and there were no other monsters around the fleshy enemies, the call to arms would cease. It was as if without the monsters'' involvement, the voice inside his head couldn''t perceive any enemies. The creatures like him were its eyes, and if he didn''t explicitly look at an animate humanoid, it wouldn''t trigger the voice''s orders. There was one more interesting effect that he also needed to watch out for. If another monster from the dungeon encountered an enemy, they would send out some sort of hidden signal. If he was close by, the voice would also be activated. It was some sort of way to call for reinforcements, but it was easily avoided by him with a small ruse. He just avoided locations that were hotspots for combat. Even if he was ordered to patrol, there was some wiggle room for him, and he used that to prevent any deaths from happening lately. Something that he wanted to pat himself on the back for. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Basic Shield Bash Active Skill Perform a bash with a shield. Basic Power Thrust Active Skill Perform a powerful thrust attack. Rusty had managed to acquire two new skills: one through absorption and the other through regular leveling. When he reached level five, he was given the basic power thrust. It made him realize that he needed to deliberate more on what skills to get. If they were attainable by regular level-ups, then it was a waste of time to use the absorption skill that had some more drawbacks. One of them he recently discovered. After attaining the Basic Shield Bash skill, the timer had been reset and doubled in length. It was possible that it would become harder and harder to use that skill. Perhaps saving it for something more special would lead to better outcomes. However, he still needed to test it further, and perhaps absorbing something from the humans in the dungeon was a better idea. ''Those creatures are strange, what is their purpose? They always come from that place and always travel through the same path down, what lies there that they would risk their lives for? Will I be able to see it?'' His interest was piqued, but he couldn''t do much about it. Even now, as he was doing his rounds and passing by the staircase, he tried to head down, but the annoying voice inside of his head kept preventing him from progressing. However, he was not going to give up; each time he attempted this feat, he was able to get half a step more in. It seemed that maybe, he would eventually be able to head down and unveil the mysteries on the lower floor. Thus he continued on his way while looking out for some smaller creatures. Even though their numbers had decreased there were still there for him to slay. Even his power slash skill had reached the second level and so did his basic swordsmanship. It was the only way for him to level up so he made his way towards one of the best grinding spots. ''ENEMY!'' "GAH!" To his surprise, he heard a commotion at a part of the dungeon that was usually empty. Rusty had been using it for a while now, and no humans had ever wandered in. There were only large bugs and rats in this side of the dungeon, along with a few of his monster brethren. One of them had just been dispatched by what seemed to be an armored human, similar to the one that had previously defeated him. ''Should I try it? But there is another one¡­ and I''m alone¡­'' After ducking behind the corner and losing sight of them, the voice inside his head quieted down. Just as previously, if he didn''t keep looking at the humans, it would not be able to see them. Staying here behind the corner and waiting for them to pass was the best solution, as he didn''t think that he could handle them quite yet. His levels and skills were going up, but after getting easily defeated previously, Rusty decided to take a safer approach. This was also a perfect chance to eavesdrop, as his language skills had started to improve and he could now mostly understand what was being said. ''Hm¡­ are they fighting with each other? Can they do that?'' "Hey, stop that, I told you that I''m not interested, if you''re going to be like that, then maybe it would be better if we just return now." The tone that this person was talking exuded an aura of annoyance. Rusty strained to listen, his metallic hearing tuned into the conversation between the two humans. It seemed like a disagreement of some sort, and he was curious about what was happening. The monsters in the dungeon didn''t respond much, and he couldn''t actually produce a voice himself, so this was quite intriguing. The second voice, deeper and more assertive, responded, "Come on, don''t be like that. I was just joking around." "No, I think we are done here!" The other voice didn''t let up and he could hear this maddened person walking in the other direction which led out of the dungeon. The other person remained in the same place for a moment before he finally said something in a now annoyed tone. "This damn bitch¡­ who does she think she is? Is she going to report me to the guild? Fuck¡­" It was quite an interesting tidbit; Rusty wasn''t sure about the relations of these humanoid creatures, but he could feel animosity and something similar to killing intent coming from this man''s voice. He wasn''t sure how he was aware of something like this besides the memories he came equipped with giving him the answer. ''What are they doing? They aren''t like us? Isn''t there a voice keeping them from attacking each other?'' Not long after the man voiced his dissatisfaction with the situation, he ran back after the other human person. Rusty was able to hear the two shouting some profanities at each other before a fight broke out. He could clearly hear the two beings clash against each other, something that wasn''t possible for him and the monsters in this dungeon. ''They are fighting?'' They had moved into one of the dead-end corridors that was not normally patrolled by any monsters. Rusty knew this as it was close to his grinding spot where he spent a lot of time. He slowly approached while trying to minimize the sound of his rusty body, luckily the two humans were shouting too much to notice anything. When he arrived at the scene he took a little peak so that the voice would not be alerted. There he saw a strange scene playing out: the bigger human had taken out the lower half of his armor and was wrestling around with the smaller one. What they were doing was unknown to him, but it didn''t seem like the one on the bottom liked it too much. The fight continued, but eventually, a rock was used to disable the smaller opponent, which gave Rusty an idea. ''Isn''t this a chance? They seem distracted, maybe I should¡­'' He knew that he couldn''t win against one of those beings in a fair fight, but perhaps they had injured each other enough for him to capitalize on the situation. Nevertheless, Rusty knew that he needed to be cautious; there was no telling what his enemy would do, and there was still some ground to cover before he reached that dead end. His body producing loud noises was a big weakness but luckily, when he looked behind himself, he spotted something that could aid him in this endeavor¡­ ***** "You shouldn''t have been such a prude and just let me do it¡­ now look at you!" The man panted while tossing a bloody rock to the side. The woman that he tussled with lay passed out before him with a gash to the side of her head. It was too late to go back now, and he did not want to stop either. However, just as he was about to do the deed, a strange clunking sound echoed from behind him. There he witnessed a living armor monster charging his way, a corroded blade in his right hand. This corridor was rather dark and mostly lit at the end. He could barely see the monster by the reflection that its corroded armor was producing. It charged with reckless abandon while scraping its corroded weapon on the walls. The man quickly jumped up to his feet but instantly lost his balance as his pants were around his ankles. He was caught off guard by the monster, but luckily, it was quite sluggish and uncoordinated. A massive swing came his way but he knew how to handle this situation. Instead of blocking or evading, he jumped forward. His shoulder collided with the chagrin monster which was toppled to the side. The man didn''t go uninjured as his shoulder felt as if it had been hit by a mallet. However, the monster had taken a lot of damage as well and most importantly, lost its balance. "Fucking piece of shit monster, die!" The man shouted as he managed to grab the metal gauntlet that was holding the sword and overpower the creature. The two tumbled to the ground and the living armor was slowly losing. Eventually, its corroded blade was used against it as the human adventurer started delivering multiple hits while shouting. The difference in levels and stats was apparent and the hollowed suit could not survive the beating. "Huh?" Yet, even though this one had been defeated, it was not alone. Suddenly, darkness took over as the man found himself with something on his head, a corroded helmet quite identical to the monster he had defeated. It was not alone; another one of the living armors had crept behind him and placed his ''head'' onto his. "What the hell?" The man quickly grabbed the helmet in an attempt to throw it off, but to his surprise, he couldn''t. For some reason, the corroded helmet was stuck, and quickly after, he felt something similar to a splitting headache taking over. The pain was tremendous, and he felt like a needle was being poked through his eye socket. He panicked and started squirming around. "W-what is this thing¡­ GUH!" As his attention was on the helmet, he forgot about the being that it belonged to. He was not alone, and an even sharper pain took over his right thigh. Something had pierced the unprotected part of his body and was quickly yanked out after. He could not see what was happening, and the continuous pain was making it even more difficult. The man started to furiously swing his hands around, but without connecting with anything, he soon felt his other leg being pierced by the same object. His legs gave out, and he found himself down on the ground. At this point, there was far too much blood that he had lost, and the strength that he once had was gone as well. His body weakened by the continued injuries finally gave out and he found himself down on the cold dungeon floor, his last breath soon to be drawn. As he lay there with almost no life left in him, the helmet was removed, and he caught a glimpse of his executioner. A similar-looking armor to many he had easily dispatched in his life. It took the helmet and placed it back onto its chestpiece, now covered in his blood along with the corroded blade that had been used as the weapon. It didn''t say anything as it raised its blade for a final time to deliver the finishing blow. The blade was brought down with a swift motion, ending the man''s life. The dungeon fell into silence once again, with only the distant echoes of the battle lingering in the air. The victorious living armor stood there, its corroded exterior splattered with fresh blood, unmoving and seemingly lifeless. Yet, it was roused again by the groans of another, it turned to face the second adventurer that was still alive, its sword still dripping with blood from the previous encounter and itching for more¡­ Chapter 6 - 05 – Playing Dead. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained a level. The ''First Kill'' title has been acquired. Basic Power Thrust has leveled up. In the blink of an eye, he had reached level nine after slaying just one human. The man emitted various strange noises as he was being stabbed, but eventually, it was over. Rusty felt quite pleased with himself, having instantly gained two levels by defeating a single enemy. What made it even better was that he didn''t suffer any damage, as he used one of his monster friends to absorb the brunt of the attacks. His tactic of placing his helmet on the human while he was distracted had worked. Similar to the previous encounter with another human, this one couldn''t remove the helmet. While the man focused on his head and was blinded, Rusty began poking, and eventually, he bled out. There was one mishap during this tactic that he was examining closely. Skill Absorption has failed to activate, the host has died before the absorption process could finish. The status he came equipped with had a log window that displayed all the recent system messages. It appeared that killing a person while absorbing their skill was a prohibited action, and he might have been too focused on stabbing the target to notice the issue. It was a finicky skill, and it seemed that he would need to either bind his next target or render them unconscious to some extent before attempting it again. ''Oh, should I test it on this one?'' His body turned, emitting a loud screeching sound. There was still another human being in this dead-end corridor with him, and they were still stunned. Rusty approached the woman while holding his helmet under his metallic armpit. Uncertain of what to do but his status screen pointed towards only one option. ''Ah¡­ my special points went down because I activated the skill, so I can''t do it anymore, I''ll need for the cooldown to refresh¡­'' He placed the helmet back into its original spot as he realized that he couldn''t use the skill again. Before even looking at the new title he gained, his body moved forward. The sensation the leveling up had given him was strange, and he yearned for more of it. His gauntlet clenched tightly onto the corroded sword that was about to break from the previous chaotic stabbing. It aimed true at the groaning woman''s neck, but just as he was about to go through with it, something strange happened. ''...?'' There was something inside him that made him stop; it wasn''t a voice or any skill from another opponent. It was as if he couldn''t bring himself to deliver the finishing blow to this injured woman. Rusty wondered what was wrong; it made no sense to him. This human was just a source of experience points, a means to make him stronger, but for some reason, he couldn''t bring himself to plunge his weapon into her neck. ''Why?'' Rusty asked himself, but no one answered. The memories within his core seemed to be running wild, presenting him with random tales of enemies being spared, but also different ones where other creatures were shown no mercy. He couldn''t really understand why he should give up on this kill here, and soon the turmoil within him subsided. With newfound determination, he gripped his sword again, and this time around, he saw nothing stopping him from claiming this bundle of experience for himself. However, just as he was about to plunge it in various voices echoed from behind, people were coming and they were close. ''Oh no!'' It seemed he had taken too long, and perhaps the humans were guided here by something similar to the voice he had. It was strange that this part of the dungeon, which had remained empty, now had so many visitors. Time was running out, and this was a dead end. Rusty knew that if he started running, his clunky body would give away his position, and he would likely be attacked. The humans were faster and had keen hearing; there wasn''t really any place to run. ''What do I do? I don''t want to be slain again! What if I lose all these levels?'' While his skills didn''t seem to be affected by his deaths, he wasn''t so sure about his levels, which were abnormal for this dungeon floor. This uncertainty had triggered something akin to a survival instinct in him. Empowered by it, he devised safer battle tactics that aided him in reaching this ninth level. His gaze landed on the shattered body of his monster ally, eventually giving him an idea of navigating through this situation without the need for a direct confrontation. ***** S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hey, there is some blood here, it''s still fresh! We need to hurry!" "Don''t stop, we might be too late! Did that bastard really go through with it?" Three people emerged at the entrance of the dead-end corridor, their footsteps echoing in the narrow space. Leading the way was a tall and muscular woman wielding a large two-handed sword, with an elvish man and a woman half his height following closely behind. The trio cautiously advanced, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. "Hey Sylra, stop!" "What, did you find something?" The large woman stopped for a moment while the smaller one called out to her. She pointed to something on the ground before replying. "Fresh blood¡­ and monster tracks, we are close, get ready." All three nodded before tightening their grip on their weapons. The elven man wielded a bow, while the smaller companion carried double daggers that, at her shorter height, looked like regular longswords. The largest of the three took the front as they all moved slowly into the darkened corridor. Soon, they discovered the gruesome scene that had unfolded not long ago. "Is he dead? Did he get killed by these low-level monsters?" "Never mind that, look! It''s Layla, she''s alive!" Blood was everywhere as the corpse of one man lay in the middle. He had multiple stab wounds in his legs and some that had slipped between parts of his armor. It was clear that he was dead, but it also seemed that their friend was alive. The smaller woman from the group quickly moved towards the person named Layla to aid her, while the two other people started looking around this dead-end corridor. "Did he die to these monsters? Was he already injured beforehand?" The elven man asked the large woman while looking at the stab wounds. It was clear that the weapon was a corroded sword that was near the scene. "The idiot was probably too busy with something else¡­ but still, Damaged Corroded Armors got him?" The large woman pointed out the lack of any protection below his waistline. The two were confused by this scene, as the man should have been able to defeat these monsters. They were slow and loud, with a bad sense of balance. With a few pushes, their bodies fell apart, making their metallic bodies more of a weakness than a strength. "Hey, you two stop babbling and help me!" "Calm down Maeda, how is your friend?" "She''s alive, just a few scratches and nicks here, and also this gash on the head. I think she will pull through." Maeda took out a small vial of red liquid and poured it over the head wounds that Layla had suffered. While the effect wasn''t instantaneous the wound started to heal at a rapid pace. After a moment she started regaining her consciousness but was still disoriented. "Good, we need to get out of here before more monsters show up. Can she walk?" "Layla, do you recognize me? "Uh¡­ Maeda? Is that you, what happened¡­" "Give us a moment." Maeda replied to Sylra while trying to help her friend up to her feet. She positioned herself at the exit of the dead-end corridor, ready to face any monsters that might appear. The last member of the party of three decided to inspect the gruesome scene that had transpired. Swiftly, he began examining the man''s body, removing parts of his upper body armor. He halted after revealing his arm, which bore a peculiar marking. "He has one of them too¡­" "Elwin, did you find something?" "I did, this bastard is one of them, it''s a miracle that your friend managed to survive¡­" The man named Elwin examined the tattoo that depicted a scythe inside of a crescent moon. It was a marking of a certain group that he and the others were aware of. Soon, he shifted his attention to one of the monsters, a living armor. One was close to this man while the other one leaned against the wall with its helmet to the side. It seemed that this dangerous man had been slain by these two monsters, which was still quite surprising. He could only assume that he was too busy with debauchery to notice them approach. "One of them? W-what''s going on? His dead? Did you kill him?" "No, it seemed he succumbed to these two¡­ Maybe he was tired? Layla managed to gather herself and finally noticed that the man who had tried to assault her was dead. She couldn''t remember much past the point she was hit by the rock. "See that?" "The moon and the scythe?" "Yeah. This guy is part of a nasty bunch. They hunt new adventurers for their experience points and equipment, you are lucky that he was an idiot." Maeda pointed out the tattoo, identifying the man as part of an infamous group of adventurer hunters. After this encounter, Layla realized that perhaps the monsters were not the most dangerous creatures within this dungeon. It became clear that she couldn''t really trust people that she didn''t already know, shattering her worldview. "Hey, what are you doing?" Maeda looked at her elven friend who had decided to move towards one of the defeated living armors. He slowly picked up a few pieces before going for the helmet that was on the side and was now placing it directly in front of his own face. "This thing feels strange, there is something about it¡­" While the others were talking, Elwin started examining the crime scene. Judging by the blood splatter, it seemed that it wasn''t the armor in the middle that got him but the one by the wall. He moved over to it and picked up the helmet that had a few holes in it. However, before he could examine it further, he heard Sylra calling out from the distance, and monstrous growls accompanied her shout. "Hey, we need to get out of here now, there is a pack coming this way!" The urgency in Sylra''s voice sent shivers down their spines, and without wasting a moment, the group hurriedly gathered the injured Layla and started retreating from the dead-end corridor. The echoing growls were getting louder, indicating that the pack of monsters was closing in. As they rushed through the dungeon''s passages, Elwin finally decided to throw the corroded helmet away and instead grabbed his bow. Even though it was peculiar, it was still only a corroded piece of metal that wasn''t worth the space it occupied. All of them quickly left the dead end before they could be trapped in it by the charging monstrosities. The group navigated through the dark passages, trying to put as much distance between them and the approaching pack of monsters. Layla, still recovering from her injuries, stumbled occasionally, but Maeda and Elwin supported her, ensuring a swift retreat. Soon, from behind, a group of several skeletons made themselves known. They charged at them as if they had set off some type of trap. There were many, and now that they were spotted, they knew that more of them could appear. Luckily, these creatures were only between levels one to five, not something that this trio would ever worry about. "Are we going to take care of them?" "That depends, how are you feeling Layla?" "I''m fine, don''t worry about me. I can fight too." "Good, Let''s clear these bastards out then!" Sylra shouted while charging into the group of skeletons like a mad woman. Her shoulder collided with the first undead creature and sent it flying into the others. Maeda and Elwin followed suit, engaging the skeletons with precision and efficiency. Layla, still recovering, stayed back but assisted them with some well-placed arrows if the moment allowed for it. Despite the overwhelming numbers, the trio fought as a well-coordinated team, exploiting weaknesses in the skeletal structure of their opponents. Sylra''s powerful swings shattered bones, Maeda''s swift strikes targeted vital joints, and Elwin''s arrows found their marks with uncanny accuracy. The clattering sound of bones hitting the ground echoed through the dungeon as the skeletons were systematically dismantled. As the last of the skeletal remains fell, the group took a moment to catch their breath. Elwin grumbled under his nose which the others noticed. "Is something wrong?" "These numbers are strange¡­ and how they found us in that secluded corridor was also odd¡­" "Was it?" Sylra held her large two-handed sword over her shoulder while making nothing off it but her elven friend couldn''t shake the feeling that something was amiss. The monsters in the dungeon weren''t able to pinpoint the location of adventurers unless a certain few conditions were met. "... Was one of those living armors still alive? It couldn''t be¡­" The elven man looked towards the darkened corridor they had just gone through, a foreboding feeling washing over him. "Hey, Elwin. Snap out of it, we need to go; there might be more on the way now." "You''re right¡­ Let us move." While he couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was off, more monsters could be on the way. They were here to rescue Maeda''s friend, not investigate the strange activities of the monsters within. There was still some ground to traverse, and his party needed him to detect traps and watch out for ambushes. The monsters weren''t the only problem, and there was always the possibility that one of the crescent-scythe bastards could be there. However, after their departure, something began to move in the darkness. The sounds of corroded metal echoed through the dead-end corridor as the being there could finally relax. The metallic entity that had played dead among the shattered armor of his fallen monster ally, emerged cautiously from the shadows its head missing. ***** ''Did they need to throw my head that far¡­ I can barely see my body¡­ this is quite hard¡­'' Rusty would frown if he had a mouth. He had decided to play dead after seeing the group of adventurers approaching, and it seemed to have worked. They had focused most of their attention on the dead man and the woman who had been alive. He wasn''t sure what to make of these creatures. One of them had attempted to kill the woman previously, while these three, who were clearly stronger, decided to help her. While this was on his mind now, something more troublesome had happened. His helmet that acted as his eyes had been thrown to the side, further away from his body that he disassembled slightly to make it seem as if he was dead. Now he was having trouble reassembling himself into one piece again. Despite being able to move his metallic limbs, the visibility was limited, making it challenging to see them clearly. It took a few good minutes until his body appeared in the distance with one arm still missing. ''This is annoying¡­ but at least I have survived and my level is still nine!'' After placing his helmet back onto his shoulders, it magically reconnected with his armor. He then quickly returned to the previous scene of his battle where parts of his armor were scattered around. They weren''t in good shape; even though he had not been hit much, the fact that he was moving around so much was straining his body. It seemed that it wasn''t designed for this much movement. For a moment, he contemplated if it was possible to use the parts of his fallen brethren, but before he could give that a test run, a strange light appeared on the ground. It was where the adventurer had died and also where the other living armor was lying. The two were starting to bubble up, and the longer this bubbling effect took, the smaller their bodies became. Rusty was fascinated by this strange phenomenon and continued to look as the other living armor disappeared first, its metallic parts being absorbed into the dungeon floor. The man was going through a similar process, but his body was vanishing at a much slower rate. Soon there was nothing left besides the blood that for some reason was left untouched. ''Hmm¡­ Neat! Now¡­ what should I do next?'' Rusty glanced at his status screen and could see that his level was at nine. There was a bar representing the experience he needed to gain for the next level up, and by the looks of it, there wasn''t much to go. Even if he still could only defeat smaller dungeon creatures, it wouldn''t be long until he achieved level ten, and for some reason, he expected something substantial to occur at that point. He was certain that, for lower-rank monsters like him, level ten was the limit¡­ Chapter 7 - 06 – Evolving? You have gained +1 experience points. ''Come out wherever you are¡­ I''ll make it quick¡­'' *Splat* You have gained +1 experience points. *Splot* You have gained +1 experience points. ''Stop running away, there is no place to run!'' You have gained +1 experience points. Another rat fell under the massive metallic boot and joined its brethren in rodent heaven. Rusty was going through a rampage after discovering a small colony of these creatures. They were quite agile beings, making things a bit challenging for the slow-moving living armor. However, eventually, he managed to cut off all the escape routes and trap the small creatures in an enclosed area, then the slaughter began. The metallic echoes of Rusty''s relentless extermination resounded through the dungeon. The small rats were no match for his brute strength and the corroded sword that cleaved through them effortlessly. The experience points kept piling up, bringing him closer to the coveted level ten. ''I wouldn''t need to do this if I got that other human, why did I want to let them live?'' As he was finishing up his grinding drive his thoughts went back to a few days ago where he encountered some strange adventurers. He managed to get the first one but had been stopped by a strange invisible force from delivering the final blow. It still didn''t make any sense as there was no reason for it, they were there with no way to defend themselves. Was there a reason to not defeat a foe when they were down? He truly didn''t know. Congratulations you have gained a level. You have reached the level limit, please choose a path forward. ''It has come! But what is this path forward?'' With the last rat squashed beneath his foot, Rusty stood victorious in the small rat nest. The dungeon floor was littered with the remains of the creatures, and the metallic armor glinted eerily in the dim light. The level-up bar on his status screen was now full, and Rusty felt a surge of relief as he was given the level-up message. Level ten was now his, and he was quick to look up his current stats. Name: Rusty Classification: Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor [ F - ] L10 [ Max ] Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 22/22 Magic Points [MP] 18/18 Special Points [SP] 8/15 Strength 19 [ F - ] Agility 9 [ F - ] Dexterity 9 [ F - ] Constitution 17 [ F - ] Intelligence 9 [ F - ] Wisdom 13 [ F - ] Willpower 12 [ F - ] Durability F ''Um¡­ is that it?'' His stats went up by a little bit, but he was still quite weak. Rusty expected some drastic change to occur or perhaps he would get a new weapon. Even having his damaged armor restored would have been something, but he wasn''t receiving anything. Thus, after receiving nothing, he decided to go through all of these status windows, and finally, he discovered something new; a new one had appeared. ''Oh! This must be it! Will it let me become strong?'' A new window appeared with a strange icon of an egg seemingly transforming into a larger creature that was like some type of quadrupedal monster. He had never seen something like it before so identifying was impossible. However, without waiting he quickly tapped this status window which brought up something called ''Evolutionary Paths''. Please choose a path. ''A path? But there is only one¡­'' Rusty looked at the singular option in front of him, which looked like a less damaged but still corroded living armor form. It was depicted as a three-dimensional model from the side, and his current form was also in this window. It was to the side, and an arrow was going from it to the less damaged armor. ''Rusty Bronze Armor? So I can turn into this Rusty Bronze Armor? ¡­ I was expecting something¡­ grander?'' The only thing on this screen was his current form and the new one that was almost identical. It was just the same set of armor with fewer dents, and holes, but still corroded over. However, considering that his current body was somewhat damaged, this was perhaps the way to get over his injuries. ''I guess¡­ I should press this then?'' There was a big green button under the Rusty Bronze Armor that had ''Select'' written over it. The moment Rusty pressed it, a strange glow erupted for a moment with a phenomenon of corrupt text. Some symbols started appearing over the letters that he couldn''t read, and for some reason, nothing was happening. ''Is there something more?'' This was truly a head-scratcher for the living armor, as he wasn''t sure what to do. There was no confirmation to ask him if he wanted to go with this singular option or not after the screen. He continued going after the select button repeatedly and even attempted to do it with both his hands after focusing on it didn''t work. ''Why doesn''t this work? ¡­Wait, where am I?'' Suddenly, he focused his attention elsewhere as the dead rat bodies vanished, and the dimly lit dungeon lost all of its light. As he looked around, he could see a bit of light in the distance, and while stretching his arms to the side, he could feel a hard surface. The open dungeon chamber had switched to a narrow tunnel that he was now going through. He couldn''t see anything or hear himself producing any sound, which felt off. At the end, he arrived next to a large door with light seeping in through the cracks. His curiosity got the better of him as he quickly started pushing, and to his surprise, the large doors started to part to reveal something that he had not seen before. A bizarre environment that lacked a ceiling or any dungeon walls; it was a wide-open space filled with various things. As he looked up, he could see vast darkness populated by tiny dots of light. It somewhat reminded him of the old void he came from, but it had something within it. However, this space was far from empty as before him was a giant body of water and a strange structure floating over it. This building hovered over the body of water with one large bridge leading towards it. A giant castle, floating majestically over the expansive body of water, was a breathtaking sight. Its architecture seemed to defy the laws of physics, with towering spires and intricate details that glistened in the ambient light. The castle was crafted from a material that Rusty couldn''t quite identify, as it emitted a soft, otherworldly crimson glow, not something that he had ever encountered in the dungeon he came from. The structure was vast, with multiple towers that reached into the sky, disappearing into the darkness above. The exterior was adorned with mysterious symbols that seemed to shift and change as Rusty gazed upon them. It hovered over the water which looked like a gigantic lake, devoid of any movement or living creatures within it. To the sides were nothing but desolate land that stretched on to infinity. ''How¡­ Vast?'' The living armor, who had been existing for a little bit over a month, was speechless. He could not comprehend what he was seeing and how he got here. A moment ago, he was battling rodents and insects, but now he found himself somewhere truly magical with seemingly only one path going forward. The castle that he was looking at was quite vast and it stretched all the way into the clouds. There was only one way to get there, and that was through the rocky bridge. However, Rusty was quite an inquisitive suit of armor and decided to first move to the side. He wondered if perhaps there was something to this desolate area around it or perhaps the water down below held something interesting. To his surprise, he was held back by a seemingly invisible wall, with the only path that he was allowed to take being forward towards the floating castle over the large lake. There was nowhere else to go, thus Rusty moved along the bridge toward the floating castle. The crimson glow from the castle reflected on the still water beneath, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. The sound of his metallic footsteps echoed through the vastness, and he couldn''t shake the feeling that he was being watched. Eventually, he arrived before a large castle gate that slowly creaked open without the need for him to push anything. The interior revealed a grand hall adorned with intricate designs and strange symbols that seemed to pulse with energy. The air inside felt charged, and Rusty couldn''t help but feel a surge of anticipation as he ventured inside. This was a whole new world for him; all the objects were peculiar and nothing he had ever seen before. Instantly he was drawn to the furniture and objects inside, yet nothing was as it seemed. He spotted a strange table with various small items spread out on it. In an attempt to investigate, he grabbed a few which caused some to drop down to the floor. The material they were made of was smooth yet brittle. When they collided with the hard tiles on the ground, they shattered and the liquid inside spilled out. However, instead of the parts spreading out, they just stopped and almost instantly reverted back to their previous shape. It was as if time was reversed before his metallic eyes, and quickly after he attempted to smash something else, but soon it just restored itself to its previous shape. ''What is this? Can items restore themselves this easily? Could I restore my body like this?'' Rusty glanced at his own body, which had been damaged in several areas before. The holes remained, and whenever he moved, his body produced an obscene amount of noise. Yet for some reason, there was no echo in this place and a certain lack of any movement. It was as if nothing was here and it was left abandoned. During his investigation, something eventually caught his metallic eye as a strange light flashed in the distance. ''That is?'' After following this light, he ended up at a large set of stairs and probably the only way forward. He wanted to wander around this grand place, but besides the lush rooms filled with strange expensive-looking items, there wasn''t really anything that interesting. No weapons or enemies that could give him experience, he wanted to know why he was here, and the large door above the stairs was calling to him. Rusty ascended the grand staircase, each step echoing through the vast hall. As he reached the top, he found himself in front of another set of colossal doors. These doors were adorned with intricate carvings, depicting scenes and symbols that seemed to tell a story he couldn''t decipher. Before he knew it the doors opened automatically as Rusty approached, revealing a room filled with many strange metallic objects, light, and heat. It was an awe-inspiring sight, with molten metal flowing like rivers and ethereal flames dancing in the air. The air was thick with the scent of metal and enchantment. Rusty somewhat knew what this place was as the memories given to him identified it as a forge. On the sides, he could see many tools, like various types of hammers, pliers, and chisels. But his focus was on the middle part of this forge where something stood, a direct replica of the Rusty Bronze Armor that he had seen before. It looked exactly like the display inside of his status screen and was clearly what he was supposed to evolve into. Rusty could tell that it wasn''t another living armor but an empty shell. ''Is that my new form?'' He could somehow tell by instinct that it was the truth, that would be his new body and perhaps this was something that all monsters that evolved went through. After looking around for a moment, he decided to approach the middle area to take a look at what was probably his new body. At first, he circled around it but eventually he decided to touch it with his own metallic hand. Instantly, he could feel a connection being formed and something from inside of his current shell being pulled towards the new armored body. ''This must be it! I''m going to get a new, stronger body!'' As Rusty felt the connection growing stronger, he could sense a surge of energy coursing through him. It was as if he was being drawn into the new body that was standing in the middle of this fiery forge. He did not know the meaning behind the tools, but he also didn''t care. It was obviously better than the damaged one that he was occupying now, so having his essence flow into this one would be what he needed to do. "No, Stop! Don''t just go into it like that you idiot!" ''Huh?'' Just as he was about to slip into the new body, he heard a voice calling out to him from a distance. The connection to his new body was severed as he prepared for combat. Rusty was lacking his corroded sword, but there were some metal tools around this forge. However, before he could arm himself, he saw his strange opponent who was nothing more than just a ball of light. ''What is that?'' "I''m not a that!" ''It can hear me?'' "I''m not an it, either!" To Rusty''s surprise, the ball of white light he was talking to could actually hear and understand his words. It was floating in the distance while shouting at him, for some reason it was trying to keep him from merging with the new body that was just standing in the middle of this large forge. ''Who are you and why shouldn''t I?'' "Did you even bother to examine your surroundings? Why would you just ignore everything that is in here?" The ball of light approached him and it wasn''t much larger than an egg from a chicken. It started buzzing around his head while shouting and scolding. Rusty could not get his head around what was happening as this was the first time interacting with another creature. The monsters in the dungeon were more like lifeless husks and the voice in his head would only give him orders. "Hey, what are you doing?" Instinctively he reached out to catch the ball of light but it was quite agile, a lot faster than the rats and with too much space around them to corner. "I''m not sure who is the fool, hero." "Shut up! If I didn''t speak up then he might have vanished from this place already." Rusty stopped chasing the ball of white light as he heard another voice from the other side. This time around it was a ball of darkish light floating his way. Its voice was a lot deeper, but its demeanor was also a lot more relaxed. The two balls of light started arguing before him, which just made him question their existence more. "Even in this form, you fail to learn from these past mistakes. Or did your fragmented form finally start to deteriorate?" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m sure you''d be happy if I vanished, but I''m not going to die before a damn demon!" "Oh my, is that a challenge?" The two seemed to ignore his existence for a moment, which gave Rusty some time to think. His mind was blank, and he had no idea what was happening, but the more he listened to their voices, the more familiar they became. It was as if he knew them from the moment he was born or came to this world. "Ah, I think our metallic friend is confused. This isn''t surprising; these lowly creatures aren''t known to have too much intelligence. The fact that he can form a sentence is already astonishing." ''...Hey! Was that an insult!'' "Oh, how interesting. I wonder if he would understand sarcasm?" The black ball of light started chuckling while Rusty felt somewhat annoyed. He was sure that he had been insulted but didn''t know how to respond. The two balls of light were quite chatty, but his attention moved back to the new body he wanted. It was possible that these two just wanted to keep him from getting stronger, so while they were chatting, he started to slowly turn back to the corroded bronze armor. "Hey, didn''t I tell you that it was too early to use that? Do you know that this place ¡­ this soul forge can make you even stronger?" "Can it make me stronger?'' The white ball of light zoomed between him and the corroded piece of armor. The moment he heard it say that he could get even stronger, it activated a deep-rooted desire. Rusty was tired of hiding from the humans in the dungeon and also tired of getting ordered around by the voice inside his head. If it was possible to use this place to gain even more strength, then perhaps he should listen to what these two had to say. Chapter 8 - 07 – Soul Forge. "The Soul Forge, had I known you possessed a blessing like this, Hero, I would have struck you down much sooner." "That''s the price you pay for being an overconfident oaf, Demon King." "Despite such a gift, you still ended up getting backstabbed by your close aides. That''s quite an accomplishment for someone with so many talents. Quite an accomplishment in itself, don''t you think?" "Really? I recall a certain demon army inexplicably retreating, allowing me to stroll right into your grand demonic castle. Perhaps if you treated your aides as individuals rather than cattle, they might have supported you!" "Nonsense, they were born to serve me, and their purpose was to follow my orders without question. Loyalty is a weakness, Hero, one that I have eradicated from my ranks! How loyal were those people you trusted, Hero?" Rusty listened to the back-and-forth between the two orbs of light. It seemed that this place was called the Soul Forge, and it was supposed to make him stronger. However, before he received an explanation, the two beings of light started arguing with each other, as if harboring some unresolved resentment. "Um¡­ What is loyalty?" During their conversation, Rusty finally decided to interrupt. The two orbs of light turned their attention back to him, and the white one sighed as if dealing with an ignorant child. "Loyalty is when someone is devoted and true to another, usually out of a sense of duty or love. It''s a concept that you probably never had the chance to experience in your dungeon full of mindless monsters." "Sense of duty? Love?" Instead of answers, he was given more words that he didn''t understand and to make things worse, the two beings of light didn''t seem to agree with each other. The dark sphere was quick to interrupt and say that the white one was wrong and the two started to argue with each other once more. "Ignore my ignorant friend here, loyalty is a weakness, a chain that binds you and limits your potential." "Limit my potential?" "Indeed and you seem to be someone that wants to be strong, don''t you want to be strong?" "I do!" "Good, then accept me as your master and I shall bestow upon you immeasurable power!" "Don''t believe this idiot demon, he doesn''t even know how this place works." Rusty found himself uncertain about what to do; the two glowing lights weren''t making any sense. They used words that he didn''t fully grasp. One thing was clear: they were more akin to the humans he encountered inside the dungeon than the silent, less intelligent monsters. While he didn''t trust them, there seemed to be something that they knew about this soul forge that was supposed to make him stronger. "I don''t care about those words, just tell me more about this soul forge. Can it really make me stronger?" The two orbs ceased their bickering just as the dark one responded. "Well, Hero, this is your gift. I''m genuinely intrigued. How does this ''Soul Forge'' work? It appears that it, along with my demon castle, has become one with our hollow friend here. Probably a result of the merger after our untimely demise." "It''s not exactly the same... I used it to refine my enchanted equipment by gathering rare materials and refining them¡­ but this one¡­" "Hm, considering that the only thing of note is that heap of junk in the middle, do you mean that this place can somehow refine and improve on our friend''s metallic body?" "Hey, I have a name, it''s Rusty!" "Oh, my apologies~ What a magnificent name, Rusty. Rolls right off the tongue¡­" The dark orb chuckled in a way that Rusty, for some reason, didn''t appreciate. Unaware of concepts like sarcasm, he decided to let it pass. "How do I improve my body?" "If it works the same as before, you''ll have to gather the proper materials and learn the skills required for metallurgy and ore refining¡­" "Now that''s a good one, a living armor becoming a blacksmith and forging its own body!" Rusty, despite not fully understanding the implications of becoming a blacksmith for his own body, felt like he understood the gist of it. They were telling him that he could use the tools here to somehow enhance his own body, the only question was how. While the tools were there, he didn''t see any raw resources like ores or ingots. There wasn''t really anything to work with so he turned to the white ball of light that seemed to know this place more. "Where and how do I gather proper materials, how do I learn skills for this metallurgy?" "I¡­" He waited for the answer while the white ball of light gathered his thoughts. This was it, he would finally be given the answer that he was waiting for his whole existence. "I don''t know¡­ and I don''t quite remember ¡­" "Haha!" The black ball of light started laughing and it sounded quite menacing with that deep voice of his. Rusty was baffled by the response, not understanding how the white ball of light could do this to him. The answer was right there but he was being denied and he was starting to feel something strange coming out. "Huh? You don''t remember? Did you lie to me?" "Why would I¡­" As the ball of light was trying to answer, the whole chamber started shaking as Rusty''s voice became packed with more anger. "What is happening?" The two orbs started flickering along with the soul forge and the whole castle. It was as if this whole place was reacting to the rise of Rusty''s emotions, not something that the late Hero and Demon Lord thought he had. "Calm down, I just don''t remember! My memories, parts of them are missing, I really don''t quite recall how this place worked!" "Rusty my friend, calm your nerves. The Hero might be a fool but at least he is no liar." "..." The two observed the angered armor as the tremors subsided. Their forms, once trembling, started to recover along with the glow. Rusty, devoid of any readable expression, gazed at the two orbs, as if anticipating an answer. "It seems that our fragmented existence lacks some of our previous experiences and memories." "Fragmented existence?" "Yes, the two of us had perished. It seems you have somehow absorbed our essences that were recreated in this place." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh, it must have happened that time?" Rusty vaguely recalled his time within the void with other amoeba-like existences. Back then, he had absorbed something radiating the same light as these two orbs. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. The Soul Forge, it seemed, was a place that could enhance and refine his body, and Rusty acquired this ability by consuming these two beings with the peculiar identities of hero and demon king. "So, you''re saying that I have the power of a Hero and a Demon Lord within me?" "Not quite¡­ we are nothing more than shells of our former selves, but if you desire strength, then maybe there is something we can do¡­" The black orb, more talkative than the white one, floated over to what was supposed to become Rusty''s body. It circled it as if examining it before stopping. Soon after, the black orb started glowing, and to Rusty''s surprise, the corroded armor began changing color. From a bronze with many rusted parts, it transformed into pitch black. "That I would be reduced to this¡­" The demon king orb gave out a sigh after performing the strange phenomenon. His size had diminished and so did his light after he made the armor turn into a darker hue. "What did you do?" The white orb floated towards the now darkened armor and started to examine it as well. "I just infused some of my essence into the metal; it should be a tad better now. What do you think, Rusty, my friend? Helpful, aren''t I?" Intrigued by the change to his new form, Rusty approached and sensed that it had become stronger than before. He was drawn to it, wanting to exchange his damaged, corroded body for this enhanced version. However, before he could, the orb of white light voiced his concern. "Stop!" "Is there still something wrong?" Rusty asked, somewhat annoyed with the back-and-forth between the orbs. "Do you really think that I don''t know what you are trying to do, Demon King?" "Whatever do you mean, Hero?" The black orb replied in a mocking tone, while the so-called hero orb approached the darkened armor. Soon, it began to change colors again, growing brighter as the white orb infused it with its essence. Eventually, the color returned to a more bronze hue with a subtle intensified sheen. "There, that should balance things out¡­" "Quite the busybody, hero¡­" The two orbs resumed their disagreement, but Rusty wasn''t paying much attention. Instead, he focused on observing his newly transformed body, now infused with a blend of both of their essences. Though the corrosion remained, something had improved, and he was confident that this armor was better than the previous one. "Finally!" Rusty decided to proceed with the transformation; the Soul Forge didn''t appear to have anything else in store, and the white orb didn''t completely recall how it operated. There weren''t any more rooms to visit and he just couldn''t wait to finally ascend to a new form. Thus he immediately attempted to touch it even when the black orb voiced his concern. "How impatient¡­" He could feel his essence flowing into the stronger body while his old form crumbled to the ground. The transformation revealed his previous form, the dark silvery Divine-Demon Nucleus. It flew away from the old, damaged armor and slowly entered the new one, and the transformation was finally taking place. "I''ll give you one more piece of advice, Rusty. You might not want to use that absorption skill too much. While having many skills is a plus, you don''t want to become a Jack of all trades, master of none. It takes time to train thyself in many skills, so it would be better if¡­" "I think he can''t hear you anymore¡­" "What a shame, I still wanted to inform the silly monster about the dungeon heart, let us hope that he doesn''t do anything stupid, destroying it wouldn''t be the smartest idea¡­" As the Demon King was trying to lecture Rusty about the ways of using skills, the Hero interrupted. The armor in the middle of the soul forge had begun to fade soon after the nucleus made its way into it. "At least now we know that he can''t remain here after entering the new armor¡­ But both of us are still here¡­" "Quite the predicament we found ourselves in¡­" The Demon King and Hero exchanged glances for a moment. Both fell silent, realizing that their existence hinged on the strange monster they now inhabited. Though mere fragments of their former selves, they retained a wealth of memories and emotions from their previous lives. Still driven by desire, they recognized the potential of this living armor and pondered if steering it in the right direction could fulfill their lingering ambitions. "I don''t know what you are planning, but I won''t let you do it." "Whatever do you mean, hero?" "You know what I mean don''t even try to hide it." "Hah, not like you are any different. I can feel the anger seething out of there, you want to have vengeance and why not use a blade of another to fulfill that desire?" "..." The white orb remained silent after the question from the demon king. Soon it floated away towards the empty castle that was now his new home. This world seemed to exist in another realm or dimension but it was somehow tied to the living armor who was now in the process of returning to the world of the living. Rusty could sense the merging of the hero and demon king essences within him, intertwining and shaping his newfound form. As the process was completed, Rusty found himself standing tall in his new form. The once-damaged armor now felt stronger and more resilient. His senses were heightened, and he could feel the power coursing through his metallic body. Congratulations on achieving a new path. ''I have evolved!'' Once his vision returned, the familiar floor with the dead rodents was once again waiting for him. It was clear that he had returned to the dungeon and he found himself with both fists in the air in a sort of victory pose. He was quick to focus onto his status screen to see what the changes were and to no surprise, his attributes had gone up by a lot. Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 62/62 Magic Points [MP] 44/44 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 59 [ F ] Agility 39 [ F ] Dexterity 39 [ F ] Constitution 57 [ F ] Intelligence 39 [ F ] Wisdom 43 [ F ] Willpower 42 [ F ] Durability F+ ''Oh? All the minuses have vanished, and I''ve even gained a plus here!'' The first thing he noticed was that his attributes had increased by a minimum of thirty points, with his constitution and strength being even greater. Although he still had a lot of ''F'' letters in his status, there were no minuses, and even a few pluses, indicating that he had become stronger. While moving around, he could feel that his body was more responsive and agile. The once armor filled with many holes was now restored. To make things even more interesting, he could feel a strange energy radiating that could perhaps be attributed to the Twilight part of his new classification. ''This is incredible! I feel stronger, faster, and more alive than ever before! But this might not be all, I should go through everything!'' Basic Elemental Charge Active Skill Allows the user to imbue objects with elemental mana, outcome will differ depending on the type of the object. His previous skills like Basic Power Thrust or Slash didn''t see any changes, but there was one new skill that he had acquired from his evolution. After reading the explanation, he had an idea of what it did, so he was quick to give it a try. However, there was also another skill that sounded similar to the skill absorption one, this one focusing on materials, which he didn''t truly understand. Material Absorption Active Skill Allows the user to absorb compatible materials from various objects As he went through it, he recalled what the white sphere of light had said about the Soul Forge. He was supposed to be able to upgrade his body there, but there were no enhancement materials to work with. Perhaps this skill would allow him to gain such materials, or perhaps it would directly augment his body. This concluded his exploration of his new status and his visit to the strange Soul Forge. There didn''t seem to be a way to return to that location at this moment, and it was probable that he would need to max out his current level to revisit that area. It was time to test out these new skills, and the Elemental Charge one was first. Rusty gripped his sword, which had also changed to fit his current form more. He somewhat knew how to use his new skill, and as he attempted to activate it, he was presented with a question. Basic Elemental Charge has been activated on the Corroded Bronze Sword, please choose an element. ''Oh?'' He was presented with two choices: infuse the sword with the light element or the dark element. Without waiting for long, he decided to select the light element first and watched as the sword started glowing brightly. The light was more intense than any of the torches there, illuminating the area nicely. ''Is the light the only thing that it does?'' While he found this effect to be intriguing, he wasn''t sure if it would give him an advantage during combat. It would obviously give away his position to anyone in the vicinity, but perhaps there were some uses for it that he didn''t fully understand. After noting that his mana had dwindled by exactly twenty points, he activated the element of darkness. This time around, the blade was surrounded by a strange black haze. ''Is this good or not? It takes a lot more mana than the power slash and thrust¡­ so it should be good?'' Rusty asked himself the question while holding the darkened blade. The effect lasted for about a minute before the black smudge disappeared from his blade. He wasn''t sure, but perhaps after hitting someone with this darkened blade, it would have some kind of added effect to the strike. However, before he could truly grasp these new skills, there was more work to be done, and perhaps with his heightened stats, he would finally be able to challenge some of the humans and emerge victorious¡­ Chapter 9 - 08 – Going Down. ''Maybe those guys¡­ but there are so many of them¡­'' ''I should probably wait for a chance to present itself like last time!'' ''...'' ''Why do they always wander around in large groups?'' ''... How am I going to get stronger in an environment like this!'' Rusty continued to talk to himself with an annoyed tone while hiding behind a large pillar. His ability to resist the voice had increased, and he could now even look at the adventurers without being pushed into a frenzy, as long as he distanced himself. Since leaving the Soul Forge, there was no one to talk to, so Rusty developed an even bigger habit of talking to himself. After evolving from a damaged, rusted-over suit of armor to a slightly less rusted-over armor, he was searching for a way that would allow him to evolve even further. However, his plan to ambush another lone adventurer wasn''t working, as they always roamed around in larger groups. Even though his stats had increased significantly, and he had gained some new skills, Rusty still felt apprehensive about attacking a large group of adventurers. They always seemed too powerful, and the assistance he received wasn''t sufficient. Now that he was stronger and faster, he realized how slow the other living armors really were. The same could be said for any other monster there. He wanted to use them as a distraction, but they kept getting defeated before he could even sneak up to deliver a slash. ''Haven''t seen any of the groups fighting like the two last time¡­ Does that not happen often?'' Rusty noticed that after the incident with the two adventurers, the groups were more on alert than before. It was as if they reacted to the event and increased their numbers to avoid more trouble. ''Should I just go hunt some rodents? But¡­'' Another thing Rusty noticed was his experience bar. It began to rise much slower than before. He only needed to kill a few dozen rats, bugs, or large slugs to go from one to two before. Now, on the other hand, it seemed like the requirement was ten times as high. Things weren''t looking too good for him; at this pace, it would take him a month or longer to gain even one more level. ''I ended up here¡­ if only I could go down¡­?'' While scouting the environment to ambush a lone adventurer, Rusty followed a group of five towards the stairs leading to a lower level. Normally, he wouldn''t be able to approach these stairs as the voice inside his head would start complaining, but now it was different. Even after reaching the stairs, there was nothing preventing him from going down. It seemed that his new evolution allowed him to descend to a new part of the dungeon. Rusty wanted to do nothing more than to test his new body and skills, but this new discovery changed his plans. The only thing stronger than his drive for more power and levels was his curiosity. He was already looking forward to seeing new scenery and monsters on the lower floor. With caution, he descended the long flight of stairs, ensuring that he wouldn''t make too much noise. His body had changed and didn''t produce as much sound, but it wasn''t fully silent either. Luckily, it seemed that the group of adventurers he had previously followed had moved on to another location. After five minutes of walking, when he arrived on the floor below, there was no one there. As Rusty reached the bottom of the staircase, he found himself in a dimly lit corridor that stretched out in both directions. The air felt different, and he could sense a faint, eerie energy in the surroundings. Excitement and anticipation welled up within him as he ventured further into the unknown depths of the dungeon. The corridor twisted and turned, occasionally branching off into smaller passages, at first glance this lower floor seemed more compacted. Having more tightly knit corridors wasn''t necessarily good or bad. The sole advantage against adventurers in this dungeon was the abundance of monsters. With a sufficient number of them, it was possible to overwhelm even a larger party. Surrounding them in a corridor like this could be achieved, but it also restricted the area for attacks. There simply wasn''t enough space to approach the enemy from all directions. Though there weren''t many pillars for concealment, slipping into one of the numerous side corridors was an option for waiting. However, if a group entered after him, there would be no means of escape. Rusty wasn''t quite sure if he could outrun an adventurer even with his raised stats. His body wasn''t quite designed for running but he did have an advantage over the fleshy beings, he never tired. However, his body did become slower whenever his magic points reached zero, something that he learned to watch out for. As he continued with his traversal of this new space he noticed a commotion. There were people shouting and monsters growling in the distance. With a steady pace he continued through the corridor and peeked into the area that the sounds were coming from to finally discover a larger chamber. There was a party of five humanoid beings fighting against a monster type that he had never seen before. Curious as always he was quick to use his identification skill on one of these new creatures. Classification: Zombie L3 Type: Undead His skill had leveled up since through the time in the dungeon and he was now able to identify monster types as well as their levels. The sight of the undead creatures attacking the adventurers intrigued Rusty. The zombies were slow and clumsy, but they seemed relentless, pushing the adventurers back with sheer numbers. ''Zombies¡­ Undead¡­ Interesting! I wonder what''s the true meaning behind a monster type?'' Rusty observed, pondering the truth behind monster types and classifications. There likely existed a significance to the identification, but he couldn''t quite grasp it. The adventurers had a system similar to classification, but it differed. When he glanced at one of them wielding a sword and shield, he could discern some information. There was no type but only a classification as if the other one was hidden or didn''t matter as much. Classification: Fighter L7 Despite the relatively small level difference, it was evident from their movements that the adventurers were stronger. After undergoing his first evolution, Rusty had come to realize that levels could be deceptive. Even though he was merely a level one monster, he was far stronger now than when he was a Damaged Rusty Bronze Armor variant. ''attack¡­'' The voice inside his head gave him an order which he managed to resist. He was now able to observe without losing himself at all. At first, it looked like the adventurers were struggling, and the zombies were pushing them into a corner. Then in a strange flash of light, a large chunk of them tumbled down to the ground. ''What was that?'' The bright attack triggered a recollection of his new skill which allowed him to infuse his sword with a radiant light. It came from the adventurer who was in the middle of the group. It seemed that they were protecting him while the man was holding up a strange-looking necklace. It was composed of many beads and ended in a cross shape. This item looked to be the source of the light that was destroying the zombies in this chamber. Classification: Cleric L8 ''Oh, that''s a new one, would that be the fourth type?'' Rusty examined the man in the center effortlessly dispatching the undead creatures. This marked the first occasion he could identify this particular type of adventurer. The previous encounters had involved fighters, scouts, and thieves. He donned a loosely fitting robe, one that likely provided minimal protection, presenting a stark contrast to everyone else who, at the very least, wore leather armor. It was evident that each class fulfilled a distinct role. The fighters stood out as the physically strongest among them, typically clad in heavier armor. The scouts maneuvered with more agility, armed with a ranged weapon capable of launching pointed projectiles from a distance. Meanwhile, the thieves resembled the fighters but wielded shorter weapons such as daggers or shortswords and they were the most agile of the bunch. Initially, he pondered joining the battle due to the considerable number of those fleshy beings. Despite their initial sluggishness, they persisted in advancing even after being struck by weapons. Even losing limbs didn''t impede their progress, gradually cornering the adventurers. However, everything changed when the cleric intervened, managing to dispatch these formidable monsters with a burst of light. The cleric''s radiant power proved effective against the undead, but Rusty discerned an anomaly. The individual executing this feat appeared fatigued, and the bursts of light occurred at irregular intervals. It seemed as though this magical ability wasn''t something he could fully manage; there might be a limit to its uses, akin to Rusty''s constraints with magic points. This vulnerability was something that he could potentially exploit. ''What would happen if that light couldn''t be produced? Would the Zombies overrun them?'' Gradually, a plan took shape in his metallic head. If he could somehow disable the cleric, his allies might take care of the rest. The only hurdle was getting close enough to land a hit. The radiant light posed its own threat, as he wasn''t certain if it would affect him like it did the undead creatures. It appeared there was no way to close the gap without putting himself in danger, especially if he engaged in close-range melee. ''They didn''t have those on the floor above, could I use it?'' Classification: Skeletal Scout L4 Type: Undead His helmet swiveled to focus on another undead, this one wielding a bow. Strapped to its back was a quiver holding a handful of arrows that it shot in the direction of the adventurers. They defended themselves with shields, and the scouts retaliated with their own shots. It was apparent that the Skeletal Scout lacked power, but its arrows were reaching their targets. Rusty lacked a bow, and he wasn''t versed in archery. However, this presented no issue, as his absorption skill allowed him to acquire the skills of the skeletal monsters if he desired. With his increasing level, there was a possibility of executing proficient ranged attacks, a capability currently absent in him and the other living armors. "That should be all, let''s get the materials and get out of here before they revive." While he was devising his new scheme, the battle reached its conclusion. All the zombies and skeletons in the area were defeated, and the adventurers emerged victorious. Though they had not suffered any casualties, they appeared visibly fatigued. Rusty took note that they probably wouldn''t be able to handle another wave of monsters as effortlessly, something that could benefit his newest plan. Keeping this in mind, he withdrew momentarily. If he lingered, there was a chance that more random monsters could arrive. For the time being, he simply wished for the adventurers to depart, allowing him to inspect the large chamber with peculiar slabs of rocks protruding from the ground. Fortunately, the group only took another ten minutes to conclude their activities before retreating back into the corridor leading them back to the first floor. Rusty, who had concealed himself in a separate tunnel, reemerged and cautiously returned to the scene of the battle, where numerous monster parts lay scattered. He observed that the radiant light had the ability to reduce the skeletal monster bodies to dust and transform the zombies into larger piles, some with charred remnants remaining. ''That''s a powerful ability, will it destroy my body too? Should I try to learn it?'' The overpowering nature of the radiant light was evident, capable of annihilating multiple monsters simultaneously without direct engagement. Considering his absorption skill, there was a possibility for him to learn it. However, for that to occur, he needed to keep the cleric alive. Rusty lacked confidence in facing the entire group alone, and the other monsters wouldn''t wait for him to acquire the skill for himself either. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the adventurers gone and the area appearing clear, Rusty cautiously approached the remains of the fallen monsters. His metallic fingers sifted through the debris, as if searching for something specific. Luck was on his side as he spotted a damaged weapon, likely belonging to one of the adventurers. A broken spear was embedded in the remains of a zombie, its metallic tip deeply lodged in the flesh. Unlike the other monsters turned to dust, it seemed the adventurers deemed it unnecessary to remove this broken piece of weaponry or it was a remnant of another battle. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this weapon into base materials? Before arriving here, he had managed to decipher the Material Absorption skill on the upper level. It was a straightforward process; he just needed to find something containing metal, and the skill would activate. Parts of monsters, like other living armor, also worked, but only after they were slain by adventurers. This presented a challenge in refining their parts, as the monster remains would eventually vanish without leaving anything that he could gather. Material 1 Bronze 10% Material 2 [Unavailable] Iron 5% One limiting factor existed for this skill - there were certain material types he couldn''t refine from weapons. He was restricted to only absorbing bronze, copper, and tin. Once he selected the desired material, the process would commence. The broken piece of weaponry would start to glow and vanish before his metallic eyes. Though uncertain about the specifics, a graphical representation of this process appeared in his status window. The section was labeled the ''Stash Tab,'' and it was subdivided into many smaller squares. Currently, most of these squares were empty, except for three containing drawings of ingots. One represented the copper he had absorbed, the second one tin, and the last one bronze. Once he gathered one hundred percent of any given metal, it would transform into an ingot and be recorded here. Though currently unable to do anything with them, he anticipated that when he returned to the soul forge, something would be triggered. It also used SP as its main resource without having a long cooldown period as the skill absorption skill. At a slow pace, he continued to harvest any bronze and copper he could find. The strange slabs of rocks that were sticking out of the ground he identified as tombstones. It seemed that this place was some type of burial ground and the zombies that had been defeated started to slowly emerge back within the ground. It was as if they were moving traps that would spring out the moment someone approached from below. You have gained +1 experience points. While navigating the area, he stumbled upon a new discovery. In one corner of this place, there was a nesting ground for strange worm-like creatures. Upon seeing them, he decided to experiment and gained a point of experience after stepping on one. The encounter didn''t end there; shortly after squashing the bug, a peculiar purple mist shot up from its compressed body. You resisted the poison. ''Hm, poison?'' Being a being of living metal, Rusty lacked internal organs that could be affected by the poisonous mist. He grasped the concept that poison could have adverse effects on living beings, but it held no threat for him. After a brief moment of contemplation, he picked up one of the worms from the ground. It wriggled around, attempting to bite into his metallic body. After gripping it firmly, he gained another experience point and triggered the release of the poisonous mist. ''Those people did stay away from this side of the chamber, were they afraid of these things?'' His mind brimmed with new ideas on how to leverage these small creatures to his advantage. Soon, the rattling of bones caught his attention, signaling the reformation of a skeletal scout alongside the zombies. When he examined the quiver with arrows it held, along with the bow, a brilliant plan for his next hunt began to take shape. Perhaps, in the near future, he could accumulate substantial amounts of experience. However, before that, he needed to thoroughly explore the entire second floor to uncover any additional surprises that might aid his quest for strength. Chapter 10 - 09 – Using The Terrain. "Come here, you undead bastards!" "We don''t have all day! Come here!" Shouts of people filled a gloomy underground crypt. Many tombstones with strange markings started releasing foul-smelling fumes as bodies of undead creatures burst forth from the ground underneath. Tens of them emerged instantly, looking in the direction of where the shouting was coming from. The moment they spotted the few humans there, they started charging instantly. In the dim light of flickering torches, a group of determined individuals stood their ground, weapons drawn. Even though many undead monsters like skeletons and zombies were approaching them, they didn''t seem too bothered. Everything was going according to their plan as some ran around strategically to force the monsters into a more tightly-knit group. Soon many zombies were bumping into each other while charging after one of the adventurers. "That''s it, herd them together! We can''t waste too many spells on these trash mobs! Get ready, Edmund!" "Radiant light, source of grace so pure, I stand against darkness, my prayers will endure. Turn undead away, banish the night, In thy name, restore the sacred light¡­" In one corner of the undead crypt, a man stood, his rosary wrapped around his hands as he continued to pray to his gods. Under him a layer of radiant light was beginning to form and the more he continued to say his prayer the more of it appeared around his body. All the monsters that had been herded together were heading in the direction of this man named Edmund, something the people in here had planned all along. The group of adventurers had six members. Four of them had shields and heavier armor to protect the praying man, while one of them, who was more nimble, lured in the monsters. It was a surefire plan that this group had carried out a few times before, and their goal was to move into the deeper areas of this dungeon once their levels had increased. Even though a single zombie or skeleton didn''t offer much, with the help of divine magic, they could easily dispatch large groups of them instantly. "That should be enough, now hold!" On purpose, the group placed themselves with their backs to a wall. The zombies and skeletons could only come from one direction, which allowed them to lure in many more. The four fighters with the large shields pushed back against the undead creatures and waited for their cleric to finish the chant. Just like every time, once the spell erupted, these monsters would turn to nothing more than dust in the wind. "Grant me strength in this holy endeavor, Banish the shadows, let them fade forever. Turn Undea¡­" However, their halfheartedly created plan didn''t account for everything. At the moment the priest was about to finish casting the Turn Undead spell, something out of the ordinary happened. From an unknown direction, something flew in an arch and connected with the ground close to the cleric. Once looking at this projectile, they identified it as an arrow with a strange worm creature squiggling around as if it had been freshly impaled by it. As it wiggled around, a purple gas erupted from it, and it quickly started spreading through the whole area. To make things worse, it wasn''t the only one there; soon others started falling down in the general direction of this party that had led itself into a dead end on its own accord. It was not something that they expected to ever happen, as the monsters here were not intelligent enough for such tactics, nor did they detect any other adventurers who could have planned an ambush. "Shit, It''s poison mist!" "How did a crypt leech get over here?" The adventurers'' coordinated strategy fell apart as the unexpected poison mist engulfed the area. Panic set in among the group as they realized the dire situation they found themselves in. The cleric, Edmund, struggled to complete his incantation amidst the chaos. The mist, originating from the punctured crypt leeches, started affecting the adventurers, slowly weakening them. "E-edmund, quickly cast the cleansing spell!" "No, we need to get rid of the zombies first, cast Turn Undead first! What are you doing?" "I *cough* uh¡­" The cleric, Edmund, was struggling with the poisonous mist and the interrupted Turn Undead spell. He could not focus on chanting due to the poison and inability to do it while coughing so loudly. Even one of those worms could produce a large explosion of this mist and something from afar continued to shoot arrows in their direction. Even when the adventurers used their shields to bat them away, the pierced leeches continued to burst and produce more mist. To make things worse, they had attracted a large group of undead monsters that continued to push. "Shit this never happened before, this was supposed to be a safe zone for leveling, did the guild lie to us?" "Stop talking, we *cough* need to get out of here!" It was clear that their plan would not work. The cloud of poison was surrounding them, and the longer they stayed inside of it, the harder it would be to leave. They were all under the poison status now, and even their cleric was suffering and unable to cleanse himself. Soon they all charged out together and made a run for it, even though it was hard to break and move; they needed to do it to survive. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Come on, we need to get to the corridor; it isn''t far from here!" Luckily, there was an escape route nearby, a narrow tunnel not too far from here. They knew that if they were able to make it there, then even the zombies wouldn''t be able to follow after. Soon they made a break for it; everyone was coughing, and their skin was turning purple. They were losing stamina and health points at a rapid pace, but as long as they made it to the safe location, then their cleric could cleanse all of them. To their surprise, when they reached the tunnel that should lead them to a safe location, it was not the salvation that they expected, as an unknown person was waiting for them. At least that''s what they looked at first, but soon the adventurer party realized that it was not a human but a monster that shouldn''t be in this area. "A living armor? What is it doing here?" The team leader asked while charging forward, but before he could push the monster out of the way, a massive burst of poisonous mist erupted from the ground. To his surprise, the ground was littered with the small bugs, and the monster seemed to be purposely stepping on them while retreating into the tight corridor where even more poison awaited them. Considering this turn of events, running towards that location would become impossible, and they would quickly succumb to the poison. Eventually, the group of adventurers ran out of options. The monsters were unaffected by the poison in the air while they continued to suffer. Their bodies became sluggish, and some of them were finally caught by the horde they had enticed. The numbers were not something that they could contend with, and soon their loud screams filled this underground crypt. ***** Rusty observed the demise of the adventurer party with a mix of curiosity and detachment. The poison mist had done its job, rendering them vulnerable to the relentless attacks of the undead monsters. The living armor, hidden in the poisonous corridor, watched as the adventurers fought desperately for their lives. He noted how their once-coordinated group crumbled the moment he introduced something that they weren''t expecting. This was his test run for his new strategy. After previously discovering the hidden poisonous bugs, he decided to use them. On his back, he was wearing a quiver that had been emptied out a few moments ago. Right after the adventurers gathered the zombies, he set his plan in motion and started firing. Once the worms were pierced, there was some time to fire them before the toxic fumes erupted. The result was quite favorable, so he soon moved to the second stage of the plan. Before he attempted this, he took a whole week to examine his enemies and gather archery-related skills that had helped him in this new endeavor. Basic Power Shot Active Skill Perform a more powerful ranged attack. Basic Archery Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a bow, is required to unlock more powerful archery skills. With their help, he was able to somewhat aim his shots in the direction he wanted. The adventurers were ready to receive arrows that were shot directly at them from the skeletal archers, but they weren''t ready for him, who aimed at the blind spots and ground. Rusty quickly realized that strategy was key to getting stronger, as the monsters in this dungeon could be used in various ways to give him a shot at slaying these adventurers. He just needed to cut off their escape route with some of the poisonous bugs that he transported to this closest corridor; even if they charged in, the poison would do its thing, and now it was time for him to get involved directly. As the remaining adventurers fought desperately against the undead onslaught, Rusty stepped out from his hiding spot. His metallic form clanked softly as he approached the group which was still under the influence of the poisonous mist. The adventurers, weakened and overwhelmed, weren''t even able to react to his sword coming in from the back. "Argh¡­" His blade slid between the gaps in one of the man''s armor as he drew blood. His opponent was grappling with two zombies and unable to react to the third opponent that emerged from the now thick poisonous fog. As he drew his blade out of the wound, blood started spilling out, and the man soon was overpowered by the other monsters that started to rip his body apart. Rusty''s gaze turned to the others and the one with the cleric class in particular. This was the focal point of his strategy. Without this person, this group was incapable of defeating the undead creatures which they awoke themselves. He knew that if they took their time, they would have been victorious and his plan would not have worked. If they used their blades instead of the strange light, it would have taken longer but their defeat would not have come. As he drove his blade into the wheezing cleric, he tried to learn, as this was just the beginning of his journey. Congratulations you have gained a level. His mind was taken elsewhere as he heard the message informing him that he had leveled up. He momentarily stopped himself from attacking some of the remaining adventurers, which was a mistake that he would now remember. After the cleric went down, Rusty found himself flying into some of the other monsters as something collided with him from the side. His body was metal, but it was hollow inside, not something that could take strong blows. In the past, this would have caused him to break into multiple parts, but he was not quite the damaged rusty armor anymore; he was not that weak. After colliding with a skeleton and zombie, he managed to stabilize himself. When looking at his side, he could see a gash in his armor that had been formed by an axe swing. The owner of the axe was the only remaining human who had not yet succumbed to the poisonous mist. "I¡­ I will not *cough* die here!" The adventurer swung his axe with determination, aiming for Rusty''s vulnerable points. Rusty, realizing his mistake, quickly regained his composure and raised his sword to parry the incoming blows. The clash of metal echoed in the corridor as the rusty blade was pushed back and broken from the impact. Luckily, the lingering poison along with the other monsters was still there. Even when the adventurer wished to deliver the final blow, he couldn''t. "G-get off me¡­Ahhhh¡­'' His neck had been bitten by one of the monsters, and soon more closed in on him. The adventurer began swinging around wildly, attempting to pry the monster off him. His will to survive was commendable, driven by sheer desperation. Before long, Rusty''s broken blade made its way into the man''s flesh as he pierced it through one of the other monsters, a surprising feat for the one delivering the final strike. ''So it is possible?'' Congratulations you have gained a level. The battle concluded, and the mist began to clear away. The zombies continued to pile on top of the defeated adventurers in a gory display, while Rusty tried to comprehend how he had managed to pierce one of the other dungeon monsters. He soon concluded that it had only occurred by mistake during a confrontation with an enemy adventurer. When he attempted to strike any monster intentionally, he found himself still unable to do so. Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L3 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 69/69 Magic Points [MP] 53/53 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 67 [ F+ ] + 8 Agility 44 [ F ] + 5 Dexterity 45 [ F ] + 6 Constitution 64 [ F ] + 7 Intelligence 43 [ F ] + 4 Wisdom 48 [ F ] + 5 Willpower 48 [ F ] + 6 Durability F+ He didn''t have much time to deliberate on the possibilities as his attention was taken to his status screen. He noticed a few things, one of them being the much higher amount of stats that he was getting from these two levels ups than before. Previously he never got more than one attribute point in anything now he was getting multiple points in all of them. There was also one other interesting thing, his Strength stat received a plus to the letter ''F'' representing it. ''I think I get it¡­'' Rusty soon grasped the purpose of the letters. They served as a simplified means of gauging his power. After the numbers surpassed a specific threshold, the letter would transition. Although uncertain of the precise number, it appeared to be around sixty-six for the plus sign. Rusty speculated that if he halved this amount, then thirty-three might be the cutoff point for the minus sign. ''Could ninety-nine be the limit for the attributes? Does something happen once you get over it?'' There was no way for him to predict until he reached that point, but before that, he had other problems to address. Despite gaining two levels and defeating all the adventurers, his body bore the scars of battle. A massive hole adorned the side of his body from the recent axe hit, and his sword had snapped in the middle. Unsure of how to deal with his broken weapon and the injuries, Rusty faced uncertainty about how to proceed further without weapons and with holes in his body. ''Is there no way to take care of this¡­ Do I need to not get damaged before getting a new body?'' This felt somewhat unfair to Rusty, who grew weary of sustaining continuous damage. The adventurers proved to be a formidable foe, and he harbored doubts about defeating them without incurring any harm. Although he could risk death again, he remained uncertain whether he would be restored to the same state he had become. There had to be a way to mend himself, and soon enough, his system came to the rescue. While he stared at the destroyed blade and the hole in his armor, a pop-up screen materialized. Do you wish to use gathered materials to repair the damaged sword? Familiar with how these processes worked, Rusty promptly confirmed. As he did, the stash tab containing all his materials suddenly appeared. Please select the materials that you want to use. In his stash, Rusty found only three items: tin, copper, and bronze. To make things easier the icons representing the ingots were color-coded. The box containing the bronze ingot was green, while tin and copper were orange. Upon selecting the bronze, a peculiar phenomenon occurred on the surface of his broken blade. Gradually, it began to revert, as if time were being reversed, and within a minute, the blade was fully restored. ''This is it!'' With a cheer, Rusty held the restored sword high in the air. One of his major problems had just been resolved. Now, he only needed to concentrate on gathering more bronze to mend any future wounds. As long as he had enough, he would be able to restore both his body and weapons. The only downside was that it also used a few of his special points which would limit the repairs. ''Ah, no wait!'' His attention shifted back to the defeated adventurers, now mauled by the undead monsters. Before he could begin collecting their weapons and armor, the dungeon seemed eager to swallow them whole. The only item he managed to retrieve was the lone battle axe that had caused him an injury. ''There must be a better way of gathering those materials¡­'' While one battle had concluded, this marked only the beginning. Rusty, having tasted victory once more, felt his goal of becoming stronger drawing closer. He envisioned dominating this dark expanse, aspiring to become the strongest monster here and perhaps beyond. Chapter 11 - 10 – Dungeon Menace. Combining Tin and Copper please wait¡­ Bronze ingot has been created. ''It does work! Was this what the orange color meant?'' Rusty delved deeper into his newly discovered ability to use bronze ingots from his stash tab. He also had ingots of copper and tin, which he could combine to form the bronze necessary for repairing his body. Only after combining the two metals could he use them, as copper and tin didn''t integrate into his body independently. The process was intriguing, albeit costing SP, a resource crucial for many of his best skills. SP management posed a challenge; it took hours for the bar to recharge, and leveling up alone couldn''t increase the number. The only potential way to increase this resource was through evolving, and perhaps that was the sole method available. ''Now what should I do? What do you think?'' After shifting his attention away from the stash tab, he posed the question to a drooling monster. It was one of the undead, just standing in the crypt where he had dealt with the adventurers. The others behaved strangely for a moment; after the battle concluded, they stopped moving, and eventually, the graves they emerged from began to open. Slowly, some crawled back in, while others, like this one, stayed behind, becoming Rusty''s conversational partners. ''You don''t have anything to say Mr. Zombie? No one ever answers besides those two light balls, I wonder what they are up to.'' Some time had elapsed since his visit to the soul forge, and Rusty began to miss the creatures capable of conversing with him. This particular monster just stood there, with some sort of liquid oozing from its upper orifice. He gave it a few pokes, but the creature eventually departed when one of the graves opened up for it. ''Not even going to say goodbye? How rude! Fine, I''ll get stronger without your help!'' After shaking his metallic fist in anger, Rusty picked up the large axe that had remained. Fortunately, it didn''t vanish like the rest of the adventurer armor that the zombies brutalized. One other piece of equipment that he had managed to wrestle away from his monstrous friends was a sword sheath. After strapping it to his body he would not have to constantly hold his corroded blade with his hands anymore. It appeared that as long as he didn''t leave equipment on the ground for too long, the dungeon would not be able to absorb it. Perhaps it possessed a skill akin to his material absorption, which made sense as he often witnessed some of the holes within this place mending themselves. ''The voice hasn''t been telling me much since I got to this level, I wonder why.'' Upon descending to the second floor, he noticed something peculiar. The voice didn''t instruct him to patrol anything; it was as if he was somewhat free from its grasp. While it still prevented him from attacking other monsters deliberately, if he accidentally struck them, the voice did not intervene. Despite his attempts after the last battle, he found himself unable to perform an attack even from a distance. ''Should I stay here, or try another location¡­'' Rusty had emerged victorious, and his strategy appeared to be yielding results. However, for some reason, he felt an inclination not to linger here. The adventurers seemed to be cooperative beings, forming groups and coming to each other''s aid. Though uncertain, he couldn''t shake the feeling that someone stronger might arrive to investigate the fate of the defeated group. ''One of them mentioned something, a guild? I think this guild thing isn''t anything good but¡­ I won''t let it stop me either!'' Perhaps he needed to exercise caution, but this wasn''t the only spot where he could defeat enemies. Equipped with his quiver and poisonous leeches, he had alternative means to overcome other foes. These were not his only resources. Upon reaching the second level, he extensively explored the area and found other interesting things that could aid him. Thus, armed with the means to defeat the foes that he had previously feared, it was time for him to begin the hunt. He only had access to the first and second floor, but the latter was about twice the size of the one he was initially summoned to. While navigating through it, he encountered several interesting chambers, such as the zombie-filled one. It became evident that this floor contained more concentrated danger zones with fewer monsters traveling between them. There were other places that he could hunt the adventurers and there was no reason to just wait for another party to arrive at the crypt location. ''It must be my lucky day!'' After arriving at the next location, Rusty had to wait for a few minutes until his next target arrived. The place resembled a wide corridor with seemingly nothing interesting. However, upon inspecting the ground, he noticed strange square tiles with various symbols on them. When adventurers entered, they moved in a peculiar pattern over those square tiles, hopping between them. ''This one will be more difficult¡­ but I can do it!'' Rusty psyched himself up while preparing his new scheme. This room held a certain secret that could be used to defeat the four people passing through it. Once they were around the middle of the long corridor, he decided to make himself known. "Hey, what is that thing doing there? That''s not supposed to happen." The place was well-lit, and he was waiting at the other end where the party was heading. His metallic body was easily visible, but that didn''t matter as he only needed to place himself on a specific tile for his plan to work. As he stepped on it, a clicking sound resonated, and a large slab descended, blocking both the entrance and the exit. In response the adventurers started shouting, clearly confused by what was happening. "The monster set off the trap? Did the guild give us faulty information?" "T-the sides!" "Shit, get ready! The trap has been triggered!" One of the individuals pointed to various rocks sliding to the sides, revealing more monsters. A combination of zombies, skeletons, and corroded armor pieces that resembled the old variant to which Rusty used to belong slowly emerged from small pockets within the walls. They quickly turned to face the small group of adventurers. The monsters outnumbered the adventurers four to one, but this wasn''t an immediate death sentence. Rusty was well aware of the strength these adventurers could possess, and without bringing the poisonous worms with him, this plan would likely fail. "There is something wrong with that living armor¡­ what is it doing?" Basic Archery has reached level 3 As in the previous battle, Rusty employed the exact same tactic of introducing poison into this chamber. With both the entrance and exit now closed off, the poisonous mist produced by the little creatures spread rapidly. He fired off a few arrows into the distance to ensure that it covered the entire area, and just like before, the adventurers had no answer to this tactic. They began to cough, and in their weakened state, they became perfect targets for the monster onslaught. With not many arrows remaining in his quiver, but enough to produce the poisonous cloud, the rest of the battle would need to be fought at close range. Rusty had strapped his original sword to his body, but for this occasion, he wielded the sturdier iron axe he had taken from the other party. Charging at the group overwhelmed by the twenty or so monsters, he aimed to join the fray. "T-the cleansing potions¡­" Some of them tried to drink some type of blue-colored liquid but were unable to as they were rushed by the monsters from all directions. Their skin started turning purple and veins bulged out which gave Rusty all the information that he needed to know. Soon he swung down his axe at one of the people but to his surprise, he could not use it too well. ''Something feels off¡­'' The weapon was clearly superior to his one-handed sword, but Rusty found swinging it to be jarring. Even when he landed a few hits, they weren''t too precise and lacked power. He managed to use his power slash skill with it, but something wasn''t quite right; it was as if his current body was not suited for handling this weapon. It felt similar to the time when he was still only a Damaged Corroded Bronze Armor, and he had an inkling as to why this was the case. Soon, he decided to just throw the axe at one of the adventurers and pulled out his sword from the sheath. "Arghh¡­" "N-no stay away¡­" "I¡­ I can''t die here¡­" With the combined powers of the dungeon monsters and the poison the group of four eventually succumbed to the ambush. They thought valiantly and even managed to defeat ten of the undead monsters but the more they struggled, the more the poison spread within their bodies. Even after drinking potions, without being able to leave this trapped corridor it was pointless. Soon the whole corridor was covered in silence and Rusty was rewarded with another level up. Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L4 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 72/72 Magic Points [MP] 55/55 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 70 [ F+ ] +3 Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Agility 46 [ F ] +2 Dexterity 47 [ F ] +2 Constitution 67 [ F + ] +3 Intelligence 46 [ F ] +2 Wisdom 50 [ F ] +2 Willpower 50 [ F ] +2 Durability F+ ''Hey, stop eating them!'' The battle was won, and he had suffered a few minor scratches here and there. While it might not be the most honorable way of fighting, using the other monsters as meat shields was proving effective. Previously, he was unable to even harm one of these fleshy humanoids, but now he had successfully defeated two whole parties. His level had increased from one to four in just a span of one day, and perhaps there were even more gains to be had. ''Hey, give me that!'' After wrestling away a few pieces of armor, he started absorbing the metals inside. To his surprise, the best source of bronze was from the other corroded armor pieces left by the two living armors that had been with him. Their pieces were scattered around the corridor and seemed quite compatible with his skill. It appeared that after the monsters were considered dead, they reverted to just armor that he could now use. The loot here was a bit better, but soon it was vanishing like before. Rusty wished to collect more of everything to use later, but there were no areas in the dungeon that wouldn''t swallow them up. He discarded the axe he had used and instead decided to grab an iron longsword. It now became clear that without the passive skill for using certain weapon types, he would be unable to use them proficiently. ''I feel like I should be gaining some skills¡­ but I''m not¡­'' After these few confrontations, he was left pondering some of the leftover memories. He was sure that people were able to gain skills through means other than just leveling up. However, he had to use the absorption skill to gain most of his, and the rest were obtained through leveling up. Perhaps after he visited the soul forge again, one of the balls of light could give him an answer, but for now, he needed to move towards the third location. This was not the last spot he had discovered that could allow him to grind levels faster. Having used up the poison leeches, which were unnecessary for this location, Rusty now needed to gather more arrows. Soon, a few Skeletal Scouts were left without a quiver or bow, as the one he had used had also broken down. The repairing skill didn''t work on weapons acquired from others but only on his own bronze blade. The rest needed to be replaced by other means. After a long walk, he finally arrived at the last destination, which seemingly looked like a dead end with no place to go but down. He now stood before a deep chasm with no clear bottom. Even when he accidentally kicked some rocks down, there was no echo, as if it were a bottomless pit. Normally, this place wouldn''t offer much besides falling down to his doom, but in the distance was his current target - a set of dangling bridges. It was a path leading to a different section of this dungeon level and also the next set of stairs, probably leading to the third floor. During his scouting trip, he noticed that people tended to go through this place to reach the other side. There were only some monsters at both ends, but nothing on the sides. He was sure that no one was expecting him, as he had already confirmed it. ''They are getting information from this guild but they never accounted for me.'' The longer he lived in this dungeon, the more he could analyze his main opponents. Initially, these adventurers seemed like powerful foes that he could never hope to defeat, but now things were different. They were ill-equipped and unprepared for an unexpected turn of events, and he was starting to believe that they lacked intelligence as well. Thus, he waited for his prey to appear, and finally, after an hour or so, another group of four emerged. They dispatched the monsters that were waiting at the start of one of the bridges. Then, they continued on their way through the seemingly bottomless chasm. The bridge they took was made of wood and vine and would wobble around slightly. Yet, even with this danger, the adventurers didn''t seem to mind going through it together. Rusty wasn''t sure why they were so convinced that it wouldn''t crumble, but he attributed it to the same reason the other two parties fell - lack of intelligence and overreliance on old information. Soon, he notched one of the arrows into the bow and aimed. He found the perfect spot just so he could easily hit the adventurers who were passing over the bridge. The arrow started glowing as he used the basic power shot skill that he absorbed from the skeletal scouts. After releasing the arrow, it sailed through the air, finding its mark and striking the adventurer in the back. The individual staggered, letting out a cry of surprise. The others turned to look at the screaming man who staggered and fell over the bridge to his doom. ''Hah! This is too easy!'' Rusty felt something in his chest as he saw the man plummet to his doom. The continuous victories were slowly increasing his self-confidence that had been previously destroyed after his first two deaths. Quickly, he was realizing that perhaps these opponents weren''t as formidable as he previously thought. They were panicking and not really able to do anything, so he continued to unload more arrows without worrying about being hit himself. The tunnel he was in lacked any light, but the area where the bridge was situated was quite well-lit. As the adventurers scrambled to face the threat, Rusty continued to fire arrows from his vantage point. The wobbling bridge made it challenging for them to maintain their balance. The element of surprise gave Rusty a significant advantage, and soon, another target was hit, this time wounding another man on the leg. Due to the shaking and screaming, the monsters on the uncleared end were now alerted to the adventurers'' presence and started to slowly move in their direction, something that Rusty was counting on. The wounded adventurer struggled to stand, while his companions desperately tried to stabilize him. The monsters, sensing the vulnerability, closed in. Rusty continued his barrage of arrows, targeting the weakened individual. The glowing arrows struck with precision, causing chaos among the group. "Damn it! We need to get off this bridge!" One of the adventurers yelled. "I''m sorry¡­ but I''m not going to die here!" Another adventurer did the same, and to Rusty''s surprise, the wounded person had been abandoned while the other two ran to save their skins. With the target being more stationary, he decided to focus on the wounded man, as gaining experience was the main point of this strategy. While this allowed the other two to escape to a safe location, the man left behind eventually succumbed to the arrow barrage and also fell down into the dark chasm. ''Oh well¡­ two out of four isn''t bad¡­ but I didn''t get that much experience out of this one¡­'' He couldn''t help but feel a mix of satisfaction and disappointment in not being able to defeat the whole group before they ran. Chasing after them was a possibility, but he would probably not be able to find them. The continuous victories had bolstered his confidence, and he craved more. Thus, his hunt continued, and the dungeon had finally become his hunting ground, or at least that''s what he thought without realizing what he had set in motion that very day. Soon he would realize, that perhaps he shouldn''t have underestimated the people called adventurers. Chapter 12 - Patreon Announcement/Reminder +Bonus chapter? As some of you might know, this story also resides on my Patreon. It''s up to chapter 29 on it and you can read quite a few chapters just for 1€ and all of it for 10€ The link to my Patreon is: https://www.patreon.com/Kuropon Now you might be wondering why I put ''Bonus Chapter'' in the description. I have not yet recieved a single review and also not that many ratings, so I''m not sure how you people feel about this story. I would appreciate it if you could rate it and also leave a review of your initial thoughts, it doesn''t have to be an advanced one or highly rated either but I think you can lower and heighten ratings even after you make a review. So then, if I see the ratings going up and maybe 10 initial thoughts in the reviews, I''ll release a bonus chapter! So, if you are interested subscribe to my Patreon! However, remember that it charges each time on the 1st so it''s always better to wait until the next month starts before doing it. If you''re not that interested, I would still appreciate some ratings and initial thoughts on the story. Think that''s about it, I hope to see you guys later. Thanks for reading as always and hope you are enjoying this new story. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 13 - 11 – The Guild. "What are you talking about? That''s impossible." "Say that to my party member that got pierced by a damn arrow! That bridge was supposed to be safe, we followed the guild instructions and now both of them are dead!" "We would need to confirm your claims, the dungeon is set for another shift in another five months, it''s impossible that something changed this early." "How will you do that, they both fell into that bottomless pit, are you going to have someone climb down here? Even if they did, what would that accomplish, the dungeon would have swallowed up their bodies already!" "I understand, but please stop shouting¡­" "How can I stop? You sold us faulty information!" A large man was shouting at a smaller woman wearing large glasses. She was wearing a unique uniform that marked her as a member of the Adventurer Guild''s management staff. The woman took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure despite the heated confrontation. Her adventurer guild uniform was a striking blend of functionality and style, designed for both practicality and recognition. The rich navy blue fabric, though understated, carried a strong visual identity. The outfit featured a floor-length skirt that gracefully reached the ankles, and a prominent guild badge adorned with a layered arrangement of sword, shield, and staff, indicating her affiliation with the guild. "Is there a problem?" A man asked, his voice calm but authoritative. "Ah Sir¡­" Amidst the commotion, a person materialized beside the woman, who served as one of the many receptionists in the expansive building. The counter they occupied was just one of many within the vast structure. For her safety, especially from the adventurer elements, her section of the counter was segregated and protected by thick metallic bars. The man who appeared stood on the adventurer''s side, who showed no signs of backing off despite the circumstances. "The problem is your guild selling faulty information." Other adventurers and onlookers began to turn their attention toward the unfolding scene. In a place where reliable information was crucial, claims of a disturbance attracted the curiosity of those seeking help. The man who had appeared seemed prepared to request the adventurer to quiet down, but before he could speak, another adventurer chimed in, adding to the growing interest and speculation among the onlookers. "Hey, haven''t some of the new parties not returned yet? A priest from the church was here the other day, I think that he was asking for a cleric who didn''t return from an expedition." "Now that you say it¡­ I think another group had also gone missing¡­" Everyone started mumbling and the news that something strange was happening within the dungeon. The woman behind the counter exchanged a quick glance with the man who had appeared beside her. It was clear that they were not expecting such an uproar over what seemed like an isolated incident. The adventurer guild took pride in providing accurate and up-to-date information to its members, and any suggestion of misinformation was a serious matter. "If this has any validity¡­ then we need to investigate." The man looked to the receptionist who quickly turned to the man who had been shouting before. "Sir, could you please calm down and provide us with more details? We take these matters seriously, and we will investigate the claims. This gentleman here will take your statement, so please follow him." The adventurer exchanged glances with the brawny man from the guild, who sported an eyepatch over one eye, reflecting a grizzled and experienced demeanor. They eventually moved to a more secluded spot where the younger man gathered himself and began to explain the situation. He recounted the events that unfolded in the dungeon, emphasizing the strange attack coming from a faraway location. "An arrow? Was it a Skeleton Scout?" "No, I saw it for a moment, it looked different¡­ it was reflecting light and wearing armor." "Armor?" The man with the eyepatch furrowed his brow, deep in thought. The details provided were intriguing and raised questions about the nature of the dungeon''s inhabitants. He took notes on the adventurer''s statement, making sure to document the discrepancies between the reported incident and the guild''s information. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. In the meantime, please refrain from spreading panic among the other adventurers. We don''t want to cause unnecessary chaos." The brawny man spoke with authority, and the adventurer nodded in agreement. After managing to calm down a bit the man that reported the issue went away and the adventurer guild staff remained. "What do you think, guild leader? Was that person making it up?" The receptionist lady asked the man after the issue was resolved. The adventurers inside the guild continued to whisper and chat, it was now something that they couldn''t ignore. "It might be a lie but¡­" "But?" "We can''t ignore it now, the guild''s name is on the line, schedule a meeting for the scouting party and let them check those claims." "Of course, sir." "Don''t call me sir, I''m not that old, I''m only thirty eight!" "Uh¡­sure¡­" The man scratched his beard before walking away, leaving the lady receptionist to roll her eyes in annoyance. Once he was gone, she resumed her work, realizing that it was now her responsibility to get to the bottom of this situation. Assembling a scouting party became imperative; while adventurers going missing wasn''t an uncommon occurrence, the fact that they vanished within a seemingly safe zone added an unusual element to the mystery. ***** ''What was different that time around? I''m not getting the same feeling with these creatures now¡­'' Rusty pondered, reflecting on the successful adventurer slaying he had executed some time ago. Memories of his first kill resurfaced, the necessity to use his helmet to incapacitate one adventurer, and the subsequent struggle to deliver a finishing blow to an injured woman, which then led him to almost being discovered. Over time, he had slain multiple adventurers, and any initial remorse had faded. Instead, he found himself fixated on leveling up and growing stronger. ''Was it because they were injured by another person? Hm, that''s not quite it¡­'' Since his visit to the soul forge, Rusty had experienced a surge in strength and wisdom. He now knew that he had swallowed two entities, which somehow fused with his essence. The black orb claimed that the knowledge inside him belonged to these two orbs. Rusty could only deduce that his actions might be influenced by those memories or the entities themselves. However, as he grew stronger, their hold on him seemed to waver, and he considered the possibility that he was becoming more of his own person. ''Not like these creatures would show me any mercy either and they kill the others with no remorse either, there is no reason to stop! But¡­ it doesn''t feel great either¡­'' Rusty didn''t outright reject the memories of the two orbs; he recognized that it was thanks to them that he advanced further in his quest for strength. Those memories guided him towards a more strategic approach in combat, emphasizing the importance of being sneaky and engaging the enemy once the playing field was leveled. As he grew stronger, Rusty began to feel that a direct approach was now possible, but only against weaker opponents at the upper levels. ''There is no honor in hunting a much weaker foe or one that doesn''t give me any experience points!'' With time, the sentient piece of armor developed its own set of rules and a moral compass. While it deemed humans as worthy foes, it refrained from taking the direct route. However, a conflict arose within Rusty as he harbored the desire to face them head-on eventually, seeking a fair and equal battle to determine the superior fighter. One part of him urged for more subterfuge and treachery, emphasizing the element of surprise as his primary weapons. Another part, however, craved a more honorable approach. Now that Rusty could restore his armor without relying on the voice, the prospect of a more honorable approach seemed plausible. The internal conflict continued to shape his evolving moral compass and approach to combat. Uncertain if his current mindset was the right way to think, Rusty grappled with the conflict within him. However, one thing remained paramount - his main goal of achieving strength. The notion of having power simply for the sake of an easy life didn''t quite sit well with him. ''Could the answer be somewhere in the middle?'' Rusty considered that perhaps the correct path forward lay in the middle and found balance while seeking guidance from both sides. Why choose between two extremes when the middle ground seemed like a viable alternative? ''All this thinking is making my head hurt¡­ that is if I had anything inside of it!'' A piece of armor started quivering around as it tried to imitate laughter but instead was shaking menacingly. The only other being that was here with him was an unmoving zombie that was drooling all over itself. Without any adventurers around these things just stood there without even moving or patrolling. ''Cheer up.'' Rusty pushed his metallic fingers into the monster''s mouth in an attempt to make it smile. However, he wasn''t too delicate with it, causing the jaw to become dislodged. Instantly, he received a warning from the dungeon voice, interpreting it as an attack against another monster - something he hoped to be rid of eventually. ''Okay, okay¡­ I''ll put it back in place!'' Rusty attempted to grab the wobbly jaw and put it back into place, but his efforts only exacerbated the situation. The dungeon voice became so loud that he was forced to back away and leave the zombie alone. The monster was left with a strange perpetual open mouth, its jaw barely hanging on by a few skinfolds. ''Now then¡­ should I head up? Or remain here instead?'' After dealing with almost three adventurer parties he was feeling good about himself. Rusty contemplated his next move. The lack of adventurers at the designated spots left him in a dilemma. He could either continue his assault on unsuspecting parties or he could ascend to the level he was created in and try his luck there. The groups that roamed that floor were weaker but there weren''t as many opportunities there either. ''I should go see the first floor, no one has gone through here in a while.'' Eventually, Rusty decided to return to the upper levels. He observed that, for some reason, he hadn''t encountered any other parties venturing down since his previous victories. A fleeting doubt crossed his mind about whether using the bridges had been the right decision; he hadn''t gained much experience there, and two humanoid creatures had managed to escape. Nonetheless, there was no harm in returning to the upper levels for a closer look. Rusty grabbed his new bow and poisonous leeches before making his way back up. On the way up, as Rusty began ascending the stairs, he noticed that his poisonous ammunition burst into fleshy bits. It became evident that taking living creatures from the lower floor to a higher one was not possible. The reason for this limitation eluded him, but it meant he would be unable to employ his previous tactic of poisoning his enemies through the air, at least not in the same manner as before. ''I guess this will have to do¡­'' Adapting to the new circumstances, Rusty opted to smear his blade and armor with the poison that liquified. While he aimed to face opponents more directly, he wasn''t willing to forego the benefits of poison. His immunity to this status effect was a part of his strength, and he intended to use it to his advantage. ''GO!'' ''Oh, it''s back?'' Back on the first floor, the voice urged Rusty to start patrolling once again. While it remained one of his fears, he recognized that he needed to move around in certain areas. However, he could now take breaks and be more cautious of the route than before. This approach allowed him to keep an eye out for potential targets, offering him the opportunity to engage in a proper display of strength. Even if Rusty faltered and started losing, he knew he had one secret technique that would likely allow him to survive. This assurance kept him from worrying too much about the potential challenges he might face. Everything felt quite familiar to Rusty, considering he had spent most of his short life on this very floor. The atmosphere remained the same, with the sound of distant footsteps and muffled voices reaching his metallic ears. While it seemed like there were fewer people around, he didn''t dwell on it and proceeded toward the source of the sounds. Arriving at the area where he was once defeated, he noticed that the same vitality leaf had reappeared. Just like before a party of adventurers appeared, this one only consisted of three people. Their levels were lower than the people that he encountered at the lower levels and it seemed that there was also no one hiding up on the walls. Fighter L4 Fighter L4 Thief L3 Rusty easily identified the levels of the group and made a decision. This presented a good opportunity to test out his leveled-up skills and stats. The chamber was spacious, and other monsters were present, potentially aiding him in keeping two of the three opponents busy. First, he examined the group''s attire to locate the best target for the upcoming battle. The two Fighters had the exact same level but wielded different types of equipment. One held a metallic club, identified as a mace, while the other held a sword. Knowing that his body was most susceptible to blunt attacks, Rusty decided that facing the man with the sword was a better idea. Despite his desire to prove his strength, caution remained a priority. Soon the first stage of the plan commenced as he allowed the other monsters from the dungeon to notice the group of three. Even though his side had the numbers advantage, his brethren were quite easy to dispatch. The other armors could be kicked away and they would crumble into many pieces. The monsters within the chamber started to converge on the adventurers. The Fighters swung their weapons at the approaching armors, easily dispatching them with powerful blows. The Thief darted between the attacks, finding openings to strike at the monsters from behind. Despite the adventurers'' lower levels, their teamwork and coordination were impressive. The events unfolded in a manner similar to the previous battle, and the group seemed to encounter no problems as they approached the vitality leaf pronounced by the light hitting the tree stump. It was now time for Rusty to make his appearance, knowing he would only get one surprise attack, and he needed to make it count. "Argh!" Armed with his poison sword and a body that didn''t produce as much sound, Rusty finally jumped out from behind a destroyed pillar. His blade shone as he activated the Power Thrust skill, plunging his weapon into the mace wielder''s thigh. The man was shocked and turned around while swinging his weapon, but Rusty quickly performed a backstep to avoid getting hit. Even though his primary target was the sword wielder, Rusty knew he needed to weaken the other two first. His blade, smeared with a potent poison, served as the perfect distraction, and now the battle was fully underway. "What? Where did that thing come from?" The second fighter shouted while quickly trying to aid his now injured friend. As expected, a kick was sent in Rusty''s direction, but this time he was ready. He had identified a significant weakness in himself - his body was metal and more resistant than the fleshy skin of his enemies, but it was hollow inside, making him relatively light. In contrast, the human he was fighting likely weighed three times his own weight or perhaps even more. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Utilizing this knowledge, Rusty agilely dodged the kick, allowing the Fighter to overextend and lose balance. Taking advantage of the opening, Rusty retaliated with a series of quick slashes aimed at the fighter''s exposed areas. While most of the attacks didn''t hit, one managed to nick an area between the armor Rusty was using. His sword, now covered in blood, still retained some poison on it. His plan seemed to have worked as the man with the sword started chasing after him. The thief, on the other hand, attempted to aid his friend but was surrounded by some of the other weaker monsters still present. More and more continued to rush in, and while previously they wouldn''t have been a problem, now one of the men was injured, and the other needed to protect him from the increasing numbers of enemies. "This is it!" Rusty parried the sword strikes and continued to hold his own against the human. He could discern the attack patterns, and his body was now able to react. Despite suffering some slashes, he returned them in kind, finally savoring the proper battle he had hoped for all this time. Chapter 14 - 12 – Craving Battle. ''I''m really doing it!'' Rusty''s sword grazed his opponent''s cheek, causing his rage-filled expression to waver. The poison was doing its work, further weakening the adventurer. Rusty seized this opportunity to push the advantage, relentlessly pressing his attacks. The Fighter who was now visibly fatigued, struggled to defend himself against the relentless assault. Meanwhile, the other fighter, along with the thief, was having some trouble against the other monster skeletons and living armors. It seemed they were not prepared for this type of situation, as only on the floor below did the poisonous leeches exist. Without having to worry about these status effects, it was possible that these individuals didn''t bring any antidotes for such an occasion, and Rusty''s tactic was relying on this possibility. He persisted, slowly improving his own movements. It was a strange feeling, but he could sense his actions becoming more refined and his body reacting in a more streamlined fashion. The fact that his opponent was affected by the poison also helped, but Rusty was actively becoming stronger and learning from his first real one-on-one confrontation. Basic Swordsmanship has leveled up. A message sounded out, but he ignored it and stepped in to deliver a blow to his opponent. Instead of the scratches he was making before, this one strike drew blood on the man''s side. Rusty didn''t go uninjured, though, as the man''s blade also made its way towards his chest. However, even though this wasn''t the first gash on his armor, he was still able to continue. His body was made of metal and ran on mana and not blood. As long as his limbs weren''t pulled apart or destroyed, he would be able to continue without ever tiring. This was one thing he noticed about these adventurers that he didn''t have - a stamina meter. Rusty always kept his distance before attacking, and he had observed that his enemies suffered from a debuff of sorts that made them sluggish. There was a similar state when it came to him when he depleted all of his mana, but as long as he had some left, he could move around without ever getting slower. As the Fighter stumbled backward, Rusty seized the opportunity. With a powerful swing of his poisoned blade, he aimed for a critical strike. The sword connected, slashing through the Fighter''s armor and inflicting a deep wound. The adventurer fell to the ground, defeated and writhing in pain. It was time to savor his victory and deliver the final blow. Rusty moved in, his blade raised high as he prepared to activate his power slash skill. With one grand attack, he was attempting to dislodge the man''s head from his neck - a rather large weak point that these humanoid creatures had. The other two were close to beating the other monsters, so he needed to hurry, but before the last strike could be carried out, an unfortunate event occurred. The attack came from behind, connecting with his raised arm that was holding the sword. It went into the metal and took his whole forearm, along with his sword to the ground. To his surprise, the three adventurers here didn''t seem to be alone, as another person appeared to aid them. He quickly turned to the person to attempt an identification check, but to his surprise, he could not perceive this person''s level - a situation that had never happened before. Archer L?? The mysterious archer, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere, was an enigma to Rusty. His level remained hidden and shrouded in mystery. Despite the shock of losing a large portion of his arm, Rusty was still able to remain calm. He was an inorganic being that could not feel any pain, even if his arm was gone it would not affect his psyche. The archer held a longbow and was already nocking another arrow and ready to fire. "What''s with that living armor, it''s different from the others?" The archer spoke out from afar and was ready to fire again, but some luck was still on Rusty''s side. Monsters from within this large chamber moved towards this man''s location and forced him to focus on them. However, this person was much more nimble than anyone that had previously visited this dungeon. With one shot of his bow, he was able to pierce through multiple monsters and embed them on a nearby collapsed pillar. It was clear that this person was vastly superior to anything that Rusty had seen before and probably not someone that he could face without subterfuge. ''It might be time to use that¡­'' While the fourth adventurer was momentarily busy, Rusty decided to grab his arm that was now on the ground with a large arrow inside of it. This arrow had pierced right through his gauntlet and vambrace parts, just in the place where they connected. The ground was brittle enough for him to be able to yank it back out and after connecting it back to his body, he was able to move it around as the elbow joint went undamaged. However, the enemy that he had almost defeated had used this chance to get away. Pursuing him would inevitably expose Rusty to another arrow from the skilled archer. Instead, he hoisted his blade high into the air in a manner visible to all. This tactic successfully diverted the adventurers'' attention, as their gaze fixated on the raised sword. "What is that thing doing?" The adventurer who had previously appeared called out, having quickly cleared the monsters around him in less than half a minute. His gaze was fixated on the raised sword, and simultaneously he readied another arrow to target Rusty standing nearby. To his surprise, before he could release his projectile, a blinding surge of light erupted from the rusty blade. "W-what? Damn, my eyes!" Rusty had just enough mana in himself to use the Basic Elemental Charge skill that he had learned. Opting for the light element, he infused his sword to create a dazzling burst of radiant light. Although it wouldn''t inflict direct harm on the adventurers, it served its purpose by momentarily blinding them and providing Rusty the opportunity to escape. With haste, he dashed into one of the numerous corridors, stifling the persistent calls of the dungeon voice urging him to continue the fight. The compulsion to heed the voice lessened upon activating the elemental skill, a perk Rusty had tested and discovered earlier. His secret technique involved fleeing while suppressing the commands for slaughter from the persistent voice. The other monsters could not hold themselves back from attacking which would keep the adventures from catching up to him. Despite being encased in heavy metal armor that hindered his speed, he remained unconcerned about traps or monsters, something the pursuers would have to contend with. ''It might be better to go down to the lower floor!'' Rusty made his way to the staircase leading down to the lower floor. His metal footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor as he made his escape. The adventurers, still recovering from the blinding light, struggled to give chase. The archer, in particular, had difficulty adjusting his vision and the pursuing monsters proved to be an additional hindrance. ***** "What the hell was that? I''ve never seen a living armor act like this¡­ or any monster before?" "Oy, what''s the hold-up?" Having successfully eluded capture, Rusty left the adventurers behind in the chamber where the vitality leaf spawned. As he made his way to safety, three other people arrived from behind the corridor that the archer ventured through. The one that called out to him was clearly of the dwarven race. "I think we are finished with the scouting job." The archer squinted while some tears escaped from his eyes. The dwarven companion started chuckling mockingly, clearly trying to rile up his companion. "Are you crying? Do you need me to call your mommy?" "What? That thing just uses some type of blinding spell¡­ It caught me off guard, it won''t happen again" "Haha, are you sure you didn''t just pee your pants instead?" The dwarf''s grin widened, and his laughter echoed throughout the expansive chamber. The archer, growing increasingly irritated, pointed his bow in the direction of his carefree ally. The dwarven man, in response but still grinning, raised his large halberd in a defensive stance. However, before the situation could escalate another voice resonated from behind them. "Hey, Reistel knock it off, leave Keyon alone, we all saw the flash of light, you''d have been blinded too." A woman wearing dark leather armor appeared between the two and managed to calm the situation down. "Hah, you humans are easy to rile up!" The woman shook her head around and turned to the man named Keyon for some clarification. "What happened? What was that bright white light?" "I''m not sure, either the monster was using a magical blade or it''s an Irregular." "An irregular monster has spawned on this floor? But the information stated that strange things were happening on the second floor but not on this one? If it''s an irregular, then we need to chase it down!" "Wait, calm down Livi, I got it with one of my arrows, as long as it has it, I''ll be able to track it. We should probably help those three newbies first, two of them seemed to have been poisoned by that thing." The woman, referred to as Livi, sighed and nodded in agreement. A fourth member emerged from behind, clad in a heavier set of armor and wielding a large tower shield. Without uttering a word, he moved toward one of the corridors where a few monsters began to emerge. While the trio focused on assisting the lower-level adventurers, he effortlessly dispatched the small wave of insignificant monsters, each with a single strike from his large mace. "You have our thanks." "No problem, but first take this antidote and then tell us about what happened here." "Of course." The thief quickly received a blue potion to aid his two party members, with the majority administered to the injured fighter who had fallen victim to the surprise attack. Despite losing a considerable amount of blood and succumbing to poisoning, the mysterious mending liquids allowed for rapid recovery. Following the administration of the antidote, the fighter''s skin complexion gradually shifted back from its previous purple hue. Afterward, a red potion was employed to seal the wound inflicted by the living armor''s blade. "This should do but your friend lost some blood, he will still need some time to recover. Now, tell us what happened here." Livi posed the question now after the trio of adventurers seemed to be alright and they quickly replied. "It all happened when that weird armor appeared, it actually surprise attacked my friend here." "Do living armors have a sneak attack skill?" "I don''t think so¡­ they should be more similar to fighters and later knights? But if it''s an irregular monster, then perhaps it had gained some thief skills?" The adventurers began pondering the situation among themselves as the party that had encountered the living armor recounted the events. They explained how the armored adversary had struck with a weapon coated in poison, incapacitating one of their comrades. Additionally, the metal monster had cleverly employed the other ones as a shield, isolating the remaining fighter from the group. "That''s quite the intelligent monster¡­ either it was all luck or this thing is more like a natural monster than a dungeon-created one, what do you think, Keyon?" "Considering that it had chosen to escape when in danger, it seems to have a sense of itself and survival instincts, could a monster from outside have wandered into the dungeon instead of it being an irregular?" "This is quite strange indeed¡­ but weren''t normal monsters supposed to be afraid of dungeons? Wouldn''t the other monsters attack them instantly?" "You make a good point there¡­ It must have been a monster from this dungeon, there is no other explanation for it." Keyon responded to Livi, who was grappling with the strangeness of the situation. The behavior of this irregular monster seemed to be different and didn''t make much sense. From time to time such an irregular monster would appear in a dungeon. They were usually mini-bosses that had heightened stats. The monster that almost killed a man in this party at first seemed like one. However, just the fact that it chose to escape made it seem like it was not a typical irregular monster. Then there were outside monsters that had a more self-centered identity, it would make sense for them to act like this. However, typically, monsters with higher intelligence, born outside dungeons, would not venture into such domains. A force usually kept them at bay, and as long as a dungeon heart was present, they would be repelled. Only higher-tier creatures could overcome this barrier, and the living armor they encountered did not seem to possess that level of strength. "Oy, what you two worrying about?" "Huh?" As Keyon and Livi attempted to comprehend the situation, their bushy-bearded dwarven companion chimed in from the side. Leaning on his halberd with a grin, he quickly added. "Don''t we just need to slay that thing and our job will be over? If it runs away from someone like Keyon here, then it can''t be that strong. I bet the guild will give us a nice bonus if we take care of it!" "Well, that''s¡­ True¡­" Livi replied while Keyon frowned as Reistel implied that he was weak. "This mission was just to scout out the second floor, but tell me Keyon how strong was that monster?" She asked again while assessing the situation. Livi, as the leader of the party, faced the need to make a decisive decision. The targeted monster might be nearby, which would enable them to swiftly accomplish their mission. Despite not deeming this dungeon overly dangerous, they remained cautious and recognized that a few areas could be problematic even for them. "I don''t know, some Irregulars are capable of calling in reinforcements quickly¡­" "What of it? All these monsters are just F-rank, we can deal with all of them easily!" The dwarven man chimed in, his halberd now positioned over his shoulder. It was clear that he wanted to push on to take care of this creature now and not wait for later. Livi turned her attention to her archer companion for some confirmation as it was he that had seen the creature. "How strong was it?" "I didn''t manage to identify the name but by its movements, I''d say that it''s at most an F plus rank." Distracted by the presence of the three adventurers and the other monsters, Keyon was unable to identify the monster''s classification and level. Nevertheless, his keen observational skills allowed him to gauge the opponents'' levels to some extent, even without directly consulting their status screens. "F plus? Haha, this is going to be easy money! I say we go after it! You said that you would be able to track it, right?" "Sure but what about these guys?" Keyon pointed to the three young adventurers who had been injured previously. They had been weakened and one of them could not walk on his own. This was when the previously silent member of the group approached. Despite his imposing appearance, his eyes showed a glimmer of concern as he examined the injured adventurers. "I''ll take them to safety." "Aye, let us leave it up to Dedrick!" Eventually, the leader of the group gave in to the request and they split into two groups. Dedrick took charge of guiding the three injured adventurers to safety, with the plan to reunite with the main party afterward. Meanwhile, the remaining members decided to pursue the monster, their aim to complete their mission and perhaps get a better reward after. They moved quickly through the corridors, effortlessly dispatching the low-ranked F monsters that posed no challenge to their skilled party. After a while, they reached a juncture, a place that they didn''t expect. "Hey, isn''t that one of yours?" "Yes, it is¡­" "Can you still track it?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "For a short while but¡­" The group found themselves in an unexpected location - at the stairs leading to the lower floor of the dungeon. The arrow that had pierced through the living armor''s forearm lay on the ground, indicating that the creature had descended further into the lower level. "Can Irregular monsters normally go between floors?" "They shouldn''t¡­" "Now this is getting even more interesting, an irregular monster that acts like a monster from outside the dungeon!" The dwarven man was quite intrigued by this turn of events but now the party needed to make a decision. Should they venture further down into a potentially more hazardous area, or would it be wiser to contact the guild and request backup before proceeding? Chapter 15 - 13 – Tactical Retreat. ''What was up with that guy? Why was he so fast?'' Rusty asked himself while almost tumbling down the stairs to the lower floor of the dungeon. A hole remained from the arrow that had pierced through his arm, but its size didn''t warrant spending his precious bronze resources on repairs just yet. One bar of bronze from his stash tab could mend a much bigger opening so it was better to save it until his injuries increased. As a monster, he didn''t experience pain and wouldn''t suffer from conditions like bleeding but was instead reliant on external factors for his healing. If he ever found himself battered without enough bronze ingots around, he would be done for. Until finding or developing a passive method for repairs, he needed to be extremely watchful of his body''s status. The encounter had left him with more questions than answers. He hadn''t anticipated such a powerful opponent appearing out of nowhere. Fortunately, his secret technique had proven effective and it confirmed his observation of his humanoid enemies. Their eyes were a weak point that he could exploit with bright lights, something that he was also immune against. ''Well, I should be safe now¡­ at least I got in some practice, so it wasn''t totally a waste, next time I''ll be victorious.'' He was not someone to dwell on past mistakes and even in this loss, he could see the value in the experience. It demonstrated that he had indeed become much stronger than before and showcased his capability to contend directly with adventurers. At least the ones that visited the first floor of the dungeon, without truly needing poison. It gave him a small confidence boost but also showed that he wasn''t quite there yet either. ''My attacks lack a bit of weight to them though¡­ is there something that I can do about that?'' S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the confrontation, he realized that his hollow body was a serious weakness, and addressing this fact could enhance his all-around strength. While contemplating this important issue he encountered his old friend, the zombie with the slacked jaw that he caused. After observing this monster''s size he was surprised by its perfect dimensions that were just below his. Instantly a thought crossed his mind, what if he allowed himself to be worn by this zombie, would he be able to become a lot more robust? This was quite an intriguing idea and he approached the slack-jawed zombie to test it out. Placing his helmet on top of its head was relatively easy, but it became increasingly challenging to position any of his other parts. He managed to dislodge his breastplate and strap it to the monster but anything after that became a puzzle he could not solve. The moment he removed one of his gauntlets it became impossible to affix anything else. Also, removing his sabatons or greaves just caused him to lose his balance instead. ''Even though the zombie isn''t moving much¡­'' The main problem was that he had to split his perception between multiple parts, something that he was unable to do at least at that moment. Moving each part independently proved to be quite challenging for him, and without some external assistance, it seemed unlikely that he would be able to place himself onto the other monster. Feeling a bit frustrated with the failed attempt to combine with the zombie, Rusty decided to focus more on his current concern. He was able to get away from the adventurers but he might not be lucky the next time. It seemed that he might have to abandon his more honorable approach of one-on-one fighting. Instead, he would need to revert to his old tactics or further develop his abilities to eliminate those fighters before they could seek help. The lower floor was dimly lit by flickering torches, casting long shadows that danced across the stone walls. The faint echoes of distant water drips echoed through the distant passages but were interrupted by something. Rusty had not gone far from the stairs and suddenly heard some footsteps coming his way. Normally, he wouldn''t make much of it and just move to a location that the adventurers didn''t usually travel to. However, the voices that he heard sounded quite familiar. "Let us hurry, my skill won''t last for long, that living armor could not have gone far." "Aye, right behind you!" The first voice sounded similar to the archer that had pierced his body with a simple arrow and he was not alone. At the moment they were still far away but these sounds that the tunnels were producing were sometimes misleading. Rusty knew that he was unable to defeat that one adventurer, even more when he had more help. ''There are others with him¡­ I should probably hide¡­'' For the time being he didn''t think much of it. This second floor was bigger than the upper one and the many winding corridors made it harder for anyone to track anything down. After spending some time here, he knew of a few hiding places that were usable. After blending into the shadows as best as he could, he began to make his getaway. ''... those footsteps, they just keep getting closer, how do they know where I am?'' The footsteps drew nearer and it didn''t seem that even ducking into other corridors was achieving the result he expected. Typically, adventurers would eventually choose the wrong path, allowing him to escape. However, for some reason, these individuals were able to track him down immediately. At this juncture, Rusty was not fully aware of tracking skills or how they functioned. He could only increase his pace and attempt to get away in a different fashion. Eventually, he managed to reach the graveyard area where his undead allies were waiting. Swiftly, he grabbed a new bow and a few arrows from a nearby skeleton scout and made his way toward the poisonous leeches. Just after securing some ammunition, his pursuers finally emerged from the same corridor he had come from. They were quite vocal about their arrival and it became clear that he was their main target. "There it is!" "It looks slightly different than the rest¡­" "That classification¡­ A Twilight variant? Ever heard of something like it?" "No, but I bet that its parts will sell for a lot if it''s a unique irregular variant! Let''s get it!" If he had eyes they would be opening wide now. The people came all the way here just to get to him and it seemed that they were even aware that he was a Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor, different from the rest. He was not sure why this made him a better target than the other monsters as he was not aware of adventurers selling monster parts for money. However, he did not panic but instead aimed with his trusted bow and arrow. ''They don''t have a cleric in their party, so I should have the advantage.'' Rusty held the environmental advantage in this area, as it had been a proven hunting ground for him. The only downside was that these adventurers weren''t attempting to round up the undead skeletons and zombies beforehand. While the creatures were rising from their graves now, they would likely not be able to surround the adventurers as easily. Thus, he began employing the old poison tactic and soon a cloud of purple mist began to envelop the area. "This thing¡­ How intelligent is it? To actually use those poison bugs like this? Quite the crafty rust bucket." "Wouldn''t it be a corroded bucket?" The archer turned to the party leader with the question while she was left without a retort. "Huh?" "You know that bronze doesn''t rust right? It corrodes. It''s iron and steel that does that, you didn''t know that?" "... Just shut up." The lone woman from the adventurer party shouted back at the archer. Rusty looked from afar and was slowly starting to get irritated. There was a sense of leisure around the group as if they weren''t taking it seriously. It started becoming clear that these people didn''t consider him a tough opponent and he could tell it from their expressions. The other adventurers that he managed to hunt were different when he confronted them, but these people showed no fear, just contempt. To show them that he meant business he finally aimed his arrow toward one of them and the designated target was the smallest one who wielded a strange large weapon. He appeared to be the slowest among the group and likely the easiest target. After piercing a leech with his arrow, Rusty swiftly shot it towards the man. Even if the arrow was deflected by the man''s weapon, the poison would still linger. To his surprise, something strange occurred. The man who had previously shot him with an arrow aimed his bow upward. It flashed with a pale blue light for a second before he released the projectile. It traveled in a peculiar arch to collide with Rusty''s arrow and suddenly diverted its path to the side. "You''re not getting any of those past me." The archer snorted after executing the skillful ranged attack, but the situation was far from over. While Rusty couldn''t directly poison them, the chamber was gradually filling up with the toxic mist. The area Rusty stood in was already covered in the poisonous haze, as he had stepped on a few of these worms beforehand. To approach him, they would need to wade through it and contend with the zombies heading their way. "Put on your masks, and don''t get injured. As long as you don''t breathe in the poison or let it seep into your wounds, it''s harmless." "Aye, we know." Before the purple cloud could envelop them, they donned strange-looking masks on their faces. The masks had large round shapes covering their eyes made of glass and a prolonged bottom part with another strange-looking circular addon. It was an unfamiliar sight to him, but soon he would comprehend their purpose. The group casually walked into the mist and to his surprise, effortlessly dispatched the zombies as if they were nothing. ''They can resist poison like me?'' This was not what he had anticipated, and panic began to set in. His entire strategy hinged on the poison affecting the fleshy humanoid adventurers, but they didn''t seem affected at all. He overheard them discussing something about wounds, and he was certain that, at most, he could injure one of them before the other two closed in. It dawned on him that the poison was now ineffective and that the best course of action was to flee. Rusty retreated with haste and used his knowledge of the dungeon layout to navigate to another location. Now that he knew that escaping would be difficult and that poison didn''t work, there were other means he needed to implement. The adventurers efficiently dealt with the small zombie horde and relentlessly pursued him. While none of the creatures in the dungeon posed a match for them, not all hope was lost yet. "Hey, wait this is¡­" Next up was the Trap puzzle corridor where he had previously defeated his second adventurer party. Rusty waited on the other end as he was a few steps ahead of them. Once the party of three found itself inside of it, he threw a large boulder at one of the tiles to trigger the trap. He observed the door closing and trapping the adventurers within, giving him a chance to escape. ''Will this be enough, or can they still find me?'' Having successfully trapped the group in the corridor, Rusty pressed on further. He wasn''t sure how they were able to track him but perhaps if he got far enough away, then eventually, he would elude their pursuit. His body wasn''t particularly fast, but it never tired. Soon he arrived at the location where he had dispatched the third party. There a large gorge with flimsy bridges waited for him but he did not cross it. The bridge led to the third floor that he could not pass into and instead, he aimed to go into one of the other corridors. To his surprise, before he could attempt this feat a strange sound appeared from behind. The lone entrance where he was trying to escape through was hit by a strange arrow that after embedding itself with the top part, created a strange white barrier that looked a bit similar to a spider''s web. He wasn''t sure what to make of it but it was created by his pursuers. Then when he attempted to push it to the side, his metallic hand had become stuck. "You''re not going anywhere, just wait there you damn pile of rust!" "What''s with this cowardly monster, it''s just trying to lead us into traps and dead ends?" "This is getting annoying, let''s just kill it already!" For a moment Rusty thought that he was actually in the clear but the three adventurers didn''t stop chasing him. Going by their tone he was aware that they were losing their temper and also getting tired of the chase. He assumed that eventually the stamina debuff would kick in place and they would have to at least postpone their chase but now he had no way of escaping. His gauntlet was stuck in this spider web trap that had been created out of nowhere. Luckily, he could just relinquish his gauntlet as it was not something that he required to survive. Now he was left with only two options, either he could face the angered adventurers or cross through the short flimsy-looking bridge. ''I don''t think I can take them in a fair fight¡­ there is only one way for me to survive this, I need to get to the other side.'' Uncertain of his chances, Rusty forced himself to take the bridge. On the other end, other monsters could potentially aid him. However, that wasn''t his plan as one of his hands was already missing, and battling was improbable. After quickly reaching the wobbly bridge, he started to cross it with the three people following after him from behind. ''Once I get to the other side, I''ll just cut the rope!'' This seemed to be the only way he could envision escaping the situation. After crossing to the other end he would slice through the ropes holding this bridge together. This action would likely send his pursuers plunging into the seemingly bottomless pit below and let him live another day. While the plan seemed sound to Rusty, there were some factors he hadn''t taken into account. One of them was, the other monsters on the other end that after he was about a quarter way through, started charging in his direction. "Reistel, hey stop, do you want to die?" "Eh? If we wait he is going to run away! What are ye waiting for?" "Just stop stupid, think for once!" It appeared that these individuals were not as oblivious as he had assumed. Only the shortest one attempted to cross the bridge, but the other two stopped him from going. Meanwhile, Rusty struggled to find his balance with his missing gauntlet. Around the halfway point, the entire bridge started to wobble violently as the other monsters were coming closer. Soon they were trying to push themselves through him to get to the other side, their intent was clearly to attack the adventurers that he wished to escape from. "This isn''t worth it¡­ Livi?" "Yeah¡­ just do it Keyon." The leader nodded, and the archer notched his arrow. Soon, it flew through the air and collided with Rusty''s backplate. He was instantly pushed off balance but managed to prevent himself from falling. Giving up was not an option and he pushed himself forward to try and get to the other side of this bridge. In his mind, if he could get there and cut the ropes then the adventurers would have to eventually give up on their chase. However, a second arrow found its way into his armor and collided with his foot. It was exactly at a moment when he was taking an important step and finally, he started falling. His only working hand attempted to grab onto something, but it was to no avail. Soon, Rusty found himself airborne, tumbling down into the darkness below without anything to hold on to. "Damn thing gave us enough trouble¡­ let''s just get that one part it left and get out of here." "Aye." The trio of adventurers didn''t even care as they watched him plunge to his demise. The only thing on their minds was now profit, and staying here would be a waste of time. As Rusty descended toward his demise, they shifted their attention to the approaching monsters and the leftover gauntlet. Their minds had already moved on from this entire encounter, leaving Rusty with nothing but falling into the darkness and looking forward to the inevitable collision at the end. Chapter 16 - 14 – Down The Hole. "That was an annoying pile of rust." "You mean corroded, right?" "Just shut up about that already, let''s just get out of here!" "If you so please, Madam~" The archer from the group attempted a very formal bow, or at least something resembling it. His lack of training in such matters made his performance rather stiff. The team leader Livi sighed and delivered swift punishment to her party member by kicking his leg. Instantly, the man recoiled in pain but luckily most of the damage was taken away by his shin protector. "Ow¡­Not the shin¡­" "Stop playing around, let''s get that gauntlet that monster left and get out of here. I bet Dedrick probably got lost somewhere in the dungeon again." "Aye, he should have caught up to us by now." The dwarven warrior responded after extracting his halberd from the undead creature he had just defeated. A few of them made it over the bridge that their target had fallen from. While they intended to capture the entire creature, it was sufficient to bring a part of its body to present to the guild as proof. "It doesn''t look much better than the metal from the other living armors, can we even sell this for more than a silver coin?" "I don''t know, it had a strange name to it, never heard of a Twilight variant, maybe we can sucker in one of those alchemists." "Those guys? Yeah, those idiots love to pay good coin for these unique monster parts." Livi dislodged the gauntlet from the sticky net that it had been stuck to. After looking at it for a moment, she shrugged and tossed in into a bag that was carried by her warrior friend, Reistel. "Let''s find Dedrick and grab whatever else we can from this low-rank floor, but it probably won''t be anything worthwhile." The trio soon left with their spoils and left the fallen living armor behind. In their minds, this was the end of their mission and after reporting their findings to the guild, they would be done with everything. "Hey, Keyon, what are you waiting for? Let''s go!" Livi spotted her archer party member looking at the seemingly bottomless pit without moving and eventually moved over to confront him. "What is it?" "I don''t know but I didn''t hear the voice of the world." "Oh? Do you think it might still be alive?" "I''m not sure, this pit is deep, it could be out of range for me to get any experience or perhaps I didn''t do enough damage for it to count?" "Hm¡­Well, not like we can do anything about it now. We''ll just report this to the guild too." Both of them glanced down but eventually retreated to the path they came from. Even if the monster somehow survived, it was much too weak to pose a threat to most adventurers. All the group of adventurers could do was relay this information and then collect their reward. They didn''t care about what the guild did afterward, nor did they concern themselves with the safety of other adventurers who might be in danger. ***** ''Somehow, I''m still alive? But¡­ I might not be for long¡­'' For a moment, Rusty found himself falling into the deep and dark gorge that seemingly had no bottom. While he didn''t quite reach the bottom and his fall had been cushioned, he still found himself in a dangerous position. At some point during his descent, he collided with something that softened his fall. It was similar to the sticky net that had ensnared his gauntlet but it was on a much larger scale. He couldn''t move and just like before, was stuck. The fall had dislodged some of his armor pieces, and he was missing one of his legs. His armor had somehow survived the fall but had become cracked in a few places. While he was still alive, a big problem was approaching and it looked rather hungry. A creature emerged from within the darkness. The absence of any light didn''t pose a problem for Rusty, as he was still just a piece of living armor. He perceived the world differently than humans, and even in fully darkened places, he could still see. This creature was quite large and slowly crawled toward him on its eight legs. It resembled some of the bugs he used to kill to gather one experience point, but it was much larger and looked much more dangerous. ''What should I do?'' He tried to wrestle himself out of the sticky net but was unable to move. His movements seemed to only irritate the large spider creature that was approaching, as it shook the web he was entangled in. When he looked around, he noticed that he was not the only one there. Many other creatures that had now turned to skeletons or were wrapped up in the netting were present. Perhaps even the adventurer that he had caused to fall into the chasm had made his way down. ''There is something different about this creature¡­ it doesn''t feel like it belongs here.'' One particularity about this monster was that it felt different than the dungeon monsters he had previously encountered. Within the dungeon there was a type of sense of belonging, it was a sort of barometer that every creature there had and it helped him distinguish between his allies. It seemed as if this thing was not born of the dungeon, and it wouldn''t hesitate to tear his body apart. To make things worse, this spider monster was already munching on Rusty''s missing leg. He could see his sabaton vanishing into its gullet. He knew that these creatures normally preferred to munch on more fleshy monsters but this one seemed to have an appetite even for metal. Considering that he couldn''t move at all, this seemed like the end of his adventures. Just as he had managed to escape the group of adventurers, he was now going to really perish again. ''Will I lose my levels and evolution?'' He was not afraid of death, as the two previous times he was just reformed as the same corroded armor. However, after gaining many skills and experiencing his first evolution, he was unwilling to simply give up. An emotion akin to pride began forming in his metallic form and he could not be sure if reviewing was even an option. For some reason, he felt that the dungeon''s influence was a lot weaker here and that if he accepted his fate now, all of it would end. ''But how do I get out, I can''t even move'' Even though he wanted to resist there was no way of doing it. The monster was already on top of him and munching on his other leg. Without any problem, it bit through his remaining cuisse and was on its way to eating him alive. Fear bottled up inside of him as he tried to exude more of his strength, but it was to no avail. The monster placed one of its legs on his backplate and plunged it right through. The difference in power was apparent and even without this spider web he was in, there was no chance of him coming out on top. ''There has to be something¡­'' The monster was busy eating his body parts but he wasn''t giving up. His remaining arm was still holding his sword and in a last-ditch effort, he decided to use one of his only skills. This skill was not known for its damage but perhaps it would do something. Thus, suddenly a burst of light enveloped his weapon and illuminated this entire darkened area as if it was day. "GUOHH!?" To his surprise, the monster that was holding him tightly reacted quite strongly and this wasn''t all. The webbing that he found himself trapped in, did the same. For some reason, it started to dissolve the moment the radiance took over this place. While the monster didn''t die, it was as if the light he was producing was able to burn through its body. The part of the web that was around the sword became loose, and soon after his whole arm was free. Now that he could move it, he realized that there was a way to free his remaining body parts. After a few strategically placed cuts he was finally able to dislodge what remained of his form. At the moment, this was his right arm and upper body with both legs missing and no left hand. It was quite the predicament, at least the monster had retreated into an opening in the wall. ''Where am I?'' While he could see inside the darkness, it didn''t mean that he could perceive things that were too far away. With the help of the light, he could now see this place and perhaps a way to save himself. There were some holes within the walls of this chasm but there was also no visible bottom that he could see. One such opening wasn''t that far from his location and perhaps he could reach it. There was one problem though, he would need to get there first but most of his lower body was missing. At first, he thought about restoring his damaged body but such an act would take some time. While the monster spider had retreated to a nearby hole to save itself from the light, the radiance would not last. His magic points had not fully recovered and thus he would be unable to activate this skill again. Considering that this monster wanted to eat him, it would probably attempt to stop him. ''I should have some time, it''s better than nothing!'' The plan wasn''t very safe or plausible, but there was nothing else he could think of. After the light on his sword started to die down, he holstered his blade and used his only good arm to pull himself forward. At the same time, he quickly brought up his stash tab and willed it to use one of the bronze ingots to restore his lost gauntlet. It would take a few moments for it to reform but with two working arms, he would be much quicker. Just as expected it was taking a while for this to happen and not having legs wasn''t so bad as he was much lighter now. Due to the light, the sticky web had for some reason become a lot more flimsy and also lost its properties to hold him in place. Thanks to this fact he was now able to slowly crawl towards the wall where safety awaited. However, once the light was gone, the monster spider that was trying to eat him, emerged again. Its many eyes focused on the suit of armor that was crawling away. It gave chase but at a slower pace. It seemed to still be wary of the light that had been previously produced and its body was even sizzling from the damage it received. Rusty continued to crawl and after restoring his second hand, he continued at a faster pace than before. Time was running out and the monster continued to approach Rusty from behind. He did not turn to look but continued crawling forward until he reached the end of the road where only one large strand of webbing remained. With one hand he grabbed the robe-like web and used his other hand to cut it. However, even when his sword collided with it, the webbing didn''t give out and he was seemingly stuck in place. "GUAH!" The spider gave out a strange sound while increasing its pace. It seemed to have now fully recovered from the light attack and was unwilling to let its prey escape. The eight legs were utilized to quickly bridge the gap that had been created. ''If one isn''t enough!'' Rusty wasn''t willing to give up, he had come too far to be just eaten by this thing nor did he want to fall to his death either. Just like he had announced, if one strike was not enough then he would try again until they were. His sword began to chip and dull but he did not relent. Until the end, he did not give up and just as the giant spider was about to pounce at him again, the webbing finally gave in. The sword he was using broke at the exact moment Rusty sliced through. One hand clung to the rope-like web thread and he was now swinging through the darkness. His path took him towards the opening in the wall that he had previously seen. As he flew through the air he felt a sense of relief but it was short-lived. While the monster didn''t give chase he did not truly judge the distance too well and instead of ending up in this opening, he collided with the wall on the side. ''This isn''t good¡­'' His metallic fingers pushed into the rocks instantly but he started sliding down. He desperately tried to grab onto something but the smooth surface of the wall offered him no grip. Rusty slid further and further down with an increase in speed. Panic set in as he realized that he might end up falling into the abyss after all. Suddenly, as he was clamoring for some support while sliding down he lost his grip on the rocky wall. It was not that he had begun falling but that there was no wall that he could cling to. While sliding down, luck was finally on his side. He ended up at another opening but one that was quite narrow and short. Instantly, he attempted to grab onto something as his fall still continued. The empty hole took him by surprise but he was able to grab onto the edge to keep himself from sliding down more than before. His body, now consisting mostly of his upper torso and limbs, didn''t weigh that much so he was finally able to hold himself together. Then with haste, he started to pull himself up into the narrow opening that had appeared. There wasn''t much space here but enough for him to finally relax. ''I''m safe¡­ I survived¡­'' If he was a human being then he would be sweating bullets by now. He was still stuck in a void filled with darkness where he couldn''t see the bottom nor the top. If he wanted to get back to the dungeon where he came from, then climbing seemed to be the only way. However, the metal-eating spider monster was above him and perhaps more of the same types lurked in the darkness. ''But now what?'' With the light from his blade gone, he couldn''t see that far anymore. There was an ever-encompassing darkness very reminiscent of the void that he came from. He thought of restoring his body now and attempting to climb up. Rusty was a monster that could not tire out, so perhaps he would be able to eventually crawl to safety. However, the walls were quite flat, and just like before he would probably just end up sliding down and further towards the bottom. ''I looks like I should be able to squeeze through¡­'' If going up wasn''t an option then perhaps the hole he discovered would give him some answers. While it was small, in his current diminished form he would be able to crawl through. When looking inside he could see that there was more space inside and it seemed to lead somewhere. Without much hesitation, Rusty decided to venture into the darkness of the narrow passage or more precisely, squeeze himself into it. His bronze body scraped on the jagged edges of the rocks and created a somewhat uncomfortable sound. Instantly he could hear some movement in the distance, as if something outside had been awoken. Quickly, he pushed himself inside while not caring about the damage he was sustaining and eventually, he was able to force his mangled body into the narrow opening before something loud and heavy landed close by. As he crawled more inside, he could feel something hitting his backplate that became even more dented than before. Luckily, he was left with a small amount of hit points that allowed him to get to safety. Whatever tried to grab him from the other side relented and finally, he could truly take a breather. He was now in a new place, somewhere where even the monsters were trying to attack him. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the time being he decided to take a breather. His body was battered and scratched all over, and while he still had some bronze ingots to restore his body, his resources were limited. He needed to pace himself as the challenges that awaited him were unknown and perhaps finding bronze in this area wouldn''t be as easy as before. Chapter 17 - 15 – Ants. ''That''s better¡­ Now what should I do?'' Rusty had expended a large amount of bronze to restore the rest of his body to its original shape. After crawling through the initial hole, it gradually expanded enough for him to walk on both his metallic legs. The entire place felt somewhat peculiar as if still under the lingering influence of the dungeon but not entirely so. While he was falling down the large hole, he also heard the voice screaming at him before suddenly going silent. It was as if something had severed or blocked the connection he previously had. However, this was still similar to him going down to the second floor where the connection was lessened as well. Once here he also noticed a new peculiarity. ''If that thing tried to eat me, I should probably assume that those aren''t friends either¡­'' Classification: Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone L4 G+ Type: Insectoid There were other monsters down here, ones that differed from the ones on the first and second floors. They didn''t have the usual humanoid shape but were more similar to the smaller insects he dispatched for one experience point each. The area here had become dimly lit thanks to strange glowing insects sticking to the walls. This let him examine the insectoid monster in more detail. The first thing that caught his metallic eyes was the creature''s head. It had two large antennae that were constantly twitching. It had a set of mandibles that opened up the moment he was spotted. Its size wasn''t that large as it reached up to about his knee but it was also somewhat lengthy. The monster had two other main parts besides its head and was somewhat similar to the monstrosity that had almost eaten him. However, it has one less set of shorter legs, not as many eyes and its coloring was dark brownish. ''Is it charging?'' Rusty had been able to reform his body and blade with the help of his leftover bronze. His resources were running low and he was down to two more bronze ingots. To his knowledge, there was no bronze to be gained here so he couldn''t let himself be damaged anymore. This large ant monster didn''t seem to be a friend like the skeletons or zombies, he needed to protect himself. The ant monster hurled itself at him as soon as he made himself known. Preliminary analysis indicated that this was a G+ rank monster and not something Rusty had encountered before. Rusty, classified as an F-rank monster with some F+ stats, found himself unsure whether this made him stronger or weaker than the creature. However, judging by its movements, he was inclined to believe that it was actually much weaker than him or any of the monsters he had encountered before. Its attack pattern was quite rudimentary as it came at him in a straight line. The only weapon it possessed was a pair of mandibles that could potentially chew through his armor, a theory Rusty was unwilling to test. Instead, he sidestepped the attack and instinctively activated his power slash move. His sword executed a swift downward strike, effortlessly cutting the creature in two. You have gained +10 experience points. ''It''s kind of weak?'' The monster ant proved unable to withstand more than one hit from his sword. In comparison to all his previous experiences with adventurers, this monster felt like a joke. It moved slowly and approached him without any strategic or intricate thought. Then to make things even better the experience gained from defeating it was much higher than from any other insect or rodent he had faced. While it didn''t come close to the experience received from killing an adventurer, the risk factor associated with this creature was rather low. ''Isn''t this rather good? Maybe I shouldn''t return to the upper layers¡­'' Rusty thought to himself, as his main reason for existing, was still the pursuit of power and further evolution. He was able to attack the monsters here and gain much more experience than when he was on the upper levels. The adventurers he had previously hunted proved to be too much for his current capabilities but these G-rank ant monsters could be just the thing that he needed. ''Oh¡­ there is a lot of them¡­'' While he had dispatched the first Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone, more of them appeared afterward. He assumed that these creatures functioned similarly to the monsters he was acquainted with. If they were any more close by they would be drawn in by the sounds or some other commanding voice. Soon instead of just one ant there were five and the battle started again. They started coming at him from the front as there was no other way to approach him. At first, he imagined that this would allow him to take them on one by one. However, some of the ants started to crawl on the sides of the tunnel and one moved onto the ceiling. They attacked him from all directions and the battle got quite hectic. After thrusting his sword into one of the monster''s abdomen another one bit his left leg. Soon after, another descended from the ceiling and met a swift end as he cut it in half. Its green innards sprayed onto his armor but it didn''t bother him too much. It appeared that this time around, his armor was sufficient enough to prevent any substantial damage. The monster''s mandibles were bending the bronze but they couldn''t rip through it. Finally, his armored form was coming in handy and he quickly dispatched the five other dog-sized insects. ''All this experience! This is great!'' Rusty began to cheer as he gained sixty experience points in a matter of minutes. Previously, it would take him multiple hours of trying to find small rodents or other creatures to achieve the same result. It was not something he was accustomed to and he craved more and to his surprise, this was not quite over. ''Oh? They are still approaching? This is becoming a bit¡­ troublesome¡­ perhaps?'' While he loved the continuous experience grind the monsters kept appearing, and he was forced to endure more gnawing attacks. His armor managed to withstand the assaults but the more ants bit the same spots, the sooner he would start losing body parts. He utilized his swordsmanship as best as he could but he felt that he couldn''t sustain something like this forever. After another five minutes, there were now more than fifteen corpses in the corridor where Rusty had appeared. He had managed to push through and finally arrived at a fork in the road. The chamber he entered had multiple entrances and from several of them, he could hear some suspicious echoes. It was evident that these monsters were being attracted from a greater distance. His skeletal friends and other living armors weren''t capable of such feats and he was realizing that this place probably held some other secrets he didn''t know. ''I need to leave, even though they are easy to kill, I can''t handle hundreds of them at a time.'' He was aware of his limitations and unwilling to allow himself to die. Many things have changed and he now didn''t expect to be rebuilt as the previous two times. He would also be unable to return to this place at which he arrived through sheer luck. It was best to find a safe corner in this new part of the dungeon, where he could take a moment to reassess the entire situation and formulate a proper plan. ''That one seems safe, I can''t sense any sounds or movement.'' Rusty did not have ears either but he was somehow able to perceive sound waves in some way that he didn''t fully understand. Soon he ventured into this path which was scarcely illuminated by the strange insects on the ceiling. Normally he expected to make a clean getaway but to his surprise, the monsters were following after him. ''It''s similar to those humans, they somehow know where I am going.'' Finally, he realized that these monsters might never let up and that he needed to do something. Rusty didn''t really have a clue as to how all of this was happening as the monsters from his dungeon level had no such capabilities. While running he tried to strain his metallic brain for answers. The memories from the demon lord and hero had become quite faint since he visited the soul forge but he was somehow able to decide something. ''The monster blood, perhaps?'' After confronting the first few monster ants, he became covered in their insides. The armor he was wearing was now coated in green goop and various liquids from the monsters. However, even if this was the cause what was he supposed to do about it? The mess was all over his body and covered all the main parts. Even if he took himself apart there would still be remnants of the ant remains left on his armor. He would only be making himself weaker for the next confrontation. ''Hm¡­ is fighting the only way? Maybe eventually they will give up?'' This was a possibility but he didn''t truly have enough information about these new creatures or the layout of this new part of the dungeon. His only weapon that was his sword wasn''t looking too great either. He would probably need to spend another bronze ingot to repair it as it was already chipped in a few places. With this thing in mind he continued on his way and perhaps along the way, he would find something that would allow him to survive this. ''Hm¡­ should I follow these glowing bugs?'' He could hear the clicking and clacking of the monster ants behind him and after a while, he arrived at more forks that led to more tunnels. These passages he was traveling through were starting to become wider and also brighter. Rusty noticed that some tunnels were more illuminated than others as if the glowing bugs were attracted to something there. He wasn''t sure why but he felt like he should follow the well-lit passages. After increasing his pace something caught his metallic ears, a sound that he had not heard before. At first, he was apprehensive about moving forward but the sounds of angry ants behind him forced him to move forward. Eventually, he arrived at a larger chamber with a strange new thing he had previously not seen before. ''Is this water? Where is it all going?'' This might have been a mistake as he arrived at a well-illuminated area but there was nowhere else to go. Below him, he could see a large stream of water that was flowing at a rapid pace in one direction. The only problem was, that there were no other tunnels that he could now go to but the ants were still chasing him. ''Should I go back?'' Rusty turned around and considered his options. He could either push back into the corridor and face the approaching ants or turn around to face the tides. It was not a bottomless pit and it seemed that the water should at least be able to wash off the smelly insect bits from his body. He wasn''t sure if his metallic body would be able to float but it could be the only way to get away. After looking back and forth, he decided to give it a go. The monster ants were easy enough to beat so perhaps finding a safer route would be better. However, the moment he took a few steps towards the passage he came from, he noticed a huge problem. There weren''t just a few ants but they had turned into a massive surge of multiple insect bodies coming his way. He managed to dispatch a few before quickly retreating to the area with the water. Now, diving in didn''t seem like such a bad idea. ''Well¡­ I survived last time¡­'' There was no other way out as countless monster ants were pouring out of the corridor and crawling up the walls. If he tried to go back in, they would quickly surround him and bite him to death. Even if he could defeat multiple tens of them, eventually, he would probably succumb to the horde he was facing. The decision was made for him and he found himself jumping off the ledge into the rapids below. The last thing he saw was the many ants on the ledge looking down at him. Luckily, it didn''t seem like they liked this river too much as none of them decided to jump down after him. He was quickly carried away while bumping into some rocks and his body, at first, remained on the surface but eventually started to fill up with water. With more weight, he started going under but before he was fully submerged, a large log came flying in. Rusty identified this log as something that could keep itself above the currents so he clung to it with all his might. The lone log carried him downstream and he had no idea what was happening around him. Light kept expanding the more he traveled through this rapid river and other sources that he couldn''t fully identify yet showed themselves. The current started to pick up speed and the surroundings began to change. He soon found himself in a wider area where he spotted some other monsters on the side. It were some other ant-type monsters but some of them were larger than the drones he had seen before. They stood on the sides while he continued to cling to the log and go downstream to eventually, fall down another hole. It was a waterfall that he arrived at, and during the fall his grip became loose. His helmet had started to fall off and he had to grab it to not lose his head. Thus, he found himself free-falling and made quite the splash down below. Once underwater, he collided with some other debris brought down by the water and continued to flow further down but eventually, he reached an end. Rusty clung to some branches that allowed him to float forward, and eventually, he could feel some ground under his feet. His body was filled up with water, which made it hard to move forward, but luckily, the area he came up in wasn''t that deep. The waterfall made a lot of noise in the distance, but besides it, there was no one here. No monster ants or other creatures but instead a well-lit area greeted him. As he was slowly lumbering out of the large body of water he raised his helmet up. Quickly from his neck cavity, a large amount of water started to spray out along with a fish jumping out that used his body as a submarine. It flopped around in the air and then plunged back down into the small lake that had formed down here. Rusty continued to move forward while parts of his body continued to leak and only after getting out did he start looking around. This area was quite shiny, with many crystals producing bright lights. They were in the walls, on the ceiling, and all around the area. Other minerals were also sticking out that he couldn''t identify, but this was not what he was focusing on. The lights here felt a bit similar to something and that something was the light attack that he could produce with his sword. Perhaps, just like with the spider, this light could be the reason why there were no monsters here and why the ants did not follow him. ''Should I use this area? It doesn''t seem like it''s used by anything or anyone?'' Rusty pondered his options as he stood in the illuminated chamber, dripping water and surrounded by sparkling crystals. The absence of any immediate threats gave him a moment to think and plan his next move. The water that still clung to his metallic frame dripped onto the rocky ground and created small puddles that reflected the ambient light from the crystals. While he wasn''t sure about the connection these glowing crystals had with his sword skill, they seemed to be repelling the monsters and keeping them away. It was perhaps possible to use this chamber as a safe haven, something that he could turn into a base¡­ S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 18 - 16 – Crystal Cavern. Identification: Petty Light Crystal A crystal filled with a minuscule amount of the light element. ''Hm¡­ What about this bigger one?'' Identification: Lesser Light Crystal A crystal filled with a small amount of the light element. ''It doesn''t seem like I can store them though. I bet they would probably come in handy inside the tunnels as those Ant things don''t seem to like the light. They are fine with those other glowing bugs though, I guess it''s the light element part and not the actual glow?'' Rusty had arrived at a strange area filled with various light sources. There were crystals coming out of the ground and walls. Everything in this place was being illuminated but something similar to his Basic Elemental Charge skill. Thanks to this effect, a safe zone was created where no monsters wandered in. Even after waiting more than an hour, no ants dared to jump down the waterfall. ''I can store these though¡­ at least the petty ones?'' Identification: Petty Mana Crystal A crystal filled with a minuscule amount of mana. Can be used to restore MP. The light crystals were producing a white light while the mana crystals were shining in a paler blue color. To his surprise, his magic points were for some reason recharging at a much faster pace than before. He deduced that it was thanks to these many blue crystals that were exuding magical energies. ''But how do I use these to restore my MP?'' After realizing that he was relatively safe, he explored the area and found these two resources. The white glowing light crystals could provide him with a place to rest and run away to, while the blue ones could perhaps make battles easier. Basic Power Thrust and Slash were his two main attacking skills but they needed MP to be used. After a few swings, he would be drained of that resource and need some time for it to recharge. His identification skill suggested that it might be possible to use the smaller blue crystals in some manner. Thus, he decided to test this by using up most of his mana while away from the area with the mana crystals. There was another path leading out that eventually turned into a dark corridor that the passive effects could not reach. There he held one of the small mana crystals to see if it would do something. ''It''s not really doing anything? I was recovering more mana back in the crystal cave¡­'' Rusty wasn''t sure what he was doing wrong or how to tackle this issue. He tried holding the crystal closer to his body and even attempted to place it inside his own metallic body. These attempts went unrewarded as nothing seemed to be happening but then, with some luck he managed to figure it out. When he attempted to retrieve the crystal from within his body, he fumbled a bit. The shiny stone landed on the ground and cracked slightly. It seemed that these strange minerals were quite brittle and even a small fall would cause some damage to them. However, once some cracks were revealed, a tiny amount of strange blue mist emerged for a second. ''Oh? My MP bar jumped up by a few points?'' The moment his body came in contact with this blue mist, he recovered some magical points. To further test this incident, he picked up the cracked stone and crushed it into fine powder. This produced a more intense mist that somehow was sucked into his metallic body and quickly restored his MP to full. ''So that''s how you do it! Just crush it and it''s done!'' Rusty cheered at his new discovery and quickly made his way back to the cave filled with these crystals. He was able to store the smaller ones that were about the size of his thumb in his stash tab. Would you like to store Petty Mana Crystal inside of your inventory? When he focused on the mana crystal he was eventually given a prompt by the world''s system. Under the window with the message, there were two buttons, one in red that said no and one in green that said yes. He had learned that he could either will it to be activated or press it down with one of his metallic digits. For some reason that he didn''t fully understand, it felt better to poke at it with his digit instead of forcing it with his mind. It was also a bit faster when he didn''t have to focus his brain too much. A Petty Mana Crystal has been added to your inventory. A Petty Mana Crystal has been added to your inventory. . . . A Petty Mana Crystal has been added to your inventory. . . . Storage capacity for this item has been reached. ''Oh? What is this now?'' After acquiring exactly ten of the crystals into his stash tab, he was unable to put in any more. There were hundreds of these small ones in this cave and even larger ones that he couldn''t even process. However, for some reason, there was a limit to how many of them he could carry in this stash tab. He could see the number under the icon representing them and was unable to switch to any of the other squares inside of his inventory grid to fit any more of them. ''Strange¡­ I guess there are some limits?'' Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty was not sure why he was being limited by this system but perhaps if he leveled up, more inventory space would be freed up. It seemed that something was trying to keep him from acquiring too many of the good items early in his evolutionary journey and having too many of the lesser ones wasn''t possible either. ''Hm¡­ Ten isn''t bad though, should be enough for now.'' He wasn''t deterred by this turn of events, as having more mana was always a plus. With the help of these crystals, he would be able to defeat more enemies, and returning here to restock was always an option. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise as it would keep him more grounded. Otherwise, he could end up venturing too far into the unknown caves and get himself slain by some entity he doesn''t yet understand. ''I did overdo it with those adventurers, maybe if I didn''t kill so many, those strong ones wouldn''t have appeared?'' Rusty pondered over his recent experiences and decided that a more cautious approach might be more beneficial. The illuminated chamber with crystals had provided him with a sanctuary of sorts, a place where he could recover and strategize. This would be his new base of operations, the lair of Rusty the Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor. ''Now it''s official!'' Thanks to the memories of the Demon Lord and the Hero he was aware of writing and symbols. While he wasn''t quite there yet, he was able to produce simple shapes that resembled things. At the entrance to the cave, he decided to draw something that resembled his armored body holding a large sword. It was quite jagged and lacked finesse but he was sure that it would make this place his. ''I think humans put symbols on the things that they claim, so this cave is now mine. I will call it, Rusty''s Lair of Crystals!'' There were three main parts to this place. One of them was the waterfall and lake through which he entered this area. It was an open space surrounded by light crystals and luminescent insects. Further inside was the cave with the blue crystals and some other minerals that he wasn''t sure about. Further away was another passage that led out and into a new dungeon area where he expected to encounter some monsters. ''Two entrances, one through the waterfall and the other one through this path¡­ Should I bring some of the light crystals over here to keep monsters from approaching?'' He had marked his new base, but something was missing. This entrance was quite dark, and it was even possible that some monsters would chase him further inside. To alleviate this problem, he decided to bring some of the light crystals over here. These were octagonal with pointy endings, while the blue mana crystals were more rock-shaped. After yanking one out of a crystalline structure he was on his way to bring it over here. However, once on the path away from the main cave something strange happened. The once bright white light started to fade away and once at the destination, the crystal was barely producing any light. ''What is this about?'' Rusty was surprised and quickly began doing some tests. After going back a few steps he noticed that the light was becoming brighter but the further away from the main cave, the less did the crystal shine. He wasn''t sure what this was about but it seemed that it wasn''t possible to take these light sources with him, something that he was actually planning to do. ''This sucks, now my perfect plan is in shambles¡­'' After the realization, he felt quite sad. He had intended to stick a few of these inside of his body. If the monsters didn''t like the light, then perhaps it would function similarly to the poison leeches he discovered on the second level of the dungeon. Now he realized that it would be pointless to bring these crystals with him as they would only make his body more sluggish. ''This just leaves one more problem, where will I find some bronze?'' It was time to head out of this place to continue his adventure but one problem remained. There were no metals in this place that he could use to help restore his body. After the fall he had gone through most of his reserves and killing the monsters here also wore out his sword. Eventually, he would run out and his body could collapse. Thus, his first task became to localize a source of either bronze or copper and tin. If he was able to do that, then this place would become a true heaven for leveling. ''I think there are places called mines in underground areas like these, maybe I can find one here?'' It was time to embark on a new quest to become stronger. He knew that he needed to be careful as this was a truly new place without any allies. Previously he could use other monsters to hide himself but now, his situation was more similar to the adventurers he had defeated. It was probably best if he learned from their mistakes and didn''t dive in too deep. ''Is there something that can aid me to not get lost?'' Before venturing out he created a simple map of the areas that he had encountered here. He continued to add things to the well-lit walls and this caused him to notice something. In the dungeon above, the walls and ground tended to mend itself but it didn''t seem to be the case here. Even after more than half an hour had passed, he couldn''t see any changes to the scratches that had been created. Rusty wasn''t sure if it was possible that he had left the dungeon he was born in or that something else was at play here. Perhaps this crystal cave area was unique, but he would only find out once outside. There was a possibility that these white and blue crystals had something to do with it, but he couldn''t be sure. Thus the first thing he did was begin marking the walls after leaving his new lair. If the markings that he left remained in place, then it would mean that he was perhaps not in a dungeon anymore. He didn''t need to go far to arrive at a new location, this one also near some water. It was a larger chamber with a high ceiling and a place with many stalactites hanging up from the ceiling. To his surprise, he was not alone here as some monsters resided in this place, different ones than the Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone he encountered. Classification: Lesser Giant Centipede L2 F- Type: Insectoid The first monster he noticed was quite long, with many tiny legs coming out of its body. The centipede had a glossy, dark exoskeleton and its numerous legs produced a clicking sound as they skittered across the ground. At first, he thought that this thing was swiftly moving towards him so he drew his sword but it stopped in its tracks. ''What is it doing?'' This monster was about as long as three drone ants put together and was certainly stronger, but it was still something that he could probably handle. It supported the rear of its body with some of its legs while rising up to make itself taller. After using some mandibles to produce some strange sounds, it retreated towards the small river in the middle of this chamber. At this point, Rusty had already prepared his sword to strike this large insect but instead of lunging forward, it just retreated without doing anything. ''What are they all doing? The Lesser Giant Centipede wasn''t the only monster here, as there were others of different types. Rusty saw some slug monster not that far away, slowly crawling over to the river and placing its head inside. Some of the ants were also there doing the exact thing at this flowing river. While Rusty didn''t need any food or liquids, the other creatures did. It seemed that they were all gathering in this large cave area to do this and not attacking each other while doing so. ''They are getting along? But not quite¡­'' At first, he thought that these large insects were just part of the dungeon, much like he was with the skeletons and zombies. He was unable to attack the other monsters either, but he considered himself to be a bit more unique. The ones here were clearly on edge, and some of them were even hissing at each other. This area was perhaps some type of safe ground where these monsters didn''t want to attack each other. ''There are a bunch of them here but they don''t like each other¡­'' He was not sure how this truce came about but instead of making any sudden movements he just watched. The monsters seemed to act in a sort of pattern. They would hiss at each other before going towards the flowing river from which they would quickly drink and retreat. There were many of them here and each type slithered or crawled into a different corridor. Eventually, a thought crossed his mind, and he quickly started identifying more of the monsters, searching for ones that would be the easiest to slay. Most of them were of similar strength and ranged from the F- rank to the F+ rank, with the weakest of the bunch being the ants that he had encountered previously. The only reason the other monsters seemed to be afraid of these ants was their sheer numbers. Classification: Lesser Giant Beetle L3 F+ Type: Insectoid ''Those ones look the hardest, would I be able to damage it with my sword?'' He concluded that going after the ants would probably be the easiest at first. They were the only monsters that were below F rank and he could kill a drone with one swing. While they would quickly try to attack him together, as long as he didn''t enter their lair fully, he would probably be safe. ''Yes¡­ this is probably the best plan¡­ I will slowly conquer this place and after I evolve¡­'' His body began to shake with anticipation as this place was providing him with an almost perfect hunting ground. There were various monster types that he could face and slowly build up his levels. He could start with the weakest and slowly build himself up towards stronger ones. It was time to begin his conquest of this area and make himself the strongest. Rusty was now determined to establish his dominance in this new cave system. Carefully observing these monsters would give him important insight into their weak points. He made sure to look for softer-looking spots in their bodies he could sink his blade in. Most of them used their mandibles as main weapons but other ones like the slugs seemed to use something akin to acid instead. The hunt had now begun and he would rise above all. Chapter 19 - 17 – Looking For Copper. You have gained +10 experience points. You have gained +10 experience points. Congratulations you have gained a level. ''Woah, I gained a level!... But I better keep on running!'' Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty said to himself while trying to put more power into his metallic legs. The ground underneath was quite uneven and his body was not suited for such a fast pace. His metallic legs clanked against the rocky ground as he sprinted through the twisting tunnels of the cave system. The echoes of his footsteps were mixed with the angry hisses and clicking sounds of the pursuing ants. ''They are really angry, well I don''t blame them, I did kill quite a lot of them this time around¡­'' As he navigated the passages, Rusty continued to glance at the glowing light insects on the walls. These creatures just like the monsters here needed water to survive and would remain close to their source. The main watering hole in this dungeon attracted a lot of glow bugs and this was where he was heading. However, the large ant monsters didn''t relent and kept on pursuing through the series of tunnels he had memorized. It seemed that these tunnels were not the same as the dungeon that he came from. Each mark that he left behind remained and allowed him to maneuver back to his lair. There was one problem, just as he could place markings on those walls to create lasting holes, so could the ants. He quickly made a discovery about these pesky creatures that slowed down his exploration attempts. These strange ants liked to tunnel through the rocks and left smaller passages through which he couldn''t fit through. They all connected to larger corridors like the one he was running through and allowed his enemies to come from various directions. It was the same now, during his sprint one of the little buggers jumped at him from above. It came through one of the many openings in the walls that were hard to make out and sometimes blended together with the scenery. The ant lunged itself onto Rusty and landed on his helmet which it promptly started chewing on. ''Get off me!'' He wanted to shout but failed to have the vocal cords to do so. The monster trashed around and tented his marvelous visage slightly before he could wrestle it down. Soon after the monster found itself without a head after he activated his power slash skill. His sword started glowing red and increased in speed to deliver a devastating blow to the monster. You have gained +8 experience points. ''Huh? Eight not Ten? Was this one different from the others or something?'' Rusty found himself perplexed as he noticed a decrease in the amount of experience points he received. All the little ant monsters were giving him ten experience points each but now for some reason, he was receiving less. On his way out he confirmed this number change by dispatching a few more of the troublesome insects. There was little time to dwell on this issue as Rusty had to navigate through another obstacle first. Eventually Rusty managed to outmaneuver his pursuers and finally arrived at the glowing oasis where the other monsters gathered. The gentle sounds of flowing water were interrupted by his clacking and the screeching insects behind him. A whole battalion of drones swiftly surged through the cave opening and entered the watering hole area. This was all according to Rusty''s well-thought-out plan and the moment he arrived here, there was nothing to worry about anymore. As the Myrm Ants displayed their aggression, the other monsters within the cave began to react. Even in the dim confines of the cave, certain rules governed these creatures, and engaging in combat within this space was one such rule they couldn''t breach. ''Oh, they are fighting! I need to use this chance to get away.'' The acidic slug creatures spat at the approaching ants while one of the large beetles used its mandibles to fend off the invaders. They took the outburst as an unprovoked attack that went against the unwritten rules here. Rusty took advantage of the chaos and slipped away from the battleground. He moved silently, avoiding the attention of the battling monsters, and made his way back to his own lair where he was certain to find peace. Finally, he reached the entrance of his newly claimed lair which he now named ''Rusty''s Twilight Cave''. Thanks to his memories he was able to produce true letters and decided to scribble over the entrance to mark that it was his. To make things more serious, he also included words like ''Do not enter'' and skull symbols. If adventurers found this place they would think twice before entering. ''That could have gone better but I did it, I leveled up again now I''m one step closer to evolving but not quite there either¡­'' Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L6 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 45/78 Magic Points [MP] 11/58 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 70 [ F+ ] Agility 50 [ F ] Dexterity 52 [ F ] Constitution 73 [ F+ ] Intelligence 51 [ F ] Wisdom 53 [ F ] Willpower 54 [ F ] Durability F+ There was one big problem and it was visible on his status screen, his health points were going down. His only weapon which was a slightly corroded blade kept breaking and he needed to restore it with the help of his old bronze resources. Living beings could restore themselves by just sleeping but he was different, his health pool would not regenerate by itself, he needed to find a metal deposit and he needed to do it quickly. ''At least I don''t suffer any negative effects from low HP.'' Though unable to regenerate like humans, Rusty enjoyed certain perks of his unique physique. One of them was that he didn''t really feel pain nor would he slow down with holes in his armor. As long as his joints functioned, he could persist in continuous movement without experiencing fatigue or succumbing to statuses like bleeding. ''I''m level six now, in four I should be able to advance to a new form again and restore my body then, but will it be able to hold out for that long?'' He had a sinking suspicion that such a feat would be somewhat difficult. The monsters he faced had an inclination to swarm and attack from all directions due to the holes in the tunnels. He was receiving small dents and gashes while fighting, this would probably lead to his demise as a more crucial part of his armoring gave out. Losing a leg or an arm would likely make further leveling impossible. ''But how will I find bronze or other metals? Think Rusty, think! Where do metals come from besides from adventures?'' Rusty started straining his empty brain to find an answer to his problem. He had ventured into the caves but had not been able to find much. The insect creatures were made of other materials than metal and he could not integrate their carapace into his metallic armor. Even after searching around he was unable to discover any bronze deposits and he had a few options left. ''Either I keep it safe and go at it slowly until I reach level ten, or I go in deeper¡­'' He was pretty sure that things like metal ores existed. They were rock formations that should contain the resources he needed and were usually found in places like this underground area. Rusty was also sure that he would need to find both copper ore and tin ore to produce bronze, as his body was an alloy of the two. ''I don''t need as much tin though, so copper is the one I truly need.'' He retained some leftover resources from his previous scavenging endeavors, with a surplus of tin ore compared to copper ore. To produce one ingot of bronze he required three copper ingots and only one tin ingot. Due to this ratio, Rusty had managed to accumulate extra tin ingots during the period when he was absorbing weapons and other living armors. Thus his quest for the precious metals continued. After bending some of the dents back into place he set out back to the watering place. Upon arrival, he noticed a lack of interaction among its inhabitants. He saw a few dead ants on the ground, likely a result of the group hastily retreating after being attacked by the larger insectoid types. ''If I only knew what to look for¡­'' Rusty came to a halt and surveyed the various entrances, each harboring a different type of enemy. At this point, he opted to confront the lesser ants that were a rank below him in strength. The other monsters looked a lot tougher and his sword would dull rapidly if applied to their tougher carapaces. Identification: Brittle Rock A slightly more brittle rock than usual, will crumble under pressure ''Well this isn''t it¡­'' Identification: Hard Rock A harder rock, required more pressure to break ''Not it either¡­'' Rusty found himself identifying various rock formations while combing through this underground lair. It seemed that the ant drones had dwindled slightly and did not appear as much at their usual spot. This allowed him to go further to attempt to identify the minerals on the walls. However, there was nothing besides rocks of various shapes, sizes, and colors that were of no use to him. That was until he encountered one of his friends. You have gained +8 experience points. ''Eight again?'' If he had a face he would be frowning after defeating the monstrous ant. It was alone but he knew that eventually, new ones would appear. It became clear that these monsters could somehow communicate with each other through means he didn''t understand. After finding a dead ant, others would eventually appear so he knew that time was of the essence. ''Wait, what''s that rock stuck to the ant?'' He didn''t really have much time to identify his adversaries as they tended to swarm around him but this time around, he noticed something stuck to its carapace. Identification: Copper Ore Pebble A mineral containing some copper metal. Can be processed with other such minerals to produce copper. ''Oh? It''s there!'' He quickly grabbed the small pebble that was stuck to the dead monsters and examined it further. This happy moment didn''t last for long as when he attempted to quickly absorb the copper inside this tiny ore fragment, he couldn''t. The amount of copper is too small. ''Too small?'' Rusty wasn''t expecting to get much out of this little rock but he wasn''t given even one percent to his copper stash. Not everything was lost, if this ant had this pebble then it meant that more was around here somewhere. After identifying the corridor that this monster came from, he made his way towards that location. As Rusty ventured deeper into the tunnels, he encountered more of the ant drones and to his delight, discovered additional copper ore pebbles clinging to their bodies. However, the amount of copper in each pebble remained minuscule, and putting them together didn''t show any results either. It was clear that to make this work, he would need quite a bit more and it needed to be in one piece. ''Should I continue or come back later¡­'' He started to weigh his options as he had pushed into the ant nest further than before. It was clear that he managed to diminish their numbers now and the other insects had also helped him in this endeavor. ''I guess going a little further than this shouldn''t be a problem, I''ll just run again if I have to!'' After making up his decision Rusty followed the trail of copper pebbles to a new location. The corridor he was following had traces of the same pebbles along with strange noises coming from the same direction. To not allow himself to be discovered, he slowed down his pace and finally peeked out into a seemingly large chamber within. ''What is that? It''s a lot bigger than the others¡­ but¡­ it''s stuck?'' Rusty almost retreated after seeing a strange insectoid creature within this chamber. It was many times larger than the ant drones but of similar shape. After a quick identification attempt, he was able to unearth its name along with some interesting facts. Classification: Lesser Myrm Ant Queen L7 F+ Type: Insectoid ''A queen? So, is it their leader or is there a kind somewhere too?'' He started looking around but he did not discover any other large ants like this one. However, this didn''t mean that there weren''t some peculiar-looking oval-shaped things. They were all over this chamber and some of them were even moving around. Identification: Minuscule Myrm Ant Egg Contains a Minuscule Myrm Ant inside which will hatch after a week has passed. To make things even more interesting he could see how these eggs were being produced. At first, it seemed that the queen ant was stuck but this was not the case. It just had a really large rear part that was also white like the eggs it was producing. This large organ was connected to the ant queen and seemed to weigh it down. Once an egg was squeezed out from the rear, one of the ant drones would carry it away to a larger pile. ''So that''s how these ants are created? But wait, I''m not here for this¡­ where is the copper ore?'' Rusty realized that he was running out of time. He had not been discovered for now but that could quickly change. Finally, in the distance, he saw something interesting; it was a wall plastered with minerals, many resembling the copper that he was here for. There was one small problem, the wall filled with copper ore and perhaps other metals was right where the large ant queen resided. ''It probably won''t just let me take it after I''ve killed so many of her children, will she?'' This was quite problematic. He had potentially managed to discover a small mine that could help him restore his body. However, if he wanted to take it then defeating this large monster and all of its minions was a necessary task. He was severely outnumbered and the last boss was also the largest one that he had ever seen. ''I can do this. I''ve leveled up, gained experience, and learned from my encounters. This is just another challenge on the way to becoming strong!'' Rusty pumped himself up while trying to take in the sights of this chamber. While he had decided to take the whole ant colony on, it didn''t mean that he would do it by himself. There were ways of lessening his burdens and tactical thinking was still key. Rushing in like a madman could always be done later but first, he would use his surroundings and tactics just like he did in the upper levels of the dungeon. Chapter 20 - 18 – Insect Wars. ''That one looks to be a bit smaller than the other ones, it should do. Luckily, these guys don''t go around in such large groups like the other ones, and judging by its level, it shouldn''t be that tough.'' Lesser Giant Centipede L1 F- Rusty identified his new opponent and judged its power according to his old stats. When he was a level one F- type monster, he was much more sluggish and uncoordinated. His hunting target this time around was not a Myrm Ant but a centipede-looking monstrosity. It had a long body and numerous legs, making it swift and agile. Rusty figured that it could possess a venomous bite but with his metallic body, this was a non-issue. After stalking this weaker one to this more secluded location he decided to initiate his new plan. To get rid of the ants and their queen he needed some help. For this purpose, this centipede was required, or to be more specific, its innards. With a plan formed in his metallic mind, Rusty waited for the best moment to go for it. His living armor frame seemed to give him an advantage over these monsters. If he remained perfectly still and had no other insect scents on his metal, he would be considered an inanimate object. He just needed to place himself inside of a corridor and wait for his victim to appear. Then, just as the insect was crawling through he activated his power thrust. His sword started glowing and plunged itself into the monster''s head. With a swift and well-executed strike, the monster''s weak point had been hit, something that Rusty had also eventually discovered. The adventurers and even these insects all had a similar weak point, which was their heads. Cutting off this monster''s many legs or even body parts would not be the smartest move as he had seen it fight with some ants. Going for the head was always the best solution in battle. You have defeated the Lesser Giant Centipede. You have gained +25 experience points. The lifeless creature now lay in the corridor, its legs twitching sporadically. Rusty immediately got to work by grabbing the long monster and placing it over his shoulder. The fresher the remains were the better so he needed to make his way towards the ant lair. There were a few things that he had noticed about his current adversary and how they could seemingly track him everywhere. After making sure that the coast was clear he made his way into the ant colony. Their numbers had dwindled since he had begun hunting them but with that queen there, it was a temporary situation. To make sure that they continued to go down, he wanted to start a fight between two of the species living here. Then when the moment was right, he would strike and get to that large copper deposit that he needed. ''A smaller pack should be somewhere there¡­'' Rusty knew that patience was key and he had taken many days to get used to these underground tunnels. He kept avoiding the insects and just gathering information about their movement patterns. Only after having enough data about his current opponent did he decide to act and this group of three ants would be the start of his ploy. After placing the body of the Lesser Giant Centipede to the side, he engaged with the trio of Miniscule Myrm Drones. The ants were a bit confused by the body of the other insect that was tossed to the side but quickly identified the metallic suit of armor as their main adversary. Rusty, who had managed to level up, didn''t have a problem handling three drones at once, and soon they all fell to his blade. Afterward, a blue crystal appeared in his hand which he crushed immediately after. Quickly, all of his MP was restored which would allow him to perform more powerful skills if the need arose. He was still in enemy territory and keeping himself prepared was crucial. Being attacked down here was a constant possibility and he intended to get out of here without sustaining any further damage. ''Now, to make it look believable¡­'' Rusty began his plan of getting the two insect types to fight by placing the dead centipede in the middle of this battle scene. Around its body, he placed the recently defeated ants and to make it move believable, he even placed one of their legs into the other insect''s mouth. ''These things seem to be territorial, so this should work¡­ I think¡­'' The monsters that he was facing seemed to use scents of other creatures to keep track of everything. He figured this out after being constantly chased by them within the tunnels. Each time he got some of their bodily fluids on his armor, they would somehow manage to track him. However, after washing up in the waters down here, they would be unable to track him any further. Inspired, Rusty contemplated the prospect of spreading the scent of another insect to see how the ants would react. Could it potentially confuse them or divert their attention towards one of the other monsters in the underground domain? It was clear that they all had their separate territories that met up at the main watering hole. While they seemingly adhered to a peculiar pact of non-aggression there, Rusty wondered whether introducing the scent of a centipede inside the ant territory would be enough to break it. After carefully setting the scene, Rusty retreated to a safe distance and observed. The scent of the Lesser Giant Centipede mingled with the ant lair and eventually, a drone appeared on the scene. Their antennae started twitching and it seemed like they were on high alert. The drone approached cautiously, investigating the scene of the staged battle. Rusty couldn''t see that well from his viewing angle but considering that the monster didn''t instantly identify his position, something had changed. ''I better get out of here, I think the centipede scent might be masking me for now.'' His armor had caught some insect fluids and his sword was also covered in them. This was also part of his plan as he wanted a trail of both the insects leading out. Once the ant pointed its head in his direction it was time to move. From time to time he would rub the blood-covered sword on the sides of the walls to keep the scent fresh. As he moved, he could hear the faint sounds of the ant drones following the scent trail that he placed. It reached the watering hole and towards the direction of the centipede territories. Quickly after he ran towards his lair where more water resided and where he could wash up. Then when the time was right, he peeked out to see if his plan had been successful. ''Oh¡­ they seem to be mad at each other¡­'' Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After returning he saw both sides squaring off against each other. On one side he saw multiple ant drones and on the other two giant centipedes. Both insect times were locked in a fierce territorial dispute, mandibles clashing and legs moving. However, after a few minutes of posturing, both sides started retreating to their sides and no actual war had started, it seemed that it would not be that easy to trigger both sides to engage each other. ''Hm¡­ Maybe I''ll need to create more conflict to escalate things faster.'' Rusty pondered his next move as he watched the tense standoff between the ant drones and the giant centipedes. The initial plan had worked to some extent but it seemed that the territorial dispute might need a little push to turn into a full-blown battle. Seeing that his previous plan had partially worked, there was no need to think about it but continue with it. Thus, for the next few days, he began placing carcasses of centipedes into the ants colony. To make things look even better, he began to do the same with the other side. He wanted to make it look like both sides were encroaching on each other''s territories. At some point, one side would probably give in to their urges and finally attack. However, even after a week they still continued to act in a somewhat passive way by just gnashing their mandibles at each other. ''Hm¡­ It''s not really working but, maybe if I do this?'' Rusty had begun to worry that his perfectly created plan would not work. Even after going back and forth between two insect territories and suffering some further damage, nothing had changed. The ants weren''t showing signs of launching a full-scale attack on the centipedes, and vice versa. It seemed like he needed to escalate the conflict further. ''I wish I still had a bow with me, I guess this rock will have to do.'' While he lacked a projectile weapon his Basic Power Shot skill seemed to work with some thrown objects. If he got a large enough rock he could add some momentum to it. Thus he took aim at one of the stalactites hanging above the insect monsters. He aimed to rouse some of their protective instincts, if even one of them attacked the other group then his job would be done. With a swift motion, Rusty hurled the rock toward the stalactite, causing it to detach and crash loudly onto the ground between the ant drones and the giant centipedes. The sudden disturbance startled both groups and their antennae twitched in agitation. The drones who interpreted the falling stalactite as an attack from the centipedes, quickly charged forward and the insect battle had finally begun. Rusty was elated by what was happening and remained hidden as the chaos unfolded. The centipedes, after noticing that the ants were charging, quickly retaliated. Their long bodies twisted and turned as the skirmish between the two groups erupted. The ants outnumbered the other group but they were smaller and weaker creatures. It required at least three or four of them to take care of one of the giant centipedes. The underground battleground echoed with the sounds of clashing mandibles and skittering legs. The battle was fierce and even some of the other insects from other groups started taking part in the extended melee. It was actual pandemonium and Rusty was a bit surprised at the scope of it all. ''Did I overdo it?'' He asked himself while retreating to his lair and waiting. While the monsters were fighting, it was impossible to go to the copper mine that he desired. Rusty remained patient and continued to wait while stocking up on the mana stones. He hoped that this insect war would allow him to gain a valuable resource but he could not leave it all up to the centipedes. That queen ant was still there and he had no way of telling if they would be able to contend with it alone. The constant aggression between the insect species that he sparked, started to dwindle. Eventually, he was able to appear at the old watering hole that had been transformed through the daylong battles between the monsters here. Just like he had calculated, these beings were different from the ones from his dungeon. Their corpses were everywhere and he needed to capitalize on these dwindling numbers. The once-large groups were now reduced to scattered survivors, each side nursing wounds from the prolonged conflict. It was at this point that Rusty decided to make his move. This time he did not need to be that stealthy as both sides had retreated into their lairs. After confirming that the coast was clear, he made his way into the ant tunnels that had become filled with the remains of insect combatants. ''The way looks clear but I should hurry, if that queen is still alive, it will produce more drones if I wait for too long.'' With urgency, he navigated through the tunnels. The remnants of the battle were evident, with the scattered carcasses of ants and centipedes creating a gruesome path. The once-lively tunnels were now eerily silent, only interrupted by the occasional clicking sounds of injured ants or the faint echoes of distant skirmishes. The battle still raged on but both sides had diminished in numbers. While he was not here for leveling purposes, he couldn''t help himself to defeat a few ants and injured centipedes. This allowed him to notice a discrepancy in the experience gained again. It seemed that injured monsters gave fewer amounts of points compared to uninjured ones. You have gained +13 experience points. As he moved in deeper, the monster''s remains started to dwindle until none of them appeared again. He could see some markings on the ground and insect parts here and there, it was as if something dragged the remains further in. ''These lead into the queen''s chamber, I wonder what they are doing¡­'' Rusty continued pushing on until he arrived at the place with the copper vein. Before entering he made sure that everything was in order. This was the place of the final battle and he knew that he would need to probably face a large group of either the ant monsters or the centipedes. To no surprise, the chamber where he spotted the copper vein and many eggs was being guarded. Many drones were there but also remains of the other insects had been dragged before the queen. She was in the process of devouring the centipedes that were also smaller in size. ''Are they trying to restore the numbers? Think she is producing more of those eggs than before¡­'' Rusty knew that there wasn''t much time, the number of drones that had survived had dwindled but it would eventually be restored. This species seemed to be weaker than the other but they also probably could replenish their number faster. Their main tactic was swarming their opponents with numbers and after these eggs all hatched, he would be unable to conquer the copper mine anymore. ''Still, their numbers are quite great here¡­ I probably won''t stand a chance if I just go in like this.'' He knew that going in with a tactical mind was the key to victory. While he strived to be the strongest, the time for pushing forth was not yet there. However, he had a plan on how to further weaken his opponents and for that occasion, he had brought over one of the large light crystals from his lair. ''The real fight starts now!'' First, the light crystal that had been wobbling inside of his body was brought out to the forefront. While normally it could not produce any light without being inside of his lair, there was a trick to making it work outside. Even now, it was producing a faint amount of light thanks to the mana crystals he had also brought over. His body was used as a storage unit for the blue stones and soon he would use them to take all the copper along with the life of the ant queen¡­ Chapter 21 - 19 – Down With The Queen. Rusty positioned himself strategically, making sure he had a clear view of the ant queen and her chamber. With the light crystal emanating a faint glow, he waited for the perfect moment to initiate his plan. The drones seemed to be preoccupied with the queen as they were regurgitating something into her mouth. Considering that she couldn''t move from this place due to the large abdomen, it was probably food. Classification: Lesser Myrm Ant Queen L7 F+ Type: Insectoid ''There it is, if it can only stay in that one spot then it shouldn''t be that hard to defeat¡­'' He needed that copper deposit that was sitting next to the monster''s enlarged rear end. Even now he could see white eggs coming out of it and getting carried to the side. It seemed that these things took some time to hatch and even now some of them were growing. The forces of the ants had been diminished but they still had a large group here. ''Several of these tunnels connect to this main chamber. If this crystal does its job, then I should be able to do it¡­'' Despite being nothing more than a sentient piece of armor, Rusty experienced a peculiar sensation in his core - something akin to emotions. Emotions, both excitement and fear, coursed through him as he contemplated the impending battle, a battle that could potentially result in his final demise. Yet, he recognized the necessity of confronting the ant queen to strengthen himself and overcome the challenges of this insect-infested underground. Restoring his body was necessary for his future survival and he understood that this battle could not be avoided. ''No way to go back now, if I wait, these ants will just come back in greater numbers! What if they eventually overrun those other insects?'' After pitting the two species against each other, it appeared that the ants were beginning to win. While the centipedes possessed larger and stronger bodies, their cooperation was more than lacking. It was likely that the ants would emerge victorious in the end. However, this victory could lead to a larger issue as he would be against even greater numbers than before, something that he would be incapable of handling. ''Here it goes then¡­ Come at me!'' It was time to start his plan and the first thing he did was to place the large light crystal on the ground. Next to it, he started stashing the other mana crystals and stopped after it was glowing gently. Then he started making some noise, while he was not capable of shouting, hitting his chest with his metallic gauntlet was enough to produce quite a ruckus. The drones that had been busy feeding the queen and handling eggs instantly turned in the direction of the strange living armor. There was a small swarm of them in this chamber and he would certainly be defeated if he attacked the queen with all of them in there. Thus, he decided to lure them out and make himself a target. ''Common, follow me!'' Just as he expected, the small drones tossed themselves at him the moment they saw him. They seemed angrier than usual, probably due to the fact that he had invaded their colony''s innermost sanctum where their queen resided. The large ant gave out a strange hissing noise in his general direction which seemed to call forth even more ants. One ant tossed itself at him and he quickly cut off his head, its fluids falling on him just as he had planned. Soon after, he turned around and started to run while ensuring the drones followed him. He could hear the skittering of their legs behind him as he led them away from the queen''s chamber and deeper into the labyrinth-like tunnels of the ant colony. Rusty knew he couldn''t afford to let any of them catch up to him, as a swarm of angry ants could easily overpower even his sturdy metal frame. However, he also didn''t want to actually flee to safety. The angry ants needed to be close enough to keep following him and the more the better. After spending some time fighting these monsters he had memorized a few paths and also marked them for easy use. He continued to lead the ants on a wild goose chase through the tunnels and eventually, he made his way back to the chamber where his target resided, the ant queen. He had gone in circles to return to this place that was now a lot emptier than before. ''Where is that crystal!'' With haste, he tossed himself at the magical crystal that he left to the side and now it was time to finish up his trap. He produced many smaller mana stones that he could store in his stash tab and with their addition to the other mana crystals, the light started to shine brightly. It encompassed almost half of this chamber and most importantly, the tunnels that he led the ant drones into. ''Please work¡­'' While he had performed a few tests with the insects he wasn''t sure if this light was all that it took to keep them at bay. It worked in his own lair where there were many but he could only bring enough mana stones to make one of them shine brightly here. Luckily, the moment the radiance took over the ants stopped in their tracks and could not go any further. ''Haha, I knew it would work!'' Rusty raised his arms up into the air and cheered again, something that he started doing whenever performing well. His plan had succeeded thus far and with the ants halted by the brilliant light emanating from the crystal, it was time for battle. The queen was still there along with a few leftover ant drones that had higher levels than the rest. It seemed to be her honor guard but it would not be enough to stop his charge. ''Let''s finish this, come ants!'' Six drones remained in this egg-laying chamber, and they quickly charged at him with their mandibles clicking in agitation. With his sword at the ready, he faced them head-on. The first swing instantly decapitated one of them and soon after it plunged into the second one. Two of them were instantly down and he quickly retreated before the third one could pounce at his helmet. ''Hah, I know all your attack patterns you silly ants, you''ll have to try harder than that to defeat me!'' Rusty danced between the attacking ants, using his superior agility and combat skills to outmaneuver them. With each precise strike of his sword, he managed to take down another drone to reduce their numbers even further. Despite their numerical advantage, the ants seemed unable to land a solid blow on him and even when they did, his armored frame proved too hard to bite through. Soon the fifth one was down on the ground and only one lone drone remained between him and the screeching ant queen. She was constantly clicking and clacking her mandibles in his direction while giving off strange sounds. He wasn''t sure what it was about but he believed that she was trying to call for more help. Luckily, the light within this chamber was keeping the other drones at bay as they couldn''t enter this place. Rusty advanced forward with a confident stride. The remaining ant drone charged at him with desperate ferocity. Rusty sidestepped its attack with practiced ease, then countered with a swift and precise strike that severed its head from its body. There was no need for fancy skills as he could read this little monster like an open book. As the final drone fell to the ground, lifeless, Rusty turned his attention to the ant queen. She was a formidable opponent, larger and more heavily armored than the drones. She had sharper mandibles of greater size and her legs seemed like they could pierce through hard rocks. But Rusty was undeterred as this monster had one big weak point, it could not move due to the large rear part attached it it. Regular ants had three main parts, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. This Lesser Myrm Ant Queen was slightly different as she had a fourth appendage to which her abdomen was connected. It looked like a large white caterpillar and it was thicker and longer than her entire main body. Due to this strange egg-creating organ, the Queen found itself rooted in place and dependent on her drones for everything. They needed to feed her and also to protect her. Finally, Rusty approached the ant queen with caution, his sword gleaming in the dim light of the chamber. The queen clicked and hissed as she sensed the threat he posed. She swung her massive front legs at him along with her mandibles in a warning but he remained unimpressed. ''As long as I judge the distance well¡­ I should be able to kill her¡­'' While this ant monster was a lot bigger and better armored, it was still just an ant. It had the same weaknesses as the smaller ones that he could exploit. After fighting the smaller drones for so long, he had identified gaps in their insect armor. These spots were usually at the joint areas or at the parts where the head, thorax, and abdomen connected. However, when it came to this one here, there was an even bigger weak spot. He circled around the ant queen to arrive at the strange-looking organ she was connected to. His sword moved in a thrusting motion as he pierced it from the side. Instantly he could tell that the monster was in pain and receiving damage. He wasn''t sure how other creatures worked in this world but everything had health points. It was possible to defeat some monsters by hitting the same spot over and over again, in this case, that was also part of his ploy. ''Don''t hate me for this ant queen, I need that copper!'' Thus he continued to hit her weak spot, over and over again while the monster trashed around in agony. Her movements became more erratic and her attempts to defend herself grew feeble. The once mighty monarch of the ant colony was now reduced to a wounded creature, or so he thought. His assault was relentless but the queen still had one trick up her sleeve. He could see the monster''s health bar with the help of his identification skill but he was sure that it was going down. But his enemy didn''t want to just give up and die. As he was stabbing the rear end continuously the ant queen started thrashing even harder. It was to the point that he could see the caterpillar-like rear organ sliding forward with her. ''Wait, what is it doing?'' The monster was doing something strange, it was doing something to its abdomen or to be more precise, to the part that connected to the egg-laying organ. It started to stab it while also yanking itself forward as if it was trying to tear it off and get free. ''This¡­ doesn''t look good¡­'' He realized that he might have underestimated this monster''s tenacity. The ant queen''s attempts to free herself were becoming increasingly frantic and she was starting to separate herself from the rear organ. The rest of her body was mostly uninjured and probably capable of defending itself. Eventually, he attempted to switch to attacking the main body but after a few pokes, he found it hard to pierce the carapace and even the weak parts. His corroded sword had become dulled with time and he wasn''t sure if the time to spend his restorative resources was wise. Thus he continued attempting to stab the monster and slash at it with the help of his power skills. With the added momentum and attacking power he managed to dislodge one of the monster''s hind legs. However, the monster wasn''t letting up and finally managed to separate its main body from the organ. It had managed to free itself and first fell forward in a daze. Rusty didn''t panic yet as he tossed himself at the creature from behind. He would not relent until the queen was defeated but even after landing a few hits, the monster was still not dead. It turned around and angrily launched itself at the living armor that had been giving it pain for so long. The monster ant was bigger and stronger so his body was flung into the distance and collided with the nearby wall. The monster gave out a massive shriek of anger and its antennae continued to twitch with anger. It looked at Rusty who was rattling around and trying to gather himself off the ground. His foot was loose and so was his left arm. With haste, he attempted to set himself back into place but the monster was coming. It charged with speed and force that he had never seen before. Rusty scrambled to his feet, his damaged body protesting against the sudden movement. With his sword in hand, he braced himself for the incoming assault. The ant queen charged at him relentlessly, her mandibles snapping menacingly. He intercepted them with the help of his sword or at least attempted but to no surprise, his sword finally snapped in two. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His body was slammed against a nearby wall as the ant queen attempted to gut him. However, even though her mandibles were sharp and bit through his bronze body, this was not the end. He retracted his broken sword, stuck it into the monster''s mouth, and then quickly activated his strongest skill. The ant monster''s mouth started glowing along with the leftover part of his blade that he enhanced with the light element. These monsters were all susceptible to this element and he could infuse his weapon with it. Once inside the monster''s mouth, the glowing sword entered its body and made it retreat. Rusty could see that the queen was in disarray and he needed to quickly follow up. This was the time to spend the rest of his bronze and conjure up a new blade. The holes and gashes on his bronze body started to rapidly restore themselves and he was granted a replacement sword. Soon after his only leftover mana crystal was crushed to restore his MP. All of his bronze reserves had been just consumed but he didn''t care, the foe needed to be defeated first. Soon he launched himself at his adversary, his blade glowing red as he launched a series of powerful thrusts and slashes. His attacks were precise and relentless, each strike aiming for the weak spots he had identified earlier. The ant queen, now weakened and disoriented, struggled to defend herself against Rusty''s onslaught. Her mandibles snapped wildly and even were able to produce new wounds on his metallic form. However, he did not care and only plunged his sword into one of the monster''s eyes and finally, the monster was faltering. With each strike, Rusty felt a surge of power coursing through him. This was his moment to prove his strength and resilience. He refused to let the ant queen defeat him, he would not fall after coming this far. The cavern echoed with the clash of metal against chitin as Rusty and the ant queen engaged in a fierce battle. Despite her size and strength, she had been injured too much and the metallic armor proved to be more resilient. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Rusty delivered the decisive blow. His sword pierced through the weakened carapace of the ant queen, dislodging her head along with it. Without being able to screech in agony, the queen collapsed to the ground, her body unmoving and lifeless. You have gained +250 experience points. You have gained a new title. Congratulations you have gained a level. ''Haha, I did it but¡­'' While he was happy that he had been victorious, there was one little problem. The light crystal that he had left behind was starting to dim and behind it was a sea of angry ant drones. They were clearly enraged by the death of their queen and probably wanted to have a nibble at his metallic body¡­ Chapter 22 - 20 – Strange Egg. ''Give up already, your queen is already dead!'' A shriek escaped from an ant and was soon followed by another as they charged at the monster that defeated their leader. Rusty took up a stance and prepared himself for the onslaught of angry drones. He knew that despite his victory over the queen, this wasn''t over yet. The light crystal had dimmed and some of the drones managed to slip through but he was not scared, victory was near. As the first wave of drones descended upon him, Rusty swung his sword with precision to deflect the initial mandibles and slashed through their exoskeletons. These smaller creatures were not much to him who had just managed to gain another level. With each swing of his sword, more of the bodies riddled this chamber. You have gained +6 experience points. The drones kept coming, seemingly endless in their numbers but Rusty fought on with determination. He was a whirlwind of steel amidst the swarm. Despite their ferocity, the drones were no match for his strength and increasing skills. He never tired and their numbers started to dwindle. You have gained +6 experience points. Eventually, the ant''s numbers started to dwindle and the robust suit of armor raised his sword for the last time. With a final and resounding swing of his sword, Rusty cleaved through the last of the ant drones. Their lifeless bodies now riddled the entire chamber. The chamber was now eerily silent and quickly became dark as the light crystal dimmed fully. Rusty stood amidst the carnage with his sword broken and body battered, yet victory was still his. ''I thought they would never stop coming¡­'' Rusty couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had emerged victorious against overwhelming odds by defeating both the ant queen and her small army of drones. His efforts had not been in vain and he had proven that he was a capable warrior. Now all that was left was to take the loot that he had fought for but first, he needed to glance at his status screen. ''I''ve gained two levels and I''m almost level nine too but they almost got me, I don''t have many hit points left¡­'' Name: Rusty Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L8 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 15/85 Magic Points [MP] 3/63 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 76 [ F+ ] Agility 55 [ F ] Dexterity 57 [ F ] Constitution 80 [ F+ ] Intelligence 55 [ F ] Wisdom 58 [ F ] Willpower 59 [ F ] Durability F+ Rusty''s body was mangled up and had several large gashes in it. Luckily he wasn''t missing any important parts and could still move. This body of his was quite robust and unless his parts were severed, he could keep on moving. However, it would eventually give up and he would be unable to move. At this moment, he could barely move forward without his legs breaking apart. ''I haven''t gotten any new skills lately, that''s a bit strange¡­ but I did gain a new title, I wonder what it does!'' Ant Slayer Title A title gained by defeating a large number of ant-type monsters and their queen. Whenever fighting other similar monsters, the person with this title gains a 1% damage bonus. ''Just one percent? That doesn''t sound like much but I guess it''s better than nothing¡­'' His level had increased and more power coursed through his body but it wouldn''t last for long. He needed to restore it before leaving this place and the copper vein here was what he needed. After placing his hand on the rock formation he awaited for his system to initiate. He had not had much use for his SP for a while but absorbing this copper would change that. The amount of copper is too large. ''It''s too large? Previously it was too small¡­ But how do I make it smaller?'' Before him was a large wall filled with copper ore that he needed to chop into smaller pieces to use. His body was mangled and it was the same for his sword. It would probably break if he attempted to strike this wall with his weapon. While copper would allow him to restore his weapon, it still felt like a waste to ruin it before it was truly worn down. He also lacked one other resource which was tin, before finding it he needed to conserve all resources. Rusty pondered his predicament for a moment and considered his options carefully. He needed a way to break down the large wall of copper ore without damaging his already worn-out sword. As he scanned the chamber, his eyes fell upon the carcass of the ant queen. ''Perhaps this could be of some use? She was able to pierce through hard rocks with those legs and mandibles.'' Rusty approached the carcass of the ant queen and inspected her mandibles. Despite the damage inflicted upon her during their battle, they remained sharp and sturdy. However, they were still attached to the monster''s large head and perhaps not the best option for now. Some other severed appendages were also there, which were the ant queen''s legs. They were much lighter but also seemingly sturdy. After picking up one of the legs he decided to use it similarly to a spear. First, he poked the wall with normal attacks and soon after used his power thrust skill to plunge it in deeper. The leg broke in a few spots but also embedded itself in the rocky formation. After moving it around a couple of times, he was finally able to dislodge a larger chunk of ore that was bigger than his fist. ''This should do it, right?'' He placed his damaged palm on it and was finally given the correct prompt that would allow him to take it. His SP went down by a couple of points and the ore found its way into his inventory. It was a separate item from the regular ingots he received when absorbing resources from weapons or armor. ''Hm, will this turn into a copper ingot eventually?'' This was not his first time working with items and he was certain that he needed to gather more fist-sized ores. With the help of the ant queen''s leg, he continued to mine the ore in this room and after gathering another three he was finally able to combine them into a proper copper ingot. With the freshly obtained copper ingot in the stash tab, Rusty felt a surge of relief. This was exactly what he needed to restore his damaged weapon and body. Now, all he had to do was mine more of the ore and gain more ingots. While he wanted to continue with his mining spree there was still one thing that he didn''t decide on, the many white eggs in this chamber were still here. Previously he chose to ignore them as they weren''t posing a threat but now he could see that one of them was moving. He stopped for a moment to check what was going on. The egg was twitching around and eventually, something started to emerge from within. It was an ant drone but it looked a lot more feeble than the ones that he had encountered. Its exoskeleton didn''t seem to have hardened fully and it had a brighter coloring. The creature was clearly disoriented but without giving it much of a thought, it was soon dispatched with one swing of his sword. You have gained +5 experience points. ''Hm¡­'' It was quite easy to kill and Rusty knew that it was the right choice to have saved them for later. Piercing an undeveloped ant egg didn''t yield any points of experience so he needed to wait for them to fully develop and hatch. His goal was still to level up as much as he could and killing the newly hatched insects was quite easy. With his mind now set, he turned his attention to the remaining copper ore. Despite his damaged state, he continued to mine the ore with the ant queen''s leg-turned-improvised mining tool. Chunk by chunk, he gathered more ore and spent points to absorb them into his inventory space. Whenever he ran out of SP it was time to focus more of his attention on the ant eggs. Eventually, the chamber became devoid of any signs of life and his limit for copper ores and ingots had been reached. ''So ten seems to be the limit for everything¡­'' It seemed that this cheat-like restorative ability he had with the help of his inventory, had its limits. There was a limit to all items that he could hold in a square and it was impossible to spread them out through the stash tab. After ten of each item was gathered there was no way of getting any more unless he carried them to another location. This would limit his healing ability during combat as with time and enough damage, he would reach a limit. He had spent several days in this ant colony and had already restored his body. In his inventory, he had reached the limit of copper ores and ingots and was now contemplating his future plans. He just needed a little bit more to reach the tenth and final level before his next evolution and he could not wait to gain more power. ''I wonder what my next body will be like? Could I make it bigger and heavier? Hm, but what if I become too big to fit through these tunnels?'' His mind was filled with thoughts of future forms and battles. He still had a bone to pick with the adventurers that had forced him to fall down here. While, on one hand, their actions had propelled him to his current state of power, on the other, they had nearly led to his demise. He had not yet searched for a way back up but perhaps after he gained more strength, then climbing back up the chasm would become a possibility. ''Now then, I should take as many of the ores back to the lair and plan my next move.'' Rusty was ready to leave this dark place, the light on the light crystal had dimmed a long time ago and now this place was pitch dark. He scanned the place with his senses again to see if he didn''t miss any of the ant eggs. While he was planning to return here a couple of times, it was better to kill these small monsters right after they had hatched. ''Oh, what''s that? It looks different from the others¡­'' On his way out he discovered one last ant egg that was a bit peculiar. The others were all white and went brown when something was about to hatch from them. This one on the other hand looked silvery and metallic. It reminded him a bit of his own body but not quite. ''It''s smaller than the others too¡­'' He had almost missed this egg as it had been stashed to the side. Was it discarded by the other hands or did it roll away during the chaos of the battle that ensued a few days ago? Rusty didn''t know but one thing was clear, this egg was taking a while to hatch, a lot longer than the others. It seemed to be a bit special and for some reason, he was drawn to it. ''Why don''t I take it with me?'' There was space inside of his body to take this egg with him along with a few copper ores. His chest cavity was filled out with copper ore while the egg was shoved into the neck area and covered up with his helmet. With his task now completed and the ant colony wiped out, he made his way back to his own lair. The journey back to his lair was uneventful, save for a few close encounters with wandering insects that he easily dispatched. Some of the centipedes wandered into the tunnels that the ants had ruled before. Even with the added weight these monsters didn''t pose much of a threat to the current him that was almost at max level. Rusty felt a sense of relief wash over him as he found himself at the watering hole. The number of insects had decreased and he was able to easily walk to the tunnel leading to his lair. His adventure had come to an end and he had emerged stronger than before. He wasn''t sure why but he felt content about his recent victory. ''Now where should I put this?'' Upon reaching his lair, Rusty carefully laid out the copper ores he had collected and stored them all in one place. He then turned his attention to the metallic-looking egg he had found. For some reason it didn''t feel right to just leave it out in the corner so he created a little pedestal on the side. There was just a perfect spot next to some blue and white crystals. ''I wonder if this will even hatch¡­'' He was not convinced that a monster would hatch from this egg as he had brought it over to his lair which was filled to the brim with light. The other monsters didn''t seem to like the light and perhaps even took direct damage from it. It wasn''t strange to assume that whatever was developing inside would just die. ''Well, it doesn''t matter. I should focus on finding some tin now, maybe I''ll find some in the centipede lair? Or should I try the other ones?'' There were four main monster types in this dungeon with the ants being one of them. Besides the ants, there were also the centipedes, the slugs, and the giant beetles. After some consideration, he decided to go with the centipedes first. That group had been weakened by the territorial battle with the ants and would probably be the easiest to beat. Then, if he was victorious he would follow it up with the slugs and finish up with the strongest, the giant beetles. The latter had the largest bodies that he didn''t feel confident in being able to dispose of. He wished to go through his next evolution before confronting that variant of insect. As Rusty prepared himself to venture into the centipede lair, he made sure his armor was properly fastened and his sword was ready for battle. With the help of some rocks, he was able to sharpen it further. His inventory was stocked with copper ingots and the egg was stashed in a safe location. It was time to set out once again into the dark tunnels. ''Nothing can stop me! I''ll probably be level ten after I come back, I can''t wait!'' Rusty ventured forth with a confident stride. After his victory against the ant queen, he was pumped up, nothing could stop him now. Soon his footsteps echoed in the outside corridor and the only thing left inside his lair was the strange silvery egg. Once all noise died down, the egg began to emit a faint glow, its surface shimmering for a split second before stopping¡­ Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 23 - 21 – Next Evolution. You have gained +13 experience points. You have gained +15 experience points. ''Silly insects, you can''t defeat me!'' Rusty sliced through another creepy crawler while hearing the world system notifications. He had left his lair behind and begun his leveling spree. First, he headed to the old Ant lair to gather up more copper ores back to his base. After the third tip, he started encountering the long centipede monsters which seemed to be attracted to the bodies of the ants which for some reason were not vanishing anymore. It was clear that the dungeon rules were different down here but his well-being was not in danger. The monsters here were also different as they liked to feast on each other''s bodies, not something Rusty was capable of as he could only absorb metallic parts from items that these creatures did not possess. Armed with higher levels and more bronze to repair his damaged body and weapon, he started pushing back. It became a daily occurrence for him to get into multiple brawls with these creepy crawlers. Their bodies were more robust and their bites deadlier than that of the ant monsters. However, they did not work so well together as well and would also not be able to track him if he escaped. After gathering enough raw resources he set out to the deep tunnels that led to the centipede lair. The tunnels there were surprisingly narrower than that of the ant colony, but Rusty''s armor provided him with the necessary protection against the sharp rocks and jagged edges. The deeper he pushed in, the more the number of his enemies increased. His confidence could not be shaken and with each encounter, he became stronger and soon reached level nine. With each level gained his strength grew and he felt vindicated. His combat prowess was increasing and he felt more and more attuned with his metallic body. Yet, as he delved deeper into the centipede lair, the challenges grew more daunting. The creatures here were larger and more aggressive, their chitinous exoskeletons started to become a problem that he could only cut with the help of his skills. However, Despite the difficulties Rusty pressed on, determined to reach his goal of reaching level ten and advancing even further. ''This looks similar to the ant lair¡­'' With time he reached a more open area with a massive amount of smaller tunnels leading to it. He could hear and see a mass of crawling monsters everywhere but they were not attacking. Right in the middle there was a much larger insect that was curled around strange orb-like objects. It seemed to have the same purpose as the ant queen but there was one problem, this thing looked a lot stronger than the previous monster he faced and it also was not rooted in place. Classification: Lesser Giant Centipede Matriarch L4 E- Type: Insectoid ''If I go by the classification¡­ this might be a bad idea¡­ I already had trouble with the queen that was an F+ monster¡­'' After wandering this world he started to understand the rating system of other creatures. The ants that were of G rank were below his F rank, and this monster was an E rank. He could easily vanquish the G rank ant drones the moment he arrived at this area and would probably be able to even if he was a level one damaged armor. ''This might call for a tactical withdrawal¡­'' There was no real reason for him to engage this more massive creature at this point in time. There were no tin or copper deposits that he could see in this area, and the risk of facing such a formidable opponent outweighed any potential rewards. Rusty knew that being discrete and calculative was the right way of going about things when it came to survival. There was no reason to rush and leveling further could be done through safer means. With a cautious step backward, Rusty began to retreat from the lair of the Giant Centipede Matriarch. He made sure to move silently and avoid drawing attention to himself. The last thing he needed was to alert the massive creature to his presence and find himself in a battle he couldn''t win. However, his body was not very silent and after stepping on a crunchy piece of rock he awoke the monstrosity. The Giant Centipede Matriarch seemed quite attuned to the noise and instantly turned to face the direction of the intruder. She rose with her elongated body that was well over ten meters long and emitted a low hiss, her numerous legs skittering across the ground as she prepared to strike. Rusty''s nonexistent heart sank as he bolted away in panic. Rusty knew he had to act quickly if he wanted to escape from the Giant Centipede Matriarch''s wrath. With a burst of speed, he dashed down one of the smaller tunnels in hopes of her enlarged body becoming stuck. To his dismay, the creature seemed to have just fit perfectly through them. Behind him, he could hear the sound of the Matriarch''s massive body slithering after him, her hisses echoing through the tunnels like a menacing symphony. Rusty knew that he needed to get away and luckily there were a few things that he could do. On his way out he started smacking some looser-looking rocks to block the path behind him. While it would make navigating back more difficult, it was better to block the tunnels now than be devoured by the large monster. Even with this strategy, he could feel the monster skittering behind him. When he glanced back he could see the monster''s jaws snapping around and its legs skittering on the side of the tunnel. This monster seemed to be quite enraged by his presence but luckily he stumbled upon a small crevice. It was barely enough for his metallic body to squeeze through. The large insect matriarch attempted to follow quickly after but was unable to. Her head was somewhat wider than the rest of the body with large vice-like mandibles on each side. While this was the perfect chance to get away, a chance presented itself. ''What if I¡­'' Rusty''s battle sense was telling him that perhaps it was time to go on the offensive. His sword glowed in red as he plunged it into the monster''s mouth. Then quickly after he twisted it around while also activating his light elemental skill. The inside of the monster''s gullet started glowing and the creature started thrashing about. ''Hah, take that!'' The monster seemed to be injured but then it did something unexpected. Instead of trying to push itself and get stuck in the narrow passage, it started to retreat. To Rusty''s surprise, he could not pull back his weapon anymore and instead was getting yanked along with it. Even though his strength stat was at an F+ rating, it wasn''t enough to go against the E-rank monster. ''No, my sword¡­ Give it back!'' Rusty struggled to maintain his grip on his sword as the Giant Centipede Matriarch began to retreat, dragging him along with it. The narrow passage provided little room for maneuvering, and Rusty''s metallic body scraped against the jagged walls which caused sparks to fly around. The creature''s strength was just far too great for him to win and holding on would only make things worse. He made a quick decision to let go of his weapon as he was not going to relinquish his arm that was beginning to leave his body. Instantly, he tumbled back and the monster retreated with his still-glowing sword back into the darkened corridor. ''Did it just leave?'' Rusty lay there for a moment, gathering his thoughts about the loss of his beloved sword. Luckily, he still had enough resources to produce a new one but eventually, his tin reserves would run out. Slowly, he pushed his scratched-up body off the ground and decided to leave this place. The Matriarch would be a great target to test his future body out but for now, it was better to keep himself safe. ''What should I do now¡­ should I try those slugs or should I just wait and take things slowly?'' After returning to the main watering hole he resumed his journey. The centipedes weren''t the only monster type here as strange slow-moving slugs and large beetles were also an option. The centipedes weren''t a difficult foe but with their matriarch wandering the tunnels, it would perhaps be better to target some of the slugs. He knew their behavior to some extent and had already decided on a tactic to defeat them. ''Slugs it is then.'' With a determined stride, Rusty set off in the direction of the slug lair, a place he hadn''t truly explored yet. It seemed that these creatures all gathered around one larger monster that produced offspring. These would probably be similar but he wouldn''t be sure until he explored their tunnels like the others. Once inside he encountered a few of them quite quickly. ''These guys are a lot slower than the others but they all stick around each other for some reason¡­'' Rusty picked up a rock from the ground and threw it in the direction of the monsters. His projectile traveled in a nice arc in the direction of one of the slow-moving monsters. Yet, right before it was about to collide with this strange creature it was intercepted. The creature expanded its mouth as if it were some sort of fleshy harmonica and gobbled up the rock. It was a strange sight to behold, these monsters had similar bodies to worms but they could elongate their mouths. These shot out at fast speeds, quite a stark contrast to their slow-moving bodies. They seemed to have a symbiotic relationship, working together to defend themselves against potential threats. They were similar to the ants in that regard but they would not be able to chase them down with their slow speeds. ''There is always an easy way¡­ now, these guys have one weakness!'' Just like any other creature, it seemed that everyone had a weak point that could be exploited. Even Rusty who was a living armor made from metal had his drawbacks, one of them was his hollow body that was susceptible to blunt forces and tipping over. These slugs had one deficiency when it came to their attacking patterns. At first, it seemed that those mouths would make short work of anyone who would approach them but there was something that he could exploit about them. His first enemies would be a quartet of slugs and to defeat them he just needed a handful of large rocks. After flinging them all at the group he grabbed his restored blade and began to approach. The strange mouths launched forward at the projectiles and chomped them down. At the ends of these appendages, there were razor-sharp teeth that would quickly embed themselves into anything they could grab. However, once the attack was initiated there was a window of opportunity that an attacker like Rusty could abuse. The slugs had an easy attack pattern and a reason why they stayed so close to each other. Their attacks were strong and fast but they could not be used multiple times. If one of them missed then they needed others to continue the battle for them. However, if he managed to set them off all at once, then victory was assured. Rusty maneuvered around the prolonged mouths that launched themselves at the rocks that he threw. As soon as they extended their appendages to grab the rocks, he darted in close, slashing at the exposed bodies of the slugs. His sword cut through their soft flesh with ease, causing them to recoil in pain. He counted in his head and after exactly eight seconds he started to retreat. At this point, the mouths would have retracted themselves and were ready to lounge at him again. You have gained +18 experience points. ''Got one, just three left.'' He continued with his tactical assault on the slugs and he became more adept at this tactic with each he defeated. With each precise strike, he whittled away at their numbers and retreated at the right moment before they could prepare a counterattack. It took multiple hits to damage the strange slimy bodies but eventually, the area was nothing more than green goop. You have gained +16 experience points. The last one was eventually defeated and he continued with his exploration into the new area. This place was a lot more spacious than the rest and he encountered large caverns filled with groups of these slug creatures. As long as he kept his distance they would not approach, they were quite a good source of experience points but he couldn''t become careless. Even with his abilities and tactics, complacency could still lead to his downfall. Some of the slugs were positioned strategically, making it difficult for him to approach without risking an attack. They were able to hang up from the ceiling and once approached would fall down and attack with their grabby mouths. Others seemed to have the ability to blend in with the environment and were just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. Nevertheless, they didn''t pose a big enough threat to this metallic body and were a great source for continuous farming. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained the Elemental Discharge skill. You have reached the level limit, please choose a path forward. After continuous days of battling the day had finally arrived. He had gotten to level ten and even gained a new skill. He was overjoyed that his hard work had finally paid off. His journey towards excellence and triumph was only starting as he expected this evolutionary change to be an even bigger step than before. ''I should return!'' Even though there were some slugs left to slay he instantly stopped with his hunt. The bar that showcased his experience points was all filled up. Even if he continued to defeat more enemies it wouldn''t gain him anything anymore, it was better to conserve his body and to quickly return to his lair of shiny crystals. ''I wonder if those two will be there¡­'' Name: Rusty Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Classification: Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor [ F + ] L10 [ Max ] Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 67/92 Magic Points [MP] 43/68 Special Points [SP] 20/20 Strength 82 [ F+ ] Agility 61 [ F ] Dexterity 62 [ F ] Constitution 87 [ F+ ] Intelligence 62 [ F ] Wisdom 63 [ F ] Willpower 64 [ F ] Durability F+ After glancing at his maxed-out status he took some time to examine his new skill which was something that he didn''t expect. Basic Elemental Discharge Active Skill Allows the user to eject a powerful surge of elemental energy from within objects imbued with elemental mana. His skill was also quite intriguing but he decided to not test it out for the time being. His thoughts were filled with new evolutionary options and a new more robust body that he could finally inhabit. Thus once back in his lair, he took up a spot close to his ant egg that he had been fostering for the past two weeks. Next to it, he set himself down on the ground and looked at the enticing status window before him. Please choose a path. Chapter 24 - 22 – Soul Forge Expansion. ''Choose what path? It looks different than last time¡­'' Rusty was confused while staring at his evolution options. Previously after clicking forward, he was greeted by a singular evolutionary path. This path presented him with his current body, but this time around there was none. Instead of a better-looking armored form, there was only a phantom of a door. ''I don''t want to turn into a door. How would a door even hold a sword or fight monsters?'' However, the more he looked at this door the more it reminded him of something. It looked exactly the same as the large castle gate doors he encountered the first time he went through his evolution. They were just much smaller on the system screen which confused him. ''Hm¡­ does this just mean that I will arrive inside that large hall instead?'' It made more sense that he would be brought before the soul forge instead of turning into a castle door so he just carried on like the last time. He pressed the ''Select'' button that was waiting for him and waited. Just like before it took some time but eventually the surroundings started to shift. The glowing crystals that were everywhere vanished and were replaced by the same grand hall adorned with intricate designs as the last time he was here. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m here." He had made it inside of the floating castle while skipping the trip through the long bridge. Once inside he actually possessed a voice that could echo through the empty halls. This was his second time here so he knew where the soul forge was but before going there, he decided to explore this vast place once more. "Hello? Is anyone here?" After watching adventurers communicating with each other, he kind of knew how to do it himself. Previously he encountered two glowing orbs here, one dark and the other similar to the crystals from his cave. He wondered around wondering if they were here once more but it didn''t seem so. "Could they be inside the soul forge, like last time?" There weren''t many changes to this place and even after picking up some silver plates, he was not able to absorb the metals inside. This place might have worked under different rules than the real world he came from but perhaps with time, this would change. With nothing else to do, he decided to walk up the stairs and into the soul forge that had his new body. "It''s there!" He shouted in joy as he saw his new form standing tall. It resembled his current body but was devoid of any rust over parts, it was a fully functioning bronze armor. While it didn''t really change in form it felt more powerful and radiated some strange power. However, before he could charge in and take up his new and improved form, his old friends finally decided to show themselves. "The prodigal son has returned!" First, the dark sphere of light made itself known and it was quickly followed by the white one. "Son? Don''t give him strange ideas, we aren''t related." "Aren''t we, Hero? It¡­ I mean, Rusty has both our memories and seems to have inherited some of my cunning!" "You call using poison and cowardly tactics for killing, cunning?" "Why yes? What else would it be? It does not matter how you are victorious just that you are the one left standing!" "Only a demon would think like that?" "Your friends seemed to think the same, they lived and you died~" "Shut up!" The dark sphere that represented the defeated Demon King started chuckling after making the Hero mad. The two seemed to be at each other''s throats and Rusty somewhat knew the reason for it. Their emotions were mixed up with him and he seemed to have actually inherited some of their traits. "Well¡­ he also has inherited some of your¡­ foolish traits and gets absorbed in combat too easily¡­" "Hah, finding joy in a fair exchange isn''t foolish. What is life with no honor and compassion? I was not the only one betrayed if you treated your subjects with some empathy¡­" "This again? Compassion only brings weakness, you need a calculated mind." It was clear that the two orbs could not find a middle ground which for some reason brought Rusty some amusement. Despite their constant arguing, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards them. After all, it was thanks to them that he was able to unlock the Twilight form of his body which later on allowed him to survive and get stronger. If it was the previous him, then he would have probably already approached his new form and started fusing with it. However, now he was different, his short life had taught him that it was best to analyze the situation around him. There were a few things that had changed in this place, with multiple new passages appearing from within this forging chamber. When turning to the right he could see a door with writing over it. It led to something called The Armory and had a symbol that looked like a sword and a shield over it. Previously there was nothing there but now the door was wide open. Then to the left, there was another one, with a symbol of a book that led to something called a library. To top it all off there was also a third path, leading to something called the training area. While he wasn''t sure how this came to be, he realized that each of these paths could offer him valuable resources and knowledge to aid him on his future journey of strength. The Armory could provide him with new weapons, perhaps eliminating the limiting longsword that was his only weapon. The Library might contain ancient texts and scrolls that could teach him new skills or perhaps give him new ideas for better strategies. Then the Training facility could allow him to hone his skills to a greater extent. "Hey Rusty, are you listening?" "Huh?" "Oh, you were?" "Of course!" "Hah, look at him lie instantly~ Reminds me of me when I was little! He will make a great demon lord in the future!" "Why would he ever become a demon lord you bastard?" "He is a monster, do you think your kind will accept him? They''ll attack him the moment he enters one of your cities. Becoming a demon lord and dominating the world is the obvious path for him! And with this soul forge around, this might be a possibility¡­" The orb of darkness seemed to dim while talking about Rusty''s future. The one representing the hero instantly started going brighter and tried to rebuke him. "You must be mad if you think that I would allow something like that to happen!" "As if you will be able to do anything in your current form, hero. He is a monster, eventually, he will give in to his desires of domination and deceit!" "No never!" "He had no remorse when handling those adventurers with poison, what do you think he will do once¡­ Huh, where did he go?" As the demon king and hero were in a heated debate, the target of their discussion vanished from their sight. Both quickly looked at the bronze suit of armor which represented the next evolution for their armored friend. It was luckily still standing there and had not been touched, however, some sound was coming from one of the side chambers. "Maybe try not to make these boring speeches anymore, demon king¡­" The white light orb cackled and soon zoomed towards the path leading to the armory chamber. This was something that had recently become available and he knew that it was part of his old blessing. While the layout was different as it took the form of the old demon lord''s castle, the functions were similar. Once he arrived there he could see a confused bronze armor looking at empty weapon racks. "Why is there nothing here¡­" "Because you have to make them yourself." "Make them myself?" Rusty asked while the hero orb replied. There was a reason why this place was called a forge. "Indeed, Rusty. This might be called an armory but it''s more of a storage space. Once you have created a weapon at the forge, it will become available here." The hero orb memories were fragmented but he was able to recall some facts that concerned his old blessing. He had some memories of forging a few pieces of weaponry and knew that they were also connected to the training area along with the library as well. "Create them myself? But I don''t have any experience in making things¡­ Do I just use my inventory?" "Not quite, you''ll have to craft them with your own hands, all the tools will be provided by this space here." "But if I can''t use the inventory¡­ how would I make anything?" Rusty was quite confused, he had always just used the stash tab and his special points to repair his armor. He was unable to create anything by himself, even when he wanted a bow and arrows, it was impossible. However, if it was something like a skill that could be learned, then it was something that he wanted. The white orb seemed to know a lot about this place, so he had reasons to believe that it could help him. "I don''t think I can teach you directly but¡­ we should be able to find the basic forging and crafting methods inside of the library." "The Library, can I learn new skills there?" "Well¡­ something like that, they aren''t as effortless but they should contain texts and scrolls that detail various crafting techniques. You should be able to learn how to forge the basic weapons and even parts of your armor. Although, I''m not sure how that would work with your body¡­" The glowing orb paused while looking over Rusty''s body which was nothing more than a corroded suit of armor. In the past, the hero used this place to gain his strength fast but he was a human. He did not forge parts that could become his body but considering that Rusty was a monster, then perhaps something like that could be possible. "Library¡­ got it!" As Rusty waltzed out of the armory chamber the black orb of light floated inside to look around. "Our child is quite obedient, at least when you mention something that could benefit him." "Stop talking to me¡­" "Oh cheer up hero, we might be stuck like this forever or we might disappear the next time this place changes." "Hmph¡­" The two didn''t seem to like each other and it was painfully obvious. However, their situation was something they did not understand nor did they truly know what they had become. Their forms could not even move freely through this soul forge and once Rusty left, they would be in a semi-dormant state. During it, they could perceive what he was doing outside this dimension but were unable to act in any shape or form. "You and I aren''t so different." "I''m not anything like you!" "Are you not? I bet the only reason you are helping our dear Rusty is for your selfish reasons. Perhaps you wish to use him for your revenge? Are the ones that put us in this state still alive? I can''t believe that I''m saying this but¡­ how about a truce?" "A truce? What are you scheming?" "Scheming? Your words cut deep, hero." "Knock it off, you expect me to trust the king of all demons, who slaughtered millions?" "We live in troubled times, I never intended for all those atrocities to happen. Do you think that your side is without any fault? Do you even know why all of this started?" "What are you implying¡­" "Nothing~ The past doesn''t matter. However, presently we need to work together. What if there is a way to regain our previous forms? I''m sure you have some unfinished business with those friends of yours¡­ and aren''t there some people that remained faithful until the end?" The demon lord''s words started to make some sense but the hero remained silent. He knew that he couldn''t trust this being in the slightest. This didn''t change the fact that he also wanted his revenge and perhaps the living armor could facilitate it. While nothing was indicating that they could get out of this pocket dimension, perhaps in the future that would be a possibility. His old blessing was made by the gods so it didn''t follow the same rules that the system imposed. "I''ll take your silence as a yes then." "..." While the two orbs chatted with each other Rusty made his way back into the main soul forge chamber and then headed over to the library. His mind was filled with anticipation of learning new skills to create weapons. He already knew that the sword he wielded as his sole weapon was very limiting. There were also many skills that he couldn''t use just by holding a sword, like the ones related to shields and bows. Once he arrived at the library, Rusty was met with towering bookshelves with ancient tomes and scrolls. The air was thick with the scent of parchment and dust, giving the chamber an atmosphere of knowledge. In the middle was a lone table with just one chair and some candles. However, while there were many bookshelves everywhere, there was no rhyme or reason for their placement. "Where should I start?" Rusty had never really used any books of scrolls before, he had only some fragmented memories of the hero and demon king which allowed him to read. From a nearby bookshelf, he pulled out one of the larger tomes that had some strange magical characters on it. Once the book was opened he was greeted with more strange diagrams that he didn''t understand at all. If Rusty had brows to furrow they would be furrowed now. Trying to decipher these cryptic symbols was giving his metallic head a migraine. The diagrams seemed to depict various forging techniques and processes, but without any prior knowledge or guidance, they might as well have been written in an entirely different language. Then there was also the inclusion of magic, something called enchanting. "That one might be a bit too difficult for you to understand, how about you try one of these first, Rusty?" The two orbs of light arrived as he was flipping the book around and trying to look at the schematics from different angles. The white one seemed to know its way around this place so Rusty decided to place the book he had away and followed after it. "Yeah, this one will be a good start." "This is¡­" Before him was a brown booklet with some crude drawings of tools on it. It was titled ''Blacksmithing for Dummies'' and for some reason, he felt offended. However, he did not know blacksmithing or forging, thus he decided to give it a try. After placing the book on the main table he began to read through these basic instructions. To his surprise, it was a lot easier to understand. The diagrams were simple, showing the steps of heating metal, shaping it with a hammer, and cooling it down to harden. With this as a reference, it might have actually been possible to create something¡­ Chapter 25 - 23 – Blacksmithing. "Tell me what that one is?" "This one is a¡­ ball peen hammer!" "Correct, now what''s the one next to it?" "Hmm¡­ That''s a round drift and it''s used to hit through holes, expand, and shape them?" "You''re quite the fast learner, how about we move over to the tongs then?" "Sure thing!" Rusty spent hours poring over the basic blacksmithing guide and quickly absorbed every piece of information that it had in store for him. He found it surprisingly easy to absorb the information for some reason, it was as if he wasn''t learning it but re-learning something that he had previously forgotten. The floating orbs commented on this phenomenon which could explain it. "The knowledge he is learning was something you once knew, right Hero?" "That''s right, I remember reading through these old texts before, though I can''t recall most of it, only fragments." "It seems that the library has our lost knowledge, there are some books on old ancient black magic, something that I have partaken in my past life." Rusty wasn''t really paying attention to the two orbs that were discussing as he was examining the various togs and trying to compare them to the drawings in the books. It seemed that the library didn''t only hold the knowledge of the late hero but also the demon king. There were books on tactics and evil magic that were above his intelligence level and for the time being he was focused on producing more weapons and not magical effects. "I wonder, could our little Rusty here learn both dark magic and light magic? Something that shouldn''t be possible?" "He does have those elemental skills¡­" "That''s quite something¡­ but it might be better if he doesn''t showcase it once he encounters more adventurers¡­" The two orbs seemed to nod at each other while having the conversation. The two knew that it was unnatural for a monster to be able to use light magic, something that only special people like a hero should be able to. The same could be said for dark magic, which was only handled by the highest demon lords and their king. It was not something a monster like a living armor should be able to use and could cause him harm once he became a target of both sides. "Sure¡­ but, will he even listen to us?" "If he has my tendencies, then it shouldn''t be a problem? I would be more afraid if he took after you, hero." "What''s that supposed to mean?" "Nothing." "Hey, could you two keep it down, it''s hard to concentrate with all that noise!" Rusty''s voice echoed through the forge as he was finding it hard to focus on the blacksmithing tools on the ground. The two souls felt compelled to stop their banter in a strange fashion. It was as if the hollow armor had a sort of hold over them as if they were his thralls. Luckily, the gag order only worked for a few seconds before their ability to talk was returned to them. "Interesting¡­" The demon lord whispered while trying not to anger Rusty, who seemed to be in command. Now that they were quiet again, Rusty continued to flip through the simple blacksmithing guide while looking at the tools on the workbench. Under the watchful gazes of the two floating orbs, Rusty finally began to experiment with the tools laid out before him. He picked up the hammer and after feeling its weight in his metallic hands, it was time to practice swinging it around. The rhythmic clanging echoed through the forge as he hit a cold piece of metal with it. For some reason, it felt right in his hand and after a couple of swings, it felt like it belonged there. However, hitting a cold piece of metal wouldn''t achieve anything, to begin blacksmithing he needed to fire up the forge and heat things up. "Hm¡­ what should I make first¡­ a big shield? A large axe? Or maybe a two-handed sword?" "Um¡­ excuse me Rusty, may I offer some advice?" "Huh? What is it? Make it quick, I want to try crafting soon!" The white orb of light floated down towards the mess of tools that were on the workbench. During his study session, Rusty had made quite a mess. The Hero while lacking much of his memories knew the steps that needed to be taken to become a proper craftsman. Rusty might have had his memories and would learn it a lot faster but these memories needed to be awakened in a proper way. "Sure¡­ A wise man once said that you should learn to walk before trying to run." "Oh my, the hero saying something clever for once?" The orb of black chimed in while chuckling but the hero just ignored him. It seemed that Rusty didn''t really know what he meant with that phrase, thus he decided to be less cryptic. "I meant that you should probably do something easier, I propose you make a few simple small blades or nails first to get yourself acquainted with everything. Also, considering that we are working with bronze for now, it would be better to focus on molds and the smelter for now¡­" "Ah, molds do sound simpler!" Rusty nodded in agreement, realizing the wisdom in the Hero''s words. Starting with molds and smaller blades would allow him to grasp the basics of blacksmithing. He was also limited by his materials and only could use what was already unlocked, in this case, it was bronze. It seemed that he needed to limit his weapons to the material that his armor was made from or to the things he could absorb from the real world. While this place looked to be similar to a regular blacksmith''s workshop, it wasn''t quite the same. One notable advantage was the creation of molds that seemed to take the desired shape of what the creator wished of them. Normally a person would need to create such a mold by carving out a wooden replica of the weapon and then inserting it into clay or sand. Only thereafter could they start smelting bronze and pouring it into the cavity. "A simple blade¡­ is it this one?" In one of the corners of the forge, Rusty found a section with various rectangular molds. They had drawings of the weapons that he desired and for the time being, he decided to go with the smallest one. It represented a small blade that was shorter than the daggers that the adventurers used. While it wouldn''t be a great weapon, it would probably be the easiest to make at this moment. "Will this do?" "Yes, that should be fine, you''ll be able to make a simple hunter''s knife with that one. Don''t underestimate its size, at close range, it can be quite deadly." Rusty nodded in understanding and slowly picked up the mold that would house his first creation. He wasn''t sure why but he was feeling something strange and could almost not contain his joy. He examined this mold closely and felt that it shouldn''t pose much of a challenge. It was quite simple, he just needed to pour the molten bronze inside and just wait. "I''ll give it a try then!" With the mold in hand, he approached the smelting furnace. There were no flames at the moment but after adding some fuel in the form of readily available wood. Once this fuel made its way under the smelter, it could be lit up by a lever on the side which the light orb quickly explained. "If I remember correctly, if you find some coal outside it should become available as a fuel source. The wood here should be enough to handle the melting point of bronze but it won''t be enough to handle iron or steel." "Uh, Mr. Hero? How much of this fuel should I take?" "You shouldn''t have to bring much, the soul forge just required one sample before unlocking the resource here. The materials here replenish themselves." "They replenish themselves? So the bronze ingots that I gathered won''t be used up during the smelting process?" "They shouldn''t if it''s the same, however, once you are outside the soul forge, you''ll have to use the resources you have previously acquired¡­" The hero attempted to convey his discoveries to Rusty to the best of his ability, but he remained uncertain whether his bronze friend fully grasped the intricacies of the situation. "Imagine it as unlocking an achievement, once it is unlocked it becomes available without a limit." "I think I understand¡­so this means that I can just make all the bronze weapons that I want!" "Something like that¡­ but be careful." While Rusty was overjoyed with the idea of unlimited resources, there were some downsides to this soul forge that the white orb soon mentioned. "While you are in the soul forge, your body remains inside the real world. If someone finds you during your stay here, then it could end badly." "Wait¡­ I have been here for two days already¡­ Does this mean that I''m in danger?" Rusty panicked a bit as he remembered leaving his body in the crystal cave. He didn''t really try to hide himself from anything or anyone and assumed that no monster would be able to get in there either. However, his knowledge was quickly expanding and he now knew what those light crystals were. While they would work against the dungeon monster, they would do nothing against regular adventurers. "It should be fine with the time dilation of this place but I''ll leave the rest of the explanation to you, dear hero." The orb of dark light decided to chime in before flying away. The demon lord seemed to be bored watching Rusty bumble around in the soul forge and vanished behind the entrance to the library. This left Rusty more confused and also made him realize that there were many things that he had no idea about. "Time dilation?" "Yes, time dilation. It means that time here in the soul forge moves differently from the time outside in the real world. While it may feel like hours or days in here, only minutes or seconds may have passed in the outside world. However, I''m not quite sure how much of it has passed outside¡­" The hero tried his best to explain the concept in simple terms, hoping Rusty would grasp its importance. His memories were still lacking so he couldn''t disclose the difference. It was possible that only seconds could have passed outside in the real world or perhaps hours. "So, you mean¡­ if I spend too much time here, it could be dangerous for my body outside?" "Exactly. You must be cautious and not lose track of time while you''re here. It''s easy to become absorbed in learning and crafting, but you must never forget to keep yourself safe. If you die outside, you will also die here but¡­ calm down. That cavern filled with lights should be reasonably safe." The hero wanted to propose the use of a clock to accurately measure the time dilation but decided against it. Rusty was like a newborn child who was just absorbing information and at this point, didn''t know much about clocks. "Thank you for telling me. I''ll be more careful from now on, maybe I should dig a hole and hide there?" "Uh¡­ sure¡­" Rusty''s proposal sounds preposterous but he was a living piece of armor that didn''t require food or breathing. If he dug himself a hole, he would probably be relatively safe from any outside sources. He lacked an organic body that would generate an odor so other monsters would probably not try to dig out a bronze suit of armor to eat. Eventually, he brought his attention back to the task at hand. He approached the smelting furnace, wood in hand, and ignited the fuel. Flames danced to life beneath the smelter, casting flickering shadows across the forge. "Here goes nothing¡­" To the side, there was a row of bronze ingots that could be used in the smelting process. For this small blade, just one of them would be enough. The smelter here was a bit different than the ones presented in the guide and felt much simpler. Not from the aspect of size but by how it had various slots that fit these ingots perfectly. The smelter was tall and oval in shape and on the sides there were various metallic tubes. There was a slot at the beginning into which he could press the ingot. It seemed that later in time, he would be able to mix and match ingots with each other but for the time being, only one slot was available. After pushing the lone bronze ingot into the slot, he looked as it got sucked inside and traveled up into the smelting furnace. Finally, it started the melting process and now what he needed to do was to position the mold in the correct spot. This also was rather rudimentary as there were painted-on markers on the ground along with another support slot where he could place the rectangular mold in. As the bronze ingot melted within the furnace, Rusty carefully positioned the mold in the designated spot, ensuring it was aligned properly. He watched intently as the liquid metal flowed down from the smelter, filling the cavity of the mold. The molten bronze glowed brightly as it settled, taking the shape of the blade within the mold. For Rusty, it was an exhilarating sight, witnessing the transformation of raw material into a tangible object. He felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him, this was his first attempt at blacksmithing. Even though this soul forge space made this process a lot easier, it didn''t take away from him feeling elated. The light orb watched on in silence, moving as if he was nodding in approval at Rusty''s progress. With the mold filled, Rusty waited patiently as the bronze cooled and solidified. The process seemed to take longer than he anticipated, but he remained glued to it. For a moment he forgot his drive to become the strongest warrior and became something akin to an artisan. He wasn''t sure why but creating things with his own two hands, seemed like something that was also his calling. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the bronze blade was ready. Rusty carefully opened up the mold revealing the blade inside. However, to his surprise, it wasn''t quite as good-looking as he expected. The blade wasn''t sharp at all and the handle didn''t look thick enough to hold. Luckily, he had someone to shed some light on this issue. "Good, now you need to polish it and sharpen, then we''ll create a proper hilt and it will be finished." "Oh right, I almost forgot about that part!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty picked up the rough bronze blade, examining it closely. Indeed, it lacked the finesse and sharpness of a proper weapon. Crafting wasn''t only about pouring molten metal into a mold, there were lots of other steps that needed to be taken to finalize the product and he already couldn''t wait to get to work. Chapter 26 - 24 – Training Area. "This is actually¡­ fun!" "Isn''t it?" Rusty nodded as he settled before the workbench and grabbed a nearby polishing cloth. With careful motions, he began to rub the surface of the blade, removing any rough spots and smoothing out imperfections. As he worked, he couldn''t help but be immersed in the process of crafting, something that he felt he could spend days on. There was something about creating things with his own two hands that was quite fulfilling. The bronze began to gleam under his touch, reflecting the light of the forge in a mesmerizing display. Rusty found himself lost in the rhythm of polishing with his mind focused solely on the task at hand. Once he was satisfied with the blade''s appearance, Rusty set it aside and turned his attention to the task of sharpening. "Good, now you can either use a whetstone or the grinding wheel. While the whetstone will offer you more control and precision, it will take a lot more time, that''s why I''d propose a combination of both, start off with the wheel but finish with the whetstone." "Alright!" To make things easier he had a sort of assistant, who was the old hero. At first, the orb''s tone was harsher and the old hero was slightly annoyed by the fact that he was reduced to a blacksmith. Eventually, his tone became softer and more encouraging. Rusty''s enthusiasm and determination were quite contagious, even the old hero couldn''t help to start enjoying this new process. His new student was quite responsive and he did everything instantly without asking any questions. Rusty followed the Hero''s advice, using the grinding wheel to help sharpen the blade, and switched to the whetstone when the time was right for finer sharpening. It took time and patience, but eventually, he achieved the desired result - a sharp, keen edge that gleamed in the light. "Great, It''s almost finished, now you just need to assemble the hilt, this is just a bronze knife so it won''t be anything fancy, but it''ll get the job done. You can fashion a simple handle using some leather or wood, whichever you prefer." Rusty nodded while looking at the now sharpened blade of the hunter''s knife. Thanks to the mold this tool had been mostly created as a singular piece. It didn''t require much fancy work and could be finished by wrapping the hilt up with something like leather. However, considering that this was his first creation, it was better to fashion a proper handle. After selecting a piece of wood from a nearby rack and began to carve it into shape, using the drawings in the blacksmithing guide as a reference. Even though his hands were made of metal, he found them to be rather dextrous. It seemed that he was given some type of boost to his crafting skills once inside the soul forge. With the help of some drawings from the blacksmithing guides for reference and the help of the hero, the process was eventually finished. The wooden handle was carved into a comfortable shape that fit well in Rusty''s metallic grip. He then secured it to the blade using some twine, wrapping it tightly to ensure it stayed in place. Once he was satisfied with the handle''s placement, he was left with admiring his handiwork. "Not bad but¡­" "Is something wrong?" While Rusty felt a sense of pride for his first creation, the orb of light started to scrutinize it. After floating down, the hero started examining it from all directions before finally speaking out. "I''ll rate this around a C¡­ C+ at most..." "Oh, a C+? Wait¡­ that''s not that great¡­" At first, Rusty was overjoyed by the rating as he was only an F-rank monster, so anything above that ranking was quite good. However, soon he realized this wasn''t that good and just slightly above average with the letters B and A being still above it. "Don''t feel bad Rusty, this isn''t bad for a first attempt, you could probably sell this knife in a store to adventurers. But don''t get too complacent, thanks to the Soul Forge you don''t need to worry about getting the smelting process wrong. Usually, other blacksmiths have to worry about impurities and inconsistencies in their metal but here the ingots will always be pure." "Ah, I see¡­" Rusty nodded in understanding. It was true that he was still lacking in many aspects of blacksmithing but with time, he knew that he could improve upon them. With the advantages that this Soul Forge space provided, he could also focus purely on the creation aspects and leave some things to the magical machines. Identification: Twilight Bronze Hunting Knife Rating: Intermediate Rank: Common Once he examined this new weapon with the help of his identification skill, he was given some interesting stats. Thanks to going through the library he knew about the grades and ranks that weapons had. There were no ranking grades but instead a rating was given that ranged from lowest to highest. That he was able to get an intermediate rating on the first try was quite reassuring. When it came to the ranks of the weapon, the lowest was called Crude. These weapons were of extremely poor quality. The books implied that they were usually hastily crafted with minimal effort and poor materials. They offered minimal effectiveness in combat and broke easily. When thinking about his initial corroded bronze blade, it was clear that it was in this rank. Next was the common rank that his knife was in. This rank was filled with basic weaponry and they offered the basic performance without much of an advantage over anything. They were more robust than crude weaponry and could be used to defeat slightly stronger enemies. After this rank were the uncommon items that offered some minor enhancements and bonuses to the wielder. The scripts say that an uncommon blade could enhance the basic stats or produce some other effects. Post uncommon were rare items that weren''t discussed in the basic books he had access to. It seemed that unless he got to a certain point he wouldn''t be able to read through the basic descriptions. After rare was epic, then legendary, and right at the end was mythical. "But don''t worry, with practice, you''ll get better. And who knows, maybe one day you''ll be crafting legendary weapons or even mythical ones!" "Legendary and mythical weapons¡­ that sounds amazing!" If Rusty had eyes then they would be sparkling with excitement at this prospect. The idea of crafting powerful weapons was quite exhilarating. However, he wasn''t sure if it was better to craft them or use them on powerful opponents and get stronger. Now that he had tasted crafting, his previous longing for power was wavering slightly. "Alright, how about you go test your new knife out? This will be a good chance to use that training area." "Oh, right there was still a room that I didn''t visit?" Rusty had already gone through the armory and library but one last area remained, the training area. The hero urged him to take his newly made tool and see how it performed in combat. There was no reason to refuse and he was also interested in the only chamber that he had not visited. Thus, with the knife in hand, he made his way to the training area which was not something that he expected. Upon entering the training area, Rusty found himself in an empty spacious room. He expected to find some training dummies but there was nothing here besides something that looked like a circular arena. There were torches lining up the walls and on the ceiling which illuminated everything. "Alright, let''s see what you can do, Rusty." "What I can do? But there is nothing here¡­ Do you want me to swing at empty air?" "Haha, not quite. Remember, this is the Soul Forge, it doesn''t follow the rules of the physical world. In this training area, you can summon opponents that you have previously defeated to practice your skills. Think of it as a safe environment where you can test out your weapons and abilities without risking injury to yourself." "No injury to myself?" "Indeed, well you''ll still feel pain¡­ though I''m not sure that metallic body can feel any¡­ but any damage you sustain here will be repaired." "But¡­ How do I summon opponents?" "If my memories serve me right, then first you have to approach the middle of this training area." "Hm¡­" Rusty did as he was told to and approached the middle of this large room. The moment he was there something strange started happening a small hole opened up and something started sliding up. He jumped back in surprise but the hero quickly explained to him what had just happened. "This is the training area console, the monsters and opponents that you have defeated will be stored in it." At first, it looked like just a strange long cylinder but once it was up something unfolded. It took the form of an interactive screen that looked somewhat similar to the system windows he already knew. There were arrows on the left and right side which allowed him to scroll through the enemies he defeated. The ants and other insects were all there, even the few adventurers that he had slain were there just like the hero proclaimed. "Interesting¡­ No wonder you were able to get so strong in such a short amount of time, Hero¡­ Quite the cheater aren''t you?" "I don''t want to hear it from someone like you¡­" The orb representing the demon king decided to show up and examine the newfound room. He was quite shocked at the existence of such an area that allowed people to constantly better themselves. It was clear that his enemy the hero had used it to heighten his skills or at least get used to fighting demonic creatures and countering their techniques. "This place isn''t as cheat-like as you might think, you can''t level up your skills here, that is only possible outside of the soul forge in the real world." Rusty listened to the explanation and was saddened by this revelation. He knew that both passive and active skills could level up but needed to be used in battles. Having a space where he could face countless opponents without any fear of being killed. "It would still allow you to find weak points of old enemies. You could even test new skills or tactics against multiple foes or try out new weapons¡­" What the demon lord was saying made sense. Rusty could hardly wait and began clicking at the arrows that allowed him to circle through the various enemies he faced. There was even an option to search by main types or to even write in the name for it to go quicker. However, his only weapon was a hunting knife and it was much smaller than the sword he was used to. For the time being, he decided to use the weakest opponent that was on the list. "An ant?" "Our Rusty is still a cautious one Hero, would you like him to face of against one of the adventurers with a knife?" Commented the demon lord as light particles started to gather in the training area. Soon they started coming together to form a body that resembled a level one Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone. Just like anything else the levels could be customized but Rusty still wanted to be cautious. Rusty observed as the ant took shape before him, its form was hardly imposing. It was an opponent that he had faced many times and defeated on many occasions. However, he was trying to test out his newly created hunting knife that he was still unfamiliar with. After taking shape the ant stood there for a few seconds before springing to life. It quickly identified Rusty as its opponent and charged forward similarly to its real-life counterpart. The charge was rather slow and easy to read. Rusty''s body was at the tenth level and his stats were close to monsters at the F+ grade, there was nothing to fear. He did not bother to dodge and allowed it to pounce at his left side. The monster''s mandibles snapped at his armored form but were unable to leave more than a few dents. After tightly gripping his newly fashioned hunting knife, he quickly plunged it into the monster''s head. It penetrated it quite effectively and in a matter of moments the monster was defeated. Its body turned back into light particles and quickly vanished while he was left to ponder his test. "..." "Is something wrong?" "This doesn''t feel right¡­" Rusty replied to the hero who inquired about the silence. "What doesn''t feel right? The weapon seems to work fine to me." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Think he meant the awkwardness of wielding it, isn''t that right, Rusty?" The demon lord chimed in as from his perspective, Rusty awkwardly wielded the knife. In his past life, the demon king was quite fond of these short-bladed weapons but without the proper skills, they wouldn''t be as effective. "Yes, I meant that!" "To my knowledge, Rusty only has the Basic Swordsmanship and Archery weapon skills. To wield a knife, he needs Basic Dagger Proficiency, which he lacks and considering that he is a monster¡­ he probably won''t be able to learn it by himself." "What is that supposed to mean?" The hero orb along with Rusty were confused at the words of the demon king but he quickly elaborated on them. "Well, have you considered what our Rusty really is?" "What he is? You mean a living armor monsters?" "Yes, that part too but to be more precise, he is a monster that has been created in a dungeon. He is not a naturally born monster like an Orc or a Goblin but an inanimate object given sentience by the Dungeon Heart." "That''s true¡­ I haven''t heard of living armors ever learning new skills¡­" "Because they can''t, they are similar to golems that are constrained by their creators. Luckily, he has my Skill Absorption skill. So he will be able to learn new skills from others." Rusty always had wondered why he wasn''t learning that many skills and this explained it. He was limited to his evolution and what skills were given to him through leveling. Even if he picked up a polearm, he wouldn''t be able to learn the basic skill to wield it properly. Knives and daggers went under the same skill, so for the time being, he would only be able to wield swords, bows, and perhaps shields. "Don''t feel down my dear Rusty. Having too many skills isn''t necessarily good, it takes time to level them up and each weapon has its downsides." What the demon lord was right and Rusty knew it. If he created every type of weapon and then decided to learn all their skills, his status window would quickly become bloated. It was better to learn higher-tier skills for one or two weapons than to have all the basic ones for all of them. For the time being, handling the bow and sword was enough, and making the former would be his next task. Chapter 27 - 25 – E-Rank "I guess he didn''t take my advice to heart¡­" "It''s not bad to practice a new craft, no reason to not make more weapons." The two orbs of light conversed while peering down at a suit of armor supporting a hefty axe. It was a completed piece, now part of the armory''s inventory alongside numerous other bronze weapons. It all started with one hunting knife and soon turned into a large weapon creation spree. With molds and an infinite supply of ingots at his disposal, the task became remarkably easy. In time, the empty armory had been transformed into a well-stocked arsenal. "Another fine addition to my collection!" As Rusty admired his latest creation, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride. Each weapon he crafted was a testament to his newfound skills as a blacksmith, something that he found enjoyable. "Looks like you''re getting the hang of this." The hero remarked while floating beside Rusty. "Thanks to your guidance, I couldn''t have done it without you Mr. Hero." "No problem, not like there is anything else for me to do here¡­ But now that you''ve built up quite the collection, what do you plan to do with them?" Before Rusty could answer this question, the darkened sphere of light floated forward and spoke out. "That''s what I''d like to know, why did you ignore my advice of focusing on swords?" Rusty paused for a moment and considered the demon lord''s question. It was true that he had no proficiencies in things other than bows and swords. However, he wasn''t really thinking about such things when working here in the Soul Forge. Instead of focusing on survival, something else became the focal point. "Well¡­ it was fun?" "It was fun?" "Yes? It was fun to make them all and I feel like after making these weapons, I''ll also gain some insights into defending myself against them?" "I see¡­" "Leave the kid alone. He is just enjoying the craft, it''s probably not something a demon king would know much about. Not everything has to be about battling and survival." The hero chimed in but the demon lord wasn''t convinced. "Bah, perhaps he will find a way to learn more skills in the future but it would be better if he didn''t spend valuable resources to bring these weapons into the real world!" "He is not even a year old, he is just having some fun." "Some fun, hm?" The demon lord orb observed Rusty, who appeared to have shifted his focus elsewhere. The living armor had a habit of moving away whenever the two light orbs engaged in arguments. Rusty''s attention span resembled that of a newborn child and there wasn''t any deeper meaning behind it. His sole desire was to craft as many weapons as possible and he just ended up filling the armory during the process. "This should be all¡­ so now what?" Now that his work was over, there wasn''t really much to do. He had attempted to wield some of the bronze weapons in the training ground, yet, similar to the hunting knife, they didn''t quite suit his metallic grip. The library failed to offer any additional useful knowledge and was devoid of skill books or any means of skill acquisition beyond his skill absorption or leveling up. However, some skills could be upgraded here but all of them focused on blacksmithing. Basic Smithing Mastery L2 Passive Skill Increases proficiency with all basic blacksmithing tools like hammers during crafting. Basic Forging L3 Passive Skill Unlocks the basics of forging. Helps manage the forge, smelter, crafting, and spotting imperfections in created items. His Basic Smithing Mastery wasn''t leveling up as fast as he focused on using molds without hammering anything. Luckily, when using the grinding wheel and the whetstone for sharpening or polishing, it began to react. It was also possible to change the shape of bronze through hammering techniques but for the time being, he focused on the smelting process. Not all components of Rusty''s weapons were crafted from bronze; for instance, the shaft of his bronze spear consisted of plain wood. The spear blade came with a pre-made socket that was perfectly fitted for it. All Rusty needed to do was to insert it and secure it in place by hammering rivets through the holes in the socket part of the spear blade. In the future, he hoped to move on to iron and steel which required a bit more work and seemed quite fascinating. "Are you going to leave without even saying your farewells?" Once Rusty exhausted all the possibilities in this Soul Forge, he finally decided to move towards his new body. Despite the demon lord''s call as he approached the new suit of armor in the center. Before departing, he felt compelled to perform one last experiment. His metallic hand grasped the gauntlet of his new body to yank it out and just like he expected, it popped right off. "Did he just ignore me? What is he even doing?" "He is examining the gauntlet, what do you think he is doing?" "Does he perhaps want to¡­" The two lights chatted while Rusty looked over the gauntlet in his hand. There was a distinct lack of connection between it and his metallic body; it felt like any other foreign item he had interacted with. First, he attempted to replace his current hand with the new one he had acquired. However, the moment it was connected to the rest of his armor, it simply fell to the ground with a resounding thud. "It''s not part of me¡­" "What are you trying to do Rusty?" The hero floated forward while Rusty was examining the gauntlet that lacked any corrosive parts. "If I can make weapons¡­ shouldn''t I be able to make armor?" "Ah, I see. Do you wish to reforge the armor that your body is composed from, into something better?" "Yes! That''s it¡­ could I make it better and heavier?" The hero and the demon lord orb exchanged glances as if the idea was something plausible. Rusty was a living armor, a creature that could be considered a piece of armor. There was no reason not to think that he couldn''t create his own body by hand. Rusty''s ability to craft weapons had opened up new possibilities, including the potential for him to upgrade his own armor. "It''s definitely worth a try but¡­ I''m not sure if you should do it now¡­" The hero gave his input and as a previous blacksmith, his words were heavy. In his eyes, Rusty was not quite ready to tackle armor making, and not when bronze was involved. "Oh, but why?" "Why you ask? Well, to be frank, I don''t think you''ll be able to improve on this current ''body'' of yours." "I don''t agree with the hero on much but he is right. What will you do with a baddy riddled with imperfections and holes? Your durability might go down and what if you mess up one of the joints? Do you wish to have a limp?" Rusty paused, considering the valid points brought up by both the hero and the demon lord. While he was eager to explore the possibilities of upgrading his armor and wanted it to be heavier to alleviate his weakness, it was not the best idea. He could barely create intermediate weaponry just by using molds and there were no molds for armor parts. If he wanted to make a gauntlet, it would need to be made from scratch. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re right. I shouldn''t rush into something like this without proper preparation¡­ perhaps I should practice first?" "Exactly. It''s better to take your time and ensure that you have the necessary skills and knowledge before attempting such a feat." The hero added while trying to make his ghostly form produce a smile but failed at it. His form was without a face and just a voice. "Maybe I should practice while I still have the time¡­ Huh?" Rusty looked at the gauntlet as its form offered him some smithing pointers. However, before he could take it to the workbench to study it flew back to the body in the middle. Then suddenly, the entire Soul Forge started to shiver and quake. "What''s happening?" He asked as his body began to feel strange, he started feeling weak and drowsy, not something that he had ever experienced as a living suit of armor. "This space, it''s becoming unstable¡­" Commented the demon lord who knew quite a bit about magic. "Becoming unstable? What does that mean?" Asked the hero whose form was quivering as well. "It means that our little Rusty might have spent too much time here. I think he should inhabit his new form before this whole place collapses on itself." Rusty took in the demon king''s words, the Soul Forge, his haven for crafting and self-improvement, was destabilizing. It seemed that he couldn''t afford to stay here any longer and that an actual time limit existed. He wasn''t sure how long he had been here but at least over a week had passed. Without wasting another moment, he dashed towards the suit of armor in the center of the room as it was the vessel that awaited his consciousness. As he approached, the vibrations intensified, causing the surroundings to blur and distort. The hero and the demon lord''s voices echoed in his mind as they urged him to hurry. With a determined leap, Rusty plunged his consciousness into the awaiting armor. His previous corroded form plunged down to the ground as his essence melded with the new one. Suddenly, the world around him fractured into fragments of light and darkness. The sensation was disorienting, akin to being pulled through a vortex. Colors swirled around him, and the echoes of voices faded into the background. Rusty felt himself being pulled away from the Soul Forge and back into the real world where his true form awaited. ''Woah¡­ I''m back?'' Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the chaos had ceased. Rusty found himself back in the cave filled with bright crystals. His magical vision was blurry at first but in a moment, it became sharper than ever. His senses felt enhanced in every way possible and he felt reinvigorated. When looking down he saw a lack of any corroded parts that had been replaced by a shiny new bronze body. ''This new body¡­ It feels much stronger!'' Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 134/134 Magic Points [MP] 123/123 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 18 [ E- ] Agility 2 [ E- ] Dexterity 5 [ E- ] Constitution 19 [ E- ] Intelligence 7 [ E- ] Wisdom 8 [ E- ] Willpower 6 [ E- ] Durability E+ ''Huh? Why did my stats go down¡­ but my Health Points and Magic Points doubled?'' At first, he was perplexed by his status screen. He was sure that he had become stronger but all of the numbers had gone down. However, once he noticed that he had transformed from an F-rank monster into an E-rank monster, it all made sense. It seemed that the ranking letters represented his true strength and the numbers were just an additional indicator. Once they went over ninety-nine they would switch to the next rank and reset. ''Interesting¡­ After he realized that he had truly advanced to his new form, it was time to take it for a spin. On the outside he didn''t look much different, he had an almost identical look, just one that lacked any corrosion. He was made out of shiny twilight bronze and his form gleamed in the bright light of the cave. He could instantly feel the difference, his movements were smoother, and even his thoughts were clearer. It was as if he had shed an old, rusty skin and emerged as something new and improved. Even his trusty sword had been transformed and was shining brightly beside him. Once he gave it a few good swings, he could tell that he would do quick work of the monsters he previously encountered. ''Wait, what about the other weapons? Are they in my inventory as well?'' His basic sword reminded him of the weapons he created in the Soul Forge. He quickly accessed his inventory screen in the search for it. While he didn''t find any of them inside of his stash tab, a new tab had been created. ''Armory?'' The translucent menu presented him with a new window in which all the items that he created during his time in the Soul Forge. Each item was also accompanied by a brief description and its rating. Rusty scrolled through the list and was given the option to spend bronze ingots to create them. ''I can get a set of throwing knives for one ingot but I''ll have to spend 3 for the longsword?'' His current weapon was an arming sword which was shorter than the longsword he created inside of the Soul Forge. He was hoping to bring it out along with the bronze shield that he made but it also would cost him another three bronze ingots. However, even with these high costs he needed to test out this new feature. He considered for a moment but eventually decided to get the shield instead as his old weapon was still enough. Would you like to make the Twilight Bronze Round Shield? ''Yes~!'' Once he confirmed a little animation played out before him as the bronze ingots he spent transformed into the Twilight Bronze Round Shield. To his surprise, the shield didn''t end up in the real world but instead appeared in his inventory. He needed to then select it before it appeared in his stash tab where it occupied for squares instead of just one. Rusty was confused about how to summon this item into his hand but before he could think it through, another transformation took place. The whole stash tab expanded in size and a separate equipment window appeared above it. It contained spaces that were filled up with his armor but also some smaller and larger ones that were empty. ''Is that my body in the middle? And my sword on the left?'' In the central area, Rusty could discern sections of his body divided into multiple parts. One slot contained his cuirass and placard, while another housed his sabatons and greaves. The gauntlet occupied its own slot, and the pauldrons were likewise segregated. However, they all appeared grayed out, inaccessible to him. The only usable slots seemed to be two larger ones on the left and right sides, along with a few smaller ones that were empty. The left one housed his current arming sword and to his surprise, he could remove it into his stash tab. Upon doing so, the sword vanished from the real world as if it had never existed there in the first place. Only after it was dragged and dropped back to the left large weapon slot, did it appear once more. ''I see¡­ So If I place the shield on the right side, it should¡­'' Rusty dragged the Twilight Bronze Round Shield from his inventory and placed it into the empty slot on the right side of the equipment window. To his amazement, as soon as he did so, the shield materialized in his hand. It shimmered with the same twilight bronze hue as the rest of his armor and reflected the light within the cave. With both sword and shield in hand, Rusty felt unstoppable. However, this wasn''t quite finished as he still needed to check if he had learned any new skills like he did when he turned into his previous form. ''Hm? What was that sound?'' Before Rusty could delve further into his investigation, he heard a faint sound, like something being crunched, resounding from around the corner. Was his lair invaded by monsters? He needed to investigate¡­ Chapter 28 - 26 – Guiding Lights. Rusty cautiously approached the source of the sound, his grip tightening on his sword and newly made shield. As he continued to move the noise of something getting crunched started to get louder. Eventually, he peeked around the corner to see a strange white creature going at the mana crystals in this cave. ''What is that? It''s different from the other monsters but looks similar to the ants¡­'' Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant L1 G+ S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Type: Insectoid What he found was a rather small-looking monster. It was similar to the Myrm Ant drones but somewhat smaller than even the smallest drone he had encountered. Its carapace was not brown or dark but had a white silvery sheen. Besides the coloring and size difference, it also had a slightly larger head with more pronounced antennae. Yet, it wasn''t the creature''s appearance that struck Rusty as most peculiar; rather, he found himself wondering why it was consuming the blue crystals. ''It looks really weak and is also just a G-rank monster, should I just slay it?'' Annoyed by the intrusion, Rusty stepped forward, his armor clanking a lot less than usual. While stepping forward he noticed a resounding cracking sound as he stepped into something. When he glanced down, the mystery of this monster appearing here revealed itself. On the ground, there were eggshells from the egg that he brought over from within the ants nest. It was now clear that this monster had hatched from inside and for some reason, it was fine with the light crystals here. ''It''s different than the rest¡­ it might be dangerous¡­'' This cave served as Rusty''s sanctuary, a place where he could unwind and safeguard his loot. The light crystals effectively repelled other insects and even aided him in his battle against the ant queen. The fact that one of her spawns could now bypass the protective glow of the crystals spelled trouble. If more of these creatures existed, they posed a threat to his newfound base. As Rusty pondered his next move, the Minuscule Myrm Mana Ant continued to feast on the mana crystals, seemingly oblivious to his presence. Its mandibles clicked as it chewed, each bite punctuated by a small crack as it shattered another piece of crystal. Rusty knew he couldn''t allow this creature to roam freely in his sanctuary. While it was small now, everything in this world evolved and it could potentially lead more of its kind here. Rusty tightened his grip on his sword and shield. In his current upgraded form, this monster posed no threat at all, which gave him an idea. The Myrm Drones were able to leave small dents on his previous body. Though smaller than the Myrm Drones, its mandibles seemed capable of inflicting damage. Thus he decided to let it attack him a few times, to test his newfound durability. The creature, engrossed in its feast, didn''t seem to notice Rusty''s approach until he was a few steps away. With a sudden awareness of the armored figure before it, the ant''s antennae twitched in alarm. It reared up slightly and its mandibles clicked a few times but something wasn''t the same. He expected for the ant to rush him just like the drones did when he attacked their colony. However, this smaller creature seemed more docile, almost as if he was similar to the monsters from the original dungeon. Was it possible that the voice that had vanished was influencing this ant? ''It doesn''t feel the same¡­ the connection is lacking¡­'' Rusty still remembered the voice of the dungeon which seemed to have a name. If what the demon king claimed was true, then the thing he knew as the voice was the dungeon heart. He was created by it and had felt a deep connection before he fell into this area. There was a similar connection to the other monsters inhabiting those dungeon levels, something that was missing here. Despite not being part of that dungeon, the ant refrained from attacking and left Rusty perplexed by its behavior. The small insect moved closer in a slow fashion. Rusty remained still, anticipating its bite. However, to his surprise, the ant behaved differently. Instead of attacking, it repeatedly touched his bronze body with its antennae. After a brief moment, it glanced up and began a peculiar wiggle which left Rusty perplexed. Eventually, the monster turned away and returned to munching on the tiny mana crystals. ''It clearly doesn''t see me as an enemy but what should I do with it?'' This was quite the conundrum as for some reason he felt conflicted. On one hand, the monster was a potential threat and it was also eating the crystals here. What if it ate all the crystals and his lair was destroyed? Yet, on the other hand, the creature''s consumption rate was negligible, just like its size. It wasn''t depleting the crystals at a rapid pace and it would likely take years for it to make a large enough dent. ''It''s a G-rank monster so it won''t give me much experience either, perhaps not even more than 1¡­'' After farming these dungeons Rusty has also realized one thing. The higher level he was becoming, the fewer experience points he gained. These ant monsters were the weakest types that were around and wouldn''t offer him much, even less after he became an E-rank Bronze Twilight Armor. Rusty considered his options and something about its behavior nagged at him. It wasn''t behaving like a typical monster which made him want to observe it more. ''I wonder, would it attack the other monsters?'' A thought crossed his mind, perhaps there was a way to use this strange creature to his advantage. While it wasn''t his enemy, what of the other insects in this underground area? There was a possibility that it could aid him against them, just like the skeletons before. Even though it was quite weak, it could potentially act as a distraction. For the time being, Rusty decided to retreat and think his options through. After visiting the Soul Forge and engrossing himself with blacksmithing, he knew that it was sometimes better not to rush. His status screen still had some new secrets that he had not uncovered and first he needed to go through his skills. He could feel that something new had appeared but he wasn''t sure if it would aid him in battle. ''What are these skills¡­'' Call Guide Active Skill You call your guide to aid you. ''My guide?'' Rusty was perplexed at this new skill and wasn''t sure what to think of it. However, he knew that it was always best to not dwell on these things when activating the skill would give him all the answers. Thus, without thinking much he activated the Call Guide skill. Which he needed to do through the world system window, similar to his inventory screen. Choose which guide you wish to summon. Fallen Demon King Betrayed Hero Both He was given a choice between two individuals but could summon both of them together. After reading the names he instantly knew what this skill was about. After deliberating for a moment he decided to call both the Fallen Demon King and the Betrayed Hero. He figured that there was no reason to call them separately and also wanted to see what both had to offer for him in the real world. The cave flickered momentarily, and then two shimmering orbs of light materialized before him. One radiated a dark, ominous aura while the other emitted a faint, ethereal glow. The Demon King and the Hero quickly materialized before him and looked exactly the same as they did within the Soul Forge. "HAHA! I knew I would return! It was only a matter of time. The world shall tremble once more before the might of Demon King Aburdon. All shall pay for their folly!" The booming laughter echoed through the chamber as Aburdon''s triumphant voice echoed. His form exuded an aura of darkness and contrasted sharply with the bright lights of this crystal-filled cave. "Is this really the real world?" The hero''s voice was a lot more silent and some confusion was mixed into it. It contrasted with the demon king''s maniacal cackling. His form shimmered with gentle light and seemed to take in some of the light from the environment to shimmer even more. Rusty looked at the two orbs of light before him and wondered what he could use them for. They were here but were they capable of aiding him in his battles or could they only offer him their knowledge? After spending more than a week inside the Soul Forge he got to know them a bit better. The Hero was very knowledgeable when it came to blacksmithing and handling weapons. On the other hand, the Demon King seemed more clever and filled with other knowledge. "I''ll be sure to repay this favor, Rusty¡­" As he was deliberating the black orb started to float away, it was as if he was trying to flee from this location. However, once the demon king put himself around ten meters from the living armor, he came to a halt. It became evident that he was struggling to advance and his once ominous form gradually diminished, his movements growing sluggish. "No¡­ what is this, it can''t be¡­" "Did you think that you could just leave? Did you forget that we are probably nothing more than a skill for Rusty here?" The hero chuckled, observing the defeated demon king''s futile attempt at escape. It became clear that their fragmented existences were forever tied to the living armor known as Rusty. They were unable to stray too far from his body, which served as the central point for his skill, and could probably only exist within this realm thanks to his mana. "Damn it all¡­" The orb of black light slowly floated back towards his owner, who just stood there without a word. "...This is fine, I''ll get back to my previous form eventually, It''s just a small setback on the way towards my full revival¡­" "Sure¡­" "What about you, hero? Don''t you want to live again and punish the ones that crossed you?" "..." It seemed that even in these more real forms, they continued to argue about the same thing. Rusty remained uncertain about their true history, but it appeared they had been betrayed and slain by someone they now harbored intense animosity towards. This held little relevance to Rusty as his sole focus lay in his pursuit of strength and how these two entities could aid him in achieving it. "What can you do?" His question was simple and to the point. The two orbs of light stopped talking with each other as they felt compelled by the order. "What can we do? Nothing much than to offer you some advice, these spectral bodies don''t really hold much power within them¡­" The demon king answered first which left Rusty saddened. Was there truly nothing more than advice that these two could offer? It felt like it was a waste of a skill for them to just buzz around his head without offering anything substantial. However, a nearby ant that was crunching on some mana stones gave him an idea. "Can you tell me something about that?" "That is¡­ a Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant?" Answered the hero orb which annoyed Rusty slightly. "I know that already!" "It''s a special mutation of the ant species, quite a rare find. Most of them die inside of the dungeons as they require a large amount of light and mana to hatch. Bravo, you brought it to the perfect incubator, Rusty." "Incubator?" The fallen demon seemed to know a bit more about this creature than the hero. Both of them seemed to be knowledgeable about separate things which were noted by him. "An incubator is usually an enclosed place that helps beings grow or hatch¡­ damn, I already hate this¡­" The demon lord replied with an annoyed tone. Even though he didn''t want to offer this advice, he was compelled by something to do so. It was clear that he was compiled to do the bidding of this living suit of armor, at least for now. "This skill has its uses!" "That the day would come, that I the great Demon King would be reduced to offering advice to a mere suit of armor, how humiliating¡­" "You''ll get over it." The hero replied to the dark orb of light in a mocking tone. While the two were in the same boat, it didn''t seem like he had any aspirations or knowledge of getting reborn. In his former life, he was merely a human, and perhaps the only entities capable of aiding him were the same gods who had once forsaken him. "Then, can this ant do something for me? It didn''t attack me for some reason?" "These monsters are said to be docile and very intelligent. It seemed to have been born without the influence of a Queen but I''m not sure, perhaps it sees you as an ally?" Rusty nodded while receiving even more information, it seemed that having a demon king who knew his way around monsters was quite handy. With these two around it would probably be possible to create even better hunting tactics. However, as he was about to ask another question, something unforeseen started happening. Mana reserves are critically low. He started feeling strange and his body was starting to give out. First went his legs which collapsed and came loose at the joints. When he looked at the prompt, it seemed that this skill had consumed all of his mana. His mind became drowsy and he was unable to do anything before everything went black. The voices of both the hero and demon king faded away as he lost consciousness. "..." "I¡­ I passed out?" He found himself down on the ground with his body parts lying down at awkward angles. The last thing that he recalled was a red warning window before everything went black. The two orbs were not here with him anymore and it was obvious why this had happened. "I ran out of mana and collapsed¡­" Previously he had come close to this phenomenon but this was the first time that his mana went below one point. It seemed the skill that let him call the two beings required a constant supply of MP. Once it reached zero, his body which required mana to function collapsed. Luckily, it wasn''t a death sentence and eventually, it recovered. "At least I know what will happen when I run out of mana now¡­ I should never let it happen while in combat." Once he was awake he noticed another thing. The small ant that had been eating the mana crystals was now resting on top of his chest. It seemed that while he was out, it decided to make him into its bed¡­ Chapter 29 - 27 – Gleam. Rusty blinked, slightly surprised to find the small ant perched atop him. It seemed comfortable, its small body rising and falling gently with each breath. The white body had become enlarged and was now glowing, most likely a side effect of eating the mana crystals. Despite its initially peculiar behavior, Rusty found himself feeling a strange sense of warmth towards the creature. "This creature is strange¡­" For some reason he didn''t feel like moving as if disturbing the ant''s sleep would be bad. His body parts were sprawled out to the sides as he took a dive after passing out. It seemed that his body seized up in place and fell backward. This created enough force to send his limbs in all four directions, rendering him immobile and a torso. His head was dislodged as well but remained closer to his main body. "Now I know what will happen if I ever run out of mana¡­" It was good luck that this had happened inside of this cave and not somewhere else. It was clear now if he ever used up all his mana at once, he would be pushed into some kind of strange dormant state. He had no idea how long he was out but even the smallest monster would be enough to finish him off if he couldn''t move. "They are really far away¡­ but¡­" Rusty possessed some degree of control over his body. If his limbs were separated, they could reconnect when brought close to his main body. However, in this scenario, he couldn''t move his torso closer, as it was too far away. Without even a single arm, he couldn''t crawl closer, leaving him with the option of perhaps rolling but he didn''t have a proper spine to turn to the side either. "Hm¡­ wait, there was that new skill, maybe I should use it¡­" Limb Control ( Living Armor ) Active Skills A skill that allows control of one''s limbs to a certain extent. Before passing out, he noticed a new skill that could help him out in this situation. Gaining skills was a strange phenomenon as whenever he received one, he instantly knew how it worked. It was hard to describe but after using it once, it became part of his being. After passing out, his mana reserves had been recharged back to maximum. It was safe to use it and soon his body started glowing. From within his chest plate, a strange emerald light emerged. It shot out from the holes that were made by his missing limbs. The glow first made its way inside the hollowed parts before enveloping them all. The Scattered parts then started to float up into the air while Rusty felt a strange sensation. He could feel the limbs as if they were connected to his body, even when they were all far away from his body. His fingers twitched and grasped at the empty air with some force behind them. Eventually, With a focused effort, he willed his limbs to move and they responded. The dislodged metallic arm that was lying several meters away, twitched and rocketed back towards his torso. It soon collided with his shoulder and connected itself back into the correct place. Rusty couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief as his arm reattached itself to his torso. The sensation was strange yet satisfying, like pieces of a puzzle clicking back into place. With his arm secured, he focused on his other dislodged limbs, willing them to return to him. One by one, they obeyed his mental commands, flying through the air and reattaching themselves to his body. Once all his limbs were reconnected he looked at the last issue, the small ant monster on his chest. For some reason, even while his whole armor was glowing and clicking around, it remained plastered to his chest. He wished to ask the glowing orbs about this Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant but after passing out once, he was now reluctant to activate that Call Guide skill. "Well, it has to get down one way or the other¡­" Rusty moved his reattached gauntlet towards the Ant to give it a small poke. For some reason, it felt rude to interrupt its slumber but he couldn''t get up and look through his skill window otherwise. However, after his digit collided with the monster''s antennae a strange system prompt was given to him Would you like to accept a bonding contract with the Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant? "A bonding contract?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He moved his finger away while going through the strange prompt. The ant which was fast asleep looked up to him without moving from its spot. It had no eyelids but its eyes turned to his form, it wiggled its antennae in what seemed to be anticipation. Rusty pondered for a moment as he had no idea what this contract entailed. The creature was quite docile and it seemed happy. "... Fine? I guess?" As he confirmed his decision, a radiant glow enveloped both Rusty and the Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant. It was as if an invisible tether formed between them, connecting their fates in some unspoken pact. Rusty felt a surge of energy coursing through him, and a newfound sense of connection with the creature nestled upon his chest. "What a curious feeling¡­" He thought to himself while the ant moved down from his chest and started performing a strange dance between his legs. To make things even more interesting he was given a new window, one where he could see his new friends stats. Name: No Name Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant [ G + ] L1 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 5/5 Magic Points [MP] 8/8 Stamina Points [SP] 8/8 Strength 56 [ G ] Agility 76 [ G + ] Dexterity 66 [ G ] Constitution 68 [ G + ] Intelligence 93 [ G + ] Wisdom 92 [ G + ] Willpower 89 [ G + ] Durability G "Stamina Points, not Special Points?" The monster''s stats were quite low and in the G-Rank. When he tried to recall his original status screen, this monster was even below it. What he noticed was that this creature also had no name just like he did in the past and that he could see its status screen, as if it was his own. It appeared in a section called ''Bonded Monsters'' that wasn''t really explained. "Maybe I should ask the hero or demon king about this¡­ but first." He looked at the name of this monster just like previously. The name was long but one word caught his attention. Then, just like when he had gotten his own name of Rusty, this ant had been named. Name: Gleam Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant [ G + ] L1 Type: Insectoid His new friend started dancing around as if he was given something tasty to eat. It was a strange feeling but for some reason, Rusty was feeling joy. He started his life alone and without much purpose but now things were changing. The two glowing orbs were there and so was this sparkling ant that had just been named. "Gleam¡­ can you talk?" He attempted to communicate with his new friend but it didn''t seem that this creature could respond. However, it seemed that it had some intelligence as it responded by shaking its body as if it were trying to respond. "No talking¡­ then how about¡­ you bring me that crystal?" Rusty pointed towards a nearby mana crystal with his finger, gesturing for Gleam to fetch it. The ant, understanding the command, scurried over to the crystal with surprising agility. It grabbed hold of the crystal with its mandibles and struggled for a moment before managing to lift it. With a determined effort, Gleam dragged the crystal back to Rusty, presenting it at his feet. "Well, that''s impressive!" Rusty remarked as he was impressed by the ant''s intelligence and order-following capabilities. Even without asking for confirmation, he knew that he received something similar to a familiar or a thrall. For one reason or another, the ant must have accepted him as his leader which he then confirmed with the contract. "Could it have done it to survive?" As Rusty pondered the reason behind the ant''s behavior, he realized it was ultimately without meaning. Perhaps the ant perceived him as its mother, or perhaps it acted out of fear of the other monsters lurking outside. Its body was quite small and once it left this cavern, its fate would be sealed. Gleam stood little chance against the stronger monsters outside, and it would likely meet a swift demise if left alone for too long. "Now then¡­ did I learn any other skills besides Limb Control?" Basic Shield Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a shield along with other weapons. It is required to unlock more powerful shield skills. Previously, Rusty only was able to absorb the shield bash skill from one of the dungeon skeletons but never got around to getting the passive. While holding the shield was fine, now he would truly be able to use it in battle. "There doesn''t seem to be anything else¡­" He expected to receive something more magical like the Elemental Charge skill or the Elemental Discharge one but perhaps later something good would arise. All his stats had gone up and he had access to a whole inventory filled with new weapons. He wanted to summon his arsenal instantly but needed to withhold. There was still a lack of any tin ore in this area, before finding a vein he needed to conserve his resources. Only one more anomaly remained as his body had a strange addition. Previously he was just a hallowed suit of armor, without anything on the inside. However, now a strange orb resided within him and it was glued to the top of his helmet. At first, he attempted to take it out but the moment he tried, a strange foreboding feeling washed over him. It was as if his very essence was inside of this very tiny orb and if he tried to remove it from within his body, something bad would happen. This was a new weak point of sorts as previously to defeat him, his body needed to be mangled. Now on the other hand, if this was damaged he felt like something bad would happen. He needed to protect this small orb that was the size of a marble and luckily it was at a location that would be hard to damage. "Not much that I can do about this, I should probably go test out that one skill and also this new body¡­" The Basic Elemental Discharge skill was something that he hadn''t truly tested out yet as it was given to him when he maxed out his previous form. Now that he was transformed and had more MP to use such skill, it was time to take over the whole underground cavern. The strongest monsters that he had come across here were of E-rank, which he was now a part of. "Should I go after the Centipedes first?..." The memory of getting chased by the large Centipede Matriarch was still fresh in Rusty''s mind. It was a scary opponent that was much larger and was quite swift. While he felt confident now, it was better to test his sword out on the lesser monsters first. Afterward, it would be time to take care of the Matriarch. "Time for a hunt¡­ Hm? You want to follow me?'' Rusty was on his way out of the cavern before he noticed that the white ant continued to follow after him. This creature was rather weak and would not last even against a slug but this didn''t mean that it was of no use. "Good, then Gleam, you will be the bait!" A devious idea crept into his metallic head as he set off to the watering hole where the monsters gathered. Even with the ant queen gone, the other monsters continued to respect their space. However, the centipede seemed to have multiplied since his last visit and perhaps with time, would also attempt to overthrow the other monsters here. With Gleam by his side, Rusty ventured forth into the cavern, the echoing sound of his footsteps reverberating off the crystalline walls. As they approached the watering hole, the ambient noise of chittering insects and dripping water grew louder. The monsters looked in his direction and reacted in a rather novel way. Usually, they would ignore him but this time around, many of them started moving in his direction. It was clear that their gazes were not focused on his metallic frame but on the gleaming ant, which was quite radiant. While Rusty had intended to employ his new little helper as bait, he hadn''t anticipated that the monsters would react so aggressively upon seeing it. He had assumed they would avoid the radiance it emitted, as it was similar to the light he could produce with his sword. However, the monsters appeared to be drawn to Gleam''s glow like moths to a flame. They skittered and slithered closer, their eyes fixed on the tiny ant as if it were a tantalizing treat. Rusty watched as the creatures closed in, their movements becoming more frenzied with each step. "This wasn''t quite what I had in mind. Gleam, get behind me." Rusty knew that the situation was starting to spiral out of control. Nevertheless, for some reason, he didn''t feel that he was fully in danger. He was an E-rank monster who was being confronted by a bunch of F ranks. When thinking about those larger monsters that towered over the rest, he imagined himself as one of them. He quickly assessed the scenario and raised his sword into the air. With the activation of Basic Elemental Charge, it started glowing with an intense light. The monsters were blinded and stopped in their tracks but this was not his plan. Soon after, he swung his sword forward in a sweeping motion while also activating Basic Elemental Discharge. When doing so, a torrent of light energy surged forth from the blade, engulfing the oncoming monsters within. The creatures screeched and writhed as they were struck by the force of Rusty''s attack, their bodies convulsing. They were still alive but they were stunned. Gleam scurried behind Rusty seeking shelter behind one of his metallic legs. It chomped with its mandibles but left the fighting up to its current master. "Hm... not bad! Even though they aren''t dead, it won''t be hard to defeat them in this state!" You have gained +8 experience points. You have gained +9 experience points. Rusty charged in, the monsters were down for the count and easy targets. With swift slashes of his sword, he dispatched the stunned creatures one by one, their weakened forms offering little resistance against his onslaught. Gleam watched from the sidelines, its glowing body pulsating before it too launched itself at one of the injured monsters¡­ Chapter 30 - 28 – Asking For Guidance. As the last of the monsters fell, Rusty took a moment to evaluate his performance. His sword was still crackling with an elemental sheen but the skill had run its course. Rusty noted that the monsters that had attacked the small ant lay dead, while others had decided to flee upon realizing his strength. It became apparent that these creatures weren''t truly mindless and lacked the compulsion to fight to the last one standing. ''I wonder if they see me as one of those other monsters¡­'' Rusty was somewhat esthetic as this cemented his rise in strength. At first glance, his stats didn''t look that much greater than the ones he previously had. However, as he had now had some time to utilize his new body, it became apparent that it was many times stronger than the corroded shell he had previously inhabited. There seemed to be some sort of hidden power boost accompanying his rise to the E-rank that surpassed the numbers indicating it. There were a little bit over ten bodies on the ground, composed of the centipedes and slug monsters. For some reason, the beetles stayed out of it for the most part and retreated to their side of the cave after he activated his new skill. However, to Rusty''s surprise, another anomaly arose concerning his new friend, Gleam. Despite the ant not inflicting any damage, it was strangely enough gaining experience points. Gleam had entered the fray after the monsters had been disabled by Rusty''s skill, targeting only the incapacitated ones. Its mandibles weren''t particularly strong and it struggled to bite through the tough exoskeletons of the large centipedes. Although Rusty landed all the finishing blows, Gleam managed to gain a level without landing any critical hits while Rusty felt like he was receiving fewer experience points than before. "Hm¡­ maybe I should ask one of them for advice?" He pondered this issue as the memories of the demon lord and the hero weren''t giving him any answers. While these memories provided a starting point for his understanding of the world, they fell short in unveiling its deeper secrets. Without directly consulting one of his guiding helpers, Rusty realized he wouldn''t fully understand this situation. "As long as I don''t keep them out for too long it should be fine. I just need to limit it to one guide¡­" His MP was recharging at a faster rate than before but he still chose to wait until it was maxed out. Passing out again was not something he wished to do and he needed to see if he could actually use this skill correctly. Previously Rusty did not pay attention to his mana usage but this time around his visor would be glued to the system window. Thus, after waiting for a bit for his mana to recharge he decided to summon one of the beings from the Soul Forge. "Who should I pick, the Hero or the Demon King?" Rusty wasn''t sure which one of them could offer him a better explanation. The Hero had assisted him in refining his crafting skills and provided insights into weapon and armor creation. On the other hand, the Demon King seemed to possess knowledge about monsters and their behaviors, which could shed light on the peculiarities he was experiencing with Gleam. "If it''s about monsters, it seems that the Demon King could know better¡­" While the demon lord seemed untrustworthy at the start and attempted to flee instantly when he was previously summoned, the skill ''Call Guide'' seemed to compel them to answer his questions truthfully. The decision was made and more precise knowledge of the monster world was needed. After postponing his journey towards the centipede lair, he ventured back to the safety of his crystal headquarters. Here he felt safe and even if he passed away once again, there was no chance of him getting hurt. Rusty realized that this would be his final test. If, for any reason, it failed again, he would have to cease using this skill. Continuously losing consciousness whenever it was activated and being vulnerable to monster attacks was not a viable option. "...No Hero this time around? Do you perhaps enjoy my presence more, my dear Rusty? But, could you do me a favor and not summon me to this bright place? It''s giving me a migraine¡­ and I don''t even have a tangible body." The demon king appeared in the form of a glowing black orb. It was a strange sight to behold as it was forming itself. Shadows started forming from seemingly nowhere and expanded in size. Eventually, the Fallen Demon King was there, his imposing voice being a reminder of the great evil that he once was. "I apologize for the inconvenience. But I need your help. What can you tell me about this ant?" Rusty was in a rush as he could see his MP drop by exactly fifty points. This left him with a bit over seventy points. Everything seemed to be fine at first but he noticed another magic point being deducted right after. This was probably the reason for his downfall previously, the skill used up MP at a continuous rate. "The ant again? I see that you have given it a name, well¡­ at least it''s not Gleamy¡­" "Why would I name it Gleamy?" "Uh¡­ just ignore what I said, what do you want to know about this ant again?" "Oh, Something strange happened after I woke up. It was on my armor and then I was asked for a bonding contract¡­" He quickly explained everything to the Demon King while keeping his gaze on the system window. There, he observed his MP slowly ticking down, but not at a rate that posed any immediate harm. Reflecting on his previous fall, he could only assume that summoning both orbs simultaneously had resulted in higher magic usage and initial costs, which then led to his sudden loss of consciousness. "Ah yes, A bonding contract, those also exist. I usually preferred the thrall or slave contracts, much better." "A thrall contract?" "Indeed, let me explain, while a bonding contract forms a connection between you and a monster, you''re compelled to share your experience points with them. However, if you manage to acquire a Thrall, that wouldn''t be the case. I''m sure you''ve experienced that before, haven''t you? Receiving less experience than usual?" "That did happen¡­ so a part of my experience is going to Gleam?" "It is, I''m not sure what the exact number is but it won''t go above half and if your bonding partner isn''t within range, you will be able to gain your experience at the usual pace. "Interesting... So, is there anything else I should know about this bonding contract?" "Well, besides sharing experience points, the bond can also grant the monster certain benefits. They might gain access to skills or abilities they wouldn''t otherwise have, and they can become more loyal and obedient to you as their bond strengthens. Unique evolutionary choices might appear once they are ready and you will have the ability to decide." "I''ll be able to decide?" "Indeed. Thus, I would advise you to help your new friend advance quickly. It will be hard for this creature to survive on its own. The other monsters will be drawn to it like moths to a flame too. This peculiar species is special, it seems to attract other monsters too¡­ perhaps they are drawn to its mana? Some creatures are natural elixirs, it could be possible that eating it would unlock a special evolution too." Rusty nodded, absorbing the information provided by the Fallen Demon King. It seemed that the bonding contract was both a boon and a burden. On one hand, he needed to share his experience with it but on the other hand, it also worked in reverse. As the ant grew stronger, Rusty envisioned the possibility of confronting more formidable foes together. In the past he managed to kill strong adventurers with the help of other monsters so this tactic wasn''t anything new. "That''s not that bad, I can just have him stay here if I just want to level up by myself too!" "That you can, can this Demon King help you with anything else? Will you tell me to cook you something now?" The black orb replied in a sort of annoyed tone. Rusty knew that this being didn''t like to be ordered around but it was not something he concerned himself about. After ignoring the question, he gave one of his own that concerned the change in his body. He removed his helmet and turned it around to show that strange marble glued to it. "What is this?" "That? It''s just a monster core, monsters start growing, once they become E-rank." "Oh¡­ does it do anything? It feels very important as if something will happen if I touch it." "Of course, if your monster core is destroyed, you will cease to exist." The Demon King''s words sent a shiver down Rusty''s metallic spine. The idea of his existence hinging on the safety of this small orb was daunting, to say the least. "So, it''s like my lifeline?" "In a manner of speaking, yes. It''s the essence of your being, contained within that core. Damage it, and you risk your very existence. However, once you increase in strength, so will you also gain skills and abilities to shelter it better. Once that''s over with, you won''t even remember that it was ever there to begin with." "There are also benefits of having a monster core. You will not die unless it is destroyed." "I won''t? Even if my HP goes down to zero?" "That''s the fun part, it can''t. A monster with a core must have its core destroyed, otherwise it won''t perish. However, magical attacks that affect your whole body could be used as a finishing blow, so it would be best if you don''t let your health fall below a certain threshold." Rusty absorbed this information with a mix of relief and fear. On one hand, knowing that he wouldn''t die unless his monster core was destroyed offered a certain degree of security. This information could even save his life in the future, as long as his helmet that housed the core survived, he wouldn''t die. However, it was quite a small and brittle-looking object, if he took too many hard hits to his bronze head, he could perish even if his HP wasn''t fully lowered. "Thank you for the clarification!" "My pleasure, now Rusty my boy, how about we talk about something¡­" "I''m sorry, but you will have to go now." "I beg your pardon?" Before the Demon Lord could continue with his sentence he was interrupted by Rusty. His mana had dropped by another fifty points and it was becoming too dangerous to continue. Luckily, it was possible to end this skill whenever he chose. It only took a mental command for Rusty to dismiss the Fallen Demon King. "Well, that''s rude¡­" The dark orb started to flicker before it dissipated into thin air while shouting something at him that he didn''t fully understand. Rusty had gained valuable information and was glad that he asked about this monster core of his. Now he knew that he needed to protect his head more than his other body parts. "Now, what should I do about you¡­" "..." Gleam wiggled its antennae as if sensing Rusty''s gaze upon it. He could feel that this monster was eager to assist and would follow his orders. The problem wasn''t its loyalty but that it wasn''t the strongest. For it to become of any use, it needed to at least reach the F-rank like the other insects here. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I think it will be better if we start now!" It felt wise to begin the leveling drive now and he already knew that his companion could be used to lure the other monsters. With that in mind, Rusty formulated a plan. He would venture deeper into the cavern, seeking out groups of monsters to battle alongside Gleam. By strategically utilizing the ant''s glow to attract foes, Rusty could dispatch them efficiently and ensure Gleam gained the necessary experience to level up. "Gleam, are you ready?" Rusty addressed his newfound companion, who responded with a series of excited movements, indicating its readiness for action. "Let us depart then!" For some reason, with Gleam by his side, Rusty felt a lot more joy. He recalled his life before falling down the chasm. The other monsters would react to him at all but Gleam was different. It wiggled around in a novel fashion and seemed to always be interested in the things he was doing. Finally, the two ventured towards the tunnels and this time around they were not attacked at the watering hole. After considering his options, Rusty decided to enter the slug-filled tunnels. Gleam had a weak bite but the slugs were quite squishy to the point that even he would be able to do damage. The new hunt started as he postponed the destruction of the centipede-filled dungeons and the Matriarch waiting for him there. Instead, he focused on helping his new friend level up. One thing in particular stayed with him. The demon lord mentioned that he would be able to affect the evolutionary path of this small ant and he wanted to see how. Just as expected, the slugs weren''t much of a problem. After using Gleam to lure them in, he was able to avoid their initial charges and cut them in half. With the Elemental Discharge skill thighs were even easier. These monsters liked to gather in a large group which allowed Rusty to hit multiple of them at once. After getting hit, they were momentarily stunned and even Gleam could finish them off through multiple bites that probably did one HP damage each. As the two pushed into the cavern Rusty realized just how deep it went. The further he ventured, the more of the monsters he encountered. Luckily, he was not the armor that he used to be, and slaying them came to him rather easily. Even their best attack couldn''t faze him as he could easily block it with the bronze shield he created. Rusty couldn''t help but marvel at Gleam''s tenacity. Despite its diminutive size, the ant fought with unwavering determination, never backing down from a challenge. It was clear to Rusty that Gleam had the heart of a warrior, and he found himself growing more and more fond of his tiny companion. While he received less experience than before, it felt well spent as he could see Gleam''s levels just skyrocketing. At the end of their push into the slug-infested tunnels, Gleam was already level five. This leveling speed was only something he could have dreamed about when he was created. Eventually, they reached a large chamber at the center of the cavern, where a massive slug, easily ten times the size of the others, lay coiled upon itself. Its body pulsed with an otherworldly glow, and its two extended eyes seemed to focus on the two intruders. "Hm¡­ Gleam, can you hide yourself somewhere? This might be too dangerous for you to handle." Gleam seemed unwilling to part from his new metallic companion but relented. The ant looked at the tunnel wall and started burrowing itself into it, disappearing from sight. With Gleam safely hidden, Rusty turned his attention back to the colossal slug before him. It seemed to be the big boss of this area just like the ant queen and centipede matriarch. "I''ll start with you then!" Rusty pointed with his sword in the direction of the monster. The creature was surrounded by a small swarm of smaller slugs, which probably acted as its defense force. Once they were dealt with, defeating their leader would be much easier. Chapter 31 - 29 – Not Worth Much. "Go screw yourself!" A young woman shouted at a stocky-looking man with a long red beard. He wore a blacksmithing apron over his clothes as he returned an item he had been given for appraisal. It appeared to be an old bronze gauntlet, corroded in several places. "Wot ye want from me? It ain''t worth that much, take the coins or don''t, I don''t care!" "Hmph, you don''t care? I''m sure you''ll start to care after I take this dagger and shove it up your arse!" The man was of the dwarven race and started shouting back at the unruly woman. Luckily she was not alone in this shop and soon one of her companions began to pull her back before "Livi, calm down, you are making a scene¡­" Other patrons within the shop began to take notice, their attention drawn to the unfolding scene. The presence of metallic weapons and pieces of armor scattered around made it clear that this was a place frequented by adventurers seeking to purchase such gear. The shopkeeper, a burly dwarf, furrowed his bushy brows, his hands clenched into fists as he glared at the woman named Livi. "I told ye already, the gauntlet ain''t worth much! Ye can take the coins or leave it, but don''t ye dare threaten me in me own shop!" The man repeated himself but this time his voice boomed through the entire shop. His thick accent made it difficult for some people to understand him, but the message was clear. Livi''s companion, a wiry human named Keyon, attempted to defuse the situation. He understood that if this continued, their group could be prohibited from shopping in the store, something he wished to avoid at all costs. "Please, forgive her outburst. She''s just a bit tired from the last mission, don''t worry, we''ll just leave. Come Livi." The shop owner grumbled under his breath and adjusted his apron as he watched the group hastily leave his shop. He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head as he muttered curses in Dwarvish, clearly frustrated by the encounter. The other patrons in the shop returned to their browsing while the party of the adventurers led by the person that just wanted to stab a shopkeeper, Livi. "Hey, it''s okay, we''ll find another place to get rid of that gauntlet, how about we try an alchemist instead? That twilight bronze has to be good for something, maybe they use it for something there?" "Fine, I guess¡­" Livi responded in an annoyed tone while trying to compose her nerves. The party had been trying to sell this one item for a while now but it seemed that it wasn''t worth much at all. They were at the end of their wits trying to find a buyer willing to pay a decent price for the worn-out gauntlet. They received it from a rare unique monster but for some reason, it seemed worthless. As they exited the blacksmith''s shop, Keyon led them through the bustling streets of the city. There were many people here with various races and professions bustling about their daily tasks. The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the metallic tang of a blacksmith''s forge and added to the lively atmosphere in this city. Keyon navigated the group through the crowded streets with ease, his keen eyes scanning the various storefronts for any signs of an alchemist''s shop. Eventually, they stumbled upon a quaint little establishment nestled between a tavern and a herbalist''s shop. A wooden sign hung above the door and depicted a bubbling cauldron. It indicated that they had indeed found what they were looking for and soon they were at the door. "Dedrick, wait outside¡­ or even better, go find Reistel before he drinks himself stupid again." Livi looked towards a third-party member that was wearing a steel suit of armor. His massive frame made it difficult for him to navigate through crowded places, and his presence tended to draw unwanted attention. Dedrick grunted in acknowledgment and stepped aside, his heavy footsteps receding as he made his way to the tavern that his dwarven companion frequented. With Dedrick out of sight, Livi and Keyon entered the alchemist''s shop. The interior was dimly lit by flickering candles, casting eerie shadows on the shelves lined with various vials, jars, and potions. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and magical ingredients, making it clear what this place was used for. "Someone should open a window¡­" Keyon commented as a strange mixture of scents assaulted his nose. Livi rolled her eyes as she was accustomed to the complaints of her companion. "Just focus, we''re here to get rid of this gauntlet" Livi approached the counter where an elderly human with wild, wiry hair and thick spectacles stood, stirring a bubbling cauldron. The alchemist glanced up as they approached, his eyes squinting behind his glasses as he noticed a specific item in their hands. "Welcome, travelers. How can I assist you today?" His voice crackled and showed his advanced age. Livi didn''t wait much before throwing the severed gauntlet onto the store counter before asking for money. "We have an item we''re looking to sell, what can you offer for this?" The alchemist peered at the gauntlet and his eyebrows furrowed as he concentrated. He picked it up slowly and started to examine it from all sides. Eventually, he pulled out a large magnifying glass with strange arcane symbols on the sides. He turned it over, examining the intricate details, and muttered to himself as he assessed its condition. Livi and Keyon watched while hopeful that this alchemist would see some value in this seemingly worthless item. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmm... interesting piece. A bit worn and some corrosion have set in, but the interesting part is the metal in itself, Twilight bronze is quite a rare find¡­" The alchemist''s eyes sparkled with interest as he continued to inspect the gauntlet. Livi and Keyon exchanged hopeful glances, sensing a glimmer of hope. Perhaps this person would buy this worthless piece of equipment for a few gold coins, instead of the lower prices every other shop owner had offered them. "Yes, Twilight bronze, it must be worth quite a lot, I bet you could melt it down and use it for enchantments or something!" "Use it for enchantments?" The Alchemist looked at Livi as if she said something silly and quickly corrected her on the assumption. "Young lady, while twilight bronze is rare, it doesn''t mean that it''s worth much, I''m afraid that I can''t offer you more than a few silver coins and I don''t think you''ll get much better elsewhere. It''s simply not in high demand." Livi''s frustration flared up again, her patience worn thin after being met with disappointment yet again. She exchanged a glance with Keyon, who sighed in resignation. It seemed they had hit another dead end in their quest to offload the gauntlet. However, it seemed that the old Alchemist had noticed this display of negative emotions and decided to offer some advice. "You see, while twilight metals are indeed very rare, they''re not practical for most individuals. Their properties combine those of dark demonic magic and holy light magic, making them exceedingly rare and almost impossible to wield by any ordinary person. Even if you were to craft a weapon for a demon or someone proficient in light magic, they wouldn''t be able to utilize it." The alchemist''s explanation brought a new perspective to Livi and Keyon. They had been so focused on trying to sell the gauntlet for its material value that they hadn''t considered its potential properties. If it couldn''t be fashioned into a better piece of armor than regular bronze, then it wasn''t really worth much. "But, you''re saying that it does have some magical properties?" The alchemist gave out a sigh before he continued with his explanation. "Unless you find someone like a Nephalem to wield it, this piece of equipment is practically useless. You''d require a perfect balance between both light and dark magic to unlock the full potential of this metal. As far as I know, such equilibrium doesn''t exist anywhere." "A Nephalem?" "Yes, an offspring between a demon and an angel." Livi and Keyon exchanged a glance and nodded in understanding. They were familiar with the concept of a Nephalem, an extremely rare species that was more myth than legend. While this rarity made the metal valuable and potent in the right hands, it held little value when sold to regular adventurers like themselves. At best, they could hold onto it in hopes of finding a collector willing to offer a better price. However, as it stood, the item was not worth more than a regular bronze gauntlet. "Shit¡­ how much were you willing to pay for it?" The alchemist scratched his chin thoughtfully before responding. "I could offer you five silver coins for it. It''s not much, but it''s the best I can do." Livi sighed heavily, feeling the weight of disappointment settling in once again. Keyon gave her a nudge with his elbow and whispered into her ear quickly before she made her mind to leave again. "It''s already more than what the blacksmiths offered us, lets just take it and go, we''ve lost enough time on this already." "Yeah, I know¡­" Reluctantly, Livi nodded in agreement. They had been trying to offload this item for over a week now and it wasn''t worth the effort. She turned back to the alchemist and extended her hand, indicating her acceptance of his offer. "Fine, we''ll take the five silver coins." The alchemist nodded in response and reached under the counter to retrieve the coins. He counted them out and placed them on the counter. Soon after the gauntlet was given to him and the exchange had been concluded. "Thank you for your business. If you ever come across any other rare items, feel free to bring them by. I may be interested." Livi gave a half-hearted nod of acknowledgment but her mind was already shifting to their next task. She scooped up the coins and stuffed them into her pouch before turning around to leave. "Come on, let''s get out of here." Keyon followed suit, offering a polite nod to the alchemist before turning to leave. Soon they were gone and the alchemist took the gauntlet into his hand while smiling. He took it to the side and placed it on one of the wooden shelves where other peculiar items of unknown worth were placed. "Twilight magic¡­ it is said that if someone mastered it, they could cut the very fabric of reality, even harming gods wouldn''t be out of the question... But alas, such power remains just a myth, and even if it wasn''t, bronze would not be able to contain such power. Hmm, maybe I can use it as a paperweight¡­" He let out a wistful sigh, his eyes lingering on the gauntlet for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to his cauldron, stirring its contents with a long wooden spoon. The shop returned to its usual quiet ambiance, the flickering candles casting dancing shadows on the walls as the alchemist continued his work, lost in thought. However, at another location, deep underground a battle with a creature wielding strange powers was already taking place. "Now that your friends are all gone, it''s just you and me!" A bronze suit of armor stood atop a small hill of now-dead slugs. Its blade was clad with a strange magical essence that illuminated this large chamber. This weapon was pointed at a large slug creature with a bulbous body that rippled with an eerie rhythm. The slug creature, sensing the threat posed by the armored figure, let out a guttural roar that echoed through the chamber. Rusty, who was the living armor in question, remained focused while trying not to slip on the slug mucus that covered the entire area. He had managed to dispatch a large number of these creatures and now only had their leader to contend with. Thanks to his body that never tired, he was able to slowly accomplish this feat. The slug creatures launched themselves towards him in a predictable pattern that he had grown accustomed to. Even if their bites connected with his body, he didn''t receive more than one or two points of damage. In his current evolved form, there was nothing left for him to fear, and eventually, this became the outcome of the battle: a chamber filled with dead slugs and their leader the only one remaining. With a swift movement, Rusty lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air as it aimed for the slug creature''s soft underbelly. The creature reacted unexpectedly by compacting its body and launching itself forward with a biting attack. While the smaller slugs could only use their elongated mouths for attacking, their leader was different and could launch itself at fast speeds. Fortunately, Rusty managed to block the attack with the help of his new shield, and thanks to his newfound skill proficiencies, the shield remained firmly on his arm. He pushed back against the slug''s body, exploiting the fact that, despite its ability to launch itself at fast speeds, it took time for its larger body to contort and take aim. Rusty seized this opportunity and delivered a magically enhanced power slash to the monster''s side. The slice produced a large gash, accompanied by strange monster blood, but to his dismay, it began mending itself at a rapid pace. ''Some type of regeneration skill similar to my own? But such skills always have a limit, I just need to continue and it will eventually run out of resources!'' He pressed on and his attacks became more frenzied as he sought to overwhelm the slug creature''s healing capabilities. With each strike, he observed how the wound would close, but not entirely, leaving behind faint scars that indicated progress. Despite his efforts, the battle continued but eventually, his enemy started to falter. The slug creature proved to be a formidable foe but Rusty was no longer an inexperienced combatant either. With each swing of his sword, he grew more confident in his own abilities. His tactics to exploit the weaknesses, along with a keen eye for his opponent''s movements, allowed him to gain the upper hand. Finally, with one last powerful strike, Rusty delivered a finishing blow that pierced through the slug creature''s thick hide, driving his sword deep into its core. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching as it succumbed to its wounds. Rusty stood over his fallen foe, his sword still crackling with residual light energy that was now dimming. You have gained +102 experience points. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty gazed at the defeated monster as the system message resounded. He had emerged victorious, marking his first step in the domination of this cave system. Next was the centipede area and then the beetles but ultimately, Rusty still harbored the desire to ascend back up into the dungeon from which he fell. There, he would exact his revenge on the adventurers who had sent him down here... Chapter 32 - 30 – Tracking Ores. Rusty surveyed the chamber and his eyes lingered on the now lifeless form of the slug creature. With a sense of satisfaction, he attempted to holster his blade but found it covered in strange mucus. Luckily there was a shallow pond of water nearby which had been seemingly used by the leader slug for sustenance. ''I managed to level up but didn''t gain any new skills¡­oh well, what about my status?'' Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L2 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 112/137 Magic Points [MP] 18/126 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 21 [ E- ] Agility 4 [ E- ] Dexterity 7 [ E- ] Constitution 22 [ E- ] Intelligence 10 [ E- ] Wisdom 11 [ E- ] Willpower 9 [ E- ] Durability E+ While heading there he looked over his status screen which had been updated. He had only gained one level, and his stats didn''t seem to have increased that much. However, he could sense that compared to the old level-ups when he was still an F-rank monster, he was somewhat stronger. He couldn''t quite tell why, but there appeared to be some sort of gap between ranks. Perhaps it was some sort of hidden boost that wasn''t showing up on the status screen. ''I should ask the Demon King or the Hero about it the next time I see them.'' Rusty was a bit annoyed at his inability to call his two helpers for advice. His mana pool was quite low and he needed to wait for at least another hour for it to refill itself. For the time being he decided to clean his blade in the shallow pond here. It was already filling up with the dead remains of the slugs. Despite being a living armor, he understood the importance of keeping his equipment in good condition. Back in the Soul Forge he had learned of a couple of ways of cleaning his tools and that if he left blood on his weapons for too long, it could cause corrosion and damage over time. As he dipped the blade into the water, Rusty noticed a faint glow emanating from behind. He glanced back to see a small white ant making its way in his direction while avoiding the bodies of the dead slugs. It was Gleam who had noticed that the battle was over and decided to emerge from its hiding place. His new companion was just like him, a new being who had been born not so long ago. The ant looked at the dead slug monsters with curiosity, its antennae twitching as it took in the scene before it. Rusty watched as Gleam scuttled closer, its tiny form illuminated by a radiance coming from its body. ''He wasn''t that bright before, did he learn a new skill?'' This reminded Rusty of how his new companion gained experience points by just being close to him. Considering that he had defeated quite a number of slug creatures here, including their leader, it was likely that his friend had gained a few levels. Thanks to their bond, Rusty also had access to the full status screen of his friend, along with all of its skills. Name: Gleam Classification: Minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant [ G + ] L8 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 7/7 Magic Points [MP] 10/15 Stamina Points [SP] 11/11 Strength 65 [ G ] S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Agility 86 [ G + ] Dexterity 75 [ G + ] Constitution 77 [ G + ] Intelligence 99 [ G + ] ( Max ) Wisdom 98 [ G + ] Willpower 95 [ G + ] Durability G The first thing Rusty noticed was that Gleam had more MP than he had when he was a level one F-rank monster. Another interesting observation was the Intelligence stat, which had reached ninety-nine, with another bracket next to it having ''Max'' written in. He could only assume that this meant the stat could not increase any further, but he decided to bring this issue up with one of his glowing helpers later for clarification. ''Gleam might be special¡­ or I was just really weak¡­'' His mood dropped after realizing that this G-rank monster could have higher stats than his initial form. However, it also meant that it was the right choice to form a bonding contract with Gleam. If he became stronger quickly, then it would be possible for Rusty to use him in battle. ''Now for the skills, what are these¡­'' Basic Mineral Discovery Active Skill Helps to detect minerals and ores within a certain radius. Basic Tracking Active Skill Allows the user to track creatures or objects over long distances Pheromone Trail Active Skill Leaves a trail of pheromones that can be easily followed by individuals of the same species. Basic Mana Sense Passive Skill Allows the user to sense the presence of mana in the environment, a requirement for spell-casting Basic Mana Manipulation Passive Skill Allows the user to shape mana into various effects, a requirement for spell-casting. Lesser Produce Light Spell A simple spell that produces light Rusty''s visor widened in surprise as he read through the list of skills. Gleam had acquired quite a diverse set of abilities, some of which could prove to be incredibly useful in their journey. The Basic Mineral Discovery skill, in particular, could come in handy for locating valuable resources or hidden treasures within the cave system. Perhaps help him discover one of the ores that he had been missing. "Gleam, you''re quite something, aren''t you?" His ant companion noticed that it was being praised and showed a sign of acknowledgment by rubbing its antennae together in a happy manner. Rusty couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride in his little companion''s achievements. It seemed that they were both growing stronger together. ''A spell¡­ I think, I know what this is¡­'' Rusty wanted to give that mineral discovery a try but his attention was pulled towards the mana manipulation and sense skills. These skills seemed necessary for casting spells and regretfully he lacked both of them. Gleam, his companion, only knew one spell, which allowed his entire body to glow brightly and act as a light source. This spell cost just five points of MP and was somewhat different from the light Rusty could produce with his sword. ''It doesn''t use up the MP afterward, does it have some type of lingering effect?'' As he contemplated this, Rusty felt a surge of curiosity about his own potential for magic. He had long been somewhat aware of the existence of mana and the spells it could produce. In his shared memories, he could see both the hero and the demon king wielding these mysterious abilities. Perhaps somewhere along his evolutionary path, he too would be able to unlock them, and becoming a spellcaster wasn''t just a pipe dream. "You don''t really have any attacking skills though, not even a bite skill¡­" Gleam had received some interesting skills but they weren''t really suited for battle. The one spell that he had could only produce a faint light, which probably wouldn''t hurt the other monsters like Rusty''s did. The small ant showed his disappointment by clicking its mandibles in frustration, its tiny form visibly deflating. Rusty couldn''t help but sympathize with his companion''s predicament as when he started, he wasn''t really that great either. "Don''t worry Gleam, you will get stronger, I''m sure when you evolve to a greater form, you will be really strong!" Rusty attempted to cheer up his new companion with some words of encouragement. The ant perked up at Rusty''s words, its antennae twitching with renewed conviction. Despite its lack of offensive skills, Gleam seemed eager to continue supporting Rusty in whatever way it could. Rusty couldn''t help but admire the little creature''s indomitable spirit. "How about you help me explore this cave system, who knows what we might find here? Why don''t you use that mineral discovery skill?" He gestured towards the dark recesses of the cave while Gleam scuttled forward eagerly. With a determined click of its mandibles, it activated the Basic Mineral Discovery skill, its tiny antennae twitched as it began scanning the surrounding area. Rusty stayed in place and looked at his small companion skittering around the ground. At first he was hopeful but eventually he was made aware of this discovery skills weakness, it had a rather limited range. Nevertheless, Gleam seemed to be focused and determined, its tiny form darting here and there as it diligently searched for any signs of valuable minerals or ores. Minutes passed, and Rusty grew increasingly impatient as he watched Gleam''s efforts. He couldn''t help but wonder if they were wasting their time on a futile endeavor. Then while his mind turned to his inventory screen, he thought of something. "I wonder¡­ could this work?" Rusty realized he had managed to retain one whole leftover tin ingot. This was, in fact, the mineral he had been searching for, as without it, he could not transform the copper ingots into bronze ones. Considering this, he turned to Gleam, who possessed a tracking skill in addition to the mineral discovery one. The tracking skill appeared to have a larger range than the mineral discovery skill, so Rusty hoped it would prove effective in locating more of the precious mineral. "Can you track this mineral for me, Gleam?" Rusty quickly retrieved the ingot from his inventory and held it out in front of Gleam. The ant paused in its search and scuttled over to Rusty, its antennae twitching with curiosity as it inspected the tin ingot. After clicking its mandibles in acknowledgment, the tracking skill was activated. There was no visual cue indicating it but judging by Gleam''s speed, it seemed to have caught on to something. There was some type of invisible path that seemed to have been presented and the ant started following it. Rusty could only think that this had been the skill used by the other ants to follow him and that perhaps soon some tin would actually be before him. To his surprise, the journey was far as Gleam navigated around the dead slugs only to arrive at the pond he cleaned his sword in. "Is something wrong?" It seemed that the ant wanted to move into the water but just like the other members of its species, despised it. Gleam started moving around the water in an attempt to find another path. His partner darted around it, eventually ending up on the ceiling directly over it before coming to a stop. It seemed that what he was searching for lay within the water, which was quite murky. "Is it in there?" It was hard to tell but he needed to check it out. He was a suit of armor so breathing underwater wasn''t a problem. The pond at the deepest end was only up to his waist, and he had an ingenious idea to aid in his search for the tin ore deposit. Instead of attempting to grab rocks, he removed his helmet from his body and submerged it in the murky pool of water. With his head close to the ground, it became much easier to spot any metallic residue that an ore might produce. The murky water made it difficult to see clearly, but after a few moments of searching, he noticed a glimmer of metallic shine. Carefully, Rusty reached down with his gauntlet, his metallic fingers brushed against something before he started squeezing. After a gentle tug, he managed to dislodge one of the rocks there with relative ease. Once it was on the surface, to his delight there was a small tin deposit there. "Good job Gleam, you found it! I would have never been able to find it on my own!" Gleam clicked its mandibles happily, seemingly pleased with itself for successfully locating the tin deposit. Rusty couldn''t help but feel grateful for his tiny companion''s assistance. Without Gleam''s tracking skill, he would have likely missed this tin ore deposit here as it was hidden under the waters of this slug cave. ''Now, how should I get it out¡­ the water is kind of in the way¡­'' Mining the copper wasn''t difficult, as it was situated on the side of a wall and easily accessible. However, in the murky depths of the pond, Rusty couldn''t see the bottom, making it challenging to pinpoint the correct areas for mining. Fortunately, the Hero had given some advice while Rusty was creating his bronze arsenal. It was possible to add regular tools to his inventory, so he had created items like a pickaxe and a shovel, which he hoped would aid him in his underwater mining endeavors. ''It will cost me two bronze ingots to make the tools¡­'' Although his body still required bronze to repair itself, Rusty had only sustained minor damage in the last encounter with the slugs. While he didn''t want to spend it, there was a need for a shovel and some other basic tools. With Gleam''s ability to locate more copper and tin ore deposits, he felt he wouldn''t be wasting his resources. It was an investment for the future that would allow him to mine more easily. ''I''ll get a shovel first, I need to drain this water.'' After accessing his tabs he used one of the ingots to fashion a previously assembled bronze shovel. With his new tool in hand, he approached the edge of the pond. The water here seemed to slowly drip from the ceiling which eventually formed this pond. What he needed to do was dig out a tunnel to the side, and from there, gravity would take care of the rest. Rusty began digging at the edge of the pond, his bronze shovel slicing through the damp earth with surprising ease. Gleam watched from a safe distance as the rocky gravel was tossed to the side. With each scoop of the earth he removed, the water level started to gradually drop. After several hours of nonstop labor, Rusty had managed to create a small trench leading away from the pond. Water trickled down the tunnel, flowing away from the immediate area. He continued digging until the water level had dropped by a significant margin and the bottom of the pond was revealed. With the water now mostly drained, Rusty could clearly see the tin ore deposits sticking out amidst the dregs. Before climbing down into the now-drained area, he lifted up one of his metallic boots that had been filled with water. While balancing on one leg, he turned it around to empty the water and then repeated the process on the other side. Afterward, he spent another ingot of bronze to produce a pickaxe, and now the mining could finally commence. With his newly crafted pickaxe in hand, Rusty descended into the drained pond. His boots produced an audible crunching noise which caught Gleams interest. His ant companion scuttled closer as now there was no pesky water to keep him away. Rusty approached the tin ore deposits and carefully began to chip away at the surrounding rock with his pickaxe. Chunks of stone fell away as he worked and revealed the veins of tin hidden beneath. With each strike of his pickaxe, he collected small pieces of tin ore, storing them away in his inventory for later use. Gleam watched intently, its antennae twitching with curiosity as Rusty mined the ore. Despite its small size, the ant seemed to understand the importance of their discovery and was eager to assist in any way it could. After another couple of hours of meticulous work, Rusty stepped back. His inventory was now filled with tin ore and transformed tin ingots. With this discovery, he was now confident in his future plans. The other monsters would not stand in his way, and with so much metal at his disposal, he would be able to restore himself and his weapons without worry. It was time to conquer this part of the dungeon and then perhaps journey elsewhere, where other challenges awaited¡­ Chapter 33 - 31 – Gleam Evolves. "I think I''ve got it all now, I shouldn''t run out for a while now!" A shiny suit of armor stood before a pile of ore while feeling good about himself. Rusty had managed to mine the whole tin deposit and then also returned to the copper vein he had previously left behind. It took him some days but without a need to sleep or eat, he was able to get this job over quickly. Now he just needed to transport all of this back to his lair. Luckily, when he was at the Soul Forge, the hero had given him some good advice. Alongside the pickaxe and shovel, he had received schematics for something known as a backpack. It was a container crafted from thin bronze with leather straps affixed to it using rivets. With its assistance, he could transport a large amount of ore without making the inside of his armor dirty. Though his balance felt somewhat iffy with it on, once he had cleared the tunnels, there were few monsters left to halt his progress. "Let us head back Gleam, light the way." His pet ant bounced around after receiving the order and started casting its one and only spell. The cave illuminated with a soft, gentle glow as Gleam activated its spell, casting light across the dark passages. Rusty followed closely behind, the weight of the backpack full of ore not hindering his movements as much as he had initially feared. His weight had increased since his new evolution and thanks to his increased strength, it wasn''t that hard to keep his balance. Walking through these lengthy tunnels started getting somewhat plain. Even upon reaching the watering area, the other creatures swiftly scattered at the sight of light emanating from the caverns. It appeared Rusty had transformed into the apex predator and was now feared by the insects. Although, this brought a sense of satisfaction, confirming his strengthened prowess. Yet, it also brought a strange new emotion to the surface that he wasn''t quite sure about. ''I wished they at least tried to fight back a bit¡­ it''s no fun when it''s too easy¡­'' Rusty had gained some degree of strength and fighting these insect monsters had become easy. The only real threat he felt came from the larger E-rank monsters that still lurked within these cave systems like the Centipede Matriarch. She would be his next target, followed by the giant beetles who seemed to be the dominant species down here. Yet, once he vanquished them, Rusty harbored aspirations of ascending to face greater challenges once more. His sights were set on a rematch with the shadowy spider and the humanoid adventurers who had bested him before. ''I wonder if I could defeat them now¡­ I''m not sure¡­'' The thought of facing those formidable foes filled Rusty with a mixture of excitement and restlessness. He had come a long way since his last encounter with those two foes, but he couldn''t shake the feeling of uncertainty. Despite his increased strength and the newfound abilities of his companion Gleam, Rusty knew that he still had much to learn and improve upon. If he could gain a new evolutionary stage before a confrontation with those old foes, he would stand a better chance. But for now, he needed to focus on the task at hand and bring these ores back to his base. "Home sweet home!" For some reason, Rusty began to appreciate the notion of having a home base to return to. After carefully unloading the backpack, he deposited the last of the copper ores he had gathered. The pile had grown in size, and was accompanied by a stack of ingots he had already transformed with his skill. Despite his inventory limiting him to only ten ingots, he decided to use up his SP since he couldn''t employ his absorption skill on the insects anyhow. "Let me practice before I go confront that Matriarch." Rusty put the backpack away by returning it to the regular inventory. He had his regular stash tab along with his currently equipped items. They consisted of a bronze shield and his old but upgraded arming sword. It was possible to reposition this sword into the inventory tab and opt for a slightly weightier longsword with a longer blade. "It takes a few moments to exchange but it could save me in the future!" The inventory system he possessed could only accommodate a finite number of items. Initially, he could transfer items from the stash tab located beneath his equipped items screen. However, once it went over capacity, he would have to deposit the surplus of items into something known as a warehouse. Although the space there was much larger, it too also had its limits. He speculated that eventually, he would be forced to store any additional items in the real world. At first, this didn''t appear to pose much of a problem, but Rusty soon encountered a drawback. Retrieving any item from the warehouse demanded an additional expenditure of special points (SP). This depleted his resources rapidly, making it smart to use this feature before embarking on an adventure. He could swap items inside the immediate stash tab without incurring further costs, and basic resources like bronze could be allocated to a separate resource tab but could not exceed the limit of ten either. As Rusty contemplated his inventory management strategy, Gleam scuttled around him, emitting a soft glow that illuminated the small chamber they had designated as their temporary home. This brought back the next issue which was Gleam''s level which was already nine. Despite not having slain many monsters since defeating the slugs, it was evident that his ant companion would soon reach the threshold of G rank and be able to evolve into an F-rank monster, similar to his previous form. "Gleam, do you wish to evolve and get stronger too?" Rusty posed the question and his small friend replied by gnashing his mandibles around as if it wanted to bite down on an enemy. The Demon King had mentioned something about his presence potentially influencing the ant''s evolution, but perhaps it would also shape its character. It appeared that Gleam, too, harbored aspirations of surpassing its former self and perhaps towering over other ants that tried to suppress it. "Then let us go, and let us become stronger, together!" The duo of living armor and glowing ant emerged from their makeshift abode of radiant crystals, prepared to confront the trials that lay ahead. With confident strides, they made their way toward the territory of the centipede insectoids. Upon arrival, their gaze fell upon a rather small specimen which was clearly a level one monster. "Stay behind me, Gleam. This will be over quickly..." Rusty wanted to step forward to slay the small monster but he was stopped, not by other monsters but by his ant companion. Gleam appeared to be trying to communicate by gnashing his mandibles and wiggling his antennae in a manner that suggested something. "Do you want to face it on your own?" "!" Gleam''s response came in the form of a happy dance. If Rusty had a face, it would likely be showing a smile at this moment. He was pleased to see that his companion shared his eagerness to test their strength against a formidable adversary. Despite the creature being an F-rank monster, its stats weren''t that superior to those of the ant. It appeared to be a foe that could be vanquished in a fair battle, so Rusty decided to humor his companion with this wish. "If you are confident, then be my guest, and don''t worry, if it gets dangerous, I''ll help!" "!?" It seemed that Gleam was a bit mad after Rusty insinuated that it wouldn''t be able to defeat this trivial foe. Rusty chuckled at the indignation his friend was showing but also admired his spirit. After nodding with approval, he stepped back and allowed Gleam to take center stage. The small ant wasted no time, darting forward with surprising speed. Its tiny form moved with agility as it closed the distance between itself and the centipede monster. The centipede, after sensing the approaching threat, reared up and was ready to strike. With a swift motion, Gleam dodged the creature''s lashing attack, narrowly avoiding its sharp fangs. The ant retaliated with a quick jab of its own, sinking its mandibles into the centipede''s side. Though its attack was small, it seemed to have caught the creature off guard. Rusty instantly noticed that his friend was quite smart as Gleam did not go after the hardened exoskeleton but the creature''s legs instead. The centipede hissed in pain as two of its legs were severed by Gleam''s precise strikes. Despite its size advantage, the centipede found itself struggling to keep up with the small but agile opponent. Gleam continued to dart around the creature, striking at vulnerable spots with remarkable accuracy. Making sure to focus on its many legs that weren''t as robust as the rest of its body. Rusty watched in awe as his companion demonstrated its combat prowess. Gleam''s movements were fluid and precise and reminded him of his own poke-and-run tactics. With the slugs, he would usually bait out a forward charge before dodging and sinking his sword into the creature. His small friend seemed to have also taken a liking to this strategy, as it methodically dismantled their opponent, taking its time to ensure its own safety. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before the battle started, Rusty intended to jump in as he was fearful for the ant''s life. Gleam didn''t really have any strong attack like a power bite and his spells could only manifest light. It was also not the type of light that would scare off the monsters like his elemental spells. However, with tactics and a resolve Gleam was showing that it was capable of defeating a foe that was larger. The low-level centipede appeared to be thoroughly outmatched and each time it attempted to ensnare the smaller ant, Gleam deftly sidestepped its advances. Gleam even cleverly evaded the creature by ascending toward the ceiling, where the centipede''s fewer legs hindered its pursuit. As the battle reached its climax, Rusty witnessed something truly ingenious unfold before his visor. The monster''s larger body was flipped around by the smaller ant. Once its softer underbelly was exposed, the tunnel they were fighting in was turned red. Rusty was surprised at the ferocity that his friend was showing, it didn''t show any fear or care about its own safety. It seemed to have identified that this was the chance for victory and took it. To no surprise, the centipede monster was unwilling to meet its demise and began thrashing about wildly. In response, Gleam clung tenaciously to its lengthy body, maneuvering itself toward the creature''s head from below. Gleam initiated its assault by driving its mandibles deep into the other monster, displaying remarkable tenacity to hold on. Despite the creature''s violent thrashing and attempts to dislodge the ant by slamming it into the ground, Gleam refused to release its grip. With a final surge of strength, Gleam delivered a series of rapid bites to the centipede''s vulnerable underside. The creature''s thrashing grew weaker with each strike until finally, it collapsed to the ground with a defeated hiss. Gleam, panting but victorious, stood atop the fallen monster, its tiny form showing wounds but still victorious. You have gained +3 experience points. After getting the notification from the system, it became clear that it was over. Rusty was about to rush to his friend''s aid but it was clear that Gleam could handle itself. For some reason, he couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride at his companion''s remarkable display of courage and skill. Then to make things even better, after bringing up the status screen, Gleam''s level had reached the maximum and it was time for an evolution. "The Demon Lord was right¡­ I can select the evolution! Well done Gleam! You are the best!" His ant companion skittered over while being covered in various colored insect liquids. It didn''t seem that it liked eating the other monster''s flesh as while returning, most of it was spit out onto the ground. Rusty couldn''t hold back his curiosity and instantly examined the evolutionary window that he was presented with and was surprised by one of the choices. Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant [ Insectoid ] A direct evolution of the rare Minuscule Gleaming Mana. This monster, instead of using a larger body for combat, focuses on casting spells. Lesser Myrm Ant Queen [ Insectoid ] A lesser Queen of the Myrm Ant species, once fully grown becomes immobile to produce their offspring. Lesser Myrm Ant Soldier [ Insectoid ] A larger variant of the Minuscule Myrm Ant Drone with a larger body and stronger bite. Usually spotted around a queen ant as a protector. When looking at the choices, he was taken aback by the possibility of turning his small friend into an Ant Queen. Rusty turned towards Gleam who was looking up at him while being confused and spoke out. "Gleam, are you a lady?" This wasn''t really something Rusty cared about much but monsters seemed to have some type of internal identity that they followed through. It seemed that his new companion could transform into a matriarchal insect which indicated that he might be of this gender. "...!" It took Gleam a little bit to figure out what the bronze suit of armor was asking for but eventually she understood. Yes, Gleam performed the same dance whenever she was trying to confirm something. "Very well then, but I''m not sure if you should become a Queen Ant¡­ you wouldn''t be able to move then¡­" Gleam wiggled around as if trying to agree with Rusty''s words. There was really only one choice from the three that seemed interesting and thus, Gleam would turn into a Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant. After selecting the option with his metallic finger he was given another prompt to confirm the evolution process. Do you wish Gleam to evolve into a Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant? This choice will be permanent. "Yes!" With a resolute nod, Rusty confirmed the evolution process for Gleam. The tiny ant began to glow with a brilliant light and its form shimmered as it underwent its transformation. Rusty watched in awe as his companion''s body changed. Its size expanded ever so slightly before his metallic visor and the luster of its body seemed to intensify. However, Gleam was still rather small, probably still smaller than the average ant drone. "You look¡­different¡­" Before even looking at the status screen he noticed the change. Gleam''s head, once resembling that of other ants, had transformed. If he had to put it into words, Rusty would describe his companion as looking a lot cuter now than before. However, she was far from harmless. Almost immediately after the transformation was finished she started testing her newfound abilities, which in this case, were tied to spellcasting. Gleam raised her head, wiggling her antennae and mandibles in a rhythmic dance. Before long, a ball of pale blue energy materialized before her - a spell clearly different from the old one and notably more condensed. The new spell swirled and pulsated with a gentle glow before being propelled toward the lifeless centipede carcass. Upon impact, the creature''s remains were obliterated in a spectacular display of power. "Oh!" Rusty was stunned by the display of arcane might but before he could cheer, something strange happened. Gleam, who had just performed a powerful spell, started sprawling out on the ground. "Gleam¡­ are you okay? Hold on!" She was not dead or injured but once he looked at the ant''s mana pool he noticed the number was at zero. He could only chuckle as his friend suffered the same affliction that he did when he used up all of his MP. Quickly, Rusty retrieved one of the small mana crystals he kept within his inventory - the same kind Gleam liked to munch on. It became evident that he would likely need a far greater number of these crystals if he wished to utilize Gleam''s offensive spells effectively in the battles to come. However, this was quite a nice addition to his arsenal and now he would not need to fight alone. Chapter 34 - 32 – Spells. "Now Gleam, use it while I distract the Matriarch!" "!" The sound of an insect exoskeleton against bronze echoed as a large centipede monster species collided with Rusty''s shield. Gleam, now transformed into a Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant, stood behind the long monster, ready to unleash her newfound spellcasting abilities. Rusty engaged the Matriarch in combat by deflecting its strikes with his shield and counter-attacking with his sword. Meanwhile, Gleam focused her energy, conjuring a ball of vibrant blue mana between her antennae. As the Matriarch lunged forward with its jagged mandibles, Rusty sidestepped and delivered a swift strike to its exposed flank. The creature recoiled in pain, giving Gleam the opportunity she needed. With a flick of her antennae, she released a condensed bolt of mana. This bolt of energy crackled and streaked toward the Centipede Matriarch. The spell struck true, engulfing the centipede in a brilliant explosion of arcane energy. The Matriarch screeched in agony as the mana bolt tore through its chitinous armor and burrowed itself into its flesh. Rusty could tell that this was an opportunity to strike and seized it. His blade was engulfed in a radiant haze before he plunged it into the monster''s mouth. Then, with a resounding boom he discharged the radiant energy into the centipede''s throat. Immediately after, a cascading effect took place and the inside of the elongated monster started expanding. The energy injected through its mouth started exerting pressure from within and burst out through the wound Gleam had inflicted. The Centipede Matriarch thrashed and convulsed as the energy tore through its body, causing it to thrash wildly in pain. Rusty and Gleam watched as the creature''s movements gradually slowed until it finally collapsed to the ground, its body now lifeless. The cavern fell silent once more with only the crackling of residual mana energy dissipating into the air. You have gained +146 experience points. As the system''s sound echoed, the cave they inhabited remained silent. Sprawled out around them, were the bodies of defeated centipedes. They were futile in their attempts to aid their leader as it was thwarted by the combined might of the living armor and his ant companion. Despite their victory, the metallic figure didn''t appear entirely pleased with the situation. "?" "Oh, sorry Gleam, I was just thinking that it''s becoming a lot harder to level up¡­ Even after defeating so many of them, I''m not even level three¡­" "! ~" "Well, some of us can''t get levels that fast!" Gleam performed her happy dance as she was eager to showcase her achievement of reaching level four, while Rusty remained stagnant at level two. He attributed this to two factors: firstly, as an E-rank monster, he found that the F-rank opponents didn''t offer much experience. Secondly, he had to share all of his points with the ant, who seemed to be rapidly progressing through the levels. After attaining three additional levels, Gleam could cast her attacking spell without risking exhaustion. During the battles, Rusty discovered the difference between spells and skills. Skills proved superior mainly because they didn''t require concentration to cast and couldn''t be interrupted. Spells, on the other hand, appeared as inferior versions of skills, limited by various strenuous requirements. The main one, was a long casting time and the need to remain still in place, which could be deadly during battle. This was why he decided to take on the tanking role in this party of two. He would bring all the attention to himself, while Gleam aided him from afar. Nonetheless, Rusty couldn''t help but feel a hint of jealousy that he couldn''t perform spells. From what he knew, it was possible to learn these abilities not only through the means of leveling up. At least that was something his fragmented memories were telling him but he would need to ask his two guides to confirm it. "Hm, did you learn a new spell or skill?" Mana Bolt Spell The simplest attacking spell that produces a bolt of mana. The higher the Intelligence attribute, the higher the attacking power becomes. Dancing Lights Spell The caster can create up to four torch-sized lights. They will hover in the air for up to a minute and can be moved around. "Mana Bolt was the old one¡­ So Dancing Lights is the new one." Gleam did something akin to a nod before attempting to get the hang of the new spell. However, before she could produce the effect, Rusty decided to raise up his hand in protest. This wasn''t the first time she did this but his ant friend tended to forget about her mana pool. At the time being, it was rather small so he was sure that she would pass out after already having cast Mana Bolt before. "Don''t do it Gleam, you''ll go to sleep again!" "~?" "The mana crystals? Well, yes we could use them but we should conserve our resources! What if we get ambushed while we are going back, there could be other monsters lurking around!" "... >_< " Gleam communicated through movements of her antennae and mandibles, prompting Rusty to presume that the bonding contract had bestowed upon him some form of skill enabling communication between them. Despite the absence of audible words, information seemed to flow effortlessly into his bronze head. "Don''t worry Gleam, how about you see if we can find something here, maybe there will be some tin or copper here?" "!" Rusty pondered over what to do with the remains of the defeated monsters. It seemed wasteful to leave them lying dead on the ground, destined to decompose without purpose. Some parts looked interesting, like the monster''s large jaw that could even damage his armor. He couldn''t shake the feeling that they held some value, although he wasn''t certain what. A decision was made to ask one of his guides for some advice and this time around, it was the hero''s turn. Thus, while Gleam scoured the surroundings for mineral deposits, Rusty patiently waited until his MP recharged to a certain point. Then when the time was right he spent the points required for the skill to activate. Once again, the orb of light materialized before his visor, casting a radiant glow that illuminated the whole underground cave. "I''m out?" The hero was a bit confused while looking around but quickly realized that he was still just a spirit tied to a living armor. Rusty could hear him sighting before posing a question. "Can I help you with something Rusty?" "Indeed, hero. I seek your guidance regarding the remains of these defeated monsters. They seem to possess some value, but I am uncertain how to utilize them." The hero pondered for a moment before responding to the question that he was compelled to answer. "Well, Rusty¡­ They are probably useless to a mons¡­ being like you." "They are? But I think they should be good for something¡­ like those large mandibles or those poisonous claws?" The monster''s head was larger than on the smaller variants and it had a set of large poisonous claws. Rusty knew that poison could be used in various ways to help him achieve victory. "This species of centipede typically possesses a poisonous gland, but it appears you''ve already destroyed it. Without the gland, even if you were to stab someone with those claws, it wouldn''t be very effective. If you were an adventurer, you could likely sell some of the parts at the guild and then exchange them for something worthwhile... The poison gland could fetch a good price at an alchemist''s shop." "I could exchange them for metal?" "Not really, you''ll be dead before you even enter the city¡­ Do you think they would let a monster wander in?" "I guess ¡­ I killed a few adventurers? But I was just defending myself¡­" "Were you really? If I remember correctly, you prepared traps and even used poison against them. But, that doesn''t matter, monsters and people see each other as enemies. Don''t think too much about it." "I''m not sure that I understand¡­" Rusty was a bit perplexed. He was a monster, an armor with a mind of its own. He didn''t harbor any remorse about defeating those humanoid adversaries. However, he also didn''t feel that they necessarily needed to be enemies. Since forming a bond with Gleam, it seemed that cooperation was indeed a possibility. "Could you be growing a¡­ no that''s impossible, you''re just a monster like the other ones." "Growing a what?" "It doesn''t matter but if you have to, with the inventory and warehouse now operational, you should be able to store some of the monster parts there. Then, if ever needed, you''ll be able to retrieve them." The hero seemed to want to tell him something but he quickly changed the conversation and Rusty wasn''t that interested in prying. Instead, he focused on the monster parts that were seemingly gatherable. Previously he assumed that he would only be able to retrieve metallic parts. There was no reason to fill out his empty warehouse if it was a possibility, perhaps later he would have a place to use some of these parts. "What should I keep? What are the best parts?" "That''s usually the fangs and claws of a monster, anything that looks sharp or sturdy is probably worth something¡­ Besides that, you''ll probably want the monster core, that''s usually the most important part from a monster." "A core, just like mine?" "Yes, you''ll find it somewhere inside a monster''s body, they usually only start appearing in monsters of E-rank and above. Don''t ask me where though, it''s usually in the head but the area can vary." Rusty glanced at the dead monster with its numerous legs sprawled out. Cutting through them all seemed like a chore, but he didn''t appear to be in a hurry for anything. However, as he prepared to start cutting, the Hero orb called out to him. "Can I go now?" "You wish to go?" "Yes, I think I''ve answered your question." "..." There were quite big differences between the white and black balls of light. The Demon King seemed to want to stay longer and talk. Rusty wasn''t sure about trusting him fully but he was unable to tell lies which fixed this issue. On the other hand, the hero seemed less amused by the situation, showing a reluctance to remain. It appeared as though he had reasons for not wanting to be there or just didn''t like his current situation of being a monster''s underling. "I still need one thing answered, you seem to know more about this system and inventories than the demon king!" "Yes, it was one of my blessings, It''s not something just anyone can have." "Great, then can I do something about this?" Before releasing the hero from his guide work, Rusty pulled out a knife. It was the same one that he had made as his first creation. The hero glanced at the blade and instantly could tell that something was off. "It looks to be chipped in a few areas." Rusty nodded as this was the crux of his problem, his weapons were deteriorating. "I knew you''d be able to tell!" "Sure, so what did you want to know about it?" "I was wondering if there is a way to sharpen it again, I''m not able to make a grinding wheel nor can I make whetstones¡­" The bronze weaponry and tools weren''t the strongest and all of them were slowly dulling. It was the same with his sword and even shield which already had a few dents. While he could make new ones with bronze, it felt like a waste of resources. "I''m not sure if I can help you with that, without a proper smithy and tools, it will be impossible to repair those weapons. Eventually, they will break." "Is there really no way? Even when they break¡­ shouldn''t I be able to melt them back into bronze?" Rusty had become knowledgeable about the crafting process. In theory, he should be able to melt some of the bronze items he created to make new bronze ingots from them. Even if he had a large quantity of them now, this could always change. "Sure, but you''ll need access to the smelter inside of the Soul Forge but I don''t think you can enter it at this time¡­ at least not yet?" The hero paused as if there was a possibility of this changing and Rusty caught on to that. "Yet? Does that mean that I will be able to?" "Perhaps¡­ I''m not sure. This Soul Forge is different, it''s much larger than the one I had¡­ but the possibility is there¡­" "So you''re telling me, that there is a chance?" "Maybe, if you evolve further and have enough mana." It all started making sense. Rusty started assuming that just like the Call Guide skill, one that allows him entrance to the Soul Forge could exist. Maybe if he became stronger, eventually the path would become open and he would be able to restore his deteriorating gear at a later date. "Thank you, Hero." "Good, can I go now?" "Sure¡­ but are you feeling fine? You sound¡­ what''s the word¡­ sad?" "Sad? I''m not sad¡­ just having a hard time processing this situation¡­" "Processing?" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It means to stomach something¡­ I guess you don''t have one¡­ It means to accept an unpleasant occurrence or feeling." "Oh, do you want to talk about it?" The hero orb didn''t know how to respond but just gave out a sigh. "I''ve fallen so low that a monster is feeling bad for me¡­ No, it''s fine Rusty, I just need some time alone." "Fine, you can leave then, I''ll call you when I need some advice later!" "Thanks." The orb of light replied and soon after the skill calling it here had ended. With the hero''s departure, Rusty turned his attention back to the task at hand. Gleam had returned from her exploration, without finding anything of interest. It didn''t seem that this place had any ore deposits or crystals they could use. Gathering the monster materials turned out to be relatively straightforward. Rusty simply needed to disassemble the monster by cutting it apart, and then, by spending SP, he could transfer the materials directly into his warehouse. The cost varied depending on the size of the object he wished to collect. Additionally, he could bundle certain parts together, such as the centipede legs, taking three at a time for just one SP. Rusty disassembled the monster with the use of his bronze knife and sword. Slicing through the tough chitinous exoskeleton presented a challenge, but it offered an opportunity to learn something new. As he dissected the creature, he stumbled upon the damaged poison gland with its contents spilling out. Fortunately, his metallic form rendered him immune to such toxins. Meanwhile, Gleam who was ever eager to assist, utilized her now enhanced mandibles to gnaw off the monster''s legs, which Rusty then deposited into his inventory for later use. After they harvested enough materials and his SP was drained, he found himself covered in various monster liquids. Gleam, who had a sense of smell Rusty lacked, kept her distance, which saddened him slightly. Soon, the two companions ventured outside of the cave system and made their way back to the main watering hole. The once bustling place was now eerily deserted, with three species eradicated in Rusty''s pursuit for strength. Only the largest of them remained and he wondered if their leader would pose a bigger threat than the trio he already defeated. "!!!" "Fine, I''ll clean myself off!" Rusty found himself getting pressured into taking a bath. During their walk back home Gleam was insistent on gnashing her mandibles in disapproval. Fortunately, since the watering hole was no longer used by anyone, he could easily submerge himself to cleanse his armor of all the lingering monster residue. Only after Gleam approved did he leave the watering hole and soon both of them would go after their last target. Once that was done with, Rusty intended to set his metallic sights onto other things and perhaps soon, he could emerge back into the dungeon he fell from¡­ Chapter 35 - 33 – One To Go. "These guys are tough¡­" An angry suit of armor gazed grimly at his chipped blade. Before him stood a large monster, its thick chitinous armor proving an annoying barrier. Even when his sword was at its sharpest, it failed to slash or pierce the creature, leaving only shallow wounds instead. While it was conceivable to breach the beast''s defenses eventually, it would undoubtedly come at the cost of the blade''s integrity. "The only real way to do it with this sword¡­ is to go for the gaps!" Yet, there existed a method to effectively wield his sword against the creature. There were distinct gaps in this natural armor between the monster insect limbs. Through his short life, he had learned a crucial lesson: every adversary possessed a vulnerability, a weak point waiting to be exploited. Even his own sturdy form would crumble instantly if someone targeted the core concealed within his helmet. "Gleam, distract the other one while I take care of this bigger one!" " (£Þ£ö£Þ) " The white ant scuttled towards the ceiling and produced a light show. Another beetle looked up to it but was unable to do anything to the faraway foe. While it was distracted, Rusty was able to focus on his target. The beetle he was facing was indeed large and sturdy, but it did have one weakness, it was rather slow. As the monstrous creature lunged forward with its razor-sharp mandibles, Rusty quickly sidestepped the attack. With precision honed through previous battles, he activated the Power Thrust skill and drove his blade into the vulnerable gap in the creature''s armor, drawing spurts of crimson blood. The monster recoiled in agony and attempted to pivot and retaliate, but Rusty''s agility was far above it. He remained within the creature''s blind spot by circling to the other side and relentlessly jabbed at it, each strike calculated and precise. T The beetle, now weakened and disoriented, thrashed about wildly, unable to discern Rusty''s movements. Gleam, observing from above, had cast the Dancing Lights spell. At the moment, she was only able to produce two, but this was enough. Each one danced around a beetle''s head, confusing it with a dazzling display of flickering lights. The monster''s other weakness showed: even though the light didn''t hurt them, a too bright environment caused momentary blindness. His opponent stumbled, giving Rusty the opening he needed to deliver the finishing blow. With a final, decisive thrust, Rusty plunged his sword deep into the creature''s open mouth. The beetle let out a deafening screech of agony before collapsing to the ground, twitching feebly as its life faded away. One was down and the other was quickly dispatched by the monster duo as well. As the battle concluded, Rusty and Gleam stood victorious amidst the fallen monsters. Two beetles had been slain by them and it was not such a simple matter. They were sturdier than any other insect within this cave system and even though they were sluggish, the lack of space to maneuver made up for it. Rusty looked at his chipped blade while Gleam, on the other hand, performed her happy dance. Her level had risen again and she was now close to advancing further. " \\(£Þ?£Þ)/ " "I''m happy for you but¡­ I can''t keep replacing my weapons." While he had gathered many materials they would not last forever. His current skills only allowed him to competently use swords and bows, which were not very proficient against these foes. His sword would eventually chip and the arrows would just bounce off the hard upper shell. Even tipping the monsters around didn''t help as they were armored on both sides. Only jabbing the weak spots was an option and other kinds of weapons were better for such actions. "Hm¡­ if I remember correctly, then a spear would be better for this type of monster, or perhaps something that can puncture the shell in one go¡­" While inside of the Soul Forge, he had crafted weapons like spears and axes. The issue with swords lay in the surface area they covered while slashing. Upon striking a monster, the force would disperse along the entire blade''s side. Thus, it would often chip when unable to cleanly slash through in one stroke. Swords proved effective against softer-bodied monsters like slugs but faltered against armored opponents. Rusty, being a living armor, understood this well, as his body was highly resistant to slashing damage. To outright pierce through such an armor he would need something like an axe that was heavy and had a smaller bladed area. Concentrating the force in a smaller region made it much easier to pierce through. Then there were blunt weapons like maces, whose greater weight could soften the outer shell and cause internal damage through blunt force. Rusty understood this, but he couldn''t easily change his approach as he lacked proficiency in any of those weapons. "Once I''m out of here, I should try absorbing more weapon-related skills¡­" While the Demon King had told him not to get too many skills and focus on one thing, he thought otherwise. It appeared that there were far too many varied opponents in this world, and to defeat them all, it was better if he could exploit their weaknesses. With easy access to a myriad of weapons that he could customize, Rusty believed in versatility as a key to victory. "I should get a polearm¡­" There was one weapon type that he had heard of and wished to learn: the multipurpose polearm. This versatile weapon could encompass the functionalities of spears, axes, and even war hammers. The combinations seemed boundless, and Rusty couldn''t wait to give it a try. However, first, he needed to deal with the beetle monsters and find his way out of this area. He could only absorb skills from humanoid monsters that he could fit his helmet over and there were none of them here. "Three down, one left to go¡­ I wonder if it will be stronger than the other ones¡­" The creatures he was fighting now were at the apex of F-rank and it showed. Even he who was an E-rank could see himself getting overwhelmed by too many of them. If a few rammed him against a wall, even his armored body would bend. "Let''s go, Gleam!" " ( ????? )? " Rusty and Gleam pressed forward with a sense of purpose, driven to grow stronger and embark on new adventures. They were aware that their final opponent, the leader of the beetle monsters, awaited them somewhere ahead, and they couldn''t wait to face them in battle. The passages here were wider than usual, with fewer monsters occupying them. While these lesser foes posed little threat, the powerful adversary at the end could potentially surpass even Rusty''s strength. However, fear was not what he felt and instead, he was filled with excitement. Testing his abilities against something that could fight back was far more interesting than defeating weaker foes. With each step, Rusty and Gleam drew closer to their final confrontation. Along the way, they continued to face off against some of the beetle monsters. Just like before, they were slayed by his sword which continued to deteriorate. However, with time a strange occurrence filled the cavern, the attacks just stopped and it seemed that these insects had retreated. "Hm? Are they running away? That''s odd, could they be planning something?" " ©´(£þ¥Ø£þ)©° " "You think they are just scared? Perhaps but it would be better if we are careful, the other types never stopped coming¡­" Gleam didn''t seem perturbed by the way the insects were acting but Rusty knew better. His small friend hadn''t tasted defeat yet and hadn''t been around for long either. It was understandable that she thought nothing could stop their advancement. Rusty, on the other hand, had already tasted defeat on many occasions. He knew it was better not to underestimate an opponent and that, just like him, other creatures could potentially be capable of setting traps. "Hold on, Gleam, something isn''t right¡­" Eventually, both of them arrived at a spacious tunnel leading into a large cavern. Strange noises emanated from within, which Rusty identified as potential opponents. While he lacked tracking skills, there were obvious tracks on the rocky ground, larger than those of regular beetles. It was probable that inside lurked the final boss of this underground area, and he wasn''t alone. "Hm¡­ this could be troublesome, it would be better if I didn''t have to face multiple ones at the same time¡­" " ! (????? )? " "You want to help and lure them out, Gleam? Are you sure? It could be dangerous¡­" " ?( ?? ? ?? )? " Gleam bounced around as she was trying to show how much she had grown. Her level was already nine and probably after this area was cleared it would reach the maximum. Rusty couldn''t deny Gleam''s enthusiasm, nor could he ignore her eagerness to aid him in battle. Despite his concerns for her safety, he knew that they needed to face this final challenge together. "Alright, Gleam, let''s do this. Just be careful and don''t take any unnecessary risks." Rusty glanced around, his metal head steaming as he formulated a strategy to keep his companion safe. Soon, he had devised a plan and quickly disclosed it to Gleam. "Got it?" " (????? )? " "Good, then go!" With a confident chirp, Gleam scuttled ahead into the cavern, her tiny form disappearing into the darkness. Rusty didn''t follow after but instead stuck closely to the darkness where his form wouldn''t be spotted. It was obvious that multiple insects were waiting inside the cavern, and if they saw him, the plan of luring them out would fail. Soon, he could see lights emanating from the cavern, and in no time, Gleam came running out with a large entourage behind her. Rusty remained hidden and just as he expected, the monsters ignored his presence. He had learned that his living armor form was quite difficult to discover if he didn''t move. It appeared to other creatures like any other inanimate object made from bronze and only if something approached him or he moved did they realize that he was a living being. Taking advantage of this, Rusty waited until all the monsters ran past him before springing into action and darting into the cavern. There, just as he expected, he saw the beetle leader, who was more than twice the size of its kin. Classification: Lesser Giant Rhinoceros Beetle L3 [ E ] Type: Insectoid There it was, the leader of the beetles. The Lesser Giant Rhinoceros Beetle loomed menacingly in the center of the cavern, its massive horn gleaming in the dim light. Its thick exoskeleton was marked with scars and scratches, evidence of countless battles it had won. Rusty looked at his foe''s classification, and his metallic heart sank. It was a full E-rank monster, not one with a minus like him. The attribute advantage was fully on its side. However, it was too late to back off now. Gleam had successfully lured away the other insects. There was no telling how much time he had before they realized the trick and returned. Before that could happen he needed to defeat this strong foe and with the help of his tactics, he hoped to just do so. While his enemy was seemingly stronger, it had one flaw that he could exploit. "Here I am, what are you waiting for?" Rusty smacked his bronze shield with the side of his blade that he had not yet restored. The moment the sounds echoed within the cavern, the monster beetle let out a low, guttural growl, its massive mandibles clacking together menacingly. It charged forward with surprising speed for its size, its horn lowered to impale Rusty on its sharp tip. However, Rusty was prepared. As the beetle closed the distance between them, he sidestepped at the last moment and narrowly avoided the deadly charge. With the beetle momentarily off-balance, Rusty seized the opportunity to strike. He lunged forward, his sword glinting in the dim light as he aimed for the joints in the beetle''s exoskeleton. His strike was precise and calculated and aimed at the same weak point he had identified during his battles. However, although his sword tip managed to connect with the exact spot he was aiming for, it was unable to pierce it. "It''s hard¡­" His blade, which he expected to at least pierce into the joint to draw blood, bent after sinking in no more than a centimeter. He had used all of his might, causing the blade to bend and eventually snap in half. Quickly, he retreated a few steps and activated his system window. There, he accessed his stash tab to swiftly switch in another sword that he had previously prepared for this occasion. "This might be a battle of attrition¡­ I wonder what will give in faster, my blades or your armor!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty brandished his new sword and the battle resumed. The monster wasn''t too intelligent and had a simple attack pattern, yet its brute strength and durability made it a powerful opponent. Rusty danced around the cavern, dodging the beetle''s relentless attacks and striking back whenever he saw an opening. It was a true battle of attrition as he continuously struck the same spot as before. As the battle raged on, his new blade began to show signs of wear and tear. The beetle''s tough exoskeleton proved to be a tough barrier, and even with his skills and tactics, Rusty struggled to inflict any significant damage. However, he refused to give up. With each strike, he chipped away at the beetle''s defenses, slowly but surely wearing it down. The cavern echoed with the clashing of metal against chitin as Rusty and the Giant Rhinoceros Beetle engaged in their fierce duel. During the exchange, more blades were lost and chipped than he expected. However, just as he was contemplating a tactical retreat the joint finally gave in. He was able to plunge quite a length of his blade into the monster''s body and finally, it was time to end this. "Elemental, Discharge!" Rusty exclaimed his attack''s name inside his mind as his blade turned into a haze of white light. Just as before, he aimed to inject his attack into the monster''s body and make it explode from the inside. However, while the light spread, the monster didn''t seem to be stopping. It turned its large head and smacked Rusty away with the help of its horn. His metallic body crashed into the cavern wall and dented upon impact. His helmet rattled and he could feel the vibrations flowing into his monster core which was slightly damaged in the process. The beetle, now free from his attack, turned its attention back to him and charged forth once more. He was momentarily stunned by the crack produced on his monster core. This was not something he had prepared himself for and it seemed that he would be impaled on the monster''s horn. Fortunately, he was not alone as a blue bolt of energy appeared from the side and connected with the monster''s side. Gleam, who had led away the other monsters, had returned from within the tunnel and climbed up the wall. From there, she released her most powerful spell, which left her a bit dizzy. While not inflicting much damage, it gave Rusty enough time to gather his strength. He dodged to the side as the monster plunged its head into the cave wall and became stuck. "If light isn''t enough¡­ then how about darkness!" His blade remained lodged inside of the monster''s joint and he just needed to grab it again for another elemental discharge. Light was his usual choice as it had proven deadly against these creatures, but darkness was also in his repertoire. Without much thought, he activated his skill, mixing it with the residual light from the previous skill activation. "Huh?" The dark haze mixed with the residual light and a chaotic reaction took place. A massive elemental explosion erupted from within the beetle''s body, engulfing it in a swirling vortex of energy. Rusty attempted to shield himself from the chaos, but his body was engulfed in the twilight that ensued. The entire cavern shook from the eruption of magical energies, causing even the ceiling to collapse¡­ Chapter 36 - 34 – Gleam To The Rescue. A bewildered ant skittered about while charging into a cloud of dust. A massive explosion just rocketed the entire place with her companion within. Amidst the debris and swirling dust, it was hard to see what had happened. However, after a moment of chaos, the dust settled, revealing nothing resembling bronze armor. Where a large beetle monster once stood, there was now nothing more than a gaping hole filled with debris. It seemed as if the two monsters that had clashed had been evaporated by the strange twilight that ensued. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) " Panic struck Gleam as she searched through the rubble, desperately calling out for her companion. Rusty was nowhere to be found amidst the wreckage. She scuttled around frantically, her tiny form darting between rocks and debris, hoping to find any sign of him. As she searched a strange feeling started to sink in of the possibility that her companion could have died. While their adventure had not been long, he was the only thing that she knew within this strange world and fear gripped her insect heart. But just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a faint glimmer caught her eye. Further away from the blast zone, among the rubble, she spotted a piece of metal sticking out. It resembled the bronze that Rusty was composed of, so she hurried over to investigate. There, partially buried beneath a pile of rocks, lay Rusty''s battered and dented helmet. Gleam''s heart skipped a beat as she carefully unearthed it, revealing the familiar bronze surface beneath. She poked the hamlet with her antennae while still panicking as she desperately tried to wake her companion. " (¨®©n¨°?) " Gleam gently prodded the helmet, hoping for any signs of life from her bronze friend. Rusty was not a creature made of flesh and bone, but there were some indications that he was still alive. His monster core was still intact but cracked in a few places. Then, thanks to her mana sense, she was able to feel a faint amount of magical energy emanating from the helmet, not something a lifeless object would possess. After making this realization she felt relieved and quickly began to carefully dig Rusty out from beneath the rubble. It was not an easy task for the small white ant, but with unwavering stubbornness, she started yanking the larger rocks to clear the way. Luckily, there wasn''t much to dig through, and eventually, she was able to free his metallic head from under the rocks. However, this was not the end of their troubles as some trouble lurked close by. " (O_O)! " While the beetle Rusty had faced off against had been defeated, they had not cleared out the entirety of their foes. Many of the lesser monsters of the same type still remained and had finally decided to return to the main cavern where the explosion occurred. They instantly noticed the white ant and the metallic helmet with it. Instantly, they began to advance, menacingly clacking their mandibles. Gleam realized the danger instantly and quickly started lifting the bronze helmet; she needed to escape. With all her strength, she hoisted it onto her back and tried balancing it with her limbs. This was not an easy feat but somehow she managed to balance it. Soon after she scurried away as fast as her small limbs could carry her. The monsters could sense that their prey was escaping and gave chase. Their lumbering forms crashed through the rubble as they pursued Gleam and the helmet she was holding. Despite her size, Gleam was surprisingly nimble and darted between rocks and debris with surprising agility. She led the pursuing monsters on a frantic chase through the cavern while her monster heart pounded with conviction. She did not look back but the clattering of mandibles and the thudding of heavy insect legs was right behind her. It urged her to run even faster but things weren''t looking good. As she raced through the darkness the sounds continued to pick up. It was painfully obvious that the large beetles were starting to catch up. Normally, she was able to outrun them or just climb up to the ceiling to avoid their attacks. The problem was Rusty''s helmet; it slowed her down tremendously, and it was clear that she wouldn''t make it back to their lair at this pace. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She started looking around for any potential areas she could escape to. Luck seemed to be on her side as Gleam spotted a small crevice in the cavern wall up ahead. Without hesitation, she darted towards it, hoping that it would provide a means of escape. The pursuing monsters were gaining on her, and this seemed like the only path to safety. However, just as she was about to sprint towards the narrow opening, a large beetle appeared from a different side passage to block her way. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) " With no other options available, Gleam skidded to a halt, her antennae twitching nervously as she sized up the new threat. The massive beetle, larger than any she had encountered before, loomed menacingly in front of her, its sharp mandibles clicking together ominously. Gleam knew that she couldn''t outrun this creature, nor could she hope to defeat it in direct combat. But she refused to give up. There was still some hope left, and she charged forward. Perhaps she would be unable to reach the crevice, but there were other tunnels nearby. If she could slip past them, her escape could continue until she found a safe spot to hide. Thus, Gleam dashed towards the massive beetle, hoping to evade its snapping mandibles. However, to her shock, the helmet she was trying to protect was struck and flew up into the air, right in the direction of the pursuing group of beetle monsters. " (¨®©n¨°) !" She could do nothing but watch as her friend flew in the direction of another monster''s mouth, which was opening. The trajectory was set, and there was nothing she could do about it. However, while in mid-air, something strange happened. There was a reaction within the helmet, and something emerged from it. Before the monster could devour it, a metallic hand shot out, delivering a smack to its face instead. The hit was enough to force the monster to retreat and the transforming helmet fell to the side. Gleam wasn''t sure how but her friend was restoring his metallic body and more of it began to emerge before her eyes. Things were happening too fast for her to comprehend, but she could sense a surge of magical energy emanating from Rusty. The bronze armor began to reshape and reform itself, pieces of metal knit themselves by some unseen force. The transformation was quick but not quick enough. The monster beetles weren''t willing to wait for their enemy to restore himself and attempted to halt this process. She knew what needed to be done and quickly let forth a loud screech to get everyone''s attention. The piercing screech echoed through the cavern, drawing the attention of both friend and foe alike. The beetles instantly disregarded the strange piece of armor that landed nearby and instead lunged at the white ant. As the monsters closed in on her, Gleam remained defiant. She danced and dodged around their attacks, her movements swift and graceful. Despite their size and strength, the beetles struggled to keep up with her agility. While she was capable of casting spells, they proved ineffective in a direct confrontation like this one. Her mind needed to stay focused on gathering mana, an impossible task during such a frantic battle. Gleam displayed a valiant effort to protect her companion, but she was nearing the end of her endurance. Running through the caverns had depleted most of her stamina. There was no way for her to continue dodging and weaving around these beetles indefinitely, and inevitably, they closed in on her. The largest one charged forward in a blind rage, its mandibles spread wide and aimed directly at her head. Things looked bleak for the small white ant that had run out of stamina points. Once depleted, she found herself unable to move. The large adversaries weren''t stopping and she would surely get chomped by their sharp mandibles. But just as the monstrous beetle was about to deliver the final blow, someone appeared to intercept it. It was Rusty, his body now restored and grabbing onto the monster as it attempted to charge forward. There was something different about him, his body exuded a strange gray flash of light before his body seemingly sunk into the ground. Gleam was aware of her companion''s fighting style and this was not something that he usually did. Despite appearing sturdy on the outside, he lacked mass within his hollow body. Ordinarily, the sheer bulk of these creatures would knock him back, yet somehow he resisted it. The sight before her was rather vivid: the monster had been halted by his sheer strength, and now the beetle was being lifted into the air. The beetle struggled against Rusty''s grasp, its heavy form thrashing wildly as it attempted to break free. However, Rusty grip was firm and Gleam could see the chitinous insect armor being dented by those metallic fingers. Then with a sudden flipping motion, the monster was hurled into the air and landed on its back. One of its companions rushed to aid the struggling beetle, charging just like before. Its mouth opened wide, but before it could close its mandibles, they were seized by the metallic armor. Just as before, the insect struggled, attempting to use its body weight to push forward, only to have its chompers ripped straight off. Blood gushed everywhere as the monster retreated, only to be met with a metallic fist to its face. There didn''t seem to be a need for any finesse this time as Gleam watched Rusty tear through the beetles with sheer strength and violence. Even when they attempted to ram him into the walls, he remained in place, resembling some type of giant, immovable boulder. His newly created body ended up with dents and scratches, but this couldn''t hinder him. Those metallic fists continued to connect with the monster''s heads, and some were even torn off. " (O_O) " Gleam couldn''t help being impressed by Rusty''s display of power. Monsters that she couldn''t handle by herself had been torn to shreds before her eyes. Within this admiration was also a hint of jealousy and longing. Just like Rusty she wanted to get stronger and by the look of things, that moment was coming closer as her level had reached ten. ****** As the last of the monstrous beetles fell to the ground defeated, Rusty stood amidst the wreckage. His restored body had suffered some minor damage but it didn''t matter, it was all over now. He looked at the small companion ant that had saved him and could only feel gratitude. "Gleam, you saved me¡­ thank you." " (?? ? ??) " Gleam responded with her usual happy dance, though slightly more sluggish than before. Rusty could tell that his little friend had been through a lot, and he noticed the damage to her body as well. Her white body was filled with scratches and covered in the blood of the other monsters. "Let us head back for now, we will take care of the rest after we have rested. How about you rest up for now?" While he didn''t get tired, Gleam certainly did and he knew that it was better for her to restore her lost health first. The boss beetle had been defeated so there was no point rushing things. Thus, he leaned down to pick Gleam up and placed her on his metal shoulder. Just as she had carried him through here when he was only a helmet, he was now ready to return the favor. "Oh?" Shortly after picking her up, Rusty felt Gleam relaxing into sleep. It became clear that she was truly exhausted and had been holding it in before. While returning to their lair Rusty attempted to recall what led to his body becoming destroyed. For some reason that he didn''t fully grasp, his skill went berserk and blew him up along with the rhinoceros beetle. Only thanks to some quick thinking was he able to not die. Rusty noticed something strange happening with the light and dark elements. Before chaos ensued, he managed to take off his head and threw it into the distance. While his body was engulfed in the blast, his core and helmet miraculously survived. For a moment he had been knocked unconscious, probably due to his monster core suffering some damage. Not long after he woke up on top of Gleam''s back who was running away from their enemies. From there, he accessed his inventory screen and quickly used up six bronze ingots to restore his body. One for each limb and two for his chest area were needed for a full recovery. Normally, he would have also summoned a sword to aid him against the large beetles, but a new skill had been granted to him that leveled the playing field. Weight Control Active Skill Grants the ability to control one''s weight. Thanks to this skill, he was able to momentarily alleviate one of his biggest weaknesses: his lack of mass. Once he was just as heavy as the monster beetles, they were rather easy to dispatch. His stats surpassed theirs, and tearing out their body parts wasn''t that difficult. The only real downside to the skill was that after an initial expenditure of almost half his mana pool, it continued to use up his MP. "It seems that the best skills come at a price¡­ " He wasn''t the only one who had achieved a new breakthrough. Gleam had also reached her highest level and gained a new skill. She had used it during the fight to get the attention of the beetle monsters, producing a loud, audible screech. Startling Howl Active Skill Emit a piercing sound that can startle and disorient targets. It was a nice addition to Gleam''s arsenal as she didn''t have many instantaneous skills but only spells. This skill didn''t startle the monsters for long but it gave him some time to reform himself. His head was now filled with ideas on how to incorporate their new skills into their combat strategies. However, his deliberation was interrupted as he remembered that Gleam was now level ten. "Oh, I wonder if Gleam can turn into something even more powerful!" His friend had just recently turned into an F-rank monster but it was already time for her to evolve further. As Rusty pondered Gleam''s potential evolution, he realized that they needed a safe place to rest and recuperate before any further developments could occur. With Gleam fast asleep on his shoulder, he continued to make his way back to their joint lair. The journey back was thankfully uneventful as the corridors once filled with dangerous insects were now devoid of any life. He had successfully cleared out the area of all adversaries and it was now time to move on¡­ Chapter 37 - 35 – Sleepy Ant. "We are back and it''s all thanks to you Gleam!" " (?? ? ??) " Rusty and Gleam returned triumphant to their crystal cave lair, marking the culmination of their domination of the underground cave system and the defeat of the last major threat to Rusty''s existence. The battle had been intense, with the beetle proving to be their strongest opponent yet. However, it ultimately succumbed to the combined might of the unique duo: living armor and small ant. As Gleam performed her happy dance, Rusty couldn''t help but notice something amiss. Her enthusiasm seemed subdued, and it was obvious why. Gleam had pushed her small body to its limits, bearing visible scratches and wounds. Unlike Rusty, who could move through magic, Gleam was a flesh-and-blood being, susceptible to pain, exhaustion, and damage. While she could heal herself over time, it would take a while for her HP to fully regenerate. It was something alien to Rusty, who could live as just only a helmet. "You don''t have much HP to begin with¡­" " ( ¨C ? ¨C ) " S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You think that if you get some sleep, you''ll be fine? Does it work like that?" He wasn''t sure how other creatures regained their hit points but Gleam assured him that she would be fine after some rest. Rusty nodded at her claims and saw her move to a patch of glowing moss within their lair. She circled around it a few times before curling up and drifting off to sleep - a phenomenon unfamiliar to Rusty. He was a being that required no rest himself which left him with ample time for contemplation. While looking at his partner in crime, he took some time to check out her stats. After defeating so many monsters her level was already at maximum again. Rusty felt slightly jealous that Gleam was progressing so much faster than him but also knew that eventually, this pace would start to slow down. It seemed that along with each evolution, it became harder and harder to level up. Name: Gleam Classification: Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant [ F- ] L10 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 7/17 Magic Points [MP] 17/27 Stamina Points [SP] 16/19 Strength 13 [ F - ] Agility 20 [ F - ] Dexterity 10 [ F - ] Constitution 12 [ F - ] Intelligence 21 [ F - ] Wisdom 22 [ F - ] Willpower 17 [ F - ] Durability F - "I wonder what she can evolve into now. I didn''t have the time to look at the options." Lesser Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] A direct evolution of the rare Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant. This monster further focuses on magical attacks while retaining a small body. Lesser Myrm Ant Queen [ Insectoid ] A lesser Queen of the Myrm Ant species, once fully grown becomes immobile to produce their offspring. Lesser Horned Myrm Ant Soldier [ Insectoid ] A larger variant of the Lesser Myrm Ant Soldier. Its body isn''t much larger but the horn it receives can be used as a mighty weapon. Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] A unique evolution of the Lesser Gleaming Mana Ant. This monster further focuses on magical attacks while retaining a small body covered in shining silver metal. With more choices available than before, Rusty initially focused on the first option. However, his attention was soon drawn to the appearance of the fourth one. After recalling his knowledge from the soul forge, Rusty understood that silver was also a metal. While it was not superior to his bronze body it was still probably more robust than an insectoid armor. For Gleam, it could potentially enhance her durability while retaining all the bonuses of the normal Lesser Magical Gleaming Ant variant and the spellcasting abilities that came with it. "This looks like the better option but¡­" Rusty looked at Gleam who was sleeping tightly. He was probably able to just select the option right now and let her transform into the next evolutionary stage but that didn''t feel right. As a monster, he knew that evolutions were important and he wanted to make sure Gleam had a say in the matter. After all, it was her life and her body that would be undergoing the transformation. "Gleam," Rusty gently called out to her from afar, the mechanics behind the thing called sleeping not really something he was familiar with. The ant didn''t react and even after a poke nothing seemed to change. "Hm¡­ does the status say anything?" After consulting the status screen, Rusty noticed something next to Gleam''s name. It resembled the status effects he had seen on some of his enemies when they were poisoned. However, instead of displaying a poisoned status, it simply read '' Hibernating sleep'' with an additional timer next to it. There were no timers on the enemy screens but this could have been just due to his identification skill not being high enough. Perhaps due to the bonding contract, he could see all of Gleam''s negative and positive status effects. "This hibernating sleep seems different from regular sleep. Perhaps it''s because she lost more than half of her HP" He wasn''t sure but it made some sense as he had never seen Gleam lose this much HP before. Probably once it was done, then all of her health and mana would be back to normal. This left him with some time on his hand before he could ask her for the next evolutionary option. "She should be safe here¡­ should I get rid of the remaining beetles? or just wait here?" The lair here was rather safe and he could see Gleam''s status screen even from a great distance. It was quite safe and since his arrival here none of the monsters dared to set foot in this place. The only potential threat were the humanoid adventurers which didn''t seem to have discovered this place yet. "It should be fine, her body is also really hard to spit with all these glowing crystals around!" He made the decision to engage in some self-leveling while his partner was out, considering that it was impossible to gain any further experience while already max leveled. With Gleam expected to remain asleep for another ten hours, Rusty took precautions to ensure her safety. He gathered several large boulders and strategically placed them around her sleeping spot, making it difficult for anyone to discover her slumber. Satisfied with the security of the area, he retrieved some bronze ingots he had previously made and was ready to finish the extermination. However, before leaving he stopped himself as there was one more thing he needed to do. "This place is great for using skills." Rusty found himself in a cave filled with mana crystals, providing him with ample resources to test his skills. With these crystals nearby, he could easily crush them to regain his MP whenever needed. After utilizing the weight control skill once after his revival, he was eager to further train in its use. This skill addressed one of his biggest weaknesses of being a hollow armor and not having much mass. However, this skill had a notable downside as it consumed a large amount of MP. First came an easy test of how long he could sustain the use of this skill before his mana reached a critical point. It required a lump sum of sixty MP to activate the skill, followed by a continuous drain of one point every two seconds. This left him with a skill that he could utilize for approximately two minutes before needing to cease, as further use would risk causing him to pass out from mana depletion. "Is there a way to increase my mana without an evolution? or will I have to rely on mana crystals¡­" Thanks to his stash tab, he could produce mana crystals that would allow him to prolong the skill further, but in a battle of attrition, it would eventually run out. He would need to strategically use this skill only at crucial moments or to catch his enemies off guard. One challenge he faced was the inability to spread out its use during combat. Canceling the skill would revert his weight back to normal, requiring another sixty MP to restart it. Therefore, it was more efficient to keep the skill activated, as it meant he would lose two minutes of it instantly. "Is there perhaps another way to use this skill, what if I try to focus on just one part instead of my whole body?" After a few uses, Rusty was quickly mastering his new skill. His experimentation with focusing the effect on a smaller area of his body proved successful. Upon activation, he could feel his right arm growing heavier. As the weight increased, maintaining balance and control over his movements became challenging. Eventually, he was even forced to the ground by the sheer weight, rendering this method of using the skill seemingly pointless. However, there was one silver lining: it did not consume the same amount of MP as before. "Hm¡­ I wonder¡­ could I use it like this?" Rusty performed one more test, swinging his sword forward. He activated the weight control skill just before his blade descended, and the added weight significantly increased the power behind the strike. However, it had one major downside: Rusty''s body was pulled forward with the strike, especially when he only increased the weight of his sword arm. This was a factor he needed to carefully account for in combat situations. "I bet if I activate power slash with it and maybe even elemental discharge, it could devastate even a well-armored foe!" This special combination attack had its merits when fighting an opponent that couldn''t move out of the way, or was rather sluggish. If timed correctly, it could probably devastate even the toughest of foes. However, it required precise timing and coordination, which might prove challenging in the heat of battle. Rusty made a mental note to practice this combination further to perfect its execution. After crushing another mana crystal to replenish his MP, Rusty continued with more tests. He experimented with different methods to increase his weight and discovered that if he focused the skill on his lower body, he wouldn''t lose his balance as much. He could envision himself bracing for impact with just his legs, but he remained uncertain if his upper body wouldn''t simply fly off into the distance during a genuine confrontation. "I can also throw it but¡­" At the end of his trials, Rusty even increased the weight of one of his gauntlets and attempted to throw it at the wall. While the weight persisted on his body parts even when they were further away, propelling them forward proved to be a challenge. Despite having the Limb Control skill, using it to propel his fist forward didn''t seem to be an option. Any attempts resulted in slow movement, followed by the limb flopping down onto the ground. Perhaps in the future, as the skill level grew, it might become an option, but for now, it served primarily to retrieve his limbs rather than to use them for attacking. After several hours of training, Rusty felt satisfied with his progress. It was now time to pay the other beetles a visit. While his primary objective was to defeat any survivors before Gleam woke up, he was also there on a scouting mission. With fewer monsters left to threaten him and his partner, it was time to seek out new challenges elsewhere. Rusty understood that to grow stronger, he needed a steady supply of monsters to fight. Without them, his journey toward greatness would be impossible. As Rusty made his way through the caverns, he encountered a few straggling beetle monsters that had managed to avoid the earlier confrontation. However, they were no match for his strength and skills. With calculated strikes he took care of them and once his weight control ability was activated, their main advantage was not useless. After defeating the remaining beetles, Rusty took his time dissecting their bodies. He recalled the Hero''s instructions and still believed that perhaps in the future, these monster parts would prove useful. However, despite thoroughly searching the beetle lair upon his return, he regretfully couldn''t find the monster core of his latest enemy. The crater he created was astonishing, leaving almost nothing of the rhinoceros beetle behind. However, a part of its longhorn remained embedded in the wall a bit further away, and Rusty quickly deposited it into his inventory. Despite encountering a few attacks on his way to the beetle lair, Rusty found that the remaining insectoids had gathered around the spot where their leader was defeated. Their numbers were considerably smaller compared to the ants and centipedes, allowing him to dispatch them quickly However, even after vanquishing a sizable group of them, Rusty noticed that his experience bar didn''t increase much. It became clear to him that fighting monsters of a lower rank was becoming increasingly pointless for his growth. "Is it time to face that spider, or could there be another way to get through these tunnels?" Rusty''s tracking skills weren''t the greatest, but he knew he just needed to retrace his steps to the previously ant-owned tunnels if he wished to reach the area with the shadowy spider. Finding that area wasn''t much of a problem now that no creatures remained. However, he wasn''t sure if he would be able to use that route. While Gleam could climb walls, his metallic fingers tended to slide off flat surfaces. Rusty pondered the idea of adding sharp claws to his palms, which might make it a possibility. Perhaps if he could return to the soul forge, then modifying his body would be another step in becoming stronger. "I wonder, if I can create weapons of various shapes and sizes, couldn''t I just make some replaceable gauntlets?" Rusty found himself pondering a thought that had recently popped into his bronze head. While he could potentially replace parts of his body that appeared in the forge for his evolution, was that truly the only option? What if he simply created replicas of his arms, legs, and torso and kept them in his armory? Perhaps he could then swap them out during times of need. This idea sparked a new avenue that he wished to explore later but for now he needed to focus on other things. "Well, I''ll only know once I''m back there again. For now, I should go back, Gleam should be waking up soon." Upon reaching their crystal cave lair, Rusty waited for Gleam to stir from her hibernating sleep. Her movements were slow and groggy at first, but soon she was fully awake and her eyes regained focus. He could see that all of her HP, MP, and SP had been refilled. As soon as their eyes met, Rusty raised his hand, and his gesture was reciprocated by Gleam with a raised forelimb. " \\ (£Þ ? £Þ) " "Great, you are up, Gleam! You have a decision to make now, what do you wish to become?" Rusty didn''t beat around the bush for too long as he was also quite interested in how his friend''s new form would end up looking. Gleam listened as Rusty presented her with the options for her evolution, her antennae twitching in curiosity. After considering each option carefully, she made her decision¡­ Chapter 38 - 36 – Angry Ant. "You''re so shiny gleam¡­ way more than me¡­" " ( ?? ? ?? ) " Rusty was a bit jealous after witnessing the new form of his companion. With a flash of light, Gleam''s transformation was complete. She emerged from the glow, her once pale white exoskeleton was now covered in shimmering silver metal. Her antennae sparkled with magical energy, and her eyes gleamed with newfound power. Gleam had decided to become a Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant and had just undergone the transformation. It was a rather quick change that only took no longer than a minute. Her body seemed like it was made from metal now but it was some type of biological armor that didn''t constrain her movements. Rusty couldn''t help but marvel at her shiny form that reflected the light from the crystals around them. Gleam danced around, her movements causing light to reflect off her new shiny exoskeleton. The gleaming light cast shimmering reflections across the walls of their crystal cave lair, producing a dazzling display that filled the space with an enchanting glow. Rusty watched with admiration as Gleam''s radiant presence illuminated their surroundings, feeling slightly jealous of the sheen she could produce but his body couldn''t. "The silver suits you well." Rusty exclaimed while noting that his partner ant still had a somewhat white appearance, with a silvery undertone. Once there was no light, she wouldn''t be this radiant. The other changes to her body weren''t that extensive, she didn''t really look different and her size didn''t increase either. After it was all done, he was able to glance through her status screen that had been enhanced. Name: Gleam Classification: Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ F ] L1 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 30/30 Magic Points [MP] 60/60 Stamina Points [SP] 39/39 Strength 24 [ F - ] Agility 42 [ F ] Dexterity 27 [ F - ] Constitution 25 [ F - ] Intelligence 44 [ F ] Wisdom 45 [ F ] Willpower 39 [ F ] Durability F Rusty observed that Gleam had only evolved into a regular F-rank monster, while he had advanced to an F-plus rank on his second evolution. However, Rusty recalled that he had been imbued with a strange force in the form of the Hero''s and Demon King''s energies, which resulted in his transformation into a Twilight variant. He wasn''t entirely certain what this meant, but it seemed plausible that Gleam might need to evolve one more time than him to reach E-rank. Gleam had acquired a few new skills, one of which concerned her new body. This skill not only increased her defenses but also seemed to enhance her mana. Rusty surmised that this explained why her MP was higher than his when he evolved into the corroded twilight armor form. But it could also be because of the higher Wisdom stat, which seemingly affected the MP count. Lesser Silverine Exoskeleton Passive Skill Increases the body''s defense and mana. Defense is dependent on durability. Mana Arrow Spell A simple spell that creates an arrow made up of mana. It is stronger than the mana bolt spell and has higher piercing power. That was about it for the upgrades and now with more mana and an even better attacking spell which Gleam was excited to use. Rusty was of the same mind, testing out new abilities outside of battle was the key to victory so he made a proposition. "Gleam, how about you try your new spell and other spells, and see how your new form can handle the loss of MP?" " \\( ?? ? ?? )/ " "Yeah, that''s the spirit! How about you aim it at that sturdy wall there?" With an excited nod, Gleam focused her magical energy, summoning forth a shimmering arrow of mana. The arrow took shape, crackling with magical power as it hovered in front of her. Rusty watched intently, curious to see the full extent of Gleam''s newfound spell. Already from the onset, this spell seemed to be more sizable than the other. The mana bolt spell was more similar in size to a crossbow bolt but also lacked a fully condensed form. It wasn''t fully straight and wavered slightly in the air. In contrast, the mana arrow shone with a steady brilliance, its form straight and true. With a flick of her antennae, Gleam launched the arrow toward the designated wall and the difference in penetrative power was obvious. The mana arrow soared through the air, leaving behind a trail of sparkling energy as it raced toward its target. Upon impact, the arrow struck the wall with a resounding crack, embedding itself deeply into the stone. Rusty was impressed by the spell''s power and it was probably just as powerful as a power thrust attack from a spear. "That was amazing, Gleam! Your new spell seems really potent!" " (????? )? " "But¡­ it does take a while longer to cast than that mana bolt spell, how about we do a few more tests first?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. " (? -?) " Gleam seemed a bit surprised by the change in Rusty''s demeanor but quickly agreed to some further tests. The ant just like the metal armor could recover their MP instantly from having a mana crystal crushed. Thus they could quickly figure out the advantages and disadvantages of the newly gained ability. Rusty and Gleam spent the next few hours experimenting with Gleam''s new spells and came to a few conclusions. The casting time of the previous attacking spell, mana bolt had decreased. While it had become more powerful and still utilized the same amount of MP as before, its cost was half that of the mana arrow spell. However, the damage output was also lowered to about half of the mana arrow spell. It appeared that the new spell was better suited for stronger foes and served as a finishing blow, while the old one could now serve as a more frequent ability, as she would no longer pass out after even using it several times. As they continued their experiments, Rusty noticed that Gleam''s physical attacks had also improved slightly. Her new exoskeleton seemed to enhance her durability and also sharpen her mandibles to an extent. She couldn''t match his bronze body that was true metal but she was probably just as robust as monsters primed for defense. It was clear that Gleam was following the path of a spellcaster, a role typically associated with being a glass cannon - potent in offense but fragile in defense. However, with her new silver body, she could likely withstand a few powerful hits before sustaining serious injury. " (????? )? " "What''s that? You want to test out your new spells on the remaining beetle monsters?" Their testing session was concluded and Gleam brought up the remaining monsters. There was one problem with this issue, Rusty had already dispatched the stragglers while she was in her hibernation sleep. "Well about that¡­ While you were sleeping, I kind of¡­ you know¡­" " ( ?? - ? ) " "Okay, I killed them all while you were asleep!" " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) ! " "I know but you were sleeping, there was nothing really to do and there weren''t that many of them left." " ( ?? ? ?? ) " "What? Do you think I did it to level up faster? That''s preposterous!'' " ( ?? - ?? ) " "Hey, stop looking at me like that, I was just bored, experience points had nothing to do with it¡­" Rusty wasn''t lying or telling the truth as he had accounted for getting more experience points for slaying monsters. Once Gleam wasn''t with him, he regained his old rates of gaining experience. Despite Rusty''s attempt to justify his actions, Gleam couldn''t help but give him a skeptical look. He tried to avoid her gaze but it didn''t seem that this issue could be fixed this easily. "Uh¡­ how about we ask the Demon King for some advice, now that the other insectoid monsters are gone, we will need to leave this place!" To get around this issue, Rusty decided to go with a strategic approach of changing the topic. With the help of his Guide, he hoped to make his ant companion forget about his stealing all of the experience for himself. Thus, he quickly activated the skill to summon the fallen Demon King who quickly appeared in the form of a pitch-black orb. "Well, if it isn''t my old friend Rusty and his little ant friend¡­ you got rid of me quite quickly last time, will you let me finish my sentence this time around?" The Demon King appeared in a seemingly grumpy mood. He seemed to be still mad about the treatment he received the last time he was summoned. However, before Rusty could respond, Gleam was the one to interrupt, quite interested in the appearance of the talking black sphere. " ( ¡ã o ¡ã ) " "Oh, that''s strange, I can understand what this little one is saying¡­ It must be the bonding contract, it seems to even affect me¡­" The Demon King paused for a moment but he seemed saddened for some reason. Luckily, Gleam had another being to interact with and his plan of changing the subject had been successful. "This confirms it, I''m nothing more than part of this armor, tied to its soul if even the bonding contract affects me in this way¡­ This complicates things." The demon was not hiding the fact that he wasn''t too fond of this situation. Previously he had already tried to escape and it didn''t look like he had given up on that idea just yet. This didn''t change the fact that Rusty was still in control and his demonic guide needed to answer all of his questions. "Demon King, we''ve managed to clear out the remaining insectoid monsters from this area, and now we''re faced with a decision. Should we continue exploring the cave system or look for a way out? and where would such a way be? I don''t think I''ll be able to climb the chasm I fell into and there are those strange spider creatures there too¡­" The black orb did something akin to a grumble before replying. "I''m not much of a Demon King anymore, we have known each other long enough, just call me Aburdon¡­ But Master Aburdon is also fine." "Oh? That''s fine with me, Aburdon then!" Rusty preferred calling people by their names as long titles just made things unnecessarily complicated. The Demon King pondered for a moment before responding, his dark energy swirling within his orb-like body. "Hm, it depends on what you seek, Rusty. It seems that you wish to gain more power by slaying other creatures, quite the monsterly aspirations you have there. Nevertheless, if you want some advice, then be wary of the dungeon you came from." "I should be wary of it? Well, those adventurers were strong but now I''m stronger and I also have Gleam with me!" " (????? )? " "I don''t mean the adventurers, dear Rusty, they would be the least of your worries¡­" "Oh, how so?" Rusty was a bit confused by the response. When he was in the dungeon, things were relatively safe. Even when he died several times, he was just restored by the dungeon heart that resided there. It was also probably the source of the voices that were ordering him what to do and the biggest downside would be if he became stuck there again. "I probably wouldn''t want to be limited to the first two floors either¡­ but shouldn''t I be able to go further down?" He was an E-rank monster and was previously limited to the first and second floor. It wouldn''t be strange if he could venture even further than last time and perhaps finally be able to use his skill absorption ability which had been dormant for a while now. "Oh, I don''t think you would be limited by any of those anymore, I''m not sure if the Dungeon Heart would even be able to affect you after evolving." "But isn''t that good?" "Depends on what you consider good¡­ How do you think the Dungeon will react to something it can no longer control?" "... oh¡­" While Rusty wasn''t even a year old, he was smart enough to put things together. Aburdon insinuated that this Dungeon Heart that had created him, would see him as a threat, perhaps even like another adventurer. "But that means that I''d have to fight both those adventurers and the monsters there?" "That''s a possibility but I''m not sure, you''re quite the anomaly so perhaps the Dungeon will still see you as an ally as you have been born there. You''ll just have to go and see." Aburdon''s words left Rusty with a sense of unease. The idea that the dungeon, which had been his home and source of security, might now see him as a threat was troubling. But on the other hand, he started looking at this situation from a different angle. "If there are more enemies¡­ won''t I just be able to level up faster?" "I guess so but¡­" "Oh! And the monsters inside of the Dungeon come back to life after they are defeated, doesn''t that mean that it''s an infinite leveling resource!?" " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) ! " "That''s right Gleam, we could level up forever and not worry about running out of enemies!" Gleam seemed to be on board with the unlimited leveling resource that a dungeon could provide and insisted that they get there as soon as they could. The Demon King started chuckling as if he wasn''t sure what to do with these two power-hungry monsters before him. "You two remind me of the demons I once commanded. Only the ones that showed some restraint managed to survive so heed my warning. If your connection to the Dungeon Core has indeed been severed, you will no longer be able to be revived. Once you are defeated, you probably won''t come back." Rusty has somewhat figured that this was already the case but it was better if this demon lord confirmed this information. The power of continuous revival sounded great but it wasn''t too great if his level was reset either. "I can''t have you vanishing just yet Rusty. You do know that there is a vast world outside this pit you spawned in, right?" "A vast world¡­" Rusty couldn''t hide the fact that he was interested in seeing it. The fragmented memories that he acquired from both Aburdon and the Hero offered him a couple of images. He wanted to eventually leave this place and witness the world outside with his own visor. Gleam was of the same mind as she danced around the moment the outside world had been mentioned. "Good, now you could try exploring more of these tunnels. You might not find a way out, but even if you don''t, there''s a way you could scale that chasm you came from." "There is? But how? I''m not good at climbing, I''ll probably just slide of and fall down¡­" Rusty had thought about scaling that chasm but he just didn''t see himself doing anything besides falling down. "Of course, you should never underestimate the wisdom of this Demon King Aburdon! I''ll even tell you how if you do something for me¡­" "Or you could just tell me?" "Ugh¡­" The ball of black started convulsing as if he was trying to resist the order. "Damn, fine! Have it your way!" Aburdon was unable to refuse the call and had to give in. With indignation he floated between the living suit of armor and the silvery ant before speaking. "The key is your little friend here and that strange metallic body of yours, it''s a lot simpler than you might think¡­" Chapter 39 - 37 – Time To Go Up. "Is there really no other way?" " (????? )? " "You promise not to drop me? I''m not really talking about that Gleam." A somewhat frustrated living armor gave out a sigh in a very human way before turning towards a white ball of light. Since receiving advice from the Demon King, some time had passed, and both Rusty and Gleam had been occupied. The plan for escaping this place was deemed somewhat dangerous and wasteful, prompting Rusty to explore the area in search of alternative options thoroughly. Ultimately, he even reached out to the Hero, hoping to hear an opposing viewpoint. "I''m not sure, depends if you are in a rush?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Well¡­ there aren''t any monsters left here, it does feel like a waste of time to remain¡­ Right Gleam?" " ( `???¡ä) " "Yeah, it has gotten boring with no one to fight, you''re right." The two turned to the white ball of light, seeking advice on this predicament. It was evident they were eager to depart from this place. While Aburdon''s idea wasn''t without merit, it entailed abandoning his lair and the resources they had painstakingly gathered. There remained a substantial amount of mana crystals, copper ores, and various other valuable resources that would need to be left behind. For Rusty, who had invested considerable effort to reach this point, this was a sobering reality to confront. "I guess we could wait a bit more but how long do you think that could take?" Rusty turned to the orb of light for some guidance and the Hero responded quickly. "I''m not sure but there are two possibilities. Either those insectoid monsters gathered here when they were much smaller, like the ants you faced that were G-rank." "Would that change anything?" "Yes, they would be much smaller and able to travel through smaller tunnels. This is only a theory, but they could have fled from something like the spider monster you encountered and crawled through one of those openings in the walls you found." "That''s a possibility¡­" Rusty arrived here after falling into a large chasm and then had to run away from a strange creature there. He managed to land on a small ledge and then crawled inside of one of the tunnels created by the ants. Together with Gleam they had retraced his steps and arrived at that area but it wasn''t the only one, there were several other ways in that all led out into that great big hole. "What''s the second possibility?" "The second one, could be a now collapsed tunnel, I think you''ve seen a few of them while you were trying to find a way out already?" "Oh those, yes some of them looked unstable¡­" After receiving the idea from the Demon King, Rusty embarked on a search for an alternative escape route. He dedicated several days to exploring the tunnels and meticulously mapping out the area. With Gleam''s assistance, they also unearthed pockets of tin and copper, which they mined diligently. However, their efforts failed to uncover any viable escape routes that Rusty could fit through. If the second theory held true, it suggested that the monsters had traversed a larger tunnel that later collapsed, leaving them trapped in this area. The only apparent exit appeared to be the chasm infested with spiders. While the ants might have been capable of climbing back out, the shadowy arachnids would have swiftly dispatched them. "If this were true, then there is a possibility that you could eventually mine yourself out of here and it''s probably the safer way out of here. But, even when your body doesn''t tire you might have to mine for weeks, maybe months, or longer¡­" "Months sound long¡­" To someone who hadn''t even existed for a year, the prospect of mining for a month seemed daunting. Adding to the challenge was the issue of direction, with multiple seemingly collapsed tunnels complicating matters even further. They had no clue where to even begin, and without knowing the correct path, this endeavor could be futile. Even Gleam''s scouting through the smaller ant tunnels yielded no results, making this option less promising. "Yeah, it does sound long¡­ and we don''t even know which way to start mining¡­" " ( ?? - ?? ) " "You want to go with Aburdon''s suggestion? But it could get dangerous, without my body I won''t be able to help you with those spiders." " (????? )? " "I''m glad that you are confident in your abilities but let me think it through¡­" Rusty began contemplating as in the end, it was up to him to make the decision. He was given two options, one that seemed faster yet more dangerous and the second one that could take forever. There wasn''t a need for that much contemplation, as he knew that one choice seemed more promising for various reasons. "Hm¡­ I have decided!" "That was quick. I suppose you don''t need me anymore, but before I leave, could you tell me your choice?" "We will¡­ follow Aburdon''s plan!" "Hah¡­" The hero of light gave out a sigh as if he was disappointed with the answer and then quickly posed a question. "Is there something wrong with that choice?" "I''m not sure, why did you decide on it?" "Hm¡­" Rusty looked up at one of the glowing crystals and tried to think. While mining was safer, it would also be extremely boring. With no monsters around, there was no one to fight or to train their skills. "It wouldn''t be that exciting or fun¡­ I think. Is that a good reason?" He wasn''t sure if there was a good enough reason to put himself and Gleam in danger but for some reason, the faster route sounded more appealing to him. Even the ant started dancing around, taking his side. "I see, it''s more exciting, I guess that''s a good enough reason." "Is something wrong? You sound ¡­ weird." Ever since he called the Hero here previously, he has been acting a bit strangely. When they were in the Soul Forge, he was way more eager to teach him the basics of smithing but now he sounded sad and without energy. The Demon King on the other hand, always talked with a lot more energy as if he had some underlying goal which the Hero lacked. "Weird? Well, this whole situation is bizarre. I suppose you reminded me of the past. There was someone I knew who also rushed into things¡­ Never caring what the future might bring¡­ " "Oh, there was? They sound like a fun person to be around!" The Hero chuckled softly, and if he had a face then a wistful smile would be crossing it. "I''m not sure about that, they were quite reckless and an idiot¡­ But, anyway¡­ I think this is fine right? You should probably conserve your mana for your great plan." With a nod, Rusty acknowledged the Hero''s words. Despite the strange shift in the Hero''s demeanor, he felt confident in their decision. Gleam, too, seemed eager to proceed with their chosen path. Their resolve was firm and they were almost ready to venture into the depths of the chasm. However, there were some things to prepare before their departure and there was one last issue he needed to discuss with the Hero. "Wait, before you go Hero, how about you tell me your name?" "My name?" "Yes, you''re the only one without one, I have one, Gleam has one and we even know that Aburdon is Aburdon, you''re the only one left without a real name." The Hero fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. When he spoke again, his voice carried a tinge of nostalgia. "My name¡­ Do you wish to know the first one or the second one¡­" "First and second? Someone can have two names?" "Well¡­ not really¡­ Just forget that I said anything, I guess here they called me Alexander." With the Hero''s revelation of his name, Rusty felt that for some reason their connection was deepened. "Alexander... It''s a great name." Rusty felt a mix of emotions. He was somewhat pleased, yet also a tad envious of the impressive names those around him possessed. The Demon King''s name exuded strength and power, while the Hero''s name evoked bravery and heroism. And then there was him, named after the mundane phenomenon of rusting. "I suppose it wasn''t bad. Take care of yourself Rusty and try doing what I''ve mentioned before, it might save you some of those precious resources you seem to love¡­" With those last words, the orb of light vanished and left the ant and the living armor glistering in the crystal light. "Now that the choice is made, we should start preparing, I refuse to waste all of these resources." " ( ¨C ? ¨C ) " "No, I''m not going to leave them. Instead, I''ll use them all up, not like we''ll be coming back here¡­ at least not for a while¡­" There was a strange hint of sadness when he thought about leaving this place. This was the area where he found Gleam and reached E-rank. However, his adventure needed to continue, and going up and back towards the dungeon was the fastest choice. He regretted leaving behind the ores he had mined and the ingots he had processed, but both his stash tab and warehouse had reached their limits. This left him with only one choice, and that was to use up as much bronze as he possibly could. "I''ll just reproduce all the weapons and make multiple copies until it''s all gone! I can stick a lot more into the warehouse" " ( ?_? ) '' Gleam wasn''t as thrilled as her bronze companion; this departure left her with little to occupy herself except watching him consume his SP. It was a lengthy process as waiting for it to recharge his SP was a must. Eventually, a large arsenal had been crafted and stored in his system for future use. Some raw ores remained, but at least half of his stash had now been depleted. With their preparations complete, Rusty stood before the entrance he squeezed himself in. On the other side awaited a small ledge, upon which Gleam would carry him to a new location. He patiently awaited her return from a scouting trip, occupying himself by scrutinizing his inventory screen. There, he readied himself for a unique maneuver that the Hero had mentioned. " ( ?? ? ?? ) " "Welcome back, Gleam. The cost is clear you say?" At first, Rusty harbored doubts about the plan because he deemed himself too large for Gleam to carry. At her current size, he would be able to fit her into his chest cavity. Yet, his uniqueness helped in this scenario. He was a living armor and his monster core was situated inside of his helmet. Aburdon''s strategy was straightforward: affix Rusty''s helmet onto Gleam''s back and have her transport him like a backpack up the chasm. The plan was relatively straightforward as Rusty could utilize bronze ingots to restore himself, provided he had six on hand. However, the main reason he hesitated to execute this plan was the necessity to expend a whole six of them. Fortunately, the Hero proposed an alternative, which he was eager to test out now. "First, the harness, how does it feel?" " (?? ? ??) " "It''s a little itchy but it''s fine? Good. " Fortunately, the backpack he fashioned within the Soul Forge came equipped with some straps that he could adapt for this purpose. Interestingly, it wasn''t always necessary to gather the exact resources for recreating items; for instance, monster tendons or fur could serve as substitutes for bow strings. Thanks to this, Rusty managed to affix his helmet to Gleam''s back which would allow her to focus on climbing. " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " "Don''t worry Gleam, we aren''t going to leave my body behind, look at this." To minimize resource wastage, Rusty had cleared out his stash tab, which now held no weapons. The hero proposed a clever idea: since Rusty''s body was essentially perceived as armor, he could will his body parts into the stash tab, leaving only his helmet behind, which he couldn''t move. This advantage hadn''t occurred to him before, and he was grateful for the suggestion. " ( ¡ã?¡ã ) " "Everything''s fine, Gleam. I''m just stowing away my body parts!" From the outside, it looked rather peculiar as his limbs began to vanish. Initially bathed in a grayish light, they gradually disappeared. Once all his parts were tucked into the stash tab, his body vanished as if it had never existed in the first place. The only thing that remained was his helmet which was secured to Gleam''s back. Gleam chirped excitedly, her antennae twitching with anticipation as she prepared to embark on their next adventure. "Alright Gleam, let''s do this! Up we go!" After squeezing through the opening they arrived at the ledge he descended to. That time he had been fleeing from a mysterious, shadowy spider, something Gleam would do well to avoid. Finally, Gleam began her ascent, her insectoid legs gripping the rocky surface of the chasm with ease. "You are doing great, Gleam! Keep it up!" " (????? )? " The climb was rather smooth as Gleam skittered up the steep wall. Despite the absence of light, her ant-like senses enabled her to navigate skillfully in the darkness. Everything seemed to be going fine and he even felt a gentle breeze against his helmet. The shadowy spiders remained hidden, and his guides had assured him that as long as they avoided touching their webs, they would not appear. However, the gentle breeze that was hitting his helmet began to intensify. It switched from a soft caress to a forceful gust, threatening to knock Gleam off balance. Her movements became more erratic and her antennae twitched with confusion. " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " "What''s wrong, Gleam? Is everything okay? Do you need to take a break?" Rusty couldn''t really see what was happening as he was just a helmet strapped to a silvery ant. Although he couldn''t see much, he sensed the increasing strength of the winds and noticed his small companion beginning to slow down. Gleam, being only an F-rank monster primarily suited for spellcasting, lacked the stamina typical of other creatures as her focus leaned towards mana instead. "If you''re getting tired, then look for a ledge, let''s follow the instructions!" There was nothing to worry about as they had come prepared. Aburdon had cautioned that if the climb proved too tedious, Gleam might exhaust her stamina. In such a situation, they were instructed to seek out a ledge where she could rest. Fortunately, luck favored them, and a small cavern appeared not far ahead and would provide a welcome respite from the strong winds. Gleam hastened towards it, her movements becoming increasingly sluggish with fatigue, but she persisted through the discomfort. " ( ¨C ? ¨C ) " "You did great, how about we rest a bit¡­ or perhaps could this be enough? I might be able to bring out my body here, Gleam could you make some light?" For some reason, even his gaze couldn''t pierce through the darkness here so some magic was needed. Gleam didn''t hesitate as burning mana didn''t affect her stamina recovery. Soon a tiny light appeared and that was when the two realized that they had probably made a mistake. Instead of an empty cavern, they were greeted by many sets of multiple eyes, which were now directly staring at them¡­ Chapter 40 - 38 – Escaping Up. Numerous eyes shone eerily in the dimly lit cavern, reflecting a faint magical light. All these multifaceted orbs were fixed on the solitary ant casting a spell within. The helmet strapped to its back faced the unsettling sight of shadowy spiders. Though smaller than the one Rusty had encountered before, they still dwarfed his companion in size. "Gleam¡­, I think you should start running now¡­" " ( ¡ã?¡ã ) " Gleam''s antennae quivered with apprehension as she processed Rusty''s words. Despite her She understood the gravity of the situation and the impossibility of surviving a battle with all of these arachnids. Without wasting another moment, she turned on her six legs and scurried back towards the entrance of the cavern, her small form casting long shadows against the rocky walls. The spiders, with their multiple eyes fixated on Gleam, began to skitter in pursuit, their long legs carrying them swiftly across the cavern floor. Their movements were eerily synchronized, as if they were acting on a shared consciousness. "Gleam, keep going! Don''t stop!" " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " Rusty felt terrible as he could do nothing more than watch the scene play itself out. He was just a helmet now and unable to do much to help Gleam. The horde of spiders gave chase and even continued to follow after her when she sprinted up the wall. The shadowy monsters had picked up her scent now and even with no light source there, they continued to chase. The ant''s chirps were filled with fear as she pushed her tiny body to its limits, her legs propelling her forward as fast as they could. Rusty could see her exhaustion through their connection, her stamina bar was depleting rapidly with each step she took and it was probably just a matter of time before one of those spiders got to them. "... I guess we''ll have to use it now, Gleam¡­ Slow down!" " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " "Don''t worry, it will work, trust me!" Having encountered one of these arachnid monsters before, Rusty knew that despite their frightening appearance, they had a weakness that could be exploited. Though he was just a helmet, he could still utilize some of his skills. As he instructed, Gleam began to slow down. Seeing an opportunity, the shadowy monster spiders quickly lunged at the silvery ant, their large fangs gnashing and ready to administer their venom. However, just before they could make contact with Gleam''s body, the entire area suddenly lit up, the light emanating from Rusty''s helmet. The skill Rusty employed was the Basic Elemental Charge, which empowered his blade with either light or darkness. Through repeated use, the skill had leveled up to level five. Over time, Rusty discovered that he could extend this ability beyond just his weapons to charge his own body parts as well. His helmet was one such part, and as it radiated with bright light, the spiders recoiled in agony. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sudden burst of light caught the shadowy spiders off guard, causing them to scuttle back into the darkness with shrill hisses of pain. Gleam took advantage of the situation to recover some stamina. While she was aware of Rusty''s ability, witnessing the spiders so closely was still nerve-wracking. With the sudden illumination, the entire chasm became brightly lit and revealed quite the predicament. The area was teeming with these shadowy spiders, and now all of them were alerted to their presence. Rusty had not expected there to be so many of them. Only now after the light was shining, did they notice the swarm they were against. Their webs were everywhere and every cavern just reflected the faint glint of shadowy threads. It was clear that attempting to fight was futile and climbing up was their only escape. "That''s why I didn''t want to use it this soon¡­ we need to move Gleam, this skill won''t last forever and now they all saw us¡­" " ( ?? - ?? )? " "That''s the spirit!" Shaking off her nervousness, Gleam pushed forward, resuming her ascent at full speed. Rusty understood that he could frighten off the spiders with his skill, but activating it would likely draw the attention of all the shadowy arachnids in the vicinity. He had hoped to avoid such a scenario by stealthily navigating and minimizing light using Gleam''s spells, but their plan had failed. It was clear that using even faint light was a mistake. The two monsters were still young and this was a learning experience they would not forget but first, they needed to get out of here in one piece. As they continued their ascent, Rusty kept a close eye on the surroundings, ready to activate his skill again at a moment''s notice if the spiders attempted another ambush. Gleam, meanwhile, focused on maintaining her pace, conserving her stamina as much as possible for the climb ahead. Once the light died down, Rusty could hear the skittering of legs and the occasional hiss echoing through the chasm. The monsters were now in pursuit and to make things worse, the sounds were seemingly coming from all directions. "Gleam, watch out¡­ there are some coming in from up ahead!" Rusty informed his friend about the danger just in time as a spider attempted to ambush them from above. Gleam reacted swiftly, dodging the attack and continuing her climb without hesitation. The monster that lunged itself at her, collided with some of the other spiders that were pursuing them and the hissing increased. As they ascended higher, the terrain became increasingly treacherous, with narrow ledges and jagged rocks posing additional challenges but also giving them an opportunity. "Gleam, do you see that sharp ledge? Use your mana bolt spell on it, I know you can do it!" While she was tired from running, mana didn''t cost any stamina. Her antennae, used for casting, could act independently from her legs. Before long, a pale ball of mana formed above Gleam''s head and was flung at one of the jagged edges in the distance. Upon impact, the rocks shattered and started falling down. Gleam quickly dodged to the side and let the spiders be showered by the rubble. This maneuver momentarily slowed down their enemies, but there were just far too many of them around. Not long after, more of them were upon them which forced Rusty to activate his skill once again. The sudden burst of brightness caused the spiders to falter, their sensitive eyes were unable to withstand the intensity of the light. All of them scattered out of the way and the duo of living armor and ant had a moment to rest. "We can do it Gleam¡­ we''ll just continue at this pace." " ( ?? ? ?? )? " Gleam agreed, and their escape pressed onward. Yet, the duo underestimated the depth of the chasm they were traversing. Despite several more minutes passing, they remained far from the summit, with no end in sight. Rusty relied on his skill, but his mana was dwindling rapidly. He neared his final burst of energy before facing the prospect of slipping into a dormant state, just like in the past which would render him immobile for hours. As the spiders continued their relentless pursuit, the situation grew increasingly dire. The escalating winds proved to be a larger obstacle than anticipated as they relentlessly pushed against Rusty''s helmet and caused Gleam to slow down with each gust. Unlike their pursuers, who effortlessly navigated the terrain, Rusty and Gleam found themselves at a disadvantage. With the relentless pace of the arachnids closing in, it appeared only a matter of time before they were caught. They needed to come up with a solution and do it now. Rusty racked his brain for a solution, but with his mana reserves nearly depleted, options were limited. To his surprise, before he could come up with a plan, Gleam spoke up first. "You want me to use my skill after they get closer, even if I enter a dormant state?" " \\( ? ? ? )/ " This was a strange proposition, without his body he could not crush any mana stones and if he tried to reform himself to fight, he would just fall down the chasm along with Gleam. The two would probably end up on one of the spider webs they were avoiding, and would die so he needed to remain in his helmeted form. "Are you sure? I won''t be able to do it anymore, and I won''t be conscious for a while." " ( ?? - ?? ) " "No, I do trust you but¡­ are you sure?" Rusty placed his trust in his partner, already knowing she had proven herself capable in the past, such as when she rescued him from the beetle monsters. He believed in her judgment and hoped she had a plan in mind. Perhaps there was a solution above them that he couldn''t see, and his final burst of light might be the key to ensuring their survival. "Fine, I''ll do it after they close in¡­ it won''t last for long so use it well!" " ( ?? ? ?? )? " With no option but to move up, Rusty and Gleam continued their ascent, knowing that jumping across the chasm was impossible due to the presence of numerous spider webs. As the spiders closed in on them, Rusty unleashed another blast of radiance from his helmet, pushing the creatures back temporarily. Seizing the opportunity, Gleam recovered some of her stamina. Mana reserves are critically low. Despite receiving the system message warning him of imminent mana depletion, Rusty paid it no heed. Continuing his skill was important, as he placed his trust in Gleam''s judgment. He could feel her move of course a bit, skittering sideways on the wall somewhere and his vision was becoming blurry. "Gleam, what are you doing?" " ( ? ? - ) " "What do you mean take care? What are you doing?" Something felt off as the ant began to behave strangely. Rusty sensed that his skill was being wasted as they entered a small cavern occupied by only one arachnid. Suddenly, he felt as if the harness holding him together was severed, and he heard rustling and skittering before everything went black, and he lost consciousness. As he drifted into unconsciousness, Rusty experienced a strange sensation of weightlessness, as if he were floating through space. Images flashed through his mind, focusing on the little white egg he had discovered in the ant lair.Then, gradually, he began to regain his senses. He felt solid ground beneath his helmeted form as well as something covering up from the top. "Gleam¡­?" He called out but no one answered, his companion was not there and for some reason had left him buried under some rocks. Rusty didn''t wait but brought up his system screen, there he accessed his stash tab where his whole body had been tucked away to be equipped later. Without his hands it was a slow process but after he equipped his torso, his helmet rose up from the shallow rock pile he was covered under. In the darkness, danger lurked nearby; Rusty was not alone. Fortunately, his adversary seemed momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of a metallic torso and delayed engaging him in battle. Taking advantage of this brief break, Rusty managed to reattach one of his arms which then allowed him to assemble the rest of his body a lot faster. His adversary resembled the spider that inhabited the cave where he lost consciousness. However, it was notably smaller than the one that had almost eaten him alive when he fell into the chasm. With some time to assess the situation, Rusty determined that this foe was within his capabilities to handle alone. Classification: Lesser Giant Shade Spider E- Type: Arachnoid With his body fully assembled, Rusty wielded his longsword and shield, intercepting the monster''s charge just in time. The spider recoiled upon impact as its fangs collided with the hardened bronze of Rusty''s shield. Despite being smaller than some of its counterparts, it proved to be a formidable opponent, matching Rusty in rank. Despite knowing he couldn''t afford to underestimate the creature before him, Rusty''s thoughts were consumed by concern for Gleam. He realized the sacrifice she had made, likely using herself as a decoy to divert most of the monster spiders away. Hours could have passed, and the thought of her potential demise filled him with restlessness and anger, emotions he hadn''t been aware he could feel. This newly acquired rage fueled his movements, making them erratic and filled with animosity. As the battle intensified, Rusty endured numerous scratches and gashes to his armor, yet his opponent fared far worse. Two of its eight legs were already missing, and the venom from its fangs proved meaningless against a living armor. Eventually, Rusty''s longsword found its mark, thrusting into the creature''s mouth and ending its life. Normally, he would be ecstatic to hear that he had earned a large amount of experience, but his mind was elsewhere, consumed by worry for Gleam. "Where could she be? Is she still alive?" He was met with silence as no one answered his inquiry. With the lesser shade spider vanquished, he found himself alone in the cavern, the only sound being the faint echo of his metallic footsteps. After a moment of pause, he started looking around, but discovered nothing that could lead him to his companion and the cavern he was in was also a dead end. With nothing more than bones and remains of some eaten prey. Rusty took some time to examine this area and discovered that one of the bodies hadn''t fully decomposed yet. Wrapped in a cocoon of darkened webs, it resembled a mummy. After recognizing the attire as that of an adventurer, Rusty''s attention was drawn to a strange card protruding from the wrappings. After a brief inspection, he decided to take it along with a pouch containing round metal objects and placed it into his inventory. He searched through the remains, dreading the thought that Gleam could be within the remains but he could not discover any ant parts, only humanoid bones. "Good, she isn''t here. I need to find Gleam¡­ Her status screen is grayed out, but what does this mean?" Rusty considered reaching out to one of his guides, but he couldn''t afford to waste precious mana at this critical time. After glancing at Gleam''s status screen, he noticed it was grayed out and seemingly frozen in limbo. Normally, it would provide immediate updates on her status, but it remained stuck at a moment when her health was halfway depleted. Before he lost consciousness she was at full health which meant that she must have sustained some damage while he was incapacitated. With no other leads to follow, Rusty decided to head back towards the ledge they had come from. As he peered into the darkness, he noticed something unusual: lights in the distance. Surprised, he realized that this area was much closer to the top than he had initially thought. Far away, he spotted a familiar bridge that he had previously fallen from. It seemed that not all was lost and that perhaps his friend had made it out alive. "Did she see it?" He wondered if Gleam had realized that if his head remained on her back, then none of them would have made it out alive. While he could see some lights in the distance, it was still quite far away. Without him weighing her down, there was a possibility that she made it out alive. "Don''t worry, I''ll find you!" Rusty felt a surge of determination enter his body, the rage he felt was slowly subsiding as he was given another goal. While he was uncertain of how much time had passed during his slumber, he vowed not to rest until he located Gleam and brought her back to his side, no matter the cost. Chapter 41 - 39 – Captured. Are you sure this is safe? What if something jumps out and eats us¡­" "That''s why we have hired adventurers, so stop worrying about nothing." "But¡­" "No buts! Let''s just focus on the task at hand and you''ll be back in your stuffy room in no time." "I hope you are right Alanna, I just don''t like dark places..." Two people were talking while being accompanied by a group of adventurers. One burly warrior in chainmail was behind them, clearly keeping watch to prevent any monsters from attacking them from the rear. Two similarly dressed men flanked them on each side, while a better-armored gentleman led the group from the front. Only one person in the group looked different, wearing leather armor with a bow slung across their chest. They were also upfront, seemingly keeping watch of any movement, ready to inform his party of any incoming danger. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course, I''m right Eugene, aren''t I?" The person talking seemed to be a young woman in her late teens. Next to her was a man of similar age and thin stature. Both looked more like scholarly types and their clothes resembled something more fitting for a library than monster-infested dungeons. Despite the obvious unease in the young man''s voice, his companion carried an air of confidence, though perhaps misplaced given their surroundings. "Young miss, it would be better if you remained silent, the monsters in the Dungeon react to sounds¡­" The young woman turned to one of the adventurers surrounding her for confirmation of her claim but was met with a rebuttal. The man seemed annoyed for some reason but didn''t want to voice his opinions more negatively. "See, I told you to be quiet, that''s why we were attacked so many times already!" "Hah, that''s why Master hired these adventurers for us, don''t worry, they will protect us from these monsters. Stop being scared, they are only F ranks, are you even a man?" "What is that supposed to mean?" The young man glared at the young woman, but his momentary bravery was interrupted by a strange clacking of bones resounding from the side. A skeletal monster emerged from the shadows and started running toward the group. Eugene, frightened, instantly ducked behind the woman named Alanna. The skeletal monster charged forward with unnerving speed, its bony limbs clattering against the rocky ground. However, the adventurers didn''t seem perturbed by its appearance, even less as it targeted the heavily armored man at the front. The monster raised its corroded weapon and brought it down swiftly, only for it to bounce off the man''s armor. In a matter of moments, the creature''s body crumbled from a direct hit by the man''s large two-handed blade, and its remains were now scattered on the ground. "Looking for something back there?" Alanna turned to Eugene who was hiding behind her like a scared rabbit. Her tone was teasing, and the young man quickly straightened himself out after realizing what he had done. His face went red from embarrassment as he stammered out an excuse, but Alanna merely chuckled and patted him on the back reassuringly. "N-no I was just a little startled by the reflection the torches made, it made it look like there were more of them coming." "Sure there were. Come on, Eugene, let''s keep moving. We''ve got to finish the job Master assigned to us." "Yeah, sure¡­ but couldn''t he have just bought those crimson felle roots at the next action." "You know how he is, he''s impatient and doesn''t trust adventurers to handle them correctly. If you don''t dig them up in a specific way and store them instantly, they''ll lose half of their potency. You won''t be able to make good products with low-quality ingredients... or at least, that''s probably what he would say¡­" She shrugged in response to the question. The girl knew their master was a peculiar person, and perhaps had sent them here to gain more life experience. Her friend seemed quite scared and would likely learn a lot from this little expedition. "Now, let''s go, the Adventurers probably want to go back home just as much as you do." Eugene nodded and they ventured deeper into the dungeon cavern, the air grew thicker with the scent of damp earth and mildew. The torches lining the walls provided just enough light to illuminate their path, casting long shadows that danced eerily across the rocky terrain. Along the way, they continued to encounter more monsters but none of them proved to be much of a challenge for the experienced adventurers accompanying them. Despite Eugene''s initial fear, he began to relax slightly as they progressed, reassured by the competence of their hired protectors. Alanna, on the other hand, maintained her air of confidence, seemingly unfazed by the dangers lurking in the shadows. Eventually, they arrived at a long bridge that would bring them to the area they would find the roots. "I wonder how deep this is¡­" Once there, she couldn''t help but look down into the chasm, where nothing but darkness awaited them. The abyss seemed endless and no one had yet confirmed if there was anything valuable down there, due to the monsters occupying its side walls. People had tried already and sometimes people ended up falling to their death. "We are almost there, let''s just get it over with Alanna." "Yeah, I''m coming." There was nothing down there and she knew it but right as she was about to turn away from the depths she noticed something. A little glint of light shone from below and her curiosity was piqued. "Wait, there is something down there¡­" "There is?" Alanna asked Eugene, who for some reason had a frown on his face. The adventurers around them nodded at each other and moved forward as if they had something to add. Some time ago, there were mentions of monsters using bows to attack people traveling through the bridge. It hadn''t happened since, but they had to assume the worst and act accordingly. "Can you see something?" The armored man, seemingly the leader of the party, turned to the man wearing leather armor. This adventurer was clearly an archer, with eyes capable of seeing things at a distance much better than anyone else in the group. After urging the young woman to take a step back, he began to peek, and to his surprise, he was able to see something. "... There is something down there¡­ It''s a white bug and it''s getting chased by something¡­ shit, what are those things doing here." "What is it?" "Giant Shade Spiders¡­" "What?" Their leader replied in a panicked voice after hearing the words uttered by the archer. However, before he could panic any further, Alanna''s voice resounded from the side. "Calm down, those are only the Lesser variants and they seem to be rather small." She was holding a spyglass which was shining brightly. On the side a strange symbol could be seen, glowing and making her tool look otherworldly. The adventurers looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to have such a useful tool with her. Alanna quickly scanned the area below, focusing on the white bug being chased by the shadowy spiders. "It looks like some sort of insect... Wait, is that an ant? Not a regular one either but a¡­Gleaming Mana Ant and some sort of silvery variant of it! How, wonderful!" Her voice indicated excitement as she almost leaned over and fell into the chasm while looking through the magical spying glass. Her entourage wasn''t sure what she was saying and if the ant was dangerous but they knew that those spiders shouldn''t be there. "Can you get them?" "Sure, let me try." The leader made the decision to stay for the moment, knowing the characteristics of the spider monsters. Even if they were attempting to climb up, the brightness of the torches here should keep them at bay. While they didn''t take damage from the light, their senses couldn''t handle brightness too well. They would become disoriented in environments filled with light and avoid them. "..." An arrow was notched into the archer''s bow, and as he took aim, he held his breath. At first, he pointed at the malicious-looking spiders, but then an idea dawned on him. If they were chasing after the strange white insect, wouldn''t they seize the moment it was dead? There was no reason to waste his arrows on all of them if he could just get the white ant; then the spiders would probably retreat. Many times monsters frenzied into long chases, and only when their target was captured did they relent. "No, don''t!" However, before he could target the white ant, one of his clients grabbed his arm to stop him. It was the young girl that identified the ant with the help of a magical tool. "What are you doing? Get back!" The archer was puzzled by the young woman''s sudden interference, but she was still someone that he needed to listen to. He could tell that she was serious and perhaps there was some reason that he didn''t comprehend just yet. "Don''t kill it, don''t you know how rare Gleaming Mana Ants are?" "It''s rare?" "Yes, we''ll pay extra, we must capture it instead!" He was stunned by her words and quickly looked to the party leader for confirmation. The man thought for a second and nodded. It seemed he was intrigued by her words, and if the ant was indeed a rare monster, then they would be rewarded for catching it, or perhaps for the monster parts it could drop. After getting confirmation, the archer changed his target and started firing his arrows at the spider monsters instead. The archer''s arrows flew true, striking the pursuing spiders with deadly precision. One by one, the shadowy creatures faltered and tumbled off the walls, their bodies crashing down into the abyss below. Eventually, the creatures started slowing down as they approached the top of the chasm, where torchlights impeded their progress. The ant they were chasing seemed injured, even missing one of its legs, but it managed to crawl all the way up to safety. "It does look like a rare monster, I don''t think any books mentioned this evolutionary variant. Could it really be the first of its kind?" Eugene''s comment was heard by the adventurers who smiled. If what these kids were saying was true, then their commission from this easy mission could increase several times. Alanna couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She had been genuinely worried for the creature''s safety, she did not really care for the rewards that it could provide as her reasons were different. "Come on, let''s go help it! Oh, gosh, I can''t believe that this is happening!" The ant was able to crawl up the chasm but it didn''t look good. From up close, its body looked dented in a few regions and it seemed to be struggling to move. Alanna attempted to rush to the creature but she was stopped by one of the adventurers. "Stop, it''s still a monster and is dangerous." It was heavily injured, its status screen indicating that its hit points were in the single digits. At first, it seemed that the monster wanted to retaliate. Its antennae started wiggling around in an attempt to cast a spell. The adventurers surrounded the young woman to stop her from going any further, but before the monster could continue casting, it just flopped forward. "I told you that there was no danger, it just ran out of mana and stamina. If we don''t help it, it might die! Now let me through!" The adventurers reluctantly let the young woman through. Their biggest concern was her safety as if they allowed her to be harmed, then their heads would roll. Alanna carefully approached the injured ant and could barely hide her excitement. This was a rare opportunity to interact with such a unique creature, one that could potentially hold valuable insights into the world of monsters. As she knelt down beside it, she could see its silvery exoskeleton shimmering faintly in the torchlight. "Hey there, little one." Alanna spoke softly, extending a hand toward the barely moving ant. "It''s okay, I''m not going to hurt you." The shimmering monster didn''t react as it was fully passed out from exhaustion. She knew that the small creature wouldn''t last long and if it wasn''t taken out of this dungeon, then its life would probably end. "How did this thing come here, it doesn''t look to be a dungeon spawn but an independent monster." "Interesting isn''t it? Perhaps there is an ant colony down there¡­ but how did it even survive? This variant usually gets eaten right after birth or is unable to hatch by itself. It needs to absorb a lot of light which is usually non-existen in the ant made tunnels, very interesting." "You''re quite knowledgeable about this stuff, are you trying to become a tamer or something?" "This is just simple monsterology, you should know this too!" "We don''t all have time to read obscure knowledge in our free time¡­" Eugene seemed annoyed by the claim but also interested in the creature''s origins. It was a known fact that dungeons could connect to outside spaces where other monsters resided. This seemed to be the case here too as within one dungeon, monsters that were created there would not attack each other. "Young Miss, what are you planning to do with that?" "We are going to take it with us, of course." She quickly replied while also moving behind her friend Eugene. The young man was wearing a rather large backpack, and from within it, she pulled out a rectangular box. After placing it on the ground, she pressed her thumb against a strange symbol, which soon began glowing with the same magical light as her spyglass earlier. The box started to expand in size, transforming into something that resembled a cage with a handle on top. "It''s good that I took the monster cage with me, now we can bring this ant back and show it to Master! This is much better than those boring roots!" "Master will punish us if we don''t bring them back though." "You''re right¡­ I suppose you''ll have to carry this little for the time being." "Huh? Why me?" "Because we can''t have the adventurers do it, they need their hands for the weapons. Don''t worry, I''ll take the backpack." Alanna''s quick decision left Eugene with no room to argue. With a resigned sigh, he accepted the cage and placed the ant inside. To help it regain health, a potion of healing was poured over its form. While it would not restore the missing leg, it would take care of some of the injuries. The ant stirred slightly as the healing potion took effect, its once-lifeless antennae twitching faintly. Eugene secured the cage''s lid and, with some effort, lifted it, the weight surprising him despite the ant''s small size. "Careful now, Eugene." Alanna cautioned, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You don''t want to drop our new friend." "Yeah, yeah. Let''s just get this over with." He nodded, though his annoyance was clear. Soon the group resumed their trek through the dungeon. Meanwhile, in another location, a different scene was unfolding. A suit of bronze armor had finally reached a safe ledge, which led into an illuminated tunnel¡­ Chapter 42 - 40 – Back In The Dungeon. Rusty began his ascent towards the distant lights. His body was not meant for climbing, but with the help of his weight control skill, he was able to manage. The winds that had previously plagued their ascent had dwindled, allowing him to move forward. He could sense that some spiders still lurked around, but his metallic form was far less appealing to them than flesh. Rusty pressed onward, methodically placing each step and testing each grip to ensure stability. His weight control skill helped, but he had to be cautious - one misstep could send him plummeting back down into the chasm. The ascent was slow, but luckily the illuminated cave wasn''t far off, and right before his weight control skill was to reach its limit, he managed to grab onto the ledge. He hauled himself up, using the last moments of his weight control skill to hoist his armored body onto the ledge. With a final push, Rusty pulled himself up, his metallic body clanging against the rocky surface. The faint light he had seen from below now glowed before him, casting eerie shadows on the cavern walls. It was something he remembered, a torch found inside of the dungeon he came from. The ledge led into a cavern and cleary, he had returned to the dungeon he came from. "...t¡­.u¡­.r¡­.e.." "It''s that voice again, it must be the Dungeon Heart." The voice had returned during his climb here but it was a lot more silent than before. He couldn''t even tell what it was trying to say to him and he was also not compelled to listen to it, something that he had expected to be the case. His mind was elsewhere, the dungeon didn''t really matter as the issue with Gleam persisted. "Gleam, where are you¡­" Rusty looked at his status screen, but nothing had changed with the grayed-out status. He wanted to call the Demon Lord or the Hero for advice, but he had used up all of his MP. Crushing a mana stone was an option, but perhaps finding out where he was exactly was more important. He knew that his guides had no tracking skills, and neither did he. Even if they could confirm Gleam''s survival, it wouldn''t help. It was best to assume that she was out there somewhere and go looking. "I don''t see any spiders here, nor are there any on the walls, the one I fought might have been the last one¡­" Rusty took a moment to survey his surroundings, trying to get a sense of direction. The illuminated cave was similar to the dungeon he hailed from but slightly different. He didn''t remember there being any bioluminescent fungi on the walls. There was no point in climbing into the chasm and going up, as there were no reachable ledges. It seemed that the best he could do was to follow this tunnel and see if he could reach the top another way. There was a big possibility that he had ended up in one of the lower levels of his dungeon. He knew that these floors always led to a set of stairs through which he would probably reach the chasm from a different side. "There is no time to lose, I need to find her!" It was a strange feeling and he wasn''t quite sure why he was acting this way. He had not spent much time with the small ant, but he had grown attached to it for some reason. Each time he imagined his friend being hurt or killed, a strange feeling of discomfort took over. He didn''t like it, and he would not let anyone hurt his new friend - this much he knew. Soon he started moving, his hands holding a shield and an arming sword, better suited than a longsword for this corridor. "I''m really back in the dungeon." It didn''t take him long to encounter his first monster who was like a mirror image of himself. It was another living armor type made out of bronze. He could not see any corroded parts on its armor though, which confirmed that he was at a lower level than before he fell into the chasm. Classification: Bronze Armor L2 F+ Type: Magical/Inorganic "It''s only an F-rank?" To make things more peculiar, the monster seemed to be of lower ranking than him. They both looked almost identical, though his twilight bronze gave him a somewhat deeper luster than regular bronze. This did seem like the immediate evolution from the corroded bronze armor and probably meant that his twilight variant gave him some kind of edge. However, while he was contemplating what to do, his metallic friend also spotted him. "Hello? Have you perhaps seen a small white ant? Her body is covered in silver and she is quite peppy¡­" Rusty stopped himself from talking as he remembered that these dungeon monsters never really had a mind of their own. They were more like puppets controlled by the Dungeon Heart, a fact he had learned from Aburdon. The true problem was the voice that was slowly vanishing from inside his mind. If what the Demon Lord said was true, then perhaps this monster here was not his friend anymore. Just as he expected the bronze armor monster didn''t respond to his inquiry, instead, it raised its shield and brandished its sword, preparing to engage in combat. It had the same equipment as him and approached him as a sort of skewed mirror. However, he was not afraid as his rank was higher and he also had one further advantage, his intelligence. Without hesitation, the monster charged forward with its arming sword raised - a pattern he knew well because he had used it before. The monster executed attacks that he already knew: power slash, power thrust, and a shield bash. All of them came his way, and he either sidestepped or defended himself with the help of his own shield. His opponent was like an older version of himself, lacking any semblance of battle experience. The bronze armor was not adapting to his way of fighting, and soon, all of its mana points had been drained. This was what he had been waiting for, and soon, his own shield bashed the other armor, making it hit the nearby wall. His opponent had the same strengths but also the same weaknesses. Its body was hollow on the inside, and just like the adventurers did to him, he did the same to his opponent, which found itself tipped over on the ground. "I should probably change my weapon." Before leaving the underground tunnels filled with insects. He had recreated all the weapons that were produced inside of the Soul Forge. His arming sword was good against opponents made of flesh, but living armors like Rusty were quite resistant against slashing damage. To defeat his opponent he took out a mace and even though he lacked proficiencies for it, this blunt weapon was much better to defeat his foe. The monster attempted to stand but found its helmet being dented under the bronze mace. His strikes were precise, but the monster didn''t seem to have a core yet. However, this was still a weak point; when the helmet was struck, its vision was also affected. Continuous strikes rained down on the monster''s body, causing it to take a lot of damage. Even without a core, if its HP pool was depleted, the monster would die like any other being. Soon, the defeated bronze armor collapsed into a heap of metal pieces, showing him what would happen if he ever died. "Its body can''t hold itself together anymore¡­" Rusty was a creature of mana and in some kind of way, his body was being held together by magic. Once it was gone, the body seemed to crumble into separate parts which to his surprise, he could take with him. This monster''s body was very similar to his and even though it was dented in a few places, most of the damage was on the helmet. You have gained +1 experience points. The rewards were all there and he had become able to kill the denizens of his own dungeon to become stronger. Even though he could take the other monster''s body as loot and store it in his inventory, it didn''t give him much joy. Without Gleam who loved to dance around, it all felt a lot less special. After packing up the monster parts for later, he pressed on through the dungeon. The eerie glow of the mushrooms illuminated his way as he continued to encounter other monsters. All of them seemed hostile now and impeded his progress. However, he kept moving and smashing them to pieces. His rank was above the creatures here, and with a few swings of his weapon, the skeletons, living armors, and zombies were quickly dispatched. "Huh? This statue, I think they always appear close to the stairs¡­" His previous knowledge of the first and second levels proved important. He identified a skeletal statue that was usually found near paths close to staircases. Following this clue, he quickly arrived at a familiar-looking area and, without waiting, charged upwards. The chasm appeared on the second level, so once he arrived there, perhaps he would find Gleam''s whereabouts. Rusty climbed the final steps of the stairway, emerging onto the upper floor. He looked around as he had before, but he did not recognize this place either. There was a possibility that he was on the third floor now, but he had no way of confirming it. "I need to keep moving." His mind was made up: he needed to reach the chasm through which he had fallen. It was his only clue, as he assumed that Gleam continued climbing up after hiding him under some rocks. He ignored the monsters around him and rushed toward his destination. The creatures were annoying, but they would eventually be left behind once he found the next set of stairs. "Huh?" As he was moving through the corridors something caught his visor, the status of Gleam on his screen had shifted. It was for a second but her status did turn normal for a moment before going back to gray. He wondered why this happened and decided to take a few steps back towards a corridor he previously ignored and once there, it happened again. "Does this mean that she is close?" Once the status returned to normal, it updated all of her stats. Her health pool seemed to have restored itself but she had various other status effects listed now. One of them was an ''exhaustion'' status along with a ''fainted'' one. Then there was one that concerned him the most ''missing limb''. It was clear that his friend had suffered a lot of damage but she semed to be still alive. "Maybe if I go this way?" Rusty assumed that the status update indicated he was getting closer to Gleam''s location. Just knowing that she was alive already alleviated his mood. She had been injured and even lost a limb, but perhaps it could be healed or restored after another evolution. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don''t worry Gleam, I''m on my way!" With hope restored, he began running through the dungeon tunnels. Along the way, he picked up a row of skeleton soldiers which kept pursuing him all the way until he reached a new set of stairs. It had already taken him some time to get here, and he also noticed that Gleam''s status had begun to flicker. It was as if she was moving away from him now, which was strange considering she had the fainted status. He continued upwards, finally reaching a familiar area: the entrance to the third floor he had been unable to pass through in the past. It seemed that he was on the right track, and his friend had managed to climb out of the chasm. However, for some reason, she was moving away from him again as her status began to flicker. The monsters didn''t seem capable of mercy, which meant that perhaps someone else was at fault. With haste, he moved towards the area where it all started: the bridge he had used to combat some of the adventurers. He had fallen into the chasm below, and it looked the same as before. However, Gleam was not here; instead, a few monsters stood in his way. Just like before, he decided to ignore them. After dodging one attack and allowing a weapon to hit his body for almost no damage, he pushed onward through the bridge. Once on the other side, he started looking around, and a little glimmer caught his eye. "This¡­ she was here." Near the edge of the chasm, a glint of silver caught his eye. It was a small shard, unmistakably part of his friend''s body, and confirmed her presence in this place. He could only surmise that she had fallen into the hands of adventurers, who, for some unknown purpose, kept her alive. As he looked around this floor, he saw no sign of them. It suggested they had either ascended to higher floors or remained on this one. The chase continued and the monsters in his way were swiftly dealt with as he pressed forward. His mind was focused solely on finding Gleam, and nothing would stand in his way. As he moved deeper into the dungeon, the air grew heavier with the scent of damp earth, and the sound of echoing footsteps filled the corridors. Rusty knew he was getting closer; he could feel it in his metallic core. Suddenly, he heard voices ahead, echoing off the stone walls of the dungeon. Rusty approached cautiously, his grip tightening on his weapon. After peering around a corner, he saw a rather large group of humanoid adventurers. They were moving through a dimly lit chamber. There were seven of them, with two peculiar individuals in the middle. Rusty noticed that their clothes were rather out of place and lacked any form of armor. The other adventurers gathered around them, in some type of protective formation. His attention was drawn to a peculiar box held by one of them, and in that moment, he realized that Gleam had been seized by these strangers. Her silvery ant body seemed to be inside a cage that one of these people was carrying. This sight filled Rusty with a sense of dread and rage. His friend, Gleam was in their hands, and he couldn''t stand idly by while she was kidnapped. He needed to save her from this group of adventurers but they outnumbered him seven to one. If he just jumped in without a plan, it could bring death to him and perhaps his friend as well. However, before he could devise a plan, a lot of noise from behind appeared again. ''Those guys never stop¡­ wait¡­'' A horde of monsters, whom he had dashed past in his pursuit, now trailed closely behind him, their numbers swelling as they summoned reinforcements. Though they remained his foes, the group of adventurers was not aligned with them either. This presented an opportunity: with the creatures serving as a diversion, he could rescue Gleam and then quickly retreat to a safer area. He just needed to get the cage and run¡­ Chapter 43 - 41 – Darkness Takes Hold. "Can we hurry up? This place is giving me the creeps" Eugene muttered while looking around nervously. "Haven''t you gotten used to it, Eugene? You know we''ll have to come back here for other errands eventually. The Master likes fresh materials," Alanna replied while Eugene didn''t seem too thrilled at the prospect of delving into the dark, monster-infested dungeon again. "Yeah, yeah, but I just don''t like it. Let''s get this thing back to the Master and be done with it. We''d already be out if you hadn''t brought that thing along. Why do I still have to carry it?" "Hey, don''t call Anty a thing!" Alanna shot back, angry at Eugene''s complaint about the strange white ant they had discovered. The ant was currently deep asleep, but carrying a monster made Eugene shiver with fear. He worried that once it awoke, it might attack him. "Then you carry it! What if it has some poisonous skill that the cage can''t defend against, and my arms melt?" Eugene retorted as the fear he was feeling was real and he wished to be out of this situation "That''s not what a Gleaming Ant does... but I guess it could know a spell like that¡­" Alanna grinned, watching for her friend''s reaction. Eugene flinched at the thought of the spell, but once he realized Alanna was toying with his emotions, he responded with annoyance. "Very funny. Just get us out of here before I regret agreeing to this." He grumbled, adjusting his grip on the ant''s cage and quickening his pace. They were nearing the stairs leading to the second level, and once there, it wouldn''t be long until they reached the exit. Despite the labyrinthine structure of the dungeon''s tunnels, with a map in hand, it was easy to navigate through them with relative ease. However, as they were approaching the last larger chamber before the stairs, some noise resounded from behind them. "There is something there¡­" One of the adventurers called out, and they all quickly formed into a defensive formation. They appeared bored and tired, not expecting anything troublesome. The creature that emerged didn''t seem overly dangerous as it was just a piece of living armor. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but one of the adventurers noticed something odd. "Hey, doesn''t that thing look strange? Why doesn''t it have any holes or corroded areas¡­?" The keen-eyed archer, accustomed to assessing details even in poorly lit chambers, observed some peculiarities. The monster resembled the living armors they encountered before, but it didn''t belong on this floor. In dungeons, monsters were typically limited to specific floors, and this version of the living armor should only appear around the fifth floor, not on the second. "So what? Isn''t it just a Bronze Armor? It''s still an F-rank monster, leave it to me, I need some practice with these things." As one of the adventurers called out and began to approach the unexpected monster, their leader remained silent but vigilant, studying the new creature intently. He couldn''t shake the feeling that something unusual was happening in the dungeon. Rumors of strange living armor spawns had circulated before, leading him to consider the possibility that this encounter was another instance of such an anomaly. Dungeons were known to occasionally shift, making this theory plausible. The monster was acting strangely at first as it looked not at the man that was approaching it but Eugene instead. It had no eyes to speak of but could still turn its helmeted head, which gave the young man another scare. This was quite unusual as dungeon monsters were known for attacking the person that was closest to them. There existed a concept known as a hidden hostility rating, which could be heightened by various means. The simplest way to increase this animosity of monsters was to provoke them by attacking or making loud noises. Then certain classes possessed skills that amplified this hidden rating, and they were known as tanks. These tanks had provoking abilities that diverted enemy attention, allowing other party members to focus on offense rather than defense. In this instance, the monster should have immediately charged at the approaching man due to his proximity. However, its reaction seemed strangely delayed and indicated a deviation from the expected behavior. It was acting more as an independent monster than one seen in a dungeon, and also one that had a functioning brain, not something usually found in living armors. "Watch out, it''s acting strange." "Don''t worry, I won''t lose to a living armor!" The man called out to the adventurer leader, armed with a shield and mace, the standard equipment for dealing with hollowed-out monster armor. The weight of the mace made it effective for staggering monsters, while denting their armor would gradually impede their movements. Finally, the monster took off, running in the man''s direction as it attacked. "Come on then!" The adventurer smacked his shield several times, creating an echo of noise typically intended to draw and hold the monster''s attention. The man hoped to divert the creature from Eugene, whom it was fixated on. However, to everyone''s astonishment, the monster''s behavior took an unexpected turn. Just as it was about to engage the adventurer, it abruptly halted, glanced to the side, and swiftly bolted toward one of the side exits of the chamber. "Huh?" Inside the dungeon, confusion reigned supreme. The strange behavior of the metallic monster defied all expectations and their understanding. The Adventurers scratched their heads in bewilderment, grappling with the bizarre situation that just unfolded before them. Then, just as they contemplated retreating to the first-floor staircase, chaos erupted. "Wait... what''s that sound?" An ominous noise echoed from the corridor the previous monster had emerged from. The clattering of bones soon followed, accompanied by groans and the grating of corroded metal. Before their eyes, every known type of monster for this floor materialized before them, and they converged on the group with a single-minded focus. "Where did all these monsters come from?" "Why are there so many?" The adventurers exchanged bewildered glances as the horde of monsters approached them. While they were all low-level mobs, they were coming in numbers that could even overwhelm a well-equipped party. Panic set in as they realized their predicament, but their leader quickly regained his composure. "Stay calm! They are just low-level trash!" The man stepped forward, positioning himself as the first line of defense. His heavier armor and larger frame served as a barrier against the oncoming horde. The monsters consisted of various skeletal soldiers wielding corroded bronze weapons, slow-moving zombies, and corroded suits of armor following close behind. They advanced rapidly, and the adventurers needed to protect the two non-combatants in their midst. "Form up! Protect Eugene and Alanna!" The leader commanded, his voice cutting through the clamor. The adventurers quickly assumed a defensive formation around Eugene and Alanna. The heavily armored man braced himself, raising his shield and prepared to intercept the first wave of skeletal soldiers. His mace swung down with a resounding thud, shattering bones and denting armor, buying precious moments for the others to ready themselves. "We need to hold them off until we can retreat!" Another adventurer shouted, slashing at an approaching zombie. Despite the onslaught, the group worked in unison, their movements synchronized by years of training and experience. They knew their survival hinged on maintaining their formation and fending off the relentless tide of monsters. The situation might have looked dire but their leader knew that all these monsters were not their equal. As long as they defended against the initial push and then retreated towards the stairs going up, then they would be safe. The adventurers fought valiantly, their weapons cutting through the swarming undead and living armor creatures. The air filled with the sounds of clashing metal, the groans of the undead, and the shouts of the adventurers. Despite their skills and coordination, the sheer number of monsters pressed them and threatened to overwhelm them. However, slowly but surely, they inched towards the exit, their plan to run once they created some space becoming their beacon of hope. "That''s it, now everyone, into the tunnel!" The two noncombatants they were hired to protect moved first, guided by one of their party members acting as their sole guard. The remaining four adventurers stayed back, forming a defensive line to hold off the monster horde long enough for the slower noncombatants to reach the safety of the tunnel. "Go! We''ve got you covered!" Eugene along with Alanna started running, the cage with the monster ant was slowing them down but they were unwilling to let their prized find go. The adventurer who assisted them kept a vigilant watch over them as it was always possible for more monsters to arrive. "Let''s go, the stairs to the next level aren''t far from here, once we are there¡­huh?" The man glanced back at the duo while speaking, a momentary lapse in his focus. From the side, unnoticed in his periphery, something emerged; it was not a monster, but a weapon hurtling toward him at incredible speed. Before he could react, his leg was struck, the force of the blow shallowly piercing through his armor. "Argh!" Pain shot through him as he shouted out, the sudden attack catching him off guard. As he struggled to regain his footing, the attacker revealed himself to be the same lone monster that had previously appeared. It was now standing in the corridor leading to the safe spot, holding a shield and a longsword¡­ ***** Rusty stood before the three humans he had lured here, his plan successful in separating them. He knew the first and second levels of the dungeon thoroughly, having been born here. Rusty wasn''t sure why, but the five adventurers were protecting the two people holding Gleam hostage. These two seemed rather weak but important to this group. In hopes of separating them, Rusty devised a strategy to divert the attention of the other adventurers. The other monsters saw him as an enemy and he knew well how all of them operated. Once they started chasing a target, they would not relent and also call their friends for aid. In no time he had a large swarm of his old allies chasing after him. Then, Rusty quickly retreated into one of the other many tunnels which the layout he was aware of. It didn''t take him long to reach the area before the stairs leading to the first floor. He anticipated that his enemies would attempt to flee and just as he predicted, they came. His bronze spear was thrown to injure the lone adventurer and now he just needed to take care of this man and Gleam would be saved. With the lone adventurer injured and the others preoccupied with holding off the monster horde, Rusty saw an opportunity to rescue Gleam. His metallic frame moved swiftly as he closed the distance between him and the two individuals holding the cage containing Gleam. However, the injured man wasn''t down yet and he quickly put himself between the two people Rusty was charging at. "Stay back, monster." As The two humans, Eugene and Alanna instantly panicked but the adventurer set up a solid defense. Rusty attempted to rush the two but had to deal with the adventurer first. His emotions were running wild and he could barely control his rage, his sword connected with the man''s shield to generate quite the loud tone. "Ugh¡­" The man buckled under the pressure of the hit, forced to take a knee. The injury was enough to allow Rusty to press forward, closing the distance between himself and the two individuals. His aim was not to fight here; he just wanted to take the cage that Gleam was in and then make a run for it. Unfortunately, the two people there didn''t know that, and the shorter of the two retaliated by throwing a strange vial in his direction. "Get back!" It was a sloppy throw and wasn''t backed by any skill. Rusty wasn''t aware of what he was dealing with so he pressed on without stopping. The thing didn''t even seem to be aimed at his body and it would just collide with the ground before him. However, once it did connect with it, an explosion ensued, sending a shockwave of force outward. Rusty was thrown back, his metallic frame clanging against the tunnel''s walls. Being a creature of metal, Rusty didn''t suffer any backlash from getting his body shaken around. There were no ears or brains to be rattled around. The injuries he suffered had been absorbed by his bronze body, and he was back on his feet in a matter of seconds. Gleam was right there, and he would not let her get kidnapped by these strange people. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alanna, you missed¡­" "I can see that, you don''t need to remind me¡­" "Well, throw another one?" "I ¡­ I only brought one with me¡­" He noticed the duo scrambling to their feet, their faces wrought with panic. He couldn''t let them escape with Gleam, not after everything he had been through to find her. Rusty charged forward, running straight at the two with the intention to cut them down if they dared to get in his way. "Hey, this is a bad time to joke about, do something¡­ That thing is going to kill us both!" The man called Eugene was panicking the most as the two found themselves with no place to run. Rusty approached and the adventurer who had been injured would not be able to push through the pain. Everything pointed towards his victory, however right as he was about to close in on the two that were holding Gleam hostage, he appeared. "Leader!" It was the party leader; he had arrived at the scene and positioned himself between the two as their sole protector. Rusty did not stop and instead increased his pace. His sword slammed down forward, accompanied by his Power Slash skill. However, his opponent blocked his strike with their own sword, causing sparks to fly. "This thing¡­" The man''s tone indicated that he was surprised by the sheer power that the bronze armor could exert. Rusty was obviously not a regular bronze variant but a unique Twilight evolution. His might eclipsed any bronze armor that came before him, and his opponent found himself in a deadlock. None of them was budging an inch as it seemed that they were equals. ''Get out of my way!'' Rusty pushed forward with all his strength, his mind focused solely on reaching Gleam and freeing her from captivity. However, the adventurer leader proved to be a formidable opponent, matching Rusty blow for blow. With each exchange, Rusty felt a growing sense of frustration. His friend was right there but he couldn''t get to her and with each passing second he wasted, would be one that his enemies gained. His frustration reached an apex and suddenly the aura around his being shifted. "Wait, what is that?" Alanna called out while pointing forward, and the adventurer leader could see it too. There was a change in his opponent, a dark substance started seeping forth from his body. It looked like a fog made of darkness and it exploded in all directions. Upon coming in contact with the man Rusty was fighting, it started causing his veins to blacken and his eyes to bleed pitch-black blood... Chapter 44 - 42 – Escape. "Get back!" Once again the adventurer leader shouted, pushing Eugene and Alanna away from the spreading dark fog. The mysterious substance oozing from the armor''s metallic body was like nothing they had ever seen, and its effects were horrifying. The leader himself staggered back, clutching his arm where the fog had made contact. His skin was turning black, the corruption spreading rapidly. "What is that stuff? Is it poison¡­ no it looks different, the color is off¡­ could it be?" Alanna shouted while pulling Eugene up to the floor, the young man fearful. The adventurer leader had seemed to be able to contend with the strange suit of armor. It "What is it?" "I think it''s dark magic." "D-dark magic? But isn''t that only something high-ranking demons use?" Eugene replied to Alanna while trying to move to the side and towards the path leading out. The Dark Magic she mentioned was something people knew and feared. It was one of the reasons that all other races dreaded demonic beings. The way the adventurer leader''s veins turned darker was a clear sign. Its properties of corruption were well known, and the presence of it here could easily shift the tides of battle. "It should be¡­ and most demons have been gone since¡­" "Stop talking, that doesn''t matter, we need to get out of here!" The monster approached, its body and blade covered in a dark mist that was slowly spreading in all directions. There seemed to be some kind of area of effect around this being, as the smoke was evaporating instantly after passing a certain threshold. The adventurer leader noticed this but wasn''t sure what to do about it. His stamina was being drained, and he didn''t need to look at his status window to know it. If this continued for too long, he would probably pass out, and the monster would massacre them all. "Party Leader, hold on!" There was finally some good news as an arrow flew from the side and connected with the armored creature. The steel tip hit the monster''s pauldron but, unfortunately, it bounced off its armored frame, leaving only a scratch. However, the reinforcements were there but what could they achieve if they could not approach the monster? "Don''t come close, if you touch the black mist, you''ll be drained of your vitality." The newcomers were the three adventurers who had been keeping the horde of monsters busy. As previously planned, they were to quickly follow after and meet Alanna and Eugene at the staircase. However, the bronze monster was now blocking their way and seemed unwilling to let them pass. For some reason, it kept its gaze fixed on the two non-combatants who were in a state of panic. "Take those two up the staircase, I''ll do something about this thing and meet you back up." "But leader, wouldn''t it be better to fight it together?" "No, we don''t have enough time." Monster groans and the clattering of bones started echoing from the distance. A large portion of the monster horde had not been defeated and was still gaining on them. If they let the bronze monster block their path forward, they would be overrun. Once the mist surrounded all of them, even the weaker monsters would be able to dispatch their entire party, and this was not something the party leader wanted. "But¡­" "I''ll be fine, I won''t die to one monster that easily, now go." The well-armored man shouted at his party, possibly giving his last order. He was responsible for their survival but was not planning to die here alone. He lowered his center of gravity while shielding his body, an aura surrounded his body which resembled a bull as he activated a skill. Then, he launched himself at the armored being, aiming to push it into one of the walls or even into the hidden side tunnel. The mist it was generating had a limit, so if he managed this, his allies would be able to run through. His plan was desperate but necessary. With a burst of strength, he charged at the bronze armor monster, hoping to push him away from the corridor and clear a path for his companions. The bull-like aura enveloped him, granting him the force needed for such a maneuver. The creature seemed to anticipate the attack and braced itself but was caught off guard by the sheer power of the charge. "Get out of our way!" The leader roared, colliding with Rusty and driving him backward. The impact sent a reverberating clang through the tunnel as Rusty struggled to maintain his footing. His dark mist swirled around them, but the leader''s protective aura kept him from succumbing to its draining effects immediately. For a moment, it seemed the leader might succeed in pushing the monster into a side tunnel. "Now! Go, everyone!" The leader''s voice echoed as the rest of the party seized the opportunity. They helped Eugene and Alanna to their feet, urging them towards the staircase. Alanna, clutching the cage with the Gleaming Ant inside, followed closely behind, her heart pounding. Eugene, still shaking with fear, stumbled but was pulled along by one of the adventurers. "We''re almost there! Just a little further, don''t look back." One of the adventurers called out, guiding the group towards the staircase. Behind them, the leader continued to grapple with the monstrous armor. While he had started off strong and nearly rammed the monster into the side tunnel. However, something went terribly wrong. The bronze being''s weight began to increase, and soon its metallic feet were cracking the ground beneath them. The dark mist was still there, and the man''s plan was backfiring. He had intended to throw the monster into the tunnel and quickly escape, but now he was getting swallowed up by the mist without being able to move the monster an inch further. His knees started to buckle and his vision blurred. The effect of the dark fog was starting to affect his senses and he could not keep himself steady. His grip on the shield he was using to push the monster away was slipping away, and the monster seized the moment. With a powerful shove, he pushed the leader back, sending him sprawling to the ground. The creature stood tall, his bronze frame glinting ominously in the dim light of the tunnel, the dark mist swirling around him like a shroud. The adventurer leader tried to get back on his feet, but his body felt heavy, his strength sapped by the dark magic. He looked up at his opponent and focused on the longsword it was holding in its right hand. The people he was hired to protect had probably reached the stairs and were safe. He could only laugh at his bad luck as the monster approached. His life flashed before his eyes as he closed them but to his surprise, nothing happened, instead of getting impaled on the blade the monster just charged forward. "Huh?" It was quite an anomaly, and he didn''t know what this thing wanted. However, even though he was momentarily safe from the fury of the monster and the darkness that surrounded it vanished along with it, he was still not safe. The large group of lesser monsters was still there, crawling in his direction, and they clearly wanted to end his life. "I won''t die here¡­" The man felt strength return to his fingers as he grasped his weapon tightly. Despite the odds stacked against him, he refused to go down without a fight. With a determined expression, he braced himself for the onslaught of the lesser monsters. His party members, on the other hand, had finally reached the stairs leading to the first floor. "It should be safe right? Should we wait for him here?" "What do you mean wait? Let''s just get out of here!" Alanna frowned at how Eugene was acting. They had reached the dungeon stairs leading up and everyone knew that it was a safe zone against monsters. No dungeon monsters could hope to cross up or down in this area. However, in their hasty escape they had forgotten one thing, the monster chasing them was unique. "Wait¡­ what''s that?" "Is it him? Did he make it back?" One of the four adventurers pointed out in the direction of the tunnel they had previously used. They saw the glint of armor reflected in the dim light and at first, they assumed that it was their party leader. He wore quite robust armor which could be easily identified from a distance. Thus, as they looked closer, they realized that it wasn''t their leader at all. The figure approaching them was different, with an aura of darkness swirling around it. "That''s not him¡­ it''s that damn monster, did it kill him?" "That''s not the problem¡­ we need to get out of here, look at where it is." The party tensed up as they noticed that this monster had already passed the threshold. It was somewhere that regular dungeon mobs could not be, it told them that these stairs were not a safe heaven anymore and that they needed to continue running. While the horde of the monsters would not reach them, this one armor and the dark fumes it was producing would certainly get them. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Damn monster!" Their archer let off another arrow, but after it collided with the monster''s chest, it just bounced off again. Even though it was seemingly just bronze armor, it had a much higher durability, something the arrows they were using couldn''t pierce. Without seeing another option, they all nodded and took off running. "We need to leave the dungeon. Even if it follows us all the way there, with the help of the guards, we can defeat it." The group felt frustrated that they couldn''t approach the monster. In reality, it wasn''t all that strong. Without the constant haze of dark miasma around it, they would probably be able to defeat it with the group here. Even their leader could probably win in a fair confrontation. However, at the moment, they needed to fulfill their mission, and it seemed that this thing didn''t want to let them escape. Soon, all of them took off running and appeared on the first floor. "Don''t look back, just focus on getting out of the dungeon." Two of the adventurers moved forward to push away any first-floor monsters that would get in their way. While they knew the fastest way to escape, there would probably be some monsters in their way. Though those creatures were rather weak, they could still slow them down. Thus their escape continued and even without looking back, they could hear the metallic footsteps of their pursuer. The group ran through the dimly lit corridors of the dungeon, their footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. Despite their fatigue, they pushed forward, driven by the urgency of their situation. Behind them, the sound of the pursuing monster grew louder with each passing moment, its metallic footsteps reverberating through the tunnels. Some monsters interrupted their escape attempt and continued to slow them down. The adventurers pushed them to the side, not wasting any time on combat. Each time, the living armor gained on them and continued to chase them like some kind of otherworldly being. Even when they encountered other adventurers, it continued to chase after only them, as if it had marked them for death. Their group finally burst through the initial exit leading out of the dungeon. Soon, they would reach the stairs leading up to the surface. However, the metallic creature showed no sign of relenting; it pushed forward into the outer regions of the dungeon, a place rarely traversed by its kind. "What kind of thing is this? Could this be a dungeon break? Are the other monsters going to flood outside?" Called out Eugene, his face pale and filled with sweat. His legs trembled from exhaustion, and he was unsure if he could muster the strength to ascend the next set of stairs. The group began to slow down as curiosity replaced their urgency. The dungeon was nearing its end, and by all rules, they should have been safe by now. Yet, the creature emerged, shrouded in the same dark mist, hurling itself toward the exit. It seemed unstoppable, until, to everyone''s surprise, it began to slow. The creature''s once steady pace faltered, as if it were walking against a powerful current in a river. Its metallic feet struggled to move further, and it became evident that even this formidable monster was confined by the dungeon''s boundaries. "Ha! Look at that stupid monster, it can''t move any closer!" The previously tired Eugene started to laugh as he realized that their pursuer could not move any further. This force of nature that had been running after them with relentless animosity was now held back by an invisible barrier. The group took a moment to catch their breath, relief washing over them as they realized they were safe for the time being. "Let''s not celebrate just yet. We need to get out of here and report this to the guild¡­ hey watch out!" Just as everything seemed safe, something strange happened. The monster seemingly out of nowhere, materialized a javelin. The adventurer who spotted it was the archer from the group and he wasn''t sure how he missed this detail. The throwing weapon was tossed and flew directly at the laughing Eugene who stumbled down in terror. "Ahh¡­s-save me." The javelin flew through the air with deadly accuracy, aimed directly at Eugene who had been laughing moments before. As he stumbled to the ground in terror, the others reacted quickly. Alanna reached out to grab him, pulling him out of harm''s way just in time. The javelin missed its mark, embedding itself into the stone wall behind them with a loud clang. "Are you alright?" "Y-yeah, I think so¡­" Eugene stammered, his heart pounding in his chest from the close call. He glanced back at the monstrous armor, fear creeping back into his eyes as he realized the danger they were still facing. "We need to keep moving¡­" The archer from the adventurer party urged everyone to move, the monster was able to produce hidden weaponry, and even if it couldn''t progress further, it could still pose a threat from a distance. The group hurried up the stairs, eager to distance themselves and the dungeon as much as possible. As they ascended, the sound of the monster''s metallic footsteps faded into the distance, eventually becoming nothing more than a faint echo. After emerging onto the surface, they were greeted by the soft glow of moonlight illuminating the night sky. The cool night air felt refreshing after the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon. Despite their exhaustion, they needed to continue, this issue had to be spread and the dungeon needed to be investigated. The strange creature was still inside and much too strong for any new adventurer to handle¡­ Chapter 45 - 43 – Future Plans. "W-we made it!" Exclaimed an out-of-breath man, clutching his chest and clearly exhausted. He was not alone; his friend was curled up on the side, clutching onto something entirely different. His gaze fell on that item, a small monster cage used for transporting milder species. Inside was a small white ant, twitching around. "You still took that thing with you? There is something wrong with you¡­" Eugene sighed. During their escape, he had abandoned the cage, prioritizing his own life. Alanna, on the other hand, insisted on bringing the monster with them. Now, they were certain that this ant was not born in the dungeon. A monster could not leave the dungeon it was created in, and even the strange armor that had chased them could not break this rule. Alanna, despite the exhaustion etched on her face, cradled the small cage gently. The Gleaming Ant inside twitched, its silvery-white body reflecting the moonlight. Eugene shook his head in disbelief and looked around to make sure that they were truly safe. Four adventurers were with them but some guards had also spotted them and began to approach. "We can''t rest yet. We need to get to the guild and report what happened," Said one of the adventurers, his voice steady despite the fatigue he was feeling. The group knew that the armor inside the dungeon was dangerous, it needed to be subjugated. With the darkness skill around its body, it could not be killed by low-level adventurers like them. "What''s going on here?" "Glad that you asked." One of the guards sprinted over to the adventurers to ask about the problem. However, before they could answer a high pitch screech erupted around them. Everyone found themselves covering their ears. Alanna took the brunt of this audible attack as the source was the cage with the Gleaming Ant inside. The small creature was giving out a spine chilling sound as it had awoken inside of a cage it didn''t want to be in. "Calm down, no one is going to hurt you." Alanna shouted while quickly pressing one of the magical symbols on the cage. In a flash, the piercing sound was gone and even though the ant continued, no one was affected by the skill it was using. The group of people turned to her with puzzled looks. The girls responded by laughing nervously. "Everything is under control now!" She assured them while the ant continued to rattle inside the cage. It was clear that the creature didn''t want to be there, but it also couldn''t escape. The strange magical symbols around it seemed to be draining its stamina, and it was already injured. Soon enough, the monster tired itself out and slumped forward, its insectoid eyes glancing at the entrance to the dungeon from which it had been forcibly taken, as if longing to return. ***** "I can''t¡­" Within the same dungeon a lone living armor stood, slamming his fists at a strange invisible wall that it could not cross. He had chased down the humanoid beings that abducted his friend but was forced to stop, right before he could cross the threshold of the dungeon''s entrance. Rusty, as the armor had come to be known, pounded against the unseen barrier with a sense of desperation. His friend was right there but there was no way of progressing any further. "What can I do? I need to think¡­" Rusty retreated a few steps, trying to get a grip on the strange emotions he was feeling. He wasn''t sure what to do; his friend was now gone, snatched away right before his eyes, and he had been powerless to stop it. During the chase, he had constantly used up the mana crystals he had taken from his previous lair, and only one remained. The swirling darkness around him could only function with the aid of magic doping, a state that would not be sustainable in the future. While thinking, he recalled a scene from the past. He had shot an arrow at adventurers on the second floor and missed. Once they were gone, he thought nothing of it, but they called for help from stronger people. It was now quite probable that after making such a huge scene, people would be after him. Staying in this location was dangerous, so he needed to retreat first and then think of a new plan. His aim was to save Gleam, but to do that, he needed to survive first. "Don''t worry¡­ I''ll find you Gleam¡­" He glanced at the dungeon stairs that he couldn''t approach, then finally turned around. The swirl of darkness emanating from his body subsided as he decided to conserve the rest of his mana. Soon he was making his way back into the dungeon that had become quite chaotic. A lot of monsters had followed after him and the adventurers he was chasing and now they had caught up. It had been a while, but Rusty had been created on this level. Navigating them was rather easy, and even though the monsters here were now aggressive towards him, they didn''t pose much of a threat. A few skeletons charged at him, but even after their blades connected with his body, they didn''t cause any damage. His durability exceeded the attacking power of these low-level F-rank monsters and wouldn''t even cause him to lose a single hit point. You have gained +1 experience points. "They are really weak¡­ weaker than those insectoids¡­" With just a single hit, the skeleton was defeated, and its friends followed suit. Rusty could see how much he had grown, as dispatching the other living armors could be done with a few shoves and strikes to their body parts. Normally, he would be feeling ecstatic, but without Gleam around, it didn''t feel the same. The other adventurers were luckily also busy with these monsters, which allowed him to head back down to his previous hiding spot on the first level. "I hope they will have an answer¡­" Rusty found himself at a loss for what to do. The situation had taken a turn he hadn''t predicted, but all hope was not lost. While Gleam was not here, there were two other beings he could turn to for help. The Hero and the Demon Lord had experienced this world for longer than he had, and perhaps they could show him the way forward. Thus, after making sure that he was alone, he activated the skill that would call both the guides here at once. While he knew that this would cause his mana to run dry fast, he was desperate. "Well well, if it isn''t Rusty, that was quite the spectacle, are you perhaps trying to become the next demon king?" First appeared Aburdon, the fallen Demon King, in the form of a black orb of light. He seemed rather amused by the predicament Rusty had found himself in and couldn''t stop himself from silently laughing. Next, the orb of white light appeared, representing the betrayed hero Alexander, who showed a bit more concern about Rusty''s situation. "It''s not easy to lose a friend, you could at least try to show some empathy." "Empathy? Friend? Hah, none of those are needed to become a king of demons!" Just like many times before, the two started arguing with each other about things of the past. If Rusty were a being of flesh, he would be sighing now. However, this was not the time to listen to these two bickering around. He needed knowledge about how to proceed, and he needed it now. "Enough, stop! I didn''t summon you here for your squabbling. I need your help," "Oh, how forceful? Did you really care about that little ant that much? You can just make another bonding contract later, what''s the big deal? How about you worry about yourself instead." The black orb replied and tried to shift the conversation in a different direction - survival. It was clear to everyone there that once things settled down, another party of adventurers would come to flush him out, just like before. And this time, they would likely do more than just toss him down a chasm. "I am but¡­ I have to save Gleam first, but I don''t know how to do that¡­" His metal head dropped as if he was at the end of his wits. He had thought that he had evolved enough to leave the dungeon by now as the voice wasn''t affecting his body anymore, and even the other monsters saw him as an outsider. However, for some reason, he was still unable to leave. "Well, there are a few ways of getting out of the dungeon. You did leave it already once, right?" The hero brought up this point, and Rusty realized that he was right. After falling into the chasm, he miraculously left the dungeon and the voice behind. That approach had many problems, though, as he would be attacked by shadowy spiders, and there was no way of knowing if any of those caves and tunnels led outside of the dungeon. "Good point Hero, we just need to build a ballista and fire Rusty out of the dungeon." Aburdon continued cackling while trying to make a joke but it seemed that the Hero had put some thought into this plan. If they accounted for Rusty''s restorative powers, it was plausible to perform an escape like this. "Why a ballista? If he could throw his helmet far enough, couldn''t he just restore himself on the other side?" "I''m not sure if that will work and even if it did, then what? Once he steps out the dungeon, he''ll be as good as dead." "That''s¡­ probably true¡­" There was one exit to the dungeon, and both of them knew that it was heavily guarded, with many adventurers moving between it. Even if Rusty managed to get outside, he would likely be swarmed by enemies from all directions. He could slip away, but it was quite a risky plan, not something that either of his consultants could propose. "Then what can I do? Are there other exits?" "Probably not." "But there has to be a way to get out¡­" "Hm¡­ there might be, but you''ll probably be just wasting your time. Even if you find a new exit or tunnel yourself outside, you''ll still be unable to leave." The demon lord cackled again as if he were having fun teasing the desperate piece of armor. Even if Rusty discovered a different exit, he would still be locked inside the dungeon. "However, I didn''t say there isn''t a way out of here." "Then stop wasting time and tell me!" "So impatient~" Rusty found himself shouting at the darkened ball of light and the power he held over the former demonic king was activated. Aburdon felt himself compelled to give a proper answer to the question and quickly answered. "Then listen to Rusty. You are a monster born of the dungeon, a creature summoned by the Dungeon Heart. If we consider this, then there are a few possibilities.First, if you destroye the demon heart¡­ you will be free!" "Destroy the Dungeon Heart?..." Rusty knew by this point that the voice inside of his head was this supposed dungeon heart. It controlled all of the monsters inside of the dungeon and was in a sense the dungeon he was in. "Are you mad? Do you know what happens if you destroy a dungeon heart?" "The dungeon will collapse but he will have some time to leave, that is, if he doesn''t crumble with the other dungeon monsters." "Don''t listen to him, Rusty. The monsters that were summoned by the dungeon heart will all disappear if it gets destroyed." There was a big problem with this tactic, and both Aburdon and Alexander knew it. While Rusty was a special monster and there was a possibility that he could survive, there was a significant chance that he wouldn''t. This was already evidenced by his inability to leave through the front exit. It was clear that he was still considered a monster born of the dungeon, and the heart didn''t wish for him to leave. "Are you tired of living demon king?" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Not really, I was just answering the question, that was just one of the paths Rusty can take. Considering his special deposition, he might be able to survive but¡­ can you stop interrupting and let me finish?" Rust nodded to indicate that he could continue with his proposition as perhaps one of them would end up saving Gleam. "I would also discourage you from destroying the demon heart. The whole place would probably collapse before you could find the exit." "Then what should I do? Reason with it, with that loud voice?" "Funny you mentioned that, Rusty, because that''s similar to what I was thinking." "What are you saying? How can he talk to a dungeon heart?" "You humans are really something. You use these dungeons to get stronger, but you don''t even know what they truly are." The hero was confused by the cryptic proposition, but there was apparently more to the dungeon than he expected. Alexander, like the other adventurers, had used the dungeon to get stronger and richer. Never once did he think about what these dungeons were; to everyone, they were more like natural resources than intelligent beings. "The dungeon hearts aren''t quite intelligent beings but they act like them and this we can use to our advantage. If my speculations are correct, then if our little Rusty could present himself as a big enough threat to the dungeon heart, it would sever the connection by itself." Soon, Aburdon laid out his entire plan, and Rusty started listening to the theory. It was rather simple: the dungeon heart apparently had a connection with each monster inside the dungeon. Through this connection, the dungeon monsters acted as a sort of antibodies, protecting the body that was the dungeon. Everything was connected and in a sort of balance. However, once Rusty appeared, it affected this balance, and the dungeon heart saw him as an anomaly. While the dungeon saw Rusty as an anomaly that needed to be purged, it still maintained its connection to him. It didn''t want to destroy him but rather have him die once and restore him to the being that had been summoned. In this way, it would get rid of the anomaly without losing the resources it used to create him. "But how will I cut this connection with the dungeon?" "I see a few ways. One possibility is to simply get stronger. Perhaps once you evolve, the connection will be severed. Other than that, you could create some chaos. Kill as many monsters as you can, and if that fails, perhaps injuring the dungeon heart could work. Once it sees you as a true threat, it will probably cut the connection. Remember, the dungeon heart is a living being, and every living being feels fear¡­" Rusty processed Aburdon''s words, feeling some apprehension about the deed. Destroying the dungeon heart sounded incredibly risky, but if causing enough chaos or getting stronger was something he could manage. "Do you really think this could work?" "It sounds plausible and the skill compels him to speak the truth¡­" "Hey you two, I can hear you!" Rusty asked Aleksander for confirmation before trusting the words of the demon king. It seemed that a plan was forming. To save Gleam he need to cause enough damage to the dungeon for it to see him as a real threat and for this to happen, he would need to delve deeper down and face stronger foes¡­ Chapter 46 - 44 – Hopeful. "Are you sure?" "It''s quite probable. Your ant friend should be safe for the time being, probably for another month, that is if they haven''t changed the guild rules since my untimely demise. Let me explain." A white orb replied to a strangely relieved-looking suit of armor. A plan was made to cause chaos and escape in this dungeon. However, this did not fix the immediate problem of Gleam being captured. Rusty posed a question about his friend''s safety, and the hero, familiar with the ways of adventurers, gave him some good news. "The ant." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Her name is Gleam." "Sure¡­ Gleam will probably go through an examination process. They will likely discover that she is under a bonding contract with someone. Normally, this will make them assume that she is owned by a Tamer." "A Tamer?" "Tamers are people that use monsters and beasts as their weapons, they are able to subjugate and control these creatures through these contracts, with the bonding one being a bit special, usually they use it for their first monster. Since Gleam bonded with you and you are still alive, the contract will come up during the first examination¡­" "So, that means that¡­" The hero sighed as he continued his explanation. He wasn''t sure what to make of Rusty. Sometimes, Rusty reacted like a child who didn''t know anything, while other times, his mind was sharper than an adult''s. His ability to strategically take out adventurers using traps showed his high intelligence, but he lacked a lot of the common sense a human would have. "That means that Gleam will be treated as someone''s tamed monster, there are laws prohibiting others from harming such monsters." "That''s great! So that means that Gleam is safe?" "At least for the time being¡­" "Time being? Is there more to it?" "Yeah, there are certain rules, or at least there were, but everything is on a timer. I think it was around a month. If no one claims a bonded monster, the guild would seize it and more than likely allow the people who captured Gleam to take possession of her. Even though you have a bonding contract, such things can be forcefully removed even if the owner is still alive." Rusty nodded at this revelation. It seemed that there were a lot of strange rules in the outside world populated by these humanoid beings. Luckily, these rules were working in his favor, as for the time being, it seemed that Gleam would be safe. Captured monsters like her would need to remain at a certain facility, and once there, they would stay for a month. During this time, nothing would happen to her, but eventually, after the timer ran out, the people who captured her could claim her as their possession and probably overwrite his bonding contract with a more unfavorable one. This meant that he had around a month to turn this place upside down and leave the dungeon he was born in. "Good, that will be enough, thank you." "No need to thank me, I''m just nothing but a skill¡­" "Stop being such a downer, little hero." The two lights started to vanish as Rusty canceled the skill before his mana ran out. During the conversation, he had already used up his last mana crystal to prolong their talk. He was now back to square one on the first floor of the dungeon. The only difference was that he was now being hunted not only by the adventurers but also by the dungeon heart. It wanted to kill him and restore his form to the one it could control, something he could not allow. "How should I start¡­ if Aburdon is right, then I might have to attack the dungeon heart directly or gain enough levels to evolve further." Rusty found himself back in the dim, musty corridors of the dungeon''s first level. His metallic body was still and silent as he contemplated his next steps. The weight of his newfound purpose - saving Gleam and breaking free from the dungeon pressed heavily onto his armored shoulders. "I''ll need to get stronger and do it fast, a month seems like long but it''s not¡­" Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L3 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 140/140 Magic Points [MP] 129/129 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 24 [ E- ] Agility 6 [ E- ] Dexterity 10 [ E- ] Constitution 25 [ E- ] Intelligence 12 [ E- ] Wisdom 14 [ E- ] Willpower 12 [ E- ] Durability E+ Rusty glanced at his status screen and his stats. After having defeated the insectoid monsters inside the chasm, his progress had stagnated. His rank was E minus, and fighting F minus ranked monsters didn''t give him more than one experience point. It was clear that he had to delve into the lower levels of this dungeon to find stronger prey. However, there was also a different option: fighting adventurers, something the hero had tried to dissuade him from doing. These humanoid adversaries would yield more experience points but were quite troublesome. The more he killed, the more likely they were to call for reinforcements. If he did too much damage, he would probably be forced to hide for a while, a tactic his helpers had already mentioned. Aburdon offered another solution, which would be the safest: Rusty could simply bury himself in a hole and wait a few months. Eventually, the adventurers would forget about him, and the dungeon monsters would not be able to see him if he was hidden behind a newly created wall. With his pickaxe, making a temporary shelter wouldn''t be hard. His disposition as living armor didn''t require oxygen or food for survival, so he could just stay there until everything blew over. However, such an approach would put Gleam''s life at stake, and he did not want to risk that. "The lower levels it is then ¡­ I need to go deeper and level up more." With a resolve set, there was nothing else for Rusty to worry about as he decided to delve deeper into the dungeon before the adventurers could organize themselves further. While they posed a problem, within the dark and musty dungeon, he could conceal his presence. His enemies were searching for a living armor, but his form didn''t look much different from his dungeon brethren. One of them was right before him, slowly approaching, weapon drawn as it charged forward. "Was I really this slow before?" It felt strange to see the corroded armored pieces coming at him and being dispatched in a matter of moments. He didn''t even need to hit them with his sword; a few punches and kicks were enough, and probably better. Slashing damage was something his body was quite resistant to, but there was still a limit, which he observed just now. After one of the armors went down, another charged at him. In response, Rusty raised his sword hand and brought it down with the help of his Power Slash skill. His sword connected with the monster''s shoulder and dug in deep. The corroded form, riddled with holes, could not hold and was sliced apart. A massive gash appeared on the monster, which died instantly. His E-rank weapon was powerful enough to cut through the F-plus durability. With this amount of strength, he felt confident in progressing. Thanks to the sheer number of monsters here, it would probably not take that long to gain the experience he needed. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this armor into base materials? "I probably won''t run out of bronze either¡­" His brethren were made of bronze which he could absorb with the help of his skill. Even though he ran out of mana crystals, he would have a way of restoring his body to a seemingly infinite amount. With this in mind, he could let loose and not care about his well-being, as long as his helmet remained intact, he would be fine. There was another bonus to returning to the dungeon besides being able to absorb materials from weapons and monsters. He had another use for his absorption skill that he hadn''t been able to utilize for a while. The skeleton approaching him with a mace was the perfect subject to see if it still worked. It charged forward, but with one sidestep and a quick swipe, Rusty disarmed the monster, its limbs landing on the ground. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. Basic Blunt Weapon Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield blunt weapons like clubs and maces, is required to unlock more powerful blunt weapon skills. It was a similar type of skill to ''Basic Swordsmanship'' and even encompassed more than one type of blunt weapon. At first, he wished to limit himself to as few weapon types as possible, even thinking that more than three would have been too much. However, his two guides were different type of creatures as they actually required sleep and rest. Rusty on the other hand, could function all day and night, using his weapons and leveling up skills constantly. ''What are my strong points?" Rusty pondered his approach and concluded that using multiple weapons could become his fighting style. He could switch out new ones and repair old ones during combat. Just like with his javelin throw, he could ambush his opponents when they least expected it. There were all kinds of weapons in this world, none definitively better than another. This was showcased by his body, which could shrug off slashing attacks but crumbled under blunt hits that indirectly damaged his monster core. Then there was also the Soul Forge, a place where he could construct all types of weapons. What was the point of the blacksmithing skills he was learning if he couldn''t even use the weapons he was creating himself? He could customize them to fit all his needs, and in the future, enchanting could also be possible - something that could bridge the gap between skills as well. The ability to craft and enhance his own weapons would give him a big advantage, allowing him to adapt to various combat situations and opponents. "Let''s take this skill but maybe overdoing it is also bad¡­ Getting a polearm instead of a spear should be enough, I don''t really need to overlap when the weapons are similar." Thus, with his mindset and priorities clear, he headed back down to the lower-level floors. The second level presented not much of a challenge as the monsters there weren''t all that strong. Nevertheless, he kept to the side tunnels he remembered and made his way to an old location. There he found some old friends in the poison-filled leeches. To his dismay, others decided to come out to play. The ruined graveyard he could previously just walk by was activated as if he were one of the adventurers. Zombies and skeletons emerged to stop his plan, or at least become a minor inconvenience. These monsters were rather slow and not particularly bright. Rusty had seen adventurers clear out this cavern and knew how to handle them all, even by himself and without a priest. A zombie''s head tumbled to the side and was quickly followed by another one. The best tactic here was to defeat the zombies while they were rising up from their graves. It took them a while to do so and with swift movements, Rusty made quick work of the rising undead. His blade cleaved through the air, severing limbs and decapitating heads before the creatures could fully emerge. It was an efficient method that minimized the number of active threats but it was still not perfect. The graveyard was large, and some monsters were still able to rise. By the time Rusty reached their position, they had already fully emerged. He swung his blade in broad arcs, each swing taking down one foe. Skeletons were also present, and with his new mace skill, he could easily shatter their fragile bones. While he would need a skill to use two weapons at once more efficiently, against such low-leveled targets, his current abilities were enough. Soon, the number of undead enemies dwindled, and he had successfully cleared the area without needing to use his light element. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. You have gained +1 experience points. The experience points came, but they were quite meager. Even after all the monsters were dealt with, his experience bar had not budged at all. It was clear that he should leave quickly, as this place wasn''t worth his time. Luckily, the poisonous exploding leeches were able to enter his inventory. With them around, he felt a bit safer, as they worked wonders on the adventurers. They would be his trump card if he ever got surrounded. Rusty tried to focus on his journey, but his mind kept drifting back to memories of his old friend, Gleam. He wasn''t sure what these emotions truly were, but the more he thought about her, the more something hurt inside him. To distract himself from this strange new pain, he decided to concentrate on other things, like the armor pieces he had picked up from the other living armors. While they were not made out of twilight bronze, they were the same size as his own body parts. He had stored a few pieces inside his storage space but could also place them in his stash tab. On the system screen, the icons representing equipment weren''t quite lifelike and resembled two-dimensional sprites. He had two versions of the armor: one belonging to the corroded variant of his old body and the other to an evolved bronze variant he had vanquished in the lower levels. As he walked, Rusty started playing around with these items and placed one in the spot of his left arm. To his surprise, the corroded piece replaced his left gauntlet, which felt quite normal. He couldn''t feel any reduction in his stats, but this piece was certainly less durable than the body part made of twilight bronze. While it wouldn''t be the best option, he could still replace damaged parts with others. Perhaps he could even use different types of body armor, like the ones the humans were wearing. After a few more tests, he realized there was an interesting exploit. Once he replaced his arm with the lesser damaged variant, he was given the option to repair it. It cost the usual ingot amount, but his system created a brand-new arm identical to the original. It seemed that, through this method, he could produce replacement limbs for future use. This discovery was intriguing as it allowed him to stock up on undamaged parts. This trick didn''t work with weapons, though; he could only restore the ones he himself created. He wasn''t sure why, but perhaps the monster parts were seen differently since they came from similar monster variants with identical builds. The weapons, on the other hand, were more universal and could be used by many other creatures. "I should go back down and explore that fifth level. The monsters there gave a bit more experience than these¡­" With a determined mind, he set off on his journey. He had a month to gather enough experience to challenge the dungeon heart, and he intended to do it. Once the connection was severed, he would move above ground, where a whole new world would await him. Chapter 47 - 45 – Alone. "Hey, be careful! I don''t think it likes that¡­" "Calm down, it''s just a monster, it probably can''t even feel pain. Now, let me do my job." A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard let out a sigh as he tried to yank an insectoid monster from within a cage. The cage was placed on a strange-looking metal table, adorned with various magical symbols pulsating around a magic circle. Despite his efforts, the monster did not resist, or more precisely it could not. Instead, it only emitted peculiar chirping screeches. Once it was out, its form was revealed to resemble that of an ant. It wasn''t that large at only perhaps the height of a middle-sized dog. As the ant was extracted from the cage, its chirping became more frantic, echoing through the sterile, well-lit room. The walls were lined with shelves holding strange tools, and jars with monster parts. The scruffy man placed the ant on the table, within the confines of the glowing magical circle. "Hold still," He muttered while shouting at the monster. Initially, it seemed the creature would resist, but once the magical inscriptions began glowing red, its strength was suppressed, rendering it immobile and paralyzed. With the creature now disabled, the man reached to the side for a toolbox filled with various implements. From the toolbox, he took out something resembling a monocle with an elongated lens. It had a series of elastic strings attached which allowed him to secure it to his head. "Well?" The man was not alone; two others were with him - a young woman and a man, who urged him to hurry up. This annoyed the middle-aged man, who continued to sigh in protest. Soon, he activated the magical lens on his head, allowing him to view the monster''s hidden status screen. "I have some bad news for you missy, you can''t take this thing back." "Why not?" "I knew it, that thing must be cursed!" "No it isn''t!" The middle-aged man shook his head as he adjusted the monocle, allowing it to zoom in on the finer details of the magical status screen hovering above this Ant. The screen displayed various attributes and a blinking red line indicating a bond. "See this?" He pointed to the glowing line. "This monster has a bonding contract. That means it already belongs to someone else, probably a Tamer." The young woman who had been anxiously observing the process stepped closer, she could not see the status screen that the man could see with the help of the magical monocle. The only thing she could do was to ask the man, hoping that he was not lying. "Are you sure? We go this monster from the dungeon, could you be mistaken?" The man let out another sigh and was quite annoyed with the assumption that he could not do something simple as read a monster''s status. "I read the report but that doesn''t change the fact that this monster has a bonding contract and also a name." "A name?" The woman was surprised by the revelation. Monsters didn''t usually have names; it was something people tended to give themselves, and Tamers were the same. If this monster had a name, it was likely given to it by its Tamer during the establishment of their contract. This confirmed the man''s claims that this monster belonged to someone and complicated things. "But it was in the middle of nowhere, are you sure that the Tamer didn''t just abandon it there? Are they even alive?" The middle-aged man scratched his beard, considering the woman''s question. He adjusted the monocle once more and looked through the monster''s status to find the answers. "It''s hard to say for sure. The contract is still active, which suggests the Tamer is alive, but it''s possible they could be far away or even unable to return for some reason. It might be possible that they abandoned it but we still have to follow the procedures and post a notice first, you should know the rules." She clenched her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She knew the rules well but had hoped for a loophole that might allow her to keep the unusual ant she had found. The rules were in place to protect both Tamers and their bonded monsters, ensuring that no one could claim a bonded creature without due process. "Fine. How long do we have to wait? And don''t think I won''t write a complaint to the guild master if you dare to sell it off at an auction!" "Why would I do such a thing?" This ant was quite unusual and rare. While it was still just an F rank monster, its rarity was something that would entice a lot of researchers and collectors. She had to make sure that this person didn''t pull some tricks. "I wonder why?" She rolled her eyes and continued speaking which soon turned to shouting. "The rules state that the person who discovered the monster first gets to keep it! Do I also have to remind you that you''ll be held accountable if something happens to it? Don''t think that I won''t take you to court and do you know who my master is?" "I know the rules, lass. Calm down, it''s just a procedure." The man was taken aback by the reaction of this young lady, her friend that was with her needed to start holding her back. "Sorry, she is just a little bit tired¡­ Alanna, calm down already!" Alanna took a deep breath, trying to reign in her frustration. Her friend''s words were a welcome reminder to keep her emotions in check, especially in a situation like this. This didn''t keep her from angrily shaking him off and landing a kick against his shin. "You don''t need to remind me Eugene!" "Ow¡­" "Fine, let''s just follow the procedure then. But I''m keeping an eye on you, old man." "Sure, that''s fine, just fill out the required paperwork." She warned, pointing a finger at the middle-aged man who seemed unperturbed by her threat. With that settled, they began the process of documenting the ant''s discovery and the presence of the bonding contract. It was a tedious task, involving paperwork and numerous signatures, but necessary to ensure that everything was done by the book. "Gleam huh? I guess you''ll be staying here for a while." " ( ¨B?¨B ) " Eventually, the process was finished, and the two young people left, leaving the ant creature behind. It was now alone in the room with the man, who brought out a trolley with a similar magic circle on it. The monster could not move and was defenseless. "Here, this will be your new home for a few weeks." He carted the monster to a separate large area, with many more creatures everywhere. The room was spacious, with cages lining the walls and various magical apparatuses scattered about. Gleam felt weak but started looking around to discover that the strange magical suppressing magic was everywhere here. All the cages here were imbued with similar magical circles, keeping the monsters within powerless and subdued. Soon, she too was moved over to one of them, which was not much bigger than the one she initially arrived in. "This thing is supposed to only eat magic crystals? ¡­ Well, as long as it lives until the deadline, it should be fine, right?" The man mumbled to himself while shoving Gleam into one of the smaller cages. Around her, many monsters opened their mouths in protest, but the enchantment seemed to silence any sound. Gleam felt trapped and helpless, surrounded by strange creatures in a place she couldn''t understand. Despite her fear, she reminded herself that she was still alive, and that counted for something. " ( ?? ? ?? ) " Things looked grim, and though she was being suppressed, Gleam clung to the fact that she was still alive. The magical inscriptions on these cages were strange, but they still emanated mana, something she, as a spell-slinging monster, was born with. Perhaps, if she tried hard enough, there would be a way to free herself and reunite with her one and only friend, whom she was certain was looking for her. ***** Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. Basic Polearm Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield polearms, is required to unlock more powerful polearm skills. Basic Two-handed Proficiency Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield larger and longer weapons with two hands, is required to unlock more powerful two-handed skills. "So¡­ I''ll need both of these for a polearm and something like a greatsword?" Rusty looked at the defeated bronze armor before him. It bore a striking resemblance to him, its monster core embedded within its helmet. Activating the skill absorption on his look-alikes was proving troublesome, as his helmet couldn''t be placed over theirs. Instead, he needed to remove both their limbs and scatter them so they couldn''t reform themselves. Only then could he place his helmet onto the living armor''s torso to initiate the process. He had been warned by the demon king not to abuse this skill too much, but Rusty needed to grow stronger. As planned, he decided to acquire the polearm skill first, giving him something with long reach. After the absorption process, the skill went into cooldown, rendering it unusable for several days. It hadn''t been long since he gained the skill required for mace use, and he noticed that the more frequently he used the absorption skill, the longer the cooldown period became. However, after abstaining from its use for a while, he observed that the cooldown period shortened, a fact he realized after refraining from its use while fighting insectoid monsters. It was as if just like the demon king, the skill in itself didn''t want to be used often and saved for really important skills and not for basic ones. While this might have been true for humans he was a monster who couldn''t pick up these skills through regular training. He was locked to a set of abilities given to him by his evolutions. You have gained +23 experience points. "Even the F plus monsters don''t give me that much experience, I must go in deeper." Rusty crushed the monster core embedded in the living armor''s helmet to defeat it. This served as a stark reminder of how vulnerable he was if someone managed to obtain his own helmet. These cores were quite brittle, and Rusty pondered if there was any way to safeguard them. Perhaps, if he could access the soul forge, he could insert some type of protective layer. His biggest fear was sustaining a blow to the head with a mace or some other hard object. While there were ways to reinforce his core and helmet, he would have to wait until his next evolution to make such adjustments. It had been a few days since his return to the dungeon, and Rusty was still struggling to adjust to the persistent animosity. Everything within its confines was his enemy, with no safe spots or crystal cavern to use. The only silver lining in this bleak environment was the abundance of bronze armors he could use for resources. With their parts, he didn''t truly need a safe area to hide in as he could repair anything that broke on his body. "I wonder how far down this place goes¡­" The fifth level he now traversed was quite spacious, though not much different from the preceding floors. However, it provided access to areas he would normally avoid - those infested with a bothersome creature known as the goblin. Now deemed an enemy of the entire dungeon, Rusty found himself considering hunting these monsters. Much like humanoid adventurers, goblins fought in packs, albeit with inferior equipment. However, their gear contained a metal he previously lacked access to: iron. His current goal was to save Gleam, and to achieve that, he needed to grow stronger. His metallic body was his greatest asset, and upgrading it further was his best path to gaining power. Rusty was well aware that bronze wasn''t the most durable metal, and advancing to iron and eventually, steel was necessary. Previously, he had been unable to separate iron from the weapons wielded by adventurers, but now, as an E-rank monster, he potentially could overcome that limitation. To test this theory, he needed to delve into the goblin-infested floors. Fortunately, this fifth floor boasted a bustling population of these green-skinned devils. "Gigi?" "It''s not like the other monsters¡­" These small creatures behaved differently, reminiscent of Rusty when he was younger. Unlike the mindless skeletons, zombies, and living armors, the goblins seemed capable of assessing the danger level of their opponents, at least to some extent. They never attacked when alone and instead attempted to lure their enemies into traps or ambushes. It was no different for Rusty as he began making noise and then turned to flee. While Rusty was still an inexperienced dungeon dweller, he could tell that something was wrong. Such obvious tactics would not work on him but he still wanted to hunt some of these green goblins for their crude iron weaponry. Luckily, he had just gotten a new type of weapons in the polearm that he lifted from the living armor that was holding it. To save on his own twilight bronze, he started to sometimes use the weapons other monsters dropped on the ground. Once he was holding on to them, the dungeon could no longer absorb them either. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re not getting away." With the Power Throw skill at his disposal and the bardiche in hand, Rusty prepared to strike. It went under the umbrella of poleaxes with the main difference being its elongated, curved blade at the end of the pole. It wasn''t quite shaped like an axe but thanks to this, it could still be used for throwing. After activating his active skill, Rusty timed his throw precisely. The weapon hurtled towards the retreating goblin and connected solidly with its back. The goblin let out a high-pitched shriek as it stumbled forward, tumbling to the ground with a thud. Rusty rushed forward, his metallic form clanking with each step, to finish the job. He wasn''t interested in a prolonged fight; he needed to dispatch his enemies quickly and efficiently. As Rusty approached the fallen goblin, it attempted to scramble to its feet, but the injury was too severe. Blood flowed onto the ground, and with one follow-up attack, the monster fell, lifeless. The experience points he received were fewer than those from the bronze living armors, but that wasn''t the aim of this confrontation. Instead, he focused on the goblin''s weapon, which in this case was a crude iron dagger. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this weapon into base materials? Material 1 Iron 20% Material 2 Nickel 5% His visor pulsed with glee as he was presented with the option to extract the iron metal from within the dagger. Though it wasn''t much, Rusty understood that if he mastered the mechanics behind this skill, after four more absorptions, he would be rewarded with one iron ingot. With this revelation in mind, he delved deeper into the tunnel that the goblin had tried to lure him into, eager to continue his hunt for both experience and resources. Chapter 48 - 46 – Hunting Goblins. "Guild Master Husson, do you have a minute?" "Lorenda? Sure, come in, what is it now?" A woman was seen entering what appeared to be an office. A brawny man with an eyepatch over his left eye was sitting there. His size and musculature bulged out of his clothes, which seemed too formal for a man of his stature. On the desk, there were various papers that the man was going through and stamping with his approval. The woman who walked in was wearing a uniform with the guild''s insignia embroidered on her chest, indicating her position as one of the guild administrators. "It''s about the latest dungeon report. There seems to be an irregularity." The guild master raised an eyebrow, setting down the document he had been reading. "Irregularity? Fine, let me see this¡­" The man seemed rather annoyed by the situation but waved Lorenda over. She handed him the report from the dungeon case and waited patiently for him to read through it. Husson''s brow furrowed as he scanned the report, his eyes moving rapidly over the text, absorbing the details about a strange monster sighting. "...No one died, only one person injured? This doesn''t seem that urgent." Husson raised an eyebrow at his secretary, wondering why she had brought this up as if it were an important problem. The report stated that a strange monster had appeared and chased a few new adventurers out of the dungeon. One man was reported injured but was later found and escorted out. "The monster had behaved strangely and was using demonic magic sir." "So? It looks like they triggered some type of trap that set off this monster. If not, then it''s some type of roaming variant. Just write up a commission; it''s just an E rank too." This man was well-versed in monster types, and even though the report stated that the monster was acting strange, it wasn''t anything unprecedented. It mentioned that the monster ignored other adventurers to chase after one of the alchemical apprentices and suggested they triggered a trap that targeted a specific person - nothing too out of the ordinary. "But..." "Stop wasting my time with things like this. I''m busy enough with all this damn paperwork! I don''t have time. Now leave!" "I... yes, sir..." The woman was taken aback by the man''s reaction and watched him crumble up the mission report he had presented. She soon found herself outside of his office after being quickly dismissed. Lorenda felt frustration as she had read between the lines of that report, sensing that something bigger was afoot. This was not the first time an irregularity had taken place and ignoring this threat was dangerous. Nevertheless, she was not someone who could make the decision, and going against the orders of the guild master would just get her fired. "Something wrong, you don''t look too happy?" Lorenda walked through the door and was greeted by a similarly dressed woman with large glasses. She seemed concerned about her colleague, who appeared annoyed and perhaps frustrated. "It''s nothing, the Guild Master just doesn''t think it''s a big deal." "Again?" The woman with glasses sighed, adjusting her frames. "This isn''t the first time he''s dismissed something important." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No, it isn''t, I hope no one gets injured¡­" Both of the women shook their heads around as they knew their guild master well. He had been a high-ranking adventurer before taking up the administrative role, and while his combat skills were respected, his patience for paperwork was limited. Even if a problem arose, he expected the adventurers to be able to clear it up. In his mind, to build them up, they needed to be challenged and not coddled by the guild. "I guess we''ll have to stick with an E-rank commission. I wanted to make it a D-rank, I just hope no one gets injured¡­" Both women worked as receptionists and had noticed that a larger number of new adventurers were falling victim to the dungeon. It wasn''t a new phenomenon; the place was teeming with monsters, and each floor was deadlier than the last. Every aspiring adventurer needed to be keenly aware of the dangers, and typically, the highest mortality rates occurred among the lower ranks of adventurers who struggled to assess threats accurately. "It''s a shame, really. But without solid evidence of a larger threat, there''s not much we can do." The woman with glasses remarked while Lorenda nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting her concern. "I just hope they can handle whatever''s down there. Some of those newbies barely know which end of the sword to hold." "Well, we''ll have to keep an eye on the situation, if any new strange monsters appear, lets quickly bring it up with the Guild Master, eventually he will have to give in." With that, the two returned to their respective desks. Lorenda quickly prepared a commission notice destined for the guild mission board. At most, she could designate it as an E-plus rank commission, reserved for a full party of adventurers of the same rank. She could only hope that she was simply overthinking things and that the monster posed a lesser threat, just as their guild master had assured. ***** Meanwhile, deep within the dungeon, the monster in question continued his relentless hunt for experience and new items. His current target was a group of goblins that used crude iron weaponry. The tunnels were crawling with them, which allowed him to gain quite a lot of raw iron. Compatible materials found, would you like to refine this weapon into base materials? "Should I really be wasting my time on them¡­" Rusty glanced at the crude iron dagger he had just acquired, along with the goblin corpse that had wielded it moments before. These short creatures weren''t particularly resilient; their only real advantage lay in their sheer numbers. This meant that Rusty wasn''t gaining much experience, as they were nothing more than lowly F-rank adversaries, far below the challenge of even a bronze living armor. Time was slipping away, and this cycle wasn''t getting him closer to reaching a new evolution or causing chaos inside this dungeon. "There seemed to be something up ahead¡­" He resolved to see this through for the time being. These green monsters were a novelty, and it seemed better to conduct a thorough examination of them. Rusty had already observed that the deeper he ventured into the dungeon, the greater the likelihood of encountering evolved variations of each creature. While these small goblins posed only minor threats here, they could potentially evolve into major menaces deeper within. It was wise to study their combat tactics now in preparation for the inevitable future battles ahead. "Is this their lair?" As he traversed the tunnels, he stumbled upon a larger chamber teeming with even more goblins. Unlike other areas with destroyed structures, this one appeared unusually organized. It was unlike anything he had encountered before; the goblins here exhibited a level of coordination not seen among other dungeon monsters. Within the chamber stood smaller structures crafted from wood and straw. Though their exact purpose eluded him, it was evident that some of the goblins occupied these makeshift dwellings. In the center of the chamber stood a goblin totem, decorated with an array of bones and trinkets, serving as a clear indication of the place''s significance to the goblins. Rusty watched from the shadows, his metallic form seamlessly blending into the darkness. Despite the occasional clinks and clanks of his metalic body, his adversaries typically mistook the sounds for those of the numerous other bronze armors scattered throughout this level. While these goblins displayed greater intelligence and organization compared to the other monsters in the dungeon, they remained relatively simple minded and were easily fooled. Classification: Green Goblin Warrior L5 F Type: Humanoid Classification: Green Goblin Archer L 4 F Type: Humanoid There were various types of goblins present, easily distinguishable by the weapons they wielded. However, amidst his examination of this subterranean goblin village, Rusty noticed one goblin standing out like a sore thumb. Positioned near the totem, it was engaged in a peculiar activity. Unlike the others, this goblin was dressed in strange loose robes and held a large wooden stick that didn''t quite resemble a weapon. "What''s it doing? Stirring something inside that round vessel?" Rusty utilized his identification skill to identify the vessel as a large iron cauldron. Inside simmered a brownish liquid, slowly coming to a boil. The goblin, wielding a large wooden ladle, scooped out this liquid and poured it into a glass container. Before sealing it with a cork, the creature sprinkled some dust over it, leaving Rusty perplexed. Classification: Green Goblin Potionist L 4 F+ Type: Humanoid The monster was cackling while preparing these strange potions that turned yellowish after the dust had been added. It seemed that to the side there were some strange herbs that after crushing were added to the boiled liquid to complete some type of reaction. After the potion was finished, the monster seemed to handle the small bottles with a lot of care, as if there was something more to them. He was intrigued by this small goblin village, with his attention drawn to the iron cauldron. It was much larger than the weapons he was gathering and probably had a much higher concentration of the metal. Rusty could also just store it in his storage for later as perhaps it could be used for something different. However, before that could happen he would need to take care of all the goblins here. "Their numbers are high, it will be better if I make some noise and lure them out first." Rusty was formulating a plan inside of his metallic head. It was unwise to challenge so many goblins as they numbered around twenty. The plan was easy, make some noise and lure them out. Once they are chasing after him, there were some corridors that would not allow them to use their advantage in numbers against him. It was quite the basic plan but before he could even start, a problem arose. "Are those adventurers?" From the opposite side that he had arrived someone approached the goblin encampment. It was a human adventurer being loud and obviously carrying out a similar plan. In one of his hands he was holding a shield and in the other a mace. He used his weapon to hit the shield which produced an audible noise that railed up the whole small goblin village. Soon, some arrows flew in his direction and he started to retreat. It was clear to Rusty that these adventurers had a similar plan to his own as they were trying to lure the green monsters into a trap. Once they defeated the monsters at another location, they would likely return here to loot the place. There seemed to be a few valuables that they desired, perhaps including the strange yellow potions. However to Rusty''s surprise, there was more to the potions that he initially expected. The Goblin Potionist, the highest-ranking of the goblins, seemed enraged. The potions he was concocting had an unusual use. Along with the arrows, he hurled them towards the adventurer who had escaped into one of the tunnels. The moment a glass bottle connected with the ground, a small explosion shook the chamber. Rusty observed as the bottle shattered on impact, igniting into a burst of flames that sent a shockwave through the area. The green goblins laughed and screeched in excitement, their eyes glinting with malicious intent. "Explosive potions?" Rusty''s plan now needed a quick revision. These goblins, particularly the Potionist, had access to weapons far more dangerous than their crude iron daggers and bows. A direct confrontation could be quite deadly as if he was hit by one of those potions, even his armor might not protect him. He was in luck as the monsters focused on the adventurer luring them outside. The goblin who used the explosive potions followed, taking almost all the other goblins with him. Only four green humanoids stayed behind, apparently to guard the village while the rest were gone. This behavior was unique to this monster type. If they had been skeletons or any other undead creatures, they likely would have all left together. "Is this a chance?" Rusty asked himself if there were any other adventurers approaching, but none seemed to be. The timing couldn''t have been better. With the majority of the goblins chasing after the retreating adventurer, he seized the opportunity. Rusty waited in the shadows, scanning the area for any sign of a secondary party of adventurers who might be waiting just like him. After a few tense moments, he decided to make his move. Silently, Rusty slipped out of his hiding spot, taking advantage of the goblins distraction. His movements weren''t entirely silent, but the rustle of his bronze armor was overshadowed by the surprise of his sudden appearance. The goblins, preoccupied and not expecting an ambush, were caught off guard when Rusty charged out from one of the side tunnels. With his poleaxe, Rusty swiftly struck the first goblin. The creature fell almost instantly under the force of his blow. The remaining goblins, now aware of his presence, let out shrill cries and rushed at him in a frenzy. Despite their fierce charge, their crude weapons clanged harmlessly against Rusty''s armor. Their strikes lacked the strength to pierce his hardened exterior. Rusty, with confidence swung his poleaxe with precision, cutting through the remaining attackers with ease. The skirmish was brief and soon all the enemies were down on the ground. "Now then¡­" Even though he was alone, there was a high probability that adventurers would appear soon. He only had a few minutes to search the entire area and then retreat. First, he approached the iron cauldron, which was still overflowing with a strange explosive mixture. He wasn''t an alchemist, but that didn''t matter and the cauldron and its contents were quickly added to his inventory. "I can probably use these¡­" Some of the potions that the goblin had made were left behind and just like the iron cauldron, made their way into his inventory. There were five of the bottles here and they only took up one square inside of his stash tab. With haste Rusty moved through this goblin village searching for any other valuable items. He came across several makeshift storage areas, filled with crude weapons and trinkets, which he ignored. However, hidden within a wooden crate covered with a tattered cloth, he found something unexpected. "Is this¡­ a map? What does this red cross mean?" The parchment within the crate depicted a rough sketch of the dungeon and was marked with various symbols and annotations. Rusty couldn''t decipher the exact meaning behind all of them, but it was clear that this map held some value. It seemed to outline the locations of other goblin locations and perhaps some hidden treasure they had hidden away. "This could be useful¡­" Rusty carefully rolled up the map and stashed it away in his inventory. With the goblin village thoroughly searched, he decided it was time to retreat. He couldn''t risk encountering any other adventurers or dungeon monsters. As he made his way back through the tunnels, he heard some voices in the distance which probably belonged to the adventurers he was hoping to avoid. The group would probably soon discover that all the treasures had gone missing and he did not want to be there once that happened¡­ Chapter 49 - 47 – Skill Training. "What''s going on? Who opened the chest?" Asked an angry-looking man while going through the empty goblin encampment. The adventurers, fresh from their skirmish with the goblins, had returned expecting to find loot and spoils of their battle. Instead, they were met with barren goblin huts and no chest that should have been there. "Did someone beat us to it?" Another adventurer, a young woman with a bow, speculated, looking around suspiciously. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There were goblins here just moments ago, and now the place is empty." "It''s obvious, some bastard must have snuck in here while we were luring out those goblins, they could even still be nearby¡­" The adventurers gripped their weapons tightly at the thought of being attacked. While they were in monster-filled dungeons, they weren''t the only ones hunting for treasure and glory. Rivals and opportunistic thieves often lurked in the shadows, ready to pounce on any chance to steal hard-earned loot. "Stay sharp, everyone." "..." "I don''t think anyone is coming¡­" The adventurers looked around, but even after waiting for several moments, they were not attacked. They were greeted with nothing but silence and soon realized that whoever had looted everything here had already escaped. The one responsible was long gone and did not intend to test his luck. His goal here was completed and his inventory was filled with explosive potions. Rusty, the one responsible for the adventurers'' annoyance, was already moving towards the sixth floor. He had stayed close enough to hear their complaints but moved away almost immediately after. There was no reason to engage with a whole group of crafty adventurers. Even though his elemental darkness worked well on them, he would quickly run out of magical energy without the mana crystals in his possession. It was better to limit the use of high MP costing skills in the future and for that, he also needed to further his other skills. Basic Swordsmanship L7 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a sword, is required to unlock more powerful sword skills. Basic Archery L3 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a bow, is required to unlock more powerful archery skills. Basic Shield Proficiency L4 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield a shield along with other weapons. It is required to unlock more powerful shield skills. Basic Polearm Proficiency L1 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield polearms, is required to unlock more powerful polearm skills. Basic Blunt Weapon Proficiency L2 Passive Skills A skill that makes it easier to wield blunt weapons like clubs and maces, is required to unlock more powerful blunt weapon skills. While moving, he reviewed his weapon proficiency skills. Basic Swordsmanship was his highest skill, while the others lagged behind. During his dungeon travels, he had tested a few theories, and after asking the hero for confirmation, he learned that certain laws governed skill leveling. This also meant that there was an optimal way of leveling up. First, he knew that he needed to be holding a specific weapon to target the associated skills. Killing monsters with that weapon would eventually increase the skill level, but the process was still somewhat slow. It took him several monster encounters to gain a single level, and it also helped if the monsters were of a higher level for the skills to improve. However, he needed to get stronger faster, and his progress was too slow for his liking. "There has to be a better way than this¡­ I''ve regained all of my MP, I should ask Alexander for some advice." Rusty had the memories of both the demon king and the hero who defeated him. Though these memories were riddled with holes like Swiss cheese, they revealed that the hero had reached the epitome of this world''s power. He had done it with the help of the soul forge and in record time. If anyone could shed light on this dilemma, it was probably the hero, who seemed to have extensive experience in leveling. The demon king, on the other hand, had been born into a powerful race and was naturally strong from birth. "Rusty, is there something you need?" After finding a secluded corner of the dungeon with no monsters and adventurers around, he activated his skill. Aleksander the hero appeared in his ball of light and his form illuminated the darkness around them. "I need your advice on something." "Sure? What do you need?" The late hero seemed a bit more chipper today as usually he seemed annoyed when asked for help. However, Rusty did not really notice the change of tone as his metallic mind was focused on getting stronger and saving Gleam. "Is there a better way to level up my skills? Fighting monsters normally is too slow, I don''t think I''ll be able to get strong in a month like this." Alexander floated closer, his light pulsing as if to indicate that he was thinking. "Leveling up skills efficiently? That''s a tricky one. You''re right; normal grinding can be tedious. But there are some strategies you can try to speed up the process." Rusty''s metal frame creaked slightly as he leaned in, eager to hear the hero''s advice. "Go on." "Alright, you probably know that your skills will level up naturally when used against monsters." ''Yes." He nodded with his helmet while Alexander continued. "But did you know, that you don''t need to kill the monsters themselves for those skills to level up?" "I don''t?" Rusty was surprised, having assumed that to get stronger, one had to defeat more enemies. He always gained experience after an enemy was defeated, but there was no way to see his skills progressing until they actually leveled up. There were no bars for skills and they were a hidden stat. "No," The fallen hero had explained. "You just need to be in active combat with someone or something. Once you are in this state, it''s enough to keep using the skill on your enemy. Most skills will require you to hit a target, but others, like self-buffing skills, just need to be activated." "So, to level up swordsmanship I just need to hit something?" "Indeed and actually, there are types of monsters in this dungeon that would be suited for skill leveling." "There are? Which ones." "The ones that look like you, Rusty." "Oh?" Soon the hero started to explain a tactic he had used when he was at a lower level. In his opinion, leveling passive skills was one of the easiest things to do once you knew the right approach. Once it was explained to Rusty, he felt like the tactic was too good to be true. It made use of the living armor''s slash-resistant body and turned into a leveling dummy. "Are you sure it''s going to work? I haven''t seen adventurers use such a strange method¡­ wouldn''t they use it?" "There are reasons for that, not everyone knows how this world system operates or what it truly is¡­" "What it truly is? and that is?" Rusty asked the question to Alexander who for some reason went quiet. "What was it again¡­ I don''t seem to remember, I''m sure there was something¡­what was I going to say? Give me a moment¡­" This was not the first time the hero had said something strange. It seemed that he was missing parts of his memory, which would sometimes shine through when asked questions. Nevertheless, Rusty now had a battle tactic that he needed to try, and the sixth-level living armors would be his guinea pigs. He had descended the stairs to arrive at this lower level, which looked more spacious than the others. The area was predominantly populated by bronze living armor, with fewer corridors being replaced by chambers housing many destroyed temples. It felt as though the wandering living armors were some sort of paladin order, attempting to defend their goddess. Among the ruins were numerous statues depicting the same winged woman, likely representing their deity. "If what Alexander said was true, then I should lure one away first." Rusty was familiar with how dungeon monsters behaved, having been one himself in the past. They always followed predetermined routes, deviating only when confronted by an enemy. Though this was his first time on this floor, the dungeon''s structure felt eerily familiar. Having dwelled here for so long already, he started noticing common patterns in the layouts. It didn''t take him long to find a secluded dead end to lure his next target into. Once they were there, he employed the tactic the hero had instructed him with. He landed a powerful kick on the monster''s torso, sending it flying against the wall. With swift precision, he then utilized his newly acquired mace to target and dismantle its limbs. With each powerful strike, he took out a limb, enduring minor damage from the other living armor''s broadsword attacks in the process. Soon, the monster was reduced to nothing more than a torso, its body parts scattered and out of range of its limb control skill. "Now¡­" Rusty put away the bronze mace and retrieved the bardiche he had previously taken from another monster. With it now equipped, he aimed to test out a training method that, if used correctly, should rapidly level up his Basic Polearm Proficiency. With delicate precision, he connected his weapon with the monster''s torso, exerting just enough effort and power to trigger the skill use. The idea was to deliver no more damage than necessary; if what the hero said was true, inflicting just one point of damage would suffice for this strategy to be effective. Congratulations Basic Polearm Proficiency has reached level 2. "This fast?" The system notified him that his skill had gone up by a level. While he had used this polearm a few times before, this was the quickest he had seen any of his skills level up. To achieve this, he had continuously struck the monster with minimal effort, taking away only one point of damage each time. Simply by tapping the monster with the bladed end of his polearm, the system registered each contact as a full hit, granting him consistent skill experience. This bronze armor was level five, with hit points comparable to what Rusty had when he was still a Corroded Twilight Bronze Armor. It had lost some HP during the disarming process, but he could still deliver close to fifty hits before it reached the lower threshold. After that, even if he continued to strike, the monster''s health would not drop below one. This was due to its monster core, which needed to be destroyed to completely defeat it. "So, this would happen if I get to one point of health?" His common bronze counterpart no longer seemed able to move. Previously, it had continued to move its helmet and limb stumps, but now it lay motionless on the ground. There seemed to be some type of debuffing effect once all health but one was depleted. Unlike him, the other living armor monsters could not restore their bodies. This was an advantage he could exploit in unfavorable situations, as his enemies would assume he was the same as the others. "Right, he said to target the core with an active skill once I got all HP down." Congratulations Basic Power Slash has reached level 5. To his joy, the first active skill he had acquired also leveled up after he used it against the underside of the bronze armor''s helmet. The hero had informed him that there was a hidden bonus: once a monster was defeated, the skills used in the process would level up faster. The hero''s advice was simple: reduce the monster''s HP to one while leveling the passive weapon skills, and then use an active skill that consumed MP to deliver the final blow. "Neat, then I should test the next one!" He had gone through his attacking skills, but his task was not over. There were two defensive skills he needed to level up, which required a change of equipment and a willingness to put himself in some danger. After stowing the polearm, he retrieved his shield and also picked up the one the living armor had dropped. Armed with both shields, he headed back to lure another living armor into his secluded spot. His next adversary charged straight at him, wielding a slashing weapon to which he was quite resistant. As the attacks began, Rusty received them with both shields, slowly retreating as he did so. The aim was not to attack but to endure as many hits as possible. The shields were much sturdier than the living armor''s sword, which began to take chip damage with each strike. Leveling his Basic Shield Proficiency seemed quicker but also more dangerous. There was always the possibility that one of those rampant slashes could end up hitting his body or core. However, this was also part of his turtle tactic. Rusty wanted to be hit both on his body and on the shields he was holding. There was a second skill he wanted to increase, one that would make his whole body become sturdier. Congratulations Basic Shield Proficiency has reached level 5. Congratulations Lesser Metal Body has reached level 6. His regular bronze monster counterpart was the perfect creature to help him level both of these skills. Just like Rusty, they would never tire and could keep swinging their weapons around constantly. He just needed to always keep facing them while holding both shields. This would protect his helmet from being hit, and even when the monster''s blade connected with his body, it wouldn''t be able to do much damage. If his health started dropping, he could always restore himself with the bronze he received from these armors. "What did Alexander call this? A perfect leveling loop?" This was not something humans and adventurers were capable of. They had to cherish their weapons and armor much more than Rusty did his metal body. He could keep doing this almost indefinitely. The only limiting factor was the amount of damage his enemies could inflict. He needed to receive at least one point of damage each time for his skills to register, and as his skills improved, the less damage he would take. Thus started his skill-leveling drive, a meticulous process of systematically engaging with monsters, targeting specific skills for improvement while ensuring minimal risk to himself. Rusty found himself adopting a routine, luring monsters, engaging them in combat, and methodically leveling up his skills. Each encounter brought him closer to his goal of becoming strong enough to leave this place. He was like a leveling machine that never tired and that would never stop until a goal had been reached. Then just as he thought he had reached the apex, something strange transpired. "Hm?" Congratulations Basic Swordsmanship has reached the maximum level. Congratulations the requirements to upgrade Basic Swordsmanship have been met. Chapter 50 - 48 – Skills Go Up. Congratulations Basic Swordsmanship has evolved into Swordsmanship Swordsmanship L1 sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Passive Skills An upgraded version of Basic Swordsmanship, this skill is required to unlock more advanced sword-related abilities. It reduces the resource usage (such as stamina or mana) for lesser sword-related active skills. "That''s interesting, it lowers the use of stamina and MP on active skills?" Rusty looked at the new skill description he received with a certain glint in his visor. While he did not have a stamina stat like many other living beings, he did have mana. It was his only battle resource, which he needed to watch carefully; once it was reduced to zero, he would fall into a state of slumber. If what this skill implied was true, then any active skills he used while holding a sword would cost fewer Magic Points. However, his focus was not on the skill description but on what had just happened. One of his basic passive skills had actually turned into something new. His guides had mentioned something like this, but they weren''t quite sure if he would be capable of it. Rusty was an irregular dungeon monster who shouldn''t have been able to heighten his level or acquire new skills without the dungeon heart''s help. The dungeon created all the monsters and redistributed their stats, not the monsters themselves. Now it was clear that his skill could reach new heights but there were also some limitations. From what his guides had told, the skill upgrades were determined by his form and level. It was possible that to gain an even more advanced version of this passive skill, he would need to evolve into a monster of D rank. It would probably take a while until he could confirm this new knowledge and before that there were other things he needed to check. First he needed to confirm if the new passive skill actually did what the description said. While holding his bronze sword, he performed a basic power slash that had also begun reaching a higher point and perhaps would ascend to a higher tier skill. His weapon glowed red and slashed forward with increased speed. "It does work!" Previously, the power slash skill had consumed five points of his MP; now, it only cost three points. This meant there was a flat reduction of at least forty percent to his active skills, complementing his passive swordsmanship skill. This was not all he noticed; with the ascension of the skill came additional boons besides the lowered mana cost. "It feels a lot lighter than before¡­" Rusty held his sword and could tell that his movements had become sharper than before. It was as if his eyes had been opened, and he now realized how many unnecessary movements he had been performing during his attacks. Before, each sword swing had been planned but slightly awkward. Now, every movement flowed more naturally, almost as if the sword was becoming an extension of his arm. He practiced a few more swings, confirming the increase in his precision and speed. "I wonder how it will feel if I reach advanced swordsmanship or eventually master the skill fully¡­" This was just the tip of the iceberg, and his guides had mentioned the sequence to him beforehand. Soon after came advanced skills, then expert, master, and even grandmaster. There was still a lot he could improve, and he had multiple skills to train. With the help of this tactic, it was possible to do this at a record pace, but he was still working on a tough schedule. He wanted to descend further down and start leveling, but he also recognized the importance of his skills. Stats weren''t everything, a lesson he learned after facing off against that adventurer leader. With the help of his Basic Elemental Charge skill, he was able to fend him off. Under normal circumstances, the man would have likely emerged victorious, given his more advanced skills and probably higher level. Yet, one skill managed to turn the tide of battle, making Rusty quickly realize that skills were just as crucial as his main level and stats. "I don''t have any passive skills regulating Elemental Charge and Discharge though, so I won''t be able to lower how much MP it uses¡­" When leveling active skills, they would usually just increase in power, or the area they covered would become wider. This held true for his Basic Elemental Charge skill as well, which, once leveled up, would affect everything further from the item he charged up. Gaining forty percent more time with the skill active would have been much better than just intensifying it. However, he wasn''t sure what would happen once an active skill had been upgraded. The tactic of using it to slay each of the living armor monsters was working, albeit not as quickly as with the passive skills. Rusty continued with leveling up his passive skills along with his active ones, focusing on power slash and thrust the most. He was systematically luring in more living armors, even deciding to try multiple ones at once. With both shields and his body being hit from all directions, his defensive skills were being leveled quite fast and soon they also started advancing to the next tier of power. Congratulations Basic Shield Proficiency has reached the maximum level. Congratulations the requirements to upgrade Basic Shield Proficiency have been met. Congratulations Basic Shield Proficiency has evolved into Shield Proficiency Shield Proficiency L1 Passive Skills An upgraded version of Basic Shield Proficiency, this skill enhances the user''s ability to defend with a shield. It reduces the stamina or mana consumption for shield-related active skills and increases overall defense when wielding a shield. Rusty nodded in satisfaction as he read the new skill description. His efforts were paying off, and he could feel the difference in his defensive capabilities already. With Shield Proficiency, he was more adept at using his shields efficiently and somewhat knew better how to predict enemy movement while defending. Soon, his other defensive skill had gone through a change without really much of a change in its description. Metal Body L1 Passive Skill Increases the body''s defense. Defense is dependent on durability. What had changed was his durability stat, which had gone from an E+ to an E++. Rusty wasn''t sure what to make of it, but it seemed that it wasn''t enough to elevate this stat to the D rank. Perhaps if his Metal Body was upgraded further, it could reach that level. Once the Metal Body skill had ascended, he also noticed a slight change in his armor plates. They had seemingly changed in some way, either increasing in thickness or density. With both his defensive skills now upgraded, he was able to focus on the offensive ones. For hours, he would lure in more and more of his living armor counterparts, lowering their HP to one point before using an active skill to finish them off. Eventually, multiple of his passive skills were reaching the threshold of advancement, and finally, one of his active skills had reached over level nine. Congratulations Basic Power Slash has reached the maximum level. "..." "..." "..." Rusty waited for the system to continue giving him more updates, but after the first one, it didn''t continue. Even after he went into his status screen and selected the list of all his skills, there was no new active skill, just the regular Power Slash skill with ''Max'' written in brackets where the level used to be. It seemed that active skills were a bit different than passive ones. He wasn''t sure what the problem was, but soon he would discover why. Despite this setback, he persisted, as he was gaining experience for many of his skills and regular levels. Congratulations you have gained a level. Congratulations you have gained the Power Slash skill. Congratulations you have gained the Basic Shield Parry skill. His level had increased as he began killing more and more of the F-plus ranked living armors. While they weren''t E-ranked monsters, they still provided good amounts of experience and were high in numbers. He had spent days leveling his skills here already, and for some reason, the skill that didn''t want to advance itself was given to him after a level-up. Initially, he assumed it was just a standard skill granted after leveling up. Rusty still received some skills from growing his levels, but none overlapped with the ones he had absorbed. The Shield Parry skill was something new and unrelated to the others. What led him to assume that he needed to go through a level-up to enhance the active skills that had been maxed out was that he had gained two skills at once. This had never happened before but he wouldn''t be sure until he confirmed it during the next level-up. Basic Shield Parry Active Skill Basic Shield Parry is an active skill that allows the user to deflect incoming attacks with their shield, reducing or completely nullifying the damage taken. When performed correctly and at close range, it can stagger the opponent. The new skill was quite intriguing but proved to be challenging to use in practice. Rusty attempted to use it against one of the other living armor''s and failed instantly. There was no visual cue to the skill, but once activated, he had to commit to a parry motion. If the timing was missed, as it was on his first attempt, he would open himself to an attack. The parry motion was quick and forceful, making it difficult to retract his shield once swung. Luckily, his body had become a lot sturdier than before and all the hits from his enemy only caused damage to their own bronze blades. On the other hand, once the parry was initiated correctly and he connected with the enemy armor''s sword arm, it would stagger them back. A strange vibration would course through their body, causing something akin to a stunned debuff. During this window of opportunity, he had around a second to quickly go in for a critical hit. It was a clear high-risk, high-reward type of skill, one that would likely require a lot of time to master. Eventually, one whole week had passed since his return to the dungeon. Rusty had spent all this time progressing through his passive skills without bothering to rest or sleep even once. When his body was damaged, he simply restored it with the numerous bronze bodies that had piled up. Over time, his leveling spree came to an end. "This should be enough, I need to move on¡­" All his passive weapon skills had been upgraded to higher-tier ones. It was clear that basic skills were F-rank, and fighting F-Plus living armor opponents allowed them to level up quickly. To repeat such a feat, he would need to do the same with E-rank monsters, something he hoped to confront soon. His main goal was to damage the dungeon and force the heart to banish him. To his surprise, this week of grinding not only allowed him to gain skill levels but also seemed to affect the temple area where he had made his temporary lair. The relentless battles and accumulation of defeated living armors had altered the environment. "The number of bronze armors has decreased, there should be twice as many¡­" The number of his lesser counterparts had decreased by at least half. It seemed that killing them and taking their bodies for spare parts had put some type of toll on the dungeon. Rusty wasn''t sure, but this dungeon might have required the monsters'' bodies to be returned; otherwise, it would eventually run out of resources to recreate them. While adventurers sometimes took monsters or their body parts with them, it was not to the extent Rusty had done. His game-like storage space was quite vast and did not have the limits his stash tab did. There was a limit of ninety-nine for each body part of the living armor but that didn''t stop him from gathering more. He could use his SP to turn those body parts into bronze ingots after reaching the limit. This was apparently enough to start affecting this place and either the dungeon was running out of resources, or it identified that something was wrong and decided to halt monster production in this area to lower its losses. "Either way, this is a good start." It was time to move on with his current quest. All his skills had increased, and his time on the sixth floor was coming to an end. He had no idea how deep this dungeon went, and Alexander couldn''t tell either. Alexander mentioned that the tenth level was usually significant, but he would need to reach it first to confirm this. Thus, with a full inventory of bronze, he headed towards the seventh floor, which brought another change to the dungeon. "This one looks¡­ a lot different¡­" Rusty had to take a moment to look around as a thick mist had gathered in this area. He had never seen anything like this before in the dungeon, and the space was also quite vast. His first steps caused him to sink into the ground, making his sabatons quite dirty. In the distance, he heard strange monster sounds, which some people would describe as toad croaks. "There are no corridors here?" It was a giant swamp, with it spreading out in all directions. The dense fog made it difficult to see far out and the ground was covered in mud. This place was not like the other floors and it would probably be a lot harder to hide himself from adventurers. Rusty moved cautiously, each step squelching in the soft ground. The fog was thick, reducing his visibility to only a few meters ahead. The croaks and calls of amphibious monsters echoed eerily around him. He approached a few strange sightings, which turned out to be tall, dark trees with no leaves. In the distance, he spotted green lights, which, upon further examination, turned out to be structures similar to the temples he had seen on the higher levels. Groans of monsters resounded from these strange structures that reminded him of the lesser undead zombies from the second floor. There seemed to be many of them surrounding this strange structure. The green lights revealed themselves to be some sort of magically enchanted braziers. They were around this area which for some reason was missing a lot of fog. It was as if the flames were pushing the mist away. "That one looks different than the others¡­" Classification: Diseased Zombie L5 F+ Type: Undead/Humanoid Classification: Diseased High-Zombie L2 E- Type: Undead/Humanoid Among the diseased zombies that were still F-rank monsters, stood one that was different. Its body was larger with more muscular limbs and its movements were swifter. It was the first time Rusty had encountered a proper E-rank monster and it was an undead zombie type, something that he probably had an affinity for. "I suppose, this is where it starts¡­" While hiding behind one of the large swamp trees, Rusty scanned his surroundings to ensure no other monsters or adventurers were nearby. Soon, he equipped his shield and longsword; it was time to conquer this floor as he had the one before. Perhaps if he could continue slaying multiple monsters, the dungeon would need to react to his presence and eventually reject his existence. Chapter 51 - 49 – AOE Farming. "Guoh¡­" A burst of light emitted from a longsword and engulfed a small chamber filled with zombies. The light traveled in a dome-shaped effect, pushing away a large group of undead creatures of various levels and sizes. Once the burst of energy subsided, only one creature stood among them. "Even an E rank can''t do much against a weakness." Rusty looked over the room filled with about fifteen dead zombies. Among them, two were of higher caliber, but even they couldn''t do much against his burst of light energy. He had already figured out how elemental weaknesses worked in this world. His luck seemed to be great as many undead zombies roamed this seventh level and were quite susceptible to his light. This floor was a lot different than the ones that came before it. They seemed to have their own mini-dungeons in the form of strange crypts. The swamp was mostly covered in mist, with entrances to these underground tombs well-lit with strange green flames. It was as if the dungeon heart wished to lure the adventurers inside their narrow corridors filled with traps, undead monsters, and poison. However, the dungeon heart probably did not count on one of its monsters going rogue. Rusty was fully immune to any poison, disease, or foul stench that these monsters could use to attack the senses of adventurers. His body was also immensely sturdy and easily repairable with the large amount of bronze he had been able to gather. "Is this what these adventurers risk their lives for?" Each of these underground crypts held a lone chest in one of the large end chambers. This was the second crypt he had visited, and this one was also a letdown. Instead of pristine weapons or armor, the items were made from a rather strange metal. Classification: Slightly golden goblet Type: Item Description: A goblet containing a low amount of gold. His identification skill had been upgraded, so now he was getting more advanced descriptions of the items. He wasn''t sure what this item was for, as it buckled under his strength rather quickly. Hitting the monsters with it would probably break it, and in the other crypt, he had received a slightly golden talisman. "This gold is also a metal, but it is much softer than the bronze I''m made of." This was not the reason he entered these places. His intent was not to gather these strange items but to cause damage to the dungeon and level up. He had found another good method to reduce the population on this floor, and these crypts were quickly becoming devoid of any monsters. "Well then, off to the next one!" After making this proclamation, he quickly made his way back up and submerged himself in the mist. Once a tomb had been cleared, the green braziers and lanterns started to quickly dim. This part of the level was the worst, as it forced him to traverse the water-filled area. While the monsters weren''t much of a problem, the environment was not suited for his hollowed-out body. The water would start seeping into it as he trekked on, rendering him sluggish. To make things worse, he needed to watch out for strange toad monsters that lurked within the shallow waters. They would attempt to lunge at him or flail his body with elongated tongues that even stuck to him. Their attacks weren''t very damaging, but if he ever got tipped over, his body was in danger of being fully encased in swamp water. To alleviate this problem, he stuck to the large trees, which were always a sign of elevation and drier ground. "Hey, isn''t it too quiet in here?" "Yeah, it''s strange but perhaps another party just went through here before us? That previous crypt was also empty when we got there¡­" "Be quiet both of you and stay vigilant, you never know when one of those zombies will show up!" As Rusty was making his way through the swamp, he witnessed a group of adventurers. One of them was holding a strange torch that burned with a grayish hue. It seemed to work in a similar fashion to the green crypt fire but to a lesser degree. He didn''t even need to hide behind any of the trees, as the mist allowed him to blend in with the environment. From his vantage point, the party of adventurers looked like a blurry glowing ball, with their voices being the only thing that identified them. Thanks to these torches, it was quite easy to spot the adventurers from afar. This allowed Rusty to move through this floor mostly unnoticed, but he still needed to watch his back. Once he was inside one of the crypts, it wouldn''t be strange for one of these adventurer parties to wander in. "I wonder, they seem to like this gold metal a lot. Couldn''t I use it as a lure and entrap them somewhere?" While this was a possibility, Rusty decided to avoid making himself known for the time being. Both the hero and the demon king had already warned him about them. If he continued slaying adventurers, ones he would not be able to handle would eventually appear, just like that one other time. His goal was the dungeon heart, and messing with the dungeon and these hard-to-access crypts was a great target. After making a small detour, he advanced towards the greenish tint of mist. Thanks to the color pattern, it was easy to find the zombie-infested tombs. As long as there were monsters outside, he could be assured that no adventurers had gone inside. As he approached one of the crypt entrances, the green light cast long shadows on the muddy ground. The crypt''s structure was ancient, with moss-covered stones and intricate carvings that hinted at its age. The moans of various zombies resounded as they identified the intruder. The numbers were quite high, with around ten regular F-rank zombies and one E-rank. They all slowly charged in his direction, with some of their comrades rising out of the shallow swamp water around the tomb entrance. While Rusty''s mana had recharged itself, this was not the time to waste it. Instead, he started moving forward quickly and promptly kicked the metallic grate that was keeping him from entering the tomb. "Hey, what are you waiting for? Follow me." He banged his sword against his shield, making some noise. The monsters reacted quite well to sound and all turned in his direction. Once he had their attention, he pushed into the crypt''s interior, where many other zombies were already waiting for him. His aim was not to battle them one at a time but to clear them out in one big attack. It was one of the training methods Alexander had proposed to him, which he called AOE farming. Rusty wasn''t sure what those words meant, but it was quite the ingenious leveling tactic. Rusty moved through the zombie-infested corridors, where a few skeletons were also placed. These monsters were usually dormant and would only wake once someone passed through. It made his tactic quite easy as he just needed to skip through and continue toward the main chamber. For some reason, this place was structured like a labyrinth without any dead ends. He just needed to move forward, and eventually, he would end up at the last chamber. As he progressed, the narrow passageways echoed with the groans of the undead and the clinking of his armor. He kept his shield raised, deflecting the occasional swipe from a zombie or skeleton and finally, the main chamber was there. The largest concentration of undead awaited him there but this was not enough. All the monsters that he had previously awoken were coming here, only when they were all here would he unleash his ultimate skill. "That should be all of them." The monsters pressed in from all sides, forming a ball of undead flesh and bones in the chamber. Rusty found himself at the center, wielding his shield as a bludgeon to fend off the zombies. However, their numbers overwhelmed him, pushing relentlessly. Even his sturdy bronze body began to yield, bending under the force. Suddenly, it began to emit a bright white light. The monsters staggered back, but it was too late. Rusty raised his sword into the air, the glow concentrating along its blade. In a burst of radiance, it shot out in all directions. Where the light touched the undead zombies and skeletons, they began to crumble into dust. Even the more evolved types couldn''t withstand the attack, and soon, more than forty adversaries were reduced to mere echoes in his metallic mind, with only one message holding his attention. Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L6 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 151/151 Magic Points [MP] 24/134 Special Points [SP] 40/40 Strength 34 [ E- ] Agility 15 [ E- ] Dexterity 13 [ E- ] Constitution 36 [ E- ] Intelligence 18 [ E- ] Wisdom 19 [ E- ] Willpower 19 [ E- ] Durability E++ Basic Elemental Charge L7 Active Skill Allows the user to imbue objects with elemental mana, outcome will differ depending on the type of the object. Basic Elemental Discharge L5 Active Skill Allows the user to eject a powerful surge of elemental energy from within objects imbued with elemental mana. "Even after the third group, they aren''t going up much¡­" He was gaining experience at a fast rate now and he could see himself reaching level ten quite soon. It didn''t take him long to clear out these tombs and blasting the zombies was much faster than fighting them one by one. Their strange bodies persisted even after decapitation, some were even capable of resurrecting. Only his light elemental discharge ensured an instant kill against them. His metal visor was drawn to the nearby black chest, much like in the other crypts where it sat between caskets. Rusty cautiously approached the chest, aware of its tendency to hold surprises. To him, it appeared quite ordinary, and he lacked any trap detection skills. As he lifted the lid, a puff of purple smoke greeted him directly. You resisted sleep. You resisted poison. His living armor form proved itself resistant to these debuffing effects as always and he was free to take out the item from within. This time around it was something quite small and metallic, reflecting the dim light in the chamber. Rusty lifted it from the chest, his curiosity piqued. The item was a small, intricately designed ring, perhaps magical, given its strange glow. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Classification: Lesser Mana Regeneration Ring Type: Accessory Description: A magical ring that boosts the wearer''s passive mana regeneration. Rusty''s metaphorical heart skipped a beat as this was something quite intriguing. It wasn''t the first accessory item he had encountered, but it was the first with a discernible magical effect. His identification skill didn''t specify the exact increase in mana regeneration, but even a slight percentage could prove useful. At this point in time, it took him well over an hour to recover all of his magical points. Cutting this time down by even ten minutes would be quite useful as without his mana, it wouldn''t be possible to use his AOE tactic. "Finally, something useful!" He held it between his thumb and index finger. There was a little pulse of energy when he looked at it but it eventually subsided. This was the first time he used an accessory so slipping it on one of his metallic fingers proved hard. His hand was much too thick to make it fit on any of his fingers, even his pinky could not hold it and it just fell down to the ground. "Wait¡­ if I want to equip something, shouldn''t I do it through my status screen?" For a moment, he felt silly for attempting it. Rusty had tried to mimic adventurers who occasionally wore such jewelry on their fingers¡ªa rare sight, but not something he could replicate with his metallic body. Fortunately, he had his own stash tab, and with the help of his SP (Skill Points), he managed to place the ring there. By dragging it to an empty square, he successfully equipped the ring. "I don''t see it anywhere on me though¡­ is it under my armor?" After equipping the ring, it vanished from sight. Rusty investigated the issue by removing his gauntlet from his metallic body. Peering inside, he discovered the ring hovering on his finger next to the pinky. It seemed to have fused with his body and even when he shook the gauntlet, it wouldn''t rattle or come off. He immediately felt a faint, soothing pulse of energy coursing through his body. While he couldn''t directly see the numbers, he sensed that his mana regeneration had slightly increased. "Interesting¡­" Upon closer inspection of his equipment screen, Rusty noticed two other free accessory spots available. One appeared suitable for another ring on his left hand, while the other was positioned near his head. After experimenting for a moment, he managed to fit the golden amulet he had retrieved from another crypt into the latter spot. However, since the item had no enchantments, it seemed somewhat pointless to keep it equipped. "Why can I only have two rings when I have ten fingers?" While this was an odd discovery, he didn''t have anything else to put in the ring slot at the moment. However, acquiring this ring suggested the possibility of finding more accessories in other crypts. If he could obtain another ring and an amulet with similar effects, he might address one of his biggest weaknesses: his low amount of MP. "Ah, right before I leave, I should also do that!" All the monsters were dead, and he had the treasure, but there was one more task he needed to complete. His plan was to cause chaos in the dungeon, and the hero had made one thing clear: everything within the dungeon required resources to maintain. Killing too many monsters at once would strain it, but there were other ways, like setting off every trap in the vicinity. Poison couldn''t affect him, and no rusty iron spikes could pierce his metallic body. Rusty continued his systematic extermination of the undead-filled tombs. With each crypt he cleared, his efficiency improved. He became adept at leading groups of zombies into tight spaces before unleashing his powerful elemental discharge, maximizing his mana usage and minimizing the time spent on each encounter. His skills continued to improve, and his levels were ever-rising. Soon, the seventh floor began to change. The thick mist that once covered it started to thin out, and the sound of toads grew fainter. His plan was working, and he might soon begin to evolve further. However, the question remained: would he be able to achieve freedom and rescue Gleam? Time was slowly running out, and nearly two weeks had already passed. He was certainly affecting the dungeon floors around him but would this be enough to affect the dungeon heart? Chapter 52 - 50 – Blending In. "Don''t tell me, this one is empty too?" "Well, do you see any zombies around?" "Why did we bother hiring a priest if there aren''t any zombies!" "I don''t know, but you reckon he will give us a discount?" Three adventurers looked at a man wearing priestly garb. He appeared to be in his thirties and was shaking his head while smiling. "You won''t get a discount just because someone got to the treasure faster." The priest responded with a chuckle, causing the adventurers to slump their shoulders and sigh. He then moved towards the underground crypt they were trying to clear out, his hand brushing against the walls. The man closed his eyes and recited a prayer. Soon, the wall was covered in a golden sheen which quickly vanished. "This divinity¡­ how is it so pure? Was a High-Cardinal in this crypt? But that just makes no sense¡­" While the adventurers and the priest were fumbling around in an empty catacomb, the being responsible was making his way down a flight of stairs. The seventh floor had been altered by his doing, and now that the mist had thinned, it was too dangerous to stick around. "Finally, some hard ground under my feet." Rusty''s bronze feet clanked against the stone steps as he descended deeper into the dungeon. The change in environment was a welcome relief from the damp, swampy terrain above. The walls here were smoother, intricately carved with depictions of ancient battles and scenes of worship. Torches with blue flames lined the walls of this staircase that descended for quite some time. As he moved, his mind was busy calculating his next move. He had spent quite some time grinding on the undead zombies and exploring crypts. From them, he had managed to unearth some accessories. Most of them were gold-tinted junk, but he had found two that weren''t awful. One was a ring that increased his mana regeneration probably by five percent. It didn''t seem like much, but every bit added up. The second one was something new; it added a flat amount of stats to his own. Classification: Lesser Strength Necklace Type: Accessory Description: A necklace that increases the wearer''s strength. It only added two points of strength, but it was better than nothing. Once equipped, it appeared under his chest armor, stuck to the top area near his metallic neck. If he removed his helmet and held it at the right angle, he could clearly see it there. It seemed to be glued to his bronze body, and when he poked it, the item wouldn''t move. Thanks to this effect, it was clear that these accessories would be hard to remove, but he wasn''t sure what would happen if his body part was damaged. ''I don''t think I''ll be able to repair these accessories, they aren''t part of my body.'' Rusty assumed that if his gauntlet holding the mana regeneration ring were to be crushed, the ring would be destroyed with it. While he could restore his bronze body, he wasn''t sure about other items. It was possible for him to wield weapons dropped by other monsters, but repairing them was also impossible. At most, he could store them in his inventory for later. It seemed that unless he had created the weapon within the forge himself, he was unable to repair it. After continuing his descent, the stone steps gave way to a vast underground area. The ceiling was quite high, and the swamp was replaced by decrepit temples. He could see large crumbled walls, statues with missing limbs, and more dead-looking trees. This area seemed quite vast and had a lot of open space, something he wasn''t too keen on. The wide-open area was a stark contrast to the cramped, mist-filled swamp he had navigated before. Rusty had to move with caution as there weren''t many places to hide here. There were crumbled walls didn''t seem to provide much cover from the roaming monster or adventurers. To make things worse, once he took a few steps he heard some sounds from afar, someone was approaching him fast. ''I need to hide¡­ but where?" The wide-open area was a stark contrast to the cramped, mist-filled swamp he had navigated before. Rusty had to move with caution, as there weren''t many places to hide here. The crumbled walls didn''t seem to provide much cover from roaming monsters or adventurers. To make things worse, after taking a few steps, he heard sounds from afar¡ªsomeone was approaching fast. ''I need to hide¡­ but where?'' Rusty wasn''t far from the stairs leading to the seventh level. This area looked like a run-down church with a row of torches leading up to his location. On the ground, there were destroyed wooden benches. For a moment, he considered digging himself under the wood, but there wasn''t enough time. To the sides, there were some windows he could possibly squeeze through and some thicker columns he could hide behind. ''Wait¡­ what about that skill I just learned? I could probably use that!'' His level had progressed further, and he was now level nine. This had allowed him to gain a brand-new skill, which worked in a mysterious way. It had a drawback and a requirement, but luckily, this place fulfilled that requirement. Rusty quickly moved toward one of the columns in the corner with the least amount of light. Once there, he went down to his knees in an attempt to minimize his body size. He needed to ensure he was in a darkened area. Then, right before the footsteps reached the ruined church, he vanished from sight. Basic Elemental Meld Active Skill Allows the user to merge with the elements they are attuned to. Unless a certain elemental density threshold is reached, this skill won''t be able to function correctly. Rusty looked at the skill description as his body blended with the darkness around him. This skill required areas devoid of light or ones bathed in it. As long as he didn''t move a muscle, his body would be surrounded by either the darkness or light elements. This would, for some reason, make his body hard to see. It didn''t seem to have any combat purposes, but for hiding his presence, it was quite potent. It had a different effect depending on the element he used to meld with. If he did it in darkened areas where the darkness element was prevalent, his body would be surrounded by a shadowy haze, allowing him to blend in with the environment and become perfectly invisible. He wasn''t aware of how it worked with the element of light just yet, as within the swamp, he hadn''t found areas that met the skill''s requirements. The footsteps grew louder, and three figures soon appeared at the ruined church''s entrance. They were adventurers, judging by their gear and their movements, which indicated their potential strength. There were some wounds on their bodies, and they were clearly out of breath. It was evident that they had gone through a hard-fought battle and had perhaps fled here, seeking a safe spot where no monsters could wander in. "We made it¡­" "What do you mean we made it? Andrew, he¡­ we left him to die!" "So what? Did you want us to stay there and die with him?" Rusty listened to their conversation, hoping they would leave soon. The skill he was using had a flat MP cost of forty points and would last for around five minutes. However, once those five minutes were up, his body would be revealed again. It was possible to recast the skill instantly, but for a moment, his metallic body would be visible. His reflective surface made him highly susceptible to being discovered by any light sources. Time ticked by as Rusty calculated the remaining duration of his skill. The adventurers continued to shout at each other, oblivious to the possibility that a monster was nearby. While he was initially hesitant, the more he observed them, the more his intent shifted. They were completely unaware of his presence, and within his inventory were items like poisonous worms and potion bombs. It seemed more sensible to strike while the iron was hot as he needed to act before his skill ran out. ''Those potions, I should use them before they recover more of their strength¡­'' While Rusty had mostly decided to avoid the adventurers in the dungeon, there was an opportunity to pin the blame on someone else. These adventurers had already been defeated by the monsters on this floor and had lost a member. They weren''t a well-put-together party, and if they disappeared, it wouldn''t even be that suspicious. It was an opportunity he couldn''t afford to let slip away. ''I have to do it quickly¡­'' Carefully, he accessed his inventory to select one of the potions he took from the goblin camp. He didn''t need his hands to navigate his status as even just as a helmet, it was something he was capable of. Once selected, a potion appeared in each of his palms, breaking his skill effect. However, this was fine, as no one was paying attention to this corner of the church. With precise aim, Rusty lobbed the potion bomb toward two of the adventurers who were talking. They weren''t exactly close to each other, but he was sure he could at least get two of them. His power shot skill added momentum to his throw, and suddenly, an explosion rocked this supposedly safe area. "What the¨C?!" "What''s happening?" Seizing the moment of confusion, Rusty took out a handful of poisonous worms and threw them in the direction of the third adventurer. The worms splattered against the ground and walls, causing poisonous fumes to fill the entire area. The explosion had done more than just disorient the first two adventurers. Both were on the ground, bleeding. One of them was covering both his eyes, as some shrapnel had made its way inside during the explosion. The other one was holding his wrist, connected to a mangled hand, which he had used in an attempt to protect his face from the blast. Rusty moved quickly, his steps much more precise for a creature that was supposed to be a slow-moving living armor. The injured adventurer cradled his mangled hand, eyes wide with panic. His partner groaned beside him, still clutching his bleeding face. The adventurer who had avoided the worst of the blast staggered backward, coughing as the poisonous fumes filled the air. His eyes darted around, searching for the source of the attack. "Who''s there? Show yourself!" He demanded an answer, but no one responded. Instead, the attackers revealed themselves by hurling a long weapon at the two other party members. The man wanted to shout to warn his companions, but it was already too late. What looked to be a sharpened poleaxe had pierced his neck. Then, the one responsible charged at the blinded man, finishing him off with a longsword. "H-how is a monster here¡­" The man was stunned by Rusty''s arrival, both his companions had been slayed in a matter of seconds and he was the only one remaining. This surviving adventurer, still reeling from the explosion and the sudden appearance of the living armor, fumbled to draw his weapon. Rusty closed the distance between them with terrifying speed, his shield raised to deflect any incoming attacks. "N-no stay bac¨C" He did not give the man any space to react. With his upgraded weapon-handling skills, he was a force to be reckoned with. The man stumbled back as he barely deflected a strike with his own longsword, yet this was not the end. Rusty continued his assault, his blade strikes coming from different angles, with powerful thrusts and slashes raining down. His increase in levels and MP was evident as he showered his opponent with multiple active skills. The man, while trembling, attempted to parry the onslaught, but Rusty''s relentless attacks overwhelmed him. Each strike from Rusty''s blade sent vibrations through the adventurer''s weapon, sapping his strength and will to fight back. Desperation flashed in his eyes as he swung his sword wildly, attempting to land a hit on the living armor but even when he did, the slashes proved skin deep. Then, in a swift move, the adventurer''s neck was opened, and blood sprayed forward at the bronze monster before him. The man grabbed his neck with one hand, his blade dropping to the ground as he coughed up blood. In desperation, he attempted to grab a healing potion from his side, but before he could, a shield bashed his face in, and he collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings severed. Rusty looked at the defeated man, without any emotions. He did not feel sorry for him as any of those three people would have instantly attacked him if he made himself known. What he was more focused on was the prompt on the status screen which showcased that he had managed to level up. Congratulations you have gained a level. "Why is it like that? I''m level ten¡­" The adventurers who roamed these dungeons usually provided him with much more experience than the monsters he slew. This time, he gained enough to advance from level nine to ten, but the familiar follow-up message that had appeared the previous two times when he leveled up did not appear. He should have been able to evolve by now, but despite reaching level ten, nothing was happening. "The experience bar¡­ it''s partially full too, does this mean that I have to get to an even higher level than ten to advance further?" He wanted to summon one of his guides to ask them this question, but his mana was mostly spent. Dangers still lurked inside the dungeon, so he would need to postpone this inquiry. Rusty desired to advance further and acquire a higher tier of armor-body, one made of either iron or steel. He had already encountered weapons and armor made from these metals. His current opponent wielded a steel blade, which he should have been resistant to, yet the cuts were deep, revealing that his body was nearing its limits. "Other adventurers will eventually show up here, I should move their bodies outside this safe area." The bodies of these three needed to be moved, as he did not want others to discover he was here. It was likely his enemies were searching for a unique piece of armor rumored to be in these dungeons. If they found these three bodies, someone might come to track him down. Gleam possessed tracking skills and his humanoid enemies were capable of using them as well. After peeking outside to ensure the coast was clear, Rusty began relocating the three bodies. Despite his high strength stat, their weight was becoming a problem. Without the weight control skill, dragging them away would have been impossible, but eventually, he managed to move them outside the safe zone and behind some crumbled walls where a few zombies lurked. Once he dispatched the zombies, it was time for some looting. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 53 - 51 – Expanded Level Cap. "Guild Master Husson, do you have a minute? There is an important issue we need to talk about." "Lorenda? What is it now? Come in." A grumpy-looking guild master looked up from a pile of paperwork he had to stamp. Most of it revolved around signing off on new adventurers, due to some new rules the guild master had to enforce. The brawny man with the eyepatch sighed, rubbing his temples as Lorenda stepped inside. "It''s about that Irregularity we talked about earlier¡­" "This again? Didn''t I tell you to deal with it? What could an E-rank monster do alone in the dungeon? Don''t tell me that more people have died. Are all the new adventurers just incompetent now?" The man didn''t seem too pleased at the mention of the irregularity again, but Lorenda pressed on, her tone insistent. "No, sir, it''s more than that. It''s not just about adventurers disappearing now." "Then what is it?" Husson started sighing but managed to hold himself back from shouting at the guild worker. He knew that she was just performing her duties and that at least she thought that this issue was important. The lady didn''t relent but moved closer to place the papers on his desk where he could see and read them. "We have reports of large groups of monsters vanishing, treasure chests appearing less and less, and even traps have been reported missing." "What? Let me see this." The guild master was perplexed by this issue. It was one thing when easily replaceable adventurers were getting themselves killed, but another when the dungeon itself was in danger. Without the dungeon around, their business wouldn''t be able to function correctly, and the guild master was aware of this. Soon, Husson was going through the report, which stated that the population of the monsters was starting to drop, something that very rarely happened. "This is rather strange¡­ but what could be causing it?" Husson''s mind raced with possibilities and he tried to remember if similar issues appeared while he was an active adventurer. Monster populations in the dungeon were usually kept in check by adventurers and not the other way around. There was danger in allowing the dungeon to exist without proper management as once it was left alone for too long, it would cause some problems. Not everyone knew this but there was a certain symbiotic relation between the dungeon and the adventurers hunting for treasures within it. Once the balance was broken, it could lead to a disaster. "It might have something to do with that irregular monster¡­" As the guild master paused the woman attempted to bring up that topic again. In his mind, one monster couldn''t be responsible for such a drastic change. Monsters like a living armor weren''t known for their intelligence or capabilities to do anything other than attack the first thing they saw. "That again? This report doesn''t state anything about it appearing, has it been spotted since the last incident?" "Well¡­ no but¡­" "Then it''s probably been killed by someone already." Husson leaned back in his chair and was unwilling to even entertain that thought. In his mind, the reason had to be different. "Lorenda, I''ll look into this, but don''t jump to conclusions. There could be many explanations. Perhaps a higher-ranking party has been clearing out the dungeon while not going through the proper procedures. It''s not strange for some of those bastards to farm for specific items in bulk. Here is what we are going to do." Lorenda nodded, though her concern didn''t fade. She knew that whatever the guild master would order wouldn''t address the irregularity she was concerned with. However, there was a possibility that she was wrong and that something else was happening within the dungeon. There had been cases in the past where dungeons had been stripped by large adventurer groups. In such situations, the dungeon needed time to restore its lost resources, much like how this dungeon was behaving now. ".We''ll close the entrance for a few days and send in one of ours to investigate. We need to find whoever is responsible for this. Check if anyone is selling items in bulk that can only be manufactured from the dungeon''s materials¡­" "Yes, Guild Master. I understand." There was not much to interject as the guild leader made the order. The dungeon would be closed for a few days to give the dungeon some time to regain its vitality. As long as adventurers stopped overhunting the monsters, they would respawn as always. Once balance was restored, they would need to check if their guards were sleeping on the job or if someone over-leveled managed to slip inside. This dungeon was meant for beginners and was not meant to be farmed excessively. ***** Meanwhile, the one responsible for all this chaos was just rummaging through some adventurer belongings. His bronze hands moved quickly through the items that he placed down on the ground to examine. Each one of his victims had various items stashed on them, including something that resembled his inventory system but much more flawed. Classification: Lesser Small Storage Satchel Type: Storage Item Description: A satchel with a spatial enchantment placed on it. It''s bigger on the inside than on the outside. It was quite an interesting find as he reached inside and discovered more items than expected. Among them were several potions, a few throwing weapons, and some coins. The potions included basic healing and mana restoration varieties. Initially disappointed, he soon realized two things. First, he couldn''t heal himself using the healing potion, which made sense since he was made of bronze and not flesh. Second, the mana restoration concoction actually worked to a certain degree as splashing it over his body regenerated some of his MP points. Then another interesting anomaly caught his attention: when he attempted to add the storage satchel to his inventory, it created a small sub-storage. Once inside his stash tab, he could open it to reveal four additional storage squares. The item itself only occupied two squares, effectively expanding his stash tab capacity. This discovery would allow him to save some SP and he wondered if he could continue placing these items into each other for an infinite amount of space. "I suppose there is some copper in this and this metal here is called silver?" Rusty didn''t quite understand why these people carried coins with them. Their bodies were not metallic like his, so they wouldn''t be able to use the coins to restore themselves. However, his guides had instructed him to hold on to the coins as they could be useful once he left the dungeon. They were apparently used for exchanging goods, but Rusty wasn''t sure if any humans would be willing to barter with him. He was also not sure what a sentient suit could buy in the first place or how would he do it without being attacked. "What else was there¡­ the weapons aren''t bad, this steel longsword is better than the one I have on me." Among his finds, there were a few good things like the longsword made from steel and an iron shield. Both were sturdier than the armaments that he could produce but he wouldn''t be able to repair them or use his elemental skills. Without the metal being of the twilight variety, the skill would not function for some reason. For the time being, he placed all of the loot inside his storage before heading out into the unknown. Once he finished gathering up the loot and placing it in his storage, it was time to leave. The adventurers had been stripped of their armor and would eventually be absorbed by the dungeon, a fate shared by anyone who died in this place. Rusty wasn''t sure what this place truly was, but it felt like the dungeon was consuming the people who fell within it. Perhaps it was just another kind of monster, much like he was, and the voice it used was simply its personality. The skill he had just used, Basic Elemental Meld, required further testing. Rusty needed to understand its limitations and potential applications. It enabled him to merge with the shadows and become invisible, a capability he could utilize in the future. If pursued, he could seek refuge in dark corners where he would be undetectable. If adventurers couldn''t see him, then it was likely that monsters with inferior detection skills within the dungeon wouldn''t either. "But I didn''t expect this. How much do I need to level up this time around?" One big question remained: his level. His previous evolutions only required him to reach level ten, but now something had shifted. To get to the bottom of this problem, he decided to call upon one of his guides. Soon, a dark sphere of light appeared before him, and Demon King Aburdon materialized. "Oh? I see that you have been busy. Are you sure you''re not a demon in disguise?" The black sphere floated toward the three dead bodies that Rusty was responsible for. It seemed like Aburdon was trying to achieve something by getting closer and even flying inside one of the corpses, but nothing seemed to happen. "What are you doing?" "Oh, nothing, just trying to test if an old skill still works... Now then, how can this Dark Lord be of service?" Rusty noticed the tone switch but knew that this black orb was sometimes untrustworthy. If it weren''t for the skill that compelled it to tell the truth, it might only tell lies. Nevertheless, Aburdon was very knowledgeable about all things related to monsters and demons. When a question about monsters arose, it was better to ask him about it than the hero. "I''ve reached level ten, but I wasn''t able to evolve. Why did this happen?" "Ah, did the Hero not tell you? Once you reach a new rank, you are able to level past the old limit." "Oh? What''s the limit for E-rank then?" "It''s just fifteen, so you''re not that far from evolving again." "Oh, is it like that? So if I reach the D-rank¡­" "Yes, the limit will go up again, once you''re a D-rank, it goes up to twenty-five, and so on." The orb chuckled while Rusty tried to comprehend the idea of having ever-increasing leveling limits. This leveling system was starting to get more complicated but if he just needed to gain five more levels to advance, then it was doable. Congratulations Call Guide skill has reached level 2. Just before he deactivated his skill, a system prompt appeared before his visor. His Call Guide skill had increased. Rusty wasn''t sure what leveling this skill would achieve, but after some research, he realized that his magic points weren''t depleting as quickly as before. Perhaps, once this skill reached a high enough level, it would allow him to keep his summoned guides active without draining his mana resources. "Now then Rusty, I think we might have to discuss something. I''ve noticed you''ve been putting yourself in some peril. I know that little precious Gleam is important to you but wouldn''t it be better to think about my¡­ I mean your safety first?" "... No ¡­" He replied in a monotone voice before canceling the skill and sending Aburdon back to the soul forge. It was evident that the fallen demon king''s existence was linked to Rusty''s, and he was concerned about his own survival. The activities Rusty engaged in within the dungeon were risky, and there was a real possibility of being discovered by adventurers. Rusty was playing a dangerous game, and Aburdon shared his worries about staying alive. "Now then, just five levels to go¡­ but did the stat requirements also change?" Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L10 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 134/161 Magic Points [MP] 94/144 Special Points [SP] 30/40 Strength 44 [ E- ] Agility 25 [ E- ] Dexterity 23 [ E- ] Constitution 46 [ E- ] Intelligence sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 28 [ E- ] Wisdom 29 [ E- ] Willpower 28 [ E- ] Durability E++ Rusty hadn''t paid much attention to it before, but the number of minuses was alarmingly high. Previously, once a stat passed thirty-three, its rank would shift to a higher one. However, the stats that had already exceeded this threshold were not changing at all. "If it''s the same as with the levels¡­ then that means that the stat limits have gone up as well?" It started making sense as thirty-three was not a very high number. He was gaining up to three stat points from each level up, something that had increased since his F-rank days. If he reached an even higher evolution that gave him even more stat points, he would start reaching those limits too fast. It was some type of limiting factor and he started wondering how high these numbers would get once he evolved into something truly strong. He stood up, his bronze frame glinting in the dim dungeon light, and decided to push forward. He needed those five levels to evolve again, and that meant more exploration and more battles. His main objective had not changed and Gleam needed to be rescued. His strategy was shallow but before the month was up, he needed to reach a new height and nothing would stand in his way. As he ventured deeper into the dungeon, Rusty encountered more undead monsters. The seventh floor was more vast than the previous one, but with the help of his new hiding skill, it became easy to avoid larger groups of adventurers. To his surprise, this had only been a problem for a day or two until all the adventurers suddenly vanished. He had been contemplating moving to the next floor sooner, but now he could continue his previous tactic of grinding in an even easier fashion. "I would be stupid to not use this chance." The hero had mentioned that the people above would sometimes block passage into the dungeon in dangerous situations. This wasn''t good news in Rusty''s opinion, as it likely meant a group of powerful adventurers would be sent to investigate. Aware of the potential threat, Rusty knew he needed to act fast. "This is much better than the swamp area¡­" Rusty said to himself while running through the decrepit temples and destroyed architecture. Behind him was a steady stream of zombies and skeletons, all chasing after his shiny bronze form, unaware of their impending doom. Previously, he had only cleared out small groups of around twenty or thirty in the cramped crypts, but the crowd he was pulling now was several times larger. Eventually, he ended up at a demolished church with a missing roof. The monsters followed right after him, pushing through the large entrance, and those that couldn''t fit started to climb through the windows. Rusty, on the other hand, ran all the way to the middle where all the monsters could see him. Once they were just a few steps away, he threw his helmet toward a previously prepared safe location. The monsters tackled his metallic frame to the ground and began their attack. He could see his hit points going down, but this didn''t matter. Soon, the entire church area was enveloped in a burst of white light¡­ You have gained +24 experience points. You have gained +14 experience points. Chapter 54 - 52 – Ninth Floor. A flash of light engulfed a dilapidated church, momentarily stunning an undead horde. Rusty''s elemental attack - an explosion of holy energy, devastated the dark creatures before him. Their rotting bodies disintegrated, leaving behind only a few stragglers, who were left with missing limbs and burned flesh. The main part of his armor was left mangled within the piles of burned zombies but his helmet was safely perched up on a ledge. "Another successful run," He muttered as his body started reassembling itself piece by piece. Soon, a brand-new body took shape while the old one was discarded. With a leap, he jumped from the ledge and drew his longsword. The few enemies that remained could barely move, giving him an opportunity to use his skill. "Let''s see¡­ Do you have any worthwhile skills that are compatible with me?" After approaching a high-zombie, he sliced off its remaining limbs. This monster could slowly regenerate and would not die easily. He positioned his helmet so that his core was away from its mouth, then quickly activated the skill absorption. No compatible skills have been found. "Hm? There is nothing?" This was a first for him. Usually, there was at least one skill he could absorb. It seemed that his metallic body was not very compatible with the zombies, but they weren''t the only enemies left. After quickly slicing off the monster''s head, he started looking around. There were two other zombies like it and one high-skeleton. No compatible skills have been found. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. After finishing his search, he found one skill from the last high-zombie to choose from. Strangling Grasp Active Skill Perform a grasping attack on the enemy. While the skill is used, grip strength is increased. It was a skill that some of these zombies had attempted to use on him and had even marked his leftover shell. These monsters went down easily thanks to his light elemental attack, but they were quite strong. They could mangle his metallic body with their bare hands, and it seemed that this skill aided in that. However, before choosing, he still needed to see what the high-skeleton had to offer. Impaling Lunge Active Skill Perform a quick lunging attack at a faraway enemy. This skill works best with weapons that have a long reach. He examined the skill the skeleton offered him, and after seeing the spear it had been holding, it made sense. The lunge seemed like a variation of a thrust attack, but it was probably limited to far-reaching weapons. He had seen one of these monsters jumping forward with increased speed in an attempt to skewer him. "This impaling lunge seems like a different type of power thrust, it just launches my body forward faster. The other one could be more useful¡­" Rusty''s logic was simple, he already had a more powerful thrusting attack. Getting another one could be useful but a skill that enhanced his abilities once he lost his weapons sounded more appealing. With his decision made, he chose the Strangling Grasp skill. The skeleton was destroyed and after he absorbed the new skill, the zombie followed suit. Congratulations! You have learned Strangling Grasp. After adding the new skill to his repertoire, it was time to give it a test. His old discarded shell was still there and before he took it into his storage, he decided to test his grip on it. His bronze fingers tightened around the arm of his former body, and he felt an immediate surge of strength. The grip felt significantly stronger, almost as if his metallic hand had gained a life of its own. He squeezed harder, and the arm began to crumple under the pressure, the metal buckling and deforming with ease. "Interesting, it lasts for a few seconds but it could be quite useful." Rusty knew that this world held many dangers and various types of enemies. Some were resistant to slashing damage, others to heavy attacks. His body had its advantages, but if an enemy with immense grip strength appeared before him, it could quickly mangle him. Satisfied with the new skill, Rusty absorbed the remnants of his old shell into his inventory and took stock of his situation. The church was quiet now, the light from his elemental attack having purged it of undead threats. He had gained a decent amount of experience from the encounter, and there wasn''t much left until he would reach his next evolution. However, a large problem was arising. In his pursuit of causing chaos in the dungeon, he was making it difficult for himself to gain levels. This was not his first attempt at AOE farming, and this eighth level lost its resources a lot faster than the others. This was a theory he had come up with: the stronger the monsters he defeated, the more the dungeon struggled to restore them. On this floor, there were more E-ranked monsters than on any others, and there were large quantities of them. Without light elemental spells, it would be quite difficult to cause this much destruction to the scenery. His light was also seemingly doing something to the gloomy environment, purifying it. "There is no reason to stay here anymore, then. There don''t seem to be any treasures, either, I wonder if it''s also because of me?" Once he realized that this place had stopped spawning more monsters, he headed towards the next set of stairs. If the hero was correct, he would soon reach a special area of the dungeon. He just needed to get past the ninth level, and then perhaps his journey would be at an end. "I haven''t seen those adventurers around for a while, so I should probably hurry." The last few days had been rather simple. Once the adventurers vanished, he was free to roam the undead-infested area without a worry in the world, engaging in wanton slaughter without needing to rest. He hadn''t realized just how much those people were limiting his progress, but this freedom probably wouldn''t last. Those individuals were smart and resourceful. He was sure they were planning something, and it would be better to go through another evolution before they confronted him. After facing off against multiple monsters, it became easy to gauge the strength level of the adventurers. With his current power, he could probably defeat the average adventurer who roamed this dungeon. These people didn''t engage in combat with creatures much stronger than themselves, so it was simple to imagine himself in their place. However, he still couldn''t see himself defeating a full party of five in a fair match without using any hidden weapons or tactics. "I wonder what''s on the ninth level. I suppose there''s only one way to find out!" With a little over a week left until the deadline, his plan was to clear the ninth level in a few days to aid in his evolution. Once there, he would then challenge the special tenth floor, and without the adventurers around, it was a chance he couldn''t waste. Soon, his metallic footsteps echoed in the silence as he headed towards his next destination. The area leading to the next floor resembled a large opened castle door, and upon passing through it, he understood why. The stairs didn''t descend much, and before him lay an old castle-like structure in the distance. What greeted him was not an even larger expanse, but a bridge leading to a single massive structure. Surrounding this castle was a high ceiling of rocks and a massive moat. As he looked in all directions, there didn''t seem to be anything of note except the path forward. "It''s quiet¡­" The bridge leading to the spacious castle was long and wide. As Rusty glanced at the murky water below, he noticed bones floating around. Initially, he assumed they were remnants of adventurers who had fallen and met their demise. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that these were skeleton monsters lurking in the water, perhaps lying in wait to ensnare anyone who fell in further. It was a strange monster placement, but soon he would realize why they were there. While he had no ears, his hearing was sharp, and from the distance, the clear sound of a bow being drawn reached him. Reacting almost instantly, he pulled out his shield to protect his head, and just in time - an arrow collided with it, bouncing off and plunging into the moat. Suddenly, all hell broke loose as many adversaries appeared in the distance. Movement erupted on the castle''s ramparts. He saw armored beings with heavy bows aiming in his direction. They looked similar to him, but their coloring was much darker. These weren''t simple bronze armors anymore; they were their evolved forms, and all of them had seen him attempting to cross the bridge leading inside. There was no way to flee to the sides; the only option was to go forward. His body was sturdy enough to withstand multiple hits, but the real issue was protecting his helmet from getting knocked off his shoulders. If that happened and it landed in the moat, he would probably sink like a rock and be done for. Thus, after lowering his stance and placing his shield directly in front, he rushed forward. The armored monsters fired their arrows in his direction, and many collided with his shield. The arrows bounced off, and even those that struck his body bent out of shape. He could hear the system warning him about the loss of HP, prompting him to increase his pace. Even though they couldn''t kill him outright, he would be stunned once his health reached a critical point. He sprinted across the bridge with as much speed as his metallic body allowed. His shield absorbed most of the impact, but the hail of arrows continued. This was a greater increase in difficulty compared to previous floors, which had been relatively mild at their starting locations. The closer he got, the more he could see the details of his enemies - living armors of a different metal variety. There was a gate in place, keeping him from entering further, but it was only closed on one side, allowing him to escape the hail of arrows. With a final burst of speed, he dashed through the entrance and slammed into the iron bars blocking the way forward. Rusty had made it partially inside, and while the path forward was blocked, there was a side entrance nearby. "I''m in¡­" Rusty turned around and saw many arrows impaled on the thick wooden bridge behind him. It was quite the welcome, and a few arrows had even managed to pierce through his twilight bronze body. He started yanking the iron arrows out while surveying his surroundings. Through the castle gate, he saw a large number of enemies, all mostly of one type: the same dark-armored living armors that had been shooting at him. Classification: Iron Armor [ E- ] L3 Type: Magical/Specter S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Description: A living armor monster fully made out of iron. These monsters were patrolling around but quickly turned in his direction after he slammed into the iron bars of the inner castle gate. Not wanting to stand out, Rusty decided to quickly slip into the side entrance, where a lesser number of enemies awaited him. The interior was dimly lit and narrow, offering a temporary reprieve from the overwhelming number of foes outside. Despite the relative safety of this side entrance, there were still enemies here. Without any adventurers within the dungeon, he had to deal with all of them alone. His metallic footsteps echoed in the confined space, alerting the patrolling iron guards to his presence. With haste, he switched out his longsword to match his opponents who were made out of hardened metal. The sword vanished from his hand and was replaced with a heavy-looking mace. Soon, one of the living armors was charging at him with a large two-handed sword. Rusty braced himself for the impact, adjusting his stance to better wield the heavy mace. The charging Iron Armor raised its two-handed sword, ready to strike. Rusty dodged to the side at the last moment, swinging his mace in a wide arc. The mace connected with the side of the Iron Armor''s head, sending a resounding clang echoing through the narrow hallway. The Iron Armor staggered but did not fall. Rusty swung again, this time aiming for the knee joint. The mace crushed through the metal, causing the Iron Armor to buckle and collapse. He followed up with a decisive skill-infused strike to the head, right where the core should be hidden away. The monster''s helmet was flattened from the powerful blow and he received the system''s confirmation of his victory. One was down, but another remained. The second Iron Armor swung its sword, but Rusty was quicker. The blow was parried by his shield, sending the monster staggering back. With a perfectly timed hit from his mace, a dent appeared in its stomach, and the monster was sent flying against the nearby wall. While the monsters looked sturdy, they were rather light, a weakness Rusty knew how to exploit. He quickly approached before the monster could gather itself. One of its arms had popped off, but the monster was unwilling to give up. With its remaining arm, it flailed wildly, trying to keep him at bay. However, before the monster could use its Limb Control skill, Rusty charged in. His mace connected with the remaining arm, pinning it against the wall. Then, his hand moved in a grasping motion toward the Iron Armor''s helmet. Soon, it was being squeezed without mercy, bending under the might of his new skill. "It''s like fighting a slower and dumber version of myself¡­" The monster''s parts flopped down as its core was crushed by Rusty''s gauntlet. He knew his own weaknesses best, so it was quite easy to exploit these enemies that were almost the same as him. While their bodies were made from a better metal, it didn''t mean they were harder. Thanks to his passive skills and his bronze body being made of a rarer variant, he was just as, if not more, sturdy than all of them. Rusty stood over the defeated foe, briefly assessing the situation. The area was clear for the moment, giving him a chance to catch his breath and plan his next move. Luckily, the battle hadn''t triggered the other monsters to enter this chamber. He had some time to examine their bodies and prepare for the coming battles. His enemies weren''t as weak as the ones on the other floors, and he couldn''t dispatch them easily with his elemental light. To navigate this area and reach his next evolution, he would have to proceed carefully. However, he couldn''t shake the feeling that his enemies wouldn''t simply allow him to lurk in this dungeon without trying to impede his movements. Time was of the essence and once he was level fifteen he would tackle the tenth floor and what lurked within. Chapter 55 - 53 – Adventurers Coming. "When was the last time we were here?" "I don''t know, maybe a month or two." "Everything sure has changed. It''s no wonder the guild asked us to sweep through the floors before they open it up again¡­" A group of adventurers looked around a desolate swamp area. They had expected a thick fog, croaking poisonous toads, and groaning undead. There was almost none of it here. The fog that used to keep people from seeing a few meters ahead was gone. The monsters that should have been guarding the many crypts were gone, and their interiors were emptied out. It was as if something or someone had systematically purged the entire area of its threats. "I heard this was supposed to be a case of over-hunting, but why would it continue even after the dungeon was closed?" "Perhaps they have a different way to get in here?" "I don''t like the sound of that." "Why''s that, Keyon?" The woman in light leather armor asked her companion while the others listened. It was a party of four people. One was a dwarven warrior, another a large man over two meters in height wearing bulky steel armor. The two talking were an archer named Keyon and the party leader, Livi. "Well, if that''s true, they could still be here. We can handle the monsters here, but if it''s another party of adventurers, it could get tricky. They could be in a large group or have high ranks with them. Do they really expect us to do this for a few silver coins?" Keyon replied, his voice laced with bitterness. This new mission they were sent on was supposed to be easy, just reconnaissance to see if the dungeon had jumpstarted itself back. This was supposed to be a fairly new dungeon still going through a growth period. The guild made sure not to overtax it because until it reached a certain threshold, such occurrences were possible. "You think they''ll pay us if we go back now?" "Hah, probably not, if we don''t find the source of whatever has been causing this, we might not get anything at all." Livi frowned, scanning the surroundings. The absence of fog and monsters was unsettling. She had expected a routine check, not an empty, eerie silence. Their contract had a clause that in the event of unusual circumstances, they would need to investigate and report back before receiving full payment. Abandoning the mission now would result in no compensation and potentially damage their reputation within the guild. "Let''s press on. We need to figure out what''s happening here. Besides, I don''t think there is anything worthwhile left down here besides the boss chamber. Let''s just go there, and if it''s empty, we''ll make the report." "Alright, leader. Lead the way." Livi made the decision, and the other party members just nodded. The group moved forward and navigated through the desolate swamp at record speed. Without the fog impeding their progress, it was quite easy for them to reach the entrance to the eighth floor. Soon, the adventurers descended to the eighth floor, but they couldn''t help but feel the oppressive silence of the dungeon. The atmosphere was unlike anything they had encountered before. Usually, the air would be thick with the stench of decay and the sounds of undead roaming the halls, but now, it was eerily calm. "Stay alert; something''s not right here." "The eighth floor isn''t much better than the previous seven. The density of monsters is really dropping down... Could some bastard have damaged the dungeon heart?" "Now why would someone do something as idiotic as that?" Keyon replied to Livi as the group moved through the destroyed chambers on the eighth floor, only to find one or two zombies crawling about. As they cautiously explored the eighth floor, the adventurers encountered only scattered remnants of undead, nothing more than stragglers barely posing a threat. The once-menacing atmosphere of the dungeon had dissipated, replaced by an unsettling calm. Every corner they turned revealed more evidence of desolation, urging them to press on with their search. The big question still remained: who was responsible for this, and were they still lurking inside the dungeon? All of them remained on high alert. The threat wasn''t obvious, but they anticipated an unwelcome surprise at any moment. Keyon, the archer, kept his bow ready, skillfully scanning for any potential hidden targets. Despite their cautious progress, as they reached the entrance to the ninth floor, nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. They were nearing the end of their exploration, yet the possibility lingered that their adversary might be lying in it. "Boss, this place is too quiet. Do you think we''re walking into a trap?" Keyon whispered, his gaze fixed on the stairs leading down. "I don''t know, but we need to be prepared for anything. Keep your guard up. If we''re lucky, we''ll confront the boss and return. But stay vigilant, Dedrick you take the front, keep your shield up." Livi responded, simultaneously issuing orders to the party members. They all understood that the difficulty on the next floor would intensify greatly, likely with a barrage of arrows awaiting them. The largest and most heavily armored man in the group nodded, extending his massive tower shield. Soon, the group descended the stairs and reached the next floor, where they immediately noticed a change. "Do you hear that?" "Yeah¡­ Someone is there." Finally, they noticed a difference. The expected hail of arrows from the living armors defending the castle gates didn''t come. Instead, they heard loud noises: the sound of metal clashing against metal. Clearly, someone was already battling the iron armors on this floor. "I think we might have discovered the problem. What do we do?" One of the party members asked. The party leader began to ponder. She knew it was possible that dungeon poachers were ahead of them, a group that would probably not be easy to deal with. However, if the poachers were already fighting the living armors, it presented an opportunity. They could ambush the poachers from behind, using the monsters to their advantage, and potentially earn a higher reward from the guild for completing their mission. "Prepare yourselves. We''re moving in. Keyon, stay at the rear and cover our backs, Reistel, Dedrick you two in the front." "Aye, finally some action!" The dwarf called out in a hushed tone while the larger armored man just nodded. Soon the four were moving through the long bridge that was usually covered in arrows. The adventurers cautiously moved across the bridge, their footsteps muffled against the wooden planks. Driven by the sounds of battle, they continued onward. What they discovered further was a castle filled with empty hallways. This place was supposed to be overrun by living armor monsters at every corner, but instead, they were greeted by nothing but muffled sounds from afar. They nodded at each other and stealthily moved toward the source of the noise. As they approached the castle''s great hall, the clashing of metal grew louder, resonating through the cold stone walls. "Hey, do you see that?" "Yeah¡­ doesn''t that thing look familiar?" Livi asked Keyon, who narrowed his eyes at the spectacle before them. In the middle of the great hall was a lone living armor, different from the ones attacking it. In one hand, it held a large bronze mace, while the other contained a shield. With each swing of its weapon, it dispatched the seemingly more evolved variants, smashing their heads and directly targeting their monster cores. The battle seemed to be over a minute into their arrival, and soon the creature stood motionless in the middle of the hall. "Yeah, it looks like that shitty armor that fell into the chasm, did it manage to crawl out and evolve or something?" To their surprise, it was a monster they were all familiar with. Livi their leader still remembered the trouble she had selling its gauntlet that no one was willing to buy. It was now there, crushing the heads of the iron monsters like it was nothing. Even though these living armors were not their match, if they came in high numbers, even their party would have some trouble. "So, is this the reason? What do we do?" Keyon whispered while notching an arrow into his bow. He had a clean shot for the armored monster and knew that if he hit its helmet in the right spot, he could knock it off. They only needed to get to its monster core to win this fight. "This thing probably caused the previous disaster, we need to be careful it knows darkness magic." "Don''t worry, leave it to me, I''ll just¡­" The archer turned his head towards the lone monster and stopped talking. He was aware of the power this monster supposedly had and was planning to use his archery skills to finish the job. However, to his surprise, after he turned his gaze away from the armor for a few seconds, it had turned in their direction. To make it worse, it was now holding something that resembled a spear in its hand. "Shit, dodge it!" The large projectile made an arch and closed in on Livi''s head. The woman reacted slowly at the sudden attack coming her way. This spear had been infused with a strange dark substance and spiraling in their direction. Luckily, Livi was not alone and a large tower shield made of thick steel appeared in the hands of her party member. It connected with a resounding clang, and Dedrick, the heavily armored warrior, absorbed the impact. The force of the throw caused him to stagger back a few steps, but he remained standing. The spear bounced off to the side and its tip embedded itself in the stone floor and vibrated from the impact. "Get away from that, it''s covered in black magic." While the projectile was deflected it still posed a threat to them all. The foul magic it was imbued with, was similar to poison but did not require them to ingest it. Being in close vicinity to this black mana would cause them to weaken tremendously. All of them scattered to the sides in fear of the after effects of this weapon throw. However, just as quickly as it appeared before them, the shadowy mist around it vanished into nothingness. "What about the monster?" With haste all of them turned to the grand hall where the battle between living armors had been taking place but instead of seeing the bronze armor charging in their direction, they saw it retreating. "Is that really a dungeon monster or is someone inside that armor?" They paused out of shock as the living armor was acting very strangely. Normally, it should have attacked them instantly but instead, it was fleeing. Irregular monsters were special, some even had intelligence but this also depended on the type. This thing shouldn''t be capable of strategic thinking and the possibility of another monster wearing the armor was possible. "It could be trying to lead us into a trap, stay together." The four nodded at each other before giving chase. Despite the strangeness of this metallic monster, they were confident they could handle it. The chase was on, and tracking the noisy creature through the castle was relatively easy. Its metal body clanged loudly with each step, echoing through the corridors and chambers it traversed. "Where is it trying to go?" "I don''t know, but¡­ watch out!" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Livi exclaimed as they rounded a corner and encountered an area filled with poison. The ground was littered with the bodies of small worm-like creatures that had exploded, a hazard typically found on the second floor and not something the monster should have brought down here. They paused briefly, navigating through the initial burst of purple smoke, then continued their pursuit. The adventurers cautiously pursued the mysterious living armor through the castle''s corridors. When they gained on the monster, it lobbed a series of explosive potions native to the goblins on a different floor. Then, blocked an area with a strange ball of mangled bronze armor that should be here. "Wait, isn''t this the way to the tenth floor? Is it trying to get there?" "It seems so, it must not be too smart if it''s going there¡­" They continued to chase and they soon arrived at a large staircase leading up to a set of massive doors. Just as they appeared there, they could see the bronze armor duck through the gates which prompted them to halt in their steps. Almost instantly after it had gone through the threshold, the massive chamber doors started to close upon themselves. "The dungeon recognized it as a threat?" "What do we do now, it went into the boss chamber?" "There is nothing much that we can do now besides waiting¡­ The boss will probably kill it for us¡­" The adventurers paused while looking at the closed doors that led to what would be the tenth floor of this dungeon or what most knew as the boss chamber. Within would be a powerful monster that required a whole party of adventurers to defeat. In their eyes, the bronze armor was already dead as they could not see it being able to survive against such a tough opponent. "What now, Livi?" Keyon asked as all of them settled before the large door. All of them knew that once these closed, they would not open until either the boss monster inside died or the one challenging did. "We wait. If that thing is as dumb as it seems. There''s no way it can handle whatever''s in there alone¡­." ****** "I think they aren''t following after me anymore¡­ but what is this place, I thought this was the way to the tenth floor?" Rusty had been finishing up his grinding session against his iron counterparts when he noticed the adventurers. He was now level fourteen and just one shy away from the new level limit. A new skill was gained during the leveling spree that allowed him to detect living beings in the vicinity and through it he was able to discover his enemies. Then after a quick decision, he made his way towards the tenth floor that he had previously discovered but not used. "This place is different from the other floors¡­" After going through the large chamber doors he arrived at more stairs that started to lead downwards. He descended slowly and eventually arrived at a huge room that resembled something a king would inhabit. The ceilings were high, supported by grand stone pillars adorned with intricate carvings. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows across the polished marble floor. At the far end of the chamber, a massive throne sat upon a raised dais, commanding the room''s attention. "There is no one there but¡­" He had expected to find someone seated upon that throne, but it was empty. Yet, Rusty was not alone. Next to the throne, like a sentinel knight, stood a large armored creature. It towered over him by at least a head''s length, its presence imposing. As he stepped further into the room, the armored figure''s head turned towards him, its visor glowing with an eerie red light¡­ Chapter 56 - 54 – 10th Floor Boss. A massive armored figure began to move, the sound of its metal joints echoing through the chamber like a death knell. Its movements were deliberate and heavy, each step resonating with power. Rusty could see that this creature was not like the other living armors he had faced. This one exuded a strange aura that he had not seen before. This was the first dungeon boss he had encountered, and even though the hero had warned him about the dangers of such beings, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of excitement. This was the challenge he had been seeking, the key to his next evolution. His level was now fourteen, and this monster would probably be enough to push him through the threshold. "My luck wasn''t good. I would have probably reached a higher level if it wasn''t for those adventurers. But at least, they can''t follow me here." Rusty knew that once a person was inside a boss chamber, it was impossible for anyone else to enter. Unless the adventurers chasing him had some digging tools, he would have time to dispatch this monster, reach the next evolution, and then either run away or confront his pursuers once he was stronger. The month was almost up, and this seemed to be the limit. If he didn''t make it out of this battle, all of his planning would have been for nothing. "Is that going to be my next form? It looks a bit disfigured¡­" Classification: Iron Armor Knight [ E+ ] L15 Type: Magical/Specter Description: A living armor monster, its armor is much heavier than regular Iron Armor''s. There wasn''t much detail in the description, but the monster''s form was undeniably intimidating. It outsized Rusty in both height and width, its thick, reinforced plating suggesting it was built for both offense and defense. It held a massive greatsword with ease; the blade looked more like a slab of metal than a sword. The edge didn''t appear too sharp, but something that heavy would certainly penetrate through Rusty''s slashing resistance. "Time to see what you''re made of and if all that skill training was worth it¡­" Rusty muttered, tightening his grip on his mace. The battle would not be easy, but he was ready. His enemy was the same type of monster as him, which didn''t bode well. The floor boss was larger and heavier, attributes that usually determined victory between living armor types. However, Rusty wasn''t just a simple living armor; he had brains to complement his brawn. If he used what he had learned throughout these months, then victory could be his. As the Iron Armor Knight advanced, Rusty activated his inventory to take out the correct armaments for this situation. The mace would be a good offensive weapon for this type of enemy as it was weak to blunt damage. To his left side he held his bronze shield tightly and would use it just like he did against the other living armors. The plan was simple, block with the shield and hit with the mace, what could go wrong? The Knight finally approached and swung its greatsword in a wide arc, aiming to cleave Rusty in two. In response, Rusty raised his shield to block the incoming hit, just as he had done many times with other living armor monsters. Once he withstood the hit, there would be a window of opportunity to strike back. His mace just needed to connect with the enemy''s knee joint. Once this was mangled, the boss would be unable to move quickly, and the battle would be won. This was the plan in Rusty''s metallic head. To his surprise, it didn''t quite go as he had foreseen. Once the large slab of iron connected with his shield, he was sent flying to the side. The immense force behind the Iron Armor Knight''s strike sent him crashing into a nearby pillar. His shield, while having absorbed much of the impact, was now bent and rendered almost useless. Without even looking at his system screen, he could tell that even though the shield had absorbed a large portion of the hit, he still lost some of his HP. ''This won''t be as straightforward as I thought¡­'' Rusty pushed himself upright, his metallic body groaning in protest. He quickly discarded the damaged shield by throwing it in the direction of the charging iron knight. His opponent didn''t seem to mind as the bronze just bounce off without halting his charge in the slightest. While holding the sword with both hands it produced another wide slash, which this time around Rusty ducked. He sought protection behind one of the rocky pillars but this also didn''t suppress his opponent much. The moment the huge greatsword connected with the pillar, it blew right past it. Chunks of rock pelted his bronze body as he continued to back away. His opponent was on the offensive and not giving him any openings that he could exploit. Rusty realized he needed a different approach. Relying on brute force alone wouldn''t work against a foe that outmatched him in strength and size. Something like this was easier said than done. His opponent would certainly not give him any time to reorganize himself. The Iron Armor Knight was hot on his heels and another pillar burst open. Rusty ducked again and realized that these stone slabs would not be able to protect him from this enemy. It was as if someone placed them here to be nothing but a trap. Soon, more and more of the rocky pillars were gone, and Rusty hadn''t even hit the other armor once. Both of them lacked a stamina bar, so waiting for the monster to tire was pointless. Eventually, he would not have any cover left to protect him; before that happened, he needed to strike. ''I''ll get only one chance, I need to make it count.'' sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With only one pillar left standing, Rusty made up his mind and devised a plan. Even though the monster was blowing through the rough stones, they were halting its momentum. If he timed it right, he could knock his enemy off balance and launch a counterattack. To make this happen, he activated his inventory and took out a large iron tower shield he had previously taken from one of the other living armors. With it, he hoped to turn his plan into reality. While the monster was strong and could obliterate the environment with its huge sword, Rusty had noticed some weaknesses. To exploit one of its shortcomings, he needed the large shield and good timing. Holding the shield at the edge of the pillar, he waited for the right moment. ''...Now!'' He shouted in his mind as the monster attacked the last column in the throne room. Normally, the monster would just cause it to crumble into dust again, but this time, there was another obstruction. Rusty utilized the large shield along with his shield bash skill, targeting not the monster but its blade tip instead. Once the greatsword collided with the pillar, its momentum slowed, allowing Rusty to perform a perfect parry without being pushed back. His body''s weight increased as otherwise, he would have been pushed back once again. The tower shield collided with the sword, and Rusty could feel his body buckling under the pressure. Despite the force behind the enemy''s strike, he managed to hold his ground, using his shield and skill to absorb and redirect the attack''s momentum. The collision created a resounding clang that echoed through the grand chamber, causing a momentary pause in the relentless onslaught of the Iron Armor Knight. Finally, the greatsword was flung back along with the monster holding it, and the time for his counterattack had come. He discarded the tower shield by throwing it at the stumbling monster. Both hands gripping his mace, Rusty aimed a precise power strike at the Iron Armor Knight''s knee joint. While aiming at its monster core within the helmet was an option, the monster''s arms were raised to protect it. Just like him, each living armor had instincts to protect their helmet from harm, and targeting its legs was the better choice. The heavy mace connected with a satisfying crunch, but one hit was not enough to shatter the knee joint. The monster staggered back, its reinforced armor absorbing most of the impact. It used its large blade as a crutch and tried to regain its balance, but Rusty was unwilling to relent. With calculated precision, he swung his mace again and again, as many times as it took to shatter the joint. Even when the monster used its large fist to smack him away, he would not relent. Rusty''s repeated strikes finally bore fruit. With a final, resounding crack, the knee joint of the Iron Armor Knight gave way. The massive creature staggered, unable to support its own weight, and collapsed onto one knee. Rusty didn''t waste a moment. He knew this was his best, and possibly only, chance to finish the fight. He quickly maneuvered behind the fallen knight, where the greatsword couldn''t easily reach him. The Iron Armor Knight swung its sword wildly, but the blows were erratic and lacked the precision needed to hit the nimble bronze suit of armor. Rusty darted around it, continuously hitting its body with his active skills. Even when his mace shattered, he just restored it and continued. With each powerful blow, more cracks formed in the knight''s armor. The greatsword flailed desperately, but the knight''s movements grew slower and more uncoordinated as the damage accumulated. Rusty knew that if he was hit even once or grabbed by its large hands, the whole battle could shift in the monster''s favor. His tactic might have been considered cowardly but it was effective. The monster''s helmet eventually flew upwards after one coordinated swing in an attempt to expose its core and end this. However, soon a problem arose as the monster core that should have been there, was nowhere to be seen. ''Does it have that skill to move the monster core?'' Rusty knew that such skills existed, but it was also possible that this type of Knight armor variant had its core in a different location. Without knowing where to hit, this battle would become increasingly more difficult. He backed away from the chaotic swings, but the monster crawled after him. Its attack power and mobility had decreased, but even with one hand, a large greatsword like that was a deadly weapon. ''Where is that core hiding¡­ wait, I still have one of those left; I should use it!'' The monster was now without a head and flailing around wildly. Rusty was forced to back away as moving in close was dangerous. Victory could only be achieved once the core was destroyed, and he had one option left. His light and darkness elements were ineffective against living armors. Even if he blasted light inside its head, it would probably not crumble the core inside. Instead, he would use a different explosive solution in the form of a yellow potion bottle. ''If this fails, I''ll probably only have one other option, and it would be better not to.'' After making up his mind, he charged forward. First, to make use of his opponent''s lack of a helmet, he threw his mace at its body. The monster reacted instantly after being hit and started smacking the area the weapon came from. It hit nothing but air and stone tiles while Rusty circled around it with the potion in his hand. Then, with a precise throw, he launched it into the living armor''s chest cavity through the opening left by the helmet. The potion, once inside, instantly exploded and turned the monster''s interior into a furnace. Smoke and flames erupted from the monster. Its arms popped off in a comedic fashion and flew to the sides. Rusty wanted to cheer, but something was wrong. Despite the explosion, the monster was still moving. The arms and helmet started to be pulled back as his enemy finally decided to use its limb-controlling skill. He couldn''t allow the monster to reform itself, so he charged forward with a longsword instead. Once he reached the injured body of the Iron Knight, he began searching for the core inside. The smoke made it hard to locate, and the monster still had its legs. Even with his weight skill active, it was challenging to hold the creature down, but eventually, he found the core, right below the waistline and between the monster''s legs. It was a strange place for a monster core, but there it was. With all his might, he thrust his blade through the neck opening, carefully aiming for the spot he had identified. The blade pierced through and found its mark, driving deep into the core. Rusty felt a sudden vibration from within the monster''s body, which soon passed as the monster''s body dropped. The arms and helmet that had almost reached it crumbled to the ground with a resounding clang. The battle was over. Congratulations you have gained a level. You have reached the level limit, please choose a path forward. There it was; he had reached the final level and was now ready to advance toward his next evolution. While he had achieved victory, there was no time to relax as he was not quite safe yet. Now that the dungeon boss was defeated, the path to this place would open, and those adventurers would certainly appear. He was unsure of what to do, as he spending time in the soul forge would put him at risk. "Time flows slower here than in the forge, but how much slower?" It would be quite unfortunate if the adventurers discovered his unmoving body while he was trying to evolve. Before he could go through with this, he needed to find a safe location. Soon after the defeat of his enemy, he heard a strange click coming from afar. The throne chair started to slide sideways, revealing a ladder leading down into another location. "Is this the path towards the next floor?" Just as this new path opened up, another one that had been shut tight started moving. The large doors blocking access to the chamber were creaking apart. It was clear he needed to think fast, as his previous pursuers were right behind him. Would he go down these stairs into a potential dead end or a new monster-infested floor? Or would he try to evolve quickly and face the adventurers first? He looked at the ladder, then at the slowly opening doors. He could hear the distant clanking of the adventurers'' armor and their muffled voices, growing louder as they neared the chamber¡­ Chapter 57 - 55 – Freedom Close. "Do we really have to wait here all day? Maybe we should just go back and report this to the guild?" Keyon muttered, shifting his weight from foot to foot. The oppressive silence of the dungeon weighed heavily on the adventurers, but it wasn''t enough to make them drop their guard. "Yeah, I bet those fuckers at the guild will say that we failed the mission otherwise." Livi replied in an annoyed tone. The adventurers stood outside the massive doors leading to the boss chamber. The sounds of battle from within had faded, leaving them tense. "I still can''t believe that thing ran in there. What is that suit of armor?" Livi asked while giving the chamber door a kick. "I don''t know, maybe someone''s tamed monster that lost its master? Or just a monster that wandered into the dungeon?" Keyon replied as he tried to rationalize the situation, but it didn''t quite make sense to them. They knew that natural-born monsters stayed far away from dungeons. This armor was clearly more intelligent than it was supposed to be. "Yeah, it was definitely thinking. Dungeon monsters don''t act like that. It''s almost like..." "Like what?" Livi asked again, raising an eyebrow. She waited for Keyon''s reply, but before the archer could respond, the large door before them started to open. Dedrick, the heavily armored warrior, shifted his weight and moved in front of the party. The dwarf opened his eyes and smiled, ready to finally complete this mission. "Get ready." "Aye. Let''s get this over with and go have a drink. I''m parched." The massive doors to the chamber began to creak open, and the party stepped through. They knew how the dungeon rules worked. If the boss was victorious, it would restore its health and be ready for them. They were aware of its rank, strength, and weaknesses. It was not something they couldn''t handle, but what worried them was the living armor. If it managed to best the dungeon boss, it could potentially pose a threat to their group. All their weapons were raised as they crossed the threshold of the boss chamber. Inside, they witnessed an area with desolate columns, damaged during the monster battle. Once they saw this, they knew the boss monster had lost its battle with the bronze living armor. The room would instantly restore itself to its original form whenever the boss won. "I don''t see any of them¡­ did they kill each other?" "I don''t think so, look there," Livi replied to Keyon and pointed toward the large throne at the end of the chamber. It had slid open to reveal a new path leading down. "Did it go down into the treasure room?" "Possibly, but don''t you think something is off?" "Yeah¡­ I don''t see the boss anywhere. Where did its body go?" The monster that was supposed to be in this chamber should still be here. Its body wouldn''t just disappear into thin air; it would be farmed by adventurers for resources. The thick armor it wore was worth good money. Once defeated, adventurers like them would take it apart for later use. However, the large suit of armor was nowhere to be seen. It was as if it had been devoured by the other suit of armor, which was also missing. "This is indeed strange but there is only one way it could have gone." They all wandered around the area that mimicked a noble''s home, but there was only one way to continue: down. The throne always slid to the side after the boss had been defeated, allowing access to the treasure chamber. There, the victor would receive an additional reward for their victory. Beyond it, there was nothing more, as this tenth floor, the boss room, was the final part of the dungeon. "Found anything?" "Nah, I don''t think it''s here, it must have gone down¡­" All of them moved towards the massive throne, their steps echoing ominously in the vast chamber. They exchanged wary glances, the air heavy with uncertainty. The adventurers had fought through countless monsters to reach this point, but something about this situation felt different. "Aye, down it is, then," Reistel the dwarf grunted, his grip tightening on his axe. All of them knew that their enemy wasn''t normal and the treasure room was a closed space. It was capable of using black magic, something that affected living beings greatly. "Don''t worry, the guild gave us this as a precaution, even if it uses that dark fog, we should be fine." Their team leader took out a silver cross on which strange symbols were engraved. It looked like some sort of magical artifact and its function would allow them to dispatch this armored enemy. Soon they started going down the long ladder with Dedrick moving first and Livi being the last. "Hm?" The group leader was about to move but then she heard something rustling in the corner. There a small rock bounced down from under a large pile of rocks. The boss chamber was well-lit but in one area most of the torches had been destroyed. It was covered in a dark shadow, that seemed a bit strange for some reason. Livi, squinted while wondering what this strange feeling was in her gut but before she took a step forward, someone called up from below. "Hey Livi, is something wrong?" "... No, I''m coming." She shook her head and ignored the shadows that were playing tricks on her mind. The woman assumed that perhaps her nerves were getting to her and it was better to focus on the bronze monster. Livi turned around and descended down the ladder to join her party, leaving the boss chamber and the secret that it held. ***** ''That was scary, I thought that adventurer could see me for a moment¡­'' Rusty remained hidden in the darkened part of this boss chamber. He had been lucky that one of the pillars had collapsed towards the corner and created a pocket with darkness. With enough light missing, he was able to activate his skill and wait it out until they finally headed down the ladder. He was lucky enough to level up which restored his MP fully but now, he needed to get out of here. ''They are headed towards the treasure room, if what Alexander said was true, then it''s a dead end. Once they realize that I''m not there, they will probably climb right back up¡­'' Thanks to his guides he was aware of the theoretical dungeon structure. They informed him that this place probably ended on the tenth floor which was also the boss chamber. There was a possibility that an eleventh floor could exist past the boss chamber but this was not the case here. Once a treasure room was spotted, then it meant that the journey was over. At first, he was planning to pry the ladder of the wall once they had descended but it was far too sturdy. At most, he could start throwing some rubble down the hole in an attempt to block the exit. There were some chunks of the pillars that would fit but he wasn''t sure if they would do the job. Instead, it was probably better to sneak out now and climb to the higher levels where many more hiding spots existed. What he needed to do now, was to find a safe location and evolve to a superior variant. ''Should I just sneak out now or try to block them from coming back up?'' Rusty thought to himself as he pressed against the wall, moving slowly to minimize noise. The ladder down was about fifty meters away and would take some time to traverse. He considered using the rest of his poisonous worms. They were safely stored in his inventory, but once removed, they would activate, releasing their toxic fog. It might buy him some time, though the adventurers could have countermeasures against it. Approaching the ladder was risky, but before he could make a decision, something intriguing happened. ''Hm? What is this light?'' His gauntlet sunk into the wall he was leaning up against and a new option presented itself to him. Instead of running back towards the ninth floor, a path had opened up inside of the boss chamber. One of the bricks in the walls was pushable and revealed a secret passage. However, it also produced a lot of noise that the adventurers clearly heard and reacted to. He could hear their voices echoing from below, growing louder as they approached the ladder. "What was that noise?" "Did you hear that too?" "It must have been that monster! Quickly, climb back up." Rusty was left with little choice. He quickly retrieved all of the poisonous items from his inventory and hurled them toward the ladder. The worms exploded on contact and also in mid-air, releasing a cloud of toxic fog. Without wasting a moment, he ducked into the secret passage that was beginning to close. He hoped that by the time the adventurers climbed back up, the passage would be hidden, allowing him to avoid them completely. The wall slid shut behind him, muffling the adventurers'' shouts from the other side. They had encountered the poison mist at the entrance but continued forward. The narrow passage forced Rusty to switch to a shorter blade, allowing him to swing freely. After a few tense moments, the sounds of their footsteps began to fade. It was clear they assumed he had returned to the ninth floor. ''They left¡­ but what now¡­'' He straightened himself out and looked into the corridor he found himself in. There was a lone torch in the distance where he probably needed to head to. Before moving, he glanced at his status screen and the newly gained skill he was unable to examine earlier. Name: Rusty S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Classification: Twilight Bronze Armor [ E- ] L15 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 104/172 Magic Points [MP] 44/153 Special Points [SP] 29/40 Strength 54 [ E ] Agility 32 [ E- ] Dexterity 30 [ E- ] Constitution 57 [ E ] Intelligence 36 [ E- ] Wisdom 38 [ E- ] Willpower 37 [ E- ] Durability E++ Possession [ Living Armor ] Active Skill Once the living armor is worn by someone, it enables complete control over the wearer''s body. His level was fifteen and he had also gained a new strange skill. From the description, it seemed that after allowing someone to wear his body as an armor, he would be able to gain control over their body. He was not sure what the point of this skill was but perhaps he gained some type of bonus if a person was inside of his bodie. There were obvious dangers that came with this skill as whoever was inside would have access to his monster core, making this something that could backfire. ''I''m not sure about this one¡­ but first, I need to see if this place is safe.'' Rusty wanted to start his evolution but was unsure about his safety. There was no cave filled with monster repelling crystals, or Gleam to watch over his unmoving body. First he needed to examine the area he found himself in and then decide. Thus, he moved through the narrow corridor forward and followed the seemingly straight path. "...c¡­.." ".....b¡­c¡­." "It''s the voice again¡­" He came to a sudden halt after walking for a minute, a familiar voice echoing inside his metallic head. It was something he had never forgotten, a worry that persisted since his return to this dungeon. The heart that created all of this was trying to say something to him and through this tunnel, he was getting closer. "S... a... y... a... c... k¡­" The further he advanced, the more resistance he encountered. The voice grew louder, transporting him back to a time he thought he had left behind. His steps slowed as a familiar force began to exert itself upon him. Control over his body was slipping away, seized by the very entity that had brought him into existence. "STAY BACK!" It was the dungeon heart, he was positive. The voice had turned from a whisper into a deafening roar, reverberating through his entire being. Rusty stumbled, nearly losing his balance as the force of the command pressed down on him. He could feel the dungeon''s will trying to overpower his own, seeking to reclaim control over its creation. But Rusty had evolved since his creation; he had gained strength, intelligence, and a sense of self. "I won''t¡­ be controlled¡­ again¡­" He muttered, each step forward feeling like wading through thick mud. His mind raced, trying to focus on the path ahead and not the overwhelming pressure trying to dominate him. The narrow corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, the torchlight flickering eerily in the distance. Rusty''s metallic feet clanked against the stone floor, each step echoing in the confined space. He focused on the sound of his own movements, using it to drown out the oppressive voice. Finally, the passage drew to a close and it opened into a hidden chamber. Rusty attempted to move forward but suddenly his body began to quiver. The voice inside of his mind was rampaging, not allowing him to progress any further. He was forced to take a step back as his senses became overloaded. "I¡­ I can''t go further, it''s just too strong¡­ but¡­ this isn''t over! If I can''t move now, I just need to get stronger!" Rusty had realized that this was a hidden corridor towards the dungeon heart. It was not something that the heart would reveal to the outside adventurers that could not be halted as the monsters here. There was nothing that he needed to fear here and the boss he defeated had been the last hurdle. Now he just needed to take a few steps forward and all of his problems would resolve themselves. Soon he lowered himself onto the ground, and after making sure that no other monsters approached him, he activated his new evolution. The world blurred around him just like before and he found himself before a familiar-looking castle. This was now the third time he had returned to this castle and the third time he would evolve. His form had started as a damaged and corroded bronze shell, something easily defeated even by a child. With time it grew into the bronze form he had now but it was time to discard this shell of bronze. Rusty moved forward, through the long bridge and quickly arrived at the Soul Forge where his two guides were already waiting. "Look hero, the prodigal son has finally returned~" "Ignore this idiot Rusty, welcome back, you did well." The hero Alexander scoffed at Aburdon the fallen demon king and the two floated towards him. In the middle of the chamber just like before he saw his new default shell. However, there was a slight difference. Instead of there being just one armor to slip into, there were three. Chapter 58 - 56 – Back At The Forge. Rusty had finally managed to reach the point he was after. It had been close to a month since the incident with Gleam. Before him stood the Soul Forge, where he had previously evolved twice. However, there had been some slight changes, just like before. In the middle of the main chamber stood three bodies, each different from the other. It was clear that he needed to make an important choice now, one that could dictate his entire future. "That one looks similar to the floor boss in the dungeon." "Yes, it was quite the surprise that it just appeared there. Did the Soul Forge react?" Replied Aburdon, the fallen demon lord, while his orb form floated around the three metallic frames in the middle of the chamber. The question was posed to the hero, Alexander. He was the one who had been given this blessing in his previous life, but the white orb of light was unsure. "I don''t know, this place is different from the Soul Forge I used, but¡­ perhaps if Rusty defeats stronger living armors, the forge could have copied the designs to some extent? Or maybe it''s due to the monster parts? I think gathering new materials was a big part of this blessing¡­" Alexander wasn''t quite sure as his memory of his past life wasn''t complete. Rusty nodded; right after the victory against the floor boss, he had quickly grabbed its parts and weapon. One of the evolutionary options was quite similar to the monster he defeated. It was taller than his regular metallic frame, the armor was thicker, and it had a somewhat more demonic design. Small spikes jutted out from the armor, and even the helmet had some horns, which seemed to make the demon lord quite happy. "You''ll go with this one, right? It''s clearly better than the other two." Said Aburdon while floating around the demonic armor with evident admiration. "Don''t rush him. This decision needs careful thought. Did you forget what is at stake?" Alexander countered firmly and unyieldingly. "Do you mean that ant? Are you still planning on going into the human city?" Aburdon chuckled in a somewhat amused way. In the demon lord''s mind, there was no possibility of Rusty''s plan working. "My dear Rusty, you''re a monster. How about you start acting like one? Once you''re powerful enough, I''m sure you''ll be able to avenge your dear friend. For all we know, little Gleam could be no mo¨C" "Shut up!" The whole chamber quaked as Rusty shouted in anger. Aburdon was compelled to hold his words back. Alexander sensed the danger from this emotional outburst and floated closer to Rusty in an attempt to offer some support. "Don''t let him get to you, Rusty. Focus on what''s important. I''m sure Gleam will be fine; there is still time." Soon, the quivering walls began to calm down as Rusty steadied his metallic nerves. He knew that the demon lord was an older being with much more knowledge. Aburdon was right to some extent; at least from the outside, the demonic-looking armor appeared to be the strongest option. However, there was one problem with choosing this path, and the hero quickly brought it up. "If you choose this path, Rusty, I''m afraid infiltrating the city will be impossible." "Why?" Rusty asked while also looking at the two other armor variants. The rightmost was the demonic armor. In the middle was one similar to the iron variants he saw within a dungeon. It was a direct upgrade of his bronze body and quite similar. To the left was something quite different - a body he didn''t truly understand. The top half was humanoid, but the bottom half belonged to some type of beast with four legs. Rusty had never encountered this type of monster before, but he had seen some depictions of this beast on temple walls. If he wasn''t wrong, the technical term for it was a centaur. This form was larger than even the demonic one on the right but the lower body was that of a horse with metallic legs. It would turn him into a quadruped with a human''s upper torso. While this form looked imposing, it would probably have limited function within tight corridors. "Those other two choices make you look too much like a monster. Only with the middle one will you be able to walk among them... and even then, I''m not too sure about it. I think some people adjust those monster armors to be used as regular armor, but once they get closer to you, it will be over." The living armor monsters were quite distinct and would be identified as monsters quickly by Rusty''s enemies. Once someone got close, they would notice the lack of a person inside. Even if he went with the most humanoid-looking one, it might still give him away. If this was the case, then perhaps going with the horned one was better, at least for the additional power it provided. "Aren''t you two forgetting something?" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While deliberating on the choice, the demon king''s restraint was lifted, allowing him to speak again. "Do you actually have some proper advice this time?" Alexander responded in a mocking tone, which made Aburdon react in anger. "What is that supposed to mean? I always give proper advice, but for some reason, it''s not appreciated!" "Maybe if you weren''t plotting something dubious each time, Rusty would trust you more." "I''m not plotting anything. I just don''t want our precious friend to get injured..." The two started going back and forth as usual, so Rusty decided to stop it. It seemed that Aburdon had some kind of idea, and if it helped him rescue Gleam, he was willing to listen. "That''s enough. What did you have in mind, Aburdon?" "Hah, you won''t regret it, Rusty! Now, where was I? Ah yes! Do you recall the skill you achieved once you reached level fifteen, my dear Rusty?" "...The Possession skill?" "Yes, that one!" Rusty had received a new skill once he maxed out his level but had not been able to test it out. "With the Possession skill, you might be able to fool those pesky adventurers, even if you stride through their precious guild." "Oh, is that true? Will I be able to do that?" It sounded too good to be true but Rusty was intrigued. The Possession skill could potentially allow him to manipulate and control someone who wore him as armor. "You want him to use one of the adventurers¡­ like some kind of reverse inner suit thing?" "That''s right, my dear hero. We both know that if he attempts to get close to any settlement, he will get killed¡­ But! If he can manipulate one of those pesky adventurers well enough, then we can make the impossible possible!" Aburdon cackled while explaining as if he was trying to formulate some type of dubious plan. "Hm¡­" Rusty contemplated, expecting Alexander to offer a counterpoint. The hero and the demon lord rarely saw eye to eye on plans. Alexander pondered Aburdon''s suggestion carefully, his luminous form wavering slightly as he considered the implications. "It could work but¡­ will he be able to pretend to be an adventurer? Does Rusty even know how to behave like a human, won''t he be noticed if he acts like he does now?" Rusty wasn''t sure what the hero meant by that but he continued to listen to their discussion with interest. If there was a way to safely reach this guild the two were talking about, then he would do it. Even with his new evolution, battling numerous adventurers would be challenging. " Perhaps but well, don''t we have a previous adventurer here with us? Someone that could guide our precious Rusty through all of that?" "I suppose, I could do that¡­ but only if the guild hasn''t changed much since then¡­" "Hey, you''re the one that wants to save that ant, if you have anything better to suggest, now would be the time to do it." Alexander hesitated, he had just tried to reason with Rusty, a monster that was following his emotions to save a friend. While he appreciated the sentiment, he wasn''t entirely convinced of the plan''s feasibility. Avoiding human settlements altogether still seemed like the safer option, but the Possession skill offered a potential solution. "I''m not really too familiar with this skill, but would it be able to fool anyone?" "Possibly but we won''t know until he tries but before that, he needs to make a choice." Rusty nodded thoughtfully as he evaluated the three evolution options before him. The one with the lower body of a horse was immediately dismissed; while imposing in size, he wasn''t willing to transform into a creature part horse. This left him with just two choices, and only one if he prioritized Gleam''s safety. The demonic variant appeared formidable, but it was a conspicuous form and would not allow him to blend in with other people. "I''ll go with the middle one¡­" "I see, are you sure?" Asked the hero. "Yes but before that, I need to prepare." The decision was made but he would not just enter the body and be done with this space. The Soul Forge was a place to advance his power and to strategize. His body had changed to iron and thus he would be able to advance into the iron age of smithing. All his bronze weapons needed to be discarded and remade into a better form. With the help of this new metal, he would be able to advance even further. "Are you going to be forging weapons again?" While Rusty walked towards the smithing chamber, Aburdon gave a sigh. Not keen on blacksmithing, he quickly floated away to the library area instead. The hero, however, joined Rusty on this new journey. Once the chamber doors were opened, Rusty noticed that the place had become larger and that some reconstructions had taken place. Making Iron Age weapons was different from bronze. Instead of only using molds and smelting, he needed to use a forge alongside a hammer to shape the iron. The Soul Forge had helped him prepare the basic bronze weaponry before with an unlimited supply of bronze but this time, the challenge would be greater. Rusty approached the forge, already lit and roaring with flame. Various tools and materials were neatly organized around the area, ready for use. Alexander floated nearby, offering some support and ready to answer any questions to the beginner smith that was about to unfold on a new crafting journey. "First, let''s see what we have here." They examined the materials available. There was a generous supply of iron ingots, various types of wood for handles, and a collection of tools like hammers, tongs, and chisels. It was quite an organized setup but it was up to him to make use of this extensive smithy. Every weapon and tool he attempted to make would need to be made by his own two hands. "There doesn''t seem to be any shortcuts in this one." Alexander quickly floated through the chamber and examined everything. It seemed that the previous area had been more of a tutorial and this was the true start. While there were some pre-made hilts for each weapon type, he would need to forge the blades, shafts, and assemble the pieces together himself. Rusty took a deep breath, or what felt like one in his metallic form, and approached the forge. He selected a hammer and an iron ingot, feeling a strange sense of nostalgia despite the process being new to him. The forge''s heat was intense, but he felt no discomfort. He placed the iron ingot into the fire, watching it glow red-hot, and then positioned it on the anvil. "This won''t be easy." Alexander commented, hovering close to Rusty and giving him tips. "Iron is a lot harder to shape than bronze. You''ll need to be precise and consistent with your strikes." Rusty nodded, raising the hammer and bringing it down with a powerful, deliberate swing. Sparks flew, and the ingot began to flatten under the repeated blows. Each strike echoed through the chamber, a rhythmic clanging that filled the otherwise quiet space. Rusty found a rhythm, hammering, reheating, and hammering again. The process was arduous, requiring patience and precision, but he persisted. After what felt like hours, Rusty had shaped the iron into the rough form of a short blade. It was his first iron creation and he had already realized how much different this new metal was. The melting point was much higher than bronze which indicated that his body would be even more resistant than before. Soon, he formed the tang of his new blade which was the part that extended into the handle. "That''s a good base, now let''s begin the heat treatment." "Okay!" To harden the blade needed to be heated to a high enough temperature and then quenched in water or oil to harden the iron. The Soul Forge provided him with all the required tools for this stage. To temper the blade further it needed to be rehearsed to a lower temperature and then allowed to cool slowly. This reduced its brittleness and also improved the toughness. Once this step was finished he could move on to sharpening the short blade he had produced. Just like with the bronze weaponry he used a sharpening wheel to refine its shape and remove any irregularities. Then with the help of whetstones, and other polishing tools the edge could be finalized. "Good, now just attach one of the hilts, make sure it fits in the palm of your hand just right." There were many wooden hilts around and also tools that would allow him to make them smaller. He was given various materials like wood, bone, and even antlers. For better grip, he could wrap it in leather or use some string. Each material was different and he was unsure what to use. Luckily, Alexander was here and gave him some good advice that he followed. "Stag horn is tremendously hard and durable." Soon, the tang was fitted into the hilt, and the entire assembly was secured with simple rivets. In the past, he had begun with a basic knife, but for his first iron creation, he was more ambitious. Before him now lay a well-made short sword crafted entirely from iron with his own two hands. It had not been shaped from a mold but forged through his own skillful craftsmanship. "Not bad for the first time, I could see an adventurer using this one in the dungeon." Alexander commented while Rusty nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Then with a quick use of his identification skill, he realized that his skills had improved. The weapon that he made was quite good but this was just the beginning as many more had to be made. Identification: Twilight Iron Short Sword Rating: Intermediate - High Rank: Uncommon Chapter 59 - 57 – Iron Crafting Identification: Twilight Iron Great Sword Rating: Intermediate Rank: Common "Hm..." "Something wrong?" "Well... it''s not as easy as I thought it would be..." "It takes time to master the craft. You''re already doing better than most apprentices." Rusty grumbled in a manner similar to a human while examining the large sword he had made. It was on the larger side but not quite as massive as the one the dungeon boss had used. He had gained some respect for his last enemy and wondered if he could emulate that power. His new body might not have the weight to wield a blade of such colossal size, but a regular greatsword like this was still feasible. "I know... Do you think I will have more time to practice?" "That''s plausible. If my memory is correct, the Soul Forge was growing with me to a certain extent." Alexander confirmed Rusty''s theory, but he wouldn''t know for sure until this space threw him out. Previously he had been given enough time to forge many bronze weaponry and other pieces. He needed to do the same with the iron weapons and remake his arsenal like before. This was troubling as creating weapons through the use of molds was much simpler and quicker. However, through his work he noticed his smithing skills going up once more. Basic Smithing Mastery L7 Passive Skill Increases proficiency with all basic blacksmithing tools like hammers during crafting. Basic Forging L8 S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Passive Skill Unlocks the basics of forging. Aids in managing the forge, smelter, crafting, and spotting imperfections in created items. Just like with his battle skills, it was probable that these would turn into better versions once leveled past the ninth level. There was also one new skill that presented itself to him, one that increased his proficiency with the main blacksmithing tool. Basic Smithing Hammer Mastery L3 Passive Skill Increases proficiency with all blacksmithing hammers and is a requirement to unlock other smithing skills. ''I wonder if blacksmiths gain any active skills?'' Within this space, he was allowed to gain these skills but he wasn''t sure on how he was acquiring them. This one just popped up during one of his crafting attempts just as he was getting used to the new smithing methods. Some of the others he gained through reading books and none of them were gained through leveling. ''Well, I need to get back to work!'' Rusty continued his work, with Gleam and her grayed status constantly on his mind. He had started his journey with a drive to become stronger and combat powerful foes. Although his focus had temporarily shifted, he still knew that to complete this rescue mission, he needed to gain more power. The reason might have changed, but he was still walking a similar path. As the days went by, his skills continued to improve. He crafted more swords, axes, and even some defensive gear like shields and armor plates. The forge''s endless supply of iron allowed him to experiment and learn without fear of running out of materials. Alexander provided constant guidance, sharing his knowledge from his past life as an adventurer. They discussed different weapon designs, the balance between weight and durability, and the intricacies of each weapon type. Rusty absorbed all this information, applying it to his creations and making steady progress. However, at best, Rusty was only able to produce uncommon weaponry of slightly above intermediate rating. "This is probably the best I can do for now¡­" Identification: Twilight Iron Halberd Rating: Intermediate - High Rank: Uncommon He had created knives, short swords, longswords, axes, maces, and even a bow for iron-tipped arrows. This iron halberd was the last main weapon type he desired, but it was not the end of his crafting spree. While he had all the weapons, smithing wasn''t only about offense but also about defense. Ever since he saw adventurers with their unique armored plates, he started wondering if he could adjust his body in some way to make it even stronger. "What do you think?" "Not bad. Are you going to try to adjust your armor now?" Rusty nodded at the question posed by his smithing coach. Alexander had stayed with him the entire time, and the two were starting to form a bond. Aburdon sometimes peeked in to comment on their work and complain about how bored he was. He had been the one that brought up the possession skill and to make this plan work, some changes to his body needed to be made, or at least some other parts. "It''s probably best to keep the base of your body as it is. With your current skills, I''m not sure if you can make it any better." "You''re probably right, Alexander¡­" Rusty looked over a piece of armor plating he had created while training. It was a wrist protector, similar to the ones he had seen some adventurers using. They attached it to their bodies with leather straps and wore thicker clothing underneath. He did not have the luxury of using such things, as he needed his whole body to stay connected in some way. "I don''t think placing layers above my original body will work too well¡­" "Probably not. With one quick look, they would notice that you are a monster¡­" Rusty''s base body wasn''t quite the same as the full plate armor the adventurers used. There were some gaps in the joints that revealed the emptiness inside. To alleviate this problem, he could try riveting some leather on the inside to mimic human clothes, but still, the shape wasn''t quite the same. Something built from the ground up needed to be made if he hoped to fool them. "Well, how about you use the new storage?" "Ah, there''s that. I almost forgot!" The Soul Forge had slightly expanded, and one of the new features was the extensive storage. Everything that he had been storing from the outside ended up in this space, and it was quite close to the crafting chamber. He just needed to take a few steps and open the door. "How is this place so big¡­" What greeted him was a vast empty space that looked like a storage hangar. There were rows of wide wooden shelves with various pieces of equipment he had previously gathered on his adventurers. All the parts he had taken from the other bronze living armors and iron virants were here. Among them were also pieces he took from varius adventurers and these were the ones he was focused on. "I''ll just take them all¡­ there aren''t that many in here¡­" The place was vast and there was a lot of space between the shelves. To help him gather all of the equipment he needed, there was something that Alexander called a trolley. It had small wheels on the bottom and a large wooden box on top. Rusty began collecting various pieces of armor and equipment from the storage room, filling the trolley with items he thought might be useful for his plan. He picked out chest plates, gauntlets, greaves, and helmets, all in various states and of varying alloys. Alexander hovered right next to him, giving him some pointers at the better choices. "That chest plate looks like it could fit well with your current frame. And those gauntlets, the fingers seem similar and don''t require any leather gloves underneath." Alexander had a lot better eye for this sort of thing and it allowed him to save many hours of going through all the junk that he had gathered. In his old life he was a hero who lived among the people of many intelligent races, if there was one person that could help him blend in, then it was him. However, his counterpart wasn''t without a use as soon enough he would present his own skills to the forefront. "Think that should be enough." "I think so too, with all of these I''m sure we can figure something out." Rusty took the cart with him into the crafting chamber and started placing the various parts on the workbench. They were laid out into a humanoid pattern on the main one and he attempted to figure out the best combination. From what he could tell, the adventurers didn''t always present themselves in uniform armor so it didn''t need to be fully symmetrical. "This could take a while, I''m not even sure what to begin with¡­" "I knew you two would end up like this, you have been looking at those parts for hours now." "What do you want Aburdon, if you don''t have any advice to offer, then just leave us to our work." Alexander responded in an annoyed tone but this didn''t stop the dark orb from floating forward. Rusty wasn''t sure but it seemed that the demon king had some advice to offer and usually, he was right about many things. "Do you know of a better way?" "Of course I do~" "Hah, what do you know about crafting?" "It''s true, I''m not much of a blacksmith, to be frank it was always below me to even attempt such a thing¡­ but! That doesn''t mean that I don''t know a thing or two about the process! You two are missing something and that something is a plan!" "A plan?" "Indeed, now come with me for a moment Rusty, you won''t regret it. This I promise you as the former king of all demons!" Aburdon made some strong claims so Rusty was obviously intrigued. He looked towards Alexander but the ball of white light was unsure of what this was about. "This is me shrugging, might as well see what that idiot wants, sometimes he brings up good points." Without waiting long they left towards the library where the demon king resided. This place had also gone through a change. Next to the study area where the reading desk was, now stood a large board. Once they were there, it was clear what Aburdon was getting at. "Is that a drawing of a piece of armor?" "Do you like it? I was quite the painter in my previous life, they used to call me¡­ Hm, what did they call me?" The dark ball of light was actually holding a very thin paintbrush with which a drawing was made. The drawing depicted a full suit of armor, complete with measurements, giving it an air of precision that only a master craftsman could achieve. Aburdon''s orb floated nearby, almost smugly. "This is incredible. Did you really make this?" "Of course, The artistry of a demon lord is not limited to destruction and chaos, you know~" Rusty had to admit and wondered if the demon king wasn''t a master craftsman in his past life just like the hero. "It looks a bit rough around the edges¡­ was this the first time for you to make a schematic?" Before Rusty could continue with his praises, Alexander floated forward to scrutinize the measurements. He could tell that there were a few errors here and there. He also noticed that some of the books containing the knowledge of crafting had been used. It seemed that while Alexander and Rusty were busty crafting weapons, he was studying the ways of making proper schematics and blueprints. "First time or not, it gets the job done." Aburdon snapped back in annoyance. It was clear that he wasn''t an expert at this craft yet but to bring this much to paper in such a short time was commendable. "I''ve provided a foundational blueprint. Now, you need to help me refine it and ensure it fits Rusty''s needs." Alexander nodded thoughtfully, floating closer to examine the details. "It''s a good start, but it does need some refinement but first¡­ lets go look through the existing parts first¡­" Soon the group of three were going back and forth between the two chambers while trying to figure out the correct fit for Rusty. He was able to exchange his body for existing parts but not everything fit well. Sometimes the pieces would produce giant holes within his armor which would give away his identity. They needed to modify the parts to align better with his frame. Over time, the process turned into a collaboration. Rusty stood in the center of the crafting chamber, surrounded by various pieces of armor and equipment. Aburdon floated nearby, overseeing the operation while Alexander instructed the new blacksmith on how to handle his new custom made iron chassis. "This chest plate, if we modify the side it will look like they are fitted through straps just like on a normal person. A lot of people use gambeson, luckily Rusty managed to get some from the last adventurer group¡­" Aburdon, not one to be left out, chimed in with suggestions for making the armor not just functional but intimidating. "Don''t forget the aesthetics! A few spikes here, a menacing helmet design ¨C it''ll help you blend in as a formidable adventurer!" "What are you babbling about? Just make it have a simplistic design if it looks too eccentric, they will think that something is wrong." Alexander protested the idea as adventurers had a keen eye for such things. People with strange-looking armor were looked down on. The adventurers could assume that he was a noble with a strange hobby, some would make him into a target. People with expensive-looking armor were many times targeted for robbery. After multiple hours that turned into days of adjustments, modifications, and a bit of trial and error, Rusty''s new armor began to take shape. It was a mix of salvaged and newly forged pieces, each adjusted to fit his unique frame. One of the hardest parts to create would have been his gauntlets but everyone here decided that he could skip this step. His default hands were fine and went as one component together with the vambrace. What he needed to create was the elbow joint along with the rerebrace that connected to the pauldron. These parts weren''t as difficult to shape into and he soon got to hammering. As Rusty continued to hammer away, the advancements in his skills became apparent. The metallic clang of his hammer striking the iron was rhythmic and precise, a testament to his growing expertise. The transformation of his armor proceeded methodically, piece by piece and soon his skills had advanced past their previous threshold. Smithing Mastery L1 Passive Skill Further Increases proficiency with all basic blacksmithing tools like hammers during crafting. Forging L1 Passive Skill Unlocks more advanced knowledge of forging. Aids in managing the forge, smelter, crafting, and spotting imperfections in created items. Rusty marveled at the notifications. His hard work was paying off. With the advanced skills, his confidence grew, and he knew he was on the right path. More and more of the parts had been made, his hammer shaping them all into his future shell. Once it was all complete, then he was free to leave but perhaps there was still time to perform some upgrades to his original monster body that was hovering in the middle of the Soul Forge, waiting for his essence to flow inside¡­ Chapter 60 - 58 – Armor Variants. "How does it look?" "Hm¡­ not bad¡­" "It would have been better if it didn''t look so boring¡­are you sure that we couldn''t" "We''re not adding any horns or spikes Aburdon." "Killjoys the both of you!" Two orbs of light, one white and the other black, floated around an armored suit. Rusty, the owner, looked different than usual since almost all his parts had been replaced. His body had lost much of its symmetry and was now fully made of iron. All areas that might reveal the hollow interior were covered by a combination of cloth and chainmail, making it look more like something a human would wear. "That was the point. The humbler it looks, the better. No one will bat an eye at him now." "I''ll need to get used to this¡­" Rusty felt strange with the material stuffing out his body. There was chainmail along with thick blue fabric covering his joints and emerging from under his waist. His helmet had also been altered to include quite thin eye slits, much smaller than those on his old one. The main plan was to use the possession skill initially to get through the first stretch, but he wasn''t planning on keeping it up forever. He wasn''t sure if he would be able to fight in the same fashion with someone inside his body. The increased weight could probably slow him down. Aburdon informed him it would be like controlling a flesh puppet, but Rusty wasn''t quite sure what that entailed. This marked the first time he had altered his helmet design. It had been a strange feeling throughout, different from replacing all his other parts. First, he needed to transfer everything directly into his stash tab and pull the parts towards his main status screen. After being exchanged, his body and limbs were replaced almost instantly as they popped into this world. On the other hand, his helmet remained in place, and instead of being instantly replaced, it shifted around to fit the new design. The metal bent into the form he had created, and his monster core never lost its connection to the body. "The chainmail isn''t as constricting as I thought it would be¡­ but I won''t be able to use my skills with this shell." "If someone realized that your armor is made from Twilight Iron, they could get suspicious." Responded Alexander while hovering around Rusty''s head. Twilight Iron had a slightly lighter tint than regular iron, and any blacksmith could tell them apart. At this point, Rusty didn''t have any way of masking the material his body was made of. This meant he wouldn''t be able to fully utilize his elemental skills, though his hands could still channel this power. In difficult moments, he could use his skills, but he wouldn''t be able to use the rest of his body parts. Fortunately, this space provided a lesser version of iron, which he used to create his armor. Creating armor from regular iron weaponry wasn''t necessary as he could just use the ones he received from the adventurers, which also included superior steel weaponry. Weeks had passed, and Rusty had grown accustomed to the constant work. The continuous, rigorous forging sessions had paid off, and the iron shell he now inhabited felt quite adequate. It was made from lesser metals but was thicker than his previous form. The added weight provided more stability but reduced his agility. He realized this after a battle in the training chamber, which opened his eyes to new possibilities. He could create variants of his body and use them depending on the situation. If he faced a sturdy opponent, he could produce a more reinforced frame to match them. If someone was too fast, a lighter form with flexible joints could help him win the battle. Inspired by the centaur''s armored body, Rusty realized he wasn''t as limited to this body shape as everyone had assumed. "Oh, what are you doing there?" "Just testing something out¡­" Rusty had been stuck crafting for close to the time limit of his previous stay in the Soul Forge. Time was potentially running out, but luckily he had been able to fashion the basis for his new plan. With some potential time left, he decided to experiment with the joints and metallic limbs to measure the limits of this body of his. "That joint will snap off if you make it like that¡­ What about the elbow protection?" "Who decided that I need an elbow?" "Huh? What do you mean?" Alexander responded in surprise as Rusty examined an adjusted link to his forearm. Humanoid creatures had joint limitations in their elbows and knees. The living armors in the dungeon mimicked this appearance and had the same limitations. "Just look at this!" Rusty presented his arm to Alexander. The usual elbow joint had been altered and replaced by something resembling a ball joint. With this structure, he could bend his entire arm back to nearly a ninety-degree angle. No normal human could bend their arm back without breaking it, but with this adjustment, Rusty had almost unlimited range of motion in this joint. "It looks kind of floppy¡­ I''m not sure if you can use that without altering your wrists to turn with the elbow movement¡­" The hero was intrigued. He had faced monsters that moved their limbs at odd angles, but those limbs weren''t usually holding swords or using techniques dependent on the human form. While this type of movement looked interesting, Alexander wasn''t sure if it could be used effectively in battle. "Well¡­ it''s still not finished! And it doesn''t need to only be used for battle either." Rusty imagined creating a centaur form for himself without changing through regular evolution. Even if he couldn''t fight in such a form, beasts were usually faster than humanoids. He could use such alterations to boost his capabilities to escape or perhaps to hide. Creating a smaller form with limbs capable of grappling was also possible. Inside the library, he had seen many types of interesting creatures he had never met, and it seemed his crafting journey had only begun. Rusty''s focus shifted as he examined the various designs and configurations he could create. The freedom to modify his form provided endless possibilities, each adaptation potentially offering new strengths and advantages. His excitement grew as he continued to experiment. However, creating something resembling a centaur body within the Soul Forge wouldn''t be easy. It was a difficult form to shape, and first, he would need to see how easy it was to control multiple limbs. At first, he attempted cutting a hole in his backplate to connect one of the arms he had from the other living armors. It wasn''t as easy as he had thought; the arm kept falling out, and his body didn''t accept it as a part. It seemed that the new limbs would need to be remade from the ground up to integrate properly. Perhaps his project to have four arms would need to wait. "Let''s try something a bit different" Rusty said, grabbing some metal plates and starting to forge a new piece. His idea of creating additional limbs would need to wait as he was running out of time. All the weapons had been made, and his disguise was as good as it could ever get. Instead, he could focus on creating two other shells fit for different extremes. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What are you thinking?" Alexander asked, floating closer. "An alternate form, something more compact and stealthy. I want to see if I can create a smaller, more nimble version of myself. But that''s not all!" "Oh? Perhaps you are thinking about a form that is more defensive and robust." "That''s right! Sometimes the best offense is a good defense!" Rusty began shaping smaller, lighter plates, fitting them together to allow for greater mobility and speed. He crafted joints that could swivel and bend in multiple directions, envisioning a form that could slip through tight spaces and move silently without generating as much noise as his previous body. "How about this, Rusty?" "It looks like a snake." "Indeed!" Aburdon proved useful in this endeavor, as his schematic-creating capabilities continued to improve. He could take an idea from Rusty and present him with some designs. Then Alexander, who knew more about crafting, could correct these designs. The process was a collaboration that played to the strengths of each participant. They played around with concepts of bodies that lacked an upper body or had insect legs. Rusty only needed his head to survive, so attaching a small base with just limbs to propel him forward would allow him to crawl through small openings in walls and dungeons. The tunnels the ants had used would be possible to navigate with a form like that. Such a form wasn''t actually that difficult to make as he just needed to alter his helmet and include smaller legs to it. The experimentations continued, and time ticked by as Rusty fashioned a new frame for himself. This one was slimmer, with longer upper limbs than usual. It was designed with agility in mind and more reach. The armor was light, made of thinner but sturdy plates, and the joints were modified to allow for silent movement. The torso was divided into segments, which in theory would allow him to contort in various ways during combat or while moving. Escaping in this shape would certainly be easier, and reaching platforms where he could hide would also be more feasible. This armor''s hands included claws that could dig into hardened walls for better grip, and the feet were designed similarly. Soon after, the focus shifted to the creation of Rusty''s defensive form, designed to withstand powerful attacks and provide unparalleled protection. With Alexander and Aburdon''s combined knowledge, a plan was quickly made, and the crafting process started. "This one will be the opposite of the previous form: heavy, durable, and with maximum coverage." Rusty said while hammering an ingot of Twilight Iron into shape. Alexander, as before, kept watch over him and offered tips whenever needed. "Make sure to reinforce the joints and double-layer the chest plate. The key is to distribute the impact across the entire surface." "Don''t forget to make it look imposing. What if we add some sharp teeth to the head this time around? You could bite your enemies to death!" "Just stick to simple designs. Rusty isn''t ready yet," Alexander said, scrutinizing the overzealous designer who couldn''t grasp the limitations of the current Soul Forge and its current blacksmith. The chest plate was reinforced with additional layers of iron, and the joints were protected by overlapping segments to ensure high defense without compromising too much flexibility. The helmet was designed with a narrow visor and had become flatter. Rusty could envision ramming people with it, so to Aburdon''s approval they decided to add a horn onto the top. The horn, however, wasn''t too extravagant. It was simple yet functional, giving Rusty a weapon that could be used in close quarters without impeding him too much. Alexander explained that having such modifications could backfire and one good hit to the horn could send his head flying. The rest of the body followed the same principles: robust and practical. His legs were reinforced with thicker plates, and additional knee guards were installed to prevent any joints from being easily targeted. The final step was to ensure the pieces fit perfectly together. Rusty took his time moving the parts into his inventory. With them there he could switch out into the iron forms and test them both out. This armored form was heavier, and moving around in it felt similar to the time he spent in the swamp area. His feet were sluggish but the added weight would not allow his body to be tipped over even without using the weight skill. His slimmer form felt almost exactly the opposite of his usual build. It was lighter and quite nimble, but it likely couldn''t withstand as much damage. With these changes in movement, Rusty began to wonder if these forms directly affected his stats. After confirming, he saw a notable change: the larger, defensive form reduced his agility stat while increasing his vitality, whereas the slimmer, agile form did the exact reverse. "Interesting¡­ I wonder what forms would increase the other stats, could I be able to increase my intelligence or dexterity?" As Rusty continued to work, he felt satisfied but also somewhat restless. There was not much time left and he could feel the end coming. The Soul Forge was giving him strange signals as if time was almost over. Fashioning these two armor variants would be the most he could do and even then, he wasn''t sure if they would be any superior to the pre-fashioned body he would be given. The moment Rusty finished with his tests, the Soul Forge began to tremble with a strange energy. It was pushing him toward the center of the Forge where the three bodies stood before him. At this moment, he still had the option to change forms, and the bulkier demonic one felt particularly enticing. However, after more than a month of crafting, he realized something: his true form didn''t matter as much as he initially thought. He had the ability to fashion his body into whatever he pleased with his own hands. The most important thing was to keep those skills alive. Looking at the hands of the other two bodies, he knew it would be a challenge. The demonic armor had bulky, clawed fingers that would likely reduce his dexterity, while the centaur form would risk knocking everything over within the crafting chamber. "Thanks for the help." "Sure, see you on the other side Rusty, just call when you need something." "Just call me instead of the hero, we all know that I have more knowledge than him!" Responded Alexander and Aburdon while watching the end of this process nearing. From their point of view, the essence of Rusty was seeping into the middle-sized armor in the middle and when it ended, the bronze shell crumbled into dust. Once that concluded, the middle iron armor started vibrating and shone brightly before vanishing from within this space. The two remaining forms then turned to nothingness as if they were never there to begin with. "There he goes." "Yeah¡­" The two balls of light were left behind in this space devoid of light. Once the owner was gone they were able to roam without being impeded. The Soul Forge remained in eerie silence, save for the occasional clink of stray metallic fragments settling into place. Aburdon and Alexander, now alone, floated amidst the remnants of Rusty''s final moments in the forge "Well, that was something, tell me, hero, do you think we''ll ever get out of this place?" "I don''t know¡­ but ¡­" "I see, so you''re still clinging to some hope~" Aburdon replied in a teasing tone while floating away toward a previously closed chamber. Within was a rather small space with a large ornate orb in the middle. Once there, an image appeared on it, one representing the passage Rusty had previously been in. "What will our little monster friend do to entertain us today¡­" Chapter 61 - 59 – Approaching The Heart. Within a seemingly empty corridor, a small rock tumbled down from the ceiling. It collided with a motionless suit of bronze armor that had crumbled to the ground. A faint clang echoed through this tunnel and soon the place returned to silence. For a moment, nothing stirred, and the corridor remained shrouded in a dim, eerie stillness. Then, with a slow creak, the armor began to move. Its form which consisted of bronze plates started to gradually shift to iron. The metal creaked as the coloring shifted to the new grayish tone. Every joint and every plate started creaking as it continued to change into a new twilight iron metal. The change taking place was rapid but still took around a full minute for it to fully encompass the whole body of the armor. Soon after, a glow appeared on the visor and the monster creaked to life. "I''m back¡­" Rusty felt as if he was waking up from a long dream as one of his digits twitched. His body, though not changing in form all too much, had gone through a massive change. The bronze that he had been born with was no more, replaced by a thick mass of twilight armor. He attempted to stand up but quickly felt that his body was balanced differently, the two metals clearly having a different weight to them. "This might take a while to get used to¡­" Rusty stood slowly, feeling the weight of his new body settle into place. Bronze was heavier than iron but this new body had thicker plating. He moved his limbs around, adjusting to the different balance and heft. The new iron shell was actually slightly heavier, and he knew it would offer him more protection in the battles to come. The corridor was silent, and Rusty took a moment to gather his bearings. He had just gone through a new evolution and spent months inside of the Soul Forge. His current location was before the Dungeon Heart chamber, in which he wished to alter his fate. However, first he needed to check his new status screen to see what he had turned into. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 237/237 Magic Points [MP] 198/198 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 84 [ E ] Agility 62 [ E ] Dexterity 60 [ E ] Constitution 87 [ E ] Intelligence 67 [ E ] Wisdom sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 68 [ E ] Willpower 67 [ E ] Durability D "All of my stats have risen, but I''m only an E rank¡­" There were some good things about his advancement but also some bad ones. His durability had broken into the D rank, but he was still only an E rank monster, not even rated as high as the boss he had defeated. In the past, he had skipped the middle evolution and directly achieved the F-Plus rank, but this time around it seemed like he would need to work more to enter a higher tier of being. "I wonder if that scary-looking form was an E-Plus rank? Maybe I should have gone with it¡­ but then I probably wouldn''t have been as good at crafting." Rusty pondered if he had really made the right decision in going with the middle armor option. It looked the simplest of all of them but was also the most balanced option. His guides told him that sometimes it was better not to rush things, and going through more evolutionary options would allow him to gain more skills. "Did I learn any new skills?" Usually, after going through an evolution, he received some type of skill. This time around, it was the same, but he didn''t get a new one. Instead, it was something he had previously seen before. Basic Mana Sense Passive Skill Allows the user to sense the presence of mana in the environment, a requirement for spell-casting "Isn''t that the skill Gleam had? Does this mean that I can cast spells now?" Just like with any other skill, once it was given to him, the information on how to use it was integrated with his being. It granted him the ability to sense mana and was probably responsible for the glow that his visor was producing. Once the skill was active, he was able to see tiny pale blue dots in the vicinity; it was mana. "But¡­ I don''t have the Mana Manipulation skill." While he was granted this skill, Gleam had more than just mana sense. Without a skill that could turn this mana into spells, it couldn''t be used for battle or anything else. At most, it would let him identify places with high amounts of mana or enchanted items, as they had a higher concentration of it. Rusty''s glowing visor flickered as he tried to get used to this skill. The first thing he noticed was a strange trail of mana particles. He saw them increase in size and quantity the further down the corridor he looked. They eventually became a mist of magical energy, which made sense since the dragon heart he was after was supposed to be there. The walls were different; they seemed to be pulsating with power like some type of organic veins. His visor stopped glowing, and the skill was suppressed. It was a passive skill that usually stayed on constantly, but luckily, it could be halted to restore his previous vision. The mana pollution was quite intense here, making other things hard to see. "Now what¡­" His body was undamaged, and the adventurers were not here with him. The plan was always to confront the Dungeon Heart and free himself from the voice. His new Twilight Armor body was more robust and seemed to be able to resist the voice. Before he evolved, he could still hear its whispers from this location. However, before advancing, he needed to see how his other forms would react to this world. Before confronting his final foe, he decided to test his two new forms. The transition between them was somewhat of a problem. He needed to go into his inventory and place each part into his stash tab. Then he had to replace every piece of his current main equipment individually. This also meant that his old equipment would be stuck in his stash tab, making it difficult to switch out later on. "Wait¡­ what is this option?" Before he even started with the exchange, he noticed something. There was a strange new tab that hadn''t been there before. It was not a word he was familiar with, but he pressed it instinctively. "Loadout? Save and then apply? What does this mean?" It was a separate window that was empty at the moment. The only function available was a save button. Rusty wasn''t sure what this was about, but the button''s label sounded promising, so he decided to press it with his iron finger. As he did, several two-dimensional icons appeared in a horizontal line, representing all the current equipment parts he was wearing, including the few accessories he had gained from the adventurers. "Wait¡­ I think I know what this is for¡­" Although Rusty was a monster and not fully familiar with these terms, something in the memory he had absorbed from his guides reacted. To test it, he decided to replace his main-hand weapon, a mace, with a longsword. Once the longsword was equipped, he pressed the save button again, and another row of icons appeared, this time with the mace having been replaced. To finalize the test, he pressed the apply button on the previously saved loadout. In a miraculous fashion, the longsword in his hand vanished and was replaced by the mace. "T-this is great! With this, I won''t have problems changing my body!" With glee, he began replacing his parts and switched to the lighter variant of his body. The balance had shifted once more and holding heavy weapons became a hindrance. He created a new loadout but before moving on he looked at his status once more. To no surprise, there was an effect on his stats. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 207/207 Magic Points [MP] 198/198 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 64 [ E ] Agility 82 [ E ] Dexterity 80 [ E ] Constitution 57 [ E ] Intelligence 67 [ E ] Wisdom 68 [ E ] Willpower 67 [ E ] Durability D First, his health points were reduced along with his constitution and strength stats. On the other hand, his dexterity and agility stats had increased, while the rest remained the same. He was slightly more nimble in this form but had reduced attacking power and health. Perhaps this form was best suited for quicker weapons like daggers and shortswords. Dexterity also helped during archery, so it was better when using ranged attacks. The next loadout followed, and his body expanded in all directions. He was now in his bulkier form, and his stats had been altered as before. Both his agility and dexterity were reduced, but his strength and constitution went up. This form was the exact reverse of the previous one: a bulkier armor with slower movements but better potential for powerful strikes. Then he had the middle ground with his default appearance, an all-rounder. The last test involved switching out loadouts, and he soon realized a few drawbacks. One of them was the use of special points (SP); each time he switched, it cost him points. It seemed that for each piece of armor that was different, it would cost him one point. This meant a minimum of six points per change just for the armor, plus two more if he included the weapon and shield. Although his SP had increased by ten, he would run out of them quite quickly. Next was the time it took to switch. If he only changed weapons, it happened almost instantly. However, changing his whole body type took around five seconds for the agility-focused variant and ten seconds for the bulkier model. Five or ten seconds might not seem like much, but in the middle of a battle, even a second could decide victory. Without disengaging from combat, it was best not to switch, as he also lost a significant amount of mobility during the transition. "That''s about it I think, I''ve been postponing this long enough." After finishing all the tests and reviewing his status screen to ensure nothing was missed, Rusty turned his attention to the tunnel leading to the Dungeon Heart. The whispers had stopped, but as he started moving forward, the noise began to pick up again. He had no more time; the core of the dungeon needed to release him from his shackles. While he did not wish to destroy it, he knew that if it didn''t relent, he might have no other choice. Once back in his default form, he equipped a large kite shield together with a longsword and moved forward. His visor glowed once more as he analyzed the magical energy around the area. The further he went, the more pronounced it was and the sounds continued to get louder. "....S¡­t¡­o¡­p¡­" "D¡­o¡­n¡­t¡­g¡­o¡­" His old master attempted to use its power once more, but Rusty refused to stop. His new Iron body was much more resistant to this effect, and eventually, he reached the end of the corridor and ventured through the entrance he had previously been unable to cross. Once inside, he finally spotted the source of his trouble: the core of the dungeon, known as its Hearth. Rusty entered through the chamber''s threshold with care. The clinking of his new iron form echoed softly in the vast, mostly empty space. The Dungeon Heart, a massive, pulsating crystal, was right in the middle, floating between two thick black columns - one emerging from the ceiling and the other from the ground. The air was thick with magical energy, and thanks to his newly gained skills, he could truly see what he was dealing with. Without the mana sense, he would only see the crystal, but there was far more there than met the eye. Massive tentacle-like energy constructs were emanating from within the dungeon core crystal. They entangled with the two massive columns, creating a strange energy net made of mana. Every second or so, a strange pulse would make everything brighter, as if the Dungeon Heart had blood circulating through. "STOP, DO NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER." He was here now and wanted to step forward, but, just like every other time, he was stopped by the Dungeon Heart''s voice. His body started to quiver as he attempted to resist. After taking a few more steps, the shouts became louder, and the mana within the whole area started changing to a more reddish coloring. "HALT, GO BACK, IT IS FORBIDDEN!" "Is this as far as I can go?" Rusty felt more indignation in his armored form. He managed to get through the threshold but was still many steps away from the center of this large chamber. While he retreated, he knew this was not the end. After placing his shield down on the ground, an iron javelin appeared in his left hand. If he couldn''t advance any further, then perhaps the heart would relent after it was struck by his metal projectile. He took aim and, with a surge of anger, hurled the iron javelin at the Dungeon Heart. The projectile soared through the air, producing strange sparks as it collided with the magical energy. His aim was slightly off, but if it continued on this path, it would connect with a smaller side of the heart. However, before the collision could happen, the mana veins around it expanded. His weapon collided with this energy net and promptly bounced off to the side. "What?" Rusty watched in frustration as the iron javelin clattered to the ground, failing to penetrate the protective net around the Dungeon Heart. The pulsating veins of mana had reacted instantly, deflecting his attack with ease. It became clear that a direct assault wouldn''t be easy, but he wouldn''t give up easily. Once the first javelin was down, another one appeared in his hand. Luckily, he had stocked up on a lot of iron before advancing and also had bronze reserves. To make things easier, he switched to his nimbler form with its longer arms and higher stats, producing an even stronger throw. It flew much faster but, just like before, bounced off without doing any damage. After a couple more throws, he finally realized that this tactic wouldn''t bear any fruit. The barrier of mana was too strong and wasn''t budging even a millimeter. However, he refused to give up. Drawing on his newfound mana sense, he began examining everything around him and focused on the strange mana strings connecting to both the ceiling and the ground near him. In anger, he swung at one of these energy constructs with his longsword. The initial swing caused no harm to the mana, but after a breakthrough, something finally happened. Out of sheer desperation, Rusty activated his elemental skill, giving his blade a radiant glow. Once his blade was clad in his own magical energy, a reaction took place and perhaps showed him a way to free himself. Chapter 62 - 60 – Dungeon Defense. "Hey, did you feel that?" "Hm?" A small group of adventurers stopped in their tracks as they noticed something unusual. They had been searching for a specific bronze suit of armor that had wandered into this dungeon area. Their search had been unfruitful, and they were considering moving away from the boss chamber where the monster had previously vanished. However, before they could decide on a plan, something strange started happening - the whole dungeon quivered for a moment, as if an earthquake was taking place. "Yeah, is the dungeon supposed to do that?" "I don''t think so." "Could it have something to do with that monster?" "How would that thing¡­" Before a female adventurer could finish her sentence, the dungeon shook again. This tremor was more intense than the previous one. Pieces of rock started crumbling, along with dust from the castle''s ceiling. The adventurers instinctively crouched, glancing at each other with worry etched on their faces. The dungeon''s usually stable structure was now trembling like it had never done before. They could sense that something was wrong and that perhaps, they needed to leave. Unbeknownst to this group of adventurers, the source of these tremors wasn''t far away. Behind some rocky walls, there was a large cavern with the monster they were searching for. Rusty was his name, and at this very moment, he was slicing at seemingly empty air with a glowing longsword. Almost every time he made a sweeping motion, another small shake occurred within the cavern. "STOP! LEAVE!" "I won''t leave until you release me!" Rusty shouted, attempting to communicate his desire to the Dungeon Heart. The being he was up against had created him, and he was tied to it. Unless this entity released the bond they shared, he would not be able to leave this place to save his friend Gleam. However, his actions were seen as threats, and the connection to the dungeon was what kept him at bay. To the Heart, this bond was the only thing preventing this rogue monster from reaching its center and keeping it safe from harm. Thanks to his newly attained mana sense, Rusty could see the energy threads connecting to the dungeon core. With the help of this skill, he was able to imbue the longsword with his own energy and damage the threads. One by one, these mana tendrils were sliced off, and as they were severed, he could feel the voice''s power over his body waver and decline. He didn''t want to kill the Dungeon Heart. It had created him and given him life; in a sense, it was like a parent. His guides had also informed him about the potential collateral damage of doing so. The entire dungeon required this being for its survival, and the whole structure depended on its magical power to retain its form. If it were destroyed, the place would likely collapse on itself, potentially trapping Rusty inside. His aim was to scare the being into letting him go and severing the connection, but he wasn''t sure how to communicate his intention. The cavern continued to tremble as Rusty swung his sword, each strike aimed at the glowing mana tendrils that connected the Dungeon Heart to its surroundings. His strikes grew more precise and he pushed onwards, one step at a time. Each time these mana veins were severed, they would turn into small energy bubbles that quickly burst. He could see them trying to reform themselves into place but the process was quite sluggish. "I don''t want to destroy you, but I need to be free, just let me go already!" "NO¡­ H-HELP, PROTECT!" The voice of the Dungeon Heart grew more frantic, its tone shifting from commanding to desperate. It seemed that it was becoming frantic, unable to stop Rusty from getting closer. This chamber was devoid of any monster guards, traps or defenses. It seemed that the Dungeon Heart was at his mercy but that was not true. "These tremors¡­ they are getting louder¡­ wait, is that pillar moving?" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the middle of the chamber was the Dungeon Heart, it was between two thick pillars with the one above it now moving. The pillar started to move upward, slowly at first but then with increasing speed. Rusty wasn''t sure what was happening but it was probably nothing good. He had seen hidden chambers and traps within the dungeon and this was giving him the same feeling. The pillar accelerated, grinding upwards with an ominous rumble and came to a stop. He could see its circular form on the ceiling, turning around for some reason. The sounds were strange to his metallic ears as if some large hidden cogs were grating against each other. Eventually, the sound stopped and to his surprise, an opening started to appear. The pillar was sliding to the side, revealing something hidden inside. "Monsters?" After a small crack had formed, a monster slipped out. It was a rather loud sounding goblin and it came falling down from above the Dungeon Heart''s location. It was not alone as once the opening got bigger other beings came rushing out. There were skeletons, living armors, zombies and even slimes. All the monsters the monsters he had seen on the other dungeon floors were coming out and they were probably here to defend the dungeon core from harm. "Protect¡­" The Dungeon Heart''s voice was no longer as intense, but to the other monsters, the command was like gospel. They identified the enemy trying to attack their creator and threw themselves at him. Rusty''s grip tightened on his glowing longsword as he prepared to face the oncoming horde. The goblin hit the ground first, snarling as it drew a rusty dagger. Behind it, skeletons clattered down, their hollow eyes glowing with a faint blue light, and zombies shambled forward, their decaying bodies emitting a foul stench. Slimes oozed from the ceiling, forming a wall of gelatinous mass that crept toward Rusty. Rusty quickly assessed his options. He was outnumbered, and although his new form offered him more agility, he couldn''t quite use it properly. He lacked a few skills to make the most of it, one of them being dual-wielding capabilities. However, he could make use of another form that would offer him much more protection. Previously, he had created a few loadouts with prepared weapons to fit each form. Soon, his body was shifting and growing in size. His helmet became rounder and wider as he shifted into heavier parts. In his left hand, a massive tower shield appeared. Normally, it would be too heavy for the other two suit variants, but for this one, it was perfect. For his main weapon, he chose a new type that fell under blunt weapons but still had some piercing power - a war pick. The first wave of monsters reached him. Rusty brought up his massive shield to bash a goblin away and followed it up with a strike from his hammer to a nearby skeleton''s cranium. Two monsters were down but many more appeared to replace them, their weapons, claws and fists collided with his body but none could damage it. To Rusty''s surprise, most of these creatures couldn''t even lower his health pool by one measly point. Rusty''s confidence surged as he realized that he had made so much progress. When he was created, even one of these enemies would have been a challenge but now, he was easily smacking them away. Each strike he made with his war pick was precise, cleaving through the ranks of goblins, skeletons and zombies. His massive tower shield deflected attacks with ease, allowing him to press forward with little concern for his own safety. Even when he was outnumbered, with the use of his light element, the undead creatures would burst into ashes, he could not be stopped. The monsters continued to surge from the opening above, but Rusty was relentless. The dungeon core''s command had summoned its minions, but the Twilight Iron Armor''s formidable defense could not be broken. He swung his war pick while having the light element activated. With a burst of energy, both undead and the mana veins were dispersed and he was able to continue further. "Is this all you''ve got? Weak monsters that I''ve already defeated multiple times? Maybe I was worried for nothing!" Despite his confident front, Rusty knew this was not the end. The Dungeon Heart, sensing the increasing threat, continued to pump out more and more monsters. They all seemed to be from the upper floors, with not even an iron living armor among them. It appeared that the upper pillar somehow connected to all the other levels of the dungeon. The Dungeon Heart was summoning all the monsters it had to defend itself, but Rusty''s armor, now with D-rank durability, was holding strong. Although Rusty bulldozed through the relentless waves of creatures, the battle was far from won. He was expending a large amount of mana with each swing of his war pick, and eventually, he would become unable to continue damaging the mana tendrils. However, luck was on his side. As he was about halfway through, the constant flow of monsters suddenly stopped. It became clear to him that the wave of monsters was finite, and his month of spelunking had drained the dungeon of its reserves. "NoooO¡­. Nooot enough¡­" "Wait¡­ it''s doing something¡­ what is this?" He felt something within his very being trying to draw something out but he stood firmly against this feeling. The other monsters were feeling the same phenomenon but it was working on them. All the slimes started falling down from the ceiling and crashing down before him. The zombies along with the skeletons started to crumble down to the ground, and even the goblins were dying. "Is it directly killing the monsters? It can do that?" Rusty was surprised as he saw the other monsters fall down to the ground. The goblins were clutching their chests as if they were in a lot of pain. With the help of his new skill he could see tiny fragments of energy flowing outside of their bodies. It was as if the Dungeon Heart was taking out the mana it had given to these creatures in an attempt to regain some footing. It was probably a desperate last measure and he knew that this would be it. After the monsters crumbled down to the ground, the tremors around the dungeon started to cease. A large veil of energy was now floating above the entire chamber but Rusty wasn''t feeling restricted in his movements. It seemed this boost of energy wasn''t meant to restore the mana threads that he was cutting but for something else entirely. In a flash, the mass of mana condensed into a singular orb and flew out of the tunnel he had entered through. "Isn''t that where the boss chamber was in? What is it trying to do?" This was quite a confusing matter as now he was left with no obstructions to the Dungeon Heart. It was a chance to move in and get this finally over with. He moved forward, his large iron boots echoing with each step as he approached the Dungeon Heart. The pulsating crystal, now isolated and seemingly weakened, was defensless before his might. However, before he could get any closer, a strange noise resounded from behind him. "I recognize that sound¡­" Rusty instantly knew what was coming and quickly turned around. From the hidden corridor he came out from a silhouette appeared of someone he recognized. It was the tenth floor boss that he once barely defeated and this explained the ball of concentrated mana. The Dungeon Core sacrificed the lesser monsters to revive the defeated boss. Its for was the same as before and it was holding that huge slab of iron called a colossal greatsword. "There aren''t any pillars I can use here¡­" This monster had been a tough opponent and he had only won thanks to using strategy. This place had an unfavorable structure as it was a wide open area. Rusty couldn''t even use the pillar the dungeon core was on as he still was being suppressed by the voice it produced. There was no way of going around this, he needed to face his toughest opponent once more. "I''m not the same armor as before." The boss charged at Rusty, its colossal greatsword swinging in a wide arc. Rusty raised his massive tower shield just in time to block the attack. The impact reverberated through his entire frame, but he stood firm, feeling the strength of his twilight armor plating absorbing the blow. He retaliated with a powerful swing of his war pick, aiming for the boss''s exposed side. The weapon connected with a resounding clang, but the boss''s thick armor absorbed most of the impact as well. "I can do this¡­ I''ve trained for it!" With the adjustments he had made to his form, Rusty was almost as tall as the living armor before him. He had designed this configuration specifically to combat larger foes, and within the Soul Forge, he had spent a few moments in the training chamber practicing against this very boss. The attack patterns he was seeing now were all exactly the same as those he had faced in training. The boss roared, its eyes glowing with an eerie red light. It swung its greatsword again, this time with even more force. Rusty didn''t dodge but instead angled his tower shield in such a way to force the blade to slide off. Once the monster exposed its flank, he charged in with his war pick. The flat side connected with the armor, the impact producing multiple cracks on the plating. While he couldn''t rely on agility in his current form, using a more skillful approach was the key. His opponent was slightly superior in all stats but had fewer skills. Coupled with his knowledge of its attack patterns, Rusty was able to either deflect or minimize the damage to his own robust frame. The exchange was long, but eventually, the opponent was forced to back away, its body cracking and its joints wavering. Rusty pressed his advantage, exploiting the weaknesses he had created in the living armor. He swung his war pick with precision, targeting the already damaged areas. Each strike chipped away more of the monster''s defenses, and its movements grew increasingly sluggish. Finally, with one last powerful blow, Rusty drove the war pick into the monster''s groin area. It was the place where the monster core had been located the last time around. The force of the impact shattered the remaining armor plates, and the red glow in its eyes dimmed before flickering out entirely. The massive suit of armor collapsed to the ground in a heap, defeated. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty stood over the fallen boss, his body dented and broken in several places. The battle had been taxing, but he had prevailed. He knew that he needed to continue and quickly his body started to shift, going through another loadout exchange as he switched to his all-purpose form. "It''s just you and me now¡­" He called out to the being that created him. The heart''s voice continued to call out in a desperate plea, but its tone had shifted from commanding to fearful. Rusty felt a hint of empathy; despite everything, this being was his creator. But he knew what had to be done¡­ Chapter 63 - 61 – Unbound. The Core of the dungeon pulsated erratically, its glowing essence dimming and brightening as if mirroring the beating of a frantic heart. Rusty took a firm step forward, the sound of metal echoing as he moved his frame. He took slow, deliberate steps towards the Heart, each one bringing him closer to the conclusion of his journey. "N¡­O¡­ooo¡­" "B¡­aaa¡­.ccc¡­k." His creator was out of options, all the monsters that it threw at him were used to reawaken the boss who he defeated. The mana around this chamber had started to dim and the voice inside his head was now unable to stop his momentum. Rusty was sure that he could not be halted anymore and now it was time for him to gain his freedom finally. As Rusty approached the Dungeon Heart, he could feel the tendrils of mana writhing around him, weak but persistent in their attempts to reestablish control. However, they were unable to stop his advance. The core had been trained of power, and the dungeon had lost most of its power. There were possibly some leftover monsters above him, but if the boss couldn''t defeat him, neither would they. "You''re still talking? Do you not realize what I want?" Rusty attempted to communicate with the Dungeon Heart, but it started to give off incomprehensible noises. Its ability to communicate wasn''t the same as his, and it didn''t seem to understand his plea. He just wanted to be set free from the tethers binding him to this place. If he was set free, he would simply walk away and leave this being in peace. However, the Dungeon Heart was making things more difficult, which meant he would need to sever the connection in a different way. The dungeon core was still on top of a large pillar in the middle of the chamber. There were no stairs leading up, and the pillar was about ten meters tall. Rusty thought about climbing up but then realized this was a chance to scare the heart into letting him go. From his inventory, he retrieved a large iron hammer, much thicker and bigger than the war pick he had used in the previous fight. This iron hammer was an imposing weapon but a bit unruly and heavy. It''s weight was immense and unusable without using the heavier body frame. One side was flat while the other had a sharp nail-like ending. Rusty hefted it with both his hands and approached the pill. Soon the Dungeon Heart''s frantic pulsations increased, almost as if it sensed what was coming. "Just cut the connection, or I will have to destroy you and this entire place, do you want that to happen?" The tendrils of mana lashed out in desperation, trying to restrain him, but they were too weak to hold him back. Rusty shook them off and then swung the hammer with all his might. The impact shook the chamber, sending cracks spiderwebbing up the pillar. The Dungeon Heart shuddered, its glow flickering wildly. "Last chance!" Rusty continued to warn this strange being while whaling on the large rock pillar. His hammer was strong and heavy but even it was having trouble with this structure. After around ten hits it the shaft started bending and he needed to use up some iron to restore it. Luckily, after a few initial cracks had formed he was able to plunge the spike in to create a large hole. Chunks of stone broke away from the pillar, clattering to the ground. The Heart''s voice turned to panicked whispers, pleading and threatening in equal measure. Rusty ignored it, focusing on his task. He struck again and again, each blow bringing him closer to his goal. Finally, with a resounding crash, the pillar crumbled, sending the Dungeon Heart tumbling down. Rusty watched the crystal representing the dungeon core fall down in his direction. The mana threads were sticking out of it but they could not be used by this strange construct. This thing that had forced him to live his life in one way, was not powerless before the creature it brought to life. He caught it with both his hands, the core''s pulsating light dimmed as he held it. The tendrils of mana flailed weakly, trying to reestablish their grip over him but to no avail. "Is this still not enough? Do you want me to crush you like this?" The Dungeon Heart was quite big, almost as wide as his own torso and close to the same length. It was a strange pulsating crystal formation that when squeezed started screeching even louder. He could see cracks forming on its surface making him realize that this thing would have probably shattered if it collided with the hard ground here. ''Is this not enough? Do I really need to destroy this thing to be free?'' There was only one way out of here, and even though a hole had been created above him, there was no way to reach that high. He had some rope in his inventory, but there was nothing to attach it to. Once this thing was destroyed, the whole structure would come tumbling down, and he certainly wouldn''t be able to run through all ten floors back to the surface in such a short amount of time. ''What if I put it into my inventory or just take it up to the first floor and then destroy it?'' An idea moved into his shiny iron head. Perhaps if he carried this thing all the way up and then destroyed it right at the exit, he would be free. This was a great plan, but he quickly realized it would be impossible. As soon as he started moving toward the edge of the chamber, his heart began to quiver in panic. It seemed that the heart was connected to this place through mana threads, and removing it too far might destroy it as well. Rusty pondered his next move, realizing the limitations of his options. The Dungeon Heart''s connection to the dungeon was too strong to sever completely without destroying it. Carrying it out of the dungeon would likely result in its collapse, a risk he couldn''t afford to take. Yet, he couldn''t remain tethered to this place forever. He needed another solution, something that would allow him to break free without causing a catastrophic collapse. In the stillness of the cavern, a thought struck him, and he channeled his elemental skill into both hands. There was one thing he hadn''t tried yet: letting the heart react directly with his elemental energies. First, with his right hand, he produced a faint light. Seeing no change, he conjured darkness with his left. He knew that mixing these energies would produce a chaotic reaction, but he was out of options. To his surprise, a reaction transpired. "A¡­RGggu¡­OOOOoo¡­.g¡­.EEEEE¡­Rrrrr¡­."" The heart cried out in a strange tone and then suddenly went silent. Rusty felt the pulsating core in his hands begin to change as he channeled both light and darkness into it. The Dungeon Heart''s once frantic and dissonant energy seemed to stabilize, its light dimming to a steady, even glow. The mana threads that had been writhing around his body slackened, their grip weakening as if releasing their hold on him. For a moment, silence filled the cavern, broken only by the appearance of a system message. The ''Unbound'' title has been acquired. Rusty wanted to cry out in joy and almost let the pulsating heart fall down to the ground. After gently placing it down, he brought up his status window to confirm his new title and what it truly meant. Unbound Title A title gained by a monster who has managed to sever its ties to the dungeon heart, achieving autonomy and independence. When active, this title grants a tremendous increase in resistance against any mind-controlling skills and spells. "OH! I am truly free!" He looked at his old creator, the dungeon core, which was now fully silent and calm. It was as if it no longer identified him as an enemy, though he wasn''t sure how this was achieved. Rusty glanced back at the title''s description, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He was finally free, unshackled from the constraints of this dungeon, and could leave. However, he couldn''t take any chances. Before advancing from this place, he activated his skill to summon the demon and the hero. "Hoh, both of us at once? I see you''re feeling adventurous, my dear Rusty!" "Could you not speak like that? It sounds off." "What do you mean? Aren''t you perhaps the one with a dirty mind?" The two orbs, one black and one white, appeared next to him. Alexander, the betrayed hero, hovered above his right shoulder pauldron, while Aburdon, the fallen demon king, kept to the left one. Both of them started to bicker, as he expected. His mana reserves had grown, as had the Call Guide skill. With every level, the percentage of mana used was decreasing, and he just needed to keep the skill active to level it up further. "That was quite the ingenious solution there, Rusty. How did you know that using both light and darkness would overload the dungeon heart mana preceptors and in turn reset its mind?" Aburdon turned to him to praise him for his quick thinking but Rusty wasn''t sure what he was talking about. "Ah¡­ uh¡­ I read it in one of the books in the library¡­" "Oh, which one?" Aburdon inquired while Rusty quickly changed the topic of their conversation. Now that he was free of the heart, he needed to leave this dungeon. To his knowledge, there was just one exit which was guarded by many adventurers. To go around this obstruction he needed to use his newly attained possessions skill. "We don''t have much time, I have summoned both of you to help me make a plan! You said I should use the possession skill on someone, but on who?" "Hmm¡­ well, I''m not sure, why don''t you ask the hero there? He is the one that was an adventurer." Alexander pondered for a while and then responded. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It would be better to use an identity of someone that isn''t known to the adventurers¡­ if you use a current adventurer, you might be quickly discovered but I''m not sure "What about one of those four outside, what if I possess one of them?" "I''m not sure if that''s a good idea, at your current skill level it will probably be hard to control a body of that level. Aburdon chimed in, informing the two about the downsides of the new skill that Rusty had learned. "What do you mean by that, a body of that level?" While he was inside the Soul Forge he focused mostly on training himself and crafting. He wasn''t the smartest tool in the shed and didn''t have much experience to create a long-lasting plan. He thought that he could just take any meat of an adventurer and somehow control it. "You''ll only be able to control lesser beings and low-level adventurers. Even then, you''ll probably have to beat them half to death for the skill to take hold. But, I''m not sure about the extent of your skill, perhaps you should try possessing a corpse first and see how it feels?" Before Rusty could reply, Alexander also started talking from his right shoulder. "It''s probably better to avoid those four, I''m sure you''d be asked many questions once you''re outside, you''d be discovered." Rusty tried to nod but the bulkier armor kept him from moving his neck. "I see¡­ but where would I find the corpse of an adventurer¡­ ah, there was one at that location." His mind was filled with ways of rescuing his friend Gleam and he remembered a certain location. He still had an older adventurer card that he took with him and before moving. After taking it out he presented it to Alexander to see if he would agree with his idea. "How about this person, could I use this identity?" "That card could be enough, this person''s features are quite average¡­ and the class can also use heavy armor, it could work¡­" "Let me see!" Aburdon cried out from the side as he felt left out of the conversation. The card depicted an average-looking man, whose stature would probably fit into the armor that he had made. The adventurer card was found on a body that a spider had captured and hadn''t eaten yet. If his memory didn''t fail him, then this body was in a mummified state and somewhat pale. He didn''t get a good look at the face but perhaps it would be enough to let him escape. "Can''t we find someone more handsome? I don''t want our Rusty to look this average¡­" "What does it matter how he looks?" "It does matter!" A plan seemed to have been made and Rusty had already made the decision to visit that area once more. Before leaving he also noticed a strange phenomenon of not losing as much mana as he was supposed to. He had used a lot of his skills during combat and even summoned these two but he had not yet drained himself past the halfpoint. He realised that his magic points were being restored at a much faster pace than usual and this dungeon core chamber probably had something to do with it. "This pillar, it has some mana on it¡­" Classification: Mana filled stone Type: Mineral Description: A stone filled with some mana "The pillar must have absorbed the ambient mana from the Dungeon Heart. The effect will probably dissipate with time but it will help you regenerate your mana faster if you hold it." Alexander offered some insight as Rusty investigated the destroyed rocks. He quickly decided to pick out a few pieces and place them into his storage space. These fragments could potentially be useful in the future, either for crafting or for aiding him in combat. An item that increased his mana regeneration could prove invaluable for future battles and explorations. "This should be enough, I''ll call you two later." "I hope so, it''s so boring in that soul forge and you''ll probably need us to guide once you''re outside, better to level up that skill, Rusty." "I agree, you will need me to get through the adventurer guild." Rusty selected his default loadout to change back into his normal form. He knew that the two were right as he had no idea what was waiting for him in the world above. The dungeon was what he knew and probably getting this skill up so that he could have the two out at his disposal would be crucial. He could already feel the weight of the task ahead settling in, but for now, he had to focus on executing the next step of his plan. Once his two guides were gone he turned his attention back to the dungeon. The way forward was still dangerous and he was being pursued by four adventurers. With some luck, Rusty would be able to avoid detection. However, if they stood in his way, then he would not hold back and go through them. Chapter 64 - 62 – A Body Within. An iron-armored head popped out of a hole in the wall. The head turned in all directions as if it wasn''t connected to anything, before disappearing back into the passage it came from. Soon after, an armored monster walked out, both hands pushing the helmet back down onto his neck. "I guess they retreated?" Rusty adjusted the helmet and took a moment to survey his surroundings. He was now inside the boss''s chamber, which had been destroyed even more than before. The adventurers he expected to encounter were not here anymore, replaced instead by a lot of rubble. During his confrontation with the dungeon heart, several big tremors had probably caused this. He could only assume that his pursuers had retreated, but it was possible they were still inside this giant castle. While looking around, he noticed broken walls and several large boulders on the ground. He had no tracking skills, but the whole castle was eerily silent. Rusty moved cautiously through the boss chamber, his senses on high alert for any sign of the adventurers. He peeked out again to see if he could hear anything, but besides some cracking noises from the structures, he couldn''t sense anything. Congratulations Basic Mana Sense skill has reached level 4. His reconnaissance attempt was interrupted by a system message informing him about his newest skill leveling up. He had been constantly using this passive skill during his battle against the dungeon core and continued using it up to this very moment. This whole dungeon was built from mana, which was quickly affecting the level of his skill. It seemed that the concentration of mana mattered, and perhaps before long, he might achieve a breakthrough. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Rusty could see in real-time how small orbs of mana light evaporated from the rubble. They were slowly being transferred to the broken holes, which were starting to mend themselves. The process was quite sluggish and unnoticeable unless observed for several long minutes. Rusty realized that this was how the dungeon was restoring itself, by transferring its parts through some kind of process involving mana. "If those guys are gone, then I probably have nothing to worry about... but they might have set a trap somewhere..." Rusty knew that all the dungeon levels had one exit where those adventurers could be waiting. He wasn''t sure how they operated, but if they weren''t in this castle, he could ask someone who might know. After he was sure no one was inside this large castle, he called over one of his guides, Alexander. "Rusty? Was there something more that you wanted help with?" "I''m not sure yet. Do you think I could use something from here?" Alexander arrived and looked at the destruction on this tenth floor before explaining. "You might want to look through the treasure room then. You might need some coins for what''s ahead." "Coins? Oh, you mean those round metal objects made from copper and silver?" "Yes, those." Rusty had taken some money pouches from adventurer corpses before. Previously, he wanted to use the copper coins for crafting bronze ingots but decided otherwise. If he understood it correctly, he would be able to trade those coins for something inside the adventurer society. "Let''s go then!" "Are you following Aburdon''s advice?" The orb of light followed the suit of armor as they returned to the boss''s chamber. Normally, Alexander would have been returned to the Soul Forge by now. Rusty had been given advice to level up his skill further before heading up, as the two guides might need to become permanent entities in his life. He knew nothing of the outside world, and without them, the chances of him getting caught were high. The treasure room was hidden under a large throne that had been sent flying to the side. Luckily, the collapsed ceiling only covered half of the entrance so he could still climb down. Once there, Rusty found himself disappointed with the lack of anything shiny. There were no copper, silver, or gold coins anywhere and the chest that was at the end had already been opened. Everything was dark but Alexander''s light lit up the small room. Amidst the dusty remains, he noticed a few stray coins glinting faintly under the dim light. They weren''t many, but he quickly gathered them into his inventory. "Looks like those adventurers beat us to it, those types are surprisingly good at gathering treasure." Alexander remarked, floating closer to inspect the empty chest. However, once there, he noticed that something made from leather was sticking out. "I suppose they didn''t care much about this one, hey Rusty you might want to take this." "Oh? What is it?" Rusty pushed away from fallen stones and arrived at the chest. Once there he pulled out the long leather strap that turned out to be a belt of some kind. To this belt there was a satchell attached and once opened it revealed itself to be a small spatial bag. "I don''t think that I need this though. I have my own inventory." He was confused as to why Alexander wanted him to take this. Rusty had no use for spatial bags as his unique system provided him with all the storage he needed. "Sure but you won''t be able to use it once you are in the city, it''ll be better if you keep some necessities in this, you''ll avoid suspicion from the people in the cities. Plus, this will go well with that adventurer armor variant you''ve made, it will fit perfectly." "I see¡­" This wasn''t the first spatial bag that he found but the belt would go nicely around his waistline. Alexander was right as it would probably be suspicious if he started pulling things out of thin air. Instead, he could put things like coins, potions, and his adventurer card into this small bag of holdings he found. Even if he was searched, it wouldn''t raise any eyebrows. After placing the leather belt into his stash tab, Rusty turned his attention to the task at hand. He needed to make his way to the adventurer''s body he had found earlier, so he could possess it and attempt to leave the dungeon unnoticed. The path back to the location of the adventurer''s corpse wasn''t that treacherous as his battle left the place deserted. The journey through the dungeon was eerily quiet, the usual ambient noise of the dungeon replaced by an unsettling silence. Every now and then, the faint sound of shifting rubble or distant echoes would break the stillness, but there was no sign of the adventurers. Rusty and Alexander assumed that they had eventually retreated as pursuing a suit of armor was not worth their lives. These adventurers didn''t always have to finish their jobs precisely and perhaps they have concluded that this had been enough to get paid. Finally, he arrived at the chasm where the adventurer''s body lay. The place was devoid of most dungeon monsters but these arachnids were not part of them. He needed to climb back to the hole he found the adventurer card as it was better if the body fit the description. Rusty cautiously approached the chasm, the path was familiar but he was still a bad climber. Luckily, his new agility-focused form allowed him to move with haste and reach the ledge where he found the mummified body. "I see some spiders, but they seem to be avoiding me?" He had seen some red eyes peeking out but none of them decided to attack him. His level was much higher now and perhaps the monsters had some type of danger sense. Once inside, he quickly noticed the mummified body still ensnared in a web. The corpse looked thin and the face was still there but he didn''t really know if it was good enough. To get some advice, Aburdon was now summoned instead of Alexander. Congratulations Call Guide skill has reached level 5 Aburdon''s arrival was accompanied by a burst of dark energy and a system message of the guide skill increasing again. With Rusty''s heightened level he could have his guides out for much longer than before. Soon enough he hoped that his mana regeneration would become equal to the skills usage for a permanent solution. "Ah, finally! A change of scenery." Aburdon said, his voice dripping with amusement. "So, what do you wish from this demon lord?" Rusty pointed to the mummified body still trapped in the webbing. "What do you think? Is this body suitable for possession?" "Oh? Let me see~" Aburdon floated closer, scrutinizing the corpse from various directions before answering. "Hmm, it''s certainly not the most ideal, but it should suffice for your needs. The fact that the lower body is mummified could work to your advantage as the weight will be significantly reduced. The face on the other hand managed to retain most of its moisture and the teeth and tongue seem to be in place." "Good, then¡­ how do I possess it?" Rusty was glad that this body was sufficient enough for his disguise but he wasn''t sure of how to proceed. "Easy enough, first cut him loose and get rid of the net, and then just put that armor you previously prepared on him. Once that''s done, just place your helmet over it and use the skill." "Hmm, okay!" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty was a living armor monster which meant that his possession target needed to be fully encased within his body. Luckily, he didn''t need to use the parts that he was using now but instead the ones that had been previously prepared for this occasion. "Now be careful, that body is very delicate so try not to damage it." He approached the mummified body cautiously, carefully cutting away the spider''s webbing that had ensnared it. The old strands gave way easily, revealing the corpse more fully. The body was indeed in a sorry state, with skin that had turned to a dry, leathery texture, but it was still largely intact, and the armor he had prepared would fit reasonably well. He donned the armor piece by piece, securing the fake leather and true metal plates around the body. The custom adventurer''s gear was a bit oversized for the emaciated form, but this was all according to plan. With a lighter body inside, he would be able to move much easier. Finally, he placed his helmet over the corpse''s head, aligning it to match the armor''s neck plate. Aburdon floated above, giving a nod of approval. "Looks like you''re almost set. Now first, transfer yourself to the new armor and then, activate the possession skill, you should know how to do it if you follow your monster instincts." After his helmet was placed on the custom-made adventurer armor, he controlled it. The old body that he was wearing, crumbled down to the ground as he switched out. Once the body was switched, he started to stand up with the mummified body still inside of him. The weight was quite bearable and soon he was standing upright. Then soon after, he gave the possession skill a try. The skill was activated and it produced a strange green glow. This light enveloped his metallic body along with the mummified corpse inside. A pulsating aura between the two started to form and continued to flicker around. Rusty could feel the energy transfer, a peculiar sensation that felt similar to the time that he had merged with his two guides. The remains within him shifted slightly as the consciousness of the mummified body began to meld with Rusty''s essence. The transition was going by smoothly and he could feel it twitching within him. It was a very strange feeling, it felt like he was controlling some sort of flesh puppet within himself but also being hit with some information. "This body has a name ¡­ Albert?" "Oh, you''re a natural Rusty, you''ve already been able to feel the body''s memories. Perhaps due to merging with me and the idiot hero, you''ve grown an affinity for dead spirits?" Aburdon wondered while the process continued. Soon the eyes of the possessed body popped open along with its mouth. The sounds were incomprehensible at first but soon became clearer as Rusty adjusted to the new sensations. "T¡­h..i..Sss iS¡­ S¡­t¡­r.n..ge¡­" The body he was using still had its vocal cords intact, along with its mouth. Through the possession skill, he was able to control its speech and make it say what he was thinking. It was quite an odd experience, but the more he used it, the better he became at it. "Mah¡­n-name is¡­ Alburt¡­ S-somethin like dis?" "Well, almost got it, keep practicing, you''re doing great for the first possession Rusty!" Aburdon was surprised that Rusty was getting the hang of everything so fast. He could only assume that some of his past knowledge was integrated with the living armor and he was somehow using it. "After you level your skill, it''s going to feel like an extension of yourself¡­ or perhaps like an internal organ? Hm¡­ also don''t forget to dig into the memories, if this body has a chaotic past it might become a probl¡­" Aburdon wasn''t allowed to finish his sentence as he was forced to return to the Soul Forge. Rusty who was using the possession skill was running low on mana. He needed to use up a whole hundred MP to make this work but luckily, the effect was persistent. ''This Albert person, I can see some of his memories.'' While Aburdon was away, Rusty knew exactly what to search for. Dead bodies often retain lingering thoughts and memories from their previous lives. One such memory was the deceased''s gruesome death. He had fallen into a pit while hunting monsters and was subsequently captured by a spider. The monster injected him with poison, which quickly led to his death. Fortunately, the same poison had also somewhat preserved his body in its current state. The most important part was the head was almost perfectly intact. Its only defect was the pale coloring and the slight dehydration that had set in. However, once the skill was active the man''s face regained a little bit of color. Now he just needed to learn how to produce sounds without sounding like a zombie. ''Can I recall something different? This body might have memories of the outside world!'' Rusty tried to focus, the spirit within this body had long vanished and the brain started to decompose but with the skill active, the process had been stopped. He was able to dig through some of the memories of this adventurer. He saw quite the sight of a bustling city and many people within it. The place seemed to be some kind of marketplace where this man used his coins to buy cheap food. This memory was quite vague and he couldn''t really recognise any faces. Soon it shifted to a large building with many people everywhere and a board with many strange papers. He wasn''t sure if that was it but it sure looked like his next destination, the place called, the adventurers guild. Chapter 65 - 63 – Trying To Speak. "Guuuhhhhdd¡­ moowwwnniiinnnggg?" "HOooWWw Arrrrruuuu Yaaaahhh?" "..." "You might have to practice some more¡­" "But there is no time¡­ I need to go!" "If you get out there like this, they will think that you''re a zombie or a death knight." The armored figure stood in the dimly lit room, its metal plates glistening faintly as the white orb of light hovered around it. The suit''s movements were stiff and awkward, each step producing a distinct clanking sound that echoed through the dimly lit corridor. "Your movements also seem awkward, this might take a while¡­" Rusty had spent the next few hours practicing his speech and movements, trying to become more accustomed to the new form. The dead adventurer''s memories provided some help, but it was still a challenge to move naturally. Aburdon and Alexander gave him tips and encouragement, their ghostly presences hovered around and were starting to take on the forms of spectral mentors. "Remember, Rusty, the key is to blend in." Alexander advised while floating around him. "You need to move like a human, not a suit of armor." His advice fell on deaf ears, as Rusty didn''t really know how humans were supposed to move. The body within his armor was quite stiff and sometimes flopped around, making movement quite difficult. Fortunately, there was one positive aspect of this possessed body. Once he had dressed it in adventurer-type armor, he was able to create a loadout with it inside. The body was considered dead and could be stored in his inventory without exploding upon retrieval. "Oh? I think some uninvited guests are coming. Maybe we have overstayed our visit here Rusty, I''ll see you later." After the light vanished, Rusty stopped moving and saw some red eyes emerge from the corner. It was one of the Lesser Giant Shade Spiders that could be found in the chasm. It was not alone, as two others of its kind quickly appeared behind it. He reacted swiftly, changing his loadout to a more battle-ready form. These monsters might have threatened him when he was still an F-rank, but he was now at his second E-rank evolution. It would have been simple to scare them away with his light elemental skill, but Rusty chose not to. There was no need to waste more mana than he already had. With Alexander''s disappearance, all light from the vicinity vanished, but he could see his three enemies crawling towards him clearly. In his right hand, he held a regular iron longsword, while in his left was a large kite shield. One of the monsters stuck to the ceiling while the others approached from the sides. Eventually one of them jumped forward, aiming to sink its venomous fangs into Rusty''s iron armor. With a swift motion, Rusty raised his kite shield, intercepting the spider mid-air and smashing it against the wall. The creature let out a high-pitched screech as it crumpled to the ground, its exoskeleton cracked from the impact. The remaining two spiders hesitated, their red eyes gleaming with caution. Rusty took this moment to charge at the one on the ground, precisely swinging his longsword. The blade sliced through the spider''s head, ending its life. Soon after another tossed itself in his direction but even when it clang to his body and bit down, no more than one point of damage was taken. "Weak¡­" Rusty swatted the remaining spider off his body with a quick, disdainful motion, sending it flying against the wall. The creature let out a desperate screech before collapsing and thrashing about. The third monster didn''t even manage to approach him, as its body was impaled by a swift javelin throw. Rusty then approached the squirming monstrosity to put it out of its misery. "My skills have improved, but how strong will a place filled with those adventurers be?" He asked himself while taking a few items from the monsters'' bodies. Alexander had reminded him to take things that could later be traded for money or information. He even implied that living life as an adventurer would be better than remaining as a monster. Aburdon was against that and was pushing him into a more chaotic life filled with battles and carnage. The memories of Albert were more recent, showing him a bustling city filled with people. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals, far too many for him to defeat by himself. His tactics of hiding in dark corridors and waiting would not work outside. There were too many open spaces and seemingly no ceilings, something he would probably have a hard time getting used to. After collecting some monster cores and fangs, he finally made his way through the chasm. Changing loadouts was starting to become second nature and was probably the best thing that came with his new evolution. He still had no access to the Soul Forge but if that ever became possible, then his bodies could be customized to fit all possible situations. However, before that time could come, he needed to rise above this dungeon and find Gleam. "Time to go, maybe there is something that could help me with that speech impediment¡­" Rusty muttered to himself as he made his way through the winding corridors of the dungeon, retracing his steps upward. The path was still familiar, but everything felt different. His connection to the dungeon was now severed, and he felt unshackled. The monsters that had previously vanished were coming back, and starting from the fourth level, he couldn''t see much of a difference. This meant the dungeon was beginning to heal itself, and this potentially meant that adventurers would eventually start returning. "I should have a few days left¡­" he mused. Rusty decided to wait and practice for now. He couldn''t go outside while speaking like a zombie. Alexander had already informed him that his face would pass for human, but only if he got used to talking with a mouth. There was one skill the adventurers had that could alleviate this problem, but he wasn''t sure about it. However, at this point, he was willing to try anything to make his departure safer. First, he returned to the second floor, which he knew like the back of his hand. There, he used one of his old hiding places to train both his mannerisms and his guiding skills. With the help of Alexander and Aburdon, he attempted to absorb all the possible information about the world above. They painted a vivid picture in his mind and made him realize that the world was truly vast. Their tales ignited his craving for adventure and exploration, something he wished to share with his only friend, Gleam. Hours turned into days as Rusty tirelessly practiced. His movements became more fluid, mimicking the natural pace of a human adventurer. His speech, though still requiring effort, improved significantly, allowing him to form some words without sounding like a zombie. Aburdon and Alexander did their best but time was running out and eventually, he decided to risk it for a drastic improvement. Just as he had speculated, people eventually began to return to the dungeon. The party that had previously fled might have been among the crowd, but he made an effort to avoid them. With his hiding skills, he could not be spotted and made his way to the first level, where the weakest adventurers usually resided. There, he finally encountered a potential victim who would be his ticket out of the dungeon. "Those guys look like new adventurers, the guild master in this city must be an idiot¡­" Alexander commented while looking through Rusty''s visor. His little guide could lower the intensity of his light but if he hovered above his head, it would still be noticeable. Three adventurers who were probably in their teens made their way through the corridor. Rusty was using the shadows to stay still and silently communicating with Alexander. They were connected through their souls so no sounds were required. "Why do you say that?" "Well, only an idiot would allow newbies to go down a dungeon where an irregular monster was discovered. Those guys probably informed him about everything and still, he opened the dungeon, damn bastard!" Rusty noticed that Alexander was mad and that he also cared for the people he was hunting. The three adventurers were clearly inexperienced, their nervous chatter and clumsy movements gave them away. They seemed unaware of the lurking danger, their focus more on impressing each other than on their surroundings. Rusty waited patiently and before he could strike, his guide spoke up. "Rusty, do you really need to kill them?" "Kill? Hm¡­ I don''t really have to but why? Wouldn''t it be better to get their money and equipment?" Rusty had been leveling his Call Guide skill ever since he had freed himself from the Dungeon Heart. The mana usage was becoming manageable and without using any skills he could have one of them out for almost two hours. With so much time spent together, the two were finally starting to give their true opinions and trying to affect his decisions. "You don''t have to be ruthless to succeed, Rusty. If you can achieve your goals without causing unnecessary harm, why not try it? These adventurers don''t deserve such a fate." "Hm¡­But won''t they just alert the other adventurers if I leave them be?" Rusty wasn''t sure what Alexander was getting at. Adventurers weren''t that strong by themselves but once one of them was left alive, they always came back in larger numbers. "Aren''t you going to leave anyway and if you are worried about getting discovered, can''t you just use one of those?" Alexander pointed Rusty in the direction of a sluggish corroded bronze armor. He could easily wear the monster''s suit as cover. His stats would not drop below a certain threshold even if he wore an old bronze suit and these people were quite low leveled. "I see, so they will think that it wasn''t me but another living armor that could work." "Yeah, see? If you leave them alive, they probably won''t even report this to the guild and feel dumb instead, it''s like killing two bats with one mana bolt." "Two bats?" "I''ll explain it later¡­ but what do you want from those three, they shouldn''t have anything worthwhile." "My speech isn''t too good but they might have a skill that could help me with it." "I see, well then good luck." For another moment Rusty remained hidden in the shadows and observed the trio before backtracking. There were no corridors that he didn''t know and preparing an ambush was quite easy. After taking care of one of the lone bronze armors here, he quickly exchanged his clothes and got ready. Once the trio were in the right area, he exposed himself while acting as if he was his old self. "Hey look, it''s one of these." "Let me take care of it, you had fun with the last one!" "Fine." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of the young adventures approached him as he lumbered forward. The young adventurer, emboldened by his friends'' encouragement, advanced towards Rusty, oblivious to the true danger he faced. Rusty, using the corroded bronze armor, played the part of a slow, mindless creature, his movements carefully measured to his old self. The adventurer swung his sword with a lack of finesse, striking Rusty''s shield, and attempted to follow it up with a kick to the chest. It was a tactic all adventurers used and something he had grown accustomed to. With one quick step to the left, the foot of the man collided with nothing but air. He was certainly surprised by the sudden increase in numbleness but he wouldn''t have much time to process it. Soon, a hard mace collided with his chin, sending him falling down to the ground, still alive but knocked out. "What the¡­!" The adventurers exclaimed, their eyes wide in shock at the sight of their friend going down instantly. They were certainly newbies and instead of backing away to reorganize, they rushed at him with weapons drawn. While his form was squeaking and much less resistant, his stats made up for everything. The second adventurer, a young woman with a short sword and shield, tried to parry his incoming strike. Rusty feigned an overhead swing, then at the last moment shifted his weight, bringing his mace down on her unprotected flank. She crumpled to the ground with a pained gasp, her shield clattering beside her. The last adventurer, visibly shaken, backed away, his eyes darting between his fallen comrades and Rusty. Rusty could see the fear in his eyes and knew that he had the upper hand. The young man raised his spear, attempting to keep Rusty at a distance. Rusty noted the trembling in his hands and quickly tossed his shield at him. While the man was busy deflecting the large projectile he lunged forward. He closed the distance at a speed uncommon for the type of monster he was masquerading as. His mace connected with his chest, knocking the wind out of the adventurer and sending him sprawling to the ground. Rusty stood over the young man, his mace raised, but hesitated for a moment. He remembered Alexander''s words and decided to take a different approach. "Fine then, I''ll just knock them out¡­" His mace connected with the man''s head with a more calculated and non-fatal, blow. The adventurer crumpled to the ground, unconscious but alive. Rusty stood over the three fallen adventurers and began his plan. "I hope one of them has it¡­" First, he pulled the three unconscious people together and set them next to each other. His helmet was taken down and then placed on the head of the person he defeated first. He was given a small list of basic skills to absorb but the one that he was looking for was not there. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. "This one doesn''t have it either¡­" After moving on to the woman he was disappointed again. He knew that the skills he could absorb were somewhat random and limited. Only three would show up at any given time and the one he was looking for was not here. Soon he moved over to the spearman he defeated last and to his surprise, it was there. Universal Language Passive Skill Allows a person to understand spoken words and writing of the Universal Language. Basic Spearmanship Passive Skill A skill that makes it easier to wield a spear, is required to unlock more powerful spear skills. "There it is¡­ Universal Language, I hope it works¡­" It was one of the first skills he could absorb in the past, yet he had always avoided it. However, it was something every adventurer possessed, and perhaps with it, his speech pattern and understanding of the adventurers'' language would improve. Just like in the past, he absorbed it, and instantly his linguistic capabilities began to enhance. Now all that remained was to test it out, and perhaps now, going outside the dungeons would finally be possible. Chapter 66 - 64 – At The City Gates "Finally, they opened this dungeon back again, I thought that I would starve." "This will teach you not to gamble your money away and don''t forget that you still owe me two silvers!" "Yeah yeah¡­" A few adventurers passed through while ignoring a lone figure standing in the corner. An out-of-place-looking adventurer was standing before the stairs leading out of the dungeon. His gaze shifted between it and the people there as they passed and wandered in and out through the entrance. "They are all looking at me, but no one is reacting¡­" Rusty had wandered into the area where no monsters were capable of going in. Coupled with his custom iron armor that made him resemble an adventurer from head to toe, he had successfully blended in with the crowd. His improved speech capabilities, thanks to the Universal Language skill, made it easier for him to listen and understand the conversations around him. However, he still wasn''t perfect and it was better to keep every conversation short. "Do you think it''s safe?" "Well, if they haven''t reacted yet then probably but we''ll only know for sure once you have a proper conversation with someone. You shouldn''t worry too much, there are all sorts of adventurers out there, and the silent types aren''t that rare." "The silent type¡­" Within his body, Alexander resided and gave him advice. He was the guide who knew the most about adventurers and how they behaved in various situations. Rusty nodded subtly, mentally preparing himself for the next step. He took a deep breath and began to walk towards the dungeon''s exit, each step feeling like a monumental task. He had been born within this dungeon so the idea of leaving was quite stressful. There weren''t that many people moving around and the stairs were quite wide. For a moment he stood quietly before the first step, slowly shifting his body forward. It felt like an eternity but finally, his metallic boot landed on the first step and he started to ascend. His head was leaning down as to Alexander''s proposal. For some reason keeping eye contact was frowned upon by some individuals. As Rusty ascended the stairs, the dim light of the dungeon gradually gave way to the brighter, natural light filtering in from above. The transition was almost surreal, the once-familiar shadows of the dungeon replaced by the open expanse of the world outside. The sounds of nature - the rustling of leaves, distant bird calls, and the murmur of a nearby stream. All were a stark contrast to the echoing clinks and groans of the dungeon corridors. "So this is the outside?" "It is, what do you think?" Alexander asked as Rusty stepped fully into the light, his senses adjusting to the brightness. He marveled at the vivid colors and expansive sky, so different from the dim, claustrophobic confines of the dungeon. He wasn''t exactly sure how to express what he was seeing in words but eventually replied to Alexander''s question. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s fascinating¡­ I saw this in the memories but it''s much more¡­" Before he could finish the sentence he noticed someone approaching him from the front. It was a lone man with a large axe. His height was rather short but his width made up for it. "What ye staring at?" "Rusty, it would be best if you moved to the side and let this dwarf through." Rusty quickly sidestepped to allow the dwarf to pass. The dwarf grumbled something under his breath but continued on his way without further incident. Most people were heading down as it was early morning. Soon he attempted to blend in with the small crowd and headed out to encounter his first real challenge, the guard checkpoint. "There they are, remember to act natural and they should just let you through." At the moment he couldn''t fully see the entire expanse of the outside world. There was a path leading up from the dungeon''s entrance to a small outpost where adventurers checked in and out. It was there to keep unregistered people from getting themselves killed but also to control the flow of people. The outpost was a simple wooden structure with a few guards standing around, their attention mostly lax and divided. "Just act natural¡­blend in and go¡­" Luckily he arrived at a time when there was a group of three adventurers ahead of him, all chattering animatedly about their latest exploits. Rusty took his place behind them, keeping his head down, and tried to mimic their casual demeanor. The guards barely glanced at him, their focus more on the banter of the familiar adventurers in front. "You know the drill, show us your cards and rank." One of the guards asked the first adventurer who nonchalantly retrieved his adventurer card. This was the key item that allowed these people to move between this checkpoint and be considered adventurers. Rusty had retrieved one such card that belonged to the person whose lifeless body inhabited his metallic shell. The guard nodded, making a note in a ledger before waving him through. The process repeated for the next two adventurers, each presenting their identification before being waved through without much scrutiny. Rusty''s turn came, and he felt his heart - or what would have been his heart if he had one - pound in anticipation. He handed over the adventurer card he had taken from the deceased adventurer and stood there waiting. The guard took the card, barely glancing at Rusty before making a note in his ledger. However, one of his friends took some interest in him and seemed interested in something. His gaze moved from top to bottom and for a moment, Rusty wondered if his identity was revealed. There were three guards here, one looking through the cards and two holding spears on the sides. For a moment, he wondered if he should make a run for it. The path forward was almost clear, but he had no idea what to expect once he left this checkpoint. His only choice would be to run into the dense forest and hope that no one would try to chase him too far. "Oi, this armor of yours looks pretty sturdy, are you trying to become a knight or something? Isn''t it hard to breathe in that thing?" To his surprise, the man only wanted to ask about his armor. His current form had been modified to look like an adventurer but it was still an unusual armor choice. To many he looked similar to a carrier knight, his armor looked heavy and dense. Rusty took a moment to compose himself and waited for Alexander to give him some advice. "Just say that you are used to it and nod." "Y-yeah it''s hard to breathe but I''m used to it¡­" He was finally forced to use his speech out in the open. His voice sounded rough and raspy but it worked in his favor as fear struck the man he was talking to. The soldier just nodded in response and the adventurer card was given back to him. "Alright then, take care out there." The guard replied, dismissing Rusty with a wave. Soon he walked through the threshold and was now officially out of the dungeon. Before him was a long pathway surrounded from both sides by a dense forest. The foliage was thick, and the trees stood tall, their canopies forming an arched tunnel that led further into this new world. Rusty moved forward without looking back, only once he was out of sight of the dungeon guards did he stop. He leaned against one of the trees as he moved away from the main road, the walking adventurers just making him more nervous. He could feel the breeze on his armor, hear the rustling of leaves, and see the sunlight filtering through the trees. It was a sensory overload, but he relished it. He had been confined to the dark, damp corridors of the dungeon for too long, and now, finally, he was free. "So this is the outside world?" "So, what do you think? and the best part is, you haven''t seen anything yet!" Alexander teased Rusty, who was having a hard time describing his emotions. The cover the trees provided gave him some sense of security, but he couldn''t deny that he was on edge. Within the dungeon, he had many places to hide, and not many individuals wandered those narrow corridors. Here, on the other hand, he felt like a fish out of water. "I¡­ it''s overwhelming, I''d like to get used to it but I don''t think we have the time, Gleam is somewhere out here and I have to find her!" Rusty was now outside and his plan had been successful. Now he needed to continue into the city where his friend was seemingly being held in. Once there, the biggest hurdle awaited him. "I see. If you follow the road, you should be able to reach the city. I don''t really recognize this place, but maybe when we get out of this forest, I''ll be able to identify it. The equipment the adventurers are wearing doesn''t look that different, and the guards also have basic gear. However, I don''t recognize the emblem they were using¡­" Alexander replied while contemplating the geopolitical environment they found themselves in. He had died as a hero fighting for the people, but it was unknown to him how much time had passed. There were also other possibilities for their existence, such as this being another world entirely. However, he and Aburdon recognized the mana of this world to be the same as their old one, making that theory far-fetched. Rusty continued on with his journey, keeping to the trees and using them as protection. The forest was quite dense and he witnessed many strange small critters and birds. The main road was kept in sight as he moved and eventually, a large city appeared from the distance. It reminded him of the ninth floor with the castle area but it was much larger. The sprawling city lay ahead, its walls towering and its gates bustling with activity. Rusty could see the stone structures, the battlements manned by vigilant guards, and the lively crowds of people moving in and out. His heart - or the closest semblance to one - raced with both excitement as well as worry. "Gleam is somewhere in there?" This city wasn''t just large, it was humongous. The path leading from this dungeon ended before a large mote and then continued through a large drawbridge. To make things even more fascinating he could see at least two more such bridges leading into different directions. His vision didn''t allow him to peer too fat but Alexander was quick to give him some advice. "Those ways¡­ could they be leading to other dungeons? Could this city be¡­Argossa? But those flags aren''t right¡­ Isn''t it that bastards¡­" Rusty looked at the massive entrance gate between two watchtowers. Each watchtower had a flagpole with an emblem resembling a golden lion on a field of red. Rusty observed the symbol for a moment, trying to recall anything from Albert''s memories that might match it. Despite its familiarity, nothing specific came to mind, nor did any memories from his two guides. "Alexander, do you know what this place is? Where do those two other bridges lead?" "Ah¡­" His guide snapped himself out of it and finally gave him an answer. "If I''m not mistaken, this should be the city of Argossa. It has changed since the last time I was here, but those bridges are distinctive. They should lead to two other dungeons." "Other dungeons?" "Yes, the other two are the higher-ranked dungeons and one of the reasons there are so many adventurers here. You can easily spend many years here and attain a D-rank or even a C-rank or Gold rank." "Ah, I almost forgot about those ranks." After glancing at the massive city, Rusty retreated back into the forest. He retrieved the adventurer card he had taken from Albert''s body. It had a very distinctive copper outline, indicating that this adventurer had been an F-Rank. There was a whole series of ranking systems similar to those for monsters, and both were used interchangeably when referring to adventurers. By understanding this hierarchy he could avoid causing trouble as he knew that higher-ranked adventures would look down on him for his low rank. "Do you think I should wait until it''s darker?" "Ah¡­ yeah sure, that would probably be better but don''t forget, they will probably close the gate close to sunset." "I remember." Rusty nodded and sank back into the forest where he waited. He allowed himself to send Alexander back to restore his magic points. Once alone, he tried to recall the main plan they had discussed. In the dim light, his pale skin wouldn''t be as prominent, and the shadows would help mask his unusual movements. The twilight hours would also reduce the number of guards and adventurers, making it easier for him to slip through unnoticed. After getting through the gate, he would have limited time to find the adventurers'' guild. That place was said to be open late, and within it, Gleam would be waiting for his return. Even though he was now outside, the grayed-out status of his friend still bothered him. It seemed he needed to get a lot closer for the connection to reestablish itself. However, it could also mean that his friend was not actually within the city, something he wished wasn''t true. As the sun began to set, Rusty observed the city from his hidden vantage point. The bustling activity at the gates gradually slowed, and the guards'' shifts changed, leaving the entrance slightly less monitored. This was his chance. He made his way closer to the road, keeping to the shadows and using the foliage for cover. His metallic body, despite its weight, moved with surprising silence without any of his joints producing sound. He waited until the very last moment and hid himself behind a group of late-returning adventurers. Just like at the dungeon exit, they began looking through some of their guild cards but many were just left unexamined. The guards clearly recognized many of these faces but when it came to his turn, they held their spears up to stop him. "You there, I don''t think I''ve seen you around here before, got any identification on ya?" Rusty didn''t respond and instead just reached into his spatial satchel to retrieve the copper-colored card. The guard took the card to examine it, his eyes squinting due to the lack of light. "F-rank and alone? Did you arrive here recently?" "Y-yes¡­" He replied in a monotone voice while Alexander inside of his armor attempted to give him some advice. Sometimes fewer words were best and it seemed to be working in his favor. "Newcomer, huh? Just keep out of trouble and don''t wander around at night. Understood?" He nodded quickly and attempted to retrieve the card from the guard. However, before he could one of the others moved closer to swipe it away. It was a somewhat older gentleman with a beard who was interested in this particular card for some reason. "You¡­ follow me first, we need to have a talk, and don''t even think of running away." The man pronounced in a commanding tone. "Stay calm, Rusty. Just follow his lead and respond briefly. You can handle this." Soon he found himself in a secluded room, probably used for interrogating suspicious people, it wasn''t looking good¡­ Chapter 67 - 65 –Cross-Examination. A large armored man entered the dimly lit room, his steps echoing against the stone floor. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a wooden table and two chairs. The walls were lined with shelves holding various documents, and a small window high up on the wall allowed a sliver of moonlight to seep in. A lone man was already seated on one of the chairs and waiting for the armored person to take a seat. "Calm down Rusty, we expected this to happen, just sit down and respond to the guard, everything should be fine, don''t worry." Rusty hesitated for a moment before sitting down. His metallic frame creaked slightly as he adjusted himself in the chair, and he kept his head down, avoiding direct eye contact. He was aware of Alexander''s presence in his armor and that the people here could not hear his words. Before leaving the dungeon, he had conducted a series of tests. The hero and demon king could be seen by adventurers to a certain degree. Their light could affect the environment, but it didn''t seem like anyone could precisely identify its source. This led to the discovery that no one could hear what the two were saying, and if the light was hidden within his body, it couldn''t escape. They could converse with each other without a problem, as the people here could only understand him through the possessed body. The guard placed the adventurer''s card on the table, sliding it back and forth between his fingers as he studied Rusty with narrowed eyes. His expression was unreadable to someone like Rusty to whom human expressions were meaningless. It seemed that there was a problem with his adventurer card or at least the last date it had been used. "So, Albert F-ranked adventurer¡­ hasn''t reported to the guild in over half a year, what brings you back to the city? and before you answer, show me your face." Rusty knew this was a crucial moment. His cover had held so far, but any misstep here could unravel everything. It was normal for adventurers to go missing for long periods of time and he was not in trouble yet. Alexander''s voice echoed in his mind, confirming and calming the situation. "Don''t worry, they are probably just curious where an F-rank adventurer vanished for half a year. Your armor is a bit too good for such a rank, they might be assuming that someone took on the identity of a dead adventurer, just stick to simple responses and raise your visor." "All right¡­" Rusty replied while also scanning the room. He wasn''t alone with the guard; another was leaning against a corner. The only exit was the door he had entered through. There were no windows large enough to escape through, and the walls seemed thick and sturdy. It was clear that if things went wrong, running wouldn''t be an option. However, if he could get outside and perhaps toss his helmet into the moat, he might survive. Breathing underwater wasn''t necessary, and Alexander had assured him that not many people would dare to swim after him. With a shaky hand, Rusty reached up to his helmet and slowly lifted the visor, revealing the face beneath. It was a pale, almost lifeless visage, one that bore a stark contrast to the lively adventurers the guard was accustomed to seeing. The eyes, though, were filled with a certain intensity, and the moment the guard saw them, he flinched in fright. The guard eventually calmed himself and leaned in closer, scrutinizing Rusty''s face in the dim light. The other guard shifted slightly, his posture indicating heightened alertness. The man eyeballed the picture that was on the card and the pale face within the helmet, clearly not being sure if it was the same person. "So, where have you been all this time?" The guard asked, his tone skeptical. "Half a year is a long time, especially for an F-rank. Did you get lost in a dungeon, or maybe you were taken by bandits?" Rusty hesitated but the question was similar to something that Alexander had told him before. He just needed to repeat the words that he was told and focus on making the flesh body inside of his armor pronounce the words correctly. "Lost¡­ in the lower levels¡­" Rusty replied in his rough, monotone voice. "Barely made it out. Found this armor... from an old knight, deep in the dungeon. Took me time to find the way back, I suffered an injury t-that left me like this¡­ I still haven''t fully recovered¡­" "Great, that wasn''t bad Rusty!" Alexander cheered him on while the guard''s expression softened slightly at Rusty''s explanation, though his eyes still held a trace of suspicion. The other guard in the corner seemed to relax a bit as well, though he kept his hand close to the hilt of his sword. "Lower levels, huh?" The guard nodded slowly, as if considering Rusty''s words. "I suppose it makes sense. We''ve heard stories of adventurers getting lost down there for months and you do look sick, best you visit the nearby church and get yourself blessed, you might have been cursed if you look that pale, now just stand still so I can take a look and then you can be on your way." Now it was the time for the last test, he had managed to get through the initial line of questioning. Just like Alexander mentioned, these people weren''t very throughout and if he just said something plausible they would let him be. However, one thing still remained and that was the status identification skill. It wasn''t something everyone had but there were ways to go around this problem. The guard took out a pair of strange-looking glasses. The frames were rather thick and once they were on his face they started glowing. Strange symbols appeared on the frames and indicated an enchantment being used. Rusty stiffened as the skill was activated, hoping that what his guides had told him previously was true. "Are you sure the possession skill will hide my status?" "That''s what Aburdon said so I''m not sure¡­" Alexander had no experience with using such skills but he knew that there were ways of fooling the identification skill. In theory, once someone possessed a body like Rusty did, his status as a monster would be hidden. Instead, it would show the status of the body being used. "Those glasses don''t look new, it''s probably a lesser identification enchantment so it should be fine. If this guard is using a basic identification spell, it should only reveal surface-level information - like your name and rank." Rusty stayed still as he was examined by the man. The guard''s brow furrowed slightly as he adjusted the glasses, but his expression remained unreadable. Rusty could feel his grip tightening on the edge of the table, his metallic fingers leaving faint impressions on the wood. He mentally repeated the instructions Alexander had given him, suppressing anything that could reveal him as a monster. Finally, the guard removed the glasses and the glow faded as he set them down on the table. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest before speaking. "Well, Albert, everything seems to be fine but¡­ this armor that you are using, who did you exactly get it from? It doesn''t look like something an F-rank should be wearing¡­" "Damn, this bastard¡­ quick Rusty, remember what I''ve told you before? Bring out that." "By that do you mean?" Rusty listened to Alexander and quickly moved his hand to his side pouch. The guard could see him moving for something so he paused for a moment, his hand hovering near his sword, but Rusty calmly pulled out a small, weathered sack. The moment he tossed it on the table, the sound it generated instantly made the guards relax as they heard coins clinking together within. "..." The man looked to his friend who had a strange expression on his face. Almost instantly, the guard placed his hand over the coin-filled purse to hide it from anyone trying to peek from outside. "What''s wrong with their faces?" "Oh, that''s just the look of greed. There isn''t much in this world that can''t be solved by money, Rusty." Alexander sounded disappointed to see the city guards pocket all the coins. "I bet those bastards would have otherwise tried to take your armor and implied that you stole it off someone if you didn''t comply¡­" "I see¡­ adventurers are strange." "They sure are¡­ Corruption runs deep in places like this, especially when dealing with low-ranked adventurers. They''re not above bending the rules if they see a chance for profit." This greed worked in their favor so Rusty didn''t care. To him the copper coins were useless as he had many more copper ingots to spare. The guard pocketed the coins swiftly and the tension within the room dissipated almost immediately. His expression shifted to one of satisfaction, and he handed Rusty''s adventurer card back to him. "Well, Albert, it seems everything is in order now. Just be careful out there. With armor like that, people might think you''re an E rank." "I''ll keep that in mind, thank you." Rusty nodded, taking the card and slipping it back into his pouch. First, he lowered his visor to hide his face that was at its limit, then he stood up slowly. The other guard, who had been eyeing Rusty warily, now seemed uninterested, leaning back against the wall and relaxing his posture. "You''re free to go. And remember, visit the church soon to make sure you''re not cursed. Wouldn''t want to see you end up like some of the others who got lost down there." With a final nod, Rusty turned and walked out of the room. As he exited the small structure, he felt the cool night air brush against his armor. The city of Argossa lay before him, its streets illuminated by torches and strange-looking lanterns. The bustling activity was starting to dwindle as most stores were closing down. The only places that remained open were inns and bars along with the adventurer guild that he now needed to head to. Rusty took a moment to gather himself and couldn''t help from staring at the wide world before him. This was his first time in a large city and also outside. The sky that had been filled with clouds and a bright ball of light, was now replaced with many tiny glittering stars. It was a magnificent sight and a strange-looking sphere was glowing dimly right above him. However, before he could continue looking he heard a voice from behind him. "Hey, get out of the way already!" "Huh?" He turned around to see an angry-looking man dressed in some shabby clothes. Behind him were two others, also late coming adventurers that he needed to avoid. Rusty quickly stepped to the side and let the group through. "Rusty, this is good, follow after those three, they are probably headed to the adventurer guild." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Are you sure?" "Yeah, otherwise people might get suspicious when they find you wandering around the city. The faster we get this over with and leave, the better." Rusty watched the three adventurers pass by and quickly fell into step behind them. Alexander was saying the truth, he came here to get Gleam and not to see the sights. Once he had her, then they just needed to hide out in a corner of the city and finally leave at dawn. The plan they created was to allow him to survive as staying within this city was far too dangerous. The adventurers ahead of him eventually turned into a narrow alleyway, and Rusty followed cautiously, his armor clinking softly with each step. The alley opened up to a larger square where the adventurers'' guild building stood prominently. It was a tall, imposing structure with large wooden doors and an ornate sign hanging above them, bearing what seemed to be the emblem of the guild. "So, that''s the adventurer guild. It sounds loud¡­" "It changed somewhat but it''s the same building¡­ It can''t be that long since I''ve been gone, the wood and bricks doesn''t look that much older¡­" "Hm?" "Oh nothing, you can ignore that¡­ Let us just go in and get this over with." Alexander had been behaving strangely since he had seen the large city. It started becoming obvious that he had been here before at some time in the past. Rusty hesitated at the entrance of the adventurers'' guild, feeling something very human that he didn''t fully understand. The building was bustling with activity, and he could hear the muffled sounds of laughter, clinking mugs, and the occasional argument through the thick wooden doors. His metallic hand hovered over the door for a moment, unsure whether he should push forward or retreat. "Rusty, we need to move. If you stand out here any longer, someone might start asking questions. Just keep calm and stick to the plan." "I know¡­ This is all for Gleam!" Ever since they arrived in the city, something had been bothering him. His status screen wasn''t changing and Gleam''s name continued to be grayed out as before. It was possible that his friend wasn''t in this adventurer guild or even within the city. However, Alexander urged him to go forward as there was a possibility that they were still there. Rusty pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. The interior of the guild was lively, with adventurers of all shapes and sizes gathered around tables, sharing stories and drinks. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and the faint clang of metal. He quickly scanned the room, searching for any sign of danger, but it seemed that most people were too engrossed in their own affairs to pay him any mind. The three adventurers he had followed were already making their way to the front counter, where a bored-looking receptionist was sorting through a stack of papers. "Just stay behind them and try to act natural, everything will be fine." "Okay¡­" Rusty made his way toward the counter, doing his best to blend in. As he walked, he couldn''t help but notice the glances he was receiving from some of the other adventurers. This was expected as not many people were wearing such extensive full-body armoring. Luckily, they soon turned away once realizing that it was still only something made from regular iron. After some time passed Rusty finally reached the counter. The previous group had finished their business and the receptionist, a young woman with short brown hair and a tired expression, greeted him. She seemed unphased by the unusual armor, having likely seen all sorts of adventurers pass through the guild''s doors. "Name and rank? What can I help you with? Are you here to sell materials, report something or complete a mission?" "Albert, F-rank¡­ No, I''m here for something¡­" It was finally time to complete his mission. Everything was going great and his cover had not been blown yet. Alexander had been right, everyone here seemed tired and sloppy. Now he just needed to ask for Gleam, get her out and perhaps tomorrow they would be free together. "I am here to inquire about something¡­" "Yes?" "Were there any monsters recovered from the dungeon that might have been tamed but were missing their master? If so¡­ then one of them could belong to me¡­" "A tamed monster? Anything more specific? What type of monster was it?" "It was a white ant¡­ a Gleaming Mana Ant¡­" "Gleaming mana ant?" The woman seemed startled by the reveal of the name and for some reason started bowing before him. "I must apologize but¡­" Something was wrong and Alexander didn''t need to tell him that perhaps their plan was going to fail¡­ Chapter 68 - 66 – Bad News. The receptionist''s abrupt change in demeanor sent a chill through Rusty''s metallic frame. Her eyes darted nervously to the side, where a small door led to the back rooms of the guild. She seemed to be struggling to maintain her composure, her fingers trembling as they fiddled with some papers on the counter. It looked like a list of something but he couldn''t really tell what it was. "I''m afraid there might have been a misunderstanding, " She said while glancing down at the paperwork, her eyes squinting as if she was trying to confirm something. "Please, if you''ll wait here for just a moment, I need to consult with my superior¡­" Rusty stiffened, the gears in his mind turning rapidly. The atmosphere around the receptionist changed the moment he mentioned Gleam and her monster name. He was eventually left standing there pondering his options with Alexander talking to present him with the possible reason. "Is everything alright? Did I do something wrong?" "No, you did everything right, you shouldn''t be in danger but¡­" "But? Is there a problem?" "There might be. You probably noticed that Gleam''s status is still grayed out, right?" "Yeah¡­ Aburdon and you said that it should turn back to normal once I''m close enough, could Gleam not be in the guild?" "That''s a real possibility but there could be another one. They usually don''t send found monsters out of the guild it gets placed in but if the time runs out¡­" "If the time runs out? What happens if I''m too late?" Before Alexander could answer his question the door the guild receptionist vanished through opened and she returned with another person. It was a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard. The man looked different than the adventurers; his body was not meant for combat but perhaps for something else. He wore a dark, well-worn robe, and the smell of old books and old wood clung to him. A guild emblem was stitched on his chest, marking him as someone of significant rank, perhaps a scholar or an archivist. "Is this the one asking about the Gleaming Mana Ant?" He asked, his voice carrying a slight edge of impatience. The receptionist nodded quickly, her nervousness evident. Rusty felt a knot tighten in his metal chest as the man''s gaze bore into him. His mind raced, trying to analyze the situation that he wasn''t familiar with. Luckily, Alexander''s voice echoed in his mind, trying to calm him down. "Stay calm, Rusty. He might just be confirming something. We need to keep up the act." The man sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as if dealing with a troublesome issue. "Look, even a lesser or minuscule Gleaming Mana Ant is rare and highly sought after. When one is found without a master, it''s usually a big deal. But if it''s left unclaimed for too long, the guild can''t just hold onto it indefinitely. I''m afraid you''ve come too late, and confirming your status as its master won''t change anything now." Rusty felt something rise up in his metal chest, it was a similar feeling when he had when Gleam had been kidnapped and taken out from the dungeon. "What do you mean? Where is Gleam?" The man frowned, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "Your ant¡­ if it truly was yours, was identified as unclaimed, and the guild held onto it for as long as they could. But it''s been a month already. You have to understand that resources are limited, and if a monster remains unclaimed for too long¡­ it''s put up for auction. That''s what happened here." Rusty''s body started shaking and soon enough his metallic fist landed on the counter. Surprisingly the wood held through the impact but it generated quite the loud peng. "You lie, it has not been a month yet!" The room fell silent as Rusty''s voice, laced with anger, echoed through the guild hall. The sudden outburst drew the attention of several nearby adventurers, their conversations halted as they turned to see the commotion. Rusty''s metallic frame trembled with barely suppressed rage, his fists clenching as the reality of the situation sank in. "Rusty calm down, don''t even think about using any of your skills, there is no way you can win against all of these adventurers, please calm yourself or all of this will be for nothing. There still might be a way to save Gleam, just ask the clerk when and where the auction is being held." His metallic body continued to tremble, his thoughts spiraling out of control. The room''s silence pressed in on him, but Alexander''s voice cut through the haze of anger, grounding him. "Rusty, focus! We need to find out where Gleam is now. There''s still a chance." Finally, his rage started fading away and he managed to gather his thoughts. The two people that he had been talking with had taken a step back out of fright. His metalic of his frame creaked as he unclenched his fists. The gazes of the other adventurers eventually vanished as they sensed his killing intent vanishing. "Where¡­ when¡­ is the auction?" The man in the dark robe, who had flinched at Rusty''s outburst, straightened up. His eyes were cautious now as if weighing his words carefully. "Ah yes, do not worry you still have some time, the auction will probably take place in two weeks, maybe more, the precise date has not been announced yet as the auction house is still in the process of gathering more items." Rusty managed to relax, there was still time - two weeks or more. That was enough to come up with a plan. He just needed to find out where this auction would be held and how to get inside. The word ''auction'' didn''t really ring any bells, but if Gleam was being held there, then there was still a chance to save her. Alexander was also telling him that this might be a good thing, and hope was still alive. The man continued, likely sensing Rusty''s desperate need for information. "The auction house is located in the Merchant District. It''s heavily guarded but access is granted to everyone that can pay the initial entrance fee. My apologies that this issue arose but there was no indication for this monster''s owner to have been alive." "Merchant District¡­ entrance fee¡­" Rusty muttered, committing the details to memory. Alexander chimed in, offering guidance as always. "Okay, we have at least two weeks, probably a bit more than that, they always push back on these things." The man in the dark robe, still cautious, took a step closer, perhaps feeling bad about letting the tamed beast out of his hands before it could be returned to the rightful owner. "If you plan on attending the auction, you should know that these events attract all sorts - merchants, nobles, adventurers, and even some less savory characters. It''s not just about having money. This Gleaming Mana Ant is quite a rare monster and it will probably go for a steep price. You seem to just be an F-rank adventurer, it might be better to give up on this endeavor¡­" "What? You want me to abandon Gleam?" Rusty felt offended at the idea of abandoning his friend. "I was just trying to give you some advice! Hmph!" "Sir. Please calm down, let me handle the rest." The old man looked at the receptionist and nodded. Finally, he retreated back towards the door that he came from and Rusty was left alone with the woman from the guild. While there was still hope for Gleam''s safe return, things looked grim. Rusty didn''t plan on staying in this large city. He had no idea what to do now and also needed to find a safe spot to converse with both his guides to figure out what this auction was about. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My apologies for these circumstances but these are the laws. But, would you like to take back the items that you left behind at the guild? We still have them stored." "My items?... Sure?" Rusty wasn''t sure what the woman meant, but he nodded and agreed. It seemed he couldn''t retrieve Gleam through normal channels anymore. Alexander had warned him about revealing his status to others, so he needed to be directly next to Gleam and have her status identified to confirm his claim. Since she was at the auction house and not with him, proving his ownership was difficult. The people here didn''t seem to care one way or the other, and his status as an F-rank didn''t help matters either. "Here, this should be all." While he was contemplating his next move, the woman brought out a tray with a few items. Rusty recognized that these belonged to the F-rank adventurer named Albert, who had apparently left behind some of his belongings. It was normal for adventurers to leave items they didn''t want to lose at the guild, and one of the items on the tray was clearly a key. Rusty picked up the key from the tray, examining it closely. It was a simple iron key, worn but sturdy. On one side he could see a four-digit number perhaps something that could help identify the lock it opened. The other items on the tray were a small pouch of what appeared to be basic adventuring supplies: a few vials of healing potions, some dried rations, and a worn-out map of what seemed to be the area he found himself in. There were scribbles on it with a big red circle in the area where the dungeon for F-ranks was situated. The receptionist, noticing his preoccupation, offered a sympathetic smile. "If you need any more assistance or information about the auction, please feel free to ask. We can also provide you with directions to the Merchant District if that would help. The key to your inn room should still be valid for another month." "My inn?" "Yes, is this not a key to the inn where you were staying?" Before Rusty could answer, Alexander chimed in and he just repeated his words verbatim. "Ah, yes. I suppose it is¡­ Could you remind me where the inn was situated? I haven''t been in the city for a while¡­" The receptionist, noticing the genuine confusion in Rusty''s voice, offered a reassuring nod before continuing the conversation. "Of course. The inn is called the Copper Lantern. It''s located near the western gate of the city. It''s not too far from here, and it should be easy to find." She pointed towards the map of the city that was hanging close by. Rusty relied on Alexander to take in this information and later guide him there. Soon he grabbed all the items from the tray and stored them in his satchel. "Great, we''ve got a place to stay. For now, let us go to this Copper Lantern and lay low and use it as a temporary base. We will probably be stuck here until that auction, unless¡­" "Unless you want to leave, I''m not sure if we will be able to¡­" Before Alexander could finish the sentence he felt something holding him back from continuing. "Shut up, we will save Gleam! Just guide me to this Copper Lantern Inn." The Copper Lantern Inn, as indicated on the map, was situated near the western gate of the city, and he needed to get there quickly. Alexander''s guidance, combined with the map provided by the receptionist, helped him navigate through the darkened streets of Argossa. At this point, the sun had gone down and the only people roaming the streets were guards and drunk adventurers. As he made his way through the city, he couldn''t help but notice the change to the landscape. The buildings that were previously sturdy and well-kept, were now gradually giving way to less maintained structures. The Copper Lantern Inn loomed ahead, its sign creaking gently in the cool evening breeze. It wasn''t as grand as the adventurer guild building he glimpsed earlier and some of the people inside were quite rowdy. This inn was quite a large two-story building that was much longer than it was wide. The sign swinging above the door read "Copper Lantern Inn" in faded copper letters. The exterior was unremarkable but sturdy, with wooden beams and stone walls that had seen better days. The windows glowed warmly from the inside, casting a welcoming light into the dark street. As Rusty approached, he noticed a few patrons stumbling out of the inn, their faces flushed and voices raised with laughter. The inn''s main room was bustling with activity, but Rusty paid little attention to the scene; his focus was on getting inside and finding a place to regroup. The innkeeper, a burly man with a thick beard, light green skin and a permanent scowl, stood behind the counter, polishing a tankard with a rag. He looked up as Rusty entered, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the armored figure. "Evenin adventurer" The innkeeper grunted. "What can I do for ya?" Instead of answering, Rusty took the key from his satchel and held it out in the palm of his hand. The large man glanced at it briefly, then tilted his head to indicate where Rusty should go. "Just head up on the stairs there, the room will have the same number." Rusty nodded and trudged up the stairs, his metallic frame creaking with each step. Some of the patrons who were drinking noticed his loud steps but were more interested in the large key he was holding. Unbeknownst to him, they started looking at each other with intent in their eyes as if this key was something they recognized. Soon Rusty moved up the stairs and arrived at a long hallway, his room number was quite a ways off so he continued walking until he reached the end of the hall. There, he found the door marked with the number that matched the key. He inserted the key into the lock, turned it, and heard a click. Pushing the door open, he saw that the room contained little more than a small bed and a tiny window. The room was probably no wider than two meters and about three meters long - clearly just a place to sleep and nothing more. "Looks about right¡­" Alexander''s voice echoed in his mind as he entered the dusty room. It was clear that no one had been here for quite some time. Luckily, Albert had made a down payment for this place, and no one had intruded during his absence. However, just as Rusty was about to step inside and close the door behind him, he heard a voice calling out from the corridor he had come through. "Well, well, well¡­ if it isn''t our little Albert, finally decided to come back?" The voice was unmistakably taunting, and filled with condescension. He turned slowly, his metal frame creaking slightly, and saw a tall, wiry man leaning against the wall. Behind him were two other men, both grinning widely while showcasing yellow teeth¡­ Chapter 69 - 67 – Unpaid Dept. Rusty''s gears turned in tension as he assessed the situation. The wiry man, clearly the leader of the trio, had a cruel smirk plastered on his face. He was draped in ragged but functional clothing, the kind that suggested he was no stranger to a rough life on the streets. His companions, both stockier and wearing mismatched armor, had the look of seasoned thugs who''d seen more than a few bar brawls. ''Who are these people Alexander, what do they want from me?'' His instinct was to ask his guide for help. He was still a living armor monster that had no idea how people operated. The man he was impersonating was Albert, an F-rank adventurer. It was normal for some people to have known him before he died. "They must be old acquaintances of Albert - probably not the friendly kind. Be careful, Rusty. They look like they could be part of the thieves'' guild, or be rogue adventurers, first examine their status so we might get a better idea of what we are dealing with. If this is what it is, they probably want money. Perhaps Albert had borrowed some money, this could be troublesome¡­" Rusty straightened up, his metal frame creaking as he faced the men. He activated his identification skills and was able to peek at their basic levels and classes. Name: Var Classification: Thief L21 Type: Human Name: Ethan Classification: Fighter L18 Type: Human/Orc Name: Normann Classification: Fighter L17 Type: Human The information from Rusty''s identification skills confirmed Alexander''s suspicions. These men were low-level adventurers or criminals, perhaps seeking to exploit Albert''s previous misfortunes. The wiry man was called Var and he had the thief class. The two that were with him were both fighters and one seemed to be a half-orc. ''Their levels are relatively low compared to mine¡­'' While Rusty had recently undergone a new evolution and his level was low, monster levels functioned differently than human levels. Humans wouldn''t change their forms as monsters did; instead, they would gain new classes. Each class had its limits, which were identified during the identification process. Rusty had gone through three evolutions, amounting to more than thirty-five levels. In theory, he was much stronger than anyone here. ''I wonder what these guys want, I hope Albert didn''t have some type of gambling addiction, otherwise, this could go badly¡­'' Alexander noted a possibility while Rusty wondered what a gambling addiction was. Var, the thief, seemed to be the leader, while Ethan and Normann, the two fighters, served as muscle. The man who was partially orc was taller than the rest and had more pronounced muscles and the last one was somewhat average. Var''s smirk widened as he noticed Rusty''s hesitation. He pushed himself off the wall, taking a casual step closer, his hands resting lightly on the hilts of the twin daggers strapped to his belt. The two fighters flanked him, their eyes fixed on Rusty with the kind of hunger that predators reserved for cornered prey. "Albert, I know you''re in that tin can, you can''t fool me, I''d recognize that sniveling voice anywhere." Var strutted forward, his voice dripping with false familiarity. "You''ve been gone for quite some time. We thought maybe you''d skipped town, forgotten about your little¡­ obligations. But here you are, back in the flesh. So, what''s it gonna be? You planning to settle up with us, or are we gonna have to get¡­ persuasive?" Rusty''s metallic body tensed as he struggled to decide what to do. It seemed that Albert owed these people some sort of debt, or at least, that''s how they saw it. He might have borrowed money from them or perhaps taken something that didn''t belong to him. Either way, Rusty found himself in a precarious situation, one he would prefer to avoid. Since coins appeared to be highly valued in this world of adventurers, he decided to try bartering. "How much¡­ Do you want?" Var chuckled darkly, exchanging glances with his two companions. The sound was low and mocking, as if the idea of negotiation amused him. "How much, you ask?" Var moved, taking another step closer, his voice oozing with sarcasm. One of his blades moved up in a strange motion that Rusty didn''t understand. For some reason he started licking the blade before speaking further. "Oh, Albert, you''ve been away so long, you''ve forgotten how deep in the hole you are. You see, it''s not just about the coin anymore. You owe us for time, for interest, and for the inconvenience of having to track you down. But since you''re so eager to settle¡­ let''s say fifty gold pieces. Up front. That should suffice right boys?" ''Fifty gold pieces? Is this thief insane?'' ''Is that a lot?'' Rusty asked Alexander who seemed offended by the sum the man presented. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Of course it is, they are clearly lying or this Albert was a true moron to get himself into it¡­ Well, considering where he ended up he very might have been¡­'' Var smiled at the two other goons that just started laughing. It was clear that these three wanted to get something from him and wouldn''t take no for an answer. "What? Goblin got your tongue? Do you not have enough? Don''t worry if Rusty stood frozen, his metal frame rattling slightly as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. He probably didn''t have fifty golden pieces as most of his coins were copper and silver. These thugs were clearly trying to take advantage of him. ''Rusty, stay calm. They''re bluffing to some extent. We can''t give them what they want and they probably know it.'' ''If they know it then what do they want from me?'' Before Alexander could answer the leader brandished his dagger in front of his face to the extent of poking his metal helmet. "This armor looks too good for you, it will probably go for a few gold coins, it should be a good start¡­ take it off?" "You want my armor?" "Hah, look at this guy, he thinks this is the only thing that we want." Var chuckled while looking back to his men who just nodded. He could feel the situation slipping out of control. The thieves were clearly intent on taking more than just money from him, and their leering expressions made it obvious they wouldn''t leave without getting something valuable. This was starting to annoy him; all he wanted was to summon his guides and discuss Gleam''s situation. He wasn''t Albert, and Albert''s debts weren''t his. The armor he wore couldn''t be removed, as it would reveal the dead body inside. Var, their ringlider, was getting uncomfortably close and seemed oddly at ease while scratching his armor. This was something Rusty had painstakingly worked on in the Soul Forge and wasn''t about to relinquish to some low-level thug. Alexander suggested that he should temporarily back away since they didn''t have enough information, but Rusty was becoming increasingly enraged. The fact that he couldn''t immediately save Gleam had already made him angry, and he refused to be intimidated by this peculiar individual. "Huh?" The thief paused as he noticed that he couldn''t move his hand. Rusty hand used his metallic gauntlet to just grab the dagger the man was using. His power was cleary above his opponents so even when Var attempted to pull it back, he found himself unable to. Then to make things worse, a metallic helmet made its way towards his face and collided straight with his nose. "Argghh¡­" A string of blood flew up as Rusty headbutted Ver away The room erupted into chaos as Var stumbled backward, clutching his nose, his eyes wide with surprise and pain. Ethan and Normann, taken aback by the sudden escalation, moved to draw their weapons, their expressions shifting from amused to alarmed. Luck was on his side, as the inn was built in a minimalist fashion with barely enough space for two people to stand side by side in the narrow corridor. The men were on the larger side, so with their arms spread out, they needed to approach him one by one. Rusty took advantage of this and readied his shield. Seizing the opportunity, he bashed his shield into the leader, who was unprepared for his victim to fight back. "You bas¡­argg¡­." Var''s chest almost caved in as Rusty''s shield connected with it. The wiry man was shoved backward into the half-orc henchman, who tried to stabilize him. A contest of strength ensued, with the two men pushing Var from the other side in an attempt to topple Rusty. However, with his current evolution, Rusty''s stats far outmatched those of the two fighters, who were now being pushed back. Var, though initially confident, was now in a state of shock and pain. The headbutt had left him reeling, and the clash with Rusty''s shield had only made matters worse. Eventually, the group of three were pushed away and tumbled together to the ground. Var shook his head and instantly went for his nose that had been broken by the collision with the iron helmet. However, just as he was about to get up a pointy sword found its way towards his eyes. There he saw the person he was trying to extort, ready to take his life. "W-wait!" ''Don''t do it Rusty!'' Rusty responded while glancing down at his foes. He could easily sink his sword through the man''s skull and be done with it. The other two men behind him weren''t a problem either and they didn''t seem too eager to confront him either. The only reason that he stopped himself was Alexander''s warning. ''You can''t kill people openly in the city without reasonable cause, if the guards get here your identity will probably be revealed, just let these scumbags go for now, they probably won''t be coming back.'' "... Leave if you don''t want to die." The thugs quickly realized they were outmatched and that their target had undergone several level-ups. In a world where power was determined by levels, resisting would be unwise. Var was sent flying by another shield bash, crashing into the wall. His back slammed against a wooden beam with a loud thud, knocking the wind out of him. He slumped to the floor, dazed. "I''m not ¡­ going to repeat myself¡­ leave!" Rusty did his best thug impression while repeating the words that Alexander whispered to him. The two men looked at each other and then quickly helped their leader up to his feet. They let him lean on their shoulders while quickly retreating, their previous bravado replaced with fear. Var, still clutching his broken nose and gasping for air, glared at Rusty with hatred but also disbelief. Blood trickled between his fingers, but the look in his eyes made it clear that he knew they were beaten. "You''ll regret this, don''t think that this is over!" Var hissed, his voice muffled by his injured nose. "You think this is over? We''ll be back, and next time, you won''t be so lucky." "I won''t?" Rusty replied while taking a step towards them. Instantly, the three took off running as if a flesh-eating monster was after them. Rusty didn''t bother to follow but instead put his sword back into the scabbard and the shield onto his back from where he previously took it. ''People are strange¡­ was it really wise to let them go? They even said that they will be back¡­'' ''Don''t worry, Rusty. All low-level criminals talk big, but as long as we stick to the main streets, they probably won''t do anything rash. They likely only tried this because Albert was an easy target. They can''t afford to cause a scene in the inn either, so we just need to be careful from now on.'' ''If you say so¡­'' "But for now, let''s head back to the room. We don''t want to draw any more attention than we already have." As they spoke, a few doors creaked open, and some curious onlookers began to peek out. Rusty turned away from the escaping thugs, his footsteps echoing down the narrow corridor as he made his way back to the room. The onlookers quickly averted their gaze as he passed by, not wanting to get involved in whatever had just transpired. Once inside the room, Rusty closed the door behind him, the noise of the latch clicking into place a welcome sound of temporary safety. The dim light from the small window cast long shadows across the floor, and the stillness of the room reminded him of the dungeon. He was now in Albert''s old room and could finally relax. ''You handled that well, Rusty, but you need to be more cautious, don''t just attack start attacking before knowing everything.'' ''Hah, don''t listen to him Rusty, You should have at least gouged out that impudent swine''s eye out. Now they will think you''re weak, they might even try to use a child to get closer to you before they stab you in the back!'' ''What nonsense are you spouting? Don''t listen to him, Rusty.'' Once Rusty was inside of the room he sat down on the lone bed and called Aburdon out. His second guide had seen the whole scene play out and from his perspective, Rusty had been too lenient. ''You need to strike fear into the hearts of men! You can not show any weakness in these situations!'' ''Showing mercy isn''t weakness.'' ''Hah, this is why you were betrayed by your ally''s hero!'' ''So? You were abandoned by yours!'' ''Do you two always have to argue¡­'' Even though he was a monster who didn''t feel any fatigue, the whole situation involving Gleam was exhausting. He had no idea what he should do or where to even start. This auction that they were speaking of seemed like the last hope but perhaps there were other ways of going around everything. ''It''s just part of our charm Rusty, so what do you wish to know?'' ''Explain to me what this auction is and how am I supposed to save Gleam from it!'' ''I''ll leave that to you, little hero.'' Alexander didn''t respond to Aburdon''s taunts and instead started explaining everything. ''Just like the name states, it''s an auction, but this one is far from ordinary. It''s an event where the rich and powerful gather to bid on rare items, creatures, and sometimes even people. These auctions are sometimes secretive, illegal, and usually well-guarded. The only way to access such an event is through a fee of probably a golden coin. Once we are inside, we will have to wait until Gleam shows up and bid for her with the money you have¡­'' ''So it comes down to these coins? How many do I need?'' ''As many as you can get.'' Rusty nodded and quickly accessed his inventory, retrieving every copper, silver, and gold coin he had managed to gather. With the help of his two guides, he counted the coins several times. Judging by their reactions, it was clear that this amount wouldn''t be nearly enough to bid on something as valuable as a Gleaming Mana Ant, he would need to get more¡­ Chapter 70 - 68 – Familiars "So, ten silver coins amount to one gold coin?" "Yes, but the copper coins are divided into two? Big and small?" "Mhm." "That feels a bit unnecessary¡­ why isn''t it also just ten?" "Because simple food costs just a few small copper coins, a silver coin is worth a hundred of them, so they decided to make a larger one to simplify transactions for goods of slightly higher value, like tools or better-quality food. It''s all about convenience, though I agree it can be confusing at first." If Rusty had a face then he would be frowning now. Between his metallic fingers were two copper coins, one thicker and larger than the other. Alexander along with Aburdon were just teaching him about this strange currency and how the people of this world operated. They were trading these small pieces of metal for other goods, even weapons and armor. He now found himself in a situation where he needed to gather several of these to comfortably win the Auction Gleam was in. "How many of these do I need for Gleam?" "That''s hard to say¡­ the more the better. Gleam was still only an F-rank monster, even though rare¡­ I don''t think it should go over twenty gold coins. I''m not sure¡­" Gleam had a bond with Rusty which had not yet faded. Going by the rules of this world, he shouldn''t have to pay anything. However, it seemed that things weren''t equal and the strong dictated which rules were enforced and which weren''t. Even though the bond had not been canceled, it would be with some form of magic after the auction was over. Then, Gleam might not be able to adventure with him anymore, something that he didn''t want to happen. "What can I do to get more coins quickly?" "Have you tried making some with the copper you have?" Asked Aburdon his black light form pulsating inside of the room. "Yeah¡­ it doesn''t work for some reason, I can only recreate weapons and armor." Rusty took out a bar of copper from within his inventory. Compared to the small copper coins it was much larger and heavier. If it were possible to turn this into coins through his system then his troubles would be instantly over but it wouldn''t be that simple. "Well, our Rusty can recreate anything that he previously crafted right? So in theory, he could sell everything he made." Aburdon proposed while Alexander chimed in from the side. "That''s not a bad idea. He could probably get rid of all the bronze weapons, and we still have a lot of those monster parts lying around. All of them could be melted down into ingots and repurposed into weapons, but¡­" "But?" Rusty liked the sound of this plan. He had stored large quantities of living bronze armor parts and some iron variants in his storage space. At this point, he was able to recreate both iron and bronze equipment pieces. He could make a large number of bronze swords and shields, but Alexander saw a problem. "Bronze weapons aren''t something adventurers use much. You probably noticed - even at the lower levels, they prefer crude iron weaponry or jump straight to steel." "That''s true¡­" He tried to recall the gear that adventurers liked to use and it was usually iron armor and leather. Most of the material in his storage was bronze which meant that he probably wouldn''t be able to trade it in for that much. "We can probably still sell them in bulk but that probably won''t be enough." "Are there any other methods?" "You could take on some quests, maybe gather rare materials or hunt monsters. Adventurers often get paid handsomely for bringing in difficult-to-find items or taking out dangerous creatures but¡­" "Why is there always a but?" "Hah, sorry¡­ but for you to take on quests that are worthwhile, you''d need to go through a rank-up test and I''m not sure if that will be possible." Rusty prodded for more answers, and Alexander began to explain. In this world, adventurer ranks corresponded to monster ranks. Albert was a Copper-rank adventurer, or as most people called them, an F-rank adventurer. For Rusty to enter a higher-tier E-rank dungeon, he would need to become an Iron-rank adventurer. This posed a problem. Typically, the main way to achieve a higher rank was by having one''s status evaluated by the guild. The guards used a low-quality item that couldn''t detect the possession skill, but this wouldn''t work within the guild. Even if the skill managed to deceive the guild''s device, it would only display Albert''s old status - that of a lower-level fighter, much weaker than the thugs he had just faced. With such a low level, he wouldn''t be able to convince the guild to grant him a higher rank. His options would then be limited to the F-rank dungeon he had just come out of, which would yield a much smaller amount of money. "I''m also not sure how they handle things now. I think it was possible to ask for a personal test and fight against a higher-tier adventurer, if you won, then you got the higher rank, if you lost then you needed to pay a fine and couldn''t take another one for at least a month¡­ but¡­" "What did I say about buts?" "... Well, you still need to reach a minimal level to be eligible for that test and with Albert''s body being like that, it probably won''t work¡­" "Hey, isn''t there an easy solution to that problem?" As Alexander and Rusty were conversing, the bored Aburdon called out to them. He sounded bored as he didn''t have the opportunity to talk much. Alexander had been human and also an adventurer in his past life but the demon lord had some insights as well. "Oh? What''s the solution?" "Quite simply, if the body is too low leveled to fool the identification device, then how about we get another one?" "Oh¡­ that does sound simple!" Rusty liked that idea but Alexander instantly tried to stop this line of thinking. "No, you can''t!" "Uh? Why can''t I?" "Yeah, why can''t our little Rusty not just get a better, stronger body? There are many E-rank adventurers in this city, just pick one, and no more problems!" "That''s what I thought. You just want him to kill someone and take his identity!" "Why, of course? Why shouldn''t he? Rusty is a monster, we could solve this entire problem in one day if we just target the right person~" Rusty wasn''t sure what to think. The idea of killing another adventurer and using their body instead made some sense. Albert''s identity was becoming troublesome, especially since he was being targeted by criminals. If Rusty could switch to someone else, it would solve a lot of problems in a short amount of time. And time wasn''t something he had in abundance, so this tactic seemed to have some merit. "Rusty, don''t listen to this idiot!" a voice interjected. "It''s not like you can just find someone thin enough to fit into your current body. If they have any close friends, they''ll figure out something''s wrong almost instantly!" He had to admit that finding a dried-out body with a functioning head was rather lucky. This one was perfectly mummified by the spider''s special poison and wasn''t decomposing. If he took on a new body, it would probably start to stink and leak bodily fluids. "Then what? Will you let him take the adventurer test and get identified? Or go to the other dungeon that is probably swarming with people looking for him?" "Well¡­" Alexander was at a loss for words, unsure how to convince Rusty to see things his way. If things continued as they were, Aburdon might force him into unspeakable actions, like ransacking the merchant district and killing people there for money. He could even use his twilight metal body as cover during the night, and no one would know it was him by day. Congratulations Call Guide has reached the maximum level. Congratulations the requirements to upgrade Call Guide have been met. Congratulations Call Guide has evolved into Lesser Familiar "Huh?" While the two guides were at it, Rusty noticed that his Call Guide skill had gone past level nine and evolved. He didn''t expect it to go any further as at this point, his two guides weren''t using up any of his mana and he could have them out indefinitely. "What a peculiar feeling¡­" "What''s happening?" Both Aburdon and Alexander started going through some kind of transformation. Their bodies were radiating brighter light so to stop people from peeking through the little window he raised the bed to block it. Once the light subsided they continued to look exactly the same but something had changed. Name: Alexander The Betrayed Hero Classification: Familiar Spirit Type: Spirit of Light Hit Points [ HP ] 1/1 Magic Points [MP] 5/5 Strength 1 [ G - ] Agility 1 [ G - ] Dexterity 1 [ G - ] Constitution 1 [ G - ] Intelligence 1 [ G - ] Wisdom 1 [ G - ] Willpower 1 [ G - ] Name: Aburdon Fallen Demon King Classification: Familiar Spirit Type: Spirit of Darkness Hit Points [ HP ] 1/1 Magic Points [MP] 5/5 Strength 1 [ G - ] Agility 1 [ G - ] Dexterity 1 [ G - ] Constitution 1 [ G - ] Intelligence 1 [ G - ] Wisdom 1 [ G - ] Willpower 1 [ G - ] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty was quick to notice a new window inside of his system that presented itself to him. Through it he could identify his new helpers and both of them had actual stats. All of them were at the lowest and they both seemed to lack any skills, so he wasn''t sure if this had been a helpful change. "Hah¡­ I can feel it¡­ mana! Does this mean¡­" While Rusty was looking through the status screen Aburdon started cackling. The demon lord had always made it clear that he wished to leave and now he had been given some power along with a body capable of storing some mana. Instantly he attempted to use it and to Rusty''s surprise there was a spell forming. "Yes¡­. YESSSS! ¡­ y¡­e¡­¡­" He sounded excited but suddenly his voice started to break and his form burst into nothingness. When looking at the status screen, Rusty noticed that the five points of mana that Aburdon was given had gone down to zero. The moment they did, he was whisked out of existence and vanished from the room. "Idiot¡­" "What happened?" "Not much, he used up too much mana so his form could not sustain itself. This happens to familiar spirits that overtax themselves. Don''t worry, you''ll be able to resummon him again after a cooldown period." "I see." Rusty looked at the status screen again and saw a timer of thirty minutes ticking down. He now had the option to summon Aburdon as either a guide or a familiar. Summoning Aburdon as a familiar required a higher upfront cost of MP but did not seem to generate a constant drain on his mana. The bed wasn''t worth using, so he decided to leave it at the window to prevent anyone from peeking in. However, the problem of needing more money remained. First thing in the morning, he planned to visit some stores, as Alexander had suggested, to sell the excess bronze and iron weaponry. Once that was done, he needed to consider whether Aburdon''s advice was the right path forward. He didn''t feel guilty about killing adventurers in self-defense, but the situation felt different now. Alexander was trying to convince him that it wasn''t worth the trouble, but Gleam remained a priority. If there were no other viable options, this might be a course he would have to consider. "Are there really no other ways?" "You could try buying some armor from the stores, turning it into more weapons, and then upselling them later. But I''m not sure the merchants will appreciate you flooding the market with cheap iron weapons, it could become troublesome." "That''s not good¡­ if only I could hide my status and take that adventurer test¡­" "Hm hide your status¡­ Wait maybe there is a way¡­" "There is?" "Yes, summon that idiot again, he might be the key here." The timer finally reset so he was able to summon Aburdon again. A moment later, Aburdon reappeared in a swirl of darkness, his form solidifying into the familiar demon lord. One change that Rusty noticed was a set of red eyes in this new form, one set that Alexander also had but that was golden. "That was¡­ uncomfortable, I shan''t do that again¡­ blasted form of a familiar¡­" Aburdon returned annoyed at his vanishing which seemed to have been an uncomfortable experience for him. His familiar form was still somewhat ethereal but solid enough to interact with the physical world. The red eyes glowed faintly as he looked around the room. "Aburdon, you can use some of your magic now, right?" "Not really, I only have five mana points¡­ do you know how much mana I had when I was the demon king!" "Rusty¡­ can you make him shut up for a moment so I can ask him something?" "Aburdon, can you be quiet and answer Alexander''s question?" The demon lord was still compelled to follow all of Rusty''s orders. He was forced to quiet down and Alexander was able to ask him one important question. "Good, you only have five mana but that should be enough to cast ''Alter Body Status'' can you do that?" "Alter Body Status? ¡­ I suppose I could do that, but it won''t last for long." Alexander who now had eyes wiggled around in joy. Rusty could tell by this spell''s name what it was all about. "Can you change my status?" "Well, not yours - that would use too much of the mana I''m lacking. However, if it''s the body inside you, I could probably make it appear as a higher-level fighter. But why bother? Why don''t we just hunt down a rich merchant and get this over with instead!" "Shut up, Aburdon. That will just get Rusty killed. He isn''t an assassin or a thief; he''ll get noticed!" Soon, Alexander explained the spell Aburdon could use. It required barely any mana and was commonly used by necromancers on dead bodies. The spell had limited purposes but could alter certain aspects of a body''s status. Some used it to conceal the cause of death or disguise a person''s true identity for various unsavory reasons. All they needed to do was make it appear that Albert was a level twenty-five fighter, which was the minimum requirement for the E-rank test. Once that was accomplished, the higher-tier dungeon would be unlocked for them. Inside, they could potentially gather much better materials or even ambush adventurers to seize their loot, something that Aburdon was for. "I see, thank you two, we will begin first time in the morning!" "Oh joy, I can''t wait, I haven''t been in a human city in a while¡­ or in one that wasn''t destroyed~" "Rusty, just get rid of him, he''ll just get us killed." "Hah, if you listen to this idiot hero this will take a year! Remember Rusty, always cheat if you can and if someone discovers it¡­ just get rid of them!" The two argued for a while, but he had already begun to make up his mind. As dawn broke, Rusty decided to put the plan into motion, but with caution. First, he would visit the merchant district to dispose of all the weapons he had created. Once that was done, his career as Albert the Adventurer would officially start. Then, perhaps with some luck, in two weeks, he would have enough gold to save Gleam. Chapter 71 - 69 – Peddling Metal As the morning sun filtered through the cracks of the worn-out building he called his temporary home, Rusty prepared for the day''s mission. He sorted through his inventory, selecting the best bronze and iron weapons he had crafted. Though they weren''t the most valuable, they were functional and would fetch a reasonable price if sold in bulk. Once he had selected the weapons, he used his SP to generate multiple copies of the same quality. His guides had warned that it could be dangerous if they encountered an exceptionally skilled craftsman. All the replicas were identical, which might raise suspicion. If that happened, they advised him to claim that he had received them from a peculiar craftsman with a unique skill that allowed him to produce such identical items or just keep his mouth shut. "Remember, Rusty, we need to keep a low profile. The merchants might get suspicious if you sell too many weapons at once." Rusty nodded, understanding the need for caution. Aburdon, however, was less worried about subtlety. "Just sell them quickly and get out. If anyone asks questions, just remind them of the last merchant who pushed too far." Aburdon cackled menacingly but Rusty wasn''t sure what the demon lord meant. He had not attempted to sell any weapons before so there was no ''last merchant who pushed too far'' "There was a merchant that pushed too far?" "Hm, our young Rusty doesn''t seem to understand wordplay or jokes, don''t worry about it, you''ll eventually understand. I meant that in a more hypothetical sense, of course. You know, as a warning. Merchants of the lesser races can be quite¡­ nosy. It''s best to keep them in line." "Lesser races?" "Of course? Every race is below the demon race!" "Is it?" Rusty glanced in the direction of his other guide Alexander who was quick to dismiss Aburdon''s assertion. "Don''t listen to him, Rusty. There''s no such thing as ''lesser'' or ''greater'' races. It''s just the way some beings try to justify their power or actions. Treat everyone equally and they will respect you." "Hah, just like you did hero and got stabbed in the back? That worked out well for you, didn''t it?" "Shut up!" Rusty sighed as the two guides continued their bickering. He found their banter entertaining at times but it often made his decision-making more complicated. With the plan now set, Rusty stepped out into the bustling streets, the sun casting long shadows as the early morning light filtered through the narrow alleys. The city was beginning to stir with activity as merchants set up their stalls, filling the air with the mingling aromas of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats. Rusty''s monster senses picked up the scents, and though he couldn''t fully appreciate them, he was made aware that the body hidden within his armor could taste food if he allowed it. Rusty''s metal frame clinked softly as he moved, his form was nothing out of the ordinary as he blended in with some of the other early-rising adventurers. Now that the sun had risen he had the opportunity to look over this large city. It was much different than the underground dungeon he came from but there were also some similarities. The city''s layout was a chaotic yet functional mix of winding streets and towering buildings, much like the dungeons Rusty was familiar with. The side alleys reminded him of the narrow corridors and the stone buildings of the temples on some of the other floors. The buildings were constructed with stone and timber, their roofs overlayed in red and brown tiles. The streets were uneven, worn from years of foot traffic, and the occasional clatter of hooves echoed as carts passed by. Rusty observed everything through his visor, taking note of the market district''s layout as he walked towards it. ''So this is the market? Who should I go to first?'' He had arrived at the main square with many street vendors and merchants around. Some of them were just sitting down on rugs filled with items, others had wooden stalls with food. It was early in the morning so the customers hadn''t arrived. This made it an ideal time for Rusty to do business. His deposition of not needing any sleep was very handy when it came to shopping as most people were just waking up or getting past a hangover. "Look for a smith or an armory stall. They''re more likely to buy weapons in bulk, and they might not ask too many questions if the price is right. But first, we should look around and get an idea about the prices before we make a decision." "Yes, yes. Find someone who looks like they could use an influx of goods. And remember, Rusty, if they get too nosy, we can always¡­ persuade them with a slight nudge¡­" "A nudge?" Rusty asked but before Aburdon could answer he was interrupted by Alexander. "There will be no nudging!" The two started arguing again and he was forced to order them to stop. "Examine the prices then and figure out how much the bronze and iron weapons should go for¡­" For Rusty, this arrangement was quite convenient. After his Call Guide skill evolved, he could summon both guides in either their Familiar form or their previous forms. The mana cost for the skill had become so low that he could slowly regenerate his MP even with both guides active. They could see whatever he saw, hear whatever he heard, and give him constant real-time advice. While their bickering was annoying, he needed both of them in this city. Rusty approached the stall, which was adorned with an assortment of weapons: swords, shields, and other metallic goods. The man on the other side didn''t look like a full-fledged blacksmith. He looked quite young and sleep-deprived, his hands slowly polishing a large sword while his head tilted to the side. ''Is that a blacksmith?'' He asked and got a reply from Alexander. ''No, that''s probably a blacksmith''s apprentice or maybe his son. They usually get them to sell weapons outside the smithy where more people gather. We won''t find any enchanted weapons here but it''s enough to get rid of the bronze and iron weapons you made.'' Rusty approached the stall, his metallic steps echoing softly against the cobblestones. The young man behind the counter looked up with bleary eyes, his fatigue evident. Despite the disheveled appearance, there was a certain shrewdness in his gaze that suggested he had experience in the trade. "Good morning." Rusty said as guided by Alexander to show proper decorum when interacting with the merchants. "I have some weapons to sell. Could you tell me if you''re interested?" The apprentice''s eyes narrowed as he assessed Rusty. Before him stood a man about two meters tall, clad in a full suit of armor. While the voice confirmed it was indeed a man inside the armor, the apprentice''s attention was drawn to a peculiar bundle of items strapped to Rusty''s back. It was wrapped in what appeared to be a gray bedsheet and secured with cheap string. Various weapons protruded from the bundle, revealing a large quantity contained within. "We''re always interested in new stock. What kind of weapons do you have?" Rusty''s spatial satchel was not large enough to contain all the weaponry so he decided to use the bed from his inn room to assemble a backpack. Thanks to his crafting skills he was able to create something sufficient for this occasion. The apprentice''s eyes widened as Rusty unwrapped the makeshift bundle to reveal an assortment of bronze and iron weapons. Swords, daggers, and sabers were inside and even a few spears made their way in. He could tell that they were crafted by an average blacksmith as none of them were particularly high-end but neither were they low-end. "These look¡­ decent." The blacksmith''s apprentice said, eyeing the weapons with skepticism. "But why so many? And why are they all bronze and iron? Usually, we don''t see such a bulk of lower-tier items. Most adventurers prefer higher-quality gear, especially if they''re serious about their business." Rusty already had a sales pitch prepared that his guides came up with the previous night. "I recent-lly acquired these from a craftsman who was getting out of the business. He had a large stockpile he wanted to liquidate q-quickly, so I took them off his hands. I''m just looking to resell them to¡­ interested buyers. They''re g-good quality for their tier, and I''m offering them at a reasonable price¡­" Congratulations Possession skill has reached level 3. ''Oh?'' While talking, he received confirmation that his skill had evolved further. He had been using the body inside his armor for some time, and the more he spoke, the easier it became to move the flesh. The stuttering and pauses he once experienced had lessened, and the weight felt lighter. If this progress continued, he envisioned being able to fight comfortably with the mummified remains of Albert inside him. "I see, that makes some sense¡­" The young man began rubbing his chin thoughtfully. It wasn''t unusual for blacksmith shops to close down, leading to old unsold stock being sold at a low price or even given away for free. While the weapons here weren''t exceptional, they still had their uses. Iron could be melted down and repurposed into steel weaponry, and bronze was a decent choice for practice weapons. While there was a use for them, he had a limited amount of money and would be punished by his master if he overspent. The young apprentice scratched his head, clearly weighing the situation. Rusty couldn''t tell much from the young man''s expressions as he had not yet been among the people of the races. This was a simple human, but some of the merchants had animalistic features that would only complicate things. "I might need to consult with my master before taking all of this off your hands. But I can give you a rough estimate of what we could offer." The apprentice pulled out a peculiar apparatus that Rusty had never seen before. It featured several rows of marbles connected by strings, each row a different color. The apprentice began shifting the small, round objects around as if performing a complex task. "Ah, an abacus. Not many people use them these days, but not everyone has the skills to count without one." Alexander commented and Rusty took the opportunity to glance around, observing other stalls and getting a better feel for the market. He understood the numbers and the writing but didn''t really have a point of reference to know how much everything was worth. First he would need to try earning money to truly understand its value. "Remember, Rusty, don''t let them lowball you too much, These weapons are still worth something, even if they''re lower-tier. You have to negotiate." "Yes, and if they refuse to pay a fair price, we might have to ''persuade'' them¡­" "No, we won''t." Just as they were back to arguing the merchant finally spoke out. "Alright, here''s what I can offer for the whole lot. For the bronze weapons, I''ll give you ten silver coins. For the iron ones, maybe fifteen silver coins. That totals to about twenty-five silver coins, which is equivalent to just over two gold coins." ''Hm, is that good or not?'' Rusty glanced at the young man feeling that the offer seemed a bit low but had no idea. After consulting with his guides he replied in a monotone voice. "Hmm, I see. I was hoping for a better price considering the quantity and quality. How about twenty-five silver coins for the bronze weapons and twenty silver coins for the iron ones? That would be a total of thirty-five silver coins, or three and a half gold coins." The apprentice''s eyes widened slightly at Rusty''s counteroffer. "That''s quite a jump. I''ll need to check with my master. He''s usually very particular about pricing, especially with bulk items." "That''s fine¡­ I''ll see if another merchant will offer me a better price, then I''ll get back to you later¡­" ''Yeah, just like that, Rusty. Make him think that another merchant might offer you a better deal, even if they won''t. We can always withhold some of the truth.'' ''Oh? I see that even the great hero has a knack for a bit of deception when it comes to bartering.'' Aburdon cackled. "Alright then, I''ll check with my master and see what we can do¡­" The man scratched his forehead but didn''t seem particularly concerned. Rusty, on the other hand, ventured into the bustling marketplace, slowly investigating each stall. He visited every booth that sold weapons or armor, comparing deals. While each place offered a slightly different price, none were significantly better than what the young man had offered. With time being of the essence, he spent only a bit over an hour on this endeavor before eventually returning to the apprentice blacksmith''s stall. When Rusty returned, he found another man at the stall - a short but stout figure with a beard, resembling the dwarves he had encountered in the dungeons, though dressed differently. The man was in the midst of lecturing the young apprentice, punctuating his words with a firm smack on the apprentice''s head. "How many times have I told you not to doze off? What if someone grabs one of the daggers and runs off?" Rusty paused at the sight of the older man reprimanding the apprentice. The stout figure was clearly the blacksmith, and from the way he carried himself, it was evident he was someone of authority. The older man noticed Rusty and turned to address him, his demeanor shifting from stern to more professional. "Ah, you must be the one my apprentice mentioned earlier, listen here, even if you look around here, you won''t get much better prices, at most I can meet you halfway, take it or leave it." Rusty''s armor clinked loudly as he contemplated his next move. He placed the weapons he had brought onto the table once more, and the blacksmith examined them with a critical eye. The man clicked his tongue, an expression of mild annoyance, sparking Rusty''s curiosity. "Is there something wrong with them?" "Wrong? Not exactly. These are ordinary, but they''re not worth the metal they''re made of. I''d rather have some copper and tin ingots instead¡­" The blacksmith replied in an annoyed tone as if he thought his creations were a waste. "Ingots?" He had assumed that selling raw materials would be less lucrative than presenting fully crafted weapons. However, he now realized that a more skilled blacksmith could forge a superior weapon from the same ingot and sell it for a much higher price. Additionally, the metal could be used in an alloy mixture or for armor, making the base resources more valuable to some than lower-quality weapons. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Wait, Rusty, we can probably profit from this¡­ look there to the right. Ask the blacksmith if he would sell that to you.'' Alexander spotted an opportunity as he brought his attention to a barrel to the side that contained broken pieces of weapons and armor, many of them rusted and corroded. "Um¡­ how much does that cost?" "Huh? You want that scrap pile?" "Yes¡­" Chapter 72 - 70 – Iron Adventurer Test. "This isn''t so bad. If we keep going like this, we''ll have enough gold in no time" Rusty commented as he played with a large sack of gold coins he had earned in a day. There were already close to five gold coins inside, and he hadn''t even had to work that hard for them. However, as usual, one of his guides was there to set him straight. "It would be unwise to continue like this, Rusty. People might start getting suspicious if this goes on¡­" "They will? But I''m just selling ingots, and people don''t have a problem buying them." "There''s a limit to what you can do, and we''re not in a position to stand out." "But you''re the one who told me to do it!" "I know, and now I''m advising you to stop. Seven gold coins are already plenty. We should pause for now and try something else. After some time has passed, we can do it again." During his visit to the blacksmith''s stall, he was advised to grab the barrel filled with scrap metal. He sold his weapons and used the gold to buy the scraps, which he then converted into various ingots. Once that was done, he returned to sell them off for a profit. It was an ingenious way to earn money, and it seemed there was no end to it. The city they were in had an abundance of rusty steel and iron, along with corroded chunks of bronze and brass. He could pick up pieces of old fences and discarded junk from the ground that no one wanted and turn them into fresh ingots through his system. Even if he used up all the living armor monster parts he had stored, he wouldn''t run out of base materials for a while. The only problem was the suspicious looks of the vendors he visited. After being done with one blacksmith, he started visiting the others, and that''s where the trouble began. The more Rusty moved through the market, the more people started to take notice of his repeated visits to various blacksmiths and merchants. The allure of easy gold had blinded him momentarily to the fact that merchants in a bustling city were a close-knit community, and word spread quickly. His rapid and unusual ability to produce high-quality ingots from seemingly worthless scraps raised eyebrows, and questions began to circulate about his true nature. Rusty sighed, staring at the sack of coins that felt heavier in his hands after Alexander''s warning. It wasn''t that he didn''t trust his guides, but at this pace, it would be easy to gather the gold needed for Gleam''s auction. Still, he had noticed the strange looks and whispers, so it was wiser to lay low for a few days. Perhaps this was a good time to visit the adventurers'' guild. His possession skill had advanced further, and Aburdon could now use a technique to alter his status, which should grant him access to the higher-tier dungeon. "Alright, I''ll stop for now, we can try visiting the guild before it closes for the night." "That''s a good idea, best we just ask one of the receptionists about the higher rank, I''m not sure how they handle things these days¡­" Rusty tucked the heavy sack of coins away, leaving only a small amount in his outer satchel while stashing the bulk in his hidden inventory. If someone attempted to rob him, they would find only a modest sum. He then made his way through the bustling market, where a few gazes still lingered. It was clear that people were growing suspicious, and he considered changing his armor the next time he showed up. As he walked through the city, he kept an eye on his surroundings. One particular large statue caught his attention, something his guide, Alexander, seemed familiar with. It depicted a gallant-looking man clad in a magnificent suit of armor, wielding a strange sword covered in runes. They passed this large statue a few times already and whenever they did, Aburdon would tease Alexander about it. "They could at least clean it from time to time, is that moss I see? Such a shame, to desecrate the statue of such a great hero~" "..." Alexander didn''t reply, but Rusty could tell that he recognized the figure depicted by the statue. Perhaps after they were done saving Gleam, he would ask him about it. For now, though, his focus was on gaining entry to the new dungeon. There, he could further his level and grow stronger. As an E-rank monster, his next evolution would push him to the pinnacle of that rank - maybe even allow him to skip straight to D-rank if he was lucky. Rusty made his way through the bustling streets, his mind occupied with thoughts of the new dungeon. As he approached the Adventurers'' Guild, the grand building loomed ahead. Now that it was still day, many more people were around, adding to the lively atmosphere. The crowds heightened the lively atmosphere, and the inside felt just as intimidating as before. Many of the adventurers had strength far superior to his own, and if anyone realized he was a disguised monster, it would all be over. As he made his way inside Rusty noticed the variety of adventurers present. Some were heavily armored, bearing the scars of countless battles, while others were dressed in lighter, more agile clothing, carrying staffs or bows. The atmosphere was lively, with groups of adventurers discussing strategies, sharing stories, or negotiating rewards for completed quests. His goal today was to gather more information about the guild and familiarize himself with how things operated. As he began looking around, the first thing he noticed was a giant board filled with strange papers. Each paper had a stamp in the corner, displaying a letter representing a rank and a corresponding color. From time to time, an adventurer would take one of the papers down and bring it to one of the counters. "That''s the Adventurer Mission Board." Alexander explained, his voice filled with the knowledge of someone who had been an adventurer in the past. "It''s a good way to earn money while leveling up. People often request monster parts or items from the dungeon. There''s no reason not to take one of those missions when heading into the dungeon." After familiarizing himself with the board he glanced in the direction where some adventurers were being rowdy. There was a part similar to a pub area, filled with long wooden tables and benches, where adventurers gathered to drink, eat, and share stories. The scent of roasted meat and ale wafted through the air, mixing with the laughter and loud conversations. Rusty could hear snippets of their conversations, mostly boasting about recent conquests or strategizing for upcoming ventures. "That might look like a regular pub, but that''s where parties are usually formed and people discuss their next mission. If you want to discuss things in private, some rooms can be rented, even ones with magical enchantments that block out any sounds." Alexander was like a tour guide, explaining to him anything he glanced at. They were inside the main hall but other rooms and facilities were behind closed doors. One such place was an infirmary, another the place Gleam had been kept for a month in storage. In the back there was a large training area where adventurers practiced their combat skills, honing their abilities before delving into the dangerous dungeons. Sparring with others was a good way of leveling up skills and much safer than fighting monsters in the dungeon. Though tempted to explore further, Rusty reminded himself that his primary goal was to inquire about gaining access to the higher-tier dungeon. He approached the reception area, where several receptionists were busy assisting adventurers. Most of the people here were human, but there were also a few other races, like elves and beastmen. Rusty chose a queue leading to a shorter woman wearing large glasses and waited his turn. While waiting, Rusty grew increasingly fascinated by the various humanoid races present. To a monster like him, they all seemed quite similar but unique in their own peculiar ways. They communicated in different manners, some waving their hands around as if it would enhance their results. For a creature who wasn''t even a year old, it was all quite fascinating. The world was vast and filled with strange things, and he was beginning to truly appreciate his newfound freedom. "How can I help you today?" When it was finally his turn, Rusty approached the receptionist, a woman with soft features and rather large glasses. Her glasses made her eyes appear larger than they originally were. The combination made her very approachable to most normal adventurers. "Good afternoon, I''m interested in learning more about the higher-tier dungeons and the requirements needed to access them. I''m currently an E-rank adventurer and was hoping to advance further." "The Higher-tier dungeons? Could I have your adventurer card?" "..." Without replying he just handed over Albert''s card that was still only copper ranked and the girl took note. "Copper rank, you wish to take the Iron rank test then?" "Yes." After copper came Iron and then silver, he wasn''t sure what to expect but with his guides here, he was sure that he would be able to get through any possible test. The young woman examined the card before giving it back and then eventually gave him the information he desired. "To access the E-rank dungeon you will have to be at least an Iron rank adventurer if you wish to go alone. However, if you gather a party of at least four people with at least one Iron adventurer, you will be permitted to enter the upper levels." This was new information to Rusty. It seemed that some of the rules could be bent if he formed a party of four people. This was not something that he could use as adventuring with others around him would just be too dangerous. What he was more interested in was this Iron-rank test that the receptionist was talking about and soon he recieved his answer. "As for the test, first please place your hand on the measuring orb so I can confirm your current level." "...This is it, Aburdon, cast the spell." "Do I have to?" "Yes, you do!" "But it gives me a headache to use up all of my mana." Aburdon replied to Alexander as he wasn''t too willing to continue with their plan. What he needed to do was cast the spell that would alter the status around Albert''s remains, something that would cause him to vanish due to the lack of mana. "Aburdon¡­" Rusty needed to get involved and finally, the demon king relented. "Fine! Have it your way¡­ Ugh¡­" The spell effect was activated and focused on the body within his iron case. Aburdon faded away after spending all of his mana but no one could see or tell that anything was happening from outside. This spell was only temporary but it just needed to work for a few seconds to fool the magical orb he was placing his hand on. "Fighter, level twenty-one, this is indeed enough to take the test¡­ But are you sure you wish to continue, how about you take some time to prepare?" "Do I need to?" "Technically not but it would be much easier if you have your second class unlocked before taking the test." Rusty shook his head in refusal. He was already familiar with how human classes worked, thanks to Alexander and Aburdon. In the city, there were temples where individuals went to gain a new class. At level twenty-five, the process could begin, allowing them to choose from several classes, much like how Rusty had been given multiple bodies to inhabit during his recent transformation. "It''s fine, I''m confident!" "Is that so¡­ Well, then I''ll schedule Mr. Albert in for the next Iron-rank test, and by the looks of it, you are in luck, one will be held tomorrow at ten in the morning. Do you have any further questions?" "... Could you tell me about the test in more detail¡­" "Oh?" The lady behind the counter was surprised about the question. Most people were already aware of how adventurer tests operated and it was something a person would know before attempting to take it. Alexander gave him a few vague answers that didn''t tell him much. He was a hero who skipped a few ranks and wasn''t sure what they should expect. "Hey¡­ is this going to take much longer?" Behind him a line was beginning to form as he was taking his sweet time discussing things with the receptionist. To avoid being exposed any further, Rusty decided to speed things up. He quickly decided to focus on the essentials and leave the rest for later. "Never mind, I think I''ll figure it out as I go¡­ Thank you for your help, I''ll be back tomorrow for the test¡­" "Alright then, good luck on your test tomorrow. Be sure to arrive at the training grounds on time. If you need anything else, feel free to ask." "Training grounds¡­" He muttered to himself as he headed toward the guild''s exit. There were a few lingering gazes, but as usual, no one confronted him directly. Ignoring them, he focused on getting back to the inn where he had set up his temporary hideout. This time, there were no thugs trying to extort him, but he found himself with nothing to do. Before he could make any future moves, he needed to raise his adventurer rank, and leaving the city at night was ill-advised. The night was uneventful and he just continued to discuss things with his two bickering guides. They were constantly at each other''s throats but it made time fly by faster and soon enough, the sun was rising again. He headed out early in the morning, with all the tips and tricks he received from both his helpers he was determined to ace this trial. Once that was done, he could begin doing missions and farming monster remains for more money. Rusty arrived early, giving himself time to observe the training grounds before the test began. The area was surprisingly bustling with activity even as early as six in the morning. People of shorter stature, clearly not full adults were swinging around wooden weapons and hitting training dummies under the supervision of more experienced adventurers. It seemed that the guild was not only a place for seasoned warriors but also for those just starting their journey. As Rusty watched, he noted the variety of training exercises being conducted. Some groups practiced combat formations, while others focused on individual techniques like swordplay, archery, and magic casting. Even a few adventurers were sparring with each other in a roped-off area, drawing a small crowd of spectators. The atmosphere was intense, filled with the sound of clashing weapons, grunts of effort, and the occasional shout of encouragement or instruction. Rusty found himself even more intrigued and even wondered how fun it would be to face some of these strong opponents in a fair fight. However, there was only one reason he was here and that was to save Gleam. Eventually, time started passing and the Iron-rank adventurer test was about to begin¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 73 - 71 – Forming A Party. Rusty stood near the entrance of the training grounds, watching as a small crowd of adventurers gathered for the Iron-rank test. He shifted uneasily. Despite all his preparations, the uncertainty of what awaited him gnawed at his nerves. This test was crucial - not just for his rank, but for the freedom it would grant him to explore more dangerous dungeons and gather the wealth needed to rescue Gleam. Thanks to his armor and possession skill, he was disguised well enough. It seemed that the identification skill he could use wasn''t widely known. Even the archer classes, who could identify monster levels, only had an inferior version called "Recognition." This was why they relied on magical tools to gather information on statuses. His guides theorized that his superior skill came either from his monster nature or the fusion of the skill with his very being. ''Just stay quiet for now, It''s better if you don''t talk with the other adventurers.'' ''Sure.'' He leaned against one of the walls, glancing around. The people of this world seemed to gravitate toward one another for some reason, forming groups of various sizes with strange dynamics. Rusty noticed that these groups typically developed some kind of leader, whom the others listened to. These leaders came in many forms - some were stoic and reserved, while others were loud and boisterous. As the minutes ticked by, more adventurers trickled into the training grounds for the Iron-rank test. Rusty kept a low profile, avoiding drawing attention to himself. He observed his fellow test-takers with quiet curiosity. Many seemed confident, chatting amongst themselves, while others fidgeted nervously. Some wore flashy gear, no doubt trying to show off their experience, while others looked like they barely scraped together enough equipment to even qualify. A few adventurers seemed to be sizing each other up, eventually throwing some choice words at each other. Rusty wasn''t sure what this was about but quickly realized that these adventurers weren''t allied with each other like the monsters within the Dungeon. First, they would always shout at each other, then sometimes push before weapons got pulled. However, before any true battle could start it was broken up by a loud chime. A group of guild officials stepped forward, led by a middle-aged man with a commanding presence and a large scar across his face. Though not particularly tall, he had a broad, muscular build, with a bit of fat causing his belly to protrude slightly. His weapon of choice appeared to be a large axe strapped to his back. A silver rank badge gleamed on his chest, and his voice boomed across the training grounds. "Welcome to the Iron-rank test! My name is Garren, and I''ll be overseeing today''s proceedings. Those of you who pass this test will advance to Iron rank and gain access to more challenging missions and dungeons. But remember, this test isn''t just about strength - it''s about teamwork, strategy, and adaptability." ''Teamwork?'' Rusty was somewhat confused by the man''s words. He had expected a test of strength, perhaps a fight against one of the higher-ranked adventurers to prove he wasn''t weaker than them. Instead, it seemed they would be doing a group exercise with people he wasn''t familiar with. Gleam had been the only partner he had ever fought alongside, and she was different from these strangers. There was no trust between them, something essential for teamwork to thrive. ''Ah it must be one of those tests, you''re really unlucky Rusty'' ''What do you mean?'' Alexander quickly identified what this was about and started explaining. ''They will probably make you form a temporary party with the other adventurers. Then you''ll have to complete some kind of task, probably in the E-rank dungeon.'' While this didn''t sound too bad, for Rusty, who was trying to conceal his identity, it posed a problem. He would have preferred being tasked with hunting E-rank creatures, where he could safely use his twilight armor. Instead, he was forced to rely on his weaker iron form, which, if damaged too much, could reveal his true nature. If the party he joined realized he was a monster, they would likely attack him or report him to stronger adventurers. ''Can I do something about it?'' ''Probably not. I doubt they''d hold a special test for a random adventurer, and even if they did, you''d be exposing yourself to the guild. It''s better to take the test as it is.'' Rusty listened intently to Alexander while Garren continued his explanation. The crowd of adventurers buzzed with activity, each person preparing for the challenges ahead. Some of them were friends and hoped to get on the same teams. However, the guild had other plans for this test. "Your test will begin with the formation of teams, each team will consist of four members. You''ll be randomly assigned to a team, and together, you''ll need to complete a series of tasks designed to test your coordination, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle pressure." Garren then waved toward a large table where numbered tokens were laid out. "These tokens will determine your team. Each token corresponds to a number. You will draw a token, and the number will dictate which team you join. Once you''ve drawn your token, proceed to the designated area marked with your number." ''Those slimy little things.'' ''Is something wrong Aburdon?'' ''Can''t you see how they are cheating?'' ''They are cheating?'' The tokens were on the table and could be picked up by anyone. All of them were face down without giving away their number. Only the adventurer candidate that picked them up would be able to tell what they took. However, Aburdon knew better and could spell subterfuge from a mile away. ''I bet some people will get into better groups and have already paid for it. Those tokens are probably marked in some way, so whoever is running the scam will know how to assemble the teams!'' ''Which means?'' ''It means that you, as a lower-level fighter, will probably be a leftover case and designated to a weaker party.'' Rusty watched as adventurers hurried to the table, nervously picking their tokens. If what Aburdon said was true, then he might end up in one of the worst groups. Nevertheless, he needed to pick up one of the tokens and wait to be assigned. He approached the table and picked one at random, receiving a token marked with the number ''6''. Eventually, all the tokens were taken, and the Adventurer Guild moved to the next phase. They brought out a blackboard with a list of numbers, each representing a party that would be formed. Rusty looked at it to try to find the number six and found it in the last group. Initially, he was unsure how to locate the other three, but the guild had assigned each team a separate number as well. Since he belonged to the eleventh group, it meant that there were forty-four people taking the exam. "Please gather together into your assigned teams." Garren called out to everyone and the groups started to form. The adventurers raised their tokens in the air to call out to their temporary companions. To Rusty that was trying to keep a low profile, this was a challenge. He watched as teams quickly formed, with some members eagerly discussing strategies while others simply clustered together in silence. Rusty''s team, number eleven, seemed to be one of the last to come together. ''Those are the only ones left, just go to them and try to act natural Rusty.'' ''Ok¡­'' It was easy to find his party as they were the only ones left without a third member. Rusty cautiously approached his team, doing his best to suppress the nervous energy building up. Three figures were waiting and all of them turned in his direction as they noticed his metallic footsteps. "Are you group eleven?" "Yes, you must be our fourth member, welcome." A young man greeted him with a smile on his face. He was slightly shorter than Rusty and quite lean. A bow was strapped across his back along with a quiver of arrows. His sharp, angular features and keen eyes suggested he was the type to keep his distance in battle, likely a scout or ranger. His leather armor was worn but well-maintained, indicating some experience in the field. ''This looks quite unbalanced¡­'' Alexander commented while Rusty examined the other two party members. To his surprise, one of them was a familiar-looking woman, also carrying a quiver. His guide''s comments were starting to make sense - he was apparently stuck with two archers. The last person was rather small, belonging to a race known as halflings, who wouldn''t be of much help in direct combat. The person had braided her and was also more on the feminine side, something Rusty was slowly getting used to being able to identify. Before saying anything, Rusty used his skill to identify them all, keeping his focus on the woman archer, whom he finally recognized. Name: Layla Classification: Archer L 23 Type: Human Name: Norkas Classification: Archer L 24 Type: Human/Elf Name: Odelette Classification: Thief L 22 Type: Halfling ''They are all weak¡­'' Rusty complained internally while glancing to the side to identify one of the adventurers from another group. Name: Adger Classification: Fighter L 25, Warrior L 2 Type: Human Most groups here had at least one more advanced adventurer, someone who had attained a second class. Though he wasn''t exactly sure how, a person could visit the church and undergo something like a baptism to achieve a new breakthrough. This ceremony was exclusive to the intelligent races, while monsters like himself could evolve on their own. They attained a new class with various bonuses similar to an evolution but did not change their appearance as they did with monsters. Rusty stared at his new team members, feeling uneasy. The group seemed underwhelming compared to the other teams, especially with two archers and a thief. As Alexander had pointed out, it was a rather unbalanced team. While they might excel at ranged attacks and stealth maneuvers, they lacked the raw strength needed for close combat. Thieves relied on someone to keep the monsters occupied so they could land their backstab attacks, while archers needed distance to effectively use their bows - rendering them far less effective in close-quarters combat. "Looks like we''re the odd bunch." Layla, the woman Rusty recognized, muttered with a wry smile. Her tone was casual, but her sharp eyes betrayed the underlying tension she felt. "Hey, don''t worry about it, at least we have one fighter with us!" The halfling, The halfling, Odelette, chimed in with a cheerful voice, trying to lift the group''s spirits. Despite her small stature, she seemed brimming with energy, clearly more optimistic than the rest. She looked at Rusty with hopeful eyes, her straw-like braided hair bouncing slightly as she shifted her stance. "Yeah, you''ll be our frontliner, right? Keep those monsters off us so we can do our thing!" Odelette added, patting Rusty''s armor as if to see how sturdy it was. Rusty on the other hand remained rooted in place, just looking down at the person half his height, not knowing how to react. "..." "Um¡­ how about we introduce ourselves first then?" The one to break the silence was the half-elven archer Norkas. "That''s a good idea!" Replied the halfling girl. Norkas stepped forward as he took the lead. "I''ll go first. My name''s Norkas, half-elf, as you can probably tell." He gestured to his slightly pointed ears. "I''m an archer and I''ve been adventuring for around a year and a half now, mostly scouting and taking out enemies from a distance. I''m hoping we can all work well together and pass this test." Rusty was intrigued by the introductions, something he had never experienced before. While adventurers saw him as a monster, he didn''t view them simply as enemies. Their culture was fascinating to someone as young as him. Thanks to Gleam, he understood that good companions could make life more enjoyable, and this group, in particular, seemed rather cheerful. Next up was Layla, the female archer who Rusty recognized. She had been one of the first humans he encountered in the dungeon and almost got herself killed when being assaulted by someone. Her level seemed to have grown since then, enough to take the test for the next rank. "I''m Layla, a human. I like to think I''m pretty good with a bow and I''m also good at detecting hidden enemies but not too good with traps¡­" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was more reserved than the other two, her gaze shifting around as if she wasn''t feeling too comfortable in this group. Layla''s voice trailed off, her discomfort clear in the way she fidgeted with her bowstring. Next, Odelette stepped forward with a bright smile, full of energy. "I''m Odelette! Halfling thief and trap expert! I''m small but quick, so I can disarm traps and sneak past enemies like it''s nothing. Just leave the sneaky business to me!" She had quite a bubbly personality, something the other two adventurers seemed to appreciate. Rusty on the other hand stood there like a stone statue not really knowing what to do and only once Alexander gave him a nudge did he react. ''Introduce yourself Rusty, you''re making the other three uncomfortable, just say that your name is Albert.'' "I''m Albert" He said, his voice and tone sounding strange and raising some brows. "I am quite sturdy so¡­ I''ll fight in the front?" Rusty proudly presented his large shield and longsword to the group, attempting to mimic their earlier presentations as best he could. His movements were a bit stiff compared to theirs, but fortunately, adventurers came in all shapes and sizes. A person like him, who barely spoke, wasn''t anything unusual. They quickly assumed he was just the awkward, silent type. "... Alright, now that we''re all introduced, we should start thinking about how we''re going to work together." Norkas said, taking charge once again cleary trying to assert himself as the temporary leader of the group. Strength wise he was below Rusty but it was better if someone competent took center stage as he still had no idea what was waiting for them. "It''s obvious we''re not the strongest team here, but we can use our strengths to make up for it." Before he could continue another loud chime resounded from the adventurer guild side and they all looked at Garren. It seemed that time for pleasantries was over and now that the teams had been assembled they would be moving to the dungeon. "Alright, adventurers, it''s time to move out! Follow the guild officials to the dungeon entrance. Once inside, you''ll be given maps marking the dungeon route that will test your abilities to work as a team. Remember, this is not just about strength but how well you cooperate under pressure. Good luck!" The adventurers, now organized into their respective teams, began gathering their gear and preparing for the test. Rusty''s team followed suit, moving in silence. He glanced around without saying a word. His disguise was working a lot better than he had anticipated. If everything went well, then after this test was over he would be able to set off into the dungeon on his own¡­ Chapter 74 - 72 – First Battle In A Party. "Can you get it over with before the day is over? Some people need to earn coin to survive." "Don''t scare the newbie''s idiot, let''s just go get a mug of ale and come back tomorrow." A small commotion was unfolding at the entrance of the E-Rank dungeon, something many had grown accustomed to. A large group of people walked through a fenced-off area, while other adventurers were denied entry. The adventurer test was underway, and to ensure its legitimacy, the dungeon had been sealed off to prevent others from entering. Something like this didn''t go too well with other E and D-rank adventurers who used this place as a hunting ground. Their livelihood depended on getting monster parts and chests from within this place. Rusty could hear the grumbling from the disgruntled adventurers as his group neared the dungeon entrance. Despite the complaints, the small party''s of four didn''t care; they were far too busy being tense. They passed the checkpoint, guarded by a small squadron of guards similar to those at the F-Rank dungeon. However, the people here were of a higher level, and their equipment was noticeably better. Rusty glanced up at the large arch he was passing through, which was connected to a sturdy fence. Unlike before, there was no tunnel of trees forming a pathway - just an empty road leading toward a massive rock structure, reminiscent of a mountain but not quite. "I remember this... If I''m not mistaken, this dungeon is a giant maze with only a few floors, much larger than the one you came from, Rusty." Alexander''s claim was quickly confirmed when the officials lined up the participants and handed each team a map, detailing the route they were expected to follow. It was just a snippet of the first floor, but even that was enormous. Large portions of the map were missing, and several red markings indicated strictly off-limits areas. It became clear that this dungeon was far more dangerous, and encountering monsters of various levels on the very first floor was a real possibility. "Listen up, don''t wander around, only follow the route specified by the guild, the dungeon is a treacherous place and you will lose your life if you aren''t careful." Garren''s voice boomed again, ensuring everyone understood the gravity of the test. "Stick to the marked paths, stay with your team, and remember: this is not just a hunt for monsters. You''re here to prove you can think, plan, and survive as a team." The weight of those words hung over Rusty''s group as they moved closer to the dungeon entrance. Norkas, their self-appointed leader, furrowed his brows as he studied the map, muttering something to himself. Layla leaned in to get a better look, while Odelette, the halfling, was practically bouncing on her feet, too full of energy to stand still. "You''ll be entering in order of your teams, use this time to examine the maps and check your supplies, you might need them." "The Guild has given us a few low-quality potions, at least this is better than nothing." Layla commented as she rummaged through the small pouch handed to their group. Inside were a few basic health potions, barely enough to sustain them if they faced prolonged combat. Rusty watched her distribute them, handing each member one. He took the potion and examined it closely, the liquid sloshing inside the glass vial. His sturdy form didn''t rely on potions at all as he used metal ingots to restore his parts. However, it was better to pocket it to keep up his disguise. "Alright, team. This is the route we''re supposed to take." Norkas was done studying the map and he pointed to a section near the entrance. His finger traced a path to something that looked like a larger chamber. "It looks like a straight shot at first, but once we reach this fork, we''ll need to veer left. There''s probably a checkpoint here, and that''s where we''ll likely encounter our first challenge. It could be a puzzle or maybe some monsters. Either way, we''ll need to be prepared." Layla nodded in agreement, her gaze drifting from the map to the distant entrance. There she could see some of the adventurers going in, their formations giving her an idea about how they should proceed. "I''ve heard this dungeon is full of traps. Perhaps, we should let Odelette take the lead once we''re inside." The halfling beamed at the mention of her name. "You got it! I''ll make sure we don''t step on any nasty surprises. Just watch my back, big guy!" Rusty felt a gentle smack to his thigh that came from the small person. She smirked at him in a strange fashion that he didn''t understand. He wondered if this was some type of attack and if he should retaliate but considering that the other adventurers were just smiling, everything had to be fine. "Alright, leave it to me?" He responded in an awkward tone, something the other party members quickly noticed. Fortunately, despite realizing he wasn''t much of a talker, they didn''t shy away from asking questions and working to strategize. Norkas brought up an important issue early on, asking about everyone''s skills and directing the first question to Rusty. "Albert, right? Can I ask you something?" "Mmm... sure?" "Do you have any taunting skills, by chance?" Rusty paused for a moment, thinking about his abilities. He didn''t have anything that fit the description. In his previous experiences with Gleam, he usually attracted monsters by engaging them directly, while his ant companion preferred to hide in holes to avoid being targeted. In this party, however, he would need to keep monsters away from the two ranged adventurers and the thief - something he had never done before. "No, I don''t¡­" "Ah¡­ that''s a shame but how about this." The man had his own spatial satchel and took out a small pouch. The moment he did, the two girls from the party scrunched up their noses at the pungent smell. "W-what is that smell?" "Egh¡­ keep that away!" "Haha, you''re overreacting." Norkas shook his head as he handed the pouch to Rusty, who lacked a sense of smell. Poison and disease didn''t affect him, so a pouch that reeked of rotten fish wouldn''t be much of an issue. Still, after taking the pouch and inspecting it, Rusty wasn''t sure what it was for. "This is...?" "It''s a special mixture of herbs and monster parts. It should attract the monsters in the dungeon to you. Sorry about the smell but I''m sure you''ll get used to it..." Classification: Smelly Pouch Type: Item Description: A pouch filled with an alchemical concoction that attracts monsters. The effect will linger for a few hours unless washed thoroughly. ''Hah, this guy came prepared for the occasion, luckily you don''t have a nose.'' Alexander didn''t know what to say, it was a useful item for the occasion but it made Rusty smell like a dead goblin and caused the other adventurers to keep their distance. "Sure, no problem..." Rusty was about to tie the pouch to his waist when Layla and Odelette quickly intervened. "W-why don''t you put it in your spatial bag for now, and take it out once we''re inside the dungeon?" "Y-yeah, that would be better!" "Mmm¡­ sure?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty wasn''t sure what this was about but nodded and stored the pouch in his spatial satchel. The stench lingered for a few minutes before finally dissipating. Once the smell faded, the group visibly relaxed, though they kept a wary eye on Rusty''s spatial satchel as if fearing the pouch might somehow escape. Norkas, ever the tactician, spoke up again, this time more confident now that everyone had shared their role. "Alright, with Albert up front, Odelette will take point when we encounter traps, and Layla and I will provide cover from a distance. We''ll stick together, avoid unnecessary risks, and stay sharp. How does that sound?" Layla and Odelette both nodded in agreement. Odelette, bouncing slightly on her toes, seemed excited about the challenge. Layla, on the other hand, appeared more reserved, her earlier discomfort still evident. Rusty nodded as well, adjusting his helmet, trying to appear natural. His acting had been steadily improving, and by now, he felt confident in his role as a human. Eventually, every other team entered into the grand maze and it was finally their turn. Rusty''s group stepped forward, the entrance loomed ahead, a dark maw cut into the rock, the faint echoes of previous teams already lost inside. Garren stood by the threshold, giving each team a stern nod as they passed. "Good luck, group eleven. Make sure you come out in one piece." Garren spoke, his voice gruff but laced with genuine concern. The team began entering the dungeon but paused briefly when they noticed Rusty hesitating. A strange feeling washed over him just as he was about to take his first step inside. It was eerily similar to the sensation he had experienced in the old dungeon, and unsettling fears floated through his mind. "Is everything okay, Albert?" Asked Layla. "Ah¡­ sure, let''s go..." Rusty replied. Alexander and Aburdon had reassured him that no other dungeon heart could trap him again, but the fear still clung to him. Rusty had once been enslaved to a dungeon and feared it might happen again. Still, after a brief hesitation, he steeled himself and stepped forward into the maze, gripping a shield in his left hand and a longsword in his right. The air immediately felt cooler, the sounds of the outside world fading into the distance as the stone walls of the maze surrounded them. The light from outside grew dimmer, and soon the only source of illumination came from the glowstones embedded into the walls, casting an eerie, pale light that barely revealed the path ahead. Rusty took the lead, gripping his shield tightly as the others fell into formation behind him. Odelette darted forward to examine the ground, her sharp eyes scanning for any hidden traps. Layla and Norkas, bows at the ready, kept their arrows loosely nocked, prepared for anything. The dungeon''s oppressive silence was broken only by the soft footsteps of the party and the occasional distant drip of water. The path seemed straightforward at first, just as the map had indicated, but tension hung thick in the air. The walls were smooth, almost unnaturally and quite different to the layout Rusty was familiar with. No destroyed temples were anywhere, just flat stones with strange carvings he did not understand. ''Are all dungeons different?'' While moving forward he posed a question to Alexander. ''There are a few types, this one is a grand maze. When you reach the middle a boss will probably be waiting before you can proceed into the lower levels.'' ''I see¡­'' This was quite a fascinating discovery - there was more to dungeons than Rusty had originally assumed. He would soon come to realize that dungeons produced more than just undead creatures and magical beings. As the team rounded the corner and arrived at the area Norkas had mentioned earlier, they encountered their first enemies: creatures walking on two feet but with the appearance of lizards. The creatures ahead hissed, their reptilian forms standing between the party and their path forward. Their scales shimmered in the dim light of the dungeon, each holding crude weapons - rusted sabers and makeshift spears. Rusty stopped himself from going further into the chamber as he knew that once he was spotted, the creatures would toss themselves at his temporary party. Classification: Adolescent Lizardman L8 F+ Type: Humanoid/Lizardfolk Description: Lizardmen are a humanoid type of monster usually encountered in swamps or marshlands, known for their agility and pack mentality, they are dangerous when encountered in groups. They often use weapons of various qualities. "They''re Lizardmen." Norkas whispered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned their movements. "The strongest is only around level eight and still at F-rank, but they can be tricky if they surround us." Odelette grinned, already crouching low, ready to sneak ahead. "Let me scout ahead, I can flank them from the shadows and pick off the stragglers." Norkas shook his head at the proposition and pointed to all the light sources within the room. "That might be a bad idea, we should let Albert go in first and get their attention instead, if one of them spots you, it will be troublesome. Instead, use the chance to sneak up behind them, and go for that archer first. These monsters like to run and call for help, can you do that?" "Alright!" "Layla, we''ll support Albert while he attracts the monsters." "Of course!" The party was prepared for their first battle, facing a group of five lizardmen. Two wielded spears, two rusty steel sabers, and one carried a bow. Rusty''s role was to make noise and draw their attention. It was also time for him to strap the smelly sack to his belt. With the sack secured, he moved forward with long strides, quickly drawing the attention of the monsters, who identified him as the enemy. As Rusty stepped forward, the pungent stench from the pouch hit the air, and the effect was almost immediate. The lizardmen turned their heads, sniffing the air with their elongated snouts, their eyes narrowing in on the source of the smell. Their hissing grew louder, signaling to one another as they readied their weapons. The archer, perched behind the group, notched an arrow and aimed it in Rusty''s direction. Rusty lifted his shield to block the incoming arrow and charged forward. His job was to keep the monsters occupied, but he had other plans. Though he wore lesser armor made from standard materials, he was still an E-rank monster and a special one at that. His stats were far higher than those of the lizardmen, or even many Iron-ranked adventurers. The arrow whistled through the air and clanged off his shield, harmlessly ricocheting off the stone wall beside him as he pressed his charge. The two lizardmen wielding sabers charged at Rusty, their weapons raised. He collided with the first one, sending it flying back with a well-placed strike from his shield. The force shattered some of the creature''s teeth and slammed it against the wall. The second lizardman tried to assist, but after a wild swing that Rusty easily dodged, it found his sword thrust into its side almost instantly. His party was momentarily stunned as they saw Rusty in the disguise of Albert brutalize the monsters with minimal effort. Even when the two spear-holding lizardmen came to aid their friends, they weren''t able to do much. Rusty''s sheer strength and speed overwhelmed the lizardmen. As one of the spear-wielders thrust its weapon toward him, he sidestepped the attack with ease, twisting his body and bringing his longsword down in a swift arc. The blade backed by a skill bit deep into the lizardman''s shoulder, cutting through its scaled hide. It let out a sharp hiss before crumpling to the ground. The other spear-wielding lizardman didn''t hesitate, attempting to plunge its weapon into Rusty''s back. Instead of piercing through, the spear bent to the side, as Rusty''s iron armor was too thick to penetrate. Moments later, the creature found itself struck by two arrows: one pierced the back of its head, the other its heart. The last remaining archer began to retreat, only to taste its own blood as a dagger sliced through its throat. Odelette''s blade flashed in the dim light as she darted in from the side, ending the first confrontation. Chapter 75 - 73 – Unforeseen Trouble The first battle had ended almost as quickly as it began. Rusty stood in the aftermath, his blade still dripping with lizardman blood, while Odelette wiped her dagger clean with a quick flick of her wrist. Layla and Norkas, who had expertly loosed their arrows in support, exchanged a glance, both silently impressed by the seamless efficiency of their team. "Well, that went smoother than I expected." Layla said, her voice betraying a hint of relief. Norkas on the other hand was more surprised at the feat he just saw, even somewhat worried at the strength of the temporary comrade he saw. "Yeah, mostly because of our friend Albert¡­" Odelette on the other hand was excited while she crouched near the lizardman. She rummaged through its gear with her quick hands trying to find anything that could be pawned off later. "Did you see him send that lizardman flying?" "Yeah, that was surprising¡­" Norkas, the archer, couldn''t shake the growing suspicion as he observed Rusty. The sheer power Rusty displayed felt unnatural - far beyond what someone with just one class should be capable of. But despite his misgivings, Norkas hesitated to confront his new companion. Having someone that strong in the party wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. Besides, this was a guild-sanctioned test; there was no immediate reason to believe Rusty was one of those notorious adventurer hunters who preyed on the weak. The thought nagged at him, but Norkas reminded himself that the guild had safeguards in place. Hidden members were stationed at various points, ensuring stronger monsters didn''t stray too close. This was a controlled environment, after all, not a lawless wilderness where crimes went unnoticed. For now, he would keep his concerns to himself and hope his instincts were wrong. With a strong tank at the front, their chances of passing would increase and this was enough for him to take a chance. ''I think that archer is wary of you Rusty, it would be better if you toned it down when fighting monsters, you''re still an E-rank monster, something even Iron adventurers can''t fight alone.'' For a moment, Rusty forgot that he was there just to pass a test. His body instinctively reacted to the monsters in front of him, everything becoming a blur as his instincts took over. Before leaving, Alexander had warned him not to use all of his skills, but it was hard to conceal the advanced passive weapon techniques he had trained in. ''It''s not my fault that they are this weak¡­ the beetles were stronger.'' ''Sure, even in the same rank, some creatures and classes will be stronger than the others, you are probably above all the other E-ranks, maybe already a plus.'' ''Should I be worried?'' ''That archer seems to have caught on, the two others I don''t think so¡­ but at most, they will probably assume that you''re just hiding your status, which isn''t anything that rare.'' Rusty silently acknowledged Alexander''s advice. His instincts as a former dungeon monster made it difficult to gauge human expectations. He was far stronger than an average E-rank adventurer, something the others seemed to notice despite their best efforts to mask it. He needed to be more cautious if he didn''t want to draw suspicion, especially from Norkas. "Let''s keep moving." Norkas said, his voice calm but his eyes still flickering toward Rusty from time to time. "The sooner we reach the checkpoint, the better. We don''t know what else might be lurking deeper in the dungeon. Let us get back in formation and go." The team moved forward, more aware now of their surroundings. The walls seemed to close in as they navigated through the twisting passages. Every step felt heavier, the oppressive silence broken only by their footsteps and the occasional sound of shifting stone. Odelette darted ahead again, checking for traps and disarming any that she found along the way. Rusty was not far behind her, ready to block any potential threats that might target the two archers. He was now more mindful of his surroundings and party members. By adopting a more measured pace, he allowed the others to shine. Layla and Norkas worked in tandem, taking out smaller threats from a distance. Rusty''s main task was to keep the monsters focused on him, while they picked them off with their arrows. Meanwhile, Odelette attacked their blind spots, sometimes using her daggers to finish them off, and other times to weaken them by slicing their leg tendons. As they rounded another corner, the party came across a larger chamber, dimly lit by the pale glowstones embedded in the walls. At the far end of the room was a stone pedestal, atop which rested a small, intricately carved box. It emitted a faint glow, almost as if trying to lure the adventurers in. The sight reminded Rusty of the treasure room on the tenth floor, causing him to pause and scan the area, wary of any hidden monsters guarding it. "That must be one of the tests, the guilds markings are on the chest." He whispered while urging everyone else to stop. "But this looks too easy. The room''s too open¡­ There''s probably a trap waiting." Odelette grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Leave it to me!" It was a strange feeling to be in this party, even though they weren''t together long Rusty was starting to see the advantages. He wasn''t very nimble nor could he detect the pressure plates hidden in this chamber but the little halfling could. It was similar to the room he trapped adventurers in but the placement was a lot more random here. Eventually she arrived at the chest area but held herself back from just taking it. "Hm¡­" "Any problems Odelette?" Norkas called out to their thief who had stopped at the "If I lift this, it''s going to trigger something... but don''t worry, I''ve dealt with these traps before! This looks like an old model and it won''t activate based on exact weight, but it will trigger if there''s too little," She explained, her eyes fixed on the small chest before her. Though her head barely reached above the stone pedestal, she was still able to reach it. From her spatial satchel, she pulled out a large rock, one she could barely lift, and placed it beside the chest. Despite the added weight, the trap didn''t react, allowing her to carefully lower the container. "See, what did I say, easy like taking candy from an ogre!" She hefted the chest over her head and started running in their direction. The sight of such a short person carrying something so large was oddly amusing to Rusty. However, his amusement was fleeting, as their victory was short-lived. With the chest in their possession, they only needed to open it and move on to the next location, but someone had other plans. "Wait¡­ who is there?" Layla called out to the party while pointing towards one of the open corridors. Soon from within a dagger came flying out and it collided with the rock Odelette left on the pedestal. The dagger hit the rock with a sharp clang, sending small chips of stone flying. Odelette, caught off guard, nearly dropped the chest in surprise. Norkas was the first to react, his bow already drawn, eyes narrowing as he scanned the dim corridor where the dagger had come from. Layla quickly followed suit, an arrow notched and aimed at the dark opening. "Show yourse¡­" Before Norkas could finish the sentence, the rock that had been hit rolled forward and down from the pressure plate it was on. As the rock slid off the pedestal, a deep rumbling noise echoed through the chamber. The trap had been triggered. The corridor from which the dagger came slammed shut and they found themselves trapped inside. Everyone''s eyes widened in horror as a strange white mist suddenly erupted around them. "I¡­ it''s sleeping mist..d-don''t¡­" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Odelette tried to warn everyone as she dropped the chest but even she had already been affected by the gas. All of them tried covering their mouths with something to fight off the effects, but the mist was too potent. Odelette, the first to inhale the sleep-inducing gas, swayed unsteadily before collapsing to the ground. Norkas and Layla, their bows still drawn, coughed and staggered as the mist overwhelmed them. Rusty, being immune to poisons and gases, was the only one unaffected and wondered what he should do in this situation, luckily Alexander was there to raise a good point. "Be calm Rusty, it''s just sleeping mist, it won''t kill them. This test was implemented by the guild so they probably chose this route for a reason." "What do you mean?" "There probably won''t be any monsters appearing and now that the trap was triggered, probably some guild officials are already on their way here but¡­" "Is there a problem?" "Whoever knocked that rock off its pedestal is still out there, and they might be targeting someone here. We need to be careful. First, check Odelette''s satchel - if she''s a thief, she may have some special smelling salts to counteract the effect, or perhaps a potion." There was truth in Alexander''s words. It would be strange for the guild to set up a trap that was too deadly for the candidates. However, that didn''t mean there wasn''t real danger. Rusty knew how these kinds of traps worked, and soon the sealed pathways would reopen. Whoever threw that dagger, or even monsters could flood the chamber, quickly massacring his unconscious party. Rusty wasted no time, his target was Odelette''s satchel which wasn''t much different then the one he took from the previous dungeon. He crouched beside her, his metallic fingers swiftly rummaging through her satchel. As expected, she had an assortment of tools: lockpicks, a small set of vials, and there, a small bottle with a sharp, acrid smell. Rusty couldn''t really smell it due to his lack of nostrils but could use his identification skill to confirm that these were the smelling salts Alexander was talking about. ''The place is clearing up, place them against the wall and then make them smell the salts. It won''t wake them up immediately but it should work.'' He followed the instructions and repositioned the three against one of the walls. Then, he popped the cork from the small bottle and held it under their noses, starting with Norkas. After a moment, he noticed an adverse reaction to the smell, and his first party member finally began to wake up. However, just as Norkas was regaining consciousness, the walls that had sealed themselves began to shift and rumble, opening up to let whoever was outside in. "Ugh¡­ what¡­?" The archer felt groggy but the sight of an ominous man wearing iron armor jolted him awake. He felt out of it but quickly remembered the incident with the sleeping mist. He could see two other people next to him but before he could check on them he was handed a small bottle with a rather rancid smell. "Use this to wake the others." "Huh?" At first, he wasn''t sure why he had been given the item, but soon the reason became clear. Not far from them, a group of monsters began to file in. Most were the same Adolescent Lizardmen they had faced before, but among them were higher-ranked ones. These stood half a head taller, with more muscle and superior weaponry. Classification: Lizardman L5 E- Type: Humanoid/Lizardfolk Rusty left to engage the group in combat, following Alexander''s instructions. It was better for his party members to provide him with ranged support rather than for him to fight them alone. He was aware that if he allowed the three to perish, he might fail the guild exam. Retaking the Iron Adventurer test would require waiting an entire month, which would make rescuing Gleam highly improbable. He didn''t hesitate as the new group of Lizardmen poured into the chamber. The higher-ranked ones carried better-crafted spears and shields, their scales gleaming in the dim glowstone light. There were two of the larger ones in the back and five of the smaller ones in the front. They were not enemies that he would be normally afraid of but this iron suit he was wearing and the dead mummified Albert inside just made things harder. This was a team endeavor, and Rusty was not alone. If what Alexander had told him was true, the three wouldn''t simply run away but would actually assist him - something that intrigued him. He had faced other adventurers before, and more often than not, they did attempt to work together. With that in mind, he raised his shield and stopped holding back. The first monster he collided with was sent flying once again. As the first Lizardman sailed through the air, crashing into one of its companions with a sickening thud, Rusty stood firm, his shield raised and sword at the ready. It was a strange feeling, fighting for a purpose other than leveling up or gathering resources. He could see the two young women slowly rousing from their slumber. He was the only thing standing between them and being mauled by the humanoid lizards, their survival depended on him not abandoning them in this time of need. "Wake up, Layla, Odelette! We''ve got company! Wake up, we have to help Albert." He could hear Norkas shouting at the two to wake up to help, even shaking the smaller one until she responded. Layla groaned, her eyelids fluttering as she fought to focus on the approaching threat. Odelette, recovered faster only to see most of her items on the ground. However, instead of asking questions she just grabbed her daggers and got ready to aid her new party member. ''Hah¡­'' Rusty held off the charging monsters, and even when they jabbed at him with their spears, they couldn''t do more than leave scratches. Fortunately, they had no blunt weapons¡ªjust blades, arrows, and other sharp objects to poke him with. He clashed with them multiple times, usually managing to block most of the damage with his shield while landing a few direct hits with his longsword. However, the two evolved lizards, having had enough of merely watching, finally charged at him, their sabers raised. The two evolved lizardmen stormed forward, their sabers gleaming under the dim glowstone light. Rusty braced himself, recognizing that these larger monsters posed a much more serious threat than their smaller counterparts. With a low growl, one of the lizardmen lunged, its saber aimed directly at Rusty''s chest. He raised his shield just in time, the impact reverberating through his arm. The second lizardman, quicker than its size suggested, flanked him, slashing horizontally at his exposed side. Rusty was expecting to get hit and lowered his stance to receive the blow but right before the saber connected, an arrow embedded itself in the monster''s eye socket. The Lizardman hissed out in agony as it stumbled backward clutching at the arrow protruding from its eye. The other adventurers had gotten back on their feet and joined the fight. However, one question still lingered - who had thrown that dagger, and where were they now? Chapter 76 - 74 – Unknown Dangers. The room was filled with the sounds of clashing weapons, the grunts of the lizardmen, and the rhythmic thud of arrows being loosed from bows. Rusty''s shield caught another saber strike, but with the renewed support from his companions, the tide of the battle shifted. Norkas was already in his element, taking well-aimed shots from the back, while Layla, now fully awake, fired her own arrows in rapid succession. Odelette darted between the skirmishes, a blur of motion as her daggers found weak spots in the monsters'' legs. Rusty''s iron body bore several nicks and scratches from the battle, but it was holding up. The thick cloth lining beneath the metal protected his mummified body from being exposed to his new companions. The group of seven lizardmen had grown as reinforcements charged through the corridors, but now their numbers were dwindling, and victory was near. However, even as victory drew near, Rusty''s thoughts lingered on the dagger that had struck the rock. He knew no dungeon monster would deliberately target a trap with such precision, which meant it had to be another adventurer. Someone in these tunnels wanted to harm them, and he couldn''t understand why. Though his current identity was Rusty, he was now Albert, and it was possible that someone was still after him - just like the three thugs who had tried to extort him. Yet, he couldn''t rule out the possibility that one of his companions might be the true target. The last of the lizardmen fell to the floor with a final, guttural hiss as Rusty cleaved through its scaled chest. Around him, the others were regaining their composure. Norkas, breathing heavily, wiped sweat from his brow while Layla lowered her bow, her eyes scanning the room warily. Odelette finished off one of the wounded lizardmen with a precise strike, then stepped back, taking a moment to catch her breath. "That was... closer than I''d like." Norkas muttered, though his voice held a note of appreciation as he glanced at Rusty. He had to admit, Rusty had kept them alive, holding the line almost single-handedly until they could regroup. "Yeah, we almost didn''t make it, if it weren''t for Mr. Albert, we would have never made it." Layla added, still eyeing the room and specifically the pedestal on which the chest had previously stood. It seemed like she wanted to say something but before she could, the smaller halfling girl yelled out cheerfully. "We did it!" Odelette exclaimed, twirling one of her daggers in the air before sheathing it with a flourish. Her grin was infectious, despite the tense situation they had just been through. "That''s what I''m talking about! Perfect teamwork, those stupid lizards had it coming! Now what''s in the chest!" Rusty wiped the lizard''s blood from his sword and gave a silent nod, though his thoughts were still focused on the unknown threat. Odelette on the other hand launched herself at the chest they had taken and quickly picked the simple lock on it. However, her cheerful expression was replaced with disappointment after she took out a badge with the guild''s mark on it. "Drat¡­ Was this just part of the test?" "Yes, that''s one of the badges we need to retrieve to complete the exam, there should be another one at the last location¡­" Rusty glanced at a badge that appeared to be made of wood. The sight of it sparked a memory, and without hesitation, he leaned down toward one of the fallen lizardmen. With a single hand, he effortlessly flipped the creature over, startling the other adventurers. Before anyone could question his actions, he grabbed something attached to the monster''s back. "Is this it?" "Ah¡­ yes, that looks like the other one¡­ but why would it be here and on that monster?" His three party members stared in confusion at the second badge now in Rusty''s hand. With both badges in their possession, they no longer needed to continue deeper into the dungeon, but the discovery raised more questions. "I see, so that''s what happened" "Did you figure something out?" Rusty heard Alexander''s voice quickly after giving the badge away and he responded. "I have a theory. Your group was likely meant to reach the final area, facing fewer monsters. The badge was attached to one of them, waiting for you to find it. But the fact that it''s here means whoever threw that dagger probably lured the monsters from that area to us. And I doubt they were working for the guild..." ''What was their goal?'' ''Either they didn''t want your group to succeed in the exam or they were targeting someone specifically.'' Rusty glanced at the three companions he barely knew. Like Albert, they could have found themselves entangled with the wrong people or crossed paths with dangerous thugs. There was much he didn''t understand about their culture or motives. Being a monster wasn''t easy as he was not aware of the nuances of this world. He only knew that adventurers, and the various races, could kill for almost anything: a grudge, resources, or even a stray look - things he still struggled to comprehend. Before Rusty could contemplate Alexanders'' words some footsteps echoed out of one of the now opened corridors. The other party members heard them as well and quickly readied their weapons again. He was now used to working in this small group and moved forward to intercept whoever was going to come out of that corridor. The footsteps didn''t belong to a lizardman and were cleary more human in nature. ''Rusty, it could be the culprit¡­ get ready.'' Alexander had advised him to be cautious, and Rusty took the warning to heart. He was well aware that some adventurers, especially those of silver rank, were stronger than him. Even with the entire group fighting together, victory against one of them would be uncertain. His true body had a durability that could contend with a silver rank, but revealing that would mean blowing his cover. If the task became too difficult, fleeing would be the wisest option. Yet, for some reason, the thought of abandoning these three felt wrong, even if it meant saving his own life. It was as if he was slowly beginning to think like an adventurer, something he wasn''t sure how to feel about. It didn''t make sense as if they discovered his true nature, they''d likely turn their swords on him without hesitation. The sound of footsteps grew louder as the group braced themselves, weapons at the ready. Rusty stepped forward, his shield raised to intercept any immediate threat. The dim light from the glowstones cast long shadows across the chamber, heightening the tension. Alexander''s warning echoed in his mind, and Rusty gripped his sword tighter, preparing for the worst. Suddenly, from the far corridor, a figure emerged - a man, tall and lean, dressed in dark leather armor. His face was unobscured and the moment his other party members saw him, they started lowering their weapons. The man was someone they knew as he was part of the guild staff. He was quick to stop and raised his hands at the pointed bows and swords in his direction. "Calm down, I''m from the guild. Didn''t mean to spook you lot. Guild sent me to check on things when the mist trap went off. Seemed like you handled it well¡­ but¡­ what''s with those all monsters?" The guild official began surveying the area and immediately sensed that something was wrong. There were far too many monster corpses - far more than the guild had anticipated. The test site was under the guild''s supervision to some extent, with workers stationed at various points to keep stronger monsters away. Clearly, something had gone awry, and the official wasted no time in asking questions. "What happened here?" The guild staffer asked, his voice filled with concern as his eyes darted between the fallen lizardmen and the adventurers. Norkas, who had taken on the role of party leader was the first to respond. "You might not believe us but someone set off the sleeping mist trap that we disabled." "They set it off? What do you mean? Tell me everything that happened and leave nothing out." The man was taken aback by the claim but quickly composed himself and asked for more details. Rusty listened quietly, relieved that he wasn''t the one who had to explain. Norkas then recounted what had happened and started off with how they arrived in the room with the chest. He then recounted how someone threw a dagger into the chamber and then also probably lured the monsters to finish them off. The guild official raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhat skeptical of their tale. "So you''re telling me that someone triggered the trap in an attempt to kill you? Then somehow lured in the monsters here to kill you?" "Yes." "Hm¡­ unless you can prove it somehow¡­" The man wasn''t convinced and even when Odelette brought out the dagger that collided with her rock to present as evidence, the man just shook his head. "I see the dagger, but this alone doesn''t prove someone deliberately triggered the trap to harm you, It could have been a stray shot, or someone else attempting the test, perhaps even a stray monster." He shrugged, almost dismissing their claim outright. Norkas tightened his grip on his bow, clearly frustrated. "You''re seriously going to dismiss this? Monsters don''t just target rocks on a pressure plate trap that spawns sleeping mist!" Rusty didn''t say anything as his party members started arguing with the guild member. Instead, he listened to Alexander who quickly told him to do something instead. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Rusty, this won''t lead anywhere, it would be better if you all left now before something else happens." He agreed with his guide that the task was to obtain the two badges in order to complete the examination. Now that they had both badges, it no longer mattered who had thrown the dagger. It was too dangerous to stay here with unknown enemies lurking about. After listening to Alexander''s guidance on what to say, Rusty stepped forward toward the guild official and began to speak. "Excuse me but we both have badges, right?" Rusty said, his voice sounding calm yet firm. "Uh, yes?" The other party members stopped talking and the guild official responded. "The task is then complete if we return we will have passed the test, yes?" He asked again and the man paused for a moment before nodding. "Sure. You just need to give those badges to Garren as proof." After he received the answer he turned to his three party members who also needed to return with him for this to be successful. Even if he took both badges and returned by himself, if everyone else died he wouldn''t be given the iron rank card. "Then shouldn''t we leave?" "You might be right Albert¡­ Staying here longer puts us all in danger, it would be better to let the guild handle the rest." Norkas, their temporary leader nodded in agreement. It was safer to retreat now when they had the chance. The man before them could be a hidden enemy so his decision to leave found no protests. "Mr. Albert makes a good point, let''s just leave, we have completed the task laid out by the guild." Layla agreed with Rusty and Odelette didn''t seem to care one way or another, the only thing she was interested in was getting more money, something Rusty also could get behind. "If you all say so? Then let''s just go but perhaps first, we should take all of the loot!" The room was littered with monster remains, some of which could be sold to the guild for a decent amount of coins. The guild official watched as they gathered the most valuable parts. He took his time examining their claim, inspecting the chamber thoroughly before eventually disappearing down the corridor from which the dagger had been thrown. Rusty and his party decided to retreat for the time being. Having already successfully completed their iron rank test, they preferred not to tempt fate any further. "That was smart Albert, for all we know that guild member could be with the person that tried to mess with us." As they were walking back, Norkas complimented Rusty on his quick thinking. Layla seemed shocked by this statement while Odelette didn''t respond as she was busy counting the amount of money they would receive for the harvested monster parts. They made their way back through the winding corridors of the dungeon, the tension from the recent battle began to dissipate, though an undercurrent of unease remained. "Do you think we can really trust that guild official? What if he''s somehow involved in this? We don''t know who we''re dealing with." Their temporary leader wasn''t amused by the incident in the dungeon but Odelette more cynical words brought him back to reality. "Can we do anything about it if he is involved?" "... You''re probably right, if the guild is involved in this, they could target us if we make too much noise about the issue¡­" Rusty listened from the sidelines, trying to understand the adventurers he wasn''t very familiar with. It seemed that power was still paramount in their society, much like in the world of monsters. Even if they had evidence, confronting a more powerful entity could be unwise and might just get them killed. It was probably better to remain silent and hope that whoever was responsible wouldn''t seek further trouble with them. ''Strength is all that matters¡­'' He mumbled to himself, but his thoughts were interrupted by his guide, Alexander. Rusty had chosen to summon only him as his sole helper, as having both out at once would create too much chaos during battles. ''Is it the only thing that matters?'' ''Is it not?'' ''Do you think you would have done better without the help from those three kids? Or were they actually helpful?'' ''Hm¡­'' Rusty wasn''t sure, as he hadn''t been allowed to use his true form in that battle. However, that didn''t mean Alexander was wrong. Rusty lacked skills for opening locks and detecting traps. Additionally, having ranged support was a big help while fighting monsters. The arrows fired by the two adventurers prevented him from getting scratched on several occasions. ''But weren''t you betrayed by your party before?'' ''Uh¡­ well that''s true but¡­'' Alexander didn''t know how to respond, as this was undeniably true. Having party members could be highly advantageous, but also risky. His guide had been betrayed by companions in the past, yet for some reason, he still clung to the belief that being in a party was ultimately a net positive. ''Well¡­ accidents can happen but there is no replacement for a good party!'' ''Hm¡­'' ''Why don''t we focus on getting out of this dungeon first!'' ''If you say so.'' The group pressed on, making their way back through the winding corridors of the maze dungeon. The thrill of battle had faded, leaving behind a heavy, unsettling silence. All of them were eager for this strange day to finally end. Fortunately, without any further incidents, they reached the dungeon''s exit, where more guild members awaited their return. None appeared perturbed, and it was clear that word of the strange attempt on their lives had yet to reach them. Chapter 77 - 75 – Party Over. "Ah, finally we''re out, and it didn''t even take that long!" "You''re right, Miss Odelette." Layla smiled at the smaller halfling girl as they ventured outside the dungeon. Guild officials were already waiting for them, and most of the other parties that had finished their test were long gone. Odelette raised an eyebrow at how Layla had addressed her and quickly corrected her. "Miss? Come on, we went through that whole dungeon together. Just call me Odelette!" Layla chuckled softly and nodded. "Alright, if you insist. Odelette it is." Their camaraderie had grown naturally after the ordeal they''d shared. Rusty watched quietly as the two talked, unsure of what was unfolding before him. It seemed similar to his own relationship with Gleam, who was still captured by these strange beings made of flesh. As they neared Garren, the silver-rank adventurer, the party''s archer moved to Rusty''s side with a question. "Albert, can I ask you something?" "Yes?" "How were you able to resist the sleeping mist when we were in there? Rusty had anticipated this moment, as Alexander had already instructed him on how to respond. "This helmet is special as it can resist most airborne toxins, like the sleeping mist." "I see, a special helmet¡­" Though Rusty was still a monster pretending to be human, he needed to conceal his true identity. Most adventurers without special abilities or items would be vulnerable to poisons, paralysis, or sleep. Norkas eyed Rusty''s helmet suspiciously, squinting slightly. Rusty sensed that this wasn''t a good sign, but before he could react, the silver-ranked guild official approached them. "I see you''re the last team to return in one piece. Do you have the badges?" Garren''s voice sounded tired, as if he didn''t care much for the well-being of their party and he only wanted proof of their completed task. Norkas, their temporary leader, nodded and handed over the two badges. "Good, looks like you''ve completed the task. Mark it down." Garren turned to another guild worker holding a clipboard, who quickly took note. It seemed that was all the confirmation needed, and before Rusty or anyone else could ask questions, Garren spoke again. "You can come get your new cards tomorrow. That''s all for the test, you can return to the city." The guild official''s quick dismissal hung in the air as the group exchanged glances. After all they had been through - facing near-death, unknown threats, and even possible betrayal, this ending felt anticlimactic. Their temporary leader looked like he wanted to ask something but ultimately decided against it. "Thank you, sir." Norkas replied, lowering his head slightly. Garren turned away to address the other guild members, who seemed eager to leave. Meanwhile, their group gathered for one last conversation before parting ways. "I wonder if everyone made it out alive... Were we the only ones who had trouble with outside interference?" Norkas asked, his frustration evident. He didn''t like that he had nearly lost his life, not to monsters, but to someone else''s meddling. He wasn''t sure if the attack had been aimed at him or at someone else in their temporary party, but without investigating further, they couldn''t be sure. "Maybe we should ask the guild about it?" Layla suggested while the halfling girl shook her head in disapproval. "Do you really think they''ll tell us anything? They could be in on it! I say we lay low for a few weeks. With the monster parts we gathered, we can easily live well for a month, feasting on all sorts of delicious food!" Layla nodded thoughtfully, while Rusty remained silent. He wasn''t truly paying attention to the conversation. These issues didn''t concern him anymore. In his mind, his only goal was to earn more money and rescue Gleam. After that, his adventuring days would probably be over. He hadn''t yet thought about what he would do afterward, but for now, he was focused on one thing at a time. ''Can I leave now?'' Rusty asked Alexander for advice, unsure of what to do. The test was apparently over, but he still had to wait until the next day to receive his new iron card. Only then would he be able to officially enter the dungeon. ''It''d be better if you stayed with them for now. We still need to divide the earnings from the monster parts between the four of you.'' ''Divide them? Even when I killed most of the monsters?'' Alexander chuckled. ''That''s how parties work. They might give you a bigger cut since you did most of the work, but first, you need to sell the parts and that requires you to return to the guild. Just tag along with them for now, they will probably do that first.'' Just as Alexander finished his sentence, the temporary party leader brought up the issue. "How about we head back to the guild and sell those monster parts first?" "Oh, good idea, leader!" Odelette chimed in, which surprised their temporary leader. "Leader?" Norkas responded in a flustered tone at Odelette''s casual title for him. Layla on the other hand just chuckled while Rusty remained silent. The three quickly realized their companion, Albert, was the strong, silent type and didn''t push him for conversation. That didn''t stop them from mentioning him occasionally, to which he responded with as few words as possible. Eventually, the group arrived at the guild building where they were greeted by loud shouting coming from inside. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Doesn''t it feel more rowdy than usual?" Layla inquired as their group moved in through the guild entrance. Inside they could see a small group of people arguing with the guild receptionist wearing large glasses. The woman seemed in distress but she was being protected by some adventurers as well. "There is something not right about that test of yours, how did my brother get injured this bad?" "Please sir, calm down, accidents happen, even during the rank up tests¡­" Rusty and the others paused as they entered the guild hall, taking in the scene of commotion before them. An armor-wearing middle-aged man with a deep scowl was standing at the counter, pointing accusingly at the guild receptionist. His voice carried across the hall as he gestured toward the limp form of another man being held up by a healer nearby. Blood-soaked bandages were wrapped around his left arm, that had been severed near his forearm. "You call this an accident? He went in for a simple rank-up test, and now he''s missing an arm! You''re telling me that''s normal?" The receptionist, clearly flustered, tried to respond calmly. "Sir, I understand your frustration, but the guild cannot guarantee complete safety in dungeons, even during tests. All participants are made aware of the risks¡­" "My brother didn''t sign up to get ambushed by monsters that shouldn''t even be in that part of the dungeon!" The man cut her off, fury etched on his face and his group continued to listen. "So it wasn''t us that were the only us, maybe that''s why Garren looked so tired?" Norkas pondered while the others just nodded. They continued to listen to the conversation but eventually even the guild master appeared to take care of the issue. Once the burly man was there, the other adventurers went silent. It was clear to Rusty that the leader of the guild was powerful and without many more words being spoken, the group that had been complaining retreated. "It might be best to just get our coins and leave. I don''t like what''s happening here, the guild might be hiding something." The others nodded in agreement and headed to the guild''s trading counter to exchange the monster parts they had collected. Despite the unsettling events, the area remained bustling with activity. Unlike the main guild area, this section had counters protected by reinforced metal bars to ensure the safety of the guild workers inside. Rusty noticed that when it came to money, these adventurers were serious. This was where they received mission rewards or exchanged materials for cash. The exchange process here was specialized and more efficient than asking around at the main guild counters. There were three booths, and after waiting for about ten minutes, it was their turn to approach one. "Good evening. Are you here to turn in a mission contract, sell monster parts, or perhaps some equipment?" The guild bought a wide range of items from adventurers, including weapons and armor found within dungeons, though the deals were usually less favorable than going directly to a blacksmith. It was a convenient way to offload unused items quickly, even if it meant accepting a five to ten percent lower price. Most adventurers preferred the speed and ease of this process over spending half the day haggling with merchants. "We want to sell lizardman parts." "Of course, please place the items on the special holding tray there." Rusty wasn''t familiar with this process and continued to watch as a large shelf emerged from under the counter. It resembled a sizable box, slightly over one meter wide and with a similar depth. Using his mana sense, Rusty quickly realized that this was a magical item, much like the spatial satchel he had discovered in the dungeon. His suspicions were soon confirmed. His party members began retrieving the monster parts they had collected, distributing them among themselves. Even Rusty had some lizardmen tongues and claws stored in his bag. One by one, they placed the parts into the box, which seemed to have no bottom as the items vanished into it. "Ugh, it stinks¡­" Odelette commented as they finally deposited all the bloodied monster parts. They hadn''t had time to properly dislodge them, so instead of just taking the claws, they had cut off the lizardmen''s limbs near their hands and feet. This didn''t seem to bother the clerk behind the counter, who remained unphased for some reason. Rusty could only attribute this to the magical barrier he could sense, thanks to his mana sense. Once all the monster parts were deposited into the magical holding tray, the guild clerk gestured for a brief pause. She tapped a glowing rune embedded in her desk, causing a soft hum to fill the air. It took a few minutes, but eventually, a scroll emerged from a slot beside her. It detailed the quantity of materials submitted along with other relevant information. "Let''s see¡­ this will amount to¡­ one gold coin and four silver coins." "Not even two gold coins? Are you sure you got the right amount?" Odelette frowned after hearing the meager amount that they were getting. They still had to split the money between four people which would leave her with not that much. "Most of the parts are damaged and will require our staff to process them again. If they were in better condition I could offer you a higher price, but in their current state, this is the best we can offer." The clerk explained politely, her voice flat and unyielding. Odelette sighed in frustration but didn''t press further. They had little choice in the matter if they wanted to offload the monster parts quickly. It was possible to receive more if they picked out the claws and other parts that were profitable but none of them had the time or skills. To Rusty, this was quite an annoyance. His current quest was to earn more money, and gaining just a few silver coins wouldn''t help him much. ''This might be more difficult than I expected. What monsters bring in the most gold?'' While his party members were busy talking to the guild clerk, Rusty took a moment to look around. The answer to his question was right in front of his metallic visor. A nearby noticeboard held all the information he needed, divided into several sections that listed the most desirable items and their prices. The names of the monsters and items didn''t tell him much, but fortunately, his guide was with him. ''Alexander, can you remember those before we leave?'' ''Uh¡­ it might be better to ask Aburdon instead. I don''t think I can take all of this in with just a few glances.'' Rusty felt a bit disappointed but reminded himself that both his guides had their strengths and weaknesses. Aburdon was knowledgeable in the arcane arts and often lingered in the Soul Forge library, likely possessing a far better memory than Alexander. He could probably absorb information much quicker. Alexander, on the other hand, had been a hero and a warrior which meant he would probably be better at guiding him towards those monsters or telling him how he should act like a human. As the group finished their exchange, Rusty silently mulled over the disappointing earnings. One gold coin and four silver pieces barely made a dent in his goal to amass enough money to free Gleam. He needed a plan that went beyond scraping by on lizardmen parts. With the list in front of him, he had a new strategy. First thing in the morning, he''d get his card replaced and have Aburdon memorize all the necessary information. Then, it would finally be time to scour the iron-ranked maze. This was his best chance to make real progress. "Well then, how about we give Albert 5 silver coins and each of us keeps three each?" Once they had gotten all the money, the party moved over to one of the free guild tables. There Norkas surprisingly presented a plan of giving Rusty most of the money, something he didn''t expect. He thought that all of these adventurers were far too greedy to share their resources. "Think that''s fair!" Layla nodded with confirmation and Odelette did the same. "Yeah, we wouldn''t be alive if it wasn''t for him, he also took care of most of the lizardmen!" Rusty just nodded; earning half a gold coin was still good enough for his efforts. Now that he had his money and had added it to the coins he''d earned from selling metals, it was time to leave. However, before he could stand up, the others started talking again. "Now then, on to other things. Can I make a proposition?" Their temporary leader spoke up, and everyone turned to listen. "I think we did well in the dungeon. What if we formed an official party?" Odelette chimed in, clearly liking the idea. "Oh, that''s not a bad idea! We just need one more fighter at the front to help Albert, and we''ll take over that dungeon in no time!" "Sorry, but... I already have other plans." Layla said, declining before Rusty could give his own thoughts. "That''s a shame, but we could still form a party with the three of us," the leader suggested. "Ah... sorry, but I also have other plans." Rusty said, mirroring Layla''s response before Norkas could continue. He had realized that working with others had its benefits, but also its downsides. While the group provided safety, it meant fewer experience points for him and the need to share resources and money. This was for the best. Norkas blinked in surprise at Rusty''s refusal. He had been so sure that everyone would be on board. A flash of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly recovered and smiled. "I see. Well, if you ever change your mind, don''t be a stranger." Odelette pouted, which made Layla feel a bit guilty about the situation. Everyone had their own reasons for becoming adventurers and their own ways of doing things. With that, the temporary party was officially dissolved, and their paths would now diverge. However, perhaps in the future, their journeys would cross once again. Chapter 78 - 76 – Back To The Grind. "Finally... What took you so long? Were you really having more fun with that idiot hero than with your own demon king?" "He was just better suited to help me interact with the adventurers, now that the test is over, I don''t need him as much." Rusty replied to Aburdon, whom he had finally summoned after returning to his empty inn room. The party had already disbanded, leaving him alone once more. Aburdon, the demon king bound to Rusty, scoffed at the response, his pride clearly wounded by the idea of being less useful than Alexander, the hero. The black orb of light that represented the demon king hovered above Rusty''s head, as though trying to assert its superiority as a companion. Despite his smugness, Aburdon knew he couldn''t refuse an order from his master. Initially, Rusty had wanted both of them to be summoned at the same time as three heads, after all, seemed better than one or two. But the two bickered continuously, like an old married couple, and only caused more problems. It was easier to summon them one at a time. Now that Rusty was becoming more accustomed to the adventurer''s life, it was fine to let Alexander rest for a while. "Next time, wouldn''t it be better to just take all the money for yourself? They would''ve let you pass the test if you gave them the badges, wouldn''t they?" "I doubt it. Working as a team was part of the test. It was better not to push my luck." "Hoh?" Rusty responded, aware that Aburdon wasn''t being completely honest. He had already figured out that both of his guides had their own agendas. The demon king often urged him to kill, betray, and plunder - strategies that could lead to faster progress, but with much higher risks. Alexander, on the other hand, advocated for teamwork, discipline, and a slow but steady progress. The hero also had a soft spot for humans, encouraging Rusty to spare them, even when doing so could hinder his quest to save Gleam. "If you continue down this path, you''ll just be crawling along at a snail''s pace. If you wish to save your friend, wouldn''t it be better to use everything at your disposal?" "What do you mean?" Aburdon floated closer as if trying to whisper into Rusty''s ear. "You''ve already encountered adventurers, seen how they operate. Even during the test, you saw them take treasure and monster parts, didn''t you?" "Yes, that''s right. What are you getting at?" "Why don''t you just steal everything from them? Here''s the plan: first, we buy a detailed map of that maze. I bet they''ve got one that marks all the best spots." "Best spots for what?" "For an ambush, of course, my dear Rusty!" "An ambush? You want me to kill them?" Rusty wasn''t sure how to feel about this suggestion. The adventurers were technically his enemies, but at the same time, they could become allies. As long as he maintained his identity as Albert, they''d treat him as one of their own and even offer help. "Well, if you want to be a goody-two-shoes like that stick-in-the-mud Alexander, you don''t have to kill them. Just knock them out if you prefer. Once they''re out of the way, we grab their spatial bags and take all their loot! How''s that sound?" "Hmm..." Aburdon finally laid out the plan, and Rusty wasn''t completely opposed to it. After observing how things worked at the guild, he knew he could sell the extra monster parts without much trouble. "That doesn''t sound too bad. They''ll probably have some coins on them too. If I leave them alive, Alexander won''t have anything to complain about..." "Exactly! You could even use a place like that chamber with the sleeping mist. Once they''re asleep, you just grab their stuff and disappear!" Rusty mulled over Aburdon''s plan, recognizing its advantages. It wasn''t much different from what he''d done in the old dungeon, luring unsuspecting adventurers into traps and killing them for experience points wasn''t anything new. This wouldn''t be any different, and adventurers were practically walking loot boxes, just waiting to be opened. However, he knew Alexander would likely complain if the killings continued, and there was also the issue with the guild. If adventurers kept dying, the guild would eventually send an even stronger party to hunt him down, which was exactly what he wanted to avoid. It was smarter to play it safe and leave them alive for now, at least until the situation called for more drastic measures. "I''ll think about it, but first we''ll go to the guild and look through that board, will you be able to remember the monster names and prices?" "For my superior intellect, something like that is child''s play." "Good¡­" Rusty nodded and waited patiently, still bound by the rules of this place. His body, incapable of sleep, felt restless as he remained confined to the small room, with little to do besides listening to his guides bicker. At the crack of dawn, he gathered his belongings and headed back to the guild. Today, he had three tasks: first, to retrieve his iron card; then, to study the board for the most profitable monsters; and finally, to head into the dungeon and begin his exploration. Once inside, he had no intention of leaving for a while. This would likely be the last time he returned to the guild for at least a week. The auction day had not been announced just yet but he probably didn''t have much longer than two weeks to get a sizable amount of money. Even if he couldn''t come up with the required funds in time, he had no intention of giving up. If it came down to it, he would bloody his armor again without hesitation. As Rusty entered the guild, he noticed it was quieter than usual. The usual bustle was missing, and it seemed that none of the other participants from the rank-up trial had arrived yet. Alexander had mentioned something about adventurers celebrating with drinking and partying after accomplishing something noteworthy. Rusty wasn''t fully familiar with the customs yet, but he did notice a few adventurers passed out drunk in the corners, evidence of last night''s festivities. He approached the guild receptionist, who, to his surprise, was the same one who was arguing with some adventurers yesterday. "Ah, what can I do for you, sir?" The receptionist stifled a yawn, covering her mouth with one hand. "I''m here to collect my iron adventurer card." Rusty replied, keeping his voice steady and low, trying to act as natural as possible.The receptionist blinked a few times, clearly still groggy from the previous night''s events. She quickly straightened up and began sifting through paperwork on her desk. "Of course. Could I have your old adventurer card?" "Here." Rusty had his card ready and handed it over. The woman took it and grabbed a pre-prepared list from the side. She scanned through the names, eventually confirming that "Albert the adventurer" was on the list. Then, she reached for a stack of new cards. The stack was sizable, though Rusty noted it seemed smaller than the number of people who had participated in the trial. She flipped through the cards, stopping halfway to pull out Rusty''s new one. His old card had a copper tint, but this one gleamed with iron. The back bore the Adventurers Guild insignia, while the front displayed his name, rank, and the details of where and when the card was issued. Rusty accepted the card, glancing briefly at the rank now etched into the metal. His mind was already wandering as the significance of this upgrade hit him. With this, he could finally return to his main mission. "¡­ Remember, if you lose this card, we can remake it, but there will be a fee¡­" The woman continued, but Rusty had already mentally checked out. He turned on his metallic heel, cutting her off mid-sentence. He was tired of playing along with these adventurers, tired of pretending to care about their customs. The mummified body inside the armor might have felt lighter, but it was still uncomfortable. Once he was back in the dungeon, he could finally enjoy his freedom again. "Thank you, and goodbye." "Ah... Have a nice day, sir." The receptionist muttered, watching as he walked away. She placed his old card aside and resumed her work, her curiosity lingering on the odd adventurer for just a moment longer. She watched as Rusty walked toward the exit, only to stop suddenly and turn around with urgency. His pace quickened as he charged back toward her, catching her off guard. "Um¡­ was there something more?" She asked, her glasses almost falling off her nose as she flinched. "Yes¡­ Do you happen to have maps for the Iron-ranked dungeon?" "For the Dungeon of the Maze? Absolutely! We have the newest and most updated maps with all the pointers an Iron adventurer would ever need!" She quickly replied with enthusiasm like an experienced merchant. Rusty almost forgot the most crucial part of his preparation - the map. He needed it, and not only it as Aburdon had to memorize the creatures and treasures listed on the guild board. The map of the Maze Dungeon had three levels, each requiring its own corresponding map. The first level cost one silver coin, but the second and third were pricier. Still, Rusty knew this was a necessary investment. Going in blind was too risky. Without something to help him orient himself, the maze would live up to its name, and he could easily become lost in its winding corridors. He fished out one silver coin from his satchel and deposited it down on the counter. The woman smiled at him and the trade had been made. "Will this be all or would you perhaps be interested in other maps? Or perhaps some supplies?" "No, this is enough¡­" Rusty retreated once again, this time heading toward the side room where he had received his coins the day before. The room was mostly empty now, though a few adventurers were still turning in items for profit. Without engaging anyone, Rusty quietly approached the board displaying various numbers and information on monsters and rewards. Aburdon, hidden inside Rusty''s armor, floated near his visor and began scanning the board. As ordered, he quickly processed the information. Rusty barely had to wait as Aburdon''s ability to memorize things was almost instant. With the essential data now stored in Aburdon''s mind, Rusty felt more confident about his upcoming journey into the dungeon. He was ready to head back into the depths and truly explore it for profit. The main mission board at the guild displayed a variety of requests from different people. From what he understood, if he wanted to accept a quest, he would need to take the request form from the board and hand it to the receptionist. Many of the missions involved leaving the city to act as a bodyguard or some type of guard in other towns. However, the ones that interested him most were the requests for monster materials. These missions had a time limit and could potentially earn him more money, though they didn''t always guarantee a reward. Some of the missions couldn''t be reserved in advance. The first person to return with the required items would receive the reward. It was a risky move to focus on certain requests but thanks to Aburdon''s memorisation skills, he could later decide on the most worthwhile ones. Once he was done looking through all of the information, it was finally time to leave. His pace increased, the crowds of people still not formed which allowed him to arrive at the exit to the city quite fast. The journey to the dungeon was uneventful, with a few adventurers trailing behind while others returned from their own missions. The scenery grew familiar, and after flashing his new iron-rank card to the guards, he continued inside. ''It feels similar, yet somehow different...'' Rusty had returned to the dungeon, unnoticed by the other adventurers who paid little attention to the lone iron-rank fighter. The walls were smooth as before, offering no cover from view. If he intended to ambush other adventurers, it certainly wouldn''t be in one of these corridors, where there was nothing to hide behind. ''Can you really do it?'' S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Of course, I am the demon lord!'' ''So, where should I go next?'' ''That depends what are you looking for, my dear rusty? Rare monsters? Perhaps boobytrapped rooms to lead those pesky adventurers in? Or maybe we should just skip to the first area boss?'' Rusty held onto the map while letting Aburdon absorb the details. Unfortunately, he wasn''t the fastest reader, but he could at least understand the symbols. This dungeon was different from the one he was used to. One major difference was that every level was a maze, and another was that each one was guarded by a boss monster, similar to the one he had faced on the tenth floor. ''Alexander mentioned that these bosses are regularly killed by adventurers, so for now, let''s just focus on finding some regular monsters to hunt, something above those Lizardmen, true E ranks.'' ''I see you''re being daring today Rusty. If I''m correct¡­ and I am always correct, then there should be some orcs around the wester area, they should a good way to get that metal heart pumping!'' ''But I don''t have a heart?'' ''It''s just a way of speaking my dear Rusty, try to keep up~'' ''...'' He didn''t appreciate the mocking tone, but lacking human sensitivities so he wasn''t too bothered by it. Soon, Rusty was navigating the dungeon corridors, guided by Aburdon, who directed him at every turn. It was as if he had a natural radar, always aware of his position without the need to constantly check the map. The plan was in motion, and Rusty couldn''t wait to shed his current disguise. As soon as he entered the dungeon, he had used the loadout feature to remove Albert''s body from within his armor, instantly feeling much lighter. However, he couldn''t yet return to his original monster form. Too many adventurers were still roaming the tunnels, a problem that was quickly becoming a headache. He encountered a few lone lizardmen along the way and also a variant of some from his old dungeon. Some skeletons blocked his way, their bones obsidian in color and their movements much quicker then the ones he was familiar with. Classification: Obsidian Skeleton Soldier L3 E- Type: Undead Description: An evolved version of a skeleton monster, their black bones are much more resistant to shattering when compared to their lesser evolved forms. The description had been accurate, but just like before, with the help of his elemental discharge skill, the creatures quickly turned to dust. Unfortunately, there weren''t many of them here - certainly not enough to farm experience points and grow stronger. Their bones or the powder they turned into weren''t highly valued, but even a few copper coins were worth taking, so he collected everything he could. ''Don''t worry, Gleam, I''ll save you one way or another...'' With his path laid out before him, he ventured deeper into the illuminated corridors. Although the adventurers posed a threat to his life, soon enough he would receive a very helpful skill that would allow him to resume his old tactics. Chapter 79 - 77 – Detection. Several obsidian skeletons charged at a large person wearing iron armor in a well-lit corridor. His movements were swift as he sidestepped the first skeleton''s swing, bringing his mace down on its exposed spine. The obsidian bones cracked but didn''t shatter immediately. The sword hummed with a faint glow, a trace of light elemental energy coursing through it. With a quick twist, it was swung upwards now cutting through the black bones like butter. The two skeletons advanced, their jagged iron weapons raised in unison. Their opponent didn''t retreat; instead, as one of the bladed weapons swung down, he caught it with his metal gauntlet. His sword thrust forward, piercing the monster''s skull in a single, decisive blow. The third monster didn''t fare too well, soon having his skull exploded by one strong radiant punch. ''Not bad, Rusty. Your control over the light has gotten better but remember, not all monsters are weak to it, the light won''t work on the Orcs nor on the Lizardmen, the darkness on the other hand¡­'' Rusty looked down at the bones on the ground. He had already figured out that it was more lucrative to not turn these bones into dust. The purifying energies of his light skill would cleanse the evil undead energies from the bones, rendering them worthless to anyone who was trying to use them for things like alchemy or crafting. At least that was what Aburdon claimed as he was explaining how his light worked on the monsters here. Once he defeated these three, his system gave him a notification of him gaining a new level and also a new skill. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L3 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 242/242 Magic Points [MP] 202/202 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 89 [ E ] Agility 65 [ E ] Dexterity 64 [ E ] Constitution 92 [ E ] Intelligence 70 [ E ] Wisdom 72 [ E ] Willpower 71 [ E ] Durability D Detect Life L1 Passive Skill When focusing it becomes possible to detect living creatures within a certain radius. The range and clarity improve with each level. Rusty glanced at the new skill notification, his gauntleted hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The skill, Detect Life, didn''t seem particularly useful for navigating the maze-like dungeon, but it could prove helpful for his future plans. Almost instantly, Aburdon, who had a direct view of Rusty''s status screen, chimed in. "This is quite useful, Rusty! It might be just what we needed for my¡­ I mean our plan to work~" "Oh? How so?" Rusty asked, his curiosity piqued. "Why don''t you try activating it first and see?" Nodding, Rusty activated the skill while picking up the shattered black bones scattered around him. As soon as he did, a strange sensation washed over him. He could sense something behind one of the walls - a presence, moving around and emitting a faint pulse. From one of the nearby corridors, he detected three more of those pulses approaching, causing him to flinch. Even before their footsteps reached his ears, the skill gave him a clear picture of the approaching group of adventurers. Quickly, he activated one of his pre-set loadouts. To fight the skeletons, he had swapped his usual gauntlets for his twilight variant. The iron suit he was required to wear as an adventurer wasn''t his best. It couldn''t harness his elemental skill either, but switching out his gauntlets was a temporary fix and much easier to explain to anyone he might encounter. Most, if not all, adventurers likely wouldn''t notice that the gauntlets belonged to a living armor. Even if they did, they''d likely assume he was just an adventurer wearing monster gauntlets, not suspecting that he was a monster himself. "Ah, a lone adventurer?" From around the corner, three figures emerged: two men clad in heavy armor and an archer dressed in lighter leather gear. Rusty studied them for a moment, recognizing their setup immediately. Now that he was familiar with how adventurers typically operated, he knew this wasn''t an ideal party composition. They only had an archer to scout for traps and hidden threats, while the other two were simple frontline fighters. There was no mage for support, no healer, and no proper trap expert. It became clear that these adventurers weren''t here for a serious mission. They were likely just farming materials from the dungeon''s upper layers, avoiding the more dangerous depths. Still, even a casual group could become a problem if they realized what Rusty truly was. He remained alert, carefully gauging their movements while picking up the bones on the ground. ''Be careful, Rusty. There are no laws in these dungeons, and people go missing all the time. Never trust anyone when they outnumber you and especially those of the many races¡­" Aburdon warned, his voice firm in Rusty''s mind. As the group drew nearer, he remained silent, unable to speak without Albert''s body inside the armor. He straightened himself out, his frame being wider and taller than most regular human men. In his left hand, he gripped a sturdy kite shield, while his right hand held a longsword. The stance was unmistakable and ready for combat. The approaching adventurers instantly recognized the posture and tried to diffuse the tension. "Friend, we''re just passing through. No need to worry..." One of the men spoke, his voice calm but cautious. ''Don''t trust them, Rusty.'' Aburdon''s voice rang out again. ''Look at their hands. Those two fighters are ready to draw their swords. Be prepared for anything!'' Rusty''s eyes quickly scanned their movements. The archers'' posture was relaxed, but the two armored men had subtly shifted, their hands resting too close to their weapons. Aburdon''s warnings were precise and constant, much different from Alexander''s. The demon king was ever watchful, always pointing out threats to Rusty''s life or how people might deceive him, and read to strike when he was distracted. Nevertheless, Rusty wasn''t looking for trouble, at least not yet. This dungeon was different from the other he had explored. It lacked the irregular corridors and small crevices where he could hide or stow his helmet in a hole to disappear from sight. If he began openly attacking people here, the chances of being discovered were far too high. His new Detect Life skill was already alerting him to a presence behind the nearby wall, someone who could potentially hear the battle and come looking for trouble. It was better, for now, to let the adventurers pass while keeping his guard up. Rusty subtly adjusted his stance, giving them enough room to walk by without seeming too confrontational. "... These new adventurers are getting ruder every day," One of the men muttered as they passed. "Hmph¡­" The other grunted as if to agree. Rusty kept silent, watching them carefully as they moved on. Once they were at a safer distance, their grumbling voices carried back to him, but he stayed focused, alert for any signs of a double-back or sudden attack. Letting them pass was the smart move for now, but he remained ready for anything. ''Letting them go, are you? They were sizing you up, Rusty. You should''ve struck first, taken their gear, and disappeared. They could''ve been loaded with valuables! It''s because of that fool Alexander that you are slowly losing your ways of a monster but don''t worry, if you stick with me, will get you right back on track!'' Aburdon scoffed at the decision to let the adventurers pass, but from Rusty''s perspective, the risk was too great. He didn''t want to be hunted by adventurers again. If he were to take resources from them, he''d do it smartly. Now that he had the life detection skill, targeting smaller parties like this one would be easier, but for now, he wanted to grind the normal way. ''Someone''s behind this wall. It could have been dangerous.'' ''That wall? Don''t worry. Even if they heard you, there''s no path leading to this corridor. Next time, just ask!'' ''Umm¡­ sure? How about you tell me where those orcs are first?'' Rusty felt like Aburdon was pushing him to take on more than was safe. It was true the demon now knew the dungeon''s layout, and asking him would have probably eased Rusty''s mind. Still, he was trying to get used to this place, and murdering adventurers right away felt like a bad idea. First he needed to find himself a challenge as these black skeletons weren''t much of a money maker. The orcs and their body parts sold for three times as much and he would probably also be able to take their items for restructuring. Soon he was on his way and with the life detection skill he found himself detecting some movement not far from his location. ''An area with orcs should be nearby, let us hope it hasn''t been cleared out yet.'' After getting into this dungeon Rusty realized that it wasn''t that easy to earn money. All adventures were competing for limited resources. The dungeon only had a limited amount of monsters and treasures inside. The trio that he passed were probably returning back to the city as night had already drawn close. His biggest advantage over these fleshy people was that he didn''t require sleep. Once they were slumbering or having parties, this place would belong to him. Rusty moved swiftly through the winding corridors, led by Aburdon''s almost flawless memory of the dungeon''s mapped layout. His new Detect Life skill pulsed gently in the back of his mind, alerting him to the presence of both adventurers and monsters nearby. Eventually he appeared at a clearing, where an encampment of orcs was waiting for him. Classification: Lesser Dungeon Orc E L3 Type: sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Humanoid Description: A weaker subspecies of orc, commonly found mostly in dungeons. While lacking the intelligence of more evolved orcs, they are formidable in packs. Just as expected, he found the monster that he was looking for. It was around his height, green and muscular, with jagged tusks protruding from its lower jaw. There were just two of them, probably due to the fact that this place had been cleared out by someone else. Rusty could see scratches on the walls and holes in the ground that were in the process of mending themselves. With his skill to detect mana, it was quite obvious how the dungeon was healing itself. Despite their weaker classification as ''Lesser Dungeon Orcs'' Rusty knew they would still pose a challenge if not handled properly. They were E-rank monsters just like him and considered something that shouldn''t be handled alone. However, that was by adventurer standards and he was not the average adventurer. With the help of his new skill, he knew that no one was watching and now he could finally return to his original form. ''That''s better¡­'' Rusty activated the first loadout that turned him into his original body. Gone was the regular iron shell, replaced by the more grayish-dark twilight metal he had become used to. He instantly felt an increase in mobility, power, and durability. The orcs snorted and muttered in their guttural language, unaware of his presence. This would be his first true test in this dungeon, and it was time to put both his body to the test. Thus he prepared himself to charge forth but before he could, his guide protested. ''Wait Rusty, what do you think you are doing?'' ''Huh? I was just going to defeat them?'' ''Sure¡­ but why would you want to fight them together? There is no logical reason to do so! Listen here, your life is tied to my life, so it''s something very precious. Because if you die, then I will fade away into oblivion!'' Aburdon started ranting and he just listened. It was obvious that the demon lord only saw himself as the most important being and wanted to preserve his own existence at all costs. Rusty understood that, but he still found Aburdon''s constant scheming irritating. Even so, the advice he gave wasn''t always wrong. ''So, what do you suggest? Should I just lure them out?'' ''Precisely, Divide and conquer, my dear Rusty. Why face two when you can deal with them one at a time? Orcs are strong but not particularly smart. We can lure one away and dispatch it quickly. Once it''s gone, the other one will be easy prey.'' Rusty sighed inwardly but agreed. Despite his instincts telling him to charge headlong into battle, it would be smarter to follow Aburdon''s plan. He just had been itching for a proper fight but this was not the time for it. Rusty positioned himself at a bend in the corridor, where the walls provided decent cover. He then picked up two small rocks, throwing one in the direction of his target and the other in the opposite direction. The orc grunted in surprise, turning its head to locate the source of the disturbance. Its beady eyes locked onto the small stone that had just bounced off its shoulder, and without hesitation, it let out a low, guttural growl. It barked something incomprehensible to the other orc before trudging forward to investigate the source of the noise. The other orc, on the other hand, followed the sounds of the rocks bouncing down the opposite corridor, its heavy footsteps growing fainter as it distanced itself. Rusty remained perfectly still, watching the first orc approach his hiding spot, oblivious to the trap it was walking into. ''Patience, Rusty¡­ Wait until it''s just close enough¡­'' Aburdon whispered as if incapable of shutting up for even one minute. The orc''s muscular frame loomed closer, its crude axe dragging along the dungeon floor, sparks flying as metal scraped against stone. Rusty felt the tension building in his metallic limbs, his fingers gripping his weapon as he got ready to strike. Then, just as the orc was about to pass his cover, Rusty exploded into motion. He used the usual tactics, shield bash to the chest and then a follow-up attack with his sword. The orc grunted, stumbling back but quickly regaining its footing, raising its axe high for a retaliatory swing. Rusty, however, was faster. His sword thrust forward lodging itself into the monster''s shoulder and drawing blood. The orc roared in pain as Rusty''s sword lodged deep into its shoulder, dark crimson blood splattering across the dungeon floor. Despite its wounds, the creature was relentless, swinging its heavy axe in a wild arc, aiming to cleave Rusty in half. But Rusty, with his enhanced stats from his twilight metal form, easily sidestepped the attack. The axe slammed into the stone wall, lodging itself into it and becoming stuck. Rusty seized the opportunity and lunged forward. His blade glowed red as he targeted the monster''s nape. The monster''s head flew threw the air and the rest of its body slumped forward as it was easily dispatched. One was defeated by another and still remained and was charging right at him. This was a great opportunity to test if his darkness affected the fleshy variants of these monsters just as Aburdon claimed. Dark energy erupted from his body, surging toward the approaching orc. The creature immediately began to tremble, as if struck by poison. The reaction was similar to how humans had reacted earlier, but not as intense. Despite the pain, the orc remained on its feet, pushing forward, relying on brute strength to resist. ''This is interesting¡­'' In a way, he was pleased that his opponent wasn''t just another training dummy. Though his goal was to make money, the thrill of battle still burned within him, and these orcs made for fascinating sparring partners. Chapter 80 - 78 – Desynthesis. ''That was fun, but are you sure these will sell for anything? Why would anyone want this?'' Rusty asked, his confusion apparent in his tone. ''Don''t ask silly questions, Rusty,'' Aburdon replied, with a somewhat awkward tone. "There are some things kids like you shouldn''t be thinking about. Just know it was on the board and it''s a component for a potion that people use... for various reasons, that you don''t need to know." Rusty glanced at the defeated Orc lying before him, its body already cut in several places. The tusks fetched a decent price, as did the ears and eyes. Aburdon had also instructed him to remove some of the inner organs, like the liver and heart. Taking the whole body would lower the value of the loot. But there was one part in particular that was the most valuable - a set of dangling orbs between the monster''s legs that looked almost comical. Rusty stared at the Orc''s body, particularly at the orbs Aburdon had mentioned. A strange feeling washed over him - a mix of amusement and disgust. Some of Aburdon''s and Alexander''s memories still lingered in his mind, stirring up those emotions. Despite the oddity of the situation, it was valuable loot. After a brief stretch and a quick nick with his dagger, he dislodged the orbs, leaving the other protruding appendage behind. ''Are you sure this is the most valuable part? It''s certainly... big, but the consistency is strange.'' ''Rusty... stop playing with the Orc''s ''parts'' and put them away! Out of my sight, this instant!'' Aburdon''s voice was sharp, clearly appalled by Rusty''s casual handling of the squishy organ. To Rusty, still new to the world of monster parts, this was an unfamiliar experience. As living armor, he''d never considered examining trophies after battle. However, the loot was precious and he had defeated two orcs already but afterward, he was made aware of one problem. ''This feels... inefficient¡­'' Rusty muttered to himself. He wasn''t particularly skilled at harvesting these parts. Back when he was in the small party of four adventurers, the thief or one of the archers always handled this task. His job was simply to watch their backs while they worked. They weren''t much better at it than he was, but at least he could focus on what he was good at - killing monsters. ''How much money will I lose if I don''t do this?'' ''You want to leave the processing of the monster materials to the guild? If you do that, we''ll lose about twenty to thirty percent of the money¡­ I''m not sure if that''s the best idea.'' If Rusty had a face he would be frowning. He didn''t like the idea of losing that much money, but taking time to harvest parts also meant fewer creatures to hunt, which cost him coins too. If each unprocessed body lost him twenty or thirty percent, he''d just have to hunt more to make up for it. Another option was to harvest the parts later, once he was back at the inn. For now, he decided to stuff the other Orc''s body into his storage space, along with the organs he''d already cut out. ''I''ll just deal with this later¡­'' He thought. Then, something strange happened. His inventory system made a distinction between the unprocessed Orc corpse and the one he had cut up. It reminded him of how he could store living armor parts and exchange them for bronze ingots. Apparently, the same applied to monster bodies and parts. With just a few well-placed clicks, his inventory system could dismantle the monster bodies he had stored, separating them into valuable components. The Lesser Dungeon Orc remains will be lost during the process of desynthesis, do you wish to continue? ''It''s called desynthesis?'' At first, Rusty hesitated, but there was no reason to hold back. Once the process began, the system flawlessly dissected the Orc''s corpse into all the important parts and even some he had avoided due to time constraints. Every valuable piece was neatly extracted and placed back in his storage in a stack. The rest of the body was consumed in the process, but it didn''t matter; the processed organs were what counted. ''Neat!'' Rusty thought, cheering at his newfound discovery. This would make hunting and harvesting so much easier. Aburdon, however, was shocked at the system. ''What is this strange system? How can it do so much? That hero won''t explain anything to me either!'' To Aburdon, the former demon lord, the world''s system had always been nothing more than a record-keeping tool, tracking his accomplishments and skills. There was no such thing as a Soul Forge, and certainly, it didn''t automatically perform tasks like processing bodies into valuable parts. Even spatial magic required effort, and most magical items couldn''t perfectly disassemble materials into ingots or organs. Where was this process taking place, was there a hidden pocket dimension where it was processed by some type of being and then generated here? It didn''t make any sense to him, someone who had lived for hundreds of years and seen it all. ''This is going to save so much time, Now I can focus more on hunting instead of harvesting! and the process has already started!'' Rusty thought with excitement as he glanced around the chamber. It was a small encampment of E-rank Orcs. According to the guild''s information, there should have been up to ten Orcs here, but so far, he''d only encountered two. The area was a popular target for adventurers and was periodically cleared out. Normally, with adventurers regularly around, the monsters wouldn''t respawn right away, allowing the area time to regenerate. But Rusty wasn''t human - he was a living armor monster. Unlike other adventurers, he could stay here indefinitely, allowing the creatures to respawn without needing to move on to a different location. It made hunting much easier, as for a few seconds after they materialized, the monsters remained stationary. Even now, Rusty moved silently behind one of the green-skinned creatures as it began to form, materializing right before his eyes. Thanks to his Mana Sense skill, he could clearly see the process in detail. First, pale mana particles gathered from the ground, swirling and twisting into the rough outline of an Orc. The body took shape first, followed by the limbs, and finally the head, complete with tusks and scars that added to its menacing appearance. Rusty watched in fascination as the creature solidified, completely unaware of his presence. The moment the Orc finished materializing, Rusty seized the opportunity. With deadly precision, he plunged his blade into the creature''s head before it had a chance to react. It gurgled, blood spilling from its mouth along with the iron blade that had pierced through its skull. Rusty quickly yanked the sword out, being careful not to damage the valuable eyes and tusks. The Orc collapsed to the ground, its body disintegrating into mana particles as it perished. ''This will be easy~'' This cycle would repeat itself. The dungeon was a machine that created monsters endlessly, and Rusty had become part of that machine, exploiting it for his gain. His system''s new abilities meant he could hunt with brutal efficiency, maximizing his profit while minimizing risk. The only downside was that the dungeon''s regeneration took time, so Rusty would need to remain patient between hunts. "Quite a way to gather materials, but... we can do better than this, can''t we, Rusty?" Aburdon''s voice broke the silence. Rusty had spent several hours farming the Orcs. One appeared every ten minutes, leaving him with nothing to do for most of the time. Though his new system feature had made the process more efficient, it still wasn''t optimal. Killing only six or seven Orcs an hour, while safe, wasn''t going to cut it for long-term profit. What Aburdon said was true as it was time to move on and find more lucrative methods of earning money. "You''re probably right. What do you think I should do?" Rusty asked, knowing Aburdon had been scheming for a while and had disclosed parts of the plan previously. Aburdon had already crafted a plan for targeting adventurers, especially while they slept, and now seemed like the perfect time to put it into action. "We already learned the best way to deal with adventurers during your little Iron-rank test." "Do you mean, the sleeping mist?" "Bravo, Rusty. You''re learning!" Aburdon replied, his tone smug as always. The plan was simple: use sleeping mist traps to put adventurers to sleep, then loot them off all their belongings. In this vast maze dungeon, there were several locations with traps already in place. With Aburdon''s keen navigation skills, all Rusty needed to do was move to these locations and wait for adventurers to arrive. Once they did, he could trigger the trap, let the mist do its work, and rob them blind while they slumbered. The plan felt simple yet effective. Adventurers who hunted orc monsters like him could be the real treasure in this dungeon. It didn''t take him long to arrive at one of these locations, which differed in several ways from the chamber he had visited with his previous adventuring group. Back then, someone had knocked down the substitute weight, an incident still on his mind, though ultimately irrelevant to a monster like him. ''This looks like a similar pressure plate trap. Why don''t we stick to the method they used? You should be able to trigger it from that corridor or we could use one of the shadows for cover if you have enough mana to remain hidden.'' Rusty nodded and glanced toward another passage. A small chest sat on top of the pressure plate, perhaps containing an accessory he could use later. Once the adventurers arrived, he could use his bow to knock it down. The walls were designed to close in once the trap was triggered. Blending with the shadows was also an option but it was better to use that skill as a backup plan when escaping. Now, all he had to do was wait for someone to show up, and in the meantime, he could pass the time by killing a few wandering monsters. Aburdon had chosen a spot where adventurers were sure to pass through, and they waited. Rusty used his free time to battle skeletons, lizardmen, and a new creature an oversized, flesh-eating bat. The bat was especially annoying, producing disorienting sound waves while clinging to the ceiling. It would swoop down to attack while he was preoccupied with other monsters and usually flee once he started firing arrows in its direction. Eventually, his life detection skill activated, signaling that his first victims were approaching. ''Here they come, Rusty. Stay perfectly still and take aim. Once all of them are inside, shoot the chest!'' Footsteps echoed in the distance as Rusty focused on the number of people approaching. His life detection skill was proving useful, covering a range of almost fifty meters. He could sense four people heading his way, and soon their voices filled the chamber. Three of them sounded female, with only one male among the group. "Hey, you''re sticking too close to Richter." "Richter just likes me more than you. That''s not my fault." "That''s not true, I''m his favorite. Isn''t that right?" "Girls, please, calm down. I love you all the same - how could I choose between you?" ''That''s a strange conversation¡­'' Rusty thought, holding perfectly still with his bow and arrow ready. He could tell that two of the females were sticking unusually close to the male, with the third trailing slightly behind. While he was aware of some human courting rituals, having multiple people this close seemed like abnormal behavior to him. Rusty listened intently to the group''s banter. Though he found their conversation strange, he quickly dismissed it. It wasn''t his concern what these adventurers did in their free time or even during their hunts. His only objective now was to trigger the trap and loot them once the mist had done its work. He could feel the tension of the waiting game, his metallic fingers twitching, ready to release the arrow. The adventurers entered the room, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. They were probably aware of the pressure plate hidden beneath the chest, but that didn''t matter. As long as they stepped into the center of the chamber, his plan would still work. "Lilly, go grab the chest." "Why should I? You just want Richter all to yourself, don''t you?" The two girls began arguing, their attention fixated on Richter. Neither wanted to budge, which made Rusty wonder if they''d even move closer into the chamber. Fortunately, the third woman intervened to settle the matter. "Can you two be quiet? The monsters will hear you. Fine, I''ll do it... but I''m sharing the bed instead of you!" "Hey, that''s not fair!" "That''s cheating!" For some reason, their conversation was making Rusty angry. Memories that belonged to Alexander, the late hero and his life of chastity, stirred with rage as if something about the situation was deeply wrong. He couldn''t understand why, but the frustration was there, bubbling beneath the surface. Finally, the third woman stepped forward, and Rusty took aim. Just as she approached the pedestal to place a replacement weight, he released the arrow, knocking the chest down. "W-who did that?" "Huh?" The four adventurers, preoccupied with their flirting, were caught off guard. Before they could react, the walls began closing in, and the sleeping mist rose from the floor. Rusty could barely make out their gasps for air and frantic screams as the trap took hold. "That reminds me of the old days, The succubi never left me alone... Ah, it''s hard being popular." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aburdon made a few sly comments while Rusty just waited for the blocked door to open itself up again. As the chamber door slowly slid open, Rusty cautiously stepped forward, peering inside at the now unconscious adventurers. The sleeping mist had done its work perfectly. They lay sprawled on the ground, their weapons and gear scattered about. "Look at them, Rusty. Helpless, vulnerable, and brimming with valuable loot. These adventurers come into dungeons expecting danger from monsters, but they never expect someone like us to be lurking, always so gullible." His guide gloated while Rusty silently observed the scene. Two of the women lay unconscious, draped over the man - one of them had animal ears, while the other appeared to be fully human. The third, a pointy-eared elf, had collapsed in the middle of an attempted retreat, her body sprawled a short distance from the trio. Now, they were all there, defenseless and vulnerable - with no one capable of stopping his next move. Chapter 81 - 79 – The Iron Bandit. "Huh? Why is it so cold?" A man''s voice echoed in the large, open chamber. He clutched his head, trying to ease the pounding headache. His name was Richter, and just moments ago, he had been enjoying a regular trip into the maze dungeon with his three companions. It took him a second, but then he remembered - someone had triggered the trap, releasing the sleeping mist. "What?" His vision, initially blurry, sharpened, and he realized why he was so cold. His expensive armor was gone. Even his silk shirt was missing, leaving him stripped down to his underpants. The same fate had befallen his companions - three women, all missing their newly bought adventuring gear, left with nothing but their undergarments. Panic surged through Richter as he scanned the room, realizing the extent of what had happened. His beloved sword, the one he had saved up for months to buy, was gone. The enchanted rings he wore on his fingers were gone. Even his prized potion belt was missing. His heart pounded, his mind racing to comprehend how they had been so thoroughly robbed without waking up. "W-What happened?!" One of the women, Lilly, stirred awake, her fox-like ears twitching as she heard Richter''s voice. She, too, quickly realized her missing armor, her face turning pale. "Where''s all our stuff?" The other two adventurers, a human named Kara and an elf called Elara, began to rouse as well. Elara, usually the calm one, sat up slowly, a deep frown creasing her face. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We''ve been looted? They even took my boots?!" She glanced around the room, searching for any clues, but the stone chamber was empty aside from their discarded bags, a few torn pieces of clothing, and a small pile of crude weapons. All eyes turned to the pile. The items were crude, worthless, barely fit for use. It seemed that whoever had robbed them had left these behind out of pity. "Who did this? Do they expect me to use this rusty sword?" Richter staggered to his feet, anger boiling inside him. He sifted through the pile of crude weaponry and pulled out a rusted iron blade. Holding the sword high, his hand trembled with fury. The blade was chipped, dull, and barely held together at the hilt. It was a mockery - a pitiful replacement for the finely crafted weapon he had lost. His heart raced as he glanced back at his companions, all of them sharing the same stunned expression. "Whoever did this... they''re going to pay!" Richter shouted, nearly hurling the rusted sword to the ground in frustration. But with nothing else to arm himself with, it was the only weapon available. They were four unarmed adventurers, and even this broken sword was better than bare fists. "T-There''s something coming¡­ maybe we shouldn''t be shouting!" Lilly, the fox-eared woman, said, wrapping her arms around herself. Her ears twitched, picking up sounds of movement from one of the corridors. The maze was still teeming with monsters, and it became clear they needed to retreat. Without wasting any more time, the group hastily grabbed whatever crude weapons they could. As soon as they saw a Lizardmen emerge from the shadows, Richter barked the command. "Run, and don''t look back!" "Why did they have to take our boots¡­ this floor is so cold!" "Don''t talk, you''re bite your tongue!" "Ahhhhh!" ****** Unbeknownst to the group of adventurers, the person who had robbed them wasn''t that far away. Rusty stood in the distance in one of the empty corridors, his life detection skill informing him about the adventurers departing. "Bah, we should have just killed them." "If we kill them, then an investigation by the guild might be launched, Alexander said that the guild won''t investigate robberies as much as murders." Aburdon grumbled, not entirely satisfied with Rusty''s approach. While robbing adventurers of their gear was effective and avoided the unwanted attention that murder would bring, it still felt inefficient to him. Rusty, however, was pragmatic about the situation. Looting them and letting them go meant they''d likely survive, return to town, and replenish their supplies - making them future targets. "I wonder how much this will go for?" Rusty was looking at the display of his system with all the icons representing the loot he had gotten. The armor set that the person called Richter had was made from some kind of strange alloy. It wasn''t steel but something that condensed mana and also had strange magical words written over it. There were also many accessories, some that he had already equipped to exchange his old ones. "Probably not that much." "What do you mean?" Aburdon interrupted his thoughts as he answered his question. Then he quickly explained himself. "Those four if they survive will probably report everything to that guild or even the guards. The armor that one human was wearing is quite peculiar, it will get identified the moment you try to sell it to any merchant and that''s why I said, you should have just killed them!" "Are you sure?" "Of course!" "Isn''t there some way to sell it though?" "There is but¡­" Aburdon had a point but he also couldn''t keep his knowledge hidden away. Rusty already knew how to manage his words around this demon lord who liked to withhold information. The armor set he''d taken from Richter was unusual, and selling it could attract unwanted attention, but there were still ways of getting around that problem. "A thieves Guild should exist in that city." "A thieves Guild?" The glowing orb of black light hovered closer as Aburdon continued by explaining to Rusty what this guild was. "A Thieves Guild is an underground network of criminals who specialize in smuggling, fencing stolen goods, and performing jobs most people wouldn''t dare to touch. They''re like the adventurer''s guild, but for, well, the less savory types." For some reason, Rusty felt like Aburdon had some appreciation for this guild of thieves. It was an organization that lacked proper rules and was less honorable. Perhaps it reminded him of the way demons handled things by force and subterfuge. "They operate in the shadows, far away from the eyes of the law. If you want to get rid of that armor without anyone noticing, they''ll be your best bet." Rusty considered this. A Thieves Guild? He''d never dealt with criminals before or at least, not intentionally. The three thugs who had attacked him at the inn might have been members. He wasn''t sure what to make of it, but the loot adventurers carried could fetch a high price. They didn''t seem to carry much gold on them, likely storing it in the city''s banks for safekeeping while they ventured out. He''d heard that one could open an account with just an adventurer''s card, making it easy to secure their valuables. "How do I find this Thieves Guild?" Aburdon let out a low, sinister chuckle. "In every major city, there are certain signs. You''ll need to keep an eye out for the subtle clues - symbols scratched into walls, strange patterns in the cobblestones. But the easiest way is through the black market. Find a merchant who deals in questionable goods, and they''ll likely be connected." Rusty nodded, mentally storing the information away. He later needed to consult Alexander about further information. He had gone through this city in his past and knew a few things, maybe even where this Thieves Guild was located. Getting this amount of gear from adventurers was great but without a place to sell, it would be pointless. "Let us continue then, lead me to the next sleeping chamber." "If you wish." The two vanished into the maze, continuing their quest to find more treasure. Rusty relentlessly fought off various monsters like Orcs and Lizardmen, while also setting traps for unsuspecting adventurers. Although he didn''t need sleep, Aburdon warned him not to overdo it. Rusty was playing the role of an adventurer, and some people might have taken note of his actions. If he stayed inside the maze for too long, it could raise suspicion. Nevertheless, his priority was still to rescue Gleam and then leave this place, so he decided to spend a few more days hunting before returning to the city. The date for the auction could be announced at any moment, and he still needed to check on that. "Excuse me." "Yes¡­ is there a problem?" Eventually Rusty had emerged from within the maze dungeon. He had spent close to five days roaming around the first floor, killing monsters and setting off sleep gas to rob the adventurers inside. Once he emerged he was approached by one of the city guards. "You seem to be still in possession of your goods, have you seen anyone suspicious inside of the dungeon?" "Suspicious? No, I have not¡­" Just like Aburdon had claimed, there was a downside in letting people live. The place seemed to be in an uproar after multiple people got robbed blind. Rusty replied quickly, his voice hollow and devoid of any nervousness. His metallic body was incapable of sweating, and his experience with adventurers had already grown so handling such a question was not a problem. "Very well. Just be cautious. Whoever''s behind these thefts is clever, using traps and tricks to avoid detection. If you hear anything or see anyone acting out of the ordinary, report it to us. They seem to target everything and everyone, we believe they should be in possession of a rather large spatial bag or backpack." The soldier nodded. Ordinary people didn''t have access to the kind of massive storage system Rusty had. They couldn''t just make things vanish into thin air. Instead, they had to stuff items into bags, and if the opening was smaller than the item''s size, it simply wouldn''t fit. Rusty, however, had taken everything - even large suits of armor that wouldn''t fit into a regular bag of holding. Without carrying anything that resembled such a bag, no one would suspect him as the potential perpetrator, something Aburdon had already explained to him. "I have not seen anyone like that, can I go now?" "Of course, Adventurer. Be on your way, and remember, report anything unusual." "I will¡­" The guard gave Rusty a final scrutinizing look before stepping aside, allowing him to pass through the checkpoint. Rusty walked while glancing around and saw a few complaining adventurers, some of his most recent victims. All of their belongings were inside of the system inventory and selling them back to the merchants would probably be unwise. It was better to first sell all the monster parts he had amassed and then search for that Thieves Guild Aburdon spoke about. "We wouldn''t be in this mess if you''d taken me instead Rusty!" "I don''t think there is a mess¡­ I still hunted a lot of monsters, just look at all those parts." The moment Rusty left the dungeon he replaced his demonic guide for the hero. Alexander gave him an earful about robbing the adventurers blind but he couldn''t deny the facts that he had earned more through this. Some of the adventurers even had monster parts which he could now sell to the guild for profit. "You need to get that bag ready, don''t even try using your special storage in the guild or when other people are looking." "I''ve been trying to but there were a lot¡­" Once he arrived in the city, the first thing he did was slip into a secluded alleyway. There, he retrieved one of his looted items: a much larger bag of holding. After ensuring no one was watching, he began depositing the desynthesized monster parts he had collected. A small dark hole appeared in the air as claws, eyeballs, and hearts tumbled into the bag. Opening his storage to transfer everything was draining, as it consumed a significant amount of SP. During his dungeon hunts, he had to keep some SP in reserve to swap out his loadout, but now he was free to use up everything. "That''s all of them. See, I told you that it was fine." "We will see, I just hope they won''t make a fuss." Alexander seemed unsettled by something, but Rusty didn''t have time to worry about it. Nearly five days had passed, marking almost a week since he arrived in this strange city. Gleam''s auction was set to take place in a week or maybe two, leaving him with little time to gather more money. Although he had earned a lot from the dungeon, he still needed more. After filling his bag to the brim, Rusty headed to the adventurer''s guild. This time, he didn''t need any guidance¡ªhe simply got in line and waited for his turn. Just like before, the guild worker pressed something to open a spatial box. That was his cue to take out his bag and hold it steady. Once he was in position, a small flood of monster parts began pouring out, drawing the attention of a few onlookers. Normally, processing monsters took time, so most adventurers just hacked off limbs to maximize what they could fit into their bags. But thanks to the system, Rusty was able to perfectly sort everything and even remove the blood, making the process remarkably clean. The guild clerk''s eyes opened wide as he saw the torrent of perfectly preserved parts. Soon the magical device responsible for counting the monster parts began whirring, calculating the value of the bounty Rusty had brought in. "W-Whoa! This is impressive!" The clerk exclaimed, his hands moving quickly to grab the money that Rusty was owed. After witnessing all the well-preserved parts coming out of that bag, he wasn''t even surprised by the high reward the magical device indicated. "You''ve really outdone yourself this time. This batch will net you quite a sum." Rusty felt a swell of pride at the praise but did not reply to the man. Instead, he noticed that some of the adventurers were looking at him in strange ways. He was given a large sack filled with coins that he promptly deposited into his spatial bag. ''Remember this well Rusty, it''s not good to show off at least not until you''ve made a name for yourself.'' ''I''ll keep that in mind.'' Soon, Rusty left the guild, his earnings having more than doubled. While this pace was promising, he wasn''t sure it would be enough to buy Gleam back at the auction. What he needed to do was gain access to the Thieves Guild and, more importantly, the black market. There, he could sell off the stolen goods he had acquired. However, he had no idea how to find it; his guides had been frustratingly vague in their descriptions, and Alexander wasn''t sure of its location either. He was a hero, not a thief, and while he could recognize the mark of the guild, he had no idea where it was situated. "Well, look who it is¡­" Luckily, he had gained some attention and a bit of notoriety. From the distance, a familiar voice called out to him and they weren''t alone¡­ Chapter 82 - 80 – Old Friends. Rusty turned his head toward the voice, his visor locking onto the person who had just spoken. A group of figures emerged from the shadows of a nearby alley. The one who had addressed him was a familiar-looking lanky man with a smirk plastered across his face. He wasn''t alone, and he certainly wasn''t the leader of the group. In the center stood another figure - bald, a bit below two meters in height, with a face covered in tattoos and scars. He was wearing a heavier suit of armor but his face was exposed. "Thought you''d never see us again, Albert?" ''It''s those thugs again, and this time they''ve brought friends.'' Alexander whispered to Rusty, who had also recognized the group entering the alley. Rusty had been on his way back from the Guild after depositing the monster materials he''d collected. He''d taken a shortcut through the alley to reach the inn where he was staying. It was the middle of the night, and the city gates wouldn''t open for a few more hours. These thugs seemed to have been waiting for him, only approaching once he was alone and out of sight of the city watch. ''I was wondering who these people were, But they don''t seem like much of a threat. Can I kill them all?'' Using his life detection skill, Rusty had sensed a few people waiting in the alley ahead. The skill worked in a peculiar way - the stronger the life signal, the more intensely it resonated in his metallic head. With it, he could roughly gauge someone''s power level. Even this new, armored individual was no match for him. Compared to the monsters inside the dungeon, this guy was on the level of an E-rank Orc at best. ''Normally I would be against it but they clearly mean business, their intentions are obvious, they are here to kill you and this alleyway is probably the perfect place to make people disappear¡­'' Alexander assessed the situation for Rusty. It was probably just as he suspected. Rusty didn''t respond but stood still, watching as the larger thug stepped forward, his knuckles cracking with a loud pop. The group numbered five men in total, three in the front and two behind him. The moment he was halfway through the alley the three with the lanky man stopped him from the front, while two quickly closed off the escape route from the back. ''That''s what I wanted to hear!'' Rusty was eager to crack some skulls, irritated that these thugs had now harassed him not once, but twice. However, just as the moonlight gleamed off the hairless man''s bald head, Alexander suddenly stopped him. ''Wait, Rusty. Don''t kill that baldie.'' ''Oh? Why not?'' ''Those tattoos he''s got - one of them belongs to the thieves'' guild. He might be our way in!'' Rusty''s visor flickered as he heard Alexander''s words. The bald man, covered in tattoos and scars, wasn''t just some common thug - it seemed he had ties to the very organization Rusty had been searching for. The Thieves Guild. He still had all the stolen goods from the adventures stashed away in his system inventory. Perhaps this bald man was a key to getting him inside the black market. ''Hah, those idiots¡­'' Before the battle could begin, one of the thugs pulled out a strange scroll. At first, Rusty saw it as a potential threat, but Alexander urged him to let them use it. The scroll began glowing with a white light, and soon the alley was enveloped in a peculiar spell. ''A silencing spell. No sound will escape this alley. Those idiots just signed their own death sentence.'' Rusty had studied basic spells in the Soul Forge library and recognized this one immediately. It was commonly used for robberies and murder - perfect for keeping unwanted attention away. In the darkness, with sound completely muffled, no one would know a fight was taking place. This meant Rusty didn''t have to worry about keeping up his human guise or avoiding attention. He started by stepping back, wildly swinging his blade around as if in panic - deliberately giving the thugs a false sense of confidence. The thugs grinned, taking the bait. The armored man among them wore heavy gear, equipped with a shield and mace. It was clear they had come prepared for someone in heavy armor after their last failed attempt. "Hah, you lost to this coward?" "Be careful. He''s stronger than he looks," The lanky man warned as the bald one closed in. "Don''t worry. I''ll pry him out of that shoddy armor - but remember, all his belongings are mine." The lanky man nodded as the bald one stepped forward, ready to deliver a shield bash. To them, Rusty appeared like a cornered animal, but they hadn''t realized they were the prey. The thug charged, moving at a surprising speed, aiming to slam into Rusty''s kite shield. But when they collided, the expected outcome didn''t happen. Instead of sending Rusty crashing into the wall, he stood firm, unmoving, as if he were made of solid iron. "What?" Confusion flickered in the thug''s eyes as Rusty hadn''t even flinched. Then, something began to change. His metallic form, which had appeared to be ordinary armor, shimmered and shifted, transforming before their eyes. His armor switched to the all-rounder form, something his enemies didn''t expect. Before the thugs could react, a dark fog spilled across the ground, engulfing the already shadowy alley in pitch-black darkness. "W-what is this? I can''t see anything!" One of the thugs yelled, panic creeping into his voice. "Agh¡­ is this poison?" The black mist was taking effect. Everyone caught in it felt weak, their bodies growing heavy and dizzy. They didn''t need to check their statuses to know they were afflicted by some kind of debilitating status effect. But by the time they realized it, it was already too late. The alley was now drenched in darkness, a thick fog that disoriented the thugs. They coughed and staggered, trying to find their footing in the growing sense of panic. Their silencing spell had done them no favors and now they were blind and defenseless. Rusty''s metallic form moved within the mist, his footsteps loud but unable to echo out into the city. The bald leader swung wildly, his mace slashing through the air, but it connected with nothing. He couldn''t see Rusty anymore, and his frustration grew as the fog sapped his strength. He cursed under his breath, realizing they had vastly underestimated their target. Suddenly, a blade pierced through the mist, striking the lanky man in the leg. He screamed, dropping to his knees, but the sound was swallowed by the silencing spell with only the people inside of it being able to hear. Rusty emerged from the darkness behind him, his sword glowing red as it sliced through the man''s nape, cutting through his jugular instantly. Blood spurted briefly from the lanky man''s neck, but his body crumpled silently to the ground. The thugs were still reeling from the poisonous mist, disoriented and powerless, their confidence shattered. The bald man, the leader, was furious. His tattooed face twisted in rage, eyes darting around in a futile attempt to find Rusty in the oppressive darkness. His mace swung again, cutting through but finally colliding with something, one of his allies'' faces. The thug screamed in agony as his cheekbone shattered from the force of the blow. His cry was quickly joined by others as the rest of the group suffered devastating injuries. One by one, they fell, their bodies crumpling under Rusty''s brutal assault. The dark mist that had enveloped the alley began to thin, gradually lifting to reveal the grim scene beneath it. "Shit¡­ Let''s talk about this¡­" As the fog cleared, a crushing reality hit the bald man - he was the only one left alive. The four other thugs lay on the ground, their arteries severed in vital places, blood soaking the alleyway. It was clear now: Rusty was too strong for them and bartering was probably the only way out. "Now hold on there, I''m sure we can work something out." ''What do you think, Alexander?'' Rusty stood victorious. The battle seemed over, but the man facing him hadn''t fully given up. He still gripped his shield and mace, refusing to capitulate. The darkness that cloaked the alley wouldn''t last much longer, and Rusty lacked the mana reserves to maintain it. He wanted entry into the Thieves Guild, but trusting this man seemed like a mistake. If he tried to infiltrate the guild, he''d likely be attacked again. ''I wouldn''t trust him. He''ll stab us in the back the moment we turn away. There''s a better way, but first, you need to knock him out.'' Alexander''s plan was clear: knocking the man unconscious was necessary. Rusty stepped forward, his towering metal form looming in the dimly lit alley. The bald man''s grip tightened around his mace, but Rusty could see the fear creeping into his eyes. The mist was clearing, and with it, the last of the man''s confidence. "Let''s talk!" "..." Rusty didn''t respond. Albert''s remains were not inside this form. Instead, he launched forward, mimicking the shield bash the man had used against him. His opponent tried to brace himself, but was knocked back. As the man staggered, gasping for breath, Rusty swapped his sword for a mace. A few exchanges later, his opponent''s head met the blunt force of twilight metal, and he crumpled to the ground. ''Like this?'' ''Think you went overboard¡­ his head''s bleeding. Better use one of those potions you grabbed from the other adventurers, or he won''t make it.'' The man was unconscious, his HP slowly dropping. He wouldn''t last long. Rusty quickly searched through his stash tab, pulled out a potion, and poured it over the man''s head. The wound began healing rapidly, his life saved at least for now. ''Okay, he''s out cold. Now what?'' Rusty was still unsure what to do with the thugs. Alexander usually wasn''t one for sneaky tactics, often advising him to leave people alone. However, he seemed to hold a particular disdain for thugs like this one - seeing them as little more than monsters rather than people. ''If I''m not mistaken, now that he''s knocked out, you should be able to use your possession skill on him. But since he isn''t dead, it might not work as well as it did with Albert''s remains.'' ''Oh... now I get it!'' After the explanation, Rusty understood the plan Alexander had in mind. ''You want me to use his identity as a member of the Thieves'' Guild, don''t you?'' ''Yes, but that''s not all. This guy should be a true member, which means he should be able to register you as one.'' Alexander began explaining how the Thieves'' Guild worked - or at least how it did in the guilds he''d encountered when he was alive. It was similar to the Adventurers'' Guild, but harder to infiltrate. Thieves hid behind passwords and concealed locations. To register a new member, someone already in the guild had to vouch for them. ''So, you want me to possess this person, access his memories to get inside the guild, and then have him vouch for me as a new member?'' ''Exactly, that''s the plan.'' ''But won''t they get suspicious if after he registers me, he vanishes?'' ''It should be fine, these people operate differently than the adventurers guild, if one thief vanishes they will just assume he was killed by some old enemy and not by someone that he registered. "I see, this Thieves Guild sounds less honorable than the other one¡­ I bet Aburdon would agree with this." "I bet he would¡­" Alexander replied, though his tone was far less enthusiastic. Still, as Rusty''s guide, he was obligated to help, whether he liked it or not. These thieves and thugs were villains with many enemies. At any moment, an old friend or family member of one of their victims could seek revenge, and that was something everyone in their guild was keenly aware of. His possession skill had leveled up as he had been using it constantly. It worked well on a dead and mummified body but he had never attempted to seize control over a living person. The man was wearing heavy armor already, so he just needed to cover his face with his helmet and give it a try. Rusty crouched over the unconscious thug, his metallic fingers curling around his helmet as he prepared to remove it. The man beneath him was still alive, so Rusty wasn''t entirely sure how his possession skill would be affected. He placed the helmet over the man''s head and activated the ability. ''Here we go... this feels different than before¡­'' There was a slight resistance at first. Unlike the dead, whose bodies offered no protest, the living had a mind of their own, a flickering remnant of self-preservation. The man''s mind fought back, but in his weakened state, Rusty''s willpower overwhelmed him. Rusty''s vision dimmed briefly, and then he felt a jolt as if he''d been pulled into a different body. Suddenly, he wasn''t looking at the world from his metallic frame anymore. He was seeing through the thug''s eyes, feeling the weight of his armor, the dull ache in his muscles, and the dizzying sensation of pain lingering from their short brawl. It took him a moment to adjust - his control over the man''s body wasn''t perfect, like walking in shoes that didn''t quite fit. But it would do for now. ''Is this what humans feel? It wasn''t like this with Albert.'' Previously, the body he possessed had been long dead, unable to move on its own, requiring Rusty''s metallic shell to function. But this was different. This man''s body was fully alive, capable of standing on its own. Rusty''s true form stood nearby, helmetless. The thug now wore Rusty''s helmet, his face hidden beneath it. From the outside, he looked like any ordinary person - convincing enough to get Rusty into the Thieves'' Guild. Rusty flexed the man''s fingers, testing the limits. His movements were sluggish, but the thug''s body responded. He stood up on shaky legs, dusting off the armor. He could feel the dull throb in his skull where Rusty had bashed him, but the healing potion had worked wonders. ''That''s it. Looks like you''ve got control, now use his memories to pinpoint the location of the guild and their password. '' Alexander''s voice echoed in Rusty''s mind as he was stuck with him even if he discarded his main body. Rusty took a moment to tap into the thug''s memories, sifting through the murky haze of pain and confusion clouding the man''s mind. It wasn''t as easy as he thought it would be. Unlike Albert''s remains, this body still had an active consciousness, albeit dulled from the fight and the potion. ''Come on¡­ show me¡­ there, that should be it!'' Rusty muttered under his breath as he concentrated. Slowly, fragmented memories began to surface. Images of back alleys, secret handshakes, and dimly lit taverns flickered in his mind like pieces of a puzzle. He saw a symbol - a strange black coin and recognized it as the sigil of the Thieves'' Guild. Now that the truth was out, he just needed to go there and register himself as a new member¡­ S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 83 - 81 – Thieves Guild A knock echoed through the narrow alleyway. The man wearing dirty, torn clothes stood before a thick iron door, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light of a nearby lamp. The rats scurried away, startled by the unexpected sound. The man seemed angered by the lack of response but eventually, he heard some movement on the other side. Soon a latch was opened and a pair of eyes appeared through the doors Peephole. "What do yer want?" "Let me in!" The badly dressed man took out a handful of something and dangled it in front of the slit the man on the other side was peeking through. It looked like some cheap jewelry, something that had been stolen recently. The man on the other side just snorted without opening the door. "What''s the password?" "Password¡­ ah yeah¡­. was it? Antwerp?" "..." "Sure it is¡­ wait for a moment there, I''ll let you right in¡­" The man that looked like a beggar smiled, his yellow teeth showing as he heard more movement on the other side. It sounded like multiple latches were being drawn back from behind the door. The heavy iron door creaked open, revealing a narrow, poorly lit passage that led further into the building. The man who had peered through the peephole stepped aside, giving the dirty-looking figure room to enter. He was a grizzled, burly man with scars lining his face, the kind that said he''d seen his share of brawls. His eyes glimmered with suspicion, but he didn''t press further on the password but instead waited for the man to enter. "Get in¡­" "Sure friend¡­ can I sell it inside?" "Yeah, just get in¡­" The burly man gripped a club in his left hand, hiding it behind his back. As soon as the other man walked through the door, the club was immediately brought down. The door slammed shut behind him, and the thief''s screams were muffled. However, one person was fully aware of what had just transpired. He appeared from around the corner, clad in heavy armor. ''So that''s what happens when you give the wrong password?'' Alexander remarked to Rusty, who lumbered forward, now possessing the mind of the thieves'' guild member. Through reading the man''s thoughts, Rusty had learned the true password needed to pass through that door. Thanks to the man''s memories, he knew the password changed every week. Every guild member had to memorize the passwords for the correct week and they changed every month. Often, beggars like the unfortunate man he had just seen would pick up an outdated password. When they tried to enter, they were swiftly dealt with. Rusty, now possessing the body of the bald thug, stood near the entrance to the thieves'' guild. The heavy door ahead, thick iron and layered with scratches from years of use, loomed ominously. The scene that had just unfolded - the beggar being lured in, only to be struck down for using the wrong password- was a brutal reminder of the guild''s ruthlessness. ''Good thing you got the right one. Just don''t mess it up, or you''ll end up like that guy.'' ''That guy didn''t look that strong, he can''t defeat me.'' ''The thieves in the guild are like roaches, they might not stick together like the adventurers but they will defend the entrance at least.'' ''I''ll be careful then?'' Rusty, still adjusting to the unfamiliar sensation of inhabiting a living body, approached the door, his new body heavy and sluggish. The memories of the thug helped guide him, but it wasn''t the same as his usual strength or agility in his true form. He was probably weaker than when possessing Albert and he wasn''t sure what would happen if this fleshy body was injured. He had left his main body inside of his system and if anything went wrong he was ready to activate one of his loadouts. His hand collided with the door as he knocked. He could sense some movement inside so he just waited. After a few moments, the small slit in the door opened, and once again, a pair of watchful eyes peered out. Unlike before, the eyes seemed sharper this time with a little blood running through the middle. "Again? You better not be with this old guy! What''s the password?" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty hesitated, drawing on the fragmented memories of the thug. He mentally sifted through the jumbled information, making sure he had the right answer. Then, in a gruff voice, he muttered. "Schwertfisch" "... Come in." The eyes behind the slit narrowed slightly, but after a brief pause, there was the familiar sound of heavy locks being unlatched. The door creaked open just wide enough for Rusty to squeeze through. As he stepped inside, the dim light of the alley was replaced by the flickering glow of oil lamps hanging from the walls. This was not the Thieves Guild but just one of the entrances. The building was one of the local taverns. There was an open door leading to a wine cellar, one way going up and a large sideways-placed Tun that was almost the height of an adult. It had a large wooden tap in the lower midsection but for some reason, it didn''t look like it had been used in a long time. The beggar he had seen earlier was no longer there, but fresh bloodstains marked the ground. Alexander glanced at the blood splatter and how it trailed towards a large wine barrel. He instantly understood what had happened. ''The entrance to the guild must be behind that barrel. They must have dragged that poor fool in there after knocking him out.'' Alexander didn''t say anything, unsure of his theory. He had heard rumors of the Thieves'' Guild selling people into slavery, and this beggar might face the same fate for trying to enter without being a member. Perhaps the man''s future lay in the dark mines, or maybe they would simply throw him back onto the street after roughing him up. ''I hate this flesh... I can''t wait to get back to my true form ¡­ what is even that?'' Rusty muttered to himself, adjusting to a new sensation. Inhabiting a living body was vastly different from possessing Albert''s mummified corpse. As a living suit of armor, he had no sense of smell or fatigue, but now, all sorts of rancid odors assaulted his nostrils. The guard who had let him in reeked of body odor, and the entire place had an intense, unpleasant smell. Rusty had never realized humans dealt with this constantly and wished he could leave the body as soon as possible. The path in one direction was noisy, leading toward the tavern. However, he wasn''t heading there. Before he could ask for directions, the man he had given the password to walked toward the large barrel. Using the same club he had hit the beggar with, the man struck a hole in the wall. There was an audible click as something socketed into place. A mechanism activated, causing the front cover of the barrel to slide aside, revealing the entrance to the Thieves'' Guild. "What are you waiting for? Go on in." He nodded silently at the man, offering no reply, then quickly stepped through the opening. His body was slightly above average in size, so he had to squeeze himself through. Once inside, the entrance began to seal itself, leaving him in a small, dimly lit corridor that led to a ladder descending downward. ''I see... the guild must be in the old sewers. Makes some sense.'' ''What the hell is that smell¡­'' ''You better cover your nose, Rusty. This won''t be a pleasant journey.'' Rusty, now just a helmet on the man''s head. When he first entered, his visor had been up, allowing the door guard to see his face. Now, as the stench hit him even harder, he had to pull the visor down, hoping it would help him endure the foul odors. He descended the ladder, arriving in a damp, murky space where the water reached his ankles. Each step felt strange, as if he was stepping into something squishy. He used the man''s recent memories to guide himself. His goal was to reach the black market, but the journey was proving more difficult than he had anticipated. ''They use these strange markings to indicate the way to the real entrance. I think it''s in that direction¡­'' Alexander, who was connected to Rusty as his guide, helped him navigate through these fragmented memories. He identified some carved symbols on the walls as secret codes only guild members could decipher. With their guidance, he continued through the sewers. This place reminded him of the dungeon but without any monsters to fight, instead it was filled with flies and rats. The air in the sewers grew heavier with each step Rusty took, the stench intensifying as he trudged through the murky water. His thoughts were split between navigating the darkened tunnels and the repulsive sensation of his new, fleshy vessel. Every step felt unnatural, and the feeling of squishy debris beneath his boots only added to his discomfort. ''Why would people willingly go down here?'' Rusty muttered and Alexander quickly answered his question. ''They wouldn''t and neither would any guards or knights be willing, that''s why they put the guild here.'' ''I see¡­'' ''People adapt to whatever keeps them alive. You''d be surprised what they''ll endure.'' After a few minutes, Rusty finally spotted another marking on the wall - a small, barely visible symbol shaped like an inverted triangle. It was etched into the stone and partially obscured by grime, but the thug''s memories recognized it as the final indicator. This was the way to the guild''s black market. Rusty''s pace quickened, eager to get out of the foul water and closer to his objective. He arrived at what appeared to be a dead end, but he knew better. The man''s memories had revealed a way to pass through the wall, similar to the method the door guard had used earlier. To the side, there was a small hole in the wall, just the right size for the black coin he carried. Sliding it into the socket, he heard a familiar click, and the wall began to shift, slowly opening to reveal the path ahead. ''This must be it!'' He cheered as he moved deeper, the narrow tunnels began to open into a larger chamber. Flickering torchlight illuminated the walls, casting eerie shadows along the uneven surfaces. The faint sounds of voices and movement became clearer the closer he got. His skill to detect life confirmed everything, he was in a place with a lot of individuals and they were quite busy. ''This is it. You''ve made it to the market, so this is how it looked¡­ It''s similar to one that I visited on my journey¡­ or at least I think it is¡­'' Rusty paused at the edge of the chamber while Alexander tried to recall his past. From here, he could see the layout: a sprawling underground market hidden beneath the city, with various stalls set up along the damp stone floors. Thieves, smugglers, and black market traders bartered openly, selling stolen goods, rare artifacts, and illicit substances. The place was teeming with activity, but the whole operation was cloaked in shadow. The traders wore hoods or masks to conceal their identities, and even the buyers moved with caution, careful not to draw too much attention. Rusty scanned the area, searching for the next step in Alexander''s plan. His goal wasn''t just to reach the black market but to find someone of high enough rank within the thieves'' guild to register him for future transactions. There were two reasons for this. First, he planned to return here after raiding the Dungeon and robbing more adventurers. Second, he didn''t have much time left. His mana was draining rapidly, and he only had a few mana potions to sustain the possession. Though the potions worked like mana crystals, they were far less efficient. If this place operated like the markets above ground, he wouldn''t have time to haggle so he needed to hurry. ''This is the black market but they should also register newbies here, if this guy''s memories are correct, you just need to pay half a gold coin to register first and then another half of it in stolen goods to be accepted.'' ''That''s a lot¡­'' ''See it as an investment for the future, Rusty, sometimes it''s better to look at the future rewards.'' ''Investment? People use strange words¡­'' Rusty glanced at his MP indicator, realizing he needed to act fast. He quickly scanned the area, searching for something resembling a reception desk. The Thieves'' Guild was nothing like the Adventurer''s Guild - here, no one would offer assistance. Instead, everyone remained on guard, eyeing each other warily. Bloodstains on the walls and floor served as grim reminders of the frequent fights that broke out between guild members. The first part of the guild he entered was the black market. It wasn''t just for guild members; sanctioned merchants were also welcome here. These merchants were more valuable than the lower-ranking thieves, as they brought in large sums of money. They specialized in purchasing stolen goods and sometimes even people. Later, they''d smuggle these goods out of the city, reselling them in places that appeared respectable and clean. If something was too volatile they would even take them to other countries or present them on auctions where the profits were usually higher. The second part was further away, from the bustling market, where guild members congregated to discuss operations and coordinate their illicit activities. It was also where the guild kept its most valuable secrets, including the identity of the highest-ranking members and the locations of its hidden stashes. If Rusty wanted to be fully integrated into the thieves'' network, he would need to make his way there eventually. But first, he had to ensure his registration into the black market so he could freely trade stolen goods and gain access to the guild''s resources. His destination was a third area, somewhat resembling the Adventurer''s Guild above. It featured a small, shabby bulletin board filled with requests for stolen goods, some even providing maps to the buildings the thieves were tasked with robbing. This area was farther from the black market and had the appearance of a rundown bar. Behind the counter stood another burly man, similar to a guild receptionist. This was the person he needed to speak with. Rusty approached, keeping his face neutral under the helmet, though he could feel the strain of maintaining control over the fleshy body. His mana reserves were dwindling faster than anticipated. When he reached the counter he placed five silver coins down and slid them across the counter without a word. The man glanced at the five coins before him and just grinned. "Registering a newbie? You know the rules, if they can''t get the merchandise here in a week, you''ll get punished." Rusty nodded, he somewhat knew the rules and once this was over, he needed to quickly get back into his old body before his possession skill wavered and it probably wouldn''t last for more than a few minutes now¡­ Chapter 84 - 82 – Battle In The Sewers. "Give me yer coin?" "Huh?" "The coin? You do have it right?" "Oh¡­ yeah¡­" ''Rusty are you okay?'' ''I''m fine but this human¡­ he is fighting me, I think I''ve used the possession skill for too long.'' Rusty was momentarily disoriented as he fumbled through the thug''s clothes, searching for the thieves'' guild coin. The token served as his key to open the secret passage, their equivalent of an adventurer''s card. Despite the mana potions, his abilities were starting to falter. It was possible the man he had knocked out was waking up, and Rusty''s skill was struggling to keep him subdued. He needed to register himself and leave quickly. He slapped it down onto the counter with a bit more force than intended. The burly man on the other side raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he inspected the coin. After a brief moment, he gave it back along with an almost identical one that looked old and used. "Alright, give this to them." The man didn''t explain much but this coin looked slightly different than the one he was using now. Luckily, Alexander had enough knowledge about the thieves guild to enlighten him without having to ask questions that he should know. ''That must be a temporary token, I bet these entrances won''t open if you try to use it after the trial period is over. They will probably give you a permanent one when you bring in the loot. It''s an interesting way of getting new people in and they get one gold coin for each new member, not something most lesser criminals can afford.'' Everything started making sense but Rusty felt the strain of maintaining control over the body, as his possession skill wavered dangerously. His connection to the thug was weakening, and he could feel the man''s consciousness pushing back. Time was running out, and Rusty knew he had to act quickly before things spiraled out of control. If he was exposed in the den of thieves, his plan to save his friend would be over. With the temporary coin now in his possession, Rusty didn''t waste a moment. He nodded weakly at the burly man behind the counter and turned to leave, doing his best to suppress the disorienting sensations that plagued him. Each step felt heavier, his vision flickering as the thug''s mind struggled to resurface. ''Stay focused, Rusty, You''re almost done. First, we need to get out of here, you''ll be able to get back to your real body outside.'' Alexander urged Rusty to flee the black market. With the temporary thief token, he would be able to instantly return disguised as Albert. Rusty staggered out of the bar-like area, the temporary token clutched tightly in his hand. His control over the thug''s body was slipping, each step becoming more of a struggle as the man''s mind fought to break free. The stench of the sewers and the oppressive atmosphere of the thieves'' guild did little to help his focus, but he pushed forward toward the exit. After stumbling through the black market and bumping into a few people, Rusty broke into a run. Some thieves shouted at him in anger, but luckily, none gave chase. He retraced his steps back to the entrance he''d come through. There, he grasped a hand lever to activate the mechanism as there was no need to use the coin token or a slot that would fit it on this side. ''He''s getting louder¡­'' The man''s voice began echoing in Rusty''s mind as his consciousness started to return. Rusty could feel the man''s arms resisting his control, moving up to clutch his helmet in an attempt to remove it. If the man''s head was freed, he''d quickly regain full awareness, so Rusty focused on running. The passage opened just enough for him to squeeze through, and he darted forward. "Argh... g-get off..." The person he was possessing shouted, his hands clawing at the helmet, though not yet able to tear it off. Rusty still had control of the man''s legs, propelling him through the foul-smelling sewers. Rats squeaked and scurried away as he passed. He didn''t know where he was going, but he needed to put some distance between himself and the thieves'' guild entrance before his possession skill wore off. Once the man was fully conscious, Rusty planned to take care of him and dispose of the body. But as he rounded a corner, something unexpected blocked his path. "Woah¡­ hold on there, friend. This is a private party." "Did someone rat us out?" "Could be, but even if you want to join, you''ll have to wait in line!" Two people stood in his way, both looking like members of the guild. Rusty''s possession skill was failing fast, and he could feel the man''s consciousness clawing its way back to the surface. The thug gritted his teeth and, with a powerful motion, managed to rip off his helmet, throwing it as far as he could. Rusty, who was reduced to the helmet itself, flew through the air and collided against a nearby wall, eventually splashing into the foul-smelling sewer water a few meters away from the two thieves blocking the path. "Hey, I think I know this one¡­ What are you doing here? Thought you had business to take care of?" One of the thieves asked, recognizing the man Rusty had been possessing. He moved closer for a better look. The man slumped against the wall, gripping his head, clearly in pain. To the two onlookers, however, he seemed like someone under the influence of drugs, something they found amusing. They burst out laughing, pointing fingers at him, oblivious to the scene unfolding behind them. Rusty, now free from the thug''s control, quickly activated one of his loadouts. The helmet, which had tumbled into the sewer water, began to rise. Metal formed around it, starting with the torso, which rapidly expanded to fill the narrow corridor. A massive suit of living armor materialized, much bulkier than the standard varieties typically encountered in dungeons. "Y-you i-idiots¡­ t-turn around¡­" The thug stammered, clutching his head, and tried pointing to the monstrosity taking form behind them. "Hah, are you drunk? You never could handle your liquor." One thief laughed at the man, oblivious to the warning. It wasn''t until they heard the metallic crunch of shifting armor that they finally turned their heads. But by then, it was already too late. Before them stood a towering behemoth of metal, over two meters tall and impressively wide. One of its enormous fists was already in motion, barreling toward the first thief. The massive metal fist connected with a sickening crunch, sending the first thief crashing into the sewer wall. He slumped to the ground, bloody and unconscious before he even hit the floor. His companion barely had time to register the monstrous suit of armor looming over them. Rusty had now fully transformed into one of his metallic forms, choosing the largest for this occasion. Spikes jutted from his knuckles, now drenched in the first thief''s blood. The remaining thief stumbled backward, his eyes wide with terror. He fumbled for his dagger, but in his drunken state, he was unprepared for the horror before him. Rusty''s larger form closed the distance in an instant, his longer strides giving him the advantage. His fist collided with the thief''s torso, sending him flying into his unconscious companion. The spikes pierced through flesh, leaving the man in critical condition almost instantly. "N-no, stay back, y-you monster!" Rusty''s towering form scraped against the tunnel''s ceiling as he approached. The man he had just possessed cowered against the wall, helpless as the metal giant loomed ever closer. He was an evil person, his memories were filled with taking things that didn''t belong to him, wanton murder, and other crimes that made him undeserving of mercy. Alexander who usually pleaded to him to forgive the adventurers, did not even call out to him. This man was not someone that deserved to live longer and he would take Rusty''s secret to the grave. "N¡­no¡­" The thug stammered, his eyes wide with fear. He tried to back away, but the narrow space of the tunnel left him nowhere to escape. Rusty''s massive metal hand reached out, grabbing the man by his throat and lifting him effortlessly into the air. The thug''s eyes bulged as Rusty tightened his grip, cutting off the man''s air supply. The thief struggled, clawing at Rusty''s unyielding metal fingers, but his efforts were futile. ''Rusty there might be more of them here, make it quick.'' Alexander''s voice echoed in Rusty''s mind as he exerted the maximum amount of force he could. With a final squeeze, Rusty snapped the man''s neck, his body going limp in his grasp. Rusty let the corpse fall unceremoniously into the sewer water with a splash. He Turned his attention to the two thieves he had disabled earlier, Rusty noted they were still alive - but not for long. He brought his metal foot down onto their heads, finishing the job just as he heard footsteps approaching from deeper in the corridor. ''I knew it, these two were just lookouts for the people inside¡­ we have two options, either we run now and come back later or we take care of them, now.'' Rusty already knew how people operated - if he left even one of them alive, they would likely report his presence in the city. He couldn''t let that happen. If he was forced to flee, his plan to save Gleam would fail. One of the reasons he chose this larger form was to serve as a distraction. Even if he was discovered, he could always shift back to the Albert form and probably remain undetected. From within the sewer corridor, where the two thieves had been standing guard, two more men emerged. Before they could even register what had happened to their comrades, Rusty charged forward. This was his slowest form, but in the cramped sewers, speed didn''t matter. His massive body blocked the only exit. For some reason, these men had cornered themselves in a dead end. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What the hell is that?" One of them yelled while fumbling for a weapon. They seemed disoriented. Neither wore much armor, and one of them was still in the process of fastening his belt. This gave Rusty the perfect opportunity to close in, driving his spiked fist into the first man. The other managed to land a shallow strike on Rusty''s side, but his armor didn''t yield to the steel blade. Ignoring the weak attacks, Rusty continued to pummel the first thief until he lay dead, then turned his attention to the second one. The second thief, barely prepared for battle, dropped his blade and began to backpedal. He had no idea what this was about and how a monster wandered into the underground sewers. However, he was not just going to give up. While he didn''t have a weapon, he had something strapped to his belt, a vial of orange liquid that reminded Rusty of something he saw in the dungeon. "Eat this you fucking shit!" He shouted, confident his tactic would work, but he hadn''t anticipated what happened next. The concoction hurtled toward Rusty, but just before it made contact, he snatched it out of the air with both massive hands. A muted explosion echoed through the tunnel, muffled by his iron palms. Though his hands were left mangled and missing a few fingers, within seconds, to the thief''s shock, they began to regenerate. "W-what...?" With his explosive potion failing, the thief had no time to react before Rusty descended on him, his spiked fists tearing into the thief''s body, puncturing him with relentless fury. The man''s dead buddy slumped backward against the wall as he drew his last breath. Signs of Rusty''s spiky fists were all over the place but he didn''t care much as this was not yet over. With the help of his life detection skill he could tell that there were two more people further in, thus he continued forward. It wasn''t that far and the sewer water started to dry up as he came to a strange looking chamber. It was different than the many sewer corridors under the city and looked like a temporary dwelling with even a doorway that was opened. He could tell that the last two people were inside and once he forced his way through, he recognised one of them. "The hell?" First, he spotted a man - much larger than the thieves he had encountered earlier. His bald head was marked with strange tattoos, but Rusty''s attention wasn''t on him. It was on the figure lying on a makeshift bed nearby: Odelette, the adventurer with the thief class whom he had met during the adventurers'' test. ''I see¡­ so that''s what they were up to here.'' Alexander''s solemn voice echoed in his head as he quickly pieced together what had been happening. His guide was furious, but it seemed luck was on Odelette''s side today. They had arrived just in time - before anything terrible had happened. The small woman was unconscious, either drunk or drugged by the thieves who had clearly intended to take advantage of her. While she was partially naked, the cloth covering her nether region was still intact, indicating that nothing had taken place yet. The sight stirred memories in Rusty, reminding him of his first kill. That time one of the adventurers found herself in a similar situation. He did not understand the dynamics between people then, But he did now. He understood much more about the vile nature of what was unfolding before him and even his guide urged him to enact violence on the person before him. The towering armored figure that was Rusty stepped further into the chamber, his eyes locked on the tattooed man who seemed to be caught off guard. The man''s gaze darted between Rusty and the unconscious form of Odelette. His surprise was short-lived as he darted forward. His level was above the others and Rusty''s life detection skill informed him that this man wouldn''t be that easy to beat. Name: Berton Classification: Fighter L 25, Brawler L 19 Type: Goliath "I don''t know what you are... but I don''t like uninvited guests!" Rusty charged forward, but the man didn''t back down. His skin was pale, but just before they collided, his fists became engulfed in a strange dark sheen. It looked as though they had turned to dark metal. When they finally clashed with Rusty''s iron fists, a sharp clang echoed through the chamber. The spikes on Rusty''s knuckles couldn''t pierce the strange armor-like effect and instead, they bent to the side. Berton''s darkened fists connected with Rusty''s metal frame, sending shockwaves through the chamber. The impact was far stronger than Rusty anticipated, and for the first time in this form, he felt the sting of real resistance. The force reverberated through his body, causing cracks to form along his spiked knuckles. Despite the damage, Rusty pressed forward, unwilling to back down. This man, Berton, was unlike the thieves he had encountered earlier¡­ Chapter 85 - 83 – Iron Fists. The man named Berton snarled, eyes filled with confidence as he launched another punch. His dark-metal fists moved with unnatural speed and power, denting Rusty''s armor with every blow. Rusty staggered, his towering form momentarily off balance, but he refused to yield. His armor groaned under the strain, but the metal that comprised his form began to shift, repairing the cracks before they became true injuries. His stock of iron had become extensive and he was only limited by the SP he could use in this battle. ''Careful, Rusty. This guy''s dangerous - he''s a lot stronger than the others and much more experienced.'' Alexander warned his metallic master, but Rusty already knew. This man wasn''t like the common thugs he had crushed earlier. He fought like someone who had seen plenty of battles, a true fighter, and his strange ability made him a tricky opponent. Yet, Rusty wasn''t new to these things, even the strongest ability had a weakness or would falter eventually. The large man pressed his advantage, hurling a series of rapid punches that clanged against Rusty''s body, each one reverberating like thunder through the chamber. The force of the blows forced Rusty to step back, his metal limbs struggling to absorb the damage. For a moment, he just covered himself up, protecting his helmet where his monster core was from the damage. His forearms were especially thick but they were still dented under the onslaught. His iron shell groaned under the pressure, it was clear that this Goliath was relying on nothing but brute force. His current form was primed for defense, and Rusty pitted it against this assault. He patiently waited, his opponent grinning as if he was assured of his victory. He even stopped regenerating his body to push his opponent into an unfounded sense of superiority. Eventually, his metallic back slammed into this chamber''s walls and it seemed as if the battle was lost. ''Rusty, this guy is a Brawler, the skill he is using is only limited to his hands and legs, don''t give him enough space to perform more strikes.'' Alexander called out to him as the hits continued to fly and his body continued to give out. Rusty had faced monsters before that used their claws and teeth for attacking but never a true striker. However, his guide knew of one technique that was effective against them. The man was punching and kicking but he was still keeping some distance between them and there was a reason for it. "I don''t know who sent ya, but you''ve crossed the wrong man!" The man shouted, convinced of his impending victory, as he charged forward. However, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. Rusty, who appeared to be a man encased in a suit of armor, had something up his sleeve that the man hadn''t anticipated. Just as the man''s fist hurtled toward Rusty''s head, the living armor did something unexpected - he grabbed his helmet and flung it into the air, revealing that there was no human inside. "Huh?" Berton hesitated, stunned by the realization that he was fighting a monster. But despite throwing his head into the air, Rusty''s body didn''t stop moving. He could control it without being physically connected and seized the moment of Berton''s hesitation to his advantage. His massive hands reached out and gripped his opponent, activating a skill he''d stolen from a zombie. His grip tightened with unnatural strength, and he could feel Berton''s wrists nearly snapping under the pressure. "L-let go of me!" Berton stammered but Rusty wasn''t finished. He followed up by increasing the weight of his body. With a powerful push from his legs, he toppled the man while maintaining a firm hold on his wrists. Even this muscular warrior from the Goliath race couldn''t withstand the sudden increase in weight. Berton crashed to the ground, the rocks beneath them cracking under the force. Now pinned beneath Rusty''s bulky frame, he found himself unable to move. Although Rusty couldn''t control two metallic shells simultaneously, he had a few seconds of partial control before the switch would occur. Despite being separated from his body, the loadout system was still active. Once triggered, a new frame began to materialize from the helmet Rusty had tossed into the air, while the old shell clung tightly to his opponent. Though the skill-binding Berton would soon deactivate, Rusty still had a moment to act. As his helmet flew upward, it shifted, and Rusty switched to his regular all-rounder form. With part of his torso and one arm already formed, he had enough to finish this. Sword in hand, he plummeted toward the man''s exposed head, aiming to end the fight. Berton''s eyes widened in sheer panic as he realized what was happening. The towering goliath, who had seemed so confident moments ago, was now immobilized under the sheer weight of Rusty''s old armor shell. His darkened fists were being clamped down by an unmoving force and his strength was not enough to move out of the way. The blade gleamed in the dim light, its sharp edge descending toward Berton''s unprotected head. The man thrashed violently, his muscles bulging as he tried to break free, but the weight of the previous shell and the crushing hold Rusty maintained on his wrists made it impossible. For a moment, time stopped as Berton''s eye caught the blade''s tip moving down as if in slow motion. "N-no W-ait¡­" His words were cut off by the sharp whoosh of Rusty''s blade slicing through the air, followed by a sickening crunch. The sword pierced through Berton''s skull with deadly precision, splitting his head open. His body jerked violently for a moment before going limp beneath the weight of Rusty''s discarded armor. The goliath''s eyes remained wide open, frozen in shock, as blood pooled beneath him. Congratulations you have gained a level. With the immediate threat neutralized, Rusty landed beside the lifeless form of Berton, his new body now fully solidified. He took a moment to assess the situation and reflect on his victory. The system''s prompt informed him of the strong enemy''s departure. Despite his success, Rusty wasn''t sure if his actions had been entirely wise. After dispatching the four weaker foes, he could have retreated, but instead, he''d pressed forward, driven by an unusual sense of curiosity. ''You did well, Rusty. If we''d been any slower, then this poor girl would have¡­'' Alexander didn''t finish the sentence, but Rusty understood the weight behind it. These people took such matters seriously. The act the man had been about to commit against his acquaintance was a grievous taboo in their society. It was something that should never happen, and yet, these beings of flesh seemed unable to fully control their darker urges. It was something that Rusty found baffling. ''A shame... He probably had some good skills.'' Rusty glanced down at the defeated Berton once more while retrieving his discarded shell, depositing it back into his storage system with a shake of his head. Berton had clearly been a person with a unique class. Perhaps he had possessed valuable abilities. The man''s proficiency with hand-to-hand combat had been admirable, and absorbing a passive skill to improve his own close-quarters fighting wouldn''t have been a bad outcome. ''Does he at least have some coins?'' Rusty glanced at the nearly naked body of the defeated man. It didn''t seem like Berton had been carrying a coin purse. Members of the thieves'' guild were known to stash most of their money in hidden locations, rather than carry it with them, especially when navigating these tunnels where anyone could be forced to pay a toll. There were likely some unspoken rules about not robbing each other too much, but such rules rarely applied to the strong. ''Rusty, better switch to Albert. If that girl sees you in your current form, things could get troublesome.'' ''Ah, Okay.'' This wasn''t an issue for Rusty; he had planned to return to the guild in a form that allowed him to speak anyway. Odelette the Thief, his previous temporary companion, had advanced in her training and recently acquired the Rogue class. She had leveled up twice during their adventures and somehow gained the third later. Rusty had noticed that only individuals with at least two classes were permitted access to the underground area and its associated black market. Name: Odelette Classification: Thief L25, Rogue L1 Type: Halfling ''I bet the girl asked someone to vouch for her to gain access to the guild but she was fooled by these scumbags¡­'' Even now, Odelette remained dazed and out of it. While Rusty was immune to status effects, she appeared to be under the influence of something similar to the sleeping gas they''d encountered in the dungeon. As he looked at her, she seemed to be merely dozing off, completely unaware of the danger she had just narrowly escaped. Rusty also found himself puzzled by the man''s choice of target. Berton, a member of the Goliath race, was more than twice her size, while Odelette was a Halfling, small and fragile by comparison. It was a peculiar combination that Rusty couldn''t quite understand. ''Hey Rusty, that''s rude, you should not look at a lady in such way.'' ''In what way?'' ''Just put that blanket over her until she wakes up!'' S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alexander was somewhat annoyed by the girl''s uncovered body. Rusty had no sense of decency so looking at a half-naked woman wasn''t something that registered as inappropriate to him. However, he respected Alexander''s request and found a blanket nearby, draping it over Odelette''s small, unconscious form. The blanket covered her completely due to her small stature and he was now free to look around this chamber. ''Is there anything worthwhile here?'' First, he went through the man''s belongings but regretfully he was the type that didn''t use weapons. Rusty scanned the chamber, stepping over Berton''s lifeless body with the heavy clank of his metal feet. The room was sparse, hastily set up, with minimal belongings scattered about. He knelt down by a small chest tucked into the corner, prying it open with ease. Inside were a few silver coins, a dull dagger, and what looked like a map scribbled with rough lines. It appeared to show a series of tunnels, possibly a layout of the city''s underground network. ''This looks like the city map and those red scribbles might be other entrances into the sewers. That will come in handy.'' The map displayed several other entrances to these underground sewers. It depicted where some traps were and even other entrances to the black market they could take. Now that they caused a scene here, it would be better to leave and come back through a different pathway. Someone would certainly notice the dead bodies outside and one entrance was quite close to this location. Rusty swiftly folded the map and tucked it into his spatial satchel. The chamber now felt eerily quiet, with Odelette''s breathing being the only thing to offset the silence. It seemed that whatever they gave her was quite potent as even after a loud battle she didn''t even move a muscle. ''Can I just leave her here, she will be alright, right?'' He turned to Alexander, unsure whether he should involve himself further in Odelette''s situation. She had been saved, and all her belongings remained untouched and not far from her sleeping body. The token of temporary thief guild membership was also there, likely something the group of thugs had given her to earn her trust. Rusty suspected that Aburdon would oppose helping her any further. From his perspective, leaving her behind would be the safest option as other groups might retaliate if they discovered he had disposed of their allies. ''Just take her with us. She won''t slow you down. If that map is correct, we just need to backtrack and take the next fork to the left. We''ll emerge at a barn. If she hasn''t woken up by then, we can leave her there.'' Alexander, on the other hand, urged him to take her along. Truth be told, Rusty realized that her small size wouldn''t pose much of a problem. He was also aware of some of the social structures in this world. If he helped her now, the small woman would be indebted to him in the future. He saw this not just as an act of virtue but as a strategic investment - something his two guides might not fully appreciate. While Alexander seemed eager for Rusty to help others without expecting rewards, Aburdon believed it was better to impose on others without offering anything in return. Rusty, however, felt that a balance between the two perspectives was ideal. If he gave something to someone, he expected a favor in return; investing in future help could prove beneficial. Since he was still new to the city, having people indebted to him seemed like a smart move. After nodding in agreement, Rusty began gathering all the items that belonged to the Halfling. He found a small spatial bag and dark leather armor that would fit her perfectly. Once he collected everything that looked usable, he placed the items near her body and rolled them up in a large blanket along with her. With Odelette securely bundled in the blanket, Rusty hefted her onto his shoulder and began the cautious trek back through the sewers. His metallic footsteps echoed softly against the stone walls, blending with the faint trickling of water beneath him. The stench of the underground seeped through the air, thick and humid, but Rusty remained unaffected. He conversed with Alexander who proved to be worse at reading maps than Aburdon. They passed the bodies of the men he defeated earlier and after grabbing their purses and weapons, he made his way out of the sewers. Odelette remained unconscious throughout the journey. Occasionally, her small body shifted as Rusty walked, but she remained otherwise still, breathing softly beneath the blanket. Following Alexander''s guidance, Rusty took the left turn, which brought them closer to their destination - the hidden barn entrance. He inserted his coin into a concealed slot in the wall, which triggered the space to open, revealing a ladder. Slowly, he climbed up, eventually arriving at their new destination. "Moooo¡­" Rusty was greeted by an unfamiliar creature. For a moment, he thought it might be a threat, but the animal seemed slow and docile. It appeared uninterested in him. First, he carefully pushed the rolled-up blanket with Odelette in it through the opening, and then he climbed up himself, emerging into a large barn filled with farm animals. The pen he found himself in was occupied by cows, but in the distance, he could hear the clucking of chickens and even the soft neighing of horses. Rusty''s current armor housed Albert''s mummified body within. He eventually noticed that his friend was beginning to wake. They had made it out this time, but Rusty wasn''t sure if his actions would come back to haunt him. There was always the possibility that someone had seen him, and once he returned, his life could be in danger. Still, without selling the numerous weapons he had taken from the adventurers, saving Gleam might be impossible and for his friend, he would even put his own life in danger. Chapter 86 - 84 – Awkward Helper. "Ugh¡­ What is that smell? and what''s this moist feeling" Someone with a higher-pitched voice groaned, her voice gradually getting louder as she returned to consciousness. "Huh? Ack!" Her eyes opened to a pink appendage slogging over her cheek. The animal it was attached to was a normal cow, and it was licking her for some reason. Odelette awoke to the unpleasant sensation of a cow''s tongue dragging across her cheek. Startled, she flailed her arms, pushing and pulling but something was wrong. Her whole body was wrapped up in something and the only thing sticking out was her head. "Ugh... stop, you stupid cow! What is this? Where am I?" Odelette''s nose was assaulted by a mix of smells no lady her age should ever have to endure. As she rolled away from the cow licking her face, she nearly collided with a large pile of cow excrement. Her eyes widened as she frantically tried to stop herself, but she had already gained too much momentum. Just before her face could meet the disgusting pile, someone grabbed her from the other side. It was only then that she realized she wasn''t alone. "You should keep it down. Others might be listening." "Huh? Is that... Mister Albert?" Odelette blinked in confusion, struggling to process what was happening. Her mind was still hazy from whatever had knocked her out, and the combination of smells and sensations left her disoriented. She looked up at the figure who had stopped her unfortunate collision with the dung pile - Albert, or at least someone who looked like him, was holding her steady. His cold hands had a surprising strength as he effortlessly lifted her back onto her feet. "W-what... what happened? Where am I? What are you doing here?" Odelette stammered, her voice filled with confusion and panic as she glanced around. The stinky blanket she was wrapped in was slowly coming undone. "You don''t remember?" The voice, unmistakably Albert''s, brought her a strange sense of comfort, even though she had never seen his face beneath the armor. They had gone adventuring together during the adventurer''s test, but he had never removed his armor, only speaking in that same monotone voice from time to time. Now, hearing it again from inside the familiar armor, she was certain it was the same person who had saved her from the sleeping gas during the test. "It is you, Mister Albert, and... oh, right, those bastards... Did they slip something into my drink!?" Odelette grasped her hair in frustration, tugging at it as fragmented memories of the incident started to return. "Argh¡­ I should have known! They were acting too friendly! How did I not see it?" Odelette''s frustration bubbled over as she yanked at her messy hair, her thoughts racing. Rusty gave her a moment to collect herself, watching silently as her emotions simmered. Though she didn''t fully recall the events that had transpired, the betrayal and humiliation were written all over her face. Rusty, however, didn''t quite understand the emotional depth of her distress - but Alexander did. ''She was lucky we got there in time. Maybe not remembering is a blessing, she''s still young'' Odelette was as animated as ever, just like during their adventuring days. At one point, in a sudden burst of energy, she dunked her head into a bucket of water the cows were drinking from. Rusty didn''t understand the reasoning, but Alexander explained it was probably her way of clearing her head. Surprisingly, when she pulled her face out of the water, she seemed calmer. "Ah¡­ that''s better. But¡­ now that I think about it, why is it so cold? Ack! Where are my clothes?!" Only now did she look down to see that her chest was exposed to the elements and that perhaps sticking her head into the bucket was not the best idea. She looked to Rusty who pointed in one direction before speaking. "There." Rusty pointed toward the discarded blanket, where her belongings lay. Odelette, who had been partially undressed by one of the thugs, suddenly realized the state she was in. Being a monster, Rusty didn''t care about seeing a woman''s body, nor did he feel any excitement over it. He had only taken her belongings because Alexander had told him to. He continued staring blankly, unaware of the awkwardness. The halfling woman, however, felt a sharp wave of embarrassment and hurriedly skittered back to the blanket. ''Hey, Rusty, look away!'' ''Why should I?'' ''It''s improper to stare at a lady when she''s undressed!'' ''Is this a people thing?'' ''Yes, it is! Now turn around so she can change!'' ''Fine¡­'' Rusty, after being scolded by Alexander, finally turned around. While Odelette dressed, she vented her frustrations, with Rusty listening quietly and responding whenever she asked a question. "I knew something was off with those guys¡­ I was just too eager to get into the guild. Damn it!" Odelette tugged at her leather armor, securing the clasps with shaky fingers. "Stupid¡­ stupid!" She kicked the blanket away, sending it tumbling into a pile of hay. Rusty tilted his head, listening to her frustration but not fully grasping the deeper emotions she was wrestling with. He only knew that her distress was about more than just the immediate danger she had been in. After a moment, her voice softened. "When I get those bastards, I''ll cut off their balls! ... But wait... how did I get here? What even happened? I don''t remember." There was a brief silence as she tried to piece together what had transpired. Her memories were hazy, and things weren''t adding up - especially when it came to Albert. Something about the situation didn''t feel right, but she hesitated to ask Rusty directly. After a pause, she finally mustered the courage to speak. "Do... do you know where those bastards are? What they did to me?" "Oh? Those people? You don''t need to worry about them - they''re all dead now." "Huh?" Odelette was stunned by Rusty''s matter-of-fact tone. She had assumed Albert had found her after the worst had already happened, but now, hearing this, she realized something was different. She scanned her body, finding no bruises or signs of harm. It dawned on her that perhaps her attackers hadn''t even had the chance to touch her before Rusty intervened. "What do you mean, they''re all dead?" "Um... because they are?" "Did you kill them all?" "Yes, I did." Odelette stared at Rusty, her mouth slightly agape. Though she had fought alongside Albert in the recent past, she hadn''t realized he was this strong. There were at least five enemies she could count, and the big bald man seemed especially formidable. For a moment, she wondered if Albert had been hiding his true strength all along - perhaps he was secretly a silver-ranked adventurer. But before she could dwell on that, something else struck her as suspicious. "Wait... if you killed them, does that mean you know about the underground tunnels beneath the guild? Are you a member?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I just became one.See, I have the temporary token, just like you," He didn''t see any problem in showing Odelette his thieves'' guild coin, knowing she was also a member. It quickly dawned on her that she was quite lucky and her old acquaintance had saved her, though she wasn''t sure why. Still, she didn''t care to question it too much. He was her benefactor, and as a thief, she understood that sometimes it was better not to ask too many questions, especially when dealing with someone who might be as strong as a silver-ranked adventurer. Her gaze shifted to Rusty, who continued to stand still, his metallic body gleaming in the dim barn light. She couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something different about him. The way he moved, the way he spoke - it was far too detached, far too mechanical. She couldn''t help but wonder if there was more to him than met the eye. "Mister Albert... you''re ¡­ You''re a swell guy, aren''t ya!" "I am?" Rusty was a bit surprised at her reaction and at the slap of affirmation that she gave him on his metallic posterior after getting dressed. He turned around to see a bright grin on Odelette''s face who seemed to have recovered from the encounter rather well. ''She seems to be someone that doesn''t overthink things too much¡­'' Alexander commented on her rather cheerful demeanor in a rather happy tone. The girl was a bundle of joy during their adventurers and her rage seemed to have diminished after hearing that the people that tried to assault her were dead. "Well, I have the coin and all my stuff back thanks to you Mister Albert, you''re quite the swell guy¡­ but I don''t have much to offer in return, except maybe my everlasting gratitude!" Odelette''s grin faltered for a moment, her eyes narrowing with mischief. "But don''t think I''ll owe you forever, Mister Albert! I''m going to repay this debt someday, so watch out!" Rusty remained quiet, unsure how to react. Loyalty and favors weren''t tangible to him, but if Odelette said she owed him, he supposed that was good enough. Her gear and clothes wouldn''t be worth that much and the daggers she used were too small for his hands. Odelette picked up her spatial satchel and strapped it to her belt, giving the barn one last glance. The cows chewed lazily in their pens, seemingly oblivious to the strange visitors in their midst. "Alright!" Odelette said with renewed energy. "Let''s get out of here. The faster we get away from this stink, the better." She began stepping away, eager to leave this place behind, but Rusty remained where he stood, unmoving. While her instincts urged her to flee, for him, the night was far from over. He had the map to the sewers and a plan to return to the black market disguised as Albert. Gleam''s auction was just around the corner, and he needed to offload all the loot he had gathered through less-than-legal means. "Is something wrong, Mister Albert? Let''s get out of here! How about we get something to eat, it''s on me!" "No, nothing''s wrong but I still have something else to do." "Oh¡­" Rusty''s acquaintance seemed disappointed by his response, though he couldn''t understand why. This would have been the perfect opportunity to strengthen his bond with a new friend, but as a living armor, he failed to pick up on the social cues. "Oh, alright then..." She muttered, casting him a glance. Despite the brief moment of awkwardness, she quickly put on a cheerful front once more. "Well, I guess I''ll head back then! But hey, you better be careful out there, Mister Albert. You know how this city is - full of people looking to take advantage of you." "I''ll be careful." He replied nonchalantly, looking down at the smaller halfling''s face. Her expression shifted slightly, and for the first time, he was able to recognize the emotion Odelette was feeling - disappointment. She quickly masked it with a smile, then started moving toward the barn''s exit. When she reached the door, she turned back and waved. "Mister Albert, I won''t forget this! I''ll be sure to pay you back one day!" "Sure?" He responded, awkwardly raising his hand to mirror her waving motion. Finally, she was gone, and he was left alone. Alexander waited a moment before the ball of light representing his being floated out of the armor, illuminating the barn. They stood in silence for a while, but Rusty could sense that his guide had something to say. "What?" "Nothing, you still need to work on your people skills¡­" Alexander sighed. His bright form dimmed slightly as if expressing disappointment. Rusty tilted his head, not quite understanding. "But I completed the task. Odelette is safe, her belongings are returned, and we parted ways. What''s left to do?" Alexander let out a small chuckle. "It''s not always about completing tasks, Rusty. Sometimes people - humans, halflings, whatever, need more than just the basics but perhaps I''m just being a busybody, we need to focus on saving your other friend first." His guide refrained from explaining social dynamics, knowing that Rusty wasn''t quite ready to absorb it all. As a living armor recently exposed to the diverse races of the world, it would likely take many months - or perhaps years before he truly understood what life was about. First, they needed to ensure that Rusty would live long enough to grasp such complexities, and saving Gleam was part of that mission. "Well then, could you show me that map again? I think there''s another entrance to the guild nearby¡­" "...Aburdon really is better at reading maps than you." "Hey, I''m trying!" Alexander wasn''t great at instantly recalling points of interest on maps, and perhaps it would be better to switch him out for his second guide. Rusty hesitated, though, because the two of them always ended up bickering when together. However, he needed to barter and also remember the thieves'' guild password for the coming week, and for that, Aburdon was the better choice. "Hah, Leave it to the hero to get my precious Rusty in more trouble!" "What trouble? He did the right thing by saving that girl!" "Did he now? What if they had powerful friends? What if they catch his scent and slay us when we return to the sewers, have you thought about that?" Just as he expected, the moment he allowed Aburdon to show up, his dark orb form instantly began berating Alexander. The two were like an old married couple, bound by a shared history that they constantly brought up. Sometimes their interactions were amusing, but most of the time, they just created problems when he had to choose a side. "I''ll see you later, Alexander. For now, I need Aburdon to help me navigate the black market." "Hah! Rusty needs me more than you! You''re a useless hero now just like in the past¡­" "Says the demon lord who was defeated by this useless hero." Aburdon seized this opportunity to gloat, but Alexander quickly rebutted his claim. Even though both of them had died in the end, Alexander was the one who won the duel between the two and Aburdon didn''t know how to retort. Rusty quickly made Alexander go back to the Soul Forge before any more insults were thrown between the two. Quickly after he brought out the map and had Aburdon go through with it and with his help he was led to a third secret entrance. The first one was at a pub, the second one at a barn but this third one was a disused well hidden behind a crumbling wall at the edge of a decrepit alleyway. The entrance was partially obscured by overgrown vines and crumbling bricks, making it easy to overlook. He wasn''t sure how the thieves made it look so believable but it looked like it had not been used in forever. Soon his form disappeared into it as he delved back into the sewers, his aim to sell all his stolen loot. Chapter 87 - 85 – Auction Approaches. Rusty slipped through the hidden entrance, his heavy, metallic frame surprisingly silent as he descended into the old well. The stone walls were slick with moisture, and the air was thick with the pungent scent of damp earth and sewage. Rusty didn''t mind; as living armor, he didn''t need to breathe. His body moved more naturally than before, each step emulating the way a human would walk. Aburdon, who had memorized the entire map of the sewers, became Rusty''s guide. He led him through the twisting, narrow tunnels that stretched beneath the city. The demon lord''s haughty and nonchalant tone was a sharp contrast to Alexander''s more compassionate voice. "Take the next right, then descend the ladder. The black market entrance is just ahead. Aren''t you glad you switched to me? You''ve made a marvelous choice, Rusty, but it would be even better if you never called that fool again. I''m the only guide you''ll ever need~" Aburdon silently congratulated himself for guiding Rusty back to the same black market entrance. On the way, they passed the area where Rusty had defeated the thief guild members. Unsurprisingly, someone was investigating the scene, and the guard there eyed him with malice. His armored body had been swapped to Albert''s armor - a fresh version that lacked any of the scents he had absorbed in this area. Before Rusty could move forward, a strange creature approached him. It resembled a dog-like monster, but with an unusually large nose. The creature sniffed the air in his direction, its nostrils flaring as it tested the scent. After a moment, it seemed disinterested, as though the scent he gave off wasn''t worth its attention. ''See, I told you they wouldn''t be able to track you if you replaced your body completely. Use this tactic whenever you need to escape someone in the future.'' ''I will.'' It was a useful tactic, though it required him to spend resources on a new body and either discard the old one or store it. Once he completed the process, all traces of scent were erased, making him untraceable. He could even swap out his helmet, but for that, he needed to damage it first. If he simply changed his loadout, the helmet would shift into a new version but retain the old smells. However, restoring it replaced all the internal metals, allowing him to evade the noses of tracking hounds. "Never seen you around here¡­ are you new?" Asked the thief after pulling the doglike creature to the side. "Yes," Rusty replied in a monotone voice which was starting to sound more humane with each day. "¡­ I don''t suppose you''ve seen anyone suspicious, huh?" The man was missing a few teeth and one of his eyes, giving him a menacing appearance. He leaned in as if trying to intimidate Rusty with his ugly face, but the living armor stood still, unaffected. "No, I didn''t see anyone. Did something happen?" It was clear the man was irritated by Rusty''s nonchalant response. His expression darkened, and with a grunt of frustration, he spat to the side before waving him through. "None of your business. Move along." The guard was initially suspicious, but after a quick look, he eventually let Rusty pass. There were some noises coming from around the corner but he couldn''t see the bodies of the people he had slain anymore. Now that the thugs that were after Albert were dead and he made it into the thieves guild, there were probably no more obstacles waiting for him here. He continued back to the black market entrance and used his coin to slip through the secret door and was right back where he started. The pungent mix of sweat, smoke, and rot greeted him, but now he wasn''t in a living body so it did not bother him anymore. Stalls were crowded together, with vendors peddling stolen goods, exotic weapons, and even magical artifacts. Shady figures negotiated in low voices, their deals drowned out by the constant buzz of the underground marketplace. Rusty''s metallic footsteps were masked by the noise, his armored form blending in among the assortment of mercenaries and thieves that frequented this place. ''I need to become a permanent member first, how much should I give them for it to be only five silver coins?'' Aburdon peeked into Rusty''s inventory screen to assess their situation. Rusty needed to return some of the loot to the man who had lent him a temporary coin and exchange it for a permanent one. He had arrived around ten at night, and now, three hours later, the same man was still there. He approached the area that resembled an adventurer''s guild again, though it seemed busier than before. Apparently, this guild operated more during the night. The burly man stood behind the same rundown bar, as gruff as ever. Rusty approached him just like last time but before he could present anything, the man spoke up. "A new face? Are you a newbie?" ''Ah that''s right¡­'' Rusty nearly made a blunder by calling out to the man. Previously, he had been disguised as one of his attackers, but now he was in the form of Albert. Catching himself, he decided not to say anything and instead pulled out his temporary guild token, placing it on the bar counter. The man raised an eyebrow at Rusty''s silence but eventually nodded, accepting the token without question. He likely assumed Rusty had received it from another guild member. These tokens possessed special attributes and a low-level enchantment, but Aburdon had assured Rusty there was no way he could be traced back to the now-dead thug he had inhabited for that brief hour. "So, did you come to complete the registration?" "Yes." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then let''s see it, I hope for your sake that you''re not wasting my time¡­" There were other thieves around here looking at them. They seemed to be ready for something and smiling. Rusty wasn''t sure what it was about but it wasn''t anything good. It was possible that whoever was unable to bring in enough loot for a full registration got punished in some kind of way and if the items he took out didn''t satisfy this bartender, then he could be in for another fight. Rusty stood silently, reaching into his satchel and retrieving several items he had looted during the dungeon raids. Following Aburdon''s instructions, he placed them carefully on the counter, trying to gauge the reaction of the burly bartender. Reading human expressions wasn''t Rusty''s strong suit, but he watched closely. The bartender''s eyes scanned the pile of valuables with casual disinterest at first, though something in his gaze shifted - there was a hint of recognition. "Not bad, newbie¡­" The man grunted. "These items aren''t half bad. You''ve got a keen eye for value. You''re going to make a fine thief - or more likely a bandit, by the looks of it." He chuckled, suggesting that Rusty''s bulky, armored appearance seemed more fitting for a brute than a nimble thief. Rusty''s form, indeed, was better suited for intimidation than the stealthy approach or subterfuge. While there were thief classes that focused on stealth and agility, bandits thrived on brute force and fear. Still, this underground guild didn''t discriminate based on skillset. Fighters, brawlers, even priests could join as long as they proved their worth. It seemed Rusty had passed this test - for now. "Did you take these from some dead adventurers or did you ¡­ Ah, it doesn''t really matter, here you''ve earned your membership." The bartender took away Rusty''s temporary thief coin and replaced it with a similar-looking one, but this new coin was made of a more precious metal. It lacked any specific markings and resembled an ordinary silver coin at first glance, but Rusty knew its true value. This coin granted him full access to the guild, where he could now freely sell all the stolen goods he had collected from robbing adventurers. With this permanent token in hand, Rusty was officially part of the underground network, able to trade and operate without the limitations of his previous temporary status. As Rusty pocketed the permanent coin, a strange sense of accomplishment settled over him. Though he hadn''t been given any official title or recognition, it felt like he had completed a quest he had set out to achieve. It had been a multi-part mission that brought him all the way here, and now a new opportunity had opened up: he could finally start selling all the loot he had stolen. However, to be cautious, it was wiser to offload the items gradually, spreading out his profits to avoid drawing attention from the wrong people. He was still a rookie in this place, and some might target him once they noticed he was carrying a large sum of money. The process was similar to selling items above ground. Although the black market merchants were more stingy than regular ones, Rusty was still able to get reasonable prices for the items he had taken. Enchanted armor and weapons sold the best, fetching prices only about twenty percent lower than what they would go for in a store. This meant they would fly off the shelves quickly, and he''d have no trouble making more money. After another hour of making his way around the black market, he had sold a good portion of his loot. Even potions, lockpicking tools, and jewelry - some of which adventurers wore even though they had no enchantments on them - found eager buyers. It was a resounding success, with a third of his loot now gone. ''I think that should be enough for tonight, you don''t want to seem too suspicious Rusty. People have been watching you but that''s normal but before we leave, let me glance at their mission board, maybe we can find something interesting there.'' ''Fine with me.'' Just like in the adventurer guild, this place also had their own board for missions. However, instead of monster parts it listed bounties, heists, smuggling operations, and even assassination contracts. Rusty approached the dimly lit corner where the thieves'' guild mission board stood. Several shadowy figures were gathered around, eyeing the various postings with a mix of greed and caution. Aburdon hovered inside Rusty''s helmet, scanning the board for any particularly lucrative or strategic opportunities. The missions were organized by difficulty and payout, with some marked in red, signaling high risk or especially dangerous targets. Similar to the adventurers'' guild, the thieves'' guild had its own ranking system, though it had one less rank, as only individuals with dual classes were allowed to join. Rusty was currently at the first rank - Obsidian -which was symbolized by the black coin he had received. The guild seemed to follow a particular theme with its rankings; the second was Jade, and beyond that, the prestigious Moonstone rank. "Hmm¡­ What have we here? This one looks interesting¡­" Rusty followed Aburdon''s direction to a mission posted at the very top of the board, written in cryptic symbols and code. It was a high-level contract - one that likely required a more experienced team. The reward, however, was substantial: 200 gold coins for retrieving a specific magical artifact from a heavily guarded noble''s estate. "But alas, I don''t think you''re ready for something like that¡­ perhaps when you''re a C-rank monster." He wasn''t planning on committing any murders inside of the city but perhaps if an adventurer that was listed on this board appeared before him, he would reconsider. In a sense, this guild also bought up body parts, just ones belonging to people of the intelligent races. Each killing contract was only completed after bringing an ear of the person killed or one of their fingers. The guild would then identify the person who had been killed and only then would he receive the rewards. While these contracts were intriguing, Rusty knew he was ill-suited for breaking into people''s houses while wearing his armor. He had a skill that allowed him to hide in the shadows, but he couldn''t maintain it for long. Eventually, he departed from the strange underground place. It was late at night, but the streets were still bustling with activity. After ensuring he wasn''t being followed, he returned to the inn to wait for morning. His pile of gold was slowly increasing, but it likely wouldn''t be enough to secure his friend''s release from captivity. When the morning sun finally rose, he headed toward the auction house where Gleam was supposed to be sold. He still wasn''t certain if she was in this city, as the system wasn''t picking up her location, but there was little he could do except wait and grow stronger. If, for some reason, she wasn''t there, he wasn''t sure what he would do. However, for now, with his spirits high, he continued his daily adventures. He spent another two days in the dungeon, hunting monsters and occasionally ambushing unsuspecting adventurers with his sleeping trap. However, word of his tricks was spreading, making theft increasingly difficult. Killing orcs eventually became his only source of income but the items he gained through his robberies were selling well and eventually, the day arrived. "Hear ye, hear ye!" Rusty returned from one of his dungeon dives, thrilled to find he had leveled up again. Finally, something was changing. At the auction house, he encountered a small group of people gathered around a well-dressed man. He held a large scroll in his hand, and it appeared he was about to announce when the next auction would take place. "The Luxe Auction House is going to open its doors to the public in five days time! We will be showcasing a collection of rare magical artifacts, including rare elixirs, enchanted weapons, and - " The man paused dramatically, his gaze sweeping over the eager crowd. " - the coveted Stellar Scepter, an artifact said to grant its wielder unimaginable healing power!" Rusty felt a bit disappointed as the man continued to talk and only mentioned some obscure artifacts or potions he didn''t recognize. However, right at the end, he finally gave him the information that he desired. "We shall also present a grandiose collection of magical beasts and monsters, ready to be tamed for the right price! The auction starts at sundown five days from now! Please remember that the highest bidder always wins and whoever isn''t able to produce enough coins, will be required to pay with their very freedom!" The auctioneer''s voice boomed through the crowd, making some of the participants excited. Rusty felt a shiver run through his metallic frame as this was it. He finally had a date with Gleam''s name on it and in five short days, he would finally be able to bid for his friend''s freedom. ''Five days¡­ I must get more¡­'' He murmured to himself before venturing away, there were only five days remaining and he still needed to get more gold¡­ Chapter 88 - 86 – Finishing The Preparations. "Quick, I saw him run through here!" "After him, don''t let that bastard escape!" A thunder of footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridor. The thick walls, marred with scratches, belonged to the local E-rank dungeon. Inside, a group of six men were chasing a hoodlum who had dared to steal from adventurers. After more than a week of this cat-and-mouse chase, they had finally cornered him, and today, they were determined to catch this menace once and for all. "..." "I don''t see him... Are you sure he went this way?" The leader of the group, a broad-shouldered man with small bear-like ears, barked at his companions, his breath heavy from the chase. The corridor funneled into what seemed like a dead-end chamber, the only light coming from the faint glow of dungeon crystals embedded in the walls. His axe gleamed under the eerie blue light as he scanned the area, his patience wearing thin. "I swear, I saw him!" One of the younger adventurers spoke up, panting heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "He went this way. He couldn''t have just vanished!" The chamber they found themselves in was closed off, with four large columns placed in the center. It was dimly lit - an area designed as a trap. If anyone moved too close to the center, a mechanism would trigger, sealing the entrance behind them. Monsters from the dungeon would then be funneled in through hidden compartments above and below. It was a danger the group hoped to avoid. "Could he be hiding behind one of those pillars?" "Are you stupid? Look at the width of them. No grown man in armor could fit behind those." The leader, maddened by his companions'' bickering, took a deep breath, his sharp ears twitching as he listened intently. The corridor was deathly silent, save for the quiet hum of dungeon magic coursing through the walls. No footsteps, no shuffling. It was as if the hoodlum had disappeared into thin air. "Unless this guy''s some kind of master at hiding, there''s no reason to assume he''s still here... And if he was that skilled, he wouldn''t need to hide from us in the first place." The leader scratched his chin, scanning the room while listening to one of his men talk. There were no signs of anyone having been there, nor any indication that someone was hiding behind the pillars. His men spread out, moving to the left and right to check behind them, but still, they found no one. It crossed his mind that a high-level skill might be in play, but if that were the case, the person using it could easily kill them all before they even realized what was happening. Only high-level assassins could blend so perfectly into the shadows, and someone of that caliber wouldn''t bother robbing low-level adventurers. "You''re right, no point in wasting any more time here." He signaled his men to back away, their irritation clear. They had been chasing the same elusive target for days, only to be tricked time and time again. The perpetrator wore armor similar to dungeon monsters from the lesser F-rank dungeon. Everyone knew that it was a disguise to avoid detection but each time he managed to somehow evade their pursuits. With nothing left here for them they decided to retreat back to the dungeon''s entrance, eager to regroup and plan their next move. Little did they know, their elusive target was right under their noses the entire time. Rusty, cloaked in shadows, had been using his Basic Elemental Meld ability to blend seamlessly into the chamber''s dark crevices. There wasn''t much shadow to work with, so he had reduced his form to just a helmet, but luckily, his pursuers were focused on the pillars in the center of the room, ignoring the dark corners where he could hide. ''That was close. If they''d stayed a few moments longer, my mana would''ve run out¡­ I think, this might be a good time to stop before they catch me¡­'' Rusty thought, switching his loadout to return to his Albert form for now. He wasn''t sure if his pursuers were still waiting for him outside, so it was safer to use his official disguise. Everyone was searching for someone resembling a living armor, and thanks to his system, he could switch between various armored forms to keep hiding. ''But will it be enough?'' Three days had passed since the auction announcement, and he had less than two days to gather everything. The sum his guide had instructed him to collect was almost in his inventory, and with all the loot from his recent robberies, he just needed to sell it off to reach his goal. It was good news, but Rusty had lived long enough not to be fooled by temporary victories. Just like in the past, there were always factors beyond his control. He knew better than to celebrate before succeeding in his mission to save Gleam. ''What''s my current level at¡­'' Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L7 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 253/253 Magic Points [MP] 32/210 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 99 [ E ] Agility 73 [ E ] Dexterity 72 [ E ] Constitution 103 [ E+ ] Intelligence 78 [ E ] Wisdom 80 [ E ] Willpower 79 [ E ] Durability D ''Close to half way, but will not be able to get to E+ or D- before the auction.'' Rusty glanced at his experience bar, which was more than half full, and realized he could expect at most one more level-up before the auction date. His leveling drive was starting to slow down, but he was still making steady progress toward the next big change. Additionally, he had successfully gained new skills from the green-skinned monsters that were compatible with his absorption skill. Not only those monsters, but also the adventurers he robbed had become his targets. He had hoped to acquire a mana manipulation skill to begin his journey as a caster, but there weren''t any orc shamans or mages with such skills nearby. Instead, he had learned some other tricks that might come in handy. Provoking Shout Active Skills Forces enemies within range to attack the person performing this skill. The skill can be resisted by individuals with high willpower. One of the skills he took belonged to the more advanced fighter class. It was one that the temporary adventurer party had asked him about and he lacked. While it wasn''t great when he was fighting alone, once Gleam joined him on his adventures it would probably prove available for her survival. Lesser Fury Active Skills For a short amount of time, it enhances all physical stats, and can''t be used repeatedly. This skill was one he had acquired from one of the orcs. They had two similar skills; the other was called Lesser Berserk, but for some reason, it wasn''t compatible with Rusty''s physiology. This one was a downgraded variant with fewer side effects and could be triggered at any time at the expense of mana. The other skill required the user to amass some damage before activation, vastly enhancing their stats but at the cost of their sanity. At least, that was how Alexander had explained it when Rusty had asked for clarification. The orc monsters seemed to use skills to enhance their muscular bodies to the extreme but he was a suit of armor, lacking any adrenaline glands or hormones to induce rage and bloodlust. However, his leveling up had also granted him some of his own skills that were achieved only by living-armor monsters. Fortify Armor Active Skills Temporarily increases defense by hardening the armor''s material, reducing damage taken for a short period. Can be activated to negate damage from heavy attacks but also lowers agility when used. It was a useful skill that allowed him to temporarily raise his durability. Once activated, he would be almost impervious to physical damage. Even the large orcs with their hammers and axes wouldn''t be able to scratch his body while this skill was in effect. With these three new additions, he had become even stronger than before, and perhaps it was time to use the next two days to pursue an even greater boost. ''I can''t rob anyone anymore but I still have two days left, I should be able to advance further down the labyrinth.'' Rusty had now spent more than a week exploring the first large floor of this dungeon. With Aburdon''s help, he had never felt lost, and hunting monsters was becoming increasingly easy. This place was much larger than the F-rank dungeon he had originated from, but it also felt more constraining. Many adventurers wandered these halls, but the further he ventured in, the fewer people he encountered. The people of this world were different from him and had varying motivations. Rusty''s two main goals were to become stronger and save his friend. He didn''t hunt enemies for wealth or fame, but those adventurers did. Their reasoning for being there felt somewhat shallow, and they were limited by their own motivations. Fear was a powerful emotion, and with little more than the desire to earn money while putting themselves in danger, they often faltered, stifling their progress. Fear was not something Rusty truly understood, though he was aware of its existence. He still wanted to live, and now that he was no longer bound to the old dungeon, defeat meant his body wouldn''t be restored. He had taken his freedom, but that also made him like everyone else - mortal. Still, he didn''t have time to dwell on such grand ideas. Instead, he focused on his mission, wandering through the corridors until he reached the stairs leading to the lower labyrinth floor. ''This is different from the last dungeon¡­'' "Potions! Get your potions!" "Ropes, fresh clothes, rations - we''ve got everything!" The area before the stairs was much larger here. It was a safe zone, where no monsters could wander in, and the Adventurers'' Guild made full use of it to their advantage. They created a safe zone for people to rest and resupply. Small stalls dotted the area, run by merchants peddling essential goods like potions, weapons, and food. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes bustled about, some preparing to descend deeper into the labyrinth, while others rested from their battles, recounting tales of the dangers they had faced. It was a lively place, a sharp contrast to the eerie silence of the dungeon halls Rusty had just left behind. ''There is even a sleeping area but also, everything costs twice as much as in the city.'' One thing he had noticed about the people of various races was their greed. The dungeon was a deadly place, yet any help provided here always came with conditions. Even if someone was on the brink of death, no aid would be given unless they had something to trade. While money wasn''t always necessary, something had to be offered in return - sometimes even just a favor to be called in later. Rusty scanned the crowd, trying to gauge the strength of the monsters below by observing the adventurers heading down. This was still an E-rank dungeon, and while he was a monster of that level, stronger ones lurked beneath his metallic feet. Fortunately, no one from his old party was around to call out to him, allowing him to head directly for the long staircase leading down. There were a lot of adventurers here, more than he expected but no one seemed to be too interested in him. Some gave him a few fleeting glances but most of them were still busy discussing the iron bandit, the name that he had garnered after his form had been discovered after a few robberies. Rusty descended the long staircase, each step echoing softly through the stone corridor as the safe zone above faded into the distance. The deeper he went, the more the air grew heavier, saturated with the faint scent of damp earth and something else - something far more dangerous. Unlike the upper levels, where low-rank iron adventurers casually strolled, the lower labyrinth floors were much more treacherous. At this level it was a possibility to encounter an E+ rank monster and sometimes even a mutated D- rank. The dampness in the air came from the change in the walls'' composition, which became saturated from the rising vapors and moisture. Lizardmen and Orcs still roamed this level, but they had their own large chambers, where both monster types were concentrated in high numbers. Some chambers were said to be filled with shallow swamps and poisonous fog, which explained the heavy, damp air. Rusty didn''t have to worry about the poison - only the moisture, which could cause his iron body to rust, was a problem. ''Now then, Aburdon, find me a safe place to test the monsters down here.'' ''Ah yes, Aburdon the Lord of Maps, at your service my lord.'' Aburdon replied in a mocking tone that Rusty was starting to pick up on. The more he wondered about the world of the intelligent races, the more he learned about their culture. The air grew colder as Rusty ventured further, the sound of dripping water echoing in the passage. He instinctively reached for his weapon, his senses heightened. The deeper floors of this dungeon were notorious for their tricky layout and stronger monsters, but it was exactly what Rusty needed if he wanted to level up before the auction. ''Keep your guard up, a cluster of creatures should be up ahead, that is if no other adventurers got to them first.'' S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as he expected, the first area was a dud. No monster had persisted and the whole place had been looted. This was quite normal as they were close to the safe zone. To find more bounties he needed to go in further and so he would. He ventured into the next corridor with hastened steps, his mind preoccupied with the arrival of his main mission''s end. He eventually encountered a group of orcs that were stronger than the previous ones and engaged them in battle. Their levels were higher, and the danger was greater, but he persisted. With each swing of his sword, time continued to pass, and the battle turned into a test of endurance - something the orcs were lacking. His body absorbed their cleavers, and by fortifying himself, he took no damage at all. The monsters roared, entering a berserk frenzy, but he didn''t buckle under the pressure and continued his onslaught. Eventually, nothing remained but a large piece of damaged iron armor that began restoring itself back into shape. Experience points flowed into him, making him stronger, but it wasn''t nearly enough. He needed more, and before the two days were up, he had to advance further and prepare himself for the unknown auction he needed to participate in. ''Don''t worry Gleam, in two days, we''ll be back together¡­'' Rusty pulled his sword from an Orc''s body and turned his attention to a new corridor. He seemed to have triggered some kind of trap, as the chorus of frantic roars reverberated off the dungeon walls and drew closer to his position. He welcomed this; more monsters meant more experience and more parts to sell - something he desperately needed for the culmination of his quest. Chapter 89 - 87 – Auction Starts. "Are you going to take part?" "Me? Nah, why would I waste my money on the entrance fee?" "But there might be something good there." "Hah, be my guest. Go fight it out with those rich merchants and high-level adventurers if you want. I''m saving that silver for some beer." "Now that sounds like a good investment. Count me in!" The two men laughed as they eyed the small line of people gathered outside the local auction house, waiting for it to open. Today was the day of the grand auction, but the only way in was by paying a steep entrance fee - a clear attempt to keep poorer patrons from participating. Rusty was nearing the end of his journey. Two days had passed, and now, after braving the lower labyrinth floors and battling the toughest orcs and lizardmen, he stood before the grand auction house. His worn metallic frame was patched up, gleaming faintly in the soft light of the evening sun. He''d done it. He''d gathered the gold he needed. It wasn''t easy - pushing himself to the brink, taking on groups of stronger monsters, and trading the spoils of war. But now, the moment of truth had arrived. The auction house was grand, towering above the market square, with golden accents and banners fluttering in the breeze, bearing the symbol of Luxe Auction House. Rusty watched as the well-dressed crowd mingled and gossiped, exchanging knowing glances and discussing their latest acquisitions. Some looked like nobility but there were also others like him, wearing bulky armor and clearly adventurers. They were all gathered here with one goal: to win something rare and valuable. But for Rusty, it wasn''t about treasure. His prize was much more personal - the chance to save Gleam, his friend and only companion. Rusty had shifted into his Albert form, appearing as an unremarkable yet well-armored adventurer, blending seamlessly into the crowd. As he stood there, memories of Gleam, his small ant companion, resurfaced. He remembered how she had fought fiercely to save him in the dungeon''s depths and the caves below. Twice she had saved his life - once by carrying his helmet away from the monster beetles, and another time by rescuing him from the spiders. However, she had been captured by humans and had been missing ever since. Today, Rusty vowed to finally end all of this and bring her back. He approached the entrance, catching a glimpse of the rich crowd, some eyeing him with suspicion, others ignoring him entirely. The entrance fee was steep, but Rusty had more than enough to pay it now. He handed over the coins, and the guards stepped aside, allowing him entry. ''This is supposed to be a grand auction house? It looks like an overgrown shack.'' ''It looks fine to me.'' ''Hah, not that I expected you to have an eye for these things, hero.'' While waiting, Rusty heard Aburdon and Alexander''s voices echoing inside his helmet. He wasn''t truly alone as the spirits of both the deceased demon and the hero were with him today. Rusty had chosen to bring them along for this occasion, uncertain of what the day might hold. Each guide had their strengths and weaknesses. They were constantly bickering and clashing with one another but if it meant getting Gleam back, Rusty was willing to endure their arguments. Between the two of them, one was bound to have the right answer for whatever lay ahead. ''Quiet down you two, you''re making me nervous!'' ''Are you turning more human, I didn''t think suits of armor could become nervous?'' Aburdon responded in a slightly mocking tone. Rusty wasn''t sure if he was nervous as he only knew the word existed and that this seemed like a moment when a person might feel that way. His body lacked the physiology to experience emotions like a true human, but for some reason, a strange tingling sensation spread through his helmet. It was similar to what he felt when facing a powerful opponent capable of ending his life. Rusty took his place in the queue and waited patiently. The auction was set to begin in about an hour, but a large crowd had already gathered. One thing he noticed was that there were two entrances, and one allowed people to enter much faster. A closer look revealed a difference between the two lines: in his line, most were adventurers or modest merchants wearing worn-out clothes, while the other entrance was filled with better-dressed individuals who didn''t resemble warriors or any adventurer types he had seen before. ''This must be the class divide Alexander spoke about.'' After arriving in the city, Rusty had worked hard to fit in, and part of that meant understanding the local culture. The people of various intelligent races seemed to divide themselves into groups. Some of these divisions were based on race, but others depended on wealth. Adventurers were a unique group, mingling with each other regardless of race or background. But above them all were the nobles - people who commanded respect and were not to be offended. The nobility were the true rulers here, a hard pill to swallow for someone like Rusty, who was a monster. In his world, strength or victory in battle determined who was right. Yet, time and again, he had encountered weak individuals who were feared and revered, protected by much stronger guards who could easily slay them. It was baffling. The world wasn''t only driven by the greed for money but by strange blood ties and inherited power - concepts he, as living armor, couldn''t fully grasp. "Please, present your coins. If you do not have the entrance fee, kindly move along," a voice called out, breaking his thoughts. Eventually, he arrived at the front of the queue, and Rusty reached into his pouch, handing over the required coins. The guard glanced at them, then nodded in approval, allowing Rusty to step inside. The Luxe Auction House interior was vastly different from its unassuming exterior - a grand hall stretched before him, illuminated by glowing orbs of light suspended in midair. Rows of cushioned seats lined the room, each facing a grand stage draped in crimson curtains. Above, intricate chandeliers sparkled, casting an ethereal glow over the hushed crowd that had already gathered. Rusty scanned the room. A lot of the attendees were wealthy merchants or perhaps nobles, their affluence evident in their extravagant outfits and the entourage of servants or bodyguards accompanying them. They sat in personal booths overlooking the lower level of the auction, where Rusty needed to find a free spot among the other regular adventurers. The venue was neat and clean, with guards stationed almost everywhere. He took a moment to assess his surroundings and had his guides check for the best escape routes. Retrieving Gleam had been his mission from the start, and he intended to see it through, even if it meant resorting to drastic measures. While weapons weren''t permitted, armor was allowed. He had been thoroughly searched for any hidden weapons and was eventually granted entry. However, this didn''t concern him; by activating one of his loadouts, he could be fully armed with everything he needed. Rusty had prepared various contingencies for a quick getaway if the attendees refused to return Gleam. Although Alexander disapproved of the idea, Rusty was ready to unleash poison, darkness, and alchemical bombs if it meant getting his friend back. He had no intention of living as an adventurer and would flee at the first opportunity. But that was merely a contingency plan - something to be executed only in a time of crisis. His guides, Aburdon and Alexander, had finished checking for potential threats and escape routes. Their voices were hushed now as they quietly observed the unfolding scene. The auction hadn''t started yet, so he took the opportunity to listen in on the conversations around him. "What are you aiming for?" "I heard they''ll be selling some elixirs. You?" "I''m waiting for a boss monster core. I heard they''ll be auctioning those off today - I need one for my sword." "Those guild bastards always try to monopolize those..." "Yeah, but what can you do?" The chatter was somewhat interesting, but it didn''t help him figure out when Gleam would be presented. There were a lot of people here, and from what he understood, the auction had three phases. First, some mediocre items would be presented to get things going. Only after that would the truly valuable items be rolled out. Once that was done, a final round of lesser items would be auctioned off to close the day. Alexander had told him it was best if Gleam appeared among the last items, as it would make it much easier to buy her back. Most of the wealthy merchants and nobles wouldn''t stay until the end, leaving him a chance to get her at a lower price. The auction''s crowd grew and eventually, a large portion of the seats had been filled. Merchants exchanged rumors, adventurers whispered strategies, and the wealthy flaunted their riches with subtle gestures of arrogance. A soft chime echoed through the room, followed by the quieting of the audience. The auctioneer appeared - an older man in a lavish crimson robe and a black top hat. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Luxe Auction House''s grand event of the month!" Rusty listened to him speak, the tone sounded a lot different as it was somewhat theatrical and overblown. The same could be said for his hand gestures that he performed with almost every word he spoke. "Tonight, you will witness rare treasures, powerful artifacts, and beasts not seen in the wild for decades. Remember, fortune favors the bold. So, place your bids wisely." Some people from the crowd leaned forward, captivated by the man''s presence. Others sighted as if they had seen the same words be spoken on multiple occasions, and wanted him to just move on with it. Rusty stayed still, his metallic form stuck in place as he waited with anticipation. While the man talked, he noticed the wooden paddle resting against the armrest of his seat. The number "45" was printed on it, representing him and his seat for the auction. When bidding, he would need to raise the paddle and wait for the auctioneer to confirm his offer. The last person to hold up their paddle would be declared the winner. Once the bidding concluded, he would follow the auction house staff to claim his winnings. "Now then, let the auction begin!" The auctioneer''s grand proclamation was met with a bout of polite applause as the first item was brought onto the stage - a simple ring of minor enchantment, said to enhance the wearer''s stamina. Rusty''s eyes remained fixed on the stage, but his mind was elsewhere, fixated on Gleam and the mission at hand. He didn''t care about these early items; they were bait to warm up the crowd. As the auctioneer listed off the ring''s properties, Rusty decided to make a recount of all the money that he had in possession. Alexander had advised him to gather around twenty gold coins to be safe, but he had managed to collect five more. It was quite a sum, considering one gold coin could sustain a family of four for a month. For adventurers, though, things were far more expensive, and their items often sold at exorbitant prices. He had robbed others, slain monsters, and sold nearly his entire stash of metals from his storage. There was nothing left in his possession that he hadn''t pawned off. Now, it was time to spend it all. The bidding started small, with a few casual adventurers throwing up their paddles, hoping to buy the item at a lower price than usual. Rusty kept his number 45 paddle down as there was only one thing he was here for. As the first few rounds progressed, the auctioneer introduced increasingly valuable items: enchanted weapons, rare potions, and even some unidentified relics recovered from ancient ruins. Rusty noticed the room''s energy shift, with each item commanding higher bids and drawing the attention of the wealthier patrons. He had no interest in the relics or magical items being auctioned off, but the constant vagueness of the auction was starting to gnaw on him. There was no way of knowing for him that Gleam was even here and with each no item presented, he worried more. Aburdon''s voice echoed in his mind, trying to keep him grounded. ''Relax, Rusty. Keep calm. You''ve planned for this. If something goes wrong, you can just kill them all! Just drench this place in your darkness, and it will all be over! That''s why we bought all those mana potions! '' ''I agree with Aburdon¡­ just not with the last part. Stop trying to get Rusty to kill everyone, you insane bastard! '' Alexander chimed in but also seemed annoyed by the demon lord''s words. ''Stick to the plan. Most of the big spenders are here for more lucrative items. I bet no one here will even go over ten gold coins.'' ''I hope so¡­'' The auction continued, and the crowd wasn''t thinning¡ªin fact, even more people were arriving. The first phase had come to an end, and a brief ten-minute break was announced. Some people took the opportunity to visit the restrooms, while others grabbed a bite to eat or even drank alcohol. Rusty remained seated, still as a statue, though he had to stand a few times to let people in and out of the row. Eventually, the auctioneer returned and began speaking again. The second phase of the auction began, with a hushed excitement sweeping through the crowd. The auctioneer''s voice became more intense, reflecting the anticipation of what was to come. It was time for the rare, valuable items - the ones that had drawn in the wealthiest patrons and the most determined adventurers. Rusty''s focus sharpened. He could feel the tension building in the room as higher bids were being placed, and more exclusive items were unveiled. The first item in this phase was a brilliantly crafted sword, said to be infused with the essence of an ancient storm wyvern. The blade crackled with faint sparks of lightning, drawing gasps from the crowd. Bidding was fierce, with wealthy merchants and adventurers throwing up their paddles, eager to outbid one another. Rusty kept his paddle down, ignoring the murmurs and rising excitement. Next came a large dragon''s scale, shimmering with an iridescent glow. It was rumored to hold the essence of the beast''s regenerative power, capable of being forged into powerful armor. The price skyrocketed, leaving only the richest still competing for it. The gold coins that he managed to gain paled in comparison to the endless coffers these rich nobles and merchants possessed. Finally, after what felt like hours, the crowd began to thin. Some of the wealthiest patrons, having won their treasures, were leaving with smug smiles, their entourages carrying their new acquisitions. The energy in the room dipped as the auctioneer moved into the final phase, which Rusty hoped would bring the one thing he had waited for, Gleam. The next few items were far less impressive - trinkets, lesser magical items, and rare herbs - but still, there was no sign of Gleam. Rusty''s anxiety was rising, and even Alexander''s calming words weren''t helping. Aburdon kept silent, as though sensing the moment wasn''t right to stir trouble with his haughty tone. At long last, the auctioneer motioned toward a side door, through which one guard entered. The man pushed on a large wooden cart draped with a dark velvet cloth, wheeling it into position at the center of the stage. Rusty''s mental mind raced; this had to be it. He leaned forward, straining to see through the cloth blocking the view. "Next, we have a unique creature, captured from the depths of the dungeon¡­" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 90 - 88 – Back Together? "¡­Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you - an extremely rare find. A Dungeon-born monster, unlike anything we''ve seen in recent years!" The auctioneer dramatically pulled the velvet cloth off the cage, revealing Gleam. The audience gasped collectively as the small, white ant, about the size of a small dog, sat in the middle of the cage. Her ivory exoskeleton gleamed under the lights, giving off a faint, otherworldly glow. Rusty''s heart - or what passed for it in his armor - tightened. Gleam was shackled, her legs bound with strange metallic bands that prevented her from moving too much. She twitched but remained still, seemingly exhausted. Rusty could only imagine the horrors she had been through. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This here, ladies and gentlemen, is not just a regular ant but a ''Gleaming Mana Ant'' a very rare find indeed! According to our research, it has demonstrated intelligence far beyond that of its kind and can even use magic on its own - magic attuned to light, something almost no other monster is capable of!" The crowd murmured in amazement as Gleam''s cage was displayed prominently on stage. Her shimmering white exoskeleton, illuminated under the lights, made her stand out from anything else auctioned that evening. Rusty clenched his fists, the metal of his gauntlets groaning softly as he fought to keep his emotions in check. His friend, the one who had saved him, was now a spectacle for these people. He had learned to distinguish some of these people''s expressions, and he didn''t like any of them. His rage began to grow, to the point where his armrest started to splinter under his tightening grip. ''Rusty, calm yourself! If you damage something here, you might be thrown out before you can even make a single bid!'' Alexander shouted, trying to calm him down. ''Judging by the number of guards around us, it would be best if you didn''t do anything rash, Rusty. Calm your nerves before it''s too late.'' Aburdon agreed with Alexander for once. Although he had joked about killing everyone here when the time came, he didn''t believe they would leave in one piece. There were far too many guards - many at least on Rusty''s level, and some even stronger. As just an E-rank monster, even with his darkness element, Aburdon knew he wouldn''t stand a chance here. "We will begin the bidding for this rare ''Gleaming Mana Ant'' with five gold coins!" The auctioneer announced, waving his hands dramatically, some of the people were intrigued but luckily most of the big spenders were already gone. He had prepared for this, gathered every coin he could, but even at the starting price, his gold could dwindle faster than expected. He knew Gleam was valuable, but seeing her displayed like this, exploited for her rarity, filled him with fury. Before he could even lift his paddle, others already started bidding. "Six gold coins!" A voice from one of the nearby seats called out. Rusty recognized the person from somewhere, but he couldn''t place them as most humans looked too similar to him. "Hey, isn''t that one of the people from back then?" Alexander asked, and Aburdon quickly confirmed. "His name was Eugene, as I recall. And my memory is never wrong." "You''ve got a good memory..." Rusty muttered, unsure of what they were talking about as he didn''t remember anyone by that name. "Was he someone important?" "Well, he was involved in taking Gleam out of the dungeon that one time. You were a bit preoccupied with your fury, so you probably didn''t notice." Rusty tried to recall the incident, but the memories were hazy. His mind had been clouded by rage during Gleam''s capture. He''d been focused on getting her back, chasing after a group of humans until he hit the dungeon''s boundary. It seemed that Eugene had been one of the two non-adventurers there at the time. Now, for some reason, he was bidding on Gleam. "Seven gold coins!" Rusty finally raised his paddle, marked with the number "45." "Eight gold coins!" The voice rang out almost immediately after Rusty raised his paddle. His chest tightened as he scanned the room, looking for the source. It wasn''t Eugene. A man in a deep blue cloak stood up from one of the private booths reserved for wealthier patrons, his face hidden beneath a shadowed hood. Beside him stood two hulking figures - clearly bodyguards, their armor gleaming menacingly under the auction house lights. Rusty hadn''t noticed them before, but now they were hard to miss. "Ten gold coins," Eugene called out, sounding confident as he matched the mysterious bidder without hesitation. The room buzzed with murmurs as the bidding escalated, and Rusty felt that this wouldn''t be that easy. He had hoped to not involve many people in this bid but for some reason, there were more people interested in Gleam that he had thought before. "Thirteen gold coins." The man in blue said in a calm yet somewhat threatening tone. Rusty''s hand tightened around his paddle. He had enough to go higher, but his resources were finite. For some reason, these people sounded quite confident but perhaps he was mistaken. "F-fifteen!" Eugene''s voice was no longer calm as he raised the bid by another two gold coins. It was clear he had exceeded his self-imposed limit and was likely dipping into his reserves. The other person in the booth, though potentially wealthy, didn''t have limitless funds - a fact Aburdon had taken note of. ''Those people have bid on several other items and won a few. That last one must have really strained their coffers, they shouldn''t have much left.'' Rusty could only hope his nosy guide was right. For now, he waited, watching as the two bidders continued their battle. "Sixteen!" One of them called. "Sixteen and a half..." "Eighteen!" As the bid reached eighteen gold coins, the auction hall began to fall silent. "I hear Eighteen, will I hear Nineteen from the nervous gentleman there? If not, I''m afraid this incredible creature will be sold to the discerning bidder in the blue cloak!" Rusty felt that this was the moment to go in, he still had a chance. Eighteen gold was already more than he had wanted to spend, but this was his only chance to get Gleam back. With a deep breath, he raised his paddle once more. "Twenty gold coins!" A murmur rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned to him. The auctioneer grinned, clearly pleased with the sudden escalation. For a moment, the room fell silent. Even Eugene glanced over, clearly surprised at the boldness of the bid. Rusty could feel their gazes on him but his disguise was sound and as long as the money was there, he would be safe. The man in the blue cloak shifted slightly, his posture tense somewhat tense. One of his bodyguards leaned in, whispering something in his ear. It seemed that there was something to Aburdon''s words. They were cleary starting to count their coins, perhaps already over the limit. "Twenty gold coins, going once¡­ going twice¡­" The auctioneer''s voice echoed again as he stretched out his words. He was there to sell the items for as much as he could. Doing this was done by giving them some time to decide, while also keeping it short to push them over the line and in this case, it seemed to show some results. "Twenty-one!" The man called out while sounding a lot more annoyed than when he was bidding together with Eugene. Rusty took it as a sign that they also didn''t have much money left and continued with confidence. He knew of bluffing during bartering at this point and his voice was produced by a deadman''s corpse, it would never be any nervouisness in his voice as it was produced by his possession skill. "Twenty-two gold coins." The man in blue paused again and the auctioneer tried to yank a bit more out of his two targets. "Twenty-two and five silver¡­" "Twenty-Three." Their back and forth continued with longer pauses as his opponent tried scrunching for more money. Eventually, he declared his final price of twenty five and finally, the battle had been won. "Going once!" "Going twice!" "Sold! To the gentleman with paddle number forty-five!" The auctioneer''s final call rang through the hall, and with that, the mallet came down. Rusty''s grip on the paddle loosened as he had almost crushed it. It was over. Gleam was his again. The crowd clapped politely, some casting curious glances in his direction, but he paid them no mind. All that mattered was that he had won. "Congratulations, if you wish to take your prize, please follow our staff to finalize your purchase or remain here as there are still other items to bid for!" The auctioneer said with a courteous nod while his people placed the cloth back over Gleam''s cage and rolled her out of the auction. He knew the procedures and there was nothing more that he was trying to bid for. All of his money would be gone after he paid for Gleam and robbing others would probably not be possible for a while but he didn''t care. All he wanted was to get his friend back, their adventurers were only starting as the world was their oyster. "Now then, for our next item¡­" Rusty instantly stood up and followed the auction staff through the hall''s back entrance. He had spent nearly every coin he owned, but he was about to get Gleam back, and that was all that mattered. The grandiose atmosphere of the auction house faded as he passed through dimly lit corridors, descending into the building''s storage area where the goods were collected after the sale. All the glitz and glamor vanished, replaced by a gritty, more practical environment. The storage area was lined with shelves filled with items, guarded by auction house staff standing watch over the various treasures. Rusty''s focus, however, remained solely on Gleam who had been carted out a few moments before he was allowed to leave the auction. "This is where you''ll finalize the payment, sir." The attendant who he was following gestured him to a desk. Behind it, another old man sat with piles of papers and a large ledger. Behind him stood two armored men, both with hands on their weapons and ready to attack. "Please give me your number sir." "Here." Rusty knew the procedures thanks to Alexander. He gave the man the paddle that he bid with and this prompted the man to look through his paperwork. "Ah yes, Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant, good choice sir, that will be, twenty-five gold coins." The auctioneer didn''t pronounce Gleam''s full evolution form, but this man clearly knew it. It was really happening. He had spent nearly a month down in the dungeon to free himself from the Dungeon Heart, and another three weeks to finally gather enough money to save his friend. If he had stopped at the twenty gold coins Alexander had proposed, this wouldn''t have been possible. Nor would it have worked if he hadn''t continued with the robberies or joined the thieves'' guild. "Do you have the money? If not¡­" The man asked, and as he spoke, the two guards stepped forward. Rusty knew that anyone who couldn''t present the gold immediately would be captured. It was forbidden to bid without having enough money. The payment had to be made on the same day as the auction, and no one was allowed to leave the premises until the debt was settled. These rules were in place because of previous robberies and people changing their minds after spending too much money. Rusty reached into the pouch strapped to his belt and slowly pulled out a heavy sack of coins, the metallic clink echoed through the room as he placed it on the desk. The attendant just nodded and took the sack into his hand. He undid the bit of twine that tied it together and poured out the contents on his desk. A cascade of coins spilled across the desk, gleaming under the dim light. Not all of them were gold as some were silver but he knew that there was exactly the sum they required of him. "Hm¡­ 25 golden coins, It seems everything is in order. Congratulations on your purchase." The man didn''t need to count as he had a skill that did it for him. With one glance he could tell that the total amount of the contents added up to exactly twenty five golden coins. He then gestured toward one of the armored guards, who left the room to retrieve Gleam. Rusty felt a flood of relief. Soon, he would have her back. Moments later, Gleam''s cage was wheeled into the room. Her pale, silvery-white form shifted weakly in the confines, her antennae twitching as if sensing Rusty''s presence. Despite the shackles, her glow seemed to brighten slightly at the sight of him. Their connection had been cut but he knew that their bond would be reignited if he touched her. "Now then, you''re free to go once you sign the ledger, we will provide you with a scroll to end this monster''s previous bonding contract, free of charge. With this key you will be also able to open the cage whenever you wish, the enchantments are temporary but they can restrain the monster for a few more days." Rusty used Albert''s memories to replicate his old handwriting and sign off in his name. He didn''t need the scroll, but he could always sell it later. Now, with his old friend standing before him, strange emotions welled up from his metal chest, barely contained. Without the contract being triggered, he couldn''t understand what his friend was saying. But at last, the moment had come for it to be renewed. The bonding contract with ''Gleam'' is being reestablished please wait¡­ The moment Rusty heard the system message and saw the window appear before him, he could barely contain his excitement. It only took a moment, but soon his status was updated. The previously grayed-out letters representing his bond with Gleam shone brightly once again. Congratulations the bonding contract with ''Gleam'' has been reestablished. "..." "......" " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " It took a moment, but after touching one of Gleam''s antennae, he finally rekindled their connection. His small, silvery friend was in distress, but she was okay. Her body was bound to the box, and she had been restrained, which only made things worse. However, it was all manageable now - his friend was there, and all he needed to do was get them both out of there. As Rusty gently caressed Gleam''s antennae, she seemed to relax. He could feel her confusion, fear, and exhaustion, but underneath it all was a spark of relief. She knew she was safe now. Rusty picked up her cage with both his hands and started walking, the exit to the auction house being quite near. He was let outside by a few guards and the door was closed behind him as he found himself in an alleyway behind the auction house but something fell off. "We need to leave, now!" Alexander''s voice resounded in his helmet as he shouted. Something was indeed wrong and it seemed that someone had been waiting for him. Chapter 91 - 89 – No Escape. Rusty barely had time to register Alexander''s warning before he heard footsteps echoing in the alleyway. Shadows shifted, and figures emerged at both ends, boxing him in. Rusty tightened his grip on Gleam''s cage, his mind racing. The figure at the far end of the alley stepped forward, his blue cloak flowing behind him. It was the same man who had bid against him in the auction house. Flanked by two towering, heavily armored guards, the man moved his hood out of the way to reveal his face. "Don''t make this more difficult than it has to be, adventurer. Relinquish the monster to me and you can leave." The man''s voice was smooth but laced with a warning. He looked to be a man over sixty, his hair already gray. Rusty adjusted his stance, positioning Gleam''s cage behind him. The man''s eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity, and he continued speaking, his tone deceptively calm. "I''ll even be generous," He said, producing a small pouch and shaking it so the sound of coins rang through the narrow space. "Twenty gold coins, right here. Not as much as you''ve paid, but I suppose your life should be worth more than five measly gold coins? It''s a fair price, and I''m not here to spill unnecessary blood. But if you refuse¡­" Not only were there two armored men with him, but also an additional two soldiers blocking the side paths of the alleyway behind the auction house. The door leading back inside was thick, and he had heard it shut firmly behind him. Even if he tried to run back, getting through would likely be impossible. The auction house was a tall building, but he wasn''t much of a climber. Rusty needed to decide - to fight or give in to their demands. " ¨B?¨B " "What? You want me to leave you here? I won''t!" Gleam called out to him from within the cage. She sounded quite distressed, her small, ant chirps quite faint. She seemed to want him to relinquish her to save himself. Rusty glanced down, slightly mad that she would even propose such a solution. There was no way he''d hand her over now, not after everything they''d been through. The blue-robed man took a step forward, his guards advancing in tandem, closing the space between them. His eyes narrowed as he gestured to the guards, impatience flickering across his face. "Very well, then. You leave me no choice but to take it from you by force." ''Rusty this doesn''t look good, those people mean business! Maybe it would be better to think this through and¡­'' ''Shut up, I''m not giving Gleam up again!'' Alexander attempted to reason with Rusty, realizing these people weren''t just simple adventurers. Their armor surpassed the E-rank level, and the most troubling figure among them was the one in robes. He carried himself like someone well-versed in battle and could very well be one of the worst opponents Rusty could face. But Alexander''s thoughts and shouts couldn''t reach him, as a burst of darkness erupted in all directions. "Oh?" The man in blue raised an eyebrow as Rusty''s shadowy energy surged outward in a strange, mist-like form. Shadows spilled from Rusty''s body like liquid smoke, flowing toward both sides of the alley where the armored men stood. It was a preemptive strike that none of them expected from someone who looked like a frontline fighter. The four guards faltered slightly, but their leader remained steady, raising a strange, crooked staff Rusty had never seen before. With a quick gesture, the man raised his magic weapon, and the gem atop it glowed, casting a shimmering blue shield - not around himself, but around Rusty. The magical barrier flickered as Rusty''s shadows surged against it, and to his surprise, his previously unstoppable attack was fully contained. The dark mist swirled around in a circular pattern, unable to penetrate the blue wall of energy the man had conjured. Rusty''s attack lacked raw power, functioning more as a debuff meant to weaken enemies upon contact. But unless it touched their bodies, it had no effect - and it seemed the man in the blue robe knew this all too well. "Interesting skill, but did you really think a little dark mist would make me cower? The darkness element is an interesting choice and I''m not sure how you are fine in there, but sooner or later you''ll run out of mana to sustain it¡­" He said mockingly while holding his staff towards Rusty''s location. "You clearly lack the understanding of magic needed to wield those powers effectively, just give it up, you''ll just damage the young lady''s monster and that will be troublesome." Rusty found himself in a serious dilemma. He''d assumed that if he could just surround the area with his black mist, everything would be fine. Once his enemies started weakening, he''d planned to make a break for it. Even though he was cornered, this wasn''t a dungeon; he was in a city teeming with various intelligent races. He had places to escape to, like the thieves'' guild, and he''d even thought of diving into one of the wells or hoping that any late-night city guards might stall his pursuers. ''What should I do¡­ '' Rusty wondered, seeking help from his guides as his initial plan started to crumble. He quickly retrieved some explosive potions from his stash tab and hurled them at the shimmering mana field. Covered by shadows, his attackers couldn''t see him going through his inventory - just the explosions bursting against the shield. "Hah, what was that? A goblin-fire potion? You must be joking¡­" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mage holding the shield laughed, as though the idea of his barrier breaking from such a low-quality potion was absurd. ''This isn''t looking good. That mage is likely above D-rank; nothing we have in our inventory will work on him, and those soldiers are probably all stronger than you, Rusty¡­'' Alexander observed grimly. The man in the blue robe seemed to be a powerful mage, at least a rank above Rusty. The only reason they hadn''t been incinerated by magical flames was Gleam as it was clear they wanted to capture her alive. Using powerful offensive spells would likely kill her instantly and Rusty, who was defending her. ''Then what am I supposed to do? Just give up and die?'' Rusty snapped, his frustration increasing as he tossed all his remaining potions at the shield. Small explosions burst against the barrier, but none pierced through. Gleam, as a light-aligned creature, was somewhat protected from the dark mist, but the constant barrage of explosions was rattling her cage and causing enough damage that Rusty had to stop. ''Wait¡­ that might not be a bad idea'' Aburdon suddenly chimed in, surprising both Rusty and Alexander with an unexpected plan. ''You want me to die?'' Rusty asked, bewildered by the response. ''Well¡­ in a sense. Don''t you have a corpse inside yourself already?'' ''Yeah? But I''m not sure where you''re going with this¡­'' ''Just listen, I''ll explain, and if this fails, we''ll go with the backup plan!'' ''There''s a backup plan?'' ''What do you take me for? I didn''t become the Demon King by accident! Now, here''s what we''re going to do¡­'' Rusty was unsure where Aburdon was headed with this, and his mana was dwindling fast. He''d already splashed one mana potion over himself, but he couldn''t keep the dark element attack up forever. As Aburdon laid out his risky, improvised plan, Rusty realized it wasn''t half bad - and maybe, just maybe, it could work. ''I see¡­ it might just work¡­'' As Aburdon finished explaining, Rusty nodded his head. He stopped the barrage of potions and let his hands drop, feigning surrender. Aburdon''s plan was bold, bordering on reckless, but if executed properly, it might just turn the tide. First, he opened up Gleam''s cage with the key he was given, letting her move onto one of his hands and then he stopped the production of the pitch-black mist. '' ( ¨®©n¨° ) '' ''Don''t worry Gleam, everything will be fine, just follow Aburdon''s plan, we don''t have another choice.'' '' ( ?? ? ?? )? '' Gleam didn''t seem too happy about the order but she wiggled her antennae as she understood the assignment. She had been stuck in a cage for more than a month now and all her attempts at escaping had been thwarted. There was much at stake here and this did seem like the only way out of it. After a few tense seconds, the darkness swirling inside the mana barrier began to die down. The mage watched Rusty carefully, noting his lowered stance and the way he seemed to sag under the weight of his armor. At last, Rusty fell to one knee and raised his hands in a display of surrender. "About time." The mage sneered, lowering his staff. With a muttered incantation, the blue barrier flickered and dissolved. "But why is the ant¡­" He noticed one oddity, the white ant that had been in the cage was now out in the open, with the cage and key discarded to the side. While it would not be a problem for the man to re-capture it again, he wondered what the armored man was trying to achieve. Soon he would realize as with one swift and desperate motion, the ant was tossed high into the air. "Bastard! What is the meaning of this!" The mage''s eyes narrowed with fury, but before he could conjure a new spell, Rusty unleashed another surge of dark mist to cloud everyone''s vision, filling the alleyway with shadows once more. The blue-robed mage had no other choice but to bring up another barrier around him to stop the spread of the dark mist. Gleam flew high into the air and landed on the wall quite gracefully. The ant stuck to the bricks on the wall and looked down to the barrier around which Rusty remained. Soon after she made her way back up and quickly crawled to the rooftop to disappear from sight. The mage attempted to cast a secondary spell but he was too slow and perhaps afraid to hurt the creature he wished to capture alive. "You will regret this!" The mage glared furiously as the mana-filled bubble of darkness dissipated, revealing Rusty, sword and shield in hand, looking battle-ready. He ignored the mage''s seething gaze and the guards'' shouted profanities, instead activating one of his newest skills, ''Provoking Shout'', and charging at the mage with all his strength. "Get out of the way, you fools!" The mage barked as his two armored guards immediately sidestepped. They cleared a path as their leader raised his staff, the jewel atop it glowing ominously. Flames began to flicker around it as the mage chanted a spell in a language Rusty couldn''t understand. Determined, Rusty sprinted forward, aiming straight for the mage as if he had nothing left to lose. But before he even reached halfway, the mage''s spell erupted - a blazing fireball shot forth, slamming into Rusty''s shield and burning through it, sending him hurtling backward. Rusty''s armored form crashed against the metal door of the auction house, leaving a slight dent. His shield, which had once withstood the blows of orcs and lizardmen, now bore a gaping, charred hole. The mage''s spell had torn through his shield like it was nothing, and he found himself stunned, sprawled against the auction house''s metal door. His helmet had been flung into the air, clanking down on the hard rocky ground to reveal a face that looked rather pale. "...Is he dead?" One of the armored men called out as the body of their adversary just continued to slide down while slipping forward. There were no signals of life coming from him, they also couldn''t see anything to indicate that they were breathing. The guards took cautious steps toward Rusty''s unmoving form, their weapons at the ready. The mage, confident in his victory, lowered his staff and gestured to his men. "Check if he''s breathing, but be quick. I want that ant found before it scurries too far." One guard advanced, nudging Rusty''s exposed neck with the tip of his sword. The pale face before him was blank, with a glassy stare but no blood trickling to indicate an injury. Yet it was clear that he was looking at a foe that wasn''t there anymore. "He''s gone. Looks like the fireball finished him off, that darkness magic must have caused his body to look like this¡­" The man could tell that there was something wrong with this corps here. It was a lot paler than what a fresh body should look and assumed that magic was at play. "Using cursed magic drains the body of its vitality. He must have burned through his mana and died to the plague of darkness¡­" They gathered around the defeated foe, convinced of their victory. However, everything was unfolding just as Aburdon had predicted. The enemies assumed that Albert''s body was his true form and that he had perished during the fight. The fact that they hadn''t received any experience points from the battle would not raise suspicion as they believed he had succumbed to his own darkness spell and was merely a dead man walking, someone who had effectively died by their own hands. Rusty''s helmet lay against a nearby wall, waiting for their departure. This was his true and critical body part. The plan had been to feign death and hope they would leave him behind. With no chance to defeat them or escape, this was his only path to survival. However, Aburdon had miscalculated, as events began to stray from their intended course. "... Take his remains; we can''t leave any proof behind. That ant couldn''t have gone far. One of you, climb to the roof and search. You there, go get the tracker! Hurry up, We don''t have time! We need to get that monster before the day comes." The mage barked orders, and to Rusty''s dismay, they began lifting his body. While this was still manageable - since he only needed his helmet for survival it became concerning when one of the guards seized it. Now, Rusty was being hauled off somewhere, while Gleam remained hidden in the city. While they were unaware of his true form, he still needed to play along. Things weren''t looking well but not all hope was lost as his partner was free and he was not alone either¡­ Chapter 92 - 90 – Captured. "( ¡ñ¦ä¡ñ )" "Why are you looking at me like that?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "( ¡ñ¦ä¡ñ ) ¡­" "How was I supposed to know those humans would take him with them? In the demon world, no one cares about leaving a body in an alley! They''d even insist on leaving evidence to show strength!" "( ? ? ? )" "I know, calm down, little lady. I''ll help you get Rusty back, don''t worry. We just need to follow them. They''ll never expect an escaped monster to be tracking them while they search for you." Atop a building, an ant hid behind some bricks. She wasn''t entirely alone as a ball of black light hovered just in front of her head. Aburdon''s plan had partially succeeded: Rusty was being hauled away by their enemies. Ideally, they would have left his helmet behind so he could reform himself, but that hadn''t happened. It seemed these people didn''t want to leave any evidence of their crime, which complicated things. "Well, we''re lucky my hunch paid off, at least." "( ? -?)?" "A hunch? Did I say hunch? No, of course, I knew it would work from the start, my little ant friend!" "( ?? - ? )" "Stop looking at me like that and let''s focus on the task at hand, shall we?" Aburdon tried to change the subject as Gleam stared at him with her unblinking ant eyes. His idea had come to him in a flash while they were enveloped in Rusty''s mist. With little time to think, he took a gamble. Since Gleam shared a bonding contract with Rusty and his guides were connected to his soul in some way, Aburdon had figured he could work with that connection. A deep bonding contract involved a degree of soul sharing and imprinting, magic Aburdon had researched extensively in the past. So, he took a chance and attached himself to Gleam instead of Rusty. And it worked. As long as he stayed close to the ant, he would not fade away. To make things even better, his demonic heritage even allowed him to communicate with her. Gleam stared at Aburdon''s spectral form, her antennae twitching with frustration and worry. Rusty was being taken away, and although she trusted her partner, the odds seemed stacked against them more than ever. Gleam shifted on her legs, glancing from the alleyway below to the narrow street where the soldiers and mage were now carrying Rusty''s body down. She was small and agile enough to follow, but she''d need Aburdon''s guidance - and a touch of luck. "Fret not, my little friend. I have this city''s plans memorized. Coupled with your tracking skills, this should be rather easy. Just remain quiet, and they will never notice! However, watch your step, if they hear us then this will be quite a short rescue attempt." " ( ? ?¦Ø?? )? " "Oh? Have you learned something that could help us? What is it?" Gleam wiggled with her antennae and then began casting. Her aura flickered, and a hush fell over the air. The soft sounds of the night grew faint, muffled as if blanketed by an unseen veil. Aburdon blinked in astonishment before praising Gleam''s new achievement. "Ah, I see. You''ve mastered a silencing spell! Clever ant. Your levels didn''t rise, where did you learn it?" " (????? )? " "Oh? It was like that? You must have a knack for magic if you can copy spells in such a fashion, bravo. " Gleam nodded, her small eyes glinting with pride. She knew how to maintain silence now, a spell she''d picked up during her captivity. She''d watched her captors silence rowdy creatures one by one until their cells fell into utter quiet. Over time, she''d deciphered the patterns, feeling the currents of the spell''s binding energy as they pulsed through the air. It had taken patience, but with each use, she''d come closer to grasping its essence. "Marvelous. Use it well now, and we can get far closer to them than they''d ever suspect." Aburdon glanced ahead. The soldiers and the mage were nearing a carriage hidden under a tarp at the end of the alley, likely their escape vehicle. "We''ll need to stay in close range to hear where they plan to take him. Use your skill to cover our movements." Without a sound, Gleam moved across the rooftop, scurrying over ledges and gaps, keeping her tiny form low and tucked into the shadows. With Aburdon as her guide, she tailed the group, her silence spell reducing even the creak of a rooftop tile underfoot to a mere whisper. Aburdon monitored the soldiers, listening carefully, his attention divided between watching Rusty''s abductors and guiding Gleam. They were almost to the carriage when one of the soldiers spoke. "Take him away, let them dispose of the body¡­" By now, the mage had taken his leave, his lofty status apparently too high for him to bother chasing after a runaway monster ant. In his place, a group of shady figures in hooded cloaks arrived at the scene. Rusty was tossed into a darkened carriage, which began moving down the dimly lit streets. Gleam followed close behind, with Aburdon''s shadowy form blending seamlessly into the darkness. "If I''m not mistaken, they''re heading toward the city slums. Has their nobility always handled things like this?" Aburdon was surprised by how blatantly they operated in the open, even in the dead of night. It seemed the mage and his guards were confident that their influence or connections in the city could cover for them. Gleam and Aburdon, however, had a clear advantage in stealth, especially with her newly acquired silencing spell. They crept silently along the rooftops, shadows among shadows, as the carriage rumbled down toward the slums. Gleam''s tiny form and agility allowed her to keep up, darting from rooftop to rooftop with Aburdon guiding her like a seasoned scout. As they neared the slums, the carriage turned down a hidden alleyway before stopping in front of a small, dimly lit warehouse. It was a rundown building, with ivy crawling up the stone walls and patches of crumbling mortar. Gleam paused on the ledge of a nearby rooftop, watching as the hooded figures pulled Rusty''s body out of the carriage and dragged him inside. She held her breath as the warehouse doors creaked shut. "This seems like the end of the line, but why a warehouse? Why not just throw him into the sewers or the moat?" Aburdon pondered the scene as it didn''t make much sense. The mage could have probably melted Rusty''s whole body to hide it or they could have disposed of it in many other ways. What was the point of bringing it into such a secluded location? It was as if they needed that body for something or had some kind of use for it. "Could it be some kind of forbidden spell? Necromancy perhaps?" "£¨?????_????£©" Gleam twitched her antennae, her irritation rising at Aburdon''s constant babbling. Rather than helping, he kept prattling on while she struggled to focus on maintaining the silencing spell. As a low-level monster, not even E rank, holding the spell for this long while chasing a moving carriage was no small feat. "Yes, yes, I know. There''s probably a window or a hole you could squeeze through. But be careful. This building is unusually well-defended. They even have someone patrolling outside¡­ what could they be doing in there?" Aburdon was intrigued by the activity, but Gleam''s only concern was retrieving her partner. They had only just been reunited when Rusty was taken again, and she wasn''t about to let him disappear without a fight. She hurried down the wall, keeping to the shadows. Her silvery-white carapace wasn''t ideal for stealth, as it reflected any light that caught it. But, thanks to the tall grass, she managed to cross to the other side of the building unseen. Once there, she waited for the guard to pass before approaching a small window barred with rusty metal. Though small herself, the opening was even smaller. Fortunately, her mandibles were sharp; after a few minutes of nibbling through the center of one bar, she managed to slip inside. Inside, she found herself in a dim, cobwebbed room filled with debris and dust. "This place doesn''t look like it''s been used in ages, but if they''re bringing people here, maybe there''s a hidden passage somewhere?" Aburdon wondered aloud, wondering if this building might be connected to the thieves'' guild. From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than an abandoned warehouse, empty and neglected. The room they entered was littered with trash, but faint sounds came from deeper within. Gleam skittered up onto the ceiling and crept slowly forward, inching toward the source of the noise. "Just put it with the rest of the bodies¡­" "Alright." Gleam peered around the corner to see a few people talking. Their hoodies had been taken down to reveal their faces. They were all humans that she did not recognize but one thing was clear, they had her companion with them. They were at the end of their conversation as soon after her arrival. She wasn''t sure what they did but suddenly a hole started to open up, with circular stairs going down. "How interesting, it''s not magical but mechanical in nature." Aburdon called out while Gleam was attempting to not pass out from the overstrain on her mana reserves. The silencing spell had been on for a while and even though it didn''t use that much MP, she didn''t have that much of it either. Luckily, these people were not paying much attention to what was happening around them. A few of the cloaked figures descended the now-open staircase, carrying Rusty''s limp body. They had taken his helmet with them, so following closely behind was still necessary. Gleam''s antennae drooped slightly, feeling the weight of her exhaustion. She would need to recharge her mana soon or risk falling behind. "Hang in there, Lady Gleam. Just a little more. We need to get down those stairs without them spotting us." The mechanism that had opened the path below started creaking; it was clear the way forward would soon close, so they needed to hurry. Gleam scurried down the wall, dropping onto the steps and inching forward with quick, careful movements. Just before the stairs transformed back into a solid rocky floor, she managed to slip through a gap and found herself inside what looked to be a cylindrical chute leading down. "Oh? The mechanism is still running?" Fortunately, Gleam was a skilled climber, so she had no trouble clinging to the wall. The steps leading downward shifted on their own, sliding back into the wall they emerged from. The people that were descending with Rusty reached a cavernous underground room at the base of the hidden staircase. Dim, flickering lights hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. They carried Rusty''s further in and only once they were a distance away did Gleam descend. Her MP was almost gone, so she had to continue with caution. Her limbs were now producing some sound but she managed to keep it to a minimum. Some rubble fell along the way but luckily the mechanism retracting the stairs produced enough sound to mask her descent. Eventually, she popped her head through the only exit to see inside the underground chamber. It was a round chamber with multiple paths branching off in various directions, reminding Gleam of the dungeon she had come from. Numbers were marked above each corridor leading out, and at the center of the chamber stood a peculiar stone monument. It resembled an obelisk, carved with strange symbols. In the center of these symbols was a crescent moon encircling a scythe - a symbol Aburdon vaguely recognized. "That''s strange... I''m sure I''ve seen this before, but where?" The demon king was surprised he couldn''t recall the origin of the symbol. There was no time to dwell on it, however; they needed to press on. The moment they arrived, one thing became clear - Rusty was not the only person brought down here. From within the many corridors, unsettling sounds began to echo: cries, screams, and sobs. "Hoh? Is this some kind of prison? But why would they bring a corpse here? Are they performing some kind of dark ritual right under the city? Some of these symbols are ancient, they should belong to some kind of deity¡­" Something was undeniably wrong with this place. Faint traces of mana pulsed along the walls, saturated with dark, sinister energy. This chamber held the presence of gods and in this case, it was a malevolent one. The evil deities demanded blood sacrifices from their followers, and Aburdon suspected that Rusty, along with the other captives, was meant to be offered up to them. "Let''s go Gleam, it''s better if we get out of this place, evil god worshippers do not like to barter¡­" Gleam didn''t waste time with a response, quickly scampering across the floor of the cavern, staying low to avoid detection. The cloaked figures had gone down one of the side passages, and though they were far ahead, she could still sense where Rusty was taken. Her tracking skill allowed her to find him but she could also feel him through their bond and knew that he wasn''t far away. The corridors branched into a series of winding passages, lined with cells carved roughly from stone. Some held gaunt prisoners whose hollow eyes followed her as she crept past, but most were empty. The air grew colder, and a faint smell of decay hung in the darkness. Aburdon''s voice broke the silence, his tone edged with unease. "It doesn''t seem they care about their prisoners'' well-being, which god accepted such sacrifices? Could it be the god of the dead? or perhaps the god of blood?" " (??_?) " Gleam didn''t know what the ball of light was talking about and she snapped her mandibles in anger to shut him down. To her dismay, even though this guide could come along, she could not order it around. It seemed the bond with Rusty only offered her limited control over this being. At one point, Gleam darted up toward the ceiling, hiding herself behind a jagged rock formation. These corridors were uneven, as was the ceiling, which in this case was a boon. The men who had taken her friend began to return, splitting off in various directions. "( ?¡ã?¡ã) !!" "Is that Rusty''s helmet? Did they separate it from his body?" Gleam peeked out from her hiding place, spotting Rusty''s remains being tossed onto a large pile near a row of cells filled with prisoners. However, his most important part had been taken by one of the kidnappers and was transported elsewhere. Though Rusty could regenerate from his helmet alone, it would still be wise to retrieve Albert''s body. Without it, moving through the city during daylight would be a considerable challenge but would it be possible and wise to attempt it? Chapter 93 - 91 – Back Together. "When do we start the ritual?" "Patience, we will begin once the high priest arrives!" "But¡­" "Hush young one, I know that you are eager but we must not question the high priest, we must assemble as many offerings as we can before the deadline!" "I¡­ I understand¡­" Two men spoke to each other, ignoring the moans of discomfort coming from the nearby cells. A lone creature hid behind a pile of rubble, watching them converse in words she didn''t understand. Her insect-like eyes and antennae peeked out slightly, fixed on the iron helmet one of the men held. "( ? ¨C ? ) ¡­" "It would be better to bring Rusty''s head back to his body, but perhaps it might be better to wait it out¡­" A black orb of faint light talked to the ant that was there, its voice sounding unnervingly calm, as though Aburdon was savoring the craziness of it all. Gleam, however, felt no such enjoyment. Her gaze darted between Rusty''s helmet and the ominous figures before her. She was well aware of her limits; her mana reserves were practically depleted, and in her current state, any spell-casting would likely draw attention. But waiting too long could spell disaster for Rusty. " ( ` ¦Ø ¡ä ) ¡­" She chittered softly, her antennae quivering with frustration. She wanted to charge forward, snatch the helmet, and scurry off, but she knew she''d have no way to escape undetected. "Hold your ground, my dear Gleam, let those fools chat away and your mana recharge, Rusty will be fine. Remember, at any time he can access one of his loadouts, oh but I suppose you weren''t there when he attained that skill?" Aburdon murmured as he tried to keep Gleam from doing something stupid. In his mind, she was still just a child and children were prone to emotional outbursts. It was best if she remained hidden and only moved when a chance presented itself. "They''ll leave it unattended eventually. These kinds of rituals are often theatrical. You''ll have your chance and if not, then there are probably ways to shift their attention¡­" His spherical form turned toward one of the holding cells. Most of the people inside were half-dead, but a few looked like they might cause trouble for the guards. If they managed to set these captives free, the ensuing chaos could provide enough distraction to slip past unnoticed. However, this approach was risky - they lacked crucial information about their enemies. Dozens of guards could potentially arrive to block their escape. For now, it seemed wiser to remain hidden and find a way to sneak out without raising an alarm. Gleam''s antennae twitched in agreement as they decided to wait. Hidden behind the rubble, her gaze stayed fixed on Rusty''s helmet. She watched as the two men eventually ended their conversation and moved into a different corridor, which she cautiously followed. She stuck to the shadows, though her body reflected a bit of the torchlight here and there. Luckily, only a few prisoners noticed her movements, and their shouts and questions went ignored by the guards. In the next chamber, Gleam spotted a raised altar smeared with dried blood and littered with body parts from humans and other beings. The man with a particular fondness for Rusty''s helmet set it aside on a table near the altar. The two men then turned to face a grotesque amalgamation of body parts sewn together in a twisted form. They began chanting in a language Gleam couldn''t understand, but she sensed this might be her chance to snatch Rusty''s helmet and make a quick escape while they were distracted. "Blood and guts¡­ This is truly a cult of some evil god, Could it be the Lord of Torture and Despair Skuldar? Those do seem like his runes¡­" Commented Aburdon while Gleam''s mandibles clicked impatiently, signaling her increased feeling of dread at the sight of the bloodied patchwork. She could feel her mana trickling back at a frustratingly slow pace, each precious drop of magical energy like a lifeline she could barely grasp. Her gaze never left Rusty''s helmet as it lay, unattended and tantalizingly close, on the table by the altar. The dark, throaty murmurs of the cultists filled the chamber, their voices blending with an unsettling echo that seemed to rattle the walls. Every instinct in her tiny body screamed to move now - grab the helmet and flee before things escalated further. "Patience little one, let your mana come back and then we strike, the time is almost there." Luckily, Aburdon was there to dissuade her from rushing in. Instead, she took a few steps back, retreating from the chamber. She waited for a few minutes as the men continued their strange chanting, until she had enough MP to cast the silencing spell once again. It was now or never. She let the veil of soundlessness envelop her body once more and slipped back into the gory chamber. With her silencing spell activated, Gleam approached the table, every move measured to avoid detection. Rusty''s helmet sat within reach now, its dull sheen reflecting the flickering torchlight around the room. The chanting of the cultists grew louder, their voices rising in a rhythmic, ominous crescendo. Aburdon''s spectral form floated beside her, urging her to stay calm and focused as she crept toward the helmet. "Careful, Gleam¡­ They''re distracted, but if they sense us, it''s over." " ( ? ?¦Ø ?? ) " Gleam''s mandibles clicked softly in recognition. The sound around her was gone but her body was still visible. Her shiny silvery exoskeleton needed to avoid all the lights as it could reflect the light and alert the guards to her position. This was not an easy feat but she was determined to save her friend. Her small ant legs skittered forward, going up the walls and even on top of the ceiling as she moved cloer and closer to the table where Rusty was. But then, as fate would have it, one of the cultists paused in their chanting, his gaze shifting just as a faint glint of light bounced off Gleam''s carapace. His eyes widened. "What was that?" He hissed, narrowing his gaze as he instantly turned around and scanned the room with his eyes. " ( ?¡ã ? ¡ã ) !! " Gleam froze while on the ceiling. Some wind entered the chamber and blew on the torch making the light hit her body. She quickly skittered into a darkened corner but could not move anymore. The cultist took a cautious step forward as he attempted to see if there was an intruder there. "It''s probably nothing, come, brother, we must not stop the chants, or the high priest will punish us." "It was probably nothing, you are right as always¡­" The cultist hesitated, casting one last glance around the dimly lit chamber before turning back to the ritual. Gleam remained perfectly still, her mandibles tightly clenched as her body pressed flat against the ceiling''s dark crevices. She watched, breath held, as the men resumed their chant. The rhythmic sounds filled the room again, echoing through the stone chamber and this was her cue to move. She seized this narrow window of distraction, slipping silently down the wall until she was positioned directly above the table where Rusty''s helmet lay. With the help of her sound-concealing spell, she dropped down, her face now level with that of her long-lost friend. She hadn''t existed in this world for very long and had nearly lost hope while captive among these strange humanoid creatures. But now that her dear friend had returned for her, she was determined to repay him by rescuing him when he needed it most. "Gleam, what are you doing here!?" " ( ?? - ?? ) " S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You came to save me?" Gleam nodded, extending her small, dexterous legs to brush against Rusty''s cold surface. The helmet felt heavier than she remembered and looked slightly different, but she didn''t care. Even with the added weight, it was manageable. She grasped him firmly with her forelimbs, lifting him into the air before scurrying off the table in a hurry. Holding her breath, she zigzagged through the shadows, carefully dodging patches of torchlight as she made her way out. "Hold steady, little one. We don''t want to make any hasty moves now that we''re so close." Aburdon commented as Gleam ran towards the exit and Rusty quickly replied, his head bouncing around while being held up in the air. "Aburdon is with you? So it did actually work!" "Did you ever doubt me, my dear Rusty?" "Well, after they carried me off¡­ I kind of did." Rusty answered Aburdon as he noticed his presence with Gleam. The ant kept her pace swift, darting along the shadows with Rusty in tow. Her loyalty outweighed her exhaustion and every small step brought them closer to freedom. Eventually, they made their way out of this strange occult chamber and arrived back at the corridors. "Gleam, you''re incredible. I was supposed to save you but you saved me instead!" " ( ?? ? ?? ) " Encouraged by Rusty''s words of gratitude, Gleam''s antennae gave a proud little twitch. Her silencing spell was still active, though just barely, and she knew she''d only have one final burst of speed before her reserves were fully depleted. They rounded the corner, and she moved as quickly as her insectoid legs could carry her. By the time they returned to the room with the captives, her spell had faded, but it didn''t matter now. Rusty''s body was already in one of the open cells among the other discarded prisoners, standing upright as though ready. She was surprised to see a pale human figure inside, though she recalled Aburdon''s mention of this earlier as it seemed this human form was now part of Rusty''s new self. **** ''That was way too close.'' Rusty observed his body standing there, and now that Gleam had brought his helmet over, he could both see it and feel it once more. Though he could move his body without his head attached, his vision remained limited to what his helmet could see. His body pushed aside a few reeking cadavers, finally reaching out to take his head from Gleam''s tired grip. He could tell she was exhausted as her MP was down to exactly one point. "You''ve worked hard, Gleam, now leave the rest to me!" " \\ ( ??? ) / " "I''m glad to see you too!" Once his head was back on his shoulders and securely attached, Rusty took a moment to assess his surroundings. The damp, cold air of the chamber pressed against him as he felt restored. His body shifted as he activated one of his loadouts to change him back into his regular twilight form. Previously he had shifted the Albert armor into one with twilight armor included as he had been planning to use his darkness element from the start. Now he shifted back into his regular form, with no human body on the inside to hold him back. Gleam safely scurried up his arm to rest on his shoulder and finally, the duo was truly reunited. " ?( ??? )?" "We aren''t quite out of trouble yet, we need to get out of here in one piece, did you perhaps spot any ways to move out of here or not?" " ( ? -?) " "You didn''t? But there are many corridors here that we could use?" Now that Rusty was back in his main body and equipped with a loadout, Albert''s remains were safely stored in his inventory. They didn''t need to use the main exit to get out of here; if Gleam found a corridor wide enough, she could carry his helmet out again. Alternatively, they could hide somewhere together while she dug an escape route. As he considered their options for getting out, Rusty noticed something intriguing: someone familiar was here. "Isn''t that girl here again? This is the third time now, isn''t it?" It wasn''t the halfling girl he had rescued before, but someone else he knew - Layla, the girl who had helped him kill his first human enemy. She had been part of the adventurer party that helped him during the exam. For some reason, she now found herself in one of the cells. Unlike the lifeless bodies scattered around, she was leaning weakly against one of the prison bars. "Ah, now I remember!" Before he could formulate a plan, Aburdon''s voice interrupted him. Alexander was not with him at the moment as he couldn''t have his bright, luminous form wriggling inside his body while these people were transporting him. It was good to know that he could give Gleam one of them to instruct her but for now, Rusty needed to focus on whatever Aburdon was saying. "You remember what? A way out?" "No, I remember where I saw that moon and scythe symbol! It was on the man who tried to attack this girl! bI probably couldn''t recall it as it was before the Soul Forge was fully activated." Aburdon proclaimed this revelation in a joyous tone, as if a great mystery had just been unraveled. This event had occurred even before Rusty''s first evolution, but his memories remained linked with his guides. It seemed Aburdon had finally managed to rekindle the connection to those long-forgotten memories. "It was?" "Indeed! Now it all makes sense. I bet the person who set off that trap in the dungeon was part of this cult! They even went to the trouble of bringing her here to finish her off. With this, the mystery is solved!" "I see¡­ but does it matter?" "My good rusty, I would be glad to explain to you the joys of making sense of mysteries but I think we have more pressing matters at hand." Rusty''s gaze shifted to Layla, who remained slumped, barely conscious, behind the bars. Her disheveled appearance spoke of days, if not weeks, of confinement. He could see the faint rise and fall of her chest, indicating she was still alive, though weakened. It seemed that she had been captured not long after they completed the adventurer examination. The significance of her presence in this cult''s hideout was an enigma, but rescuing her might add another ally to their side. Gleam, perched on his shoulder, noticed his focused look and tilted her head curiously. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "A friend? I''m not sure¡­" Before he could make a decision, Gleam asked him a question about Layla. Rusty hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Gleam was his friend, but he didn''t truly consider any of the humans in the city as allies. His presence here was temporary, driven solely by the mission to rescue his friend, and now that he had accomplished it, retreat seemed like the wisest choice. The identity of their potential enemies was uncertain, and perhaps leaving Layla behind was the safer, more logical option - a point that Aburdon also agreed on. "The girl will only slow us down, we should get out of here while we have a chance." " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " Gleam seemed confused by this situation so he would need to decide. Would he help her out now and perhaps also set the other people free, or should he just sneak away while no one was looking? Chapter 94 - 92 – Underground Cult. "?????????? ??? ??????? ???? " Strange chants echoed from a distant corridor, their rhythm interrupted by the clank of metal footsteps. Rusty was on the move, his metallic frame tensing as he shoved a few corpses out of his path and arrived in the middle of a dead-end corridor. Before him lay a row of closed cells, each apparently requiring a key to open. Inside, he could make out battered people - some chained to the walls, others curled up on the cold floor. "We don''t have much time, Rusty, If you''re going to decide, it has to be now, but in my lordly opinion, we should leave." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty hesitated, unsure how to proceed. Aburdon had always prioritized their survival above all else - a view Rusty largely agreed with. Yet he couldn''t help but wonder if giving these people a chance might be the better option. He had no clear escape plan from this place, nor any idea how many cultists lay in wait below. Releasing the prisoners would certainly create a diversion, but it would be impossible without the keys. The bars, though rusty, were forged from an unfamiliar metal that resisted his attempts to store or manipulate it. He was a monster forged from metal, with the peculiar ability to store it. However, there were limits; one was that he couldn''t store alloys or metals above his own grade. Since arriving in the city, he''d explored various smithies and shops selling all kinds of equipment. He had seen weapons made from strange materials, and after some research, he realized that metals, like monsters and adventurers, also had their own rankings. The bronze that formed his initial body was on the lower end, around F-rank. Iron and even steel were a step above, at E-rank. But there were metals with far superior properties, much like his own Twilight Iron, which was edging into D-rank classification. As an E-rank monster, he was unable to store any metals ranked above his own level, meaning that this rusty metal had to be at least D-rank. Breaking it with his own strength or weapons would be challenging. To open those cells, he would need the keys - and he already knew where to find them. "One of those cultists had a keychain on them. I could probably snatch it while they''re chanting, but sneaking up on them would be best¡­" " (?? ? ??)? " "Oh, you can help me sneak up on them?" " (? ??? ? ??? )? " "You''ve learned a silencing spell that will help me? Why that''s great Gleam!" " (,,>©n<,,) " "But you don''t have enough mana to cast it right now? Oh, that''s fine, I still have some potions left!" Rusty''s satchel had been taken, along with all his belongings, during the scuffle with the mage. Fortunately, he still had access to his personal stash tab and storage system, where a few items remained. His supply of metal and items was running low as he had converted much of what he could into coins. This meant he would need to be cautious in the upcoming confrontation, as he could only heal himself a few more times. "?(???)?" From his stash, he retrieved a small vial containing a vibrant blue liquid and carefully poured it over Gleam, aiming at her head. She chirped happily as her silvery body absorbed the restorative energies from the potion. Instantly, her MP began to rise, and she readied herself to cast her silencing spell. With a gentle wiggle of her antennae, Gleam cast a pale white light around him, extinguishing all sound in his immediate area. Ordinarily, his every movement was accompanied by metallic echoes, even after he''d gotten rid of all the rust. But with the spell active, there was nothing but silence. The spell reminded him of the mage he''d faced before arriving here. During that fight, he had realized just how vulnerable his otherwise sturdy body was to magical energies. When a fireball had struck his shield, he''d been stunned for several seconds, even though the shield had absorbed most of the impact. Something within the spell had disrupted the mana flowing through his body and his monster core. It seemed that living armors like him had a particular weakness to magical attacks - a fact he would need to remember in the future. "If you''re set on helping these lesser beings, perhaps it would be better to use your previous form," Aburdon suggested while making his way into Rusty''s armor. "Hm?" Rusty replied, momentarily distracted. The dim light in the corridor kept him hidden from the prisoners, who hadn''t yet noticed his presence. Aburdon halted him from venturing further, explaining his reasoning. "While I don''t support this plan of yours, if you''re going to go through with it, there''s a more effective way." "Oh? Like what?" "Well, didn''t you buy a few health potions?" "Yes, I did, I have a few in my storage." "Excellent. Then we''ll use them - but for that, it would be best to switch to your adventurer form." "... Ah, you''re right! That would work much better." Rusty agreed, quickly catching on to Aburdon''s plan. After stepping back, he switched to the loadout featuring the Twilight Iron version of his Albert armor. The human body was not within this one and he could still use all of his elemental skills. Aburdon clearly wanted him to heal some of the stronger prisoners before unleashing them on the cultists. If they were outnumbered, Rusty could make up for that by empowering these fighters, and maybe even one of the prisoners knew a way out of this place. It was, indeed, a far better strategy than the haphazard plan he''d been considering. "Let''s go then!" " ( ? ''? - ''? )? " Gleam clung to his shoulder as the two finally emerged from the shade. With the silencing spell active, they slipped through undetected. From the corner of his visor, Rusty spotted Layla, who still seemed dazed. For now, she''d have to wait as he needed to get the keys first. Quickly, he moved down the corridor toward the source of the strange chanting. The two cultists who had carried his body earlier were still there, engrossed in their ritual. They knelt before a grotesque patchwork of flesh, emitting an eerie screeching noise. The air in the room crackled with dark, vile energy that Rusty couldn''t fully comprehend. But one thing was clear: the cultists were far too absorbed in their ritual to notice him standing there, bow drawn and arrow ready. He aimed at the first cultist and activated his skill, ''Power Shot''. It enhanced the speed of the arrow, turning it slightly red as it flew towards the target. The silence spell cast by Gleam meant that even the release of his bowstring wouldn''t alert the cultists, who were fully entranced by their ritual. The arrow pierced through the air, finding its mark in the back of one cultist''s head with deadly accuracy. The force of the impact drove the cultist forward, impaling him against the twisted statue they were worshiping. A dark spray of blood erupted, coating the statue in a fresh crimson streak. The remaining cultist gasped, his chant cut short as he stumbled backward, eyes widening in horror as he saw his companion''s lifeless body slumped against the altar. Before he could react, Rusty had already knocked a second arrow, ready to silence him too. "( ?? ? ?? )¡­!!" Gleam''s tiny antennae twitched in excitement as she watched Rusty let the second arrow fly. Regretfully it was a bit short of the intended target and embedded itself into the man''s shoulder with a sickening thud. The man cried out, clutching at the wound. The element of surprise was gone now, and he scrambled to reach the dagger at his belt. " ( ?? - ?? ) " But Gleam was quicker. She extended her forelegs, her mandibles clicking as she summoned a mana bolt, hurling the crackling sphere of energy directly at the cultist. The spell collided with his chest, sending him staggering backward, his grasp on the dagger loosening. Seizing the moment, Rusty dashed forward, drawing his sword in a swift, fluid motion. The cultist barely had time to look up before Rusty plunged the blade straight through his chest, pinning him to the ground. The cultist gasped, his eyes wide with shock before he slumped over, lifeless. "Good work, Gleam, did your casting speed increase?" " ( ?? ? ?? )? " "You didn''t have much to do so you tried to train your mana manipulation skills? That''s great!" Rusty praised his friend as he pulled his sword free. Gleam chirped softly in reply, her antennae twitching as she settled back on his shoulder. Rusty bent down to inspect the cultist''s belt and quickly located the keychain they''d noticed earlier. He held it up, the metallic keys clinking softly in the silence. Aburdon materialized beside him, his black form inspecting the keys. "One of these must unlock the main exit. But there may be other doors we haven''t seen yet." Rusty nodded and pocketed the keychain, then glanced at the bodies of the fallen cultists. Their blood was pooling around the monstrous statue, which, disturbingly, seemed to be absorbing it. He had never seen anything like it before, but instinctively felt it was best to pull them away from the statue. After dragging the bodies aside, he searched through their belongings and found a replacement spatial satchel similar to his old one. Inside, he discovered an assortment of strange items - dried bones, human hands, and other unsettling objects. Deciding to discard anything that might alarm the other races, he emptied the satchel of its grotesque contents, then attached it securely to his belt. "We can still turn around Rusty, are you sure you want to do this?" Rusty paused, considering his options. He had the keys and could try to escape alone. He still had a bit of mana left and a few potions - perhaps just enough to conceal himself in the shadows. The place was littered with bodies, rubble, and thick webs. This meant that it might be possible to find a hidden corner. However, he knew there were trackers more skilled than Gleam, so hiding carried a high risk. Eventually, someone would come across the cultists and search the area for him. Helping the others escape seemed like a safer bet. He could always abandon his body to hide away during the initial confrontation. Rusty was more worried about Gleam sticking out as a sore thumb and perhaps having those people act as a distraction was the best option. "Yes, some of them might know the way out and a few of them looked strong." "Don''t come crying back to me when your plan backfired!" "I won''t, now Gleam, remember to stick close to me, they will think that you are my tamed beast." " ????(? ?? ? - ? ) " The plan was set, and it was time to act. Rusty retraced his steps back to the prisoners and moved toward the cell where he''d spotted a few promising individuals. He instructed Aburdon to assess them and decide who should be prioritized. With only three low-quality healing potions, they needed to make each one count. "If we''re choosing, then that woman over there is probably the best option. She seems to be a priest, so she might be able to heal more of these lesser beings. Then, that man looks to be the strongest of them all" To Rusty''s surprise, the person Aburdon had singled out was in the same cell as his acquaintance. He pointed him towards two people, one a lady priest and the other a musclebound warrior. The man looked to be in terrible shape and bound by several layers of shackles. Rusty approached the cell, the keys clinking softly in his metallic grip. The prisoners'' eyes widened as they noticed him - a hulking suit of darkened iron armor with a glimmering, insect-like creature perched on his shoulder. They stared in both hope and fear, unsure of his intentions. Gleam wiggled her antennae at them, the mana inside of her body emitting a gentle glow that eased their minds. The priestess, an elven woman with matted silver hair, leaned weakly against the wall. Despite her exhaustion, her gaze was sharp and alert. Beside her lay a tall, muscular human warrior, his body battered and bruised. Though unconscious, the raw abrasions on his wrists and ankles hinted at his attempts to break free from his bonds. Layla, the one familiar face in the cell, was slumped against the bars. As Rusty opened the door, she recognized him almost instantly. "T-that armor¡­ Mr. Alb..e..rt?" Her voice was faint, and though her wounds were severe, she was alive. The young woman appeared delirious from her injuries, barely able to keep her head up. She was barely keeping her head straight so for the time being, he decided to use the first potion on her.The other prisoners watched him warily, likely assuming he was part of the cult. With Layla''s help, though, he could change that perception. If she vouched for him, he could more easily gain their trust - a suggestion Aburdon had wisely offered. "Yes, it''s me¡­ here, drink this." From his storage, he withdrew a vial of thick, shimmering red liquid and held it to her lips. Layla drank in small, labored gulps, the color returning to her cheeks as the potion took effect. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus her vision, and then gasped as her strength returned enough for her to sit up. "Why¡­ why are you here?" "I''ll explain later, for now, we need more help¡­" With Layla beginning to look steadier, he turned his attention to the priestess. Her eyes met his as he approached, narrowing slightly in appraisal. "Can you heal the others?" He asked, offering her the second potion. She nodded, though her voice was weak. "If I regain my strength but my holy p-power is¡­" "I also have a mana potion, this should be enough, right?" He uncorked the potion and carefully tilted it to her lips. She drank slowly, visibly relieved as the restorative liquid coursed through her. Once some of her injuries had been healed, he handed her a mana potion to help her restore some of that holy power she was speaking about. Her breathing steadied, and though she was still weakened, she had enough strength now to drink the other potion by herself. "Thank you," She said while Rusty moved over to the third person, the warrior lying on the floor. Rusty crouched down, prying open the warrior''s mouth, and began carefully pouring the last potion down his throat. Just as the liquid touched his tongue, the warrior''s eyes shot open. He lunged forward as if waiting for this opportunity but was held back by the shackles still binding his hands. "You bast¡­ huh?" The warrior coughed, coughing up some of the potion. His gaze darted around the room, taking in the priestess, Layla, and then Rusty, whose imposing armor was the last thing he expected to see. "Easy, friend, save that strength for those people that brought you here¡­" Rusty responded while taking a step back to go through the keys. The man was confused but he wasn''t an enemy and now that he had some help, it was time to conquer this underground dungeon filled with cultists. Chapter 95 - 93 – Wrong Plan? "What''s going to happen to us¡­" "What if those people return?" "I want to go home¡­" Rusty looked at the various people before him, beginning to wonder if helping them had been a mistake, especially given the Priest''s erratic behavior. After he had restored her health and provided her with mana potions, she went to work. But instead of healing the strongest fighters, she focused on the youngest and most frail among them. In Rusty''s battle-ready mind, this didn''t make sense as they needed more capable soldiers on their side and not more liabilities. Fortunately, the strongest among them appeared to be the warrior Rusty had just healed. Despite his earlier weakened state, the warrior regained his strength faster than Rusty expected. The shackles that had bound him seemed to have unusual properties - once they were removed, his health began to recover on its own, and his wounds closed with superhuman speed, even without further potions. This made Rusty wonder if he should keep those chains for himself. The only issue was that the chains were made from an unknown metal that his system wouldn''t allow him to use directly. He could carry them in his stash tab, though that space was limited. Fortunately, the large spatial satchel he had found in the underground chamber was spacious enough to hold them. When the warrior tore the chains from the wall in a fit of rage, Rusty saw the potential for a hidden weapon, one he might wield in the future. Thus, while the others were helping everyone else, he stuffed one of the chains into the satchel. "Mr. Albert, you have my gratitude, but how are we going to leave this place? Do you know a way out?" Layla, his acquaintance from the adventurers'' guild, finally spoke up, her voice barely a whisper. "There''s a mechanism that opens a stairway up, but I''m not sure how to activate it - or how many enemies we''re facing," He replied, struggling to keep his composure. The people here were an unpredictable variable, one that could turn against him at any moment. If things got too chaotic, he was prepared to shift into his more slender form and make a quick escape. "I think we have two options, either we try to activate the mechanism and wait for it to form the stairs, or we¨C" Before he could finish, the large man he had healed with his potion cut in. In his hands a rock that he promptly crushed and threw the dust to the side. "Or we destroy their base and kill them all! Those bastards dared to deceive me; I''ll slaughter every last one of them!" The man''s voice echoed through the chamber, his anger intensifying, much to Rusty''s dismay. The last thing they needed was this much noise. Although going deeper into the underground cult lair might be beneficial, he was wary of the figure the cultists called the High Priest. Escaping using the existing mechanism seemed a safer option, but it would likely alert their enemies to their location. "Please, calm yourself - they''ll hear us! We have no idea how many there are. Let me tend to the wounded first." The lady priest called to the burly man, her voice barely a whisper. The warrior spun around, his eyes narrowing as if her plea had struck a nerve. His face twisted in fury, but he took a slow breath, struggling to rein in his anger. His gaze flicked to the mangled bodies scattered around, and eventually, he just nodded. He turned and began to move out of the cell, pausing at the door to look back. "If anyone comes, you''ll hear it. Make it quick." It seemed he intended to act as the lookout. He headed to the end of the corridor, but Rusty waved him down just before he could go on his way. "What do you want?" The man barked at him in an annoyed tone but Rusty didn''t react. "There are some weapons there. Better than going empty-handed." Rusty replied, gesturing toward a darkened room filled with bodies. Before moving over to help, he''d placed some of his own weaponry there along with the daggers he took from the two cultists. They were probably inferior to what these people were used to, but still better than bare fists. The man nodded, moving toward the room. For a moment, he looked taken aback by the sheer number of corpses but quickly set about collecting a weapon. With an iron axe slung over his shoulder, he resumed his post at the corridor''s end, ready to keep watch. Rusty returned to the other holding cell, where an unexpected scene was unfolding. " (¡Ñ _ ¡Ñ ) " "Gleam?" Rusty murmured, noticing his ant friend intently watching the elven lady as she channeled her healing spells. Gleam''s antennae twitched with curiosity as she observed the priestess''s energy manipulation. Rusty could tell she was doing something specific - trying to imitate the woman''s movements and magic. Gleam hadn''t often had the chance to witness different types of magic up close, and, to Rusty''s surprise, there seemed to be more than just curiosity in her gaze. "Oh, the young lady must have been busy while we were gone." Aburdon remarked, noticing before anyone else that Gleam was subtly mimicking the mana patterns of the spell, shaping them according to her own understanding. At first, Rusty wasn''t sure what to make of it, but then he saw a new spell appear in Gleam''s status window, one they could potentially use: Lesser Cure of Light Spell A variant of the lesser cure spell, attuned to the light element. ''That spell will be more potent than regular healing spells.'' Aburdon added, being the first to comment as he too noticed the new spell in Gleam''s status screen. Rusty hadn''t asked, but his demonic guide was quick to explain why this particular spell would be more powerful than standard healing magic. ''Normally priests use their healing spells by channeling divine energies from their deity but Gleam here learned a more pure form of it - without relying on a divine being... Since it''s attuned to her natural light element, it will heal quicker and potentially have better effects on higher undead.'' Rusty took in the information, and it made some sense to him. He''d seen priests use divine healing spells in the dungeon before, but his own light-elemental skills seemed different - more efficient, using less mana and taking less time, yet with a stronger impact against undead monsters. It seemed that light was a more advanced form of healing. With Gleam''s new spell, it might be wise to focus on undead creatures for quicker leveling, since she could likely use this cure as an offensive spell as well. ''Once we are finished here, you must let me teach our little lady some fundamentals!'' ''Sure but first why don''t we put her skill up to a test?'' Rusty marveled at Gleam''s progress as the little creature was developing abilities faster than he''d thought possible. Without a second thought, he decided to put Gleam''s newfound skill to the test. He approached Layla, whose strength was returning but who still winced with each movement. "Alright, Gleam, try using your spell on her." Rusty whispered, patting his ant companion lightly on the head. Gleam''s antennae glowed softly, and she cast a faint, warm light over Layla. A soothing aura surrounded her, gently knitting her remaining wounds together and revitalizing her instantly. Her face went from pale and drawn to a more natural, healthy flush. "This light¡­ is that tamed creature doing this?" Layla was surprised by the instant healing that allowed her to pick herself up from the ground. Rusty had decided to let Gleam test the spell on someone he could somewhat trust, and it was a success. However, there was a small problem: as soon as the spell finished, Gleam''s body slumped, her insect legs trembling as her breaths came faster. She settled back onto Rusty''s shoulder, looking more exhausted than before. "That was impressive, Gleam, but let''s save your strength. No more healing for now." "Their name is Gleam? That''s a cute name - thank you, Gleam." Layla added, with a warm smile and her hand trembling as if she wished to give the silvery insect a pat on the head. "(?? ? ??)" Gleam''s expression brightened, clearly pleased to be praised by two people at once. Rusty made sure to speak loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear, wanting to make it clear that this ant was a friend, not a foe. Now that they''d seen her heal a person, they would likely assume she was merely a tamed creature. "We need to start moving¡­" Layla nodded, moving beside Rusty as they made their way out. He filled her in on the weapons he had stashed, and after picking out one of the cultist''s daggers and an iron bow, she looked ready to do some damage. While the elven healer stayed back to tend to the injured, Rusty and Layla moved toward the spot where their lookout was supposed to be stationed. Instead of keeping watch, however, the man had ventured in deeper and was now studying the stair mechanism. The door could be opened with the keys Rusty had taken from the fallen cultists, but there was one issue. "I remember this¡­ it was really loud. If we activate it, it''ll definitely give away our position," Layla whispered, recalling her initial descent. Rusty nodded, knowing she was right. Activating the mechanism would likely draw unwanted attention, alerting enemies to their escape route. If they triggered it, they''d need to prepare for a fight - and one that could come from both sides. "What are you two mumbling about? Spit it out." Growled the large man, clearly annoyed as he saw Rusty approach. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s about the way out. If we use this, we''ll need to hold out for a while before the steps assemble. There are cultists above us who will try to block us as we ascend. And once we activate it¨C" The man raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. He seemed unimpressed, possibly because he saw himself as the strongest among them and didn''t care much for elaborate plans. "Ah, I get it. Those bastards are busy praying to their shitty god and will come running the moment we activate this thing¡­ Great! I''ve got a plan, then. Come with me, you two." He declared with a smirk, cracking his knuckles as he turned back toward the corridor where all the people were. Soon they were back to hatching a plan and it seemed that Rusty would be getting the short end of the stick. "Listen up here you lot! Move your arses if you want to live. Anyone that can stand come with me. We need to move some things!" Despite his gruff demeanor, the man turned out to be a surprisingly effective leader. His voice wasn''t especially loud now, but it held a calm confidence that eased some of the tension in the group. Before long, people were moving with purpose, gathering whatever they could find - rocks, logs, and even the bodies of fallen cultists and stacking them in front of all entrances to the central hub area, creating makeshift barricades to slow down the approaching cultists. The plan was straightforward: Rusty, Layla, and the man would hold this position, preventing the cultists from breaking through, while the healer and those well enough to move ascended the exit route. Once everyone else had made it through, Rusty and the others would fall back. It was a simple strategy, though Rusty had hoped to join the first group heading up. But their temporary leader, perhaps recognizing Rusty''s combat abilities, had decided he''d be more useful guarding the area. As they were finishing fortifying the room, suddenly some voices and steps echoed from the distance. Someone was approaching from one of the corridors and they didn''t seem to be friendly. It was one of the coultists, holding a torch and moving towards their direction. He came to a stop before an entrance that was blocked by a pile of random furniture. "What is the meaning of this! What''s going on¡­ ARGhhh¡­" Before he could continue speaking an arrow flew through the air and connected with his forehead. It was shot by Layla and instantly the cultist slumped to the floor, his torch clattering to the ground and casting eerie shadows across the room. Layla lowered her bow, giving Rusty a quick nod, while the large man smirked approvingly at her deadly accuracy. The flickering torchlight illuminated the barricade of broken furniture and piled rubble, casting long shadows on the stone walls that seemed to twist and dance like spirits of the dead. "There are more of them coming, this is it, get ready!" Even before Rusty could activate his life detection skill, the warrior shouted. "They''re coming!" His voice was sharp, signaling the healer to activate the stairs that led up behind them. The entire place began to rumble as she inserted one of the cultist''s keys into a socket in the wall, while another person pulled a lever on the opposite side of the chamber - a lock impossible to open without at least two people. Shouts erupted from the other side as the cultists spotted their fallen comrades'' bodies and rushed forward, realizing something had gone horribly wrong. Rusty quickly notched an arrow and took aim, his focus narrowing as he fired through one of the gaps in the barricade. The arrow flew true, striking one of the approaching cultists. Beside him, Layla did the same, her iron bow releasing an arrow with deadly precision. The battle had begun. The cultists charged, their footsteps a relentless drumbeat echoing through the corridors. Their voices echoed from the distance and melded together as they charged. There was a sort of fanatical unity in their approach as they continued to run at them and never stopped even after losing multiple members to arrows. he warrior stood at the center of their defensive line, waiting for the first cultist to breach the barricade. Gripping an iron axe with both hands, his expression was a mix of anticipation and rage. While Rusty and Layla held back the main corridor, two side entrances remained vulnerable, and enemies were already pushing through in an attempt to break in. Time was of the essence, and the stairs were slowly unfolding behind them. Many were still injured, barely able to walk, and the situation was growing dire. Rusty began to wonder if perhaps Aburdon had been right - that he should have taken a more covert approach rather than the plan that was now unfolding before them. ''How do the humans say it?... Ah yes¡­ shit! ¡­ '' Chapter 96 - 94 – Retreat. "Intruders!" "Kill them all!" "For the slaughter!" With the cultists bearing down on them and their backs literally against the wall, Rusty felt a tinge of regret. The barricade groaned under the force of the fanatical attackers pressing against it. Rusty braced himself, glancing back at the stair mechanism. He could hear the blocks shifting into place bit by bit, and he noticed some of the injured trying to move as the steps unfolded beneath them. He wasn''t sure how long it would take for the entire path to form, which meant that every second counted. He tightened his grip on his bow, his fingers moving with practiced ease as he loosed another arrow. Cultists on the other side were dropping with choked screams, but their numbers kept growing. Layla, beside him, kept her composure, pulling arrow after arrow from her quiver. Meanwhile, the burly warrior at the center of their defensive line roared, cleaving down any cultist unlucky enough to break through one of the side entrances. He fought with a wild abandon that was almost terrifying to watch, cutting down enemies as if his fury alone fueled him. ''Considering their numbers, perhaps this plan would''ve been better¡­ if we were going up the stairs instead'' Aburdon muttered from within Rusty''s armor. There were far more cultists than any of them had anticipated. It was clear that they would have likely been overwhelmed if they had attempted to push deeper into the lair. A small army of robed figures was advancing, and for every cultist they killed, two more seemed to take their place. Eventually, the cultists even began using the bodies of their fallen as shields, pushing forward and slamming against the barricades. "Layla, keep shooting - here, use my arrows." Rusty handed her the rest of his arrows while sprinting to the side. This wasn''t looking good. The barricade was close to breaking, and he could see cultists preparing to force their way through. Anticipating this, Rusty had set a halberd nearby for just this occasion, ready to wield it with his polearm passive. As he passed the arrows to Layla, she nodded in thanks and turned her focus back to the oncoming horde. Rusty lunged forward, driving his halberd into a cultist attempting to squeeze through a gap in the barricade. He thrust forward with his weapon, putting every ounce of strength into the blow and forcing the cultist backward. But as soon as he pushed one enemy back, another took its place, and the barricade began to give under the relentless assault. Behind him, the rumbling stairs continued to unfold, each stone block sliding into place with agonizing slowness. Time seemed to be slipping through his fingers, but he had no intention of giving up. The cultists moved like a mindless zombie horde, and though his light-based skills wouldn''t work here, he had other options. After driving his polearm into one of the cultists and shoving with all his might, he managed to create a small gap in the barricade. Moving quickly, he reached into his new spatial satchel and pulled out a yellowish potion he had carefully prepared for emergencies like this. He flung it through the opening he''d created, and as it collided with one of the cultists on the other side, a massive burst of flames erupted, spreading outward and igniting the hooded figures nearby. "ARGHHhh¡­" The evil god worshipers started screaming as the flames roared to life, illuminating the corridor in a blinding blaze. The potion Rusty had thrown was a middle-grade blaze potion, meant for desperate situations. Cultists writhed in agony, their robes engulfed, some dropping to the floor in a futile attempt to smother the flames. The intense heat created a temporary barrier as the burning figures fell into one another, slowing the cultists'' advance for precious moments. "They are retreating!" Rusty informed his allies as his potion ignited the main path, creating a wall of fire just as the alchemist had promised. Even if doused with water, the flames would keep burning for a solid few minutes. With the main path blocked, they could now focus on defending the two side passages, where the berserker warrior was holding his ground with fierce swings of his axe. Despite the temporary reprieve from Rusty''s potion, the cultists pressed forward, relentless in their assault. The flames cast long, flickering shadows across the blood-spattered walls, the smell of burning flesh filling the air. As the cultists began to spill in from the side passages, the berserker warrior roared, cleaving down two with a single swing of his axe, and it seemed to be enough to stem the tide. Layla and Rusty now focusing on the side passages were able to help and push back the advancing madmen. Eventually, Rusty was even able to resemble some of the barricades back into place, holding back the enemies that were trying to enter through the narrower side paths. Things were looking well for this haphazardly thrown-together party but from within the main corridor, more trouble was approaching. They heard it - a deep, guttural chanting from somewhere within the cultists'' ranks. The High Priest emerged, his robes billowing like shadows, and in his hand, he wielded an ancient staff carved with runes that glowed an unnatural crimson. His eyes, dark as the void, swept across the burning corridor with calm, calculating malice. The priest raised his staff high, his voice booming with a harsh incantation. The flames from Rusty''s potion seemed to flicker and warp as if affected by some unseen force. The cultists around him writhed in ecstasy as he chanted, and an unsettling energy pulsed outward, rolling over the barricades like a dark tide. Suddenly, the flames dimmed and died, leaving only smoldering embers in their wake. The High Priest had somehow quelled the blaze, and with the last flicker of flame extinguished, he pointed his staff toward Rusty and his companions. "Enough games, bring the sacrifices back, the lord of blood demands it!" The priest shouted, his voice dripping with disdain, and with a swift motion, slammed his staff to the ground. A crimson wave of energy surged forward, crashing into the barricades and blasting debris across the room. To make matters worse, the red energy that seeped from the spell enveloped the other cultists, triggering an eerie transformation. Despite their wounds - from cuts, arrows, or burns - they staggered to their feet once more. Their eyes turned cloudy, blood seeping from their sockets, and dark veins bulged across their skin as they advanced with unnatural vigor. The eerie transformation of the cultists sent a chill down Rusty''s nonexistent spine. Their bodies began mutating into grotesque, inhuman forms, covered in cancerous-looking lesions. Blood dripped from their open wounds, yet somehow they continued to move forward. The wounds seemed to pulse with a strange, crimson energy, as if it were sustaining them despite the damage. ''That''s a blood frenzy curse! We need to retreat! Those things are much worse than regular zombies.'' Aburdon warned Rusty and he took it to heart. It was clear that he was out of his league if he tried to face them head-on. The cursed cultists were in a state that defied reason - stumbling forward with twisted limbs and blood-seeped eyes, oblivious to pain or fear. Layla''s face paled as she saw the horrific transformation, but she didn''t falter; she raised her bow, and lodged one of her arrows right into one of those bloodshot eyes. "..." To her surprise, the transformed cultist didn''t even flinch as if his body was unable to register the pain. Instead, he roared out in annoyance and started charging forward. The High Priest remained in the back as if he was waiting for them to fall into despair, his dark eyes glinting with satisfaction as he watched the scene unfold "We need to retreat. Gleam do it now!" "( ? ''? - ''? ) ?" Rusty wasn''t about to die here. What time they had bought for the prisoners would have to be enough as he needed to retreat to save himself. He''d learned long ago that a backup plan was essential, and he had two: an expensive incendiary potion and his partner. Although she had used up her magic energy earlier, Gleam could recharge it quickly. He had told her to gather her mana and prepare a powerful spell. Mages could make spells stronger by chanting longer and steadily adding more mana to them. Rusty had learned of this trick''s existence since coming to the city, and now he wanted to see just how powerful Gleam''s mana bolt could get. Instead of targeting the advancing monsters, Gleam aimed her spell at the ceiling near the chamber entrance. Her antennae glowed with a fierce blue light as she gathered mana, forming a pulsating orb of energy above her head. With a deep breath, she braced her tiny form, aimed, and launched the spell. The force of the recoil was too much for her small ant body, and she was flung back against a nearby wall. Fortunately, Rusty was ready as he quickly scooped her up onto his shoulder, and together, they began their escape. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mana bolt surged forward, crackling as it collided with the stone ceiling, erupting in a flash of light and sound that shook the entire chamber. With a thunderous boom, the ceiling above the cultists shattered, sending massive chunks of stone crashing down. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring their enemies from view, and for a brief moment, everything went silent. When the dust began to settle, Rusty could see that several of the transformed cultists had been crushed or pinned beneath the heavy stones. Their twisted, bloodshot eyes glared up at him, still filled with a frenzied hatred even as they struggled to free themselves from the rubble. The High Priest, unharmed and standing behind the fallen stones, looked up, his expression no longer calm and composed. His eyes narrowed, clearly annoyed by the disruption, but he quickly raised his staff, a surge of crimson energy gathering at its tip. He was preparing another spell, one that the group on the other side wasn''t willing to wait for. "Back, we need to go back!" This time it was Layla who shouted in panic, fear tightening her voice as she pulled Rusty back with her. Rusty glanced at the High Priest one last time, realizing they''d bought themselves only seconds. The priest''s crimson energy gathered and crackled ominously, casting blood-red shadows along the walls. However, between them and the High Priest stood that man Rusty had saved, his eyes unwavering. "There you are, you damn bastard, I will tear you apart!" Rusty wasn''t entirely sure what was happening, as he knew it was possible to fall back to the stairs and use the narrow entrance as a defense. If they could, they could even try to collapse the doorway behind them to buy more time. Yet, for some reason, the man beside them refused to retreat. Instead, he charged at the High Priest, hurling the iron axe Rusty had crafted just as the priest was about to finish his spell. Instead of trying to retreat, the man decided to face the man alone. ''This is our chance, Rusty! We have to flee!'' Aburdon called to him. Rusty took one last look at the berserker before turning away, ready to make his escape. Both he and Layla sprinted without looking back. He wasn''t sure what the man was doing but it didn''t seem to be a noble sacrifice but instead a grudge he had with that High Priest. Layla''s breathing was ragged beside him, she didn''t seem to have much more stamina left, something he didn''t need to worry about. Gleam clung tightly to Rusty''s shoulder, her silvery exoskeleton still faintly glowing from the magic she''d just unleashed, though her energy reserves were clearly low. Rusty could feel her tiny body tremble against his neck, exhausted but still alert, antennae twitching as if sensing the danger that loomed just behind them. They reached the stairway just as the final blocks locked into place, a soft glow signaling that the mechanism had completed its cycle. Many of the prisoners were already partway up the stairs, having climbed in desperation even before they were fully formed. Now, with the High Priest having turned every cultist into a bloodthirsty beast, panic was setting in, and they scrambled upward in sheer terror. "Up, quickly!" Rusty urged the injured forward, pushing them up the steps. Layla assisted as well, steadying the weaker prisoners as they limped upward. He didn''t really care to aid anyone as he wasn''t even part of any of their races. If his true form was discovered, it was more than possible that these people would treat him as if he were part of those cultists. In truth, his only real friend here was Gleam, and his primary goal was reaching the top. "Mr. Albert, there are probably going to be some guards waiting up ahead, I''ll leave them to you!" It seemed that his temporary acquaintance Layla misinterpreted his actions but his only care was to get up and finally, escape this predicament together with Gleam. "Understood" Rusty replied with a curt nod, though he had no idea how he''d handle any guards waiting above. His skills were best suited to dark, confined spaces - not open battlegrounds where he''d likely be outnumbered. But he had little choice and moved forward, though a strange feeling of conflict nagged at him. The smart move would be to leave these people behind, use them as shields against the guards, and make his escape. He didn''t owe them anything, and he certainly didn''t expect any of them to risk their lives for his. His metallic steps echoed against the rocky stairs that wound in a spiraling ascent. The injured people clung to the side walls, allowing him to move quickly through the middle. When he glanced up, he could see a faint light shining through, and it appeared that the cultist guards stationed above had been alerted to their presence. Ahead, he spotted one of the former prisoners, now armed with one of his weapons, charging forward with a few others following close behind. ''That''s the exit. I''m almost there, but what now?'' He was nearly free, Gleam perched alertly on his shoulder. The exit to this underground lair of madmen lay just ahead - just a few more steps, and he''d be free. But would it really end so easily? He was unsure but either way, today he and his friend would be free and would be able to face this strange word together. Chapter 97 - 95 – Defeated? "The sacrifices are running away, stop them!" "Kill everyone, slaughter them before they escape into the city." Rusty sprinted up the stairs as fast as his metallic body allowed him to. He could hear shouts and screams coming from above. The clamor of cultists and the pounding of boots above echoed down the spiraling stairway as Rusty charged upward. The chaos behind him spurred him to move faster, though his metallic joints strained under the pressure. Gleam clung to his back instead of his shoulder while trying to regain her mana for the battle ahead. He had left the terrifying cultist high priest behind and was now attempting to free himself. His goal had never been to rescue these people or to oppose the strange cultists. Some of the people here seemed to have misunderstood his motives, but it wasn''t worth the effort to correct them. What he needed to do was escape this hell hole and leave the city overrun by humanoid creatures. Rusty just wanted to finally enjoy his freedom - something he couldn''t truly accomplish while his friend Gleam had been captured. "( ¨®©n¨° )" "Sorry, Gleam. I don''t have any more mana potions on me. Just rest for now; I''ll get us both out of here." After reassuring his partner, he noticed a faint light shining from above. The exit was there, and he wouldn''t let anyone stand in his way. During his trek up he had passed many of the injured prisoners, one of them being the priest. She had stopped climbing and instead started healing the people who were unable to ascend further. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty did not stop or even glance her way and instead kept his own well-being in mind. As he finnaly approached the exit he heard a person scream. A man who had been given one of his weapons had just been stabbed through his chest. He was in the process of being pushed down the secret exit but Rusty was right behind him. He threw his polearm, making it fly past the stabbed man''s shoulder and right between the eyes of the cult member that had just stabbed him. The polearm struck true, embedding itself deep into the skull of the cultist. The figure crumpled like a marionette with its strings cut, the force of the impact sending it sprawling backward. The wounded man, now free from the immediate threat, slumped against the stairwell wall, blood pooling at his feet. Rusty didn''t spare him a second glance. He had no time to stop, no time to help. Gleam, still clinging to Rusty''s back, glanced at the dead man for a moment. Her antennae wiggled briefly, but she lacked the mana for another healing spell. Without his healbard, Rusty switched to his sword and shield once more. Lowering his center of gravity, he activated a skill to increase his weight and charged forward. Another cultist stood in his path, but the man''s dagger merely bounced off Rusty''s metallic form as he barreled past and charged outside. They finally emerged above ground, finding themselves in a seemingly deserted building that had been taken over by these strange people. However, after the secret exit mechanism had been triggered, more cultists appeared than they had encountered previously. Rusty had feigned death while being transported to this place, and Gleam had slipped past unnoticed. Neither of them had seen this many guards earlier, which suggested reinforcements had come from elsewhere. Even more might have been on their way so they needed to leave now. ''It seems they don''t want this place to be discovered. It''s probably going to be hard to get out of here¡­ And what is that? They''ve kindly put up a lovely silencing barrier around the whole place, why isn''t that grand?'' Aburdon called out to Rusty in a somewhat mocking tone. The demon lord had always opposed the plan to rescue the other prisoners, and now he was gloating over the apparent failure. The silencing barrier shimmered faintly, barely visible to Rusty thanks to his mana-sensing skill. He had hoped that, once above ground, it would be easy to escape. Even though it was still nighttime, his plan had relied on chaos - prisoners shouting and running would have forced the city guards to intervene. Now, however, things looked grim. More cultists had gathered in the area, some wearing heavy armor, while others were armed with bows, loosing arrows in Rusty''s direction. "Gleam, stay on my back!" "(£¾©n£¼)" He raised his shield to protect his head as several arrows flew toward him. Most bounced harmlessly off his armor, but a few left scratches and even small dents. He had already burned through many of his metal reserves and was running low on sp. Switching to other loadouts and repairing himself would soon not be possible. The cultists appeared from all sides, some charging at him with spears others shooting arrows. It was quite difficult to progress forward, his back against the entrance in an attempt to shield Gleam from harm. After identifying the archers and bouncing a few arrows back he decided to sprint forward. To his dismay he was intercepted by two armored men, both holding large tower shields that he couldn''t push against. It reminded him of the adventurers, where the heavily armored warriors would keep monsters at bay while the archers pelted them from a distance. That''s exactly what the cultists were doing to him - shield-bearers advancing in unison, using their bulk to push him back, while the archers continued to rain arrows on his body. Slowly, the damage started to accumulate and he needed to do something. He glanced to the sides. If he ran now, there was a high chance Gleam would get hit, something he was trying to avoid. ''Should I switch out and make a break for it?'' He wondered if he should use SP for a last-effort loadout change. In his larger form, he could let Gleam enter his body, where she would be relatively safe. However, there were people behind him. If he did that, it would be obvious he was a monster, and he could end up being hunted by both sides. "Kill them all, use the fire bombs!" Before he could decide, one of the cultists shouted from the side. In his hand, he held a vial containing a red liquid. Rusty had been in this city long enough to know exactly what it was - and what would happen if he was hit by it. If that potion struck him, Gleam would be in serious trouble. However, Rusty wasn''t truly alone in this struggle. Despite Aburdon''s complaints about the plan, he had still managed to gather some allies through it. An arrow shot out from behind him, striking the cultist''s wrist just as he was about to throw the fire potion. The vial slipped from the man''s grasp, shattering on the ground and setting the cultist on fire. Layla had finally climbed up and joined the fight. She wasn''t alone, either - four more armed allies emerged through the opening, with the elven healer close behind them. Their wounds were mostly healed now, and they were ready for battle. "Bastards! Die!" The cultists surged forward as chaos erupted, but Rusty stood firm, heartened by the reinforcements at his side. The clash above ground escalated into a chaotic melee. Layla, alongside the newly armed and reinvigorated prisoners, fought ferociously. Her arrows flew with pinpoint accuracy, injuring cultists from a distance. Meanwhile, the others, wielding weapons forged by Rusty, charged into the fray with desperation and fury. Rusty, now surrounded by both friend and foe, knew it was time to make a bold move. While everyone else fought for their lives, he needed to escape. This had gone on for far too long, and now it was every man for himself. But a shield-bearer stood directly in his path, blocking his way. Despite several attempts, Rusty couldn''t force the man aside or break through his guard to make a run for it. These cultists were surprisingly well-trained, holding their formation with strange discipline. What unsettled Rusty most, though, was the look in their eyes. They fought with a strange, almost frantic desperation - not as though they were afraid of losing to their immediate opponents, but as if they feared something far worse than the battle at hand. The cultists fought with a maddened fervor, shouting praises to their Lord of Blood even as they bled out on the ground. They seemed unstoppable, driven by a force that defied comprehension. Yet, amidst the chaos, Rusty''s mind was clear and he pushed on. Now facing just one opponent, Rusty decided to go all out. He activated his Fury skill, followed by Fortify Armor and Weight Control. His MP plummeted dangerously close to depletion, but this was his final gambit. If he didn''t break free now, he never would. With his enhanced strength, resistance, and sheer weight, Rusty slammed into the shield-bearer like an unstoppable force. The impact was devastating. The shield-bearer was hurled to the side, his heavy shield spinning through the air, torn from his grasp. Rusty didn''t pause to savor his victory - he surged forward, barreling straight into the group of archers who had been tormenting him earlier. The archers scrambled to aim at his vulnerable joints and weak points in his armor, but their efforts were futile. Rusty was no human but a living armor; he was a monster. Bolstered by his skills, arrows that found their mark barely slowed him. Only a direct hit to his core could stop him now, and Rusty had no intention of letting that happen. "S-Stop hi¡ªagh¡­" One of the archers was struck by Rusty''s shield and slammed into a nearby wall. The impact shattered his ribcage, and blood poured from his mouth as he collapsed lifelessly to the ground. This was it. Rusty had blasted through everyone standing in his way, and now the exit from this hellhole was finally in sight. Shouts echoed behind him, but he paid them no mind. As long as Gleam was with him, there was no reason to look back. Freedom was just within reach, and soon, they would both be free. Rusty burst through the final barrier of cultists, his shield clanging as he deflected desperate strikes aimed at stopping him. The cool night air hit his frame as he emerged from the abandoned building. He was now outside and freedom was at his metallic fingertips. However, his relief was short-lived. While the chase behind him was ongoing another force blocked his escape. They emerged through the soundproof barrier - men clad in heavy armor, similar in design to his own but far thicker and more robust. Their metallic frames glistened in the moonlight, the silvery surfaces reflecting faintly, eerily reminiscent of Gleam''s carapace. Each carried identical equipment: a large oval shield in their left hand and a longsword in their right. The shields bore an engraved figure - perhaps a deity - whose identity tugged at the edge of his memory, though he couldn''t quite place it. "Oh no, this might be bad¡­ Rusty, it might be better to retreat¡­" "Retreat, now?" Aburdon muttered, eyeing the well-armored troops steadily approaching. At a glance, they were far stronger than the cultist group they had encountered earlier, and their numbers seemed overwhelming. With a quick sweep of his surroundings, his skill confirmed the grim reality - they were surrounding the entire building, cutting off any chance of escape. His heart sank as he stepped back toward the entrance he had just used, where the sounds of fighting still raged. "Rusty, we have to escape somehow! Don''t let those silver zealots catch you - if they get too close, they''ll surely discover the possession skill, and it''ll be over for both of us!" He was not sure what this was about but those people looked awfully similar to the descriptions of paladins that he heard about. In this world, there were multiple gods, good and evil. Perhaps the lair of these evil god worshipers had been already found and they had been planning to raid it all along. Rusty''s gears whirred as he processed the situation. The so-called paladins were closing in, their movements coordinated, their shining armor unmarred by the grime and chaos of the battle he had just escaped. Between the cultists'' desperate frenzies and these disciplined warriors, his chances of survival seemed to be rapidly dwindling. Just then, a tremendous explosion echoed from within the building. A blast of crimson light surged out, breaking through the soundproof barrier and coloring the sky red. Everyone that was in the immediate vicinity was sent flying to the sides. The secret stairs leading down into the air were blasted upwards with the pillar which they dissolved into ashes. From within this crimson pillar of energy, a lone man rose. He was floating, robes fluttering in the evil slaughter energies his god imbued him with. It was the high priest Rusty had left behind. His tattered robes were now mended by the pulsing energy that surrounded him, a malevolent crimson aura crackling with raw power. The high priest''s eyes glowed like twin blood moons, and his voice boomed across the battlefield, filled with divine wrath. The pressure emanating from this being was truly tremendous. Rusty didn''t know what he was looking at and had never encountered a creature with such overwhelming power before. His gaze was drawn to what the high priest held in his left hand: the severed head of the warrior Rusty had previously helped. The man who was seemingly a berserker was quite strong. If that man hadn''t stood a chance, Rusty realized, then he wouldn''t fare any better. The cultists who remained alive dropped to their knees, chanting fervently. The paladins, unfazed by the display of power, took formation, their shields locking together as they advanced. Rusty knew better than to admire the spectacle. The priest''s ascension was no blessing - it was a death sentence for everyone present. "Rusty!" "I know!" Aburdon urged him to hide, but there was nowhere to go. The paladins were dangerous, but the high priest was on an entirely different level. The crimson energy radiating from him distorted the air, warping the surroundings. Dark bolts of energy crackled, unleashing enough force to instantly vaporize the building''s structure. It was clear this place wouldn''t hold much longer, and staying here was a death sentence. But how could he possibly escape? "Form the barrier! Stay in formation! Contain the heretic!" A shimmering golden dome began to materialize around the area, a divine barrier meant to suppress unholy power. The high priest laughed mockingly, raising his hand to unleash a barrage of energy blasts. Each strike shook the earth, sending shockwaves that shattered nearby walls and tossed cultists and paladins alike into the air and even the previously imprisoned innocents. "N-no!" Layla cried out from the side as a bolt of energy hurtled toward her, but to her surprise, someone stepped in front to shield her. For a brief moment, she noticed an ant perched on the man''s back before the energy bolt struck. The impact sent him flying through the air, his body twisting at unnatural angles as he was flung away... Chapter 98 - 96 – Sneaky Escape. Layla watched in horror as the chaos unfolded. The explosion from the high priest''s ascension had left the battlefield in disarray. Debris rained from the sky, mingling with the cries of the injured and the battle orders barked by the paladins. Her bow trembled in her hands, but she forced herself to focus. The man who had shielded her was flung away and crashed into a wall. She could see parts of his body from under the rubble and he was not moving at all. She crouched behind the rubble, her heart pounding as the clash of divine and unholy forces intensified around her. Streaks of crimson and golden energy now illuminated the once-dim battlefield, the air vibrating with power. Every crackle and explosion felt like a hammer striking her chest, but she held tightly to her bow, refusing to let fear paralyze her completely. The paladins were like an unyielding tide, their silver shields locked together as they steadily advanced on the high priest. They chanted prayers in unison, the words ringing with divine authority. The barrier they conjured shimmered and pulsed, straining to contain the high priest''s overwhelming energy. Yet, despite their coordination, the priest seemed unbothered, his laughter echoed over the carnage as he unleashed another blast of crimson light. Her mind raced, ears ringing from the relentless explosions and the sound of rubble crashing down around her. Wounds were accumulating across her body, but she forced herself to stay calm. Despite being new to adventuring, she knew that giving up would spell the end. Her gaze locked onto a particular pile of debris. A metallic foot jutted out from beneath it. A friend of hers was laying there, someone who had already saved her life on numerous occasions. Albert had appeared out of nowhere, rescuing her not just from these cultists but also during the adventurer''s test. She was certain now that these people had marked her as a target ever since the incident in the F-rank dungeon. Their bodies bore the same ominous symbol: a scythe crossed with a crescent moon. It seemed that once they set their sights on someone, escape was impossible. The attacks hadn''t stopped after the adventurer test. She had been ambushed in her sleep, only to awaken in a cold, dark cell. From time to time, other prisoners were dragged out, bloodied, and battered, for strange rituals that demanded their blood. She hadn''t been spared either. It was a memory she desperately wished to forget. But now wasn''t the time to dwell on it. The person who had saved her needed help, and she couldn''t abandon him. She wouldn''t. Layla steadied her breath, forcing herself to focus despite the chaos. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but she couldn''t leave Albert beneath the rubble. Her hand gripped her bow tightly as she moved forward, her body low to avoid drawing attention. Around her, the battle raged, divine and unholy energies clashing in an unrelenting storm. At this point, all the cultists, save for their High Priest, had been eliminated. Their bodies had been reduced to bloody paste, swirling ominously around the occult mage in a grotesque display of power. The paladins, meanwhile, advanced in a disciplined formation, their barrier successfully trapping their lone enemy in the center of the battlefield. Above them, the High Priest hovered, whirlwinds of crimson energy crashing against the divine shield. Despite the violent assaults, the barrier held firm. The tide of battle shifted and the paladins began to advance in hopes of ending this madness. "Come on, Mr. Albert. Don''t you dare give up now!" Layla sprinted to the pile of rubble where she had seen the metallic foot poking out. Her heart pounded as she dropped to her knees and began digging frantically. She heaved away chunks of debris with all the strength she could muster, the rough edges cutting into her hands. She wasn''t sure if Albert was even alive under there, but the thought of leaving him buried and alone in the midst of this chaos was unbearable. Around her, the battle raged on. The High Priest was no longer laughing; his crimson energy blasts were growing more erratic, more desperate. The paladins had managed to close their formation, their shields glowing faintly with holy runes as they steadily advanced. Their leader - a graceful figure wielding a shining longsword advanced, clearly aiming to end it all. Layla paid them little attention, her focus entirely on the task at hand. She began by uncovering the lower portion first, as too much rubble was covering the rest. Her strength wasn''t great, but eventually, she managed to expose part of Albert''s chest. However, just as she was about to reach his head, the entire place trembled, and a strange burst of energy knocked her aside. A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield. Layla instinctively ducked, covering her head as a shockwave sent debris flying in all directions. When she dared to look up, she saw that the High Priest had unleashed another wave of crimson energy. This time, however, it seemed to have been his last one as he found himself with a sword buried in his chest. The paladin leader had been victorious and the madman had been defeated. The High Priest snarled, his malevolent aura flickering out as his body crumbled into dust. "T-the lord¡­ will come for all non-believers¡­" The battlefield began to collapse, the weakened structure of the building finally giving way. Layla cried out in terror as she saw more rubble falling onto her friend. Desperate, she charged forward in an attempt to shield him, but before she could reach him, one of the nearby paladins intercepted her. His firm grip stopped her in her tracks, preventing her from reaching Albert, who was quickly being buried under the falling debris. "No, no, no! Let go of me, I have to¡­" The paladin said nothing but swiftly grabbed her and carried her out of the collapsing building. The others followed suit, rushing to save as many of the remaining prisoners as they could before the structure crumbled entirely. She struggled against the man that was holding her but her cries fell on deaf ears as the group retreated to a safe distance. Behind them, the remains of the battlefield crumbled into a dense heap of dust, wood, and stone, burying everything beneath. "No!" Layla screamed, her voice hoarse from exhaustion. "He''s still under there!" The paladin set her down gently, his expression filled with strange calmness. "Miss, please. If we stayed, you''d be dead. We''ll search for survivors when it''s stable but first, let us treat your wounds." Her fists clenched as she glared at the armored figure. "You don''t understand! He saved me. I owe him my life!" "I understand, If someone remains beneath that rubble, we''ll find them. Please believe, we Paladins of Ghelene do not abandon anyone!" Layla sat at the edge of the ruined battlefield, trembling with frustration and helplessness. The priests of Ghelene had healed her hands which had been bleeding from clawing at the rubble earlier but even when the pain was gone, she could not relax. The paladins had set up a perimeter around the collapsed site, their holy wards shimmering faintly as they worked to stabilize the area. She wanted to scream, to beg them to hurry, but she knew better than to antagonize those who might be her only hope of recovering Albert - or what remained of him. Their leader turned out to be a graceful woman with long golden locks and a gaze filled with compassion. Even now, she was aiding the injured, using her magic and skills to heal them alongside some of the other priests. Eventually, they began combing through the rubble in search of any survivors - and potential cultists. They had witnessed all of the cultists being turned into monsters by their High Priest, and then into fuel for his dark magic, but the risk still remained. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the paladins uncovered the area where Layla had last seen Albert. She sprang to her feet, nearly stumbling from exhaustion. "There! That''s where he was!" The paladins nodded, and two of their strongest members stepped forward. Together, they lifted a massive slab of stone, revealing a space beneath. For a moment, hope surged in Layla''s chest. But as the dust settled, her heart sank. She saw the body of her savior, contorted at strange angles, his neck clearly broken. He had not shown his face to her previously, but it was clear that this was the suit of armor he had worn. "This¡­ is this really the person you were searching for?" One of the paladins asked. "Y-yes! He was the one who saved me and all the others. If it wasn''t for him¡­" The two paladins exchanged confused glances. One of them knelt over the remains, his palm glowing with a pale silver light as he activated a skill. He eventually stood up, his expression even more puzzled. "Are you certain? This person has been dead for many months. And you say he was the one who set you all free?" "W-what? Months? That can''t be¡­ we took the adventurer exam together¡­" "Some type of vile magic has been used here, and this armor, the metal, is strange¡­ please come with us¡­" "Strange what do you mean, I don''t understand?" Layla''s mind went blank after she heard the paladin claim that Albert had been dead for several months. If this person was dead, then with whom was she interacting this whole time? Unbeknown to her, the person who occupied the armor had left a long time ago and had no idea that someone held him in such high regard. ****** A few moments before the entire area collapsed, a lone white ant burst out from the rubble. On her head, she wore an iron helmet, oddly crafted to fit her small form. With it on, the ant charged forward, skittering out of the danger zone amidst the shouts echoing behind her. "I suppose it wasn''t a waste of time to make the ant helm back in the Soul Forge." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aburdon''s voice echoed inside the helmet, his form faintly illuminating its interior. "That we would use it in such a fashion¡­" "I told you it would work!" "(?? ? ??)" "You''re doing great, Gleam! Couldn''t have done it without you!" Rusty exclaimed to his partner as she carried him to safety. After their separation, he had gained access to the Soul Forge, where he had fashioned a helmet he hoped would fit his friend. Initially, he intended it as a gift, but in this situation, it served another purpose. His helmet was his core, and through the use of SP, it could shift into the ant-shaped version. With it on, Gleam could carry him effortlessly to safety without worrying about dropping him. Under the rubble lay Albert''s long-dead corpse - a loss that Rusty found regrettable, as he had grown attached to it. Yet his decision was made after Aburdon informed him of the dangers posed by the strange paladins. Even a demon lord like him recognized the threat they posed. It was best to discard that identity and start anew. Though he had worked hard to rise to the rank of E-rank adventurer, leaving it behind didn''t trouble him. There would always be future adventurers who perished, and if necessary, he could assume one of their identities. Still, he wasn''t entirely certain if he would ever need to do so again. For now, his sole objective was to escape the city and start over. " ( ? -?)? " "That''s a good question, where should we go now?" Gleam skittered beneath the shadows of crumbling alleyways, her tiny legs carrying her swiftly over cobblestones as the city echoed with distant chaos. The fight raged on in the distance and city guards were on high alert. Rusty contemplated their options but he wasn''t sure where to go. His SP was now close to zero and he would not be able to restore his body, they needed a place in which he could stay for a few hours. "We need somewhere discreet, Gleam. Somewhere we can rest." "(,,>©n<,,)" "Ah sorry, I forgot that you have never been in this city." Rusty wondered if they should attempt to visit the thieves guild but before making a decision, Aburdon gave him a better idea. "Hm¡­ I suppose leaving the city for now would be best, how about we go there?" "There?" "Just leave it to this demon lord!" Aburdon had the whole plan of the city in his head and knew all the places. Rusty decided to follow his advice and Gleam chirped her agreement. She adjusted her course to follow Aburdon''s instructions. While there were people patrolling, they were busy looking in the direction where the fighting was taking place. This gave Gleam the advantage of slipping through the quieter, shadowed streets unnoticed. Following Aburdon''s guidance, they soon arrived at an old warehouse near the city''s merchant district. "Is this the place?" "Yes, now quickly before they spot us, It''s early morning, they will probably be leaving soon!" This place was active and inside they found multiple wagons filled with various goods. Gleam looked around and then moved towards what looked to be an opened window. There was some movement inside but the people there were far too busy checking their cargo to notice the silvery ant crawling in. "This is perfect, Gleam, let''s find a wagon we can hide in. If they''re heading out of the city, we''ll hitch a ride." "(?? ? ??)" Once inside, Gleam chirped, nodding enthusiastically as she crawled toward the nearest wagon. Rusty activated his life detection skill, scanning the area for any nearby movement. Whenever someone approached, he warned her to duck and hide. Eventually, they reached a row of carriages laden with barrels, crates, sacks of grain, and other goods. Rusty''s attention was drawn to a wagon near the rear of the warehouse, stacked with finely woven textiles. Large rolls of fabric rested atop the sturdy cart, while the merchant overseeing it seemed too preoccupied with organizing the shipment to notice the ant''s approach. "There, Gleam, climb into that wagon. There should be enough space to hide between those white rolls, it will conceal you nicely." Gleam leaped onto the wagon, her small size making her nearly invisible amidst the commotion. She found an opening in one of the fabric rolls, her tiny mandibles tugging at the edge until she managed to crawl inside. Nestled within the soft material, she settled down, creating a secure hiding spot. With a soft clink, Rusty''s helmet detached and came to rest beside her. Together, they paused, regaining their strength and quietly pondering what the future might hold for them. Chapter 99 - 97 – Leaving Town. The merchant adjusted his hat, squinting against the early morning sun as he watched the last of his cargo being loaded onto the wagon. Thick rolls of fabric - prized imports from the southern provinces - lay neatly stacked, their vibrant patterns hidden under protective canvas. He ran a hand over the edge of the wagon, ensuring the ropes were securely tied, his fingers brushed against the coarse texture of the covering to check for any oddities. "... Did that part always stick out like that?" He noticed an oddity there, a little bit of the white fabric was sticking out. He leaned over in an attempt to check but right as he did, a voice from behind him resounded. "Are you finished? We need to leave, we are already behind schedule." "Ahh¡­ yeah, everything is fine¡­" The man nodded and leaned away from the wagon where the fabric rolls were packed. With one last glance at the odd protrusion, he decided it wasn''t worth delaying further inspection. Satisfied that the cargo was secure, he adjusted his hat once more and waved to the coachman. "Alright, let''s get moving!" The convoy began to rumble forward, the heavy wagons creaking as they rolled onto the cobblestone streets. Everything seemed in order, yet a persistent unease gnawed at him. The city had been in chaos since the battle with the cultists last night. Word spread fast, even among those who kept their heads down. Now that a strange cult had been exposed in this city, the merchants wished to do nothing more than to get out. They knew that once the Ghelene believers entered the city, it was bad for business. "Do you think they will let us through?" "I hope so, we should still make it ¡­ but it might be close." Two of the merchants had a discussion as their wagons filled with wares rolled forward. They knew that these paladins would start searching every store and every part of the city for signs of this cult. The marketplace would probably be closed and some of their wares could be confiscated due to these zealots, some of them who were corrupt. It was best to quickly leave the city and return later once things had settled and these people had left. "Then we should hurry, do you have it?" "Yeah¡­" The man nodded, showing off a large sack to the other merchant. The clang of coins resonated as he shook it. Unbeknownst to them, the fabrics in the rear wagon began to shift. Nestled safely beneath the rolls of fabric was a silvery-white ant. She was not alone; beside her lay a small metal helmet and a darkened orb of light. "Lady Gleam, it would be better if you stayed still," Rusty whispered. "( >©n< )" "Is it that uncomfortable? Sorry, Gleam, but we have to stay quiet for now. Once we''re outside the gates, we''ll have a chance to flee!" "(? ''? - ''? )?" "That''s my Gleam!" Rusty encouraged his companion, who was clearly struggling with the bumpy ride. The streets were paved with rough stones, making the wagon lurch and rattle as it moved. It was far from a smooth journey. Despite the discomfort, they needed to remain calm. If anyone discovered they were hiding among the merchant''s wares, it would spell disaster. Rusty, now without a proper adventurer''s body to inhabit, relied entirely on this escape plan. The plan was simple: stay concealed within the merchants'' goods and wait for the right moment to make their move. If all went well, they would escape together once they were safely beyond the city gates. The merchants'' convoy trundled along the cobbled streets, making its way toward the towering city gates. The sunlight was climbing higher, casting long shadows across the bustling thoroughfare. Around them, the city seemed tense, with citizens speaking in hushed tones and guards patrolling in pairs. Word of the cultist battle had spread like wildfire, and the looming presence of the Paladins of Ghelene only added to the unease. Rusty, snugly nestled alongside Gleam beneath the tightly packed rolls of fabric, activated his Life Detection skill once more. It was faint at this distance, but it allowed him to sense movement outside their wagon - a subtle precaution as they neared the gates. The convoy slowed, and the distinct clink of armor grew louder. The guards stationed at the city gates were stopping each wagon for inspection. Their stern voices carried through the air as they ordered the merchants to halt. "All vehicles are subject to inspection." Barked one of the guards, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. Inside their wagon, Rusty felt Gleam twitch nervously. Her tiny antennae brushed against the fabric surrounding them, conveying her unease. He didn''t understand fear too much as he was still only a piece of armor but after using the possession skill and interacting with humans, he was quickly learning. Rusty''s attention was divided between the people bustling around the gate and his SP count. Enough time had passed since their arrival for him to switch to a new loadout, if necessary. While he could fight if it came to that, he knew it wouldn''t be the best idea. The priority was to remain unnoticed. If worst came to worst, perhaps Gleam could escape on her own while he pretended to be nothing more than a small, ant-shaped helmet. "Stay calm, Gleam. Everything will be fine¡­" Rusty whispered reassuringly but he wondered if they would truly be fine. "( ¨®©n¨° )" "Listen to Rusty, Lady Gleam, even if they discover you, they''re unlikely to associate you with those madmen. You''re just an ant, and Rusty''s just a helmet. They might even assume you''re part of the merchant''s wares!" Aburdon''s tone was oddly gentle. Rusty suspected it was more out of self-preservation than genuine concern. If Gleam started trembling and drew attention, they''d all be discovered - and Aburdon would share in their fate. Rusty knew the demon king was only on his side because their lives were bound together. If Gleam were caught, Rusty would have no choice but to fight, and that was the last thing Aburdon wanted. For now, staying hidden and calm was the only path to survival. Rusty could hear the murmurs of other merchants as they nervously handed over documents and coins, hoping to expedite the process. The clinking of armor drew closer, and Rusty activated his Life Detection skill again. One guard lingered near their wagon longer than the others. "What''s in here?" The guard asked, his voice gruff and filled with suspicion. "Just textiles, sir." The merchant replied, trying to keep his tone even. "High-quality imports from the south. See for yourself." Rusty''s metaphorical heart sank as he felt the guard''s weight press against the side of the wagon. The canvas covering rustled as the guard untied a corner to peek inside. Gleam froze, her tiny body pressing deeper into the folds of fabric. "( >©n< )..." "Don''t move, Gleam. Humans require their eyes to see, even if they touch you, just stay still!" Rusty called out softly in a way only Gleam could hear. Meanwhile, the guard''s hand reached into the wagon, brushing against the fabric rolls. His fingers lingered dangerously close to Gleam''s hiding spot, and for an agonizing moment, Rusty braced for the worst. If the guard pulled her out, their entire plan would crumble. Rusty''s mind raced, formulating contingencies. If the man grabbed Gleam, he would immediately activate his loadout. Appearing in his largest form would likely stun the guards, giving him just enough time to grab Gleam and run. He already knew the layout as this gate led to the F-rank dungeon where he had first emerged from. The city was encircled by a moat, meaning he would have to cross the bridge. He doubted the guards would let him escape without a chase, but he had a plan. In the chaos, he could launch Gleam into the safety of nearby bushes along with his helmet. From there, he would use his headless body as a decoy while his core and Gleam made their escape. It was a simple, desperate plan, but it was all he had. Thankfully, it didn''t come to that. After a tense moment, the guard withdrew his hand, leaving Gleam untouched. Rusty allowed himself a silent sigh of relief, knowing they had narrowly avoided disaster, at least, for now. "Looks fine to me." The guard muttered while stepping back. "Move along." The merchant exhaled and lowered his head at the guard. "Thank you, officer. Safe travels to you." As the wagon began to roll forward again, Rusty felt a wave of relief wash over him. Gleam let out a tiny chirp of joy, her antennae quivering with excitement. "( ????? )!" "Well done, Lady Gleam." Aburdon murmured. "You''ve nerves of steel for such a small creature." "( ?_?'' )" "Why, you hurt me lady Gleam, that you would accuse me of sarcasm!" Gleam seemed perceptive enough to sense Aburdon''s true inclinations, but now wasn''t the time to dwell on it. The convoy creaked onwards, its wheels groaning under the weight of merchant goods. Rusty remained vigilant, relying on his limited-range life detection skill to keep track of everyone nearby. The caravan comprised three carts filled with merchant goods, along with several other carriages. While there were plenty of people present, most of them didn''t appear battle-ready. This was a truth Rusty had only recently begun to grasp. Previously, he had assumed that the people of this world were more like adventurers: strong and willing to risk their lives in combat. However, the reality was different. Most of the population wasn''t much stronger than an average F-rank monster. Many were part of the civilian class, with roles such as villager or farmer - classes seemingly assigned to them at random. Around the age of ten, people in this world could visit a nearby shrine where they would be assigned a class that would shape their future. Unlike monsters, who were inherently born for battle, these people had other purposes. Some were suited for crafting items, while others focused on farming or producing goods to trade and sell. Rusty still didn''t fully understand the intricacies of this system, but one thing was clear: the majority of these people posed no threat to him or Gleam. While this knowledge offered a small measure of reassurance, it didn''t lessen Rusty''s vigilance. His focus remained on the convoy, ever-watchful for any signs of danger. For now, at least, their presence went unnoticed. The convoy finally passed through the city gates, and the bustling noise of the city began to fade. Beyond the walls lay the open road, flanked by fields and sparse clusters of trees. The merchants sighed in relief, their conversations shifting to lighter topics now that they were out of the guards'' reach. "The harvest has been thinning lately. I wonder if the gods are angry?" "Perhaps, but luckily there are other ways we can earn our keep!" "That''s true. Not every city has three dungeons nearby! We can upsell all these monster materials and even those textiles!" Rusty overheard the two merchants discussing business and started to wonder when the best time would be to make his move. While he couldn''t see much around him except for Gleam and the fabric rolls, it was clear they were moving farther and farther from the city. The wagon he was in remained empty of other living beings, so he decided it was time to summon his second guide, Alexander. The familiar white orb of light appeared beside him, and with it, they could finally discuss their next steps. "Why isn''t it the useless hero?" Aburdon sneered. "Shut it." Aburdon wasted no time mocking Alexander for his absence during the fight with the cultists. "Why should I? But perhaps it''s for the best. Some of your friends showed up¡­ That Priestess of Ghelene was there, wasn''t she?" "..." Alexander fell silent, as if unwilling to answer the question. Rusty wasn''t sure what was going on there, but it didn''t seem important. What mattered now was figuring out what he should do next. He had escaped the dungeon of his birth and left the city behind. The world was starting to open up to him, but he wasn''t sure how to survive in it. He needed to focus on his options, and he hoped that Alexander and Aburdon might have some ideas. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "Yeah, they still argue the same as they did before¡­ I''ve gotten used to it¡­" Rusty answered Gleam while the two listened to the two bicker like an old married couple again. "Quiet down you two, I need your help!" He finally gave the order, and the two guides fell silent immediately. Rusty had accomplished several of his goals so far. The first was breaking free from the dungeon, which he had managed over a month ago. The second was rescuing Gleam, which was now nearly complete. They just needed to escape the merchant convoy, and then they would be in the clear. But that was where things stalled as he wasn''t sure what his next goal should be. "Where should I go? What should I do?" "Oh, quite the existential question there, Rusty." Aburdon answered in the usual mocking tone. Rusty sighed metaphorically, wishing he could roll his nonexistent eyes. "I''m serious. We''re out of the city, and for now, we''re safe. But¡­" Rusty tried to continue but Alexander quickly interrupted him. "But you are afraid that something bad will happen in the future if you just aimlessly set out into the wide open world?" "Uh¡­ something like that¡­" He had been born a monster, something that should have remained in a dungeon, bound to its dark confines. But now he was free, and the world seemed to be his oyster - a very terrifying oyster. Rusty had believed himself to be relatively strong compared to the average adventurer. He had aced the tests and even managed to kill monsters like orcs. However, after encountering that one mage - and later, the High Priest - he wasn''t so sure he was ready to face the great unknown. There were forces in this world that could crush him like a bug. If he and Gleam were to survive and thrive, they needed to grow stronger before challenging such powerful beings. And yet, despite the fear, a part of him yearned for those battles. "Or perhaps he''s contemplating his life?" Abrudon asked, breaking the silence. "My life?" "Why, yes! You are now free of the shackles that once bound you. Ready to set out and conquer the world!" Abrudon declared with an almost theatrical flourish. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Conquer the world?" "Indeed! You must set your sights high, my dear Rusty. Why not aspire to become the next Demon King? With my help, you could easily bring the Demonic Dukes under your control. And this time¡­" Abrudon began cackling like the villain he once was. Despite the grandiosity of his words, there was an undeniable truth to them. Rusty felt it too - an unquenchable yearning to experience all that this world had to offer. He wanted to push himself, to use every ounce of his skill, and to challenge the truly powerful forces that roamed this land. There was so much he longed to do, so much he ached to see, that the fear of the open world that had once gripped him began to fade. In its place, a growing sense of excitement and hunger took root - a yearning for the boundless possibilities ahead. Chapter 100 - 98 – Future Plans. "You want Rusty to fight a Demonic Duke? I thought you were mad, but this is outright idiotic." "He has to aim big! With those fascinating abilities he has, and the Soul Forge, it will be possible!" "You just want him to take your revenge on the Dukes who betrayed you." Alexander interjected sharply, his voice, as always, tinged with annoyance. "Don''t think I don''t see through your ploy, Aburdon. You''re trying to convince Rusty to fight your battles for you." Aburdon chuckled, and if he hadn''t been just an orb of light, the sound would have been a menacing cackle. "Oh, Alexander, always so quick to accuse. Of course, I want revenge. Those treacherous dogs turned their backs on me, and the mere thought of it sets my soul ablaze. But tell me, hero, is revenge truly such a terrible thing?" Alexander folded his arms - or at least gave the impression of doing so as a glowing sphere of light. "Yes, when it consumes you like this. Rusty isn''t a tool for your vengeance. He deserves to make his own path, not inherit your grudges." "And what about you, Alexander? Don''t tell me you don''t harbor grudges of your own. What about the companions who abandoned you, the people you couldn''t save, the choices that haunt you? Don''t stand there on your pedestal and pretend you''re free of bitterness." Alexander flared brightly for a moment, but soon his light dimmed. "That''s not the same, Aburdon. I won''t let the past chain me or dictate my actions." "It''s not? Don''t lie to me, hero. I know how you feel. I know what emotions stir within you - especially after seeing those Paladins of Ghelene. What was that woman''s name¡­ ah, right, Seraphina. Did she not betray you? Along with all those other fake ''heroes''?" Alexander''s light wavered, flickering like a torch caught in the wind. For a moment, the hero''s orb dimmed to near darkness. "That''s enough! Can you two stop flickering around? You''re going to get us caught!" "( ?? - ?? )" Gleam nodded subtly as the two orbs continued their ruckus. While their voices could only be heard by her and Rusty, their flickering lights were visible, drawing attention. The more they moved erratically, the greater the risk of being noticed by the merchants or anyone nearby. Rusty shifted his focus back to the present, realizing that if the two guides couldn''t contain their rivalry, it might endanger their fragile escape plan. "Look, I''m not sure who these Demon Dukes are, but first, we need to get out of here. I need you two to focus! Now, what do you suggest I do to escape?" Rusty found the idea of facing powerful enemies intriguing, but this wasn''t the time for such conversations. He was still stuck inside a cart filled with textiles, and Gleam was beginning to look tired. Unlike him - a seemingly immortal piece of armor that didn''t need rest - Gleam was just a regular monster. She needed food and sleep. Her usual diet of mana crystals from the underground dungeon was unavailable here, and the strain was beginning to show. "Depends on what our goal is," Aburdon mused. "We could jump out into the bushes and make a run for it. I doubt those adventurers would give chase for long. They''re here to guard the merchants, not hunt monsters." "Our goal¡­" Rusty repeated, his voice trailing off as he contemplated this issue. "(?¡ª?¡ª)" Gleam offered no response, looking as though she was about to fall asleep. Her weariness triggered a memory for Rusty - the day they first met. Gleam had fallen asleep on him after his evolution, in the safety of a cave filled with crystals. It had been a simpler time, spent hunting monsters with the reassurance of having a safe place to return to. Maybe that was what they needed now. "How about¡­ a place to stay first?" "Oh? A place to stay? Do you wish to have a home? I thought you were more the adventurous type." Rusty''s proposal clearly caught Aburdon off guard. Monsters like him - living armor were not known for building homes. They usually wandered aimlessly, driven by instincts. However, Rusty was not a simple monster, he had his own goals and even fears. He knew that having a hideout was needed for survival. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Having a base to come back to is a good start, but the question is, where?" Alexander chimed in, directing his words not to Rusty but to Aburdon. "Well... we''re heading to one of the nearby cities, but there are many more ahead. Rusty could always take on the form of a fallen adventurer - or perhaps one of the locals..." "One of the locals? What do you mean?" Alexander asked. "With Rusty''s unique skills, why not have him become an artisan? A larger home with a workshop would provide the perfect cover for our nocturnal activities. Even without the soul forge, he should be able to craft simple weapons to keep up his guise." Aburdon explained, a faint smugness in his voice. "You want him to become an artisan? Like what, a blacksmith?" "Precisely!" Aburdon''s tone brightened with enthusiasm. "Why should Rusty limit himself to just one persona? With his versatile loadout, he can easily switch between multiple identities. Imagine it - if he were a respected resident of the city, we wouldn''t have to keep running! Even if one of his identities becomes a criminal, we can just discard it!" Alexander''s light flickered in contemplation as he saw the merit in this proposal. "I see... that''s not even a stupid idea." "I do not propose stupid ideas, hero. I leave those to you!" Aburdon gloated, his tone practically dripping with self-satisfaction. Rusty, meanwhile, deliberated over the suggestion. The notion of adopting a stable cover and building a place to call home had its appeal, especially given their current circumstances. His guide was right. If Rusty had another body to occupy, one with a good enough reputation, perhaps he wouldn''t need to leave the city at all. It was a sprawling place, and the Paladins were unlikely to search homes without cause. Right now, though, he was on the run, with no clear direction for the future. The idea of finding a place he could gradually develop into a sanctuary was becoming increasingly appealing. "That doesn''t sound bad, but where should I stay?" The two orbs turned toward him, their flickering movements slowing as they noticed his genuine interest in the idea. "Well, I do know the map of the area. We''ve got a few options to consider¡­ There are three cities nearby that might serve as a starting point." Aburdon began while Alexander decided to wait before adding his own two cents. "First is Dallbrim, a port city close to the western coastline. It''s bustling with trade, particularly shipbuilding and repairs. You''d have easy access to imported materials for your soul forge. If you posed as a blacksmith or armorer, you''d blend in perfectly." "Dallbrin huh? I''m not sure if that''s a good idea, the nearest dungeon is far away, it''s a port city with a lot of trade but I''m not sure if we would be able to earn enough coin to buy a workshop¡­" There were several problems with this choice and one of them was the lack of a dungeon. "Rusty you used up all of your money right?" Asked Alexander. "Yes? Ah, without a dungeon, I won''t be able to earn any money!" "That''s right and another thing, I''m not sure how well the locals would accept a blacksmith that wears heavy armor all the time, some of them might get suspicious¡­" "Hah, nonsense, we''ll just cover him up with a robe so no one will be the wiser!" Aburdon replied to Alexander while Rusty shook along with the wagon they were in. Gleam at this point had already managed to doze of and wasn''t even listening to what they were talking about. "I''m not sure if that would work¡­ but perhaps¡­" "... Or you could go to Blackthorn Hold! It''s near a vast network of caves with an E-rank dungeon at its heart. Perfect for gathering rare materials and gaining strength. The city itself is rough, though - more of a haven for mercenaries and thieves than respectable artisans. But if you''re looking for somewhere to grow stronger without too many prying eyes, it''s ideal." Alexander flickered in disagreement. "Yes, if you enjoy living in a pit of lawlessness and filth." "You''ve been complaining a lot, but I don''t see you offering any better options. Dear Rusty, it''s probably best not to trust our hero''s bad memories of these places. Just trust in my knowledge instead!" Aburdon cackled, his voice filled with amusement. He had thoroughly studied all the information from both guilds, and Rusty knew this guide of his wasn''t always motivated by his best interests. It was likely that at one of the locations, Aburdon had something to gain. One of the places was a bustling area filled with merchants - no shortage of commerce, but certainly no opportunities for earning through monster hunting. The other, however, was more like a den of thieves, where Rusty would have to be on constant alert for corrupt officials and robbers. Luckily, he still had the thieves'' guild coin, tied not to his old Albert persona, but to his current self. It might give him an advantage in that shady location. "How about we find a developing city? Somewhere where the prices are low and people are actually looking for an artisan. We won''t have much luck in places that have long-running history." "But where then?" "I''m not sure¡­" "If you aren''t sure, then don''t speak!" Aburdon snorted. "How quaint. Such places are nothing but breeding grounds for underdeveloped economies and local corruption. There is a reason why they are failures, we should go to an already developed city!" Rusty started to consider Aburdon''s point, but he wasn''t entirely convinced. His goal wasn''t just about making money - it was about building a future where he could lay low, build strength, and protect Gleam. A less populated city offered fewer variables working against him but in a larger one, he would be able to hide himself among the crowd to avoid detection. "What about somewhere between the two? A smaller city with trade, but also a community where I could grow without attracting too much attention. It doesn''t have to be a major port or a city with multiple dungeons around it." "So, a place that already is showing hope? Hmm¡­ Well, there was a city like that. I wouldn''t say that it''s developed but much better than the average small town. However, it''s near an area with orc tribes and some other barbaric tribes. It has a dungeon but it is unable to prosper due to the constant conflicts nearby." "Oh, what is its name?" Rusty asked as the description sounded quite interesting. A place with ample battle outside but also one where he could retreat behind some strong walls and rest. "It''s called Ferndale." Aburdon said, with a hint of reluctance. "It''s located at the edge of a forest region, right on the border between civilized lands and the wild territories. The dungeon there is said to be only partially explored, which could be used to our advantage as an out-of-place living armor, wouldn''t be seen as strange." Rusty''s interest was piqued. In the previous city, his presence had been too unique, always drawing the attention of adventurers. But perhaps in this new dungeon, he could find a place to continue his leveling efforts. Once the day broke, he could return to his new base of operations with all the loot he''d gathered. By day, he would be a humble artisan, blending in with the city''s residents; by night, a menace within the dungeon, hunting for more power. Rusty was deep in thought as the wagon trundled along. The discussions between Aburdon and Alexander had given him plenty to consider, and Ferndale seemed like the most balanced option. Yet, they weren''t free to make any decisions just yet. First, they needed to escape. "Let''s decide after we''re out of this mess." Rusty said decisively. He glanced over at Gleam, who was now softly snoring. "Agreed." Alexander responded. "We can make plans later. First, we need to get off this wagon and out of sight." "Finally, something we can all agree on! But if I may propose something?" Aburdon chimed in, his tone smug as always. "Yes?" "We should probably remain here a while longer. This caravan is heading toward the port city of Dallbrin. Around halfway, we''ll reach a crossroads - likely in two days'' time. These merchants are sure to take a break there. Once night falls, we can make our escape and decide where you wish to go next, Rusty." "And we entered a wagon heading to the first city you propose, by accident huh?" "Oh? Are you accusing me of something, hero?" Rusty rolled his non-existing eye sockets while letting the two bicker for longer. He decided to go along with this plan and wait for these two days. This whole situation made him want to create a smaller version of his armor, something that could hide in small areas like this while being able to move. The journey continued uneventfully over the next two days. The merchants talked amongst themselves, occasionally checking the cargo but thankfully never suspecting anything unusual. Gleam managed to regain some energy, though she remained cautious, curling up beside Rusty to avoid drawing attention. By the time the caravan reached the crossroads, dusk was falling, painting the horizon in shades of orange and purple. The merchants decided to make camp, setting up a ring of wagons and lighting fires for warmth and cooking. Rusty, hidden deep within the textile cart, waited patiently, his thoughts focused on the mission. As the night deepened, the camp grew quiet. The merchants and their guards had taken turns on watch but seemed otherwise relaxed. Gleam stretched beside him, her ant features shimmering faintly in the moonlight filtering through the gaps in the cart. "It''s time." "Finally!" Aburdon urged Rusty while both he and Alexander occupied his helmet. Once there they made his eye sockets glow, one in a more radiant white while the other remained a sinister black. However, right as Rusty was about to activate his loadout and change into his more slender form, something unexpected happened. An arrow came flying from the distance, striking their cart along with the others as shouts erupted from the darkness beyond the camp. Rusty froze in place, his senses sharpening as he scanned the surroundings with his life detection skill. The merchants stirred from their sleep, guards scrambling to grab their weapons. "Bandits?!" People shouted and his skill confirmed it, the whole camp was surrounded and perhaps waiting for the best moment to escape had been a mistake... Chapter 101 - 99 – Some Help Is Fine. "That''s a lot of noise and a lot of people¡­" The night erupted into chaos as the camp scrambled to defend itself. Rusty remained still, his mind trying to adapt to this unexpected twist. Gleam perked up beside him, her antennae twitching with unease. The merchants shouted to one another, their voices strained with panic. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " "Stay down Gleam, they probably don''t know that we are here¡­ if I understand people''s behavior correctly, then they are here to steal the goods so we might be safe in here if they just don''t find us¡­" Rusty communicated silently with Gleam, compelling her to stop moving even as a few arrows pierced through the wagon''s canvas. His life-detection skill was picking up numerous signals outside, but he couldn''t distinguish friend from foe. This was supposed to be his shortcut to Ferndale, his new area of operations. Yet, just as they were about to sneak through, disaster struck, leaving them stranded. "Rusty." Aburdon''s voice cut through his thoughts, urging decisive action. "If those bandits find this cart, you''ll be in a worse position. Do you really want to sit here and hope they miss you? I say we get out while the adventurers and merchants are still keeping them busy!" Aburdon''s argument made sense. Amid the chaos, most of the bandits would be preoccupied with fighting humanoid opponents, giving a monster ant like Gleam a chance to slip away unnoticed. Gleam was rested enough to cast a silencing spell, making stealth a viable option. "But what about the merchants? Are we just going to abandon them to their fate?" "Hah! You expect Rusty to risk his life for some random merchants? That''s absurd! Our survival comes first," Aburdon retorted his tone rough. Alexander was maddened at this suggestion. His protest revealed the good-hearted nature he couldn''t suppress. He wanted to help, but Rusty wasn''t convinced it was a wise idea. Without Albert''s body stored in his inventory, he couldn''t convincingly pose as an adventurer. While he could shift into his armored form to resemble one, that guise came with a critical drawback - he wouldn''t be able to speak. Then there was the matter of odds. It seemed clear that this small merchant caravan had gravely underestimated the dangers of this treacherous route. Rusty weighed the options as the camp fell into further disarray. The muffled clanging of swords and the crackling of flames reached his metallic ''ears'' through the canvas of the wagon. The merchants'' terrified shouts mingled with the bandits'' battle cries. He could feel Gleam trembling slightly beside him, her sharp instincts picking up on the growing carnage and chaos. Alexander''s voice chimed in again, this time in a more pleading tone. "Rusty, listen. Perhaps you can help these people. With your skills, we could¡­" "We could what? Involve ourselves in the petty squabbles of these insignificant people? What have they ever done for us? If any of them see Rusty for what he truly is, they''ll kill him on the spot! And what about Lady Gleam? Her form could be exposed during the chaos of a fight. We must flee instead! Don''t listen to this fool of a hero!" Rusty sat silently amidst the clamor, his mind a battlefield where Alexander and Aburdon waged a war of ideology. The life-detection signals from outside painted a vivid image of the chaos unfolding. Merchants scurried for safety, their movements frantic. The guards were outnumbered, their efforts barely holding the line against the bandits. "Gleam¡­ get ready, we will use the chaos to retreat!" "Hah, I knew you would see it my way!" "No¡­ you can''t be serious, we have to help them.!" Aburdon gloated, reveling in his argument, while Alexander desperately tried to convince him to reconsider. Rusty, however, knew that fighting was highly disadvantageous for him. As an unknown third party, he had no idea how either side would react if he revealed himself. For a moment, he considered hiding and waiting for the battle to end. But waiting wasn''t always the safest option either. If the bandits won, they would undoubtedly search every wagon - or worse, take them all to their hideout. Once there, Rusty would be trapped in yet another prison, just like the one he had barely escaped from when dealing with the cultists. That harrowing experience was still fresh in his mind. No, waiting was too risky. Using the chaos of the battle and the cover of the dark night, Rusty resolved to run. It was his best chance at survival. " ? ( ^?^ ) ? " Gleam didn''t seem to care one way or the other and began casting the silencing spell. There didn''t appear to be any mages on either side, so no one would be able to detect her use of mana. Soon, a soft white light enveloped both of them, signaling it was time to move. "Rusty, maybe if¡­" "Be quiet, you two! We need to focus on escaping from here!" With the command given, both Alexander and Aburdon were forced to become silent. Rusty''s glowing eye sockets dimmed as Gleam began her careful movements, sneaking out from the fabric she had been hiding beneath. Her sharp mandibles made quick work of the material, cutting an opening to slip through. She skittered across the cart with silent precision, heading toward the rear. Rusty, still perched on her head, surveyed the scene as they reached the back of the cart. From there, they could see the full scope of the chaotic battle raging in the darkness. What they saw was quite gruesome. The camp was ablaze with chaos. Fires crackled, their light casting eerie, dancing shadows over the battlefield. The merchants and their guards, overwhelmed and underprepared, fought desperately to defend their lives and goods. Bandits surged like a tide, wielding crude weapons and overwhelming force. Some wagons were already on fire, and scattered belongings littered the ground - an unsettling mosaic of panic and despair. Rusty''s life-detection skill painted a grim picture. The camp''s defenders were outnumbered three to one. Merchants cowered behind crates, while their guards formed a shaky line against the bandits. The attackers were well-coordinated, their movements suggesting a seasoned gang accustomed to raids. The odds for the merchants seemed slim. As Rusty and Gleam slipped from the wagon''s cover, they paused behind a thick stack of crates. "See? Look at this mess. And you wanted to help these fools, Alexander? They''re already finished. Rusty, we''re wasting precious time just standing here." Aburdon''s voice broke the silence but they continued with the escape, even as the two guides continued barter. "Even so¡­ This is wrong. We could turn the tide. Rusty, if you distract the bandits and give the merchants a chance, they could probably escape or perhaps launch a counter attack." "Did you miss the part where they''re outnumbered and outmatched? A distraction would only expose Rusty! Don''t let your misplaced nobility get us killed." Rusty ignored the argument, focusing instead on scanning the battlefield. The bandits weren''t only after goods; they were brutal and methodical, cutting down anyone who resisted. The merchants were beginning to flee, abandoning their carts as guards fell one by one. This was a good opportunity and he would use this confusion to their advantage. "Quick Gleam, now is the chance, let''s go for those bushes!" " ( ?? - ?? ) " S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The small monster ant darted swiftly, using the shadows for cover. There wasn''t much ground to traverse, and the chaos around them ensured that no one paid them any attention. Soon, the pair reached a dense thicket of bushes and dove straight in. This was it. There were no pursuers, and the flickering light from the burning flames didn''t reach this far. They were finally safe. Gleam continued to skitter forward without hesitation, but suddenly¡ª "Gleam stop." Rusty called out to his partner and she stopped. The voices of the bandits and adventurers clashing could still be heard and they weren''t fully safe so she was cleary confused. " ( ? -?)? " "No, I''m fine but could you lower me down." Gleam nodded and used her forelimbs to carefully lift Rusty off her head. Once he was on the ground, he activated one of his loadouts. His helmet began to expand, pieces of armor materializing and assembling themselves into a full suit. Within moments, the transformation was complete, and he stood in his familiar all-rounder Iron Twilight armor form. Now back on his own two legs, the distant flames danced and reflected against his metallic surface, casting an imposing silhouette in the dark. "Have you reconsidered, Rusty?" Alexander asked, his voice seemingly hopeful but Aburdon sounded far less happy. "I hope not! You aren''t seriously going to charge in there to help those ¡­ those insignificant pests?" "Charge in? No but¡­ I can at least do this." Rusty wasn''t entirely sure why he was doing this, but something about abandoning the group didn''t sit right with him. It felt as though, in some small way, they had helped him. Their presence had enabled his escape from the city, and letting them be slaughtered left a strange, bitter aftertaste. Perhaps Alexander''s constant complaints had finally worn him down, but whatever the reason, Rusty decided to act. He wouldn''t directly help these people as doing so would be far too risky but there was one thing he could do from his position without putting himself in too much danger. Thanks to her small size, Gleam was able to squeeze through the bushes with ease, and now Rusty found himself behind the bandits. They were encircling the merchant caravan from all sides, but most of their forces were concentrated here. It was clear they wouldn''t anticipate an attack from their rear - let alone one that could affect such a wide area. While Rusty had no intention of engaging them directly, he did possess skills that worked exceptionally well against humans and other intelligent races. Using the last moments of Gleam''s silencing spell, he crept closer to their position. Once he was in place, he began to execute his plan. Rusty crouched low behind a pile of rocks and activated his limb control ability. His right armplate moved, and the gauntlet flew forward, its metallic gleam catching the faintest glimmers of moonlight. The bandits, engrossed in their brutal work, didn''t notice the metal hand moving into their midst. Suddenly, with a small thud, it landed at the center of the group. Some of the bandits noticed that it was there but were unable to comprehend what this was until it was too late. Black smoke began to seep out, thick and heavy, expanding rapidly and engulfing the bandits. The smoke swirled and writhed as if alive, infused with Rusty''s dark energy. A pitch-black glow pulsed intermittently within the shroud, casting eerie shadows that made the bandits freeze in their tracks. One by one, the bandits began to cough violently, clutching their throats as if choking on the oppressive air. The smoke wasn''t lethal, but it drained their strength, filling their lungs with an unnatural weight and sapping their will to fight. Rusty had used this tactic before; and to maximize the effect the darkness needed to escape from within his body parts. The smoke spread quickly, and soon, the once-confident attackers were on their knees, wheezing and disoriented. Their weapons clattered to the ground, and the bandits who had been coordinating the assault now squirmed helplessly. From the other side of the camp, the besieged merchants and their defenders noticed the sudden turn of events. The bandits'' rear line had crumbled and even the ones not there had stopped their assault out of confusion. They were looking around, trying to find the enemy that was responsible for this black miasma but before they could, the adventurers shouted out. "Now''s our chance!" The defenders seized the opportunity, loosing a volley of arrows into the incapacitated bandits. The projectiles struck true, and several bandits fell instantly, their cries lost in the chaos. The merchants rallied, some grabbing what weapons they could find and joining the fray. The sudden burst of resistance turned the tide, and the attackers, demoralized and weakened, began to retreat. Rusty watched from his vantage point, satisfied that the merchants were gaining the upper hand. He didn''t linger. With the camp still in turmoil, he turned and motioned to Gleam, who had been waiting in the shadows. Together, they slipped away into the night, leaving the merchants to finish what remained of the fight. As the pair moved through the forest, Rusty glanced upward. Two large spheres illuminated the night sky - the moons of this world, rarely seen together. One glowed with a deep, dark blue hue, while the other shimmered faintly red. Their combined light reflected off his metallic frame, casting an ethereal glow as he walked through the shadows toward his next destination: the city of Ferndale. He wasn''t sure what awaited him there, but one thing was certain - he was finally free to carve his own path and pursue his desires. "You did the right thing, Rusty. You may not realize it, but you''ve saved lives tonight." "Is that so?" Rusty responded to his guide, the bright white light from his right eye socket casting a glow. His reflection in the left socket was Aburdon, his pitch-black form barely visible against the night. "Bah, that was just a waste of magical energy, energy that you might need! What if they attacked us instead?" Rusty knew Aburdon wasn''t wrong. One wrong move in this treacherous world, and he would be dead. He wasn''t in a dungeon anymore and there was no dungeon core to restore him now. He didn''t know what happened to monsters that died in the outside world, but he wasn''t eager to find out. "Now then¡­ in which direction is this Ferndale and how long will I need to walk there?" While his guides continued to bicker, Rusty asked his question. He was deep in a darkened forest, with no clear idea of where to go. His navigation skills were virtually nonexistent. "On foot? Probably at least a week from here but it could take longer¡­" "Hm¡­ well then, let''s go!" " (?? ? ??) " Gleam chittered softly beside him, the sound a reassuring one, as if expressing her enjoyment of the situation. Together, they pressed deeper into the forest, leaving the chaos behind and focusing on the uncertain journey ahead. Chapter 102 - 100 – Crawling Through The Night A woman pressed her back harder against the rough wooden post behind her, trying to stifle her trembling breath. Around her, other captives huddled in similar terror, the flickering firelight from the goblin campfires casting grotesque shadows on their faces. The creatures laughed and barked orders in their strange monster tongue, dragging struggling victims into the darkness beyond. She didn''t dare look at the others taken before them - those whose cries still echoed faintly through the encampment. Her heart raced when she saw three goblins approach her group, their wicked grins and filthy weapons promising nothing but pain. She gripped the arm of a woman next to her, both trembling as the short monsters moved closer. There was no hope, no sign of anyone who could help them but then, suddenly something strange happened. The commotion began as a distant clatter of weapons, followed by guttural goblin screeches. It wasn''t unusual for goblins to squabble among themselves, but this was different. The cries of alarm and the sound of steel clashing grew louder, closer. A strange metallic screech echoed in the night, followed by the unmistakable sounds of something hitting the ground. The goblins stopped in their tracks, their expressions shifting from glee to alarm. One barked an order, and the three turned to rush toward the disturbance. The woman wondered if adventurers had come to save them but the lack of coherent voices was alarming. She craned her neck to see beyond the firelight, but the smoky air and the goblins'' frantic movements blocked her view. A heavy thud resounded, followed by the sharp cry of a goblin silenced mid-scream. More of the goblins became alert, running off into the dark forest where their voices were silenced. One by one, the little green monsters were being exterminated, by who or what she could only speculate. The woman''s heart pounded in her chest as the chaos in the goblin camp escalated. She clutched the arm of the woman beside her, both frozen in fearful anticipation. The firelight danced on the crude weapons left behind by the goblins as they rushed into the forest to confront whatever had disrupted their plans. The shrill cries of the goblins gave way to unsettling silence, broken only by sporadic, metallic thuds and the faint hiss of something sharp cutting through flesh. A moment of eerie quiet followed. The air felt thick with tension, each passing second an agonizing eternity. The woman strained her ears, hoping for a clue, but all she heard was the shallow breathing of her fellow captives. Then, a goblin staggered back into the camp, clutching its neck where black smoke oozed from a deep wound. Its eyes widened with terror as it fell to its knees before collapsing face-first into the dirt. The smoke dissipated, leaving a foul, lingering scent. The sight drew gasps from the prisoners, their eyes glued to the dead goblin. The woman dared to lift her gaze, and what she saw chilled her further. Emerging from the shadows was a figure unlike anything she had ever seen - a knight in grayish, imposing armor. Its form glinted faintly under the moonlight, edges sharp and angular, yet it moved with an unnatural fluidity. A pair of glowing, piercing eyes radiated from within the helmet''s visor, one a stark white, the other as dark as the abyss, as though the figure itself had been forged from the night. It moved forward with an eerie calmness, holding a sword submerged in darkened miasma. The night fell silent with only the breathing of the nearby bound women. The armored figure approached, its blade growing near. The captives recoiled in fear, their minds racing to make sense of what was happening. One of the women, her auburn hair matted with dirt and sweat, whispered in awe, her voice trembling. "An adventurer... he''s here to save us!" Her words were laced with hope but one of the other women shrieked in terror. "No! No, he''s not a man! It''s a monster! Look at it! It''s a Living Armor! It''s here to finish us off!" The knightly figure paid no mind to their reactions. It stopped just before the captives, towering over them, its presence overwhelming. The sword it held shimmered ominously, the haze of black mist replaced by cold iron. The woman who had called him a monster sobbed quietly, resigned to what she believed was her end. But instead of striking them down, the figure crouched low and raised its sword. The sharp edge met the ropes binding their ankles, cutting through effortlessly. The captives froze, confused by the unexpected act of mercy. Was this just an adventurer wearing monster like armor or a dream invoked by their fear? One by one, the bindings around their wrists and ankles were severed. The women exchanged glances, too afraid to speak, unsure if this was some cruel trick. When the last woman was freed, the figure stood, its glowing eyes scanning the goblin camp. "Why¡­ why is it¡­?" "I don''t know¡­ but be quiet¡­ maybe it will go away¡­" The armored knight turned away from them without a word, striding into the heart of the goblin camp. Its movements were swift yet measured, as if it had no regard for the chaos it caused. It ignored the captives entirely, as though they were insignificant to whatever mission it pursued. The women sat motionless, unsure whether to run or remain where they were. Some whispered frantic prayers of thanks, while others stared at the knight''s retreating back in wide-eyed confusion. "What is it doing?" "It''s¡­ gathering something?" All of them sat there, petrified with fear, as the monster prowled through the goblin village. It focused mainly on collecting crude weapons, but also gathered various items like iron bars and even pots. Methodically, it piled everything onto a sturdy-looking cloth made of deer hide - another item scavenged from the village. Eventually, the monster returned to them. But instead of attacking or finishing them off, it began patting them down. The women froze, not daring to move a muscle as the cold iron gauntlets brushed against them. This creature was truly bizarre; it took some of their belongings - coins, earrings, and even shoes. Strangely, it felt less like they were being rescued and more like they were being robbed. Yet, no one dared to complain. After all, the goblins had been slain, and their lives were far more precious than any material possessions they had lost. As the armored figure finished its peculiar search, the women exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to feel relieved or alarmed. Some clutched at their missing belongings, while others dared not even breathe too loudly. The monster or adventurer carefully secured the scavenged items into its leather sack before tying it shut. Some of the women could have sworn that some of the items had vanished but they assumed that their minds were just playing tricks on them. "Maybe it''s not a monster?" "It¡­ took my earrings, what kind of monster does that?" "Shh! Don''t provoke it¡­ I think it''s about to leave." The women started to whisper among each other as their ''savior'' began to retreat. They were almost sure now that this being didn''t want to harm them but it was hard to place trust in such a strange figure. As the armored being stepped further away from the captives, one of the women noticed something peculiar. A small, ghostly white ant leaped from a pile of goblin remains and landed on the armored figure''s shoulder. The creature paused for a moment and even looked their way, then settled into place. "Did you see that?" The woman whispered, pointing at the silvery ant that had now vanished with their strange savior. "What?" "I didn''t see anything, maybe we should leave?" The other women showed no interest in the ghost ant as the stench of the goblins'' bodies and the carnage around them was already almost unbearable. In time, they managed to find the strength to stand and survey their surroundings. The village, once bustling with tens of goblins, had become a desolate wasteland of death and silence. Fires still crackled here and there, their flickering flames casting ghostly light over the lifeless goblins. The strange being had taken all the crude weapons, leaving only remnants of the chaos. The oppressive aura of danger that had once suffused the village was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness. From the distance, they suddenly heard something - shouts accompanied by the flicker of torches moving toward them. But this time, it was not a monster. The voices were human, speaking their language. Adventurers had arrived to save them. ******* Unbeknownst to the others, Rusty was already making his escape. His iron reserves had been depleted for the auction and his previous repairs, so he scavenged what he could from the goblin camp to rebuild his stock. Each piece of crude iron, every bent sword, and broken spear was an opportunity for Rusty to restore his form in the future. There were far too many items for him to carry, and his SP was limited. He was forced to use some of the goblin''s belongings to fashion a makeshift sack, though various weapons jutted out, scratching at his metal frame. "I''m glad we rescued those women, but did you really have to take all of their money?" "But if I''m going to open a shop in a city, I''ll need money, right?" "Well..." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty responded to Alexander, who had eagerly supported the idea of attacking the goblin village. Aburdon, as always, was against it, so Rusty decided to try a different approach. His two guides often bickered, their minds being polar opposites. Rather than choosing just one of their approaches, he decided to merge both. He agreed to help rescue the women, but only under a few conditions. One was that he would not assist them in returning to their hometown, and another was that he could take any belongings that seemed useful, just as Aburdon had advised. "Of course it was! This isn''t a charity, silly hero. We need to take what we need to survive!" "If only you weren''t there to fill his head with nonsense..." Alexander sighed as he nestled within Rusty''s right eye socket. It hadn''t been long since the incident at the merchant caravan, yet their journey had made little progress. Navigating through the dark forests while avoiding detection was adding another week to their travels, and the frequent battles with monsters threatened to delay them even further. Despite the setbacks, Rusty remained unfazed. To him, this little expedition was an exciting adventure. However, there was a small problem. "( -©n- )" "Are you still feeling bad Gleam? Just wait a moment, I see a cave there." While Rusty was feeling great, his friend Gleam wasn''t in full health. It seemed that gleaming ants had a very specific diet that required a constant infusion of mana. Without mana crystals or mana potions to supplement her diet, Gleam''s health was beginning to deteriorate. This was another reason Rusty had been hunting monsters like goblins - hoping to find mana-rich materials. Fortunately, one of the monsters he had defeated was a goblin shaman, and its monster core was now safely stored in his inventory. They just needed to get to a safe location where she could rest and perhaps sleep while he thought of where to head next. Rusty and Gleam made their way into the shadowy cave, the mouth of which was hidden behind a thicket of dense foliage. Inside, the air was cool and slightly damp, with the faint sound of water dripping from stalactites. Rusty set down his makeshift sack of scavenged materials near the cave wall, the metal clanging softly against the stone. Gleam staggered slightly, her usual energetic movement replaced with dulled movements. "Alright, this should be a good spot to rest. Let me get that monster core out." "( ? - ? )" Gleam perked up slightly, her antennae twitching with renewed interest. She crawled toward Rusty, her eagerness clear despite her sluggish movements. Rusty reached into his inventory and retrieved a small glowing crystal. Its dark green hue pulsed faintly in the dim light of the cave, but it wasn''t strong enough to cast shadows on the walls. Monster cores came in all shapes and sizes, but this one more closely resembled a mana crystal than a traditional core. Gleam scuttled forward, her mandibles parting as she emitted a soft, excited chittering sound. "Wait!" Aburdon''s voice rang sharply in Rusty''s mind. "Don''t let her just eat it. There is too much mana in that monster core, it could last us for a week." Gleam froze, tilting her head as though confused. "(? -?)?" "Oh, it could? But how? Should I crack it into smaller pieces?" "No, that will just destroy it! Instead, we need to use some water. You''ve gathered some pots from those mindless goblins right?" "Ah, I did." Rusty wasn''t entirely sure how this would work, but if the monster core could sustain Gleam for longer, it would ease his concerns about her health. The idea intrigued him, so he decided to give it a try. He had a pot scavenged from the goblins, and gathering water was simple since the cave was near a stream. Though Gleam was tired, she still helped by collecting sticks and dried leaves for the fire they needed to build. Once all the preparations were complete, Rusty set about creating what he could only describe as mana soup. First, they made a fire with the help of Gleam''s magic. It took them a few tries and Alexander needed to explain a few times how to properly ignite kindling, but soon a steady flame crackled in the cave''s entrance. Rusty placed the pot over the fire and filled it with the clear stream water he had collected. As the water began to simmer, he carefully lowered the monster core into the pot, following Aburdon''s instructions. The core pulsed faintly as it sank, sending tendrils of shimmering green mana into the water. The liquid quickly changed color, transforming into a faintly glowing elixir. Gleam''s antennae quivered with excitement, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as she watched the process. "Monster cores from magical creatures are often used as a base for mana potions, boiling them hastens the process. Now, don''t forget to stir it, the mana needs to be distributed evenly." Rusty went through the crude items he got from the goblins and found something that resembled an iron ladle. It was bent in several places but was good enough to stirr the mixture. After around ten minutes the glow softened, and the water became a uniform pale green. " (¤Ã ¡ä?` )¤Ã " Gleam chirped softly, her eagerness crystal clear. "It should be ready?" Rusty asked and after Aburdon confirmed, he finally let Gleam take a few sips. She bent her small frame toward the pot and sipped delicately from the edge. Her movements grew steadier with each sip, the faint flicker of her natural luminescence returning. After a few moments, she stepped back, her antennae twitching happily. "She looks much better already." Alexander remarked. "Good job, Rusty." "Yeah, yeah." Aburdon muttered. "Now don''t waste what''s left. Seal it in something and keep it safe." Rusty nodded and used his SP to store this item in his stash tab. With the pot there he had gained some more time. Now they needed to continue trekking towards their new destination and start their new life. Chapter 103 - 101 – Searching For Bodies. "Gaaahhh¡­" A ball of magical energy collided with a short, green monster, propelling it forward into a shining blade. In an instant, the monster''s head flew through the air, landing with a dull thud on the forest floor. Goblin bodies littered the ground, their blood soaking into the grass and weeds. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty heard the familiar sound of the world''s system announcing his level-up. Now that all the monsters had been defeated, he could finally stop and check his progress. He opened his status window, along with those of his friends. She was leveling up quickly and would probably reach her next evolution before he did. Name: Gleam Classification: Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ F ] L5 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 37/37 Magic Points [MP] 67/67 Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Stamina Points [SP] 43/43 Strength 28 [ F - ] Agility 48 [ F ] Dexterity 34 [ F ] Constitution 32 [ F - ] Intelligence 51 [ F ] Wisdom 52 [ F ] Willpower 48 [ F ] Durability F "You''ve been steadily leveling up, Gleam!" "(?? ? ??)" "Oh, yeah, I also did, It shouldn''t take long, these outside monsters are quite high-level. But it''s a lot harder to find them in this forest." Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L10 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 261/261 Magic Points [MP] 210/210 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 107 [ E + ] Agility 80 [ E ] Dexterity 79 [ E ] Constitution 110 [ E + ] Intelligence 85 [ E ] Wisdom 87 [ E ] Willpower 86 [ E ] Durability D Rusty noticed that two of his stats had now reached E+ rank. This iron form seemed to progress faster than his previous bronze one, with him gaining more and more stats with each level up. He wondered if this meant he could reach D rank soon or if it might be better to wait and spend another evolution in the E plus rank. His guides had given him a few pointers about this, advising that it might be wiser to hold off. If his stats were higher during an evolution, there was a chance of attaining a superior evolutionary form. This applied not only to his physical form but also to his skills and abilities. However, now that he was out in the world with only Gleam to rely on, reaching D-rank more quickly might be critical to his survival. For now, he decided to hold off and make the final choice back at the Soul Forge. "This is taking a while." Rusty muttered, his gaze scanning the dense trees. "This forest seems endless." "Well, they do call it the Everlasting Black Forest." Alexander replied from nearby. Rusty nodded as he bent down to pick up some crude iron weapons the goblins dropped. The iron content wasn''t great, but it was still better than having to mine for it, as he''d been forced to do with copper and tin to produce bronze. He was free now - free of the dungeon that had given birth to him and far from the confines of the city he''d first known. The vastness of this world, teeming with strange and fascinating creatures, was something Rusty had yet to fully grasp. "So, this is true freedom?" "( ? -?) " Gleam climbed onto Rusty''s shoulder, giving his helmet a playful poke with her antennae. She seemed curious about what was on his mind. "Oh, it''s nothing," Rusty said, his voice thoughtful. "I was just thinking about the future¡­ and how it''s not all that different from what I''ve already seen." Rusty was still close to a newborn existence. Just a few months ago, he had been created, and now he found himself set free in the vast expanse of this strange world. He was still trying to wrap his hollow brain around what he should do or what his purpose might be. One of his goals was to create a lair - a place to call home and return to after his journeys. With that in mind, he was traveling toward the town of Ferndale. One thing he had noticed was how much empty space this world contained. There were vast stretches of wilderness with little in between. While raiding goblin villages and outposts within the thick forest, he found them scattered hours apart. It seemed that the large cities, particularly those built by humans, dominated the land, leaving much of the wilderness untouched. Though Rusty appreciated the wide-open emptiness, the monotony was beginning to wear on him. The endless sight of similar trees and forest critters during his trek was growing dull. He found himself wishing he could reach the town faster. As he walked, his thoughts drifted to the workshop he planned to set up. While the shop would serve as a cover for his more clandestine nocturnal activities, Rusty wondered how the people of Ferndale would receive him as a craftsman. His current skills were limited to creating basic iron weaponry and possibly steel items without enchantments. Yet, he hoped that in the future, his abilities would evolve to include more advanced and magical creations. The idea of building something lasting and meaningful - both for his lair and his craft - kept him motivated as he pushed forward through the endless trees. "These don''t look too good either¡­" "Another failure?" Rusty''s thoughts were interrupted by Aburdon, whose black, orb-like form hovered over a group of human corpses the goblins had been devouring. Rusty frowned. He was still searching for a replacement body for Albert''s but had yet to find one in good enough condition. It seemed well-preserved or mummified corpses were rare in this world - or perhaps he needed to search in a similar kind of location to where he had found Albert''s remains. "Bah, they''re all half-eaten and already decomposing¡­" Aburdon''s tone was clearly annoyed as he hovered from one half-eaten body to another. "Perhaps we should just ambush a few adventurers and be done with it? If we can''t find a good corpse, we can just make one!" Before Rusty could respond, Alexander''s glowing orb form interjected sharply. "That''s out of the question, you bloodthirsty demon!" Rusty sighed as the two began bickering again. It wasn''t the first time their opposing views on morality had clashed, but ultimately, the decision would fall to him. The thought of killing a party of adventurers lingered in his mind. He could assume the form of one of them and pose as a lone survivor. However, there were complications. Adventurers were often tied to nearby cities or guilds, and their sudden disappearance could attract unwanted attention. It seemed wiser to find someone within the forest - someone disconnected from the cities - before moving forward. Slaying a local blacksmith was another option, but it posed risks of its own. People might become suspicious if he suddenly appeared clad in heavy iron armor. Every choice carried its dangers, and Rusty knew he needed to tread carefully if he wanted his plans to remain unnoticed. After witnessing the High Priest and the Paladins in action, he realized just how insignificant he was in comparison. Unless he reached the level of that robed man, he could hardly hope to make himself stand out. Yet, there was a certain thrill in all of this; hiding among those who would see him dead was undeniably intriguing. "Oh, these even have a golden coin here." While finding a dead body for his possession skill had been delayed, Rusty was making steady progress in regaining his lost wealth. His storage was now brimming with iron salvaged from goblin weapons, and the green creatures seemed to have a fondness for sparkly coins as well. Rusty''s metallic fingers clinked softly as he sifted through the pile of coins the goblins had hoarded. Most were plain copper, but scattered among them were a few valuables¡ªlockets, amulets, and bracelets that he could pawn off once he settled somewhere. All of these items had been taken from the people the monsters had kidnapped and attacked. Sometimes, they were merchants passing through the woods; other times, bandits or simple farmers. From what he had heard, these small green creatures were a persistent plague. They reproduced quickly and had an unsettling method to ensure their numbers: women of other races were used for this vile act, while the men were killed and eaten. It was a grim but effective tactic. Despite their cunning, the goblins were weak. Their crude weapons couldn''t even scratch his metallic frame, and their poisonous arrows were useless against him. To them, he was like a neutral predator, hunting them day or night without fear of their defenses. "Are there any spider caves nearby?" "Hm¡­ I think there might be some arachnids around here, but these won''t be as easy to kill as the dungeon ones, Rusty." "I''ve noticed. These monsters don''t react well to my light or the dark." His elemental attacks weren''t proving very effective against the creatures he''d encountered. It seemed his light abilities only worked well against undead or darkness-aligned monsters. Against anything else, they were limited to startling or blinding his enemies. Similarly, his darkness abilities weren''t much use against the goblins, working better on humans or other intelligent races. Still, the darkness could be useful for cloaking himself in a shroud to mask his movements and attacks. But it seemed most monsters had some kind of inborn protection against it. "Arachnoid monsters usually preserve bodies." Alexander replied again. "Slowly liquefying their insides while they drain them. So, if you''re looking for preserved bodies, with not much on the inside, this might be our best bet." The two of them turned toward the black orb as Alexander spoke. Aburdon didn''t have a mouth to show expressions, but his smug satisfaction was palpable. He clearly relished being needed for his knowledge. "Oh my, what would you two ever do without me?" Aburdon cackled, fully aware that he was the only one with knowledge of the area''s layout. His memorization skills were unparalleled, but Rusty couldn''t help but wonder if relying on him so heavily was wise. Once he reached the city, he resolved to get his own map and start practicing navigation himself. Perhaps some of Aburdon''s abilities had already rubbed off on him after their souls merged, along with Alexander''s. It wasn''t such a far-fetched idea to think that, in time, he might acquire all the skills these two had possessed when they were still alive. He wondered if the tales they both told him were all true as they made them appear as the two strongest beings in the world. If he could gain all of their power, wouldn''t that make him the most powerful being to ever walk this world? The thought of such a thing made him giddy with anticipation but he would need to go through several evolutions to get to such a point. "Just tell me what you know, Aburdon." " (?_?) " Gleam nodded as she to was starting to get annoyed with Aburdon''s character. The demon lord seemed to be happy that he was getting under their skin but quickly answered as he was now compelled by Rusty''s direct order. "Well, yes and no." "What do you mean?" "Well, there are giant spiders as some like to call them around but, you won''t find them in caves." Aburdon paused dramatically, clearly savoring the moment as Rusty and Gleam waited impatiently. "They live in the upper canopy of the forest high up in the trees, hidden among the leaves and branches. Their webs are nearly invisible to the untrained eye, and they rarely descend to the ground unless provoked or hunting. This makes them exceedingly difficult to locate, let alone kill." Aburdon lowered his voice, his glow dimming as if he was trying to tell a scary story at a campfire. "They aren''t that difficult to kill, I''ve hunted them before." Alexander interrupted which caused Aburdon to buzz with frustration. "Fine, Mister Know-it-all. Why don''t you enlighten us about these ''easy-to-kill'' spiders? Since you''ve ''hunted them before,'' I''m sure you have a foolproof plan." Rusty groaned inwardly and stopped the two from arguing again. "Both of you, focus. What do me and Gleam need to know?" "The spiders here are different from dungeon varieties. Their main strength is their environment. They use the height of the canopy to their advantage, descending on silken threads to snatch prey before retreating upward again. Their webs are their deadliest weapon¡ªthin, strong, and coated with a paralytic toxin that affects most living creatures." "Paralytic toxin? Then I should be fine?" Rusty retorted knowing well that substances like poison would not affect his iron body. "Yes, your inorganic constitution will make you immune but¡­" Alexander turned slightly to point himself at the silvery ant on Rusty''s shoulder. "Gleam will, perhaps it would be better for her to remain in the backline for now and assist you with her spells." " (?`?¡ä?) " "It''s okay Gleam, I''m sure that there is something that you can help with!" Gleam wasn''t too happy to hear that she would perhaps need to sit this one out. Luckily, Alexander already had an idea of what she should be doing. "There is something she could do, these webs are drenched in these toxins which are highly flammable, the weakest fire will ignite them like dry tinder. If Gleam can use her magical energy to produce a controlled flame spell, she can burn through the webs quickly, creating safe paths or even driving the spiders out of hiding." Rusty nodded, taking in Alexander''s suggestion. Gleam perked up slightly at the mention of her potential role. She tilted her head as if considering the challenge, then gave an enthusiastic nod of agreement. While she wasn''t specialized in fire spells, she had gone through mana training. Shifting it to align to flames would be a challenge but after mastering the silence spell, this shouldn''t be a problem. " ( ????? )? " "Great, then it''s settled." Rusty said, looking up at the thick trees above them. While there were no spiders or webs there he was already looking towards the new challenge. "So¡­ will we have to keep an eye out for these webs, or do you know where these spiders gather?" "Hah, leave it to me rusty, I''ll guide you there!" Soon, the group departed for their next destination: the arachnid-infested parts of the black forest. As the trek continued, it became clear that these monsters would be trickier and more dangerous than the goblins. The villages that had once dotted the landscape ceased to appear and the ones resembling them were devoid of anything and covered in thick webbing. It was clear that the apex predator was not the goblin anymore but something lurking deeper, just waiting for them to step into their territory. Chapter 104 - 102 – Hunting Spiders. An unsettling change in atmosphere marked the transition from goblin-infested forests to the spider''s domain. The air grew colder, and shafts of sunlight struggled to penetrate the canopy above. Fine, shimmering strands of webbing hung like veils between the trees, glistening faintly whenever light touched them. Occasionally, faint scuttling sounds echoed from above, putting everyone on edge. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Are you two sure that this is going to work?" "Getting cold feet Rusty? But I guess you''re made from cold iron!" Aburdon cackled inside Rusty''s helmet as the group approached the spider-infested forest. They had made sure to arrive during the day, knowing the webs would be somewhat visible in sunlight. The glinting strands reflected faintly, revealing the network of traps, but the thick canopy of trees filtered the light, leaving much of the forest shrouded in shadows. The dimness provided perfect cover for the monsters lurking out of sight, ready to pounce. "No... but won''t the entire forest burn down, along with all the preserved bodies these monsters hold?" Rusty asked. He hadn''t been in this world long, but he understood how fire worked. If the webs were as flammable as Aburdon and Alexander claimed, setting them alight indiscriminately could spark a wildfire. The blaze might spread through the Everlasting Black Forest, consuming kilometers of wilderness. Worse still, such an inferno could attract the attention of nearby settlements or even the local adventurer guild - a complication they couldn''t afford. "That''s a valid concern." Alexander admitted, his tone calm. "But the flammable toxins are usually concentrated in the capture nets these spiders create. Their lairs and the wrappings around their victims aren''t as combustible. So, if we stick to the plan and lure one or two spiders first, we should avoid any large-scale fire." "I see." Rusty nodded, turning his helmeted head toward Gleam. "Gleam, be ready with those flame spells. Once I give you the signal, cast it. Can you handle that?" "( ?? ¦Ø ?? )" Gleam chirped confidently, her antennae twitching with excitement at the chance to show off her magic. She quickly skittered down from Rusty''s shoulder and took cover behind a tree that wasn''t completely veiled in webbing. Her body quivered slightly as she glanced up at the enwebbed trees. Her instincts screamed of danger, but she was ready. While the spiders were scary, with her friend Rusty around, she knew that there was nothing to fear. Rusty stepped forward, his iron frame gleaming faintly in the filtered sunlight. Carefully, he trudged into the maze of webs, the strands sticking to his metal plating but failing to harm him. The material was incredibly strong and sticky, pulling him to a halt almost immediately. With each step, more of the sticky fibers clung to him, forming an unyielding trap. Despite his immunity to the paralytic toxins coating the threads, the sheer tensile strength of the webs immobilized him. He glanced back at Gleam, who peeked cautiously from behind the tree, her small silver body reflecting the faint light. "I''m stuck already?" Rusty muttered, testing the web''s strength with a few futile tugs. He was surprised and it made sense while this whole place was deserted. If he couldn''t get in more than a few steps, then other adventurers or even monsters probably couldn''t either. "Let''s hope your plan works." Before long, the forest grew eerily silent, broken only by the faint clicking of approaching legs. From above, a massive spider descended on a silken thread. Its dark-brown, fur-like covering glistened faintly in the sunlight that filtered through the canopy. Its many eyes gleamed as they focused intently on its prey. Mistaking him for an adventurer ensnared in its web, the spider clicked its fangs menacingly, creeping closer with deliberate caution. Rusty, however, remained calm and waited. The monster moved slowly, taking its time to inspect what it believed was its latest catch. Rusty struggled against the webbing, managing to free an arm briefly before becoming even more entangled. It was clear that the more he struggled, the tighter the web held him. Finally, he stopped moving, feigning defeat. To the spider, his stillness signaled that its toxins had done their work. Satisfied, the creature descended fully to the forest floor. Its movements were slow but purposeful, its fangs shone with venom as it prepared to strike. "Now, Gleam!" A small marble-sized orb of fire shot from behind the tree, streaking toward the webbing surrounding Rusty. The flames ignited on contact, spreading rapidly across the toxic strands. The sudden blaze caused the spider to screech and recoil, its sensitive legs catching fire. The creature thrashed violently, dropping to the ground as it tried to extinguish the flames, but it was too late. The web burned away, freeing Rusty and consuming the spider in one swift motion. Rusty stumbled forward, shaking off the remnants of the burnt webbing clinging to his iron frame. Though the sticky burning threads engulfed him, they caused little actual damage to his metallic body. Behind him, the spider thrashed violently, its movements erratic but still full of life. Wasting no time, Rusty reached for his sword. With one swift motion, he drove the blade into the monster''s head. The spider''s eight legs twitched wildly in all directions, its body spasming in its final moments. Soon, the creature stilled, lifeless "Good shot, Gleam!" "( ?? ? ?? )? " Gleam chirped, waving her antennae excitedly. She looked proud of her success, her confidence boosted by the small victory. The flames continued to churn for a while but just like Alexander mentioned previously, they did not consume the entire forest. Eventually, they reached a part of the webbing that wasn''t as flammable and sputtered out, leaving only faint smoke and scorched remains in their wake. "I told you it would." Alexander said smugly. "Now we know the plan is viable, so you can execute it on a greater scale." "I suppose even a broken clock is right twice a day¡­" Aburdon muttered in a rather disappointed tone, while Alexander finally had something to gloat about. "Now, let''s move along with the plan." This was just the first test of their grand master plan. They stood on the outskirts of the spider monster territory, where the concentration of these monstrous spiders was relatively low. This allowed them to safely test their theory. The experiment confirmed that the forest wouldn''t ignite into an uncontrollable blaze. Now that the sticky threads had burned away, they were free to search for their target: well-preserved bodies for Rusty. " (?? ? ??)? " "Oh, you''ll check? But what if something happens?" Gleam was quite the climber and some nearby spider cocoons were hanging up in the trees. She wanted to go there to check but Rusty hesitated. Gleam''s enthusiasm was infectious, but the sight of the dangling cocoons high in the canopy made him wary. Each of the silken prisons swayed gently in the breeze, like morbid fruit waiting to fall. If there was anything he had learned from this world so far, it was to never underestimate even the smallest threats. He turned to the monster spider he had just defeated for confirmation and activated his identification skill. Just as expected, the monster was not something his friend would be able to handle that easily. Classification: Giant Forest Spider E - Type: Arachnoid Description: Chard remains of a giant forest spider. This monster is commonly found in large forests. This spider poses a threat to travelers, particularly at night, when its dark exoskeleton provides excellent camouflage. The creature''s webs are highly adhesive, and toxic making them nearly impossible to escape once ensnared.Known for weaving enormous, intricate webs high among the trees, this monster serves as a natural predator within its habitat. Its nature is not solitary, finding strength in high numbers. The explanation was longer than what he was accustomed to, but his skill had continued to level up, allowing him to gather far more information about this world on his own. "I don''t think that''s a good idea, Gleam¡­" " ( ? ? ? ) " "It''s not that I don''t trust you, but there might be more of them hiding in there, what if one jumps out?" " (? ''? - ''? )? " "Well, I''m glad that you are confident in your abilities but there might be too many there to handle¡­" Gleam was more of a caster than a fighter. These spiders had higher strength and constitution than her and were ranked above her as well. It was entirely possible that within those cocoons lurked the spider''s offspring, not just the bodies of adventurers he was searching for. It was much safer for Rusty to climb the tree instead. His body was remarkably durable, and even if he were pierced by the spider''s fangs, their venom would have no effect on him. " (???¦ä???) " "Don''t look at me like that¡­ How about this? Why don''t you stick to my shoulder, if more spiders appear, we''ll take them on together?" " ( ?? ? ?? ) " After a back and forth, both of them agreed to climb it together. While Rusty''s climbing skill wasn''t good enough for dungeon walls, trees weren''t as much of a problem. Rusty approached the base of the tree, his metallic fingers flexing as he tested the bark''s grip. The wood gave a satisfying hold, and Gleam scurried back onto his shoulder, her silvery body shimmering faintly as she prepared to ascend with him. However, before advancing further a shift in his body began taking place. His frame became elongated as he switched into his more dextrous form. Only then did their ascent begin. Rusty moved steadily, his iron frame making faint scraping noises against the bark. Gleam adjusted her stance, balancing on his shoulder, her antennae twitching at every distant sound. The hanging cocoons swayed closer with each step upward. The higher they climbed, the denser the webs became but as expected, they lacked any toxins or stickiness. Gleam flicked her antenna toward a particularly large cocoon, her silent way of indicating their first target. Rusty nodded and adjusted his path. The cocoon was suspended from a thick branch, its silken strands anchored firmly to the surrounding foliage. As he reached out to examine it, the cocoon jerked slightly, sending a ripple through the nearby webs. Gleam froze, her body tense, and Rusty paused, his hand hovering mid-air. "Something''s inside?" "Be ready." Alexander''s voice echoed within his helmet as his right eye shone brightly with his light. "If it''s alive, it might not be friendly." Rusty placed his foot on a sturdy branch and used his arm to steady himself against the large tree. With careful precision, he began cutting into the oversized cocoon using his sword. As the fibrous shell gave way, the contents were revealed - a humanoid figure trapped inside. However, the body was in a grim state, as numerous smaller spiders had already begun gnawing at it. The exposed hole allowed light to spill into the cocoon, prompting some of the spiders to scatter and attempt an escape. That was something Rusty couldn''t permit. Classification: Miniscule Giant Forest Spider G+ Type: Arachnoid Rusty''s skill identified these smaller arachnoid creatures as G-rank monsters, ones he could dispatch without much trouble. Though their size was smaller than that of Gleams, they were still formidable, each about as large as a man''s head. Rusty wasted no time. His sword flashed as he slashed at the retreating smaller spiders, cleaving through their webbing and fragile exoskeletons alike. Gleam sprang into action, her antennae glowing faintly. Instead of using her spells, she engaged the little monsters directly. She leaped forward, surprising Rusty, and ferociously bit the spiderlings to death. Her silvery carapace was quite resistant to the smaller monsters'' bites, which allowed her to unleash her ant fury. It was quite the sight to watch Gleam ferociously tear through the G-rank spiders. Despite her small size, she moved with precision and speed, her mandibles crushing exoskeletons with ease. She leaped from one tiny spider to the next and made sure that none of them escaped. Rusty, on the other hand, focused intently on stabbing his sword into the cocoon, ensuring that whatever was inside didn''t make it out alive. Eventually, the area was dripping with greenish liquid seeping from the monsters'' bodies. "Remind me not to get on your bad side," He remarked while seeing all the severed bodies of the forest spiders. "?( ?? ? ?? )?" "Yes, I admit I underestimated you, but¡­ are you okay?" Gleam tilted her head in confusion. "( ? -?)?" Though the battle was over, Rusty noticed Gleam moving much slower than usual. She had been tearing through the spiders like a whirlwind but had inadvertently ingested some of the strange fluids they were composed of. "Ah, I think our lady Gleam has overdone it. Don''t worry, she''ll just be out of commission for a minute or two. Those toxins usually wear off quickly." Aburdon chimed in as he also noticed that the effects of the paralyzing toxins were starting to take effect. Gleam on the other hand let out a pitiful groan. "(¡ä?¦à?`)" She stopped moving, clinging weakly to one of the larger branches. Her body felt stiff, the paralyzing toxin taking hold. Rusty chuckled softly, removing his helmet as he moved to help her. Gently, he picked her up and placed her inside his chest plate right through his exposed neck, then placed his helmet back on to safely lock her inside. "Don''t worry, Gleam,You''ll be safe in my body. Just rest for now." Gleam chirped softly, clearly embarrassed at what she had done. " (,,>©n<,,) " Rusty had designed his new body with a few specific features in mind, all stemming from his time spent trying to save his friend. The interior of his chest had been modified with care - a small metal shelf installed so Gleam could be secured and safe. She wouldn''t slide into his legs or be harmed in transit. It was the perfect little hideaway, offering protection whenever she needed it. "I wonder, maybe if my body becomes larger, Gleam could stay inside and cast her spells from within?" Rusty asked and Alexander was the first one to respond. "I suppose that could be a possibility, but perhaps we should first get through this first?" Rusty nodded and used his sword to prod the spider cocoon, peeling it open for a closer look. With the spiders dead, he could finally examine the body inside. It was far from pretty - riddled with holes, the face half-melted and partially devoured. He grimaced at the sight. If he ever tried using this body, anyone who saw his face would likely assume he was some kind of undead monster. "This one''s a dud." He muttered to himself, moving on to the next cocoon. He hoped one of them might contain something viable - something he could actually use. However, neither of them contained any humans but regular animals instead. It seemed that he would need to move further into the forest and put himself in more peril before he would discover his new identity. Chapter 105 - 103 – Strange Cave. "This makes it¡­" "Fourth one." Before Rusty could count, the glowing black light in his eye socket replied to inform him about the number of spider lairs that they had inspected. He was in the process of descending from one of the trees, his iron frame clanking softly as he landed on the ground. It became clear that finding a usable body would not be a straightforward task. This was already the fourth attempt, yet the spider webs held nothing but half-eaten bodies, animal remains, and old skeletons. Rusty sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as his metal limbs touched the ground. The forest seemed endless, and though his metal body granted him limitless endurance, the constant climbing and searching had taken its toll. Each failed attempt only deepened his frustration. "We''re not making much progress here." Rusty muttered, resting his sword against his shoulder. Alexander''s calm voice chimed in, steady as ever. "Patience, Rusty. The forest is vast. We''ll find one eventually." Aburdon, on the other hand, was far less sympathetic. "Perhaps you''re just unlucky. Or maybe the universe has a sense of humor. That would explain this predicament of mine..." Rusty would have rolled his eyes - if he had any. Instead, he opened his chest plate briefly to check on Gleam. The little ant twitched slightly. She had recovered from the toxins but had, for some reason, become quite fond of the little hiding spot inside his chest. She had even asked if she could add softer materials, as though planning to build a nest of her own. Rusty had to remind her that when he swapped out his loadouts, the proposed nest would inevitably be destroyed. That had finally discouraged her - at least for now. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) " "Yeah come to think of it, the day is ending, it will be hard to avoid those threads¡­" Gleam mentioned the time of day, they had spent the entirety of it searching for a good replacement body. During the day, the spiders were far less active, relying more on their traps and nests for hunting. But as night descended, their behavior would change. They''d emerge in droves, actively hunting anything that wandered into their territory. The group had wandered deeper into their territory and the odds were turning against them. "We can''t keep pushing forward in the dark. We need shelter." Rusty nodded, his iron form glinting faintly in the dimming light. "Let''s find somewhere safe before it gets any worse. I can light the way." After reaching into his inventory, he pulled out a torch, its flame sputtering to life after some help from Gleam. With just a few sparks, the torch''s flame sputtered to life and cast flickering shadows around the area. Gleam perched on his shoulder again, her antennae twitching nervously at every sound. " ( ¨®©n¨° ) " "Don''t worry we''ll be fine, we just need to find some temporary shelter!" Rusty tried to reassure Gleam. He was a monster, one who didn''t require sleep, and could easily stand guard through the entire night. Once daylight returned, they could resume their search for that elusive replacement body. He had to find one before they reached the next settlement. Still, Rusty knew the forest offered no guarantees. It was entirely possible they wouldn''t find anything here - or worse, they might stumble into a dangerous situation. Yet, despite the odds, he wasn''t in a hurry. Patience was a virtue his metal body afforded him, time was one of his allies and with each slain spider, his experience points grew and he was one step closer to evolving. They moved carefully, the torchlight illuminating the dense forest but doing little to ease the creeping dread. The sound of skittering legs grew more frequent, accompanied by the occasional gleam of many eyes reflecting in the dark. More than once, the group was forced to fight off ambushes from smaller spiders, Rusty''s sword and Gleam''s magic keeping the group safe. However, it became clear that the attacks were increasing in frequency and ferocity. ''If it wasn''t for the silence spell, we might have been overrun by now, we have to find shelter somewhere and wait it out¡­'' Rusty was well aware of the dangers lurking in this forest, and his concern for his friend weighed heavily on him. As a living armor monster made of metal, he was something the spiders couldn''t truly digest. Their only likely target was Gleam. The torch they carried allowed them to spot the nearly invisible threads and burn a path forward, but it also acted as a beacon, drawing the spiders closer with every passing moment. Rusty knew their current strategy wasn''t sustainable. What they needed was shelter - somewhere safe to stay hidden and still in the darkness until daylight returned. Finally, they stumbled upon the entrance to a cave, its yawning mouth offering the promise of temporary safety. Rusty glanced back at the others. "This should do for now. We''ll set up camp here and wait for morning." The group - comprising a suit of armor, an ant, and the two glowing orbs that served as Rusty''s eyes moved cautiously inside. Rusty''s torch cast eerie, flickering shapes on the walls before he quickly extinguished the flame. Navigating in near-total darkness posed no challenge for him as he had spent much of his existence in the dim confines of a dungeon. It seemed the webbing didn''t extend this far. Perhaps this cave could serve as a safe haven for the night. The cave was dry, its jagged walls tapering inward the deeper they ventured, creating an oppressive yet secure barrier against the dangers outside. Rusty found a relatively flat section of the cavern floor where they could rest. Satisfied with the location, he sat down in silence, Gleam making her way inside of his chest again as they waited. "Are we just going to wait here until morning?" Asked Aburdon, who seemed quite bored with the situation. "I suppose we will?" "Well, that''s rather boring¡­" Rusty had taken to keeping his two guides summoned throughout the entire day and night cycle. After the initial summoning, his mana would gradually recharge, allowing them to remain with him indefinitely. Like Rusty, they didn''t require sleep, food, or breaks. However, unlike him, they weren''t as adept at staying occupied during long stretches of inactivity. Rusty could sit in complete silence for hours, unmoving and content. The two guides, on the other hand, seemed to thrive on finding ways to bicker with each other, filling the quiet with their ceaseless chatter. As the hours passed, the oppressive silence of the cave was broken only by the faint skittering of spiders outside. Occasionally, the group could hear the crunch of something being dragged across the ground, followed by the grotesque sound of flesh being torn. It was a grim reminder of the danger lurking just beyond the cavern''s entrance. Rusty sat motionless, his iron frame blending seamlessly with the dim surroundings, while Gleam rested inside his chest plate, occasionally peeking out through the narrow gaps. Alexander and Aburdon floated inside his helmet, their glowing orbs casting faint light from within his eye sockets. "This is intolerable." Aburdon finally broke the silence. "Is there really nothing that we can do here? Why don''t we move deeper into this cave, what if we find something there?" "We seem to be safe here. Why should we push our luck?" Alexander said, his tone laced with doubt as he questioned the sanity of such a decision. They were still surrounded by monsters, and without the constant use of the silencing spell, Rusty''s clanking metal body would be discovered quickly. "If we rush out, we risk being surrounded and overwhelmed." "Bah, aren''t you supposed to be the adventurer? Where is your adventurous spirit?" Aburdon interjected with his usual sarcasm. "It died when I did" Alexander replied dryly. "( ?? ? ?? )" "Yeah, they''re quite the pair, aren''t they?" Rusty said, directing his words toward Gleam. "Don''t worry about them. Try to get some rest." Gleam, the only one in their group who actually needed sleep, had been snoozing inside Rusty''s chest compartment off and on. She now seemed unusually alert, her small antennae twitching as her head poked out. Her tiny eyes scanned their surroundings while the others continued their bickering. "( ? -?)?" "There''s something there?" He asked while trying to look in the direction of where her antennae were pointing at. There he saw some strange markings on the ground. Once he focused more he noticed that it looked similar to tracks left behind by the convoy of merchant carriages he was involved in recently. Rusty tilted his head, the glowing orbs in his helmet glowing brighter as he studied the tracks Gleam had pointed out. They were faint, etched into the dirt and stone floor of the cave, but unmistakably artificial. The distinct grooves, likely made by wheels, suggested recent passage. "Tracks? Here?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aburdon who was bored out of his mind muttered, his interest showing. "Could there be other people here?" "Those tracks aren''t too fresh at least a few weeks old. They probably left already." Alexander responded to Aburdon''s question almost instantly, attempting to dissuade Rusty from investigating further. He knew the demon lord all too well and suspected he''d try to convince Rusty to take unnecessary risks. Meanwhile, Rusty crouched closer to the faint tracks on the cavern floor, his metal fingers tracing the shallow grooves. He wasn''t an experienced tracker, but the markings clearly led deeper into the cavern. Perhaps there was something worth discovering ahead. "Wasn''t this spider-infested forest supposed to be off-limits to merchants?" Rusty muttered, suspicion creeping into his tone. He''d spent enough time around humanoids to know they rarely put themselves in danger willingly. Using roads to transport goods was the norm; venturing into a forest thick with spider webs was downright reckless. "It shouldn''t be used, no" Aburdon replied, his voice laced with disdain. "But if cutting through it saves a few days of travel and spares them some toll fees? Greed makes people do stupid things." "Sometimes it''s not just greed" Alexander added, offering another perspective. "If someone''s on the run, they might take a harder path to avoid pursuit. A forest full of spider monsters isn''t just dangerous - it''s a deterrent. Perfect for evading anyone chasing them." Rusty considered this explanation as he straightened up, his glowing eyes fixed on the tracks. Whatever had happened here, it wouldn''t make sense unless he investigated further. His curiosity was piqued, and despite Alexander''s caution, he was already leaning toward delving deeper to uncover this mystery. The tracks could mean survivors - or worse, fresh danger. "We''re going deeper." Rusty proclaimed in a resolute voice which caused his group to react in various ways. "?( ??? )?" "Typical." "Hah, I knew you couldn''t resist." Gleam seemed eager to see what lay deeper inside, her antennae twitching with curiosity. Alexander, on the other hand, was clearly uneasy, while Aburdon gloated, pleased that something intriguing might finally await them. With the decision made, the group moved cautiously further into the cave, using the tracks as their guide. Rusty led the way as Gleam perched comfortably on his shoulder. Her mana reserves had replenished, allowing her to recast her silencing spell to keep those metal joints silent. "Could this be some kind of hidden shortcut?" Alexander wondered. "The walls... they look worked on by someone. Not natural." As they ventured deeper, it became clear he was right. What had seemed like a natural cave entrance gave way to a man-made tunnel. The walls had been deliberately enlarged, likely to allow larger objects or creatures to pass through. "It could have been a mine" Aburdon suggested a hint of greed in his tone. "What if we stumble upon gold or precious gems here?" "I doubt it" Alexander replied dismissively. "If there was anything valuable left, this place wouldn''t have been abandoned so easily. Sure, the spiders make it dangerous, but with enough investment, adventurers or soldiers could clear them out. There''s probably nothing worthwhile inside." "At most, this is an escape tunnel, something a noble or merchant had built to flee without being seen." "Why are you so sure? It could have been made by that Thieves Guild of yours to smuggle goods. What if there are some hidden treasures inside?" Rusty listened silently, his thoughts focused on the tracks ahead. Whether it was treasure, danger, or merely an abandoned tunnel, there was only one way to find out: keep moving forward. The faint grooves of the tracks continued, winding further into the tunnel and occasionally intersecting with strange, shallow scrapes that seemed too irregular to be natural. Gleam perched attentively on his shoulder, her antennae twitching as her tiny eyes darted from one shadow to the next. Aburdon''s occasional mutterings of greed and speculation echoed faintly, while Alexander remained on watchful, ready to call out if he saw any danger. "Can you two quiet down? Something doesn''t feel right here." The tracks they were following eventually led to a wider chamber, and the air grew heavier, carrying a faint, acrid scent of decay. Rusty''s senses picked up a distant, rhythmic tapping sound that seemed to reverberate through the tunnel. It was faint but unnerving, like the slow march of a predator pacing just out of sight. He stopped before entering the chamber as he saw something inside: several carriages, their frames webbed up in thick, silken threads, were scattered across the cavern. The carriages bore intricate designs that had long since dulled under layers of dust and cobwebs. Rusty approached the nearest one cautiously, his sword at the ready, while Gleam hopped off his shoulder to inspect the ground near the wheels. "Carriages. Multiple." Rusty muttered, his eyes scanning the chamber. "This wasn''t just a passing group. It was a convoy¡­ like that one." "They didn''t just abandon their goods. Looks like there was a fight¡­ Was it those spiders?" The carriages were still loaded with boxes and various goods, though half were smashed or scattered. Something didn''t add up. These merchants had made it this far, which meant they''d somehow handled the spiders outside - but here, they''d been overwhelmed. Those spiders hunted from treetops; ambushing was their way. They didn''t nest in caves. So, what had drawn them here? Or was there something more at play? " (???¦ä???) " "It''s okay Gleam, stay calm." Gleam scurried back to his shoulder after a quick survey of the ground, her delicate antennae twitching in erratic, agitated movements. Rusty reached up instinctively, offering a reassuring pat to calm her. But her unease mirrored his own, and for good reason. There was something here, lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting. The air felt heavier now, a faint weight of danger pressing against his senses. The devastation around them told a grim story: whoever - or whatever - had done this was strong enough to annihilate an entire merchant caravan. Half-crushed crates, spilled goods, and shattered wheels lay scattered like broken bones in a graveyard. The question gnawed at his mind: was the creature still here? If it was, had it already spotted them? and was he strong enough to beat it¡­ Chapter 106 - 104 – Undead Spider. Rusty''s iron frame remained perfectly still as he scanned the chamber, his glowing eyes dimming as they swept across the remnants of the caravan. The rhythmic tapping sound in the distance grew louder, carrying an ominous weight. It wasn''t random; there was intent in the sound, as though whatever made it wanted to be heard - or was too large to move silently. "Stay sharp, something''s alive in here and it might be responsible for Alexander commented, his voice more of a whisper. Gleam chirped softly, moving onto her usual perch on his shoulder. She didn''t speak, but her silence spoke volumes. Even the usually boisterous Aburdon refrained from his usual sarcasm, knowing well that if Rusty died, then so would he. The tapping grew closer, its echoes amplifying in the cavernous space. The acrid stench of decay intensified, and Rusty''s grip on his sword tightened. He shifted into a defensive stance, preparing for the worst. Then it appeared. Out of the darkness, something enormous moved into the torchlight''s faint glow. The rhythmic tapping ceased as it stepped fully into view: an undead spider monster of grotesque proportions. Its once chitinous exoskeleton now bore the rotting marks of decay, webbed with necrotic veins glowing faintly green. Eight skeletal legs, jagged and splintered, scraped the ground as it moved, leaving faint trails of black puss. The spider''s eyes were hollow, pits of greenish light that flickered like dying embers. On its back, webbing pulsated grotesquely, as though something alive and unspeakable squirmed beneath the surface. "What''s a corrupted arachnid doing in a place like this?" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alexander whispered as if afraid the monster might notice, even though he knew no one could hear him conversing with Rusty. Rusty, on the other hand, remained calm. Instead of succumbing to fear, he used his identification skill to determine what kind of monster they were up against. There was still time to retreat; the monstrosity stood motionless, not yet lunging forward. When the classification appeared, it confirmed that Rusty was in over his head. However, there was one small detail suggesting he wasn''t entirely out of options. Classification: Corrupter Arachnid D- Type: Undead/Arachnoid Description: A corrupted giant spider reanimated by dark necrotic magic. Its decaying body serves as a vessel for absorbed victims that are forced into its hollow husk. The Corrupter Arachnid is highly aggressive and unpredictable, capable of infecting its victims with necrotic webbing that paralyzes and weakens them before assimilation. Known for its durability and venomous attacks, it preys indiscriminately. Rusty could see the mentioned absorbed victims sticking out of its abdomen. He was a monster who lacked a sense of disgust by Alexander was being quite vocal about it. Arms, legs and even faces were pushing out of its rear end, it was as if the monster fused bodies onto itself creating a grotesque patchwork of torsos and limbs, their mouths frozen in silent screams. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " Gleam''s antennae twitched violently at the sight of the monster. As an F-rank creature, she found an entity two whole ranks above her utterly terrifying. Rusty wasn''t much better off - being only an E-rank himself, winning this battle seemed almost impossible. Yet, he wasn''t backing away. There was a reason for that. By some stroke of luck, this monster might actually be something he could handle, despite its higher rank. "Feeling adventurous, Rusty? What are you planning to do with those?" Aburdon remarked, watching the living armor rummage through his inventory before equipping a bow and arrow. The monster''s body, a chitinous arachnid form, appeared impervious to physical blows. Its undead nature only made it more daunting, allowing it to fight on even without a head or brain. Unless Rusty could locate and destroy the corrupted core within, the monster would likely continue to fight relentlessly. "I might be able to win¡­" "You might be able to win? I''m not sure if we should be doing something on a hunch." Alexander retorted, his gaze fixed on the stationary target. The monster didn''t seem to react to their presence, likely because Rusty was a monster himself - a living armor, not truly alive. Undead creatures were notorious for their hatred of the living, driven by an insatiable hunger to attack anything with a life force. Rusty''s unique nature as a non-living construct granted him a brief advantage, but it wasn''t one he could depend on for long. Rusty nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring, the metal of his fingers creaking slightly. He aimed carefully, his glowing eye sockets seemingly narrowing as he searched for the creature''s weak point. The corrupted core was likely hidden deep within its body, but he had a theory based on the necrotic veins pulsing across its decayed frame. The glowing green lines converged around its abdomen, which consisted of a grotesque mass of fused victims and writhing webbing. "It should be somewhere around there¡­ right?" He wasn''t quite sure about his theory but he was willing to give it a try. His situation looked dire but there were still several ways for him to survive. Previously he had noted a few smaller openings in the walls, ones that a gleamnig ant wearing a miniturised helmet could fit through. If all seemed lost, he was willing to retreat to hide. However, he did have one big trump card against this monster and that was his light elemental skill. The projectile whistled through the air, glowing brightly white and struck the monster''s abdomen. It struck the monster''s abdomen with a sickening thud, embedding itself deeply into the writhing, grotesque mass. A ripple of energy surged through the creature''s form, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, a small radiant explosion took hold and the monster screamed. The sound wasn''t like anything Rusty had heard before. It was a layered echo, a mix of the shrill cries of the absorbed victims and a guttural, inhuman roar. The spider''s massive body twitched violently, and its skeletal legs scraped against the ground, sending shards of stone scattering. The corrupted green veins across its body pulsed brighter, radiating a sickly glow as it turned its hollow gaze directly toward Rusty. "So much for the element of surprise." Alexander muttered. "Nice shot, but I think you just made it angry." Aburdon added with a dry chuckle while the undead spider charged. Its skeletal legs propelled it forward with a terrifying speed but there was something that he noticed, a limp. The light elemental arrow that he had used had done more damage than he initially thought. The Corrupter Arachnid''s movements were erratic, and its right side lagged slightly, as though one of its legs had been weakened by the blast. Rusty quickly nocked another arrow, his focus sharp as he prepared to exploit the weakness. The chamber shook as the arachnid''s charge reverberated through the ground. Rusty sidestepped just in time as the creature''s massive legs smashed into the stone floor where he''d stood moments earlier. The impact sent debris flying, forcing Gleam to cling tightly to his shoulder. " ( ? ?? ¡õ ?? ? ) " "Hang on tight Gleam!" Rusty sprinted to gain distance, his heavy iron body eerily silent thanks to Gleam''s spell. He kept his focus on the creature, firing another light-infused arrow into its side. Normally it would be impossible to harm this creature with his regular iron arrows, however it was luckily a monster type that was undead, something that his light elemental was highly effective against. The second arrow struck true, burying itself in the creature''s flank and unleashing another burst of radiant energy. The Undead Arachnid howled again, its twisted legs faltering as the necrotic veins along its abdomen began to dim. The light elemental damage was clearly taking its toll, and the creature''s movements grew more erratic. Yet, it was far from defeated. The corrupted arachnid retaliated, spewing forth a torrent of webbing from its distended abdomen. The strands glowed faintly green, pulsating with strange evil energy. Rusty dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the sticky mass as it splattered against the cavern wall, hissing and smoking as it corroded the stone. "That stuff looks nasty," Aburdon remarked while looking at the stones melting. "You better not let that touch you. I''d hate to see you end up part of its... collection." Rusty ignored the demon lord''s commentary, focusing instead on the battle. Though he had some spare iron to restore his body, the net posed a big obstacle to his escape. It appeared to have both acidic and sticky properties; getting entangled in it could spell his defeat. One wrong move could end everything, as this was the stark difference in strength between him and a being a full rank above his. The corrupted arachnid reared back, its skeletal legs scraping against the cavern floor in frustration. Despite being an undead monster, it seemed to possess a mind that could feel rage. It continuously attempted to shoot Rusty down with its webbing, but he used the environment to his advantage. Large stalagmites provided good cover, and scattered boxes left behind by the merchants offered temporary protection, able to withstand at least one hit. However, the chamber was steadily becoming enshrouded in corrosive webbing. If he took too long, he would eventually be left with no choice but to move forward. "( ?? ¤Ø ?? )!" "Are you sure? That could be dangerous" Gleam chirped from the sidelines as she leapt onto the wall. She seemed to have a plan and quickly skittered away in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, Rusty continued pelting the monster with arrows from a relatively safe distance. To his dismay, the arrows were far less effective than he had anticipated. The simple undead he''d faced in the dungeons before had been purified outright by his attacks, but this creature wasn''t. Perhaps it was due to the difference in ranks or its monstrous spider body. Regardless, he pressed on, losing arrows until his mana reserves dwindled, leaving him with little to sustain his skill. "It''s still not dead, Rusty. Perhaps a retreat is in order?" Aburdon''s tone carried a note of skepticism. The monster had lost a significant amount of health, its body riddled with holes and several limbs missing. Yet, it remained standing, still capable of fighting. "No, we''ll stick to Gleam''s plan!" Rusty replied firmly, determination etched on his face. The demon lord remained silent, suppressing the urge to comment on the absurdity of the situation. His advice had been cast aside in favor of an ant''s whimsical deliberations - a notion he found both frustrating and deeply amusing. Rusty, on the other hand, activated one of his loadouts, shifting into his largest and sturdiest form. His body expanded, reinforced with thick armor, and a massive tower shield materialized in his grasp. He braced himself, fully aware of the risk, but resolved to trust in his friend''s plan. "Here I am! Come at me!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern. He struck his shield with his sword, the sharp clang reverberating as he aimed to draw the monster''s attention. Everything hinged on it targeting him directly, buying Gleam the time she needed. The corrupted arachnid''s glowing, hollow gaze snapped to Rusty, and its massive body lurched forward, propelled by its remaining legs. Rusty stood his ground, gripping his shield tightly as the monster charged. With a roar of fractured, otherworldly voices, it launched a barrage of glowing green webs. They splattered against Rusty''s massive shield, hissing and smoking but failing to penetrate the dense iron plating. The shield was doing its job. The webs couldn''t trap him, and the monster''s attacks, though relentless, were absorbed by the bulk of the shield''s enchanted structure. As the creature closed the gap, its legs crashed against Rusty''s barrier, causing vibrations to echo through the cavern. Yet, he held it together and with his weight increasing to cover for the lack of mass he was successful in stopping this maddened charge. The spider reared back, the part of the spider in front gnashing its fangs as it got ready to attack again. But that''s when Gleam made her move. Leaping from a hidden crevice above, the glowing ant hurtled down, her tiny form landing deftly on the monster''s grotesque, pulsating back. Her antennae twitched as she channeled her mana, the glow around her intensifying. "Now, Gleam!" Rusty shouted. Gleam''s tiny frame shone like a star in the dim cavern as she unleashed her healing spell, the same one she had learned in that cult''s underground dungeon. The spell wasn''t meant to heal in this case. Against the undead, its effects were devastating. Once activated, it rippled through the creature''s entire body, causing it to freeze in place. The spider let out a screech that pierced the air, its voice a chorus of tortured souls as the radiant light spread through its body. The necrotic veins pulsing across its exoskeleton began to disintegrate, unraveling into ash. The writhing mass of absorbed victims fused to its abdomen and writhed in agony before fading into wisps of green mist, their tormented souls finally freed. The spell tore through its form, disrupting its very essence and leaving it paralyzed, vulnerable to Rusty''s next move. Rusty didn''t waste a moment. With the corrupted arachnid frozen in agony, he dropped his shield and drew his longsword, its blade starting to gleam with a radiant glow. The weapon wasn''t particularly special but with his elemental skill, it was more than enough to finish this creature off. He thrust the blade forward, driving it deep into the monster''s spidery head. Once embedded, he unleashed all of his remaining mana. The monster lit up from within, its dark, necrotic veins seared away by the purifying light. It shrieked again, a horrifying sound that echoed through the battlefield - still not dead, even with the blade buried in what should have been its cranium. Its core remained intact, hidden somewhere deep within its monstrous form. The creature thrashed violently, slamming into Rusty. He summoned every ounce of strength and discharged his final elemental skill. With one last desperate effort, he drove the blade even deeper. The monster resisted fiercely, spewing corrosive webbing that splattered across his body, burning through his plated armor. Even though his body sizzled he refused to relent and finally, it was over. The monstrous spider''s legs collapsed beneath its massive weight, and its enormous body fell to the ground with a deafening thud. Its hollow eyes dimmed, the eerie green glow extinguished forever. " (???¦ä???) " "I''m fine, Gleam, don''t worry!" His body was still sizzling from the webbing; one of his legs had fallen off, as had his left arm. Luckily, he did not have any internal organs. As long as his helmet and the core inside it remained intact, he could not be killed. Now that the battle was over, he heard the message confirming that he had leveled up. Gleam had leveled up as well, and it seemed she was now ready to advance to a new evolutionary stage - one that would likely allow her to reach the next rank. Chapter 107 - 105 – Three Heads. The dim cavern finally fell silent, save for the faint crackling of web remnants still dissolving into nothingness. Rusty surveyed the battlefield, his glowing eyes sweeping over the fallen arachnid''s massive form. The air still reeked of decay, but as a being without a nose it didn''t bother him much. Instead, he focused on assessing the aftermath. Pieces of the corrupted arachnid were strewn across the cavern floor, faintly steaming where the radiant energy had burned away its necrotic magic. The once formidable monster, a whole rank above him, now lay in pieces. Its grotesque abdomen was partially reduced to ash, its limbs sprawled lifelessly like shattered branches. "Well, Rusty," Aburdon broke the silence, as the quartet looked over the battlefield. "Congratulations on not dying, luckily all this noise didn''t attract the other spiders, otherwise we would be in trouble." The monsters outside the cave seemed too afraid to peek inside. The reason likely had something to do with the D-rank monster. Rusty assumed they were hesitant to enter its territory, similar to the group of insectoid monsters he had encountered back in the dungeon. Those monsters, too, avoided invading each other''s personal space - at least until he disrupted the balance and, with Gleam''s help, eventually killed them all. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) ! " "You''ve managed to reach level ten?" Rusty ignored Aburdon and focused on his friend Gleam. A quick glance at her status screen confirmed it - she had reached level ten. This meant she could undergo another evolution. The realization prompted him to check his own status, though killing the monster hadn''t been enough to push him to the next milestone. It had, however, rewarded him with multiple levels. Now at level thirteen, he was less than two levels away from returning to the Soul Forge. "That''s great! I wonder what the choices will be!" "(?? ? ??)" Gleam was clearly thrilled with her progress; she had been stuck in F-rank for far too long. Just as before, Rusty could review her evolutionary possibilities. This time, though, Aburdon and Alexander were also present to offer their advice. Although the battle had just ended, they appeared to be safe for the moment. Rusty turned his attention to Gleam''s display to examine the possibilities for her evolution. Lesser Horned Myrm Ant Queen [ Insectoid ] [ E ] A rarer horned variant of the Lesser Queen of the Myrm Ant species. Once fully grown, it becomes immobile to focus solely on producing offspring. Lesser Mana Myrm Ant Soldier [ Insectoid ] [ E- ] A larger, magical variant of the Lesser Myrm Ant Soldier. While its body is only slightly larger, its carapace shines with magical energy, and it can cast low-level spells. Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] [ E + ] A direct evolution of the rare Lesser Magical Gleaming Ant. This monster prioritizes enhanced magical attacks, featuring an increased body size to accommodate its heightened mana pool. Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ Insectoid ] [ E- ] A direct evolution of the Lesser Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant. While its size remains the same, its magical abilities are further enhanced by its special mana absorbing body. "Oh? I can see the monster ranks now?" Rusty quickly ruled out the first option, turning Gleam into a Queen. That path was incompatible with their goals. The soldier variant also posed a challenge since neither he nor Gleam wanted her to increase in size significantly. This narrowed the choices to two: an enhanced version of her current form or a seemingly stronger evolution that could potentially push her to a rank higher than Rusty''s own. Having Gleam reach the pinnacle of E-rank was an enticing prospect, but Rusty knew he needed to weigh the options carefully. Gleam''s next evolution could greatly impact their synergy as a team. Keeping her in her current smaller form was undeniably more convenient. However, this was a harsh world, and survival for two weak monsters was difficult. Even a simple undead spider could kill them both if they didn''t possess a direct counter like his elemental skills. Rusty turned to his companions for advice, hoping their insights might help clarify the decision. "What do you think about these choices?" Aburdon was the first to respond. "Well, Rusty, if you''re asking me, I''d say the Magical Gleaming Ant sounds like the most versatile choice. Bigger mana pool, stronger magical attacks - it''s a solid step up without completely changing her nature. What we need for survival is more immediate power!" As expected, Aburdon prioritized survival above all else, choosing the highest-ranked option. Alexander on the other hand believed that they should go for the other choice "I agree it sounds promising, but you shouldn''t dismiss the Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant. Its mana-absorbing body sounds promising, and she will retain her smaller size. Staying inconspicuous could be just as important for us in the long run." Rusty nodded. Both suggestions had merit, and he turned his attention to Gleam. She chirped excitedly, her antennae twitching with eagerness. "What do you think, Gleam? In the end, this choice is yours to make." " (¨q?_??) " There were pros and cons to both choices but he wanted her to be the one to pick it. She heard what the two guides had said, so now she just needed to make up her mind. Gleam paused, her small body trembling with anticipation as her glowing eyes darted between Rusty and the monstrous remnants of the corrupted arachnid. After a moment of reflection, she chirped decisively and pointed one delicate antenna towards one side, indicating that she wished to become the Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant. "I think that''s the right choice for you, Gleam." " (?? ? ??) " Rusty nodded, the movement of his iron helmet reflecting his agreement. Gleam''s choice made sense. While the allure of immediate power was tempting, they needed to think about the bigger picture. Choosing a lower-ranked evolution wasn''t necessarily a setback; it opened the door to more future options. Though it meant they''d have to kill more monsters to reach higher levels, it also increased the likelihood of unlocking better evolutionary variants down the line. In this world, the requirements for evolution were hidden and often influenced by luck. Both he and Gleam were anomalies - miracles in their own right. The fact that they had come this far was nothing short of astonishing. Under normal circumstances, a Gleaming Ant like Gleam would have perished in her nest, never amounting to more than another casualty. Likewise, Rusty should have remained a soulless, mindless piece of living armor, trapped forever in that dungeon. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, if that''s what you want, then let''s go for it." Rusty nodded, affirming Gleam''s choice. He selected the evolution path for her, and a soft light enveloped her form. However, as expected, not much of a change occurred immediately - her transformations were always gradual. Instead, Gleam began to feel drowsy, needing a safe place to complete her evolution. To accommodate her, Rusty removed his helmet, allowing Gleam to climb into his body, which was currently in its enlarged form. Even if she grew slightly during the process, he''d still be able to contain her inside, keeping her safe from any lurking spiders or other threats. "Hop in, Gleam" "(?? ? ??)~!" Gleam responded with a cheerful nod and skittered up Rusty''s leg. She squeezed into his body through the neck area, settling inside before he placed his helmet back on. Based on past experiences, Rusty estimated it would take a few hours for her transformation to complete - likely until morning. With Gleam slumbering safely inside, Rusty turned his attention to other matters. He needed to examine the undead spider''s lair and its remains. To his surprise, the spider''s body contained several parts that might prove useful. "Do you think I could use one of these, instead?" He questioned both his guides as he approached the defeated spider monster. While parts of its body had disintegrated from the holy energy, a large portion remained intact. His attention was drawn to the grotesque remnants of human limbs, heads, and torsos fused into the corrupted arachnid''s body. Rusty inspected these with a mix of curiosity and intent. Rusty had been searching for a new body to help him blend in among humanoids. While there wasn''t a complete body here, he wasn''t certain he needed one. A torso with a head might suffice - or perhaps even just the head. He''d simply need to adjust his armor to ensure it stayed in place. "Ah, I see. Well, in theory, the possession skill should work on just a head. And there are a few to choose from here." Aburdon confirmed but Alexander was slightly more skeptical. "You want to use these half-eaten faces? Most of them are missing their eye sockets, people will think that you''re a monster." "I am a monster though!" "..." Rusty replied with a chuckle as he picked out one of the heads. The tongue lolled awkwardly, and one side of the face was nearly caved in, revealing bone beneath patches of decayed flesh. Even for his standards, this one seemed... impractical. "I probably can''t use this one¡­" After admitting that Alexander might be right, he tossed the head aside. Once on the ground it cracked and turned into particles of dust. He moved on to another potential candidate. This one was marginally better - its face was mostly intact, though the expression was locked in a growl of horror. Rusty turned it over in his hands, considering how it might look once attached to his body. "This one isn''t the worst but¡­ will my face be stuck like this?" "Potentially, the possession skill has its limits." Aburdon replied while Rusty continued sifting through the pile of limbs and heads. Although there were a few promising options among them, he wasn''t limited to just these choices. This entire area was the spider''s lair, and deeper within, there might be other hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. After carefully salvaging three heads, Rusty turned his attention to the wreckage of the merchant convoy. Perhaps among the scattered debris, he could find something useful to aid him on his newfound adventure. Soon he trudged over to the remnants of the merchant caravan, his heavy footsteps clanking against the stone floor. The area was littered with broken wooden crates, splintered barrels, and various other discarded wares that bore the marks of neglect and decay. Many items were reduced to little more than debris, their value long eroded by the damp and the presence of the monstrous arachnid. Still, there was a faint hope that something of importance might remain. The first thing Rusty noticed as he sifted through the wreckage was the unmistakable stench of death. Even though he lacked a nose, the presence of decomposing remains was tangible. More corpses lay scattered among the ruins, some mutilated beyond recognition, while others appeared to have been partially consumed. Rusty grimaced as he nudged a body aside with his boot, careful not to disturb it too much. Amid the grim scene, he stumbled across a satchel that had been hidden beneath a partially collapsed wagon. The leather bag was soaked and rotting, but its contents appeared mostly intact. Inside, Rusty found a bundle of documents, surprisingly well preserved and only stained by dried blood. "These look important¡­" The first document appeared to be a roster, listing the names of the caravan''s crew and passengers. Several names were circled, accompanied by brief annotations: apprentice blacksmith, merchant''s heir, retired adventurer. Rusty''s gaze lingered on the entry for the blacksmith apprentice. The name was somewhat visible and there was even a small description next to it, a distinctive scar on his left cheek. Rusty''s gaze shifted to the heads he had salvaged earlier. One of them bore the same scar. "Could that be him?" This was exactly what he needed: an identity to blend in with the locals. The man had been an apprentice blacksmith - an occupation Rusty could relate to in a way. He had no idea how long the bodies had been lifeless, but once he activated his possession skill, it might be possible to measure it from his memories. His guides had already warned him against possessing individuals with high-profile backgrounds or known family connections. If a sibling or relative of the deceased were to suddenly show up, his entire disguise could be compromised. Fortunately, when it came to blacksmiths and other common folk, few people paid much attention. He could always claim to be someone with a coincidentally similar name and profession if questioned. Rusty held up the scarred head, his glowing eyes scanning its lifeless features. It was eerily intact, aside from some minor bruises If the possession skill worked as intended, he''d gain not only control of the head but perhaps snippets of its former owner''s memories - enough to convincingly mimic the apprentice blacksmith''s persona. "Alright, this one will do for now. Let''s see what else I can find here." The trip into the forest had been successful; he now possessed half of the puzzle. All that remained was to find the adventurer persona he needed. However, upon examining the two remaining heads and cross-referencing them with the documents, it became clear that neither was suitable. "A shame. One belongs to the merchant heir, and the other to a criminal. It''s better if we don''t use them, Rusty," Remarked Aburdon, whose quick reading skills came in handy once more. The first head belonged to a criminal slave who had been in transport. Assuming the identity of a slave was out of the question for obvious reasons. The second, that of the young merchant heir, was equally unsuitable as he was far too young and almost certainly too well-known. With that, he placed the head into his inventory, ensuring it wouldn''t decompose further. The arachnid''s body had somehow preserved the flesh of its victims, but now that the creature was dead, the natural process of decay had resumed. After securing the head, he returned to scouring the caravan, hoping to uncover more useful items. Among the wreckage, he found a pouch containing several gold coins and a few steel weapons that had survived intact. Toward the back of the ruins, Rusty came across a partially intact crate bearing a merchant''s emblem. Inside, he discovered an assortment of tools - likely belonging to the apprentice merchant whose head he now possessed. His search continued as he tried to gather anything he could sell later but regretfully most items had been destroyed. After a few hours, the cavern brightened with the first light of dawn, Rusty finally stepped back, surveying his findings. Gleam''s transformation continued inside him and it seemed to have started to conclude. He had a head to blend in with, some gold for trade, and a small stash of supplies. Although he was still missing an adventurer, he was a big step closer to his goal. Chapter 108 - 106 – Gleaming With Style. Name: Gleam Classification: Small Silvery Magical Gleaming Ant [ E - ] L1 Type: Insectoid Hit Points [ HP ] 101/101 Magic Points [MP] 151/151 Stamina Points [SP] 112/112 Strength 2 [ E - ] Agility 11 [ E - ] Dexterity 9 [ E - ] Constitution 2 [ E - ] Intelligence 17 [ E - ] Wisdom 11 [ E - ] Willpower 8 [ E - ] Durability E - ''All of the stats went up. The difference in ranks is truly staggering. It''s a miracle I managed to win against that monster at my current rank¡­'' Rusty thought to himself as he examined Gleam''s new stats. She had just evolved into an E-minus monster, and both her health and magic points had increased significantly. Recalling his own stats from the same rank, he noticed that his body started with higher HP but a lower amount of MP than hers. However, not everything could be boiled down to numbers. His durability was far greater than that of most monsters he had encountered. Additionally, size and skills played a crucial role, often enabling bursts of power that surpassed the raw stats on display. " ( ????? )? " Gleam had climbed out of his metal body by now and was looking at her reflection in a puddle of water. She had changed slightly, her carapace had become sleeker and seemed to shimmer in the faint light. Her antennae were longer, more finely tapered, and pulsing faintly with a silvery glow. The transformation had left her with a more elegant and agile appearance, retaining her compact size while amplifying her magical prowess. She tested her agility by darting back and forth with sharp, precise movements, chirping happily as she adjusted to her new form. With her evolution she had also acquired some new skills, one was the previously mentioned body that apparently absorbed the ambient mana in the surroundings. Basic Mana Body L1 Passive Skill Allows the user to absorb mana in the surroundings increasing their passive mana regeneration by fifteen percent. In short, it was a skill that increased her passive mana regeneration, allowing her to regain MP faster. Unlike a trait, it was a skill, meaning it could be leveled up¡ªlikely by casting more spells and continuously regenerating her magical energy. However, this wasn''t the only skill she had acquired; there was another as well. Basic Dash L1 Active Skill Enhances running speed allowing the user to run faster than they normally should. Lesser Ray of Light Spell A simple spell that generates a blinding ray of light. Lesser Shield of Light Spell A simple spell that generates a shield of light that can both absorb physical and non-physical damage. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides some new skills, she had also gained two new spells. One allowed her to create a barrier around her body, that could both deflect blows from weapons but also other spells. He had seen her generate it a few moments ago, illuminating the whole cavern with her light. " (¡ã©–¡ã) " Soon, a beam of light erupted from her mouth as she tested the second spell. The spell produced a bright white beam that shot out with incredible speed, traveling far before colliding with a wall and causing moderate damage. It appeared slightly more powerful than a mana bolt spell but consumed more than twice the amount of mana. While it seemed that its only use would be against undead monsters, it could also be charged for a prolonged period giving it some damage potential. However, this prolonged use had a downside as Gleam''s excitement was short-lived. Moments later, she collapsed to the ground, her mana pool completely drained from using the spell. He chuckled softly and brought over the mana-infused water they had leftover from the goblin shaman. "I know you''re happy, Gleam, but you really need to learn to conserve your mana" "( ? ? ? )" She looked briefly crestfallen but perked up quickly after sipping the revitalizing water. Rusty watched as Gleam gleefully bounced around after recovering her mana. Her newfound agility and magical prowess would certainly come in handy during their adventures. Her evolution had clearly reinvigorated her, and Rusty couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride. He felt like a big brother watching his little sister taking a giant leap in life. Now that both of them were E-ranks they could tackle bigger and badder foes. The cavern now felt less oppressive with the monster gone and the morning light filtering faintly through the cracks above. Yet, Rusty knew this was just the beginning. Their journey to survive, evolve, and eventually reach the top was just beginning. From what he knew, no one could truly claim that they were strong until they at least reached the B-rank and he wasn''t even close. "Alright, Gleam, let''s gather up what we can and get moving. This place might not stay safe for long." "Rusty is right, once those forest spiders realize that this one is now dead, they might flood this cavern but while we are here, why don''t I propose something?" Aburdon commented as his black orb shone brighter in Rusty''s eye socket. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire "What is it?" "Those Marchants probably came here for a reason, do you agree?" "Um¡­ sure?" Rusty nodded, ensuring he had gathered everything worthwhile and stored it in his inventory system. The process had drained his SP, rendering him unable to switch loadouts for at least the next hour. "Well, I''m sure if we head there, we''ll reach our destination faster. And now that we have the blacksmith''s head, why don''t we just move along?" Their purpose for venturing into this dangerous, spider-infested forest was to find a proper body for Rusty''s metallic form. The blacksmith''s head was already stored in his inventory, and he needed a few more moments to recharge enough SP to retrieve it. Rusty still hadn''t delved into the memories of the man he intended to impersonate. "But what about the adventurer? Wouldn''t it be better to search the forest a little more?" "Bah, we can find a dead adventurer somewhere else! The world is riddled with them!" It was clear that Aburdon didn''t want to linger in the forest any longer. He wasn''t wrong - finding a dead adventurer to inhabit wouldn''t be too difficult. If none were available, they could always target a living one. However, Rusty knew Alexander would be firmly against harming the living. Still, with the blacksmith''s persona, Rusty could likely begin building his lair. They had collected some gold and items during their journey, which could be used to purchase a building and convert it into a smithy as his cover. Money, the driving force behind all humanoids, was a concept Rusty didn''t fully grasp but found undeniably useful. With his skills, he had numerous ways to earn money, and through wealth, he could acquire the materials needed to enhance his arsenal and grow stronger. "What do you think, Gleam?" " (?? ? ??) " "I see¡­" Rusty nodded at Gleam''s nonchalant response. She didn''t seem to care whether they stayed or moved on; her focus was entirely on her new evolution. Even now she was looking at her own reflection, seemingly entranced by the sleekness of her new body. He needed to make a decision, and to be honest, he wasn''t keen on scouring the forest for more bodies. The process was inefficient, and it didn''t yield much experience either. Rusty was close to reaching level fifteen, the cap for E rank. There was also the possibility that more dangerous monsters lurked deeper in the forest. Defeating another undead spider or something similarly challenging would accelerate his progression toward his next evolution. "It could be dangerous inside" "Yes, but it could shorten our journey exponentially. I''m getting bored of this forest" Aburdon responded to Alexander with a hint of irritation. It seemed that he wasn''t too fond of this place and perhaps he wished to return to a place with a speck of civilization. In the past he was a great demon lord, a king that had it all. The things that Rusty was doing would be tasks given to the lowest of demonic soldiers and perhaps he disliked the idea that he was now such a lowly being. "Well, perhaps there are more valuable things further inside, it wouldn''t be bad to get more gold. Alright, Aburdon. Let''s follow the path the merchants wanted to take. Rusty nodded and made sure that he had everything that he wanted from this place as it was time to move on. Gleam was still bouncing around testing her newly gained agility. However, once she saw him moving further towards the tunnels she quickly skittered after him and perched herself on his shoulder just like she did in her previous form. The moment she did, Rusty noted that her weight had slightly increased probably due to a sturdier carapace. . With their course set, Rusty led the way deeper into the tunnel, his glowing eyes casting a faint light in the dim cavern. Gleam perched on his shoulder for a better view, her antennae twitching in rhythm with her excitement. The carved tunnel showed clear signs of human activity - smoothened walls, discarded tools, and even a few remnants of torches long since extinguished. It wasn''t just a natural pathway; someone had deliberately created it. "I bet those sneaky humans used this tunnel for smuggling" Aburdon said with a sly chuckle. "Smuggling?" Rusty asked, his curiosity piqued, as Aburdon sniggered inside his helmet. "Think about it. Why else would someone go to such lengths to create a tunnel like this?" Rusty was still new to this world, but he had already learned one thing - merchants couldn''t be trusted. They always seemed to offer him the worst deals possible, and he was certain he''d lost a large amount of gold while bartering with them. At that time he needed all the money he could get to save gleam, something a few merchants noticed and abused. "What could it have been¡­ drugs? Slaves? Perhaps even some forbidden demonic items? I wonder, who is the true demon here?" "..." Alexander remained silent, offering no input. His grumbling, however, betrayed his irritation. The former champion of humanity clearly didn''t want to admit that the people he had once sworn to protect could engage in treachery akin to that of demons. However, as they passed further it became more obvious that the demon lord had been correct. "Looks like a dagger wound, not one caused by a monster. They must have killed him and discarded the remains¡­ Perhaps they left him here as a warning," Along the way, they had stumbled upon a half-decomposed skeleton slumped against one of the tunnel walls. It was likely someone who had met their end during a journey. Aburdon, intrigued, observed that this might have been someone who defied the merchants - perhaps a slave or an individual who opposed their ways. Whoever it was, they had been killed here and left to rot. "Perhaps¡­ could this be the source?" Aburdon muttered in a somewhat contemplative tone. "Did you realize something?" Rusty asked, noticing the shift in Aburdon''s demeanor. "Well, the bodies of the recently deceased tend to attract monsters. Those who die with strong resentment generate a great deal of malevolent energy - enough to lure undead creatures" "Would one dead body be enough?" "Perhaps not but¡­" They continued to walk and soon they discovered another secret of this place, more bodies than they had previously expected. The tunnel stretched on, revealing a grim tapestry of death. Skeletons lay in varying states of decay, some crumpled as if they had fallen where they stood, while others were bound with rusted chains that had fused to the walls. These were no ordinary casualties of war or disease - they were prisoners, discarded slaves, and nameless souls who had been left to rot. Rusty knelt by one of the skeletons, his metallic hand brushing against the brittle bones. Many bore deep scars, some inflicted by blades, others by instruments of torture. It was clear that whoever had perished here had done so in agony. "No wonder that creature was attracted to this palace¡­" Alexander commented as he examined the discarded bodies. In this world, the undead were a grim reality, and some people failed to understand that leaving unpurified bodies exposed could attract vile creatures. On the wall behind the corpses, etched symbols began to draw their attention. Though distorted by claw marks, it wasn''t difficult to piece the design together. "The Thieves'' Guild" Rusty remarked as he was a member himself, he still carried his coin emblem as proof of his ties. Slowly, they were unraveling the dark truth about this place. Perhaps the blacksmith, who had unwittingly ventured into these tunnels, would have faced a grim future - enslaved or worse had he not fallen prey to the arachnid. "I see. Quite clever. They probably rounded up unsuspecting commoners and turned them into slaves. No one would dare bother them in a forest teeming with monster spiders." Auburdon sounded as if he was complimenting this group, Alexander on the other hand was disgusted. "Is this what their new world order looks like? Do they even care?" Rusty wasn''t sure what his guide was talking about but it seemed to have something to do with his old friends. He wanted to ask Alexander to elaborate on his thoughts but suddenly, he noticed something. The group''s exploration of the tunnel took a dire turn as the air grew heavier, the scent of decay had become intense, making Gleam shiver in fright. ''My life detection skill isn''t picking up anything but would it react to dead corpses?'' Suddenly, the faint scraping of bone against stone echoed through the passage. Rusty halted, raising a metallic hand to calm his friend down. Gleam''s antennae twitched, her light spell illuminating the way forward. They saw it - a skeleton shifting, its bony fingers clattering against the ground. One by one, other skeletons began to stir, an eerie green glow igniting in their eye sockets. "Are they coming to life?" The bodies they had passed were beginning to reanimate. A surge of greenish energy pulsed through the area as a strange phenomenon took hold. While Rusty had experience with dungeon-born monsters, this was something new. His metallic fingers tightened into fists as the skeletons began to rise. Each lifeless body moved with the same eerie green energy, the glow flickering like ghostly flames in their hollow eye sockets. Rusted weapons, still clutched in bony hands, scraped against the stone floor. "Wait, those are¡­" But the undead skeletons and ghouls were not his only problem. From holes in the tunnel walls, smaller spider-like creatures began to crawl out. Their bodies resembled spiders, but their heads were disturbingly humanoid with sharp teeth and empty eyesockets. They seemed connected to the monster he had just defeated - and perhaps the reason why these undead had started to reanimate. Chapter 109 - 107 – At The Cap Again. The tunnel had transformed into a nightmarish battlefield. Rusty stood at attention as the skeletal army rose, accompanied by the grotesque humanoid spiders. Each enemy emanated an aura of malice, the green glow of necromantic energy mingling with the faint silver shimmer of Gleam''s light. She chirped nervously, her antennae quivering as she perched on his shoulder. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "It''s fine Gleam, they only have numbers as long as there aren''t any D ranks among them¡­ we will be fine!" Rusty unsheathed his twilight-iron blade and held his shield steady as the monsters attacked. Their focus seemed to be on Gleam rather than on him. It was clear that these creatures were drawn more to the living than to the inanimate magical object he was perceived to be. " ( ????? ) " "I don''t think they are underestimating you Gleam¡­" His friend pouted as the monsters seemed to regard her as the easier target of the two. Moments later, the battle erupted in an echo of clashing metal, shattering bones, and piercing screeches. Rusty surged forward, his sword cleaving through zombie heads and undead spiders alike. Although their enemies were numerous, they proved to be surprisingly weak - especially after Gleam unleashed one of her new spells, the Lesser Shield of Light. The result was unexpected and not something Gleam had planned. Once the shield materialized around Rusty - its intended target the monsters recoiled as though stricken with fear. While the shield was designed purely as a defensive ability, it seemed to have an unintended secondary effect on the undead creatures. They were repelled by the light, behaving as though it functioned as a persistent debuff spell. "Good going gleam, keep that shield up and stay on my shoulder!" " ( ????? )? " Gleam chirped as the shield enveloped them in a radiant glow. The spiders with humanoid heads screeched as they lunged forward, undeterred by the shield''s damaging effect. Their grotesque forms became a blur of motion, but as they neared, the radiant magic halted them in their tracks. This gave Rusty the perfect opportunity to strike, his blade plunging into their twisted bodies and defeating them with a single, well-placed blow. You have gained +54 experience points. You have gained +48 experience points. He ignored the system messages awarding him for slaying the F and F-plus rank creatures. In the past, monsters like the ant queen and the centipede had been formidable foes at this level. But now, as an E rank, he faced no real challenges against these lesser creatures. They fell to his blade effortlessly, as if he were slicing through butter, and he was rapidly accumulating experience. Congratulations you have gained a level. "... Perhaps?" The swarm pressed against him relentlessly, but his attention was fixed on the system notification. His level had just hit fourteen - only one more to go before he could evolve again and enter the Soul Forge. The thought invigorated him, and with renewed determination, he faced the oncoming horde. They were nothing more than crawling experience boxes, each one bringing him closer to his goal. The tide of battle was shifting in Rusty''s favor. Gleam''s Lesser Shield of Light continued to repel the undead and humanoid spider creatures, giving Rusty the upper hand. Gleam''s chirps were almost rhythmic as she released spells from time to time, sending the monsters back. " (¡ã©–¡ã) " A ray of light burst forth from her mouth, piercing through multiple zombies and undead spider hybrids in its path. Both of them gained large amounts of experience points as the creatures continued to swarm from a single general direction. If these monsters had any sense of tactics and surrounded them all at once, they might have been in real trouble. Instead, the creatures attacked in an almost single-file line, making their disposal surprisingly easy. Time passed and soon the tides were shifting, the relentless assault was slowing. Soon, there was an eerie silence as the last monster was defeated. The half decomposed zombie dropped down to its knees after having it''s head lobbed of. Once it was down, Rusty heard a ding. Congratulations you have gained a level. Rusty felt a surge of energy course through his metallic frame as the system notification flashed in his mind. He had reached level fifteen - the cap for his current rank. This was the moment he had been anticipating: evolution. "Finally¡­" Rusty muttered, his voice laced with excitement. Gleam chirped triumphantly, her antennae flickering with faint silvery light as she perched on his shoulder. The tunnel was now littered with the remains of the undead and the humanoid-faced spiders, a testament to their battle prowess. "Looks like you''re ready for the next step, I wonder how that place has changed, haven''t been there in a while¡­" Aburdon remarked. He and Alexander had been with Rusty permanently for some time now. Previously, they had been confined to the Soul Forge, waiting for Rusty to summon them. During those times, they could only observe the changes in the Forge before Rusty stepped inside. Now, with the ability to return freely, Rusty realized he could grow a bit stronger before venturing into his new lair. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " "Oh, don''t worry Gleam, I won''t be gone for long but also, It would probably not be wise to do it here¡­" "We better find a safe location, we don''t know if there are any more of these undead monsters here." Rusty''s eye socket glowed brighter as Alexander nodded in agreement. They were out in the open, and he would be temporarily incapacitated during his evolution. What they needed was a place where he could hide safely for a while. The two remained near the spider-infested area, having been fighting for quite some time. While those creatures usually stayed close to their nests, the noise might have attracted other predators. There was also no guarantee that more undead weren''t lurking in these tunnels. Rusty hadn''t been able to salvage much from the monsters they defeated. There were no cores left behind, and he wasn''t sure if their parts had any value. For now, they pressed on, carefully scanning their surroundings. The abundance of bones and corpses they''d encountered earlier had disappeared as most had already come to life to attack them. After some time, the small openings in the walls, where spiders once crawled through, vanished altogether, signaling they were leaving the arachnid territory. "There¡­ a hidden passage. More Thieves Guild nonsense, I presume? Mortals really do waste their energy on unnecessary things." Aburdon muttered as they came to a dead end. Upon closer inspection, they noticed a mechanism embedded in the wall. Rusty recognized it immediately - it could be activated using his Thieves Guild emblem which was in his possession. Rusty approached the concealed entrance Aburdon had pointed out. The "hidden" nature of the passage was betrayed by faint markings etched into the stone, symbols only a member of the Thieves'' Guild might recognize. He crouched and pressed his metallic hand against the wall''s damp surface as he sought a mechanism. "There it is¡­" After searching carefully, Rusty found a well-concealed latch. Opening it revealed a coin slot, clearly designed for his guild-issued coin. After a moment of deliberation, he inserted the coin. The mechanism activated with a faint click, and moments later, the wall began to shift, revealing a hidden room. At first glance, it appeared to be a simple dead end. Gleam chirped with excitement, her antennae glowing faintly as she hopped off Rusty''s shoulder and darted inside. The light she emitted illuminated a relatively secure space, untouched by the chaos they had just escaped. "That mechanism must control the passage" Alexander observed, pointing to a lever embedded in the wall. The room was sparsely furnished, containing a table and a few chairs. A small ventilation shaft provided some airflow. It was clear this place had been constructed by the Thieves Guild and could only be accessed by its members. "At least I got my coin back." The coin he had placed earlier had reappeared on the other side, ready for him to retrieve. It was clear that the lever embedded in the wall would open the path forward, but now that he was inside this hidden chamber, it seemed to be exactly what he needed. "Hm¡­ how about I just evolve here?" "That isn''t the worst idea you had but is this place truly safe?" Aburdon was a bit skeptical but Gleam chirped with enthusiasm. " (?? ? ??) " "You''ll protect me while I''m evolving?" He was happy that his friend would protect him while his body wouldn''t be able to move. Before he could make a decision he heard the door he walked through closing behind him. There was another switch near it on this side which was probably the opening mechanism so he didn''t mind it, instead he just sat down on the chair as he made a decision. "Let''s do it, monsters shouldn''t be able to get in here. Does anyone disagree?" "I think it should be fine?" Replied Alexander. "If Gleam conceals her mana and doesn''t cast any light spells, the undead shouldn''t notice us, I suppose?" Aburdon added his opinion and it was time to evolve. Before moving on to the Soul Forge he made sure to look at his status to see how his status screen was looking. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [ E ] L15 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 276/276 Magic Points [MP] 228/228 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 121 [ E + ] Agility 92 [ E ] Dexterity S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 91 [ E ] Constitution 126 [ E + ] Intelligence 96 [ E ] Wisdom 98 [ E ] Willpower 97 [ E ] Durability D Two of his stats had reached the higher E-plus rank, and the rest weren''t far behind. As he reflected on his progress, memories of everything he had endured so far came flooding back. He couldn''t help but wonder where this journey would ultimately lead him. He longed for strength and dreamed of exploring the vast, open world brimming with adventure. But he also understood the harsh reality of his path - power was essential. To continue, he would need to evolve, to push his limits constantly. Without that drive, his journey might come to an abrupt end before it had truly begun. "All right, Gleam. I''ll leave everything to you." " ????(? ?? ? - ? ) " "Thank you." Rusty knew that while only a short amount of time would pass in the outside world, he would likely spend several months inside the Soul Forge. Each time he entered, he found he could remain there longer than before. He used this time to train - honing his blacksmithing skills and battling replicas of monsters he had previously defeated. He often wished the strong cult leader could appear in the training room so he could test himself against a truly powerful opponent. However, the Soul Forge required him to have defeated a creature before it could be recreated. His body eventually slumped into the chair, arms dangling as his consciousness faded. Moments later, he found himself standing on the bridge before the floating castle. Both of his guides were absent. "I don''t think they can leave the castle" It seemed Aburdon and Alexander were bound to the structure while he remained outside. Wasting no time, Rusty made his way across the bridge and into the Soul Forge, eager to see his new body. His excitement was palpable, and he quickened his pace as he loosely looked around the area to see if he could spot any changes. This space sometimes shifted around and produced new things and chambers. "Not much has changed... I think" "Ah, Rusty, there you are" Aburdon floated out to greet him as he entered through the castle''s gates. Alexander followed shortly after, heading in the same direction as Rusty - toward the Soul Forge. Rusty gave his guide a nod but didn''t stop to chat. He hurried forward, anticipation surging through him as he neared the forge, eager to see the choices for his two new bodies. The doors flew open as she charged inside and just like last time, he had exactly three new bodies before him. Two looking quite interesting with one resembling the one he occupied now, just with a slightly different tint to it. "Hmmm¡­ those two look strong¡­" "Oh, how interesting¡­ I like the one on the left, why don''t we go with that?" Aburdon commented as he floated forward over to the armor on the left. It wasn''t surprising that the late demon lord was drawn to that body as it looked quite demonic. First of all, it had a dark, almost obsidian hue, with jagged, flame-like accents running along its edges. The chest piece bore a grotesque, grinning face molded into the metal, its eyes actually glowing ominously. Wicked, claw-like gauntlets completed the intimidating look, making it clear this was a form designed to instill fear and dominate. Alexander, however, was less impressed. "And I suppose you''ll have Rusty rampaging around looking like one of your old generals, Aburdon?" He asked while floating towards the armor on the right side. "This one, Rusty, is far more befitting of your character." The armor Alexander gestured to was vastly different. Gleaming white with golden trim, it radiated a soft, warm light. The design was elegant, almost angelic, with smooth, flowing curves and a radiant emblem of a sunburst etched into the chest. The pauldrons flared out slightly and the gauntlets ended in a refined, functional design. A flowing cape of light fabric completed its form giving it the appearance of a holy knight. "It''s similar to those paladins¡­" Rusty approached both armors, his eye sockets now devoid of any light as his two guides were floating around him. The two on the sides were half a head taller than the one in the middle who looked like his current body. At one glance it was just something made from another type of metal so he focused on the two on the sides. They looked rather magnificent, much more intricate than his current body and instantly made him want to choose one of them. "Could these two be higher than E+ ranks?" Rusty wasn''t entirely sure, but after seeing Gleam''s evolutionary options skip a small rank, it seemed possible that he could do the same. His two guides were already embroiled in an argument over the choices before him. Each insisted he select the armor that aligned with their perspective - Aburdon''s sinister, dark energy or Alexander''s radiant, light-filled ethos. It felt as though choosing one of these armors would be akin to choosing between them, a decision that seemed almost symbolic. He didn''t need to make a choice now. Rusty knew he had plenty of time to decide. He turned his attention away from the ongoing debate, letting his mind wander. That was when he noticed it - a new door had appeared in the chamber. Above it, glowing letters spelled out: *Summoning Hall* Chapter 110 - 108 – New Forms. Classification: Lesser Darkness Armor [ D - ] Type: Magical/Inorganic/darkness Description: An empty vessel waiting to be filled by a demonic soul. This armor is capable of enhancing dark abilities, amplifying the wearer''s potential for destruction. Classification: Lesser Light Armor [ D - ] Type: Magical/Inorganic/light Description: An empty vessel waiting to be filled by an angelic soul. This armor is capable of enhancing light abilities, amplifying the wearer''s potential for recovery Classification: Twilight Steel Armor [ E + ] Type: Magical/Inorganic Description: An empty vessel waiting to be filled by a soul bearing the power of both light and dark. This armor is capable of enhancing both light and dark abilities. "I can actually identify these now?" Rusty scratched his metallic head while murmuring to himself. Before him stood three armor types: two ranked D-minus and one E-plus. The two on the sides were far more eye-catching than the one in the middle, which appeared to be a modest upgrade from his current iron body. Though the middle armor was crafted from a new Twilight Steel alloy that would likely improve his defenses, it seemed underwhelming compared to the others. ''Twilight Steel Armor¡­ that reminds me, didn''t I unlock a new skill at level fifteen?'' Rusty''s thoughts raced as he considered his recent evolution. Reaching the threshold had opened up new opportunities, but the potential threats in the area had kept him from checking his system screen until now. Finally, with time and safety on his side, he decided to take a closer look. Usually, the skills he gained during each evolution were tied to his elemental affinities, and this time seemed no different. Lesser Twilight Embrace Active Skill The user calls upon twilight energies to increase their fighting power. At first glance, the skill didn''t seem particularly powerful. Its description reminded him of the Fury skill, which boosted his physical stats. However, the mention of "twilight energies" and the vague phrasing hinted that it might do more than just enhance his physical abilities. He wouldn''t know for sure until he tested it. ''Should I head to the training room to try it? Or perhaps¡­'' Rusty''s thoughts drifted back to the decision at hand. The new skill was intriguing, but the armor options also needed careful consideration. Since acquiring his Iron Body, he had resolved to improve himself using his own crafting skills. With access to new metals and alloys, he might be able to forge something superior - perhaps even using the materials from the black or silvery-white armor, rather than settling for the Twilight Steel in the middle piece. Then there was the mysterious new chamber that had appeared after his evolution. That, too, demanded investigation. One problem he noted with the armor choices was the materials. Each piece was distinct: the middle armor retained both elemental affinities, while the ones on the sides seemed to favor one element at the cost of rejecting the other. Choosing either of the side options could force him to specialize, potentially losing the ability to wield both elements. "...And that is why this glorious demonic shell is the best option!" Aburdon declared as his shouts filled the soul forge main chamber. "No human - or any of those puny other races - will be able to stand before the darkness!" "Hah! And what good will that darkness be against undead monsters like the ones we encountered? Light has always been better against such creatures!" Alexander retorted, bringing up issues with monsters. Their bickering snapped Rusty out of his thoughts. It was clear both guides had strong opinions and were determined to sway him toward the elemental armors tied to their respective elements. Still, Rusty hesitated. He liked the flexibility of using both light and dark elements - a capability he might lose if he followed their advice. The middle armor suddenly seemed more appealing. It might lack the raw power or specialization of the other two, but it maintained his dual elemental affinities. ''I can always reach D-rank later, and if I get better at crafting, couldn''t I just make one of these specialized bodies myself?'' Rusty was a living armor monster, a unique being who could craft his own shells. In a way, he wasn''t bound by the world''s strange system or its rigid classifications. He could be the architect of his own evolution, shaping his destiny rather than being forced into one of the predefined paths laid before him. At first glance, it seemed like he had three choices here. But the more he thought about it, the clearer it became that the middle option was the right one. While it might lack the dramatic flair of the others, it offered the flexibility he valued. He could forge his own parts, and perhaps, in the future, even create specialized variants that enhanced specific elements. A lot of this, of course, hinged on the materials at his disposal. If he could craft a body using an alloy that amplified dark energies, he could emulate the other armors'' unique strengths without sacrificing his dual elemental affinity. ''Why didn''t I think of it sooner, why not use both if I can!'' Rusty decided to sneak away to the workshop area first, intending to explore it before venturing into the new chamber. Upon arrival, he quickly noticed that the space had changed to accommodate his recent evolution. The iron bars he had used to craft his previous body were now replaced with Twilight Steel. The forge had been upgraded as well, and all the smithing tools had been enhanced, gleaming with the same steel. It was a promising setup, but as Rusty examined the materials more closely, he realized there were no elemental metals available. At least for now, he wouldn''t be able to recreate the two stunning, elementally attuned bodies he had seen earlier. ''Could it be because they''re D-rank, and I''m still just E-rank?'' He pondered over the thought while surveying the workshop. Everything here seemed designed to let him reconstruct his shell using the improved Twilight Steel. The furnace, forge, and smelter looked more robust and ready for days of crafting. Satisfied for now, Rusty left the workshop and made his way to the new chamber. Hovering before it were his two guides, already waiting for him and arguing again. "So, you truly don''t know what''s in there?" The black wisp asked, hovering impatiently in front of the summoning chamber. "How many times do I have to tell you? This wasn''t in my soul forge" The white wisp shot back, drifting closer as if to inspect the chamber more thoroughly. Alexander had been the original owner - or at least the previous user of the soul forge. During the bonding process with Rusty and Aburdon, his gift had somehow been transferred and altered, reshaping into this new soul forge. Its current form, resembling a towering castle, was as much a mystery to him as it was to the others. This chamber before them was entirely new, and none of them knew what awaited inside. "Stop bickering, you two. Let''s just go in and find out" Rusty said, cutting through their argument as he stepped forward. Without hesitation, he pushed the door aside, ready to uncover whatever secrets lay within. The Summoning Hall was vast, its design a stark contrast to the rest of the Soul Forge. Where the forge was practical, this chamber exuded an aura of ancient arcane power. High vaulted ceilings stretched into the dim glow of arcane light, with intricate carvings etched into every surface. These carvings depicted scenes of summoning rituals: mages surrounded by swirling glyphs, various creatures emerging from enchanted circles, and battles taking place in strange environments. At the center of the room lay an enormous summoning circle, etched into the black stone floor with glowing inlays of silver and gold. The patterns pulsed faintly, as though alive, synchronized with some unseen heartbeat. Around the circle stood towering statues of robed figures holding staves, their faces obscured by hoods. Each staff radiated a faint light - some cold and blue, others warm and golden, mirroring the twilight that ran through Rusty''s essence. Suspended above the circle was a crystalline orb, slowly rotating in midair. It illuminated this whole vast closed-chamber with a serene, shifting light that alternated between hues of deep purple and fiery yellow, reminiscent of the twilight sky. "Remarkable" Aburdon murmured, his usual arrogance giving way to genuine admiration. "This chamber holds power. I can feel the echoes of countless summoning rituals within these walls." "This¡­ is incredible!" Rusty muttered as he slowly approached the central summoning circle. His life had been short, and sights like this were entirely new to him. The intricate arcane symbols carved into the walls radiated an otherworldly glow, their meanings utterly foreign to him. Yet, even without understanding, he could feel the immense concentration of magical energy condensed in the chamber, particularly at its heart. Despite the awe-inspiring presence of the room, Rusty was still unsure of its purpose. Fortunately, he wasn''t alone. His guides, as always, were there to assist, and Alexander''s words suggested he had noticed something. "Hmm¡­ there seems to be a console over there." "Console?" For a moment Rusty wasn''t sure what he meant but Alexander instead of explaining floated towards something that resembled a magical control panel. There was a large orb in the middle with many strange glyphs made of silver and gold. After approaching it he noticed that the surrounding symbols started shimmering as if reacting to his presence. "What is this used for? How do I use it?" At first, he thought it resembled some of the mechanisms the Thieves Guild used for opening secret passages, but this was far more intricate. It pulsed with mana, and there were no switches to pull, levers to toggle, or slots to insert anything - only a large orb at its center. "Hm, could you try placing your hand on the central orb there, Rusty?" Alexander''s suggestion was clear, and Rusty saw no reason to refuse. Nevertheless, he hesitated for a moment, his metal hand catching the light as he reached toward the orb. Thanks to one of his skills, he could sense the dense surge of magical energy emanating from the device. Yet, he also understood that this soul forge posed no threat to him. His metallic fingers trembled slightly before he steeled himself, lowering his hand to make contact. The moment his fingertips touched the orb, the entire panel came alive. Glyphs etched into its surface began to pulse in a strange, rhythmic pattern. For a brief moment, he considered pulling his hand back. But Alexander, observing calmly, didn''t seem alarmed. Then, suddenly, all the flickering symbols stopped. Before him, a large rectangular screen materialized, seemingly woven from pure magical energy and sightly transparent. "Oh¡­ what is this? It resembles the world window... but what''s that white arrow in the middle?" The screen was mostly blank, save for a few strange icons and accompanying words. One icon resembled the summoning circle at the center of the room, labeled ''Summoning.'' Another depicted an open book, with the words ''User Manual.'' "User Manual?" "Hah, this looks like¡­" Alexander trailed off, but it was clear he had some understanding of what the screen represented. Aburdon, on the other hand, hovered closer, his ethereal form circling the screen as if trying to unravel its secrets. "How fascinating, what kind of Arch-mage designed this object? It radiates high-tier arcane power¡­" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty wasn''t sure what to do, but after a moment''s hesitation, he decided to remove his hand from the orb. As he did, something unexpected happened - the white arrow in the center of the screen shifted to one side. He froze, watching the screen intently, wondering if the arrow would move again, but it remained still. The mystery deepened. Rusty still had no clear idea what this place was or what purpose it served. His eyes lingered on the User Manual icon. It seemed like the obvious place to start, yet when he reached out and tapped the screen experimentally, nothing happened and his iron finger just phased through it. "Ha ha¡­ Rusty, place your finger on the orb and just do as I say." Alexander chuckled after seeing it and it seemed that he had noticed something. "Oh, do you know what I should do?" "Probably. This looks like something from my old world¡­" "Old world?" "That doesn''t matter, just place your finger back on the orb and then slowly slide it to the left side." "Um¡­ okay?" He wasn''t sure what was supposed to happen but he followed the instructions. His metal finger was placed down on the orb and slid to one side while still touching it. The moment he did, he could see the white arrow sliding along with his finger movement. "Ah, it started moving?" The screen responded to Rusty''s movements, the white arrow gliding across its surface with a surprising smoothness. He paused for a moment to see how it would react, and sure enough, the arrow halted, waiting patiently for further input. His curiosity grew, and he began rolling his finger lightly across the orb, watching as the arrow moved in sync with his motions. For a moment, he was captivated by the responsiveness, marveling at the subtle control he seemed to wield. Eventually, he caught himself. This was no time for idle experimentation¡ªhe still had no clear understanding of what this summoning chamber was all about. "Had enough fun Rusty? Sometimes I forget that you''re not even a year old¡­" "What do you mean? I''m an adult! I''m already an E rank!" "Sure¡­ now then, just place the arrow over that book icon." "I know!" Rusty replied, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance at how Alexander seemed to treat him like a child. Without waiting for further explanation, he guided the magical arrow onto the icon displayed on the screen. It seemed obvious to him - if he touched the icon with the arrow, something should happen. Yet, when he did, the screen remained unresponsive. "..." "What am I doing wrong? Why isn''t this working?" He muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "You probably need to tap the orb now. "Tap it?" Rusty repeated as he did not really understand the full logic behind this device. Still, he followed the advice and gave the orb a tap, but the screen remained unchanged. "No¡­ I mean, tap it twice in quick succession" "Tap it twice¡­ quickly?" This magical device was utterly baffling. Rusty couldn''t fathom why he needed to move his finger over the orb and poke it in such a specific way. Wouldn''t it be far simpler if he could just touch the icon directly on the panel? "Like that?" He asked, glancing at Alexander. "Almost. Do it a bit faster, and make sure the cursor stays on the icon" Rusty sighed but tried again. His first attempt failed as he tapped too slowly. On his second try, he tapped quickly but let his finger slide off the orb, causing the arrow to veer away from the icon at the last moment. Finally, on his third attempt, everything clicked. The arrow stayed steady, and the screen responded instantly. The white arrow transformed into a spinning hourglass, and after a brief pause, text began to appear on the display. He leaned in, reading carefully. It was a manual - a guide detailing how to use the summoning chamber and what benefits it could offer. Chapter 111 - 109 – Trouble Brewing. The chamber was dim, lit only by the sickly red glow emanating from a series of runes etched into the stone floor. A group of robed figures knelt in a circle, chanting low and guttural verses in a forgotten tongue. At the center of the room, atop an altar stained with dried blood, rested the decapitated head of a cultist. It was pale, lifeless, and yet, under the guidance of the ritual, it seemed unnervingly animated. The mouth twitched, the eyes flickered with an unnatural crimson light. The man, seemingly a High Priest stood before the altar, draped in robes that shimmered with a dark, otherworldly energy. His face was hidden beneath a featureless metal mask, save for two slits through which his piercing, blood-red eyes burned. In his hands, he held a ritual dagger, its blade serrated and carved with intricate patterns that seemed to drink in the ambient light. "¡­ Reveal to us your sight, O Blood Lord, your loyal servants beg for your guidance." His voice was both commanding and reverent, echoing throughout the chamber as he plunged the dagger into his own wrist, allowing his blood to flow freely. The room fell silent as the crimson liquid dripped onto the altar, which seemed to stir with strange unholy energy. The blood began to shift and writhe, and, as if forming tiny red capillaries, it extended upward, reaching toward the head that hovered ominously above it. Suddenly, the head''s eyes shot open, glowing with an intense, malevolent crimson light. The cultists surrounding it remained motionless, their stoic demeanor suggesting this was a sight they had witnessed many times before. Even as the head emitted strange, growling sounds - its jaw clattering unnervingly as it reset itself into place, they did not waver. "The Blood Lord graces us with His sight¡­ Now speak, brother! Why has our temple been desecrated? Tell us who is responsible for this blasphemy!" The leader of the group shouted, his voice reverberating through the dark, oppressive temple where they had gathered. The head jolted, its cold red gaze locking onto the masked man before it spoke in a strained, husky voice. "...wHiTe¡­ a¡­nT, aRm¡­OR¡­" Its words came slowly, disjointed, and nonsensical. The priest who had slit his wrist stepped forward, placing a bloodied hand on the head''s pallid cheek. The crimson capillaries from the altar connected to his flesh, pulsating as if alive. A shiver ran through him as his essence melded with the head''s lingering consciousness. Behind his mask, his eyes glowed brighter, consumed by a vivid vision. Strange creatures invaded his mind¡ªone of them vaguely human yet undeniably otherworldly. "Ughh¡­" the priest groaned, staggering slightly as the occult spell took hold. The head began to bulge grotesquely, its flesh swelling unnaturally before abruptly imploding, spraying blood and innards across the chamber. Without hesitation, the priest flicked his hand to the side, discarding the mangled remains onto a grisly pile of similar heads the cultists had already examined. "This being¡­ was it the one responsible? The other visions¡­ they also reveal it." The High Priest staggered for a moment, regaining his balance as the glow in his eyes faded to their usual blood-red hue. His expression was unreadable beneath the mask, but his tone indicated anger. "This creature¡­ it is no ordinary foe" The leader murmured, his voice laced with unease. "Its aura is tainted - neither human nor entirely monstrous. Its power bears the marks of both light and dark¡­ Twilight? But how? Such a blasphemous existence!" The other kneeling cultists remained silent, their heads bowed. Exhaustion weighed heavily on them, their stamina nearly depleted from the grueling ritual they had been performing. They dared not speak, nor even lift their gaze toward the leader. The grisly collection of heads before them was the result of their desperate efforts - retrieved mostly through grave digging and sacrilege. Each belonged to one of their fallen brethren, their lives and deaths examined for answers. The cult sought to unravel the mystery behind the recent catastrophe in Argossa, where one of their concealed lairs had been exposed - a calamity on a scale they had never experienced. Even more alarming was the fact that one of their high priests, a powerful servant of the Blood Lord, had been defeated. Their ancient enemies, the paladins of Ghelene, had delivered a devastating blow, leaving the cult reeling as they struggled to recover and understand how it had happened. "We must uncover the truth behind this. Find this blasphemous being and all who aided them. We will offer their blood and souls to our Lord. Only then will his wrath be appeased!" He turned to a figure lurking in the shadows, a wiry man clad in a patchwork of leather and chainmail. A pair of cruel daggers hung at his hips, their hilts etched with symbols of the Blood Lord. "Bloodshade." The priest beckoned the man with a commanding voice. "Take your hunters and track this creature. I expect results swiftly. Do not fail me." "It will be done, High Priest. The blood will flow." The man referred to as Bloodshade bowed before the hooded man and soon his form vanished from within this dark temple¡­ Meanwhile, within the confines of the newly discovered summoning chamber in Rusty''s Soul Forge, the living armor studied the shimmering screen before him. Oblivious to the events unfolding far away, he pondered the strange potential of the summoning system he had accessed. "So¡­ if I understand this correctly, that summoning circle over there will send me somewhere to complete a ''quest''... is that right?" Rusty asked while looking at the small text on the semi-transparent screen, if he was a human he would certainly be squinting. Fortunately, he wasn''t alone. Aburdon and Alexander were there to fill him in. "Seemingly so." Alexander, still going through the instruction manual, replied with a distracted tone. Though he had more experience with this place than the others - and was once the old master of the Soul Forge he couldn''t recall anything like this ever existing. He had to assume it was a development that occurred after his soul had been fused with the monster and the demon. "But¡­ why would I do that? What if I die? And what will I even get in return?" Rusty wondered as the idea of being summoned by someone seemed dangerous. It reminded him of the time he was a monster in the dungeon, forced to do the bidding of the dungeon heart. "Well¡­ for the time being, it seems like you''ll be granted experience points - at least to some extent. Then there''s also a mention of rare materials and schematics for the forge and also some other rewards once the chamber further develops¡­" "Hmmm¡­ I don''t like this¡­ maybe I shouldn''t use it." Rusty muttered. "What''s there to be worried about? There''s nothing you can lose!" To Rusty''s and Alexander''s surprise, Aburdon seemed uncharacteristically supportive of the idea. He was usually the one who urged Rusty to avoid risks, to be fearful of the unknown, and even to abandon others just to save his own life. Yet now, he appeared eager for Rusty to step into an uncertain situation that could potentially enslave him. "Could you explain why?" "Hah! I suppose you two haven''t finished reading yet? Fine, let me explain it to you." Aburdon scoffed at the two that had not gone through the whole instruction manual and started explaining why there was nothing to fear. "First of all, don''t worry, your immortal soul will not die. Even if the body you inhabit is destroyed, your essence will merely return to the Soul Forge. You''ve experienced this before, haven''t you?" Aburdon''s voice was smooth and confident, echoing slightly in the vast chamber. Rusty found himself recalling his own origins - how their souls had merged, and the many times he had inhabited new shells. It seemed his essence merely attached itself to different bodies, unable to perish even when those bodies were damaged. He considered the logic of Aburdon''s words. If his essence couldn''t be destroyed, and if everything created in the Soul Forge seemed to exist to serve or support him, then perhaps there truly was little to fear. What Aburdon was saying began to make sense but he still had some concerns. "What if I''m trapped somewhere, or worse, what if they find a way to harm my soul?" "Unlikely." Aburdon reassured him with a flicker of amusement. "The summoning merely sends a fragment of your essence to animate a temporary vessel - one crafted from the summoning circle itself. Think of it as wearing a different suit of armor for a short time. Even if that suit is destroyed, your core essence will snap back here, completely intact." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wait, so¡­ I can''t be destroyed doing this?" "Well, you can but you will just return back here as if nothing happened. " Aburdon replied smugly. "The only limit is time. The summoning chamber allows access for a finite duration - an hourglass''s worth, so to speak. Whatever you accomplish must be done within that window. The rewards, too, are tied to your performance during that time. Fail to make the most of it, and you''ll walk away with only the scraps of effort." Rusty was lost in thought as he began rereading the instructions. It became clear that a few laws governed this new device. One of them stated that it had a limited number of uses. Once summoned and tasked with completing a mission, he would receive rewards - but a cooldown period would be initiated afterward, during which he couldn''t access the device or return to that place. Although time flowed differently outside the Soul Forge, there was still a strict time limit within. If each mission required a cooldown, then his opportunities to complete more missions would be constrained. Another concern gnawed at him: where exactly would he be sent, and would his actions in that realm affect the real world outside? His physical body was currently in suspended animation, hidden in a chamber with Gleam. Would being summoned extend the time required for his evolution? "What do you think Alexander, is it safe?" He wasn''t much of a fast reader, so he relied on his two guides. Alexander was the one who had enabled him to access this instruction manual and seemed to be more informed than Aburdon, who had quickly gone through it. The idea of serving another master didn''t sit well with him, but if there were free rewards that allowed him to gain more power, then this chamber might not be such a bad idea after all. "I don''t like to agree with him, but this should be safe." "Haha, that the hero would agree with me on something!" Aburdon cackled as he heard Alexander approve of his assessment. This was all that Rusty needed to give this strange summoning chamber a try. He wasn''t sure where or what he would be doing but if he could earn more experience points and better materials for the forge with it, then it was worth it. "So¡­ how does this work?" "First, you have to click the summoning icon on the display." "Alright!" Rusty hesitated only briefly before following the instructions. He placed his finger back on the orb and carefully guided the arrow toward the "Summoning" icon on the glowing display. This time, his movements were more confident, the earlier trial-and-error having taught him the quirks of the strange interface. Once the arrow hovered over the summoning icon, he tapped the orb twice in quick succession. The screen flickered momentarily before displaying a new set of options. Rusty leaned closer, his shiny body reflecting the screen light. Quest: Necromancer''s Helper Difficulty: Hard Description: A necromancer summons you to defend his lair from an onslaught, help him defend his lair. "Oh?" He glanced at the first mission and it seemed interesting. He would be summoned to defend someone''s lair, something that he was trying to create in the next city he would go to. He didn''t know how strong his enemies would be but the quest window was informing him that it wouldn''t be an easy quest to fulfill. "Necromancer? Let''s pass on this, for all we know he deserves it!" "Hah? What are you even saying?" Before he could say anything, his two guides were already back to arguing. He quickly glanced back at the two other options on the screen, wondering which of them he should pick. From what the instruction manual said, if he chose one the other two would be lost. The remaining options on the screen glowed faintly, their titles enticing and mysterious. Rusty''s gaze shifted to the next quest description, curious about what other tasks the summoning chamber might have in store. Quest: Artifact Recovery Difficulty: Medium Description: A group of adventurers seeks your assistance in retrieving a stolen artifact from a band of ruthless mercenaries. Chase them down before they get away and retrieve it. "Chasing down thieves? Interesting¡­ and the last one is¡­" Quest: Monster Combat Difficulty: Easy Description: Defeat the other summoned monster in a one on one battle and defend your summoner''s honor. Rusty glanced over the three options, pondering which one to choose. It was clear that selecting a higher difficulty would yield greater rewards, but the risk of dying during the mission meant he''d walk away with nothing. "Let''s go with the first one, Rusty. I''m sure that necromancer has plenty of minions you can hide behind. If you run down the clock, you''ll still get some rewards." Aburdon suggested, his black orb-like form floating next to the screen. Of course, Alexander had his own opinion and he seemed to favor the middle option. "The middle one doesn''t sound too difficult, and those adventurers will probably assist you during the mission. Everyone knows the key to fighting undead is taking down the necromancer. If he falls, you''ll be forced to defend him - and probably fail, those bastards love blowing up their minions to save their hide." Alexander raised a valid point - if Rusty ended up as just another minion, he''d likely be used as a shield. His chances of survival seemed slim. However, the middle option didn''t appeal to him much either. He was a living armor monster, not a hound. What if those mercenaries were too fast or mounted on horses? How could he possibly chase them down? Then there was the third option: a straightforward duel between monsters, with seemingly no additional complications. "Perhaps I should go with that one first¡­" While he wasn''t one to shy away from a challenge, there was no reason to rush into danger. Testing the summoning chamber with the simplest mission first seemed like the most prudent choice. Before his two guides could voice any objections, he clicked on the third option. Chapter 112 - 110 – Summoning. Rusty tapped the screen, selecting the Monster Combat quest. The glowing interface immediately responded, the shimmering text dissolving into streams of light that coalesced into new instructions. The chamber around him hummed with energy as a low, resonant chime echoed from the summoning circle. ''Monster Combat'' quest has been picked, please stand in the summoning circle to continue. The user''s status will be concealed during the summoning. Some of the user''s abilities will be locked. The new prompt was intriguing. He wasn''t sure how much of his status would be concealed, but it was probably better if most of it was. On the downside, there was also a part mentioning that he might be unable to use some of his abilities, leaving him feeling uncertain. Fortunately, one of his guides was there to clarify things. "Ah, I bet this includes your loadouts and perhaps the stash tab. Better prepare the weapon you want to have beforehand." Alexander commented, bringing up the fact that Rusty was the only monster who could change his form using SP. He would be placed in a temporary form created through the summoning ritual. His inventory and loadouts would likely be inaccessible, so it made sense to decide on the form he wanted to take before entering. The summoning manual didn''t specify that he couldn''t use one of his alternate forms - such as the bulkier or lankier ones he had crafted the last time he was here. ''It would be great if I knew what I was facing¡­'' Rusty considered his options carefully, pacing around the summoning chamber as the energy within the runes intensified, pulsating like a heartbeat. He glanced at the forms available to him. One was his larger, bulkier frame - the one with the highest destructive power and defense but the lowest agility. Then there was his lighter model, which allowed for greater joint flexibility and even climbing. Finally, there was his current body, balanced and without any significant weaknesses, though it lacked any standout strengths. ''If it''s just a duel, this form would probably be best.'' After a moment''s hesitation, Rusty made his decision. He activated a loadout, and his body shifted into the towering, heavily armored configuration. To complement its bulk, he selected a massive iron tower shield and a poleaxe. With no idea who - or what he''d be facing, a versatile weapon capable of piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage seemed like the smartest choice. "Alright, this should be fine¡­ now do I just walk onto the summoning circle?" "It does seem so Rusty, good luck." Alexander replied seemingly agreeing with the current setup. Aburdon on the other hand was a bit more ironic. "Oh, I''m sure you won''t need luck, Rusty. Just try not to embarrass yourself too much out there." Aburdon cackled as he floated closer to the summoning circle, his interest in the magic at work evident. Rusty paid him no mind, his towering form clanking as he adjusted the massive tower shield in his left hand and the hefty poleaxe in his right. The weapon''s shaft was much thicker than a standard poleaxe, custom-built to accommodate his enlarged hands. After reaching the center of the circle, Rusty suddenly felt an unseen force rooting him in place. Lines of glowing runes spiraled outward from his feet, forming an intricate, shifting pattern that danced across the floor, alive with power. "Here we go¡­" Rusty muttered, steadying himself as the energy surrounded his body. Strange straight lines appeared over his frame which then turned into a checkered pattern. He didn''t understand it but his whole body was glowing blue. Soon he saw a projection of his frame floating up along with his own conscience. For a moment he could see his frame standing inside of the summoning circle before the world went dark¡­ ****** "What''s wrong?" "I think she can''t do it¡­" "Is she really unable to summon a monster? How did she get into the academy?" The voices of teenagers filled the large arena-like structure. Many people were gathered, all of them wearing similar uniforms of a prestigious Mystwood Academy of Summoners, the premier institution for training those with the rare ability to summon and command otherworldly beings. Its name could be seen at the magical training arena where an event was taking place. In the center of the arena, two young women stood on opposite sides of a glowing summoning circle. "I don''t think Katherine will even need to do anything at this point¡­" "The Grandwell family has produced another genius, even if Gwendolin did manage to summon something, she could never win¡­" "That''s true, the Rainstar family might be finished¡­" The crowd murmured amongst themselves as Gwendolin Rainstar stood frozen at the edge of the summoning arena. Her palms were clasped tightly together, and her heart pounded in her chest. Strands of her raven-black hair had come loose, falling messily over her pale face, which seemed even whiter than usual under the weight of her stress. The whispered ridicule of her peers echoed through the arena, each cutting word striking her pride like a dagger. Gwendolin''s grip tightened on the small crystal pendant around her neck - a cherished gift from her late grandmother. Closing her eyes, she took a trembling breath, summoning the courage to perform the spell she had practiced countless times. On one side was Katherine Grandwell, golden-haired and radiating confidence. Her smug smile made it clear she relished the attention. Her family was renowned for their summoning prowess, and Katherine had already proven herself by summoning higher orc variants and other various E-rank creatures, a true genius for her age. She adjusted her ornate silver-and-blue robe, clearly enjoying the murmurs of admiration from the audience. ''Oh, why isn''t it working¡­ I was able to do it a few times but nothing is coming out now¡­'' Gwendolin stood there, her simple academy robe hanging awkwardly on her wiry frame. She clutched the silver charm around her neck, trying to channel her energy. Summoning wasn''t just a skill but a magical ability - one that required precise focus and adherence to the summoning ritual. If a caster failed to channel their energy correctly, the ritual would inevitably fail. When she was alone, the process wasn''t particularly difficult. But under the scrutiny of prying eyes, she could never seem to focus enough to summon anything - not even the weakest G-ranked monsters. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "She''s just going to embarrass herself again." "Does she even belong here?" "Katherine''s going to wipe the floor with her." Katherine smirked and raised her voice, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Maybe you should sit this one out, Rainstar. Spare yourself the humiliation." Gwen clenched her fists, her heart pounding. She wanted to respond, to shout something clever or cutting, but her throat felt dry, and the weight of all those expectant eyes pressed down on her. She focused on the summoning circle before her, it had materialized but nothing yet had appeared. "Miss Rainstar" The instructor''s voice cut through the noise, commanding attention. "Are you able to perform your summoning? If not, then I would ask you to step back and vacate the arena for the other students." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I¨C, I can do it!" Gwendolin blurted, her voice trembling as if she was about to cry. She tightened her grip on the pendant, her knuckles whitening. The crowd''s murmurs of doubt sharpened, but she forced herself to block them out. She had no choice but to try again - one last desperate attempt to prove herself. Closing her eyes, she whispered the summoning incantation under her breath, each syllable quivering with raw emotion. She imagined the swirling energy of the summoning circle responding to her plea, her mind reaching into the unknown void where summoners drew their companions. ''Focus... Breathe... Feel the pull of the magic, like Grandmother taught me.'' The pendant in her hand grew brighter, a faint, comforting warmth emanating from it. Her fear began to wane, replaced by a flicker of hope. Meanwhile, Katherine yawned theatrically, earning a few chuckles from the crowd. "Oh, Gwendolin, we don''t have all day," Katherine sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "Some of us have real magic to practice." Gwendolin tried to ignore her, but her focus continued to waver. She knew this would be her last attempt as the instructors would not allow another failure. Her thin fingers trembled as she anticipated yet another disappointment. Then, something unexpected happened. She felt a force pushing from the other side, as if from a place beyond the void where summoned creatures originated. It pressed forward, almost as though it were being guided by her emotions. The energy in the arena shifted as the magic summoning circle before her started to react. Gwendolin''s eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with azure light. The arena fell silent as the summoning circle flared to life. Runes inscribed on the ground began to spin and shift, glowing brighter with every passing second. Even Katherine paused her mockery, her smug grin faltering into a look of mild annoyance. "What''s happening?" "Is she actually... summoning something?" "No way. It''s probably a fluke." The onlookers still didn''t believe she could complete the magic ritual. Even if she succeeded, they were certain the summoned minion would be weak. To no one''s surprise, a grayish orb of light emerged from the magical circle. Its strange, muted coloring gave it an almost corrupted appearance as if it were a twisted version of a wisp. "What''s that? Did she summon a Will-o''-Wisp? But why does it look like that?" Laughter erupted among the crowd as they beheld the summoned creature. It appeared to be nothing more than a dim ball of light, a being known for its utter lack of combat ability, useful only for lighting a path for adventurers. It was even weaker than a G-rank creature, something incapable of attacking or defending itself. The laughter of the crowd echoed through the arena, but Gwendolin couldn''t hear it. Her heart was pounding as the grayish orb hovered, pulsating faintly, just above the center of the summoning circle. She had expected something - anything but not this. Her hope was slipping away like water through her fingers. The laughter, the jeers, the disappointment¡­ they were all crashing down on her at once. However, the orb began to shift. A flicker of flame sparked within the dull, gray sphere, faint at first but growing stronger with every passing moment. The laughter in the crowd faltered, replaced by murmurs of confusion. The orb of grayish light pulsed, swelling in size as flames erupted across its surface. It ignited into a blaze that shimmered with a spectrum of colors, like a twilight sky filled with vivid hues of orange, purple, and gold. The flames danced erratically, as if alive, casting long, flickering shadows across the summoning arena. "What in the world is that?" Whispers rippled through the crowd as the flames began to take shape, coalescing into an enormous silhouette. From the radiant blaze emerged a towering figure, its massive, armored frame shimmering as though freshly forged. Embers and ash swirled around its metallic body, glowing faintly in the flickering light. With a thunderous clang, a poleaxe slammed into the ground, followed by an iron tower shield whose immense weight cracked the stone beneath it. "What is that, an iron golem?" "No¡­ it looks different?" The murmurs of the crowd turned to stunned silence as the towering figure fully emerged from the summoning circle. Its frame was immense, easily twice the size of a human, and its armor gleamed with a dark, otherworldly sheen. The poleaxe in its right hand radiated an aura of authority and destruction, while the tower shield on its left seemed impenetrable, as if it could hold back an army. Gwendolin blinked, her mind struggling to process what she had summoned. This wasn''t the simple F-rank creature she had expected. The being before her was something far beyond anything she had previously summoned or her peers. Her trembling hands loosened their grip on her pendant as her disbelief was overtaken by awe. Across the arena, Katherine''s smug smile had vanished, replaced by a tight-lipped expression of uncertainty. She took a step back, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the towering figure. The instructor, who had remained silent during the earlier ridicule, stepped forward, their gaze fixed on the towering armored figure. A faint glow emanated from the instructor''s monocle as they analyzed the summoned being. Their eyes widened slightly in surprise, though they quickly composed themselves. "Miss Rainstar..." The instructor began, their tone more serious now. "Do you have any idea what you''ve summoned?" Gwendolin shook her head, her voice catching in her throat. "N-no, I... I just followed the ritual... It just... came to me." She truly didn''t know what to expect; her only wish was to summon an F-rank monster. Even if she lost the battle, at least she wouldn''t be deemed a total failure by the other summoners. However, as she observed their reactions, she noticed something strange. The mockery on their faces had vanished, replaced by expressions of genuine shock at what she had summoned. "Well then, let me tell you - this is a living armor. A unique iron living armor, E-rank. Well done." The man announced after identifying the creature and for the first time in this summoner academy, she heard someone praise her. She felt like crying, but there was no time for tears. Her opponent Katherine, wasn''t going to let this go unchallenged. Still, Gwendolin felt a hint of pride swell inside of her chest. She had done it. She had summoned something and that something was extraordinary. ''But a living piece of armor? Did I have an affinity for those?'' She wondered to herself as she studied the grayish tint of the monster. It looked unusual for a living armor - larger, with weapons that appeared more refined. Its behavior was just as peculiar. Instead of standing still and awaiting orders like a typical summoned creature, it moved its head, scanning the arena and observing everyone present. It was as if this wasn''t just a simple summoned monster, but one with intelligence and a sense of self. From the other side of the arena, Katherine scoffed, though her tone betrayed a hint of unease. "An E-rank living armor? Impressive for you, Gwendolin, but don''t think it''ll save you. My red orc warrior will tear through that hunk of metal like paper." The crowd murmured in anticipation as Katherine raised her hand, commanding her summoned creature. The red orc snarled, its twin axes glinting menacingly as it pounded its chest, ready for battle. Its crimson skin seemed to shimmer with a faint magical aura, a sign of Katherine''s potent control over her summon. Gwendolin swallowed hard. She had no experience commanding something like this. The monster stood there silently, and she stared at it, her mind flooded with uncertainty. ''What should I do? Should I call out to it like Katherine always does? But¡­ what if it refuses my orders? Sometimes monsters don''t listen¡­'' Her thoughts spiraled as she imagined every possible failure. But just as she was about to lose control, she heard something that stopped her cold. ''Hello.'' ''Huh?'' The summoned monster¡­ it had a voice. And somehow, it was speaking to her. Chapter 113 - 111 – Too Easy. Gwendolin froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. The voice was deep and resonant, imbued with an unmistakable intelligence. It echoed not through the air but directly in her mind, bypassing the physical world entirely. Its tone carried a subtle questioning quality - something that seemed impossible without sentience. Although she wasn''t particularly skilled at summoning, she had successfully called forth lesser creatures in the past. None of them had been capable of speech or independent thought. Bound by the summoner''s contract, they could not act without direct orders, nor could they communicate with their caster. In essence, they were no more than golems formed from mana, existing solely to obey commands. There was a way for a summoned creature to gain sentience: if a summoner formed a bond with the monster, it would become their familiar. This bond allowed the creature to think for itself and, in some cases, even communicate with its caster. This, however, was different. The monster before her was not her familiar. She lacked the strength to form such a bond, nor had any summoned creature chosen her to enable such a connection. However, there were exceptions to this rule: the more intelligent monsters. These were exceedingly rare and notoriously difficult to summon, let alone control. They belonged to a category of their own, retaining a sense of autonomy even before the summoner. It wasn''t uncommon for such monsters to go berserk if they deemed the caster who had brought them into this realm unworthy or inferior. ''W-what if it attacks me?'' Gwendolin''s mind raced. The possibility of the monster attacking her was high as she had heard countless tales of summoning disasters, especially when sentient monsters were involved. She knew she lacked the training and knowledge to handle such a situation, and the realization struck her like a cold wave: this was the worst possible outcome. Surely, this giant metal monster would turn on her and attack. To her surprise, it did not react aggressively. Instead, it responded - not through words, but to her very thoughts, as though it could read her mind. ''Why would I attack you?'' The words - or rather, the thought - sent a shiver down Gwendolin''s spine. She stared up at the towering figure, unable to decide whether she was more terrified or intrigued. The living armor tilted its head slightly as if mimicking a gesture of curiosity. Its empty eyes locked onto hers as it continued to stare. The crowd, still buzzing with whispers, seemed a thousand kilometers away. Gwendolin''s world narrowed to this improbable, intelligent being that now stood before her. "You... you can hear me?" She whispered, her voice quivering. ''I can. And I assume you can hear me too?. That is ¡­Interesting, usually, that would require a body. Is it a connection similar to the one I have with Gleam?'' The voice was calm, almost casual as if the monster was just as surprised as her. It murmured something about sparkling light and bodies that she didn''t understand. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to maintain composure, unsure how to respond. She couldn''t let her confusion show - not in front of Katherine, the crowd, or this¡­ thing. The living armor''s head turned slowly, scanning the arena again. Its gaze seemed to linger on the other summoned creature, Katherine''s red orc warrior. ''Ah, I''ve never seen a red orc before, is it stronger than the green ones? This must be part of the ''Monster Combat'' Quest!'' ''Quest?'' She had no idea what the monster was talking about but it seemed to have identified the other summoned monster as an enemy. This soothed her nerves slightly as it seemed the monster was somewhat focused on the other and not on harming her. She was still not sure if she could control this being of metal but before she could continue the conversation, they were interrupted. "Miss Rainstar!" The instructor''s voice broke through her momentary stupor. "You must command your summon to engage. This is a duel, not a staring contest." Gwendolin flinched, her face flushing as she realized the entire arena was waiting for her to act. Across the arena, Katherine tapped her foot impatiently, her red orc growling and flexing its massive arms. "Well, Rainstar?" Katherine called out, her tone sharp with mockery. "Are you going to make it do something, or should I put it out of its misery for you?" The previously startled crowd began to calm down. Katherine, still exuding an air of superiority, boasted confidently about her impending victory, despite her opponent''s success in summoning a creature. After all, there was more to a summoner''s duel than simply conjuring a powerful monster. To the onlookers, the summoned creatures appeared to be of similar rank. This meant that victory would come down to the summoners'' skill and in this case, most believed Katherine''s expertise gave her the upper hand. "I¡­ yes! Uh¡­ Mister Living Armor attack the Red Orc Warrior!" Gwendolin finally reacted, stretching out her hand. A small magic circle appeared above her palm, spinning slowly. It was a command circle with glyphs within it - an essential tool for summoners to direct their monsters. The circle shone brightly, and her voice echoed across the arena as she issued her command. To everyone''s surprise, the monster didn''t move. Instead, it turned its gaze toward her and just stood there. "Hah! She can''t even control her own summon? Isn''t that an automatic loss?" "I knew it was a fluke! Get out of the arena!" The audience''s jeers rang out, their earlier astonishment giving way to mockery. Gwendolin somehow remained composed, her expression betraying no sign of panic but instead acceptance. She had anticipated this outcome. If a summoned monster was more powerful than its summoner, it would naturally resist commands, acting of its own accord. This was precisely why so many believed her defeat was inevitable. Without proper instructions and guidance from the summoner, even the most powerful monster would fail to secure victory. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ''Mister Living Armor?'' ''Huh?'' ''I''m not a Mister, I''m Rusty! And don''t worry, I''ll take care of that orc.'' However, to Gwendolin''s surprise, the living armor did not remain still for long. After correcting her about its name, the large metallic form shifted. It raised its massive tower shield with its left hand and gripped the poleaxe with its right. Gwendolin wasn''t sure what to make of this. The monster seemed to possess more autonomy than she had expected. It was as though it already considered itself a familiar, one that had been named by someone else, and now she was merely borrowing its power. **** Rusty arrived in this strange place and took a moment to assess his surroundings. Thanks to his mana sense skill, he could tell that a powerful mana shield surrounded the entire arena, placing a barrier between him and the summoner. The circle from which he had materialized was inside this dome, locking him in with the other monster. At least the other creature was confined to the same spot, which made things a bit easier for him. The one who had called him here was peculiar - a scrawny girl dressed in a baggy robe who communicated with him through thoughts. She seemed harmless, weak even - not someone he would typically concern himself with. Then there were the others: a crowd of people, their gazes twisted in what he recognized as mockery. For someone like him, who took pride in his strength and his evolution, this was maddening. It felt as though they all believed he couldn''t defeat the slightly larger orc - a monster he was already quite familiar with. ''Y-you will?'' He stepped forward as the girl''s voice echoed in his mind. Earlier, she had tried to give him an order, but it hadn''t worked on him at all. He sensed the spell being blocked by some unseen force, leaving him to wonder if, on missions like this, he would always be immune to the summoner''s control. ''Yes, leave it to me! This won''t take long!'' He declared, boasting of his capabilities as he strode forward confidently. The people in the audience pointed out with their fingers, surprised that he was moving on his own and responding to the summoner''s orders in a strange way. The massive red orc across the arena roared in defiance, its twin axes glinting ominously in the light. Katherine smirked, her tone just as confident as ever. "So, the tin can can move. It won''t matter. Red Orc Warrior, engage!" She commanded. Her voice rang with authority, and the red orc charged forward with a guttural roar, its movements surprisingly agile for its size. The ground trembled slightly with each step it took, its eyes locked onto Rusty as it raised its axes high. Rusty took a long look at the enemy before him. He wanted to ask Aburdon and Alexander about this place, but his guides, along with several other skills, were locked. Just as they had predicted, he couldn''t access his inventory or loadouts and his stash tab was locked away as well. If he lost his shield and poleaxe, he wouldn''t be able to replace them. The same applied to damage; without access to his resources, he couldn''t use any iron to repair himself. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other monster shot forward, a red haze within its eyes as it attacked. Rusty raised his tower shield to meet the charging foe. The orc swung both axes down in a devastating arc, aiming to crush him under their weight. *CLANG!* The axes collided with Rusty''s shield, sparks flying as the force of the blow sent a tremor through the arena. The crowd gasped. Rusty didn''t budge an inch. His shield absorbed the impact like a stone wall against a wave, and with a practiced twist, he shoved the orc back, creating just enough distance to retaliate. Rusty swung his poleaxe in a wide arc, aiming for the orc''s midsection. The orc barely managed to leap back, avoiding a direct hit but not escaping unscathed - the poleaxe grazed its chest, leaving a reddish line where the weapon had struck. The orc howled in pain, staggering back a few steps. The crowd, which had sneered at Gwendolin moments before, was now captivated. Whispers of astonishment rippled through the spectators. "That metal golem is holding its own against the orc?" "Did it block those axes without flinching?" "Rainstar''s summon¡­ it''s actually strong?" Gwendolin watched in stunned silence, her fingers clutching the silver pendant. She couldn''t believe her eyes. Rusty wasn''t just strong - he was skilled, calculating, and independent. She wasn''t entirely sure what to do next but knew she had to stay calm. This might be her only chance to prove she belonged at the academy. Katherine, on the other hand, was fuming. "You''re not going to show me up with that pile of scrap metal!" She shouted. "Red Orc Warrior, activate frenzy, destroy that heap of metal!" She made a slicing motion with her hand, and a red glow enveloped the orc as it roared louder than ever. Its movements became erratic, wild, and ferocious as it charged Rusty again, this time with reckless abandon. Rusty stood his ground, his tower shield at the ready. The orc''s frenzied strikes came faster, each one heavier than the last, but Rusty''s defenses were impeccable. The metallic clang of each impact echoed through the arena like a symphony of war. ''Mister Rusty, be careful¡­ w-what skills do you have? I¡­ I don''t know what to do¡­'' The girl panicked, but Rusty couldn''t understand what the big deal was. He didn''t realize that summoned creatures couldn''t use their skills without the caster''s permission. Normally, Gwendolin would have to perform the proper incantation to grant him access to his abilities. Without that, as a summon, he was restricted to relying solely on his physical form - putting him at a clear disadvantage against the Red Orc, who had the full support of its summoner. ''Hah, I can use Frenzy just as well!'' Rusty proclaimed as a red haze similar to the one the Red Orc was surrounded with erupted from his metallic body. He was not a simple summon, he was his own monster capable of performing all his skills by himself. Rusty''s declaration echoed in Gwendolin''s mind, sparking confusion. She barely understood how this was possible, but there was no time to dwell on it. The arena erupted as Rusty lunged forward with surprising agility, his poleaxe glowing faintly as it carried another skill of his, enhancing his blow even further than before. The poleaxe came down with a thunderous crash, glowing with the red haze of Rusty''s activated skill. The Red Orc raised its axes to block, but the sheer force of the blow drove it to its knees, the ground beneath it cracking under the impact. The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers, their previous mocking words replaced by astonishment. Rusty wasn''t just holding his ground - he was dominating the fight. Katherine''s smirk faltered. Her Red Orc, now visibly struggling under the relentless assault, looked less like a terrifying monster and more like a cornered beast. She clenched her fists, her voice sharp with frustration as she barked another command. "Red Orc Warrior, retaliate! What do you think you are doing? Defeat that junk heap at once! It''s just a living armor with no weight, use your charge to push it down!" The orc roared in defiance, pushing back against Rusty''s poleaxe and swinging its axes in a furious whirlwind. Rusty stepped back, his tower shield absorbing the blows effortlessly. Despite the orc''s raw power, its movements were growing more erratic. Frenzy, while formidable, came at a cost: the harder it fought, the more it drained itself. In a desperate last-ditch effort, the monster obeyed its summoner''s command and charged recklessly. The tactic was simple - tackle the iron monstrosity to the ground. After all, it was just an empty suit of armor. The orc, large and muscular, weighed several times more than the armored figure. The collision was imminent. With all its might, the orc surged forward, expecting to overwhelm its opponent. But to everyone''s astonishment, Rusty didn''t budge. He remained rooted in place, as though he weighed several tons. The ground beneath him cracked under the sudden, immense pressure as if his weight had suddenly increased in an instant. ''Nice try orc, but this is it for you¡­'' A deafening clang rang out, followed by a sickening crack. Rusty''s poleaxe cleaved into the Red Orc''s armor-like hide, shattering the defensive layer and embedding deep into its side. The momentum of the charge was halted abruptly, the orc''s massive form crumpling to the ground. The crowd erupted into a mix of stunned gasps and cheers as the Red Orc let out a groan before collapsing, its body turning into mana particles as it had been defeated. Rusty stepped back, yanking his weapon free with a metallic screech. He loomed over the fallen orc, his own frenzy skill fading away. For a moment, he stood still, wondering if this was the end of the mission. But the system offered no confirmation. He glanced at Katherine, the opposing summoner. She was doing something, mana was gathering around her form and the summoning circle, it seemed that this was not quite over yet. Chapter 114 - 112 – Twilight Embrace. ''Maybe I should have gone with one of the harder missions instead.'' Rusty wondered to himself as he watched the orc vanish before his eyes. He had chosen the easiest mission to gauge how dangerous this new summoning chamber was, and it seemed he wouldn''t face much of a challenge. While the creature was stronger than the dungeon orcs he had previously encountered, it wasn''t much of a threat - and it was alone. Additionally, the creature required its summoner for skill activation, a big weakness that he, as an aware monster, did not share. Rusty could effortlessly chain together his strikes, skills and independently decide the best course of action for any situation. Katherine grit her teeth as her Red Orc faded into motes of mana, leaving not even its axes behind. Her frustration was palpable, and the crowd''s sudden enthusiasm for Gwendolin''s strange summon only worsened her mood. She wasn''t done yet, though. Not by a long shot. Katherine slammed her foot into the ground, her voice booming over the arena. "Impressive, Rainstar, but let''s see how your tin monster fares against something real!" The summoning circle beneath her flared to life, its intricate glyphs radiating with fiery mana. Katherine''s lips moved rapidly as she chanted a complex spell, her mana visibly pouring into the circle. The heat in the arena spiked sharply as something new was summoned. "It''s not over yet? Didn''t Katherine''s monster lose?" "You idiot, it''s not over until their mana depletes, they can summon as much as they want, the one with more mana will usually win." The crowd erupted into murmurs. They had all seen the red orc go down in a decisive defeat, but Katherine''s defiance kept the duel alive. Most people their age wouldn''t have enough mana for successive summonings, yet she was somehow managing it. Rusty, however, noticed something peculiar. During her chant, the girl had quickly grasped a red crystal, one that emitted an intense burst of mana. The energy flowed into her body, resembling the way mana crystals had restored his own MP in the past. "Hey, can you do that?" "Stay quiet, it''s better not to get involved with the Grandwell house, you know how they are¡­" "Yeah¡­" This sparked a buzz around the arena. Several spectators cast glances at the instructor overseeing the match. Rusty wasn''t entirely sure what was happening, but the atmosphere hinted that not everyone approved of her actions. His own summoner remained silent, her head bowed, but her tightly clenched fists betrayed her frustration. Rusty briefly considered asking what this was all about but refocused on the fight at hand. Maybe this "easy" mission wouldn''t be so easy after all. ''So, what''s she summoning now? A bigger orc? Maybe a big spider?'' ''No¡­ it''s probably that one¡­ oh no, what will we do?'' Rusty asked himself, though it seemed his ''summoner'' had heard his thoughts. He was still trying to make sense of this strange situation, it was possible to shield his mind from her - but only if he fully concentrated. Her distress was obvious, and it stirred something within him. Though he lacked a heart, it felt as though something was pumping excitement through his being. He had chosen the easy option, but deep down, he craved a challenge. He wanted his body to be tested, to push his limits, and to grow stronger through the fight ahead. From the glowing circle, flame mana erupted, coalescing into the form of a massive salamander. The creature roared as it emerged, its fiery scales radiating waves of heat. The air shimmered around it, distorting its imposing form. The salamander''s tail, a long whip of living fire, lashed out, leaving scorch marks on the ground. Its molten eyes locked onto Rusty, and it bared fangs that dripped liquid flame. Classification: Lesser Flame Salamander E+ Type: Beast/Fire Description: A monster native to volcanic regions, it is highly resistant to flames of any kind and a distant relative of dragons. "It''s a Lesser Flame Salamander, that living armor is finished!" "That summon''s flames will melt it in no time." ''Melt?'' The crowd erupted into cheers once more as the next monster made its appearance. Rusty had never faced anything like it before. It was larger than his current form, with a long, sinewy body that exuded menace. Its sharp teeth gleamed, but he doubted they could pierce through his shield. What truly concerned him were the flames. As someone with blacksmithing experience, he understood the effects of high temperatures on iron all too well. Prolonged exposure to that heat could be disastrous for him. Metal expanded when heated, and since his body was made of iron, any sudden alterations could disrupt his movements. If his body warped while he was in action, it could create a serious problem. "Go forth Salamander!" Katherine gave the command and the fiery salamander circled Rusty, its molten eyes narrowing as if assessing its prey. The crowd''s energy surged as they anticipated the battle between fire and steel. Gwendolin stood frozen, unsure how to assist. She clutched her pendant, hoping that Rusty''s strange independence would carry them through once more. Rusty raised his shield and started observing the monster as it moved closer. Then, the creature pounced, launching a straightforward but ferocious attack. Its jaws clamped down on his shield, emitting intense heat as it attempted to gnaw through the iron. The searing energy radiating from its mouth was a real issue, and Rusty could feel its effects beginning to take a toll on his body. For the moment, his shield held firm, but it was clear that this monster was far stronger and heavier than the red orc he had faced earlier. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An exchange of blows soon followed, with him landing a few shallow cuts with his poleaxe which gave him some range. His approach was somewhat strategic as he was trying to get a feel for what he was facing. The monster was quite strong and outranked him so he needed to be careful. His strategy was paying off as he managed to thrust his pointy end of his pole axe into the creature a few times, leaving shallow wounds behind. "That monster is still not going down¡­" "Now that I look at it¡­ what is that thing? Is it a unique?" The crowd began murmuring once again, and Rusty could see a large vein bulging on Katherine''s forehead. It was clear she didn''t appreciate the attention her opponent was getting, nor the fact that her powerful monster still couldn''t take down Rusty, who had switched to a defensive stance. In frustration, she suddenly barked an order, mana flowing into another command spell. "Salamander, use your flame breath! Melt that ugly thing!" The monster, now about ten meters away, halted its pursuit and reared back, its tail flicking in preparation for the devastating attack. The air shimmered with heat as it gathered flames in its throat, its molten eyes glowing brighter with every passing second. Rusty, still gripping his shield, quickly assessed the situation and realized that, in his current form, dodging the attack would be nearly impossible. Instead, he made the decision to brace for impact, raising his shield to absorb the attack. He believed his thick tower shield should be able to withstand the full force of the fiery blast. The salamander''s body tensed, its jaws parting as it prepared to unleash a torrent of searing fire. ''Here it comes! I just need to block it and then counter attack!'' Rusty thought to himself, his mind calculating the best way to mitigate the incoming blast. Just as the salamander released its fiery breath, a burst of heat and light filled the arena. The flames crashed against Rusty''s shield in an explosion of molten fury. For a moment, everything was a blur of blinding red and orange. The crowd gasped, and some even recoiled at the intensity of the attack. He focuses all his will on holding his ground. His shield groaned under the pressure as the heat licked at the edges of his armor. He could feel the iron beginning to heat up, warping ever so slightly with each second. However, he persisted through it while his body just slightly turned red. For a moment he remained in place, waiting for the heat to lower before attempting a counterattack. However, to his surprise, this wasn''t over. The summoner raised her hand again and performed the same command letting the salamander fire off another blast of heated energy, something that he didn''t expect. ''What? It can do this multiple times?'' From his experience with E-ranked monsters, Rusty knew they shouldn''t have that much mana. This breath attack likely consumed a large amount of MP, but strangely, the monster didn''t seem to lose any power as it unleashed the flames. It didn''t take long for him to realize what was happening: mana from the summoner was flowing into the monster, replenishing its energy. He reacted quickly and activated his Fortify Armor skill before the heat could intensify any further. Though the skill allowed him to endure the second blast, a third one was already on the way. His own mana reserves were dwindling rapidly as he relied on the fortification skill to protect himself. The ground beneath him was beginning to turn to glass, and if not for the skill, he would have likely started melting by now. Using his bulky body to absorb the flames had been a mistake, but he hadn''t anticipated that the summoner could continuously replenish the monster''s mana while he had no access to mana crystals to replenish his own. ''Oh no, Katherine''s mana is getting replenished by the mage gemstone, what should ¡­ what should I do, if this continues my summon will lose¡­ but what can I do? ''Oh¡­ can you do that too?'' ''Huh? Can I do what?'' As Rusty was trying to come up with a strategy, his summoner''s thoughts suddenly resounded in his mind. ''Can you do what she''s doing? Give me mana?'' ''I¡­ I should be able to!'' It seemed the young girl had been too stunned to help until now. She had been caught off guard, but the realization finally struck her - she was a summoner just like Katherine, and she could also channel her mana into her summoned monster. While she didn''t have any gems to accelerate her mana recovery, she could still provide a boost by refilling his mana reserves, even if it was just once. ''Then do it!'' While he still had some options, if his mana was fully replenished then he could try a different more aggressive strategy. Soon, Gwendolin focused and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She had only recently learned how to channel her mana directly into a summon, and this was her first real test. Her hand shook slightly as she reached out toward Rusty. A faint, shimmering light surrounded her, and for a brief moment, her connection with Rusty deepened. Soon her mana was flowing into him and he could see his MP rising. ''This should do it¡­ let''s try that!'' Before evolving, he had received a new skill - one he hadn''t yet been able to fully test. Though he understood how to use it, this would be his first time activating it in a true battle. Soon, his body began to shimmer as black and white energies surged and enveloped him. He activated ''Lesser Twilight Embrace'', a skill that called upon twilight energies to amplify his power. As the skill took effect, he could feel the rush of strength coursing through him. His stats shot up, granting him great boosts in attack, agility, and even defense. The arena fell silent as Rusty''s body was consumed by swirling black and white energies. His iron form gleamed with a spectral glow, the twilight energies creating an ethereal halo that seemed to darken the very air around him. The oppressive heat radiating from the Lesser Flame Salamander no longer felt as overwhelming; instead, the energy coursing through him made him feel invincible. The crowd gasped as they watched Rusty step forward, his movements suddenly fluid and eerily precise. With his shield still glowing orange from the residual heat of the Salamander''s breath attacks, he raised his poleaxe, the weapon shimmering with twilight energy. Even Katherine paused, her mana flow stopping as she observed the sudden transformation. "What is that?! Did the summoner give it some kind of buff?" "I''ve never seen anything like it¡­" Rusty didn''t wait for the crowd''s murmurs to subside. He darted forward, faster than anyone had expected. Despite the Salamander''s flames surging toward him, he gripped the heavy shield tightly and charged ahead. His metallic body emitted a screeching sound with every step, echoing through the arena. Though this was his bulkier form, he was moving faster than he ever could in his normal body. He could feel his MP draining rapidly as he sustained the skill, knowing he had to end the confrontation quickly. The Salamander lashed out with its flaming tail, aiming to halt Rusty''s advance. Yet, the empowered living armor anticipated the attack, pivoting smoothly and raising his glowing shield to absorb the brunt of the strike. Sparks exploded as the molten appendage collided with his shield, but Rusty barely slowed. Instead, he twisted his poleaxe and aimed a devastating counterstrike at the creature''s exposed flank. The blow landed with a resounding crack, the twilight-imbued blade cleaving through the Salamander''s fiery scales and drawing a howl of pain from the beast. The crowd erupted, some cheering wildly while others gasped in disbelief. The Salamander staggered, its body wreathed in flickering flames that seemed to dim slightly as it reeled from the injury. Katherine''s eyes widened in shock, and she quickly resumed her mana flow to bolster her summon. "Salamander, don''t let it get close! Keep it at a distance!" She commanded, her tone implying panic. However, Rusty refused to let the creature escape. As it swung its tail toward him again, he released his shield and gripped his poleaxe with both hands. With one empowered cleave, he severed the flaming tail in a single, decisive strike. The monster roared in agony as its tail crashed to the ground. It sizzled momentarily on the arena floor before the flames subsided. Rusty didn''t relent. The Lesser Twilight Embrace continued to surge through him, amplifying his every motion. With his shield abandoned, he could now fully wield his poleaxe, launching into a flurry of brutal strikes. Each swing carried the weight of twilight energy, leaving trails of black-and-white afterimages in its wake. Bolstered by his summoner''s mana, Rusty seamlessly chained power strikes together, unleashing a relentless barrage of blows that quickly overwhelmed his opponent. Katherine clenched her fists, pouring more mana into her summon in a desperate bid to turn the tide. The Salamander''s flames flared anew, its body surging with revitalized energy. It lunged at Rusty with jaws wide, aiming to crush him in one decisive move. But Rusty was faster. Pivoting sharply, he sidestepped the attack and spun his poleaxe in a wide arc. The weapon struck the Salamander''s neck with a thunderous crack, slicing through layers of fiery scales and lobbing it clean off. The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, their eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding before them. No one thought that it was possible but the battle was over and the underdog had been victorious. Chapter 115 - 113 – Getting Angry. As the Salamander''s decapitated body crumbled into motes of flame, Rusty stood victorious, his glowing poleaxe resting on the ground. His Lesser Twilight Embrace faded, leaving his metallic form steaming from the residual heat of the mana his body was encased in. The crowd''s cheers and gasps filled the arena, and Gwendolin finally let out the breath she hadn''t realized she was holding. Katherine was trembling, her face a mixture of rage and disbelief. Her hand still clutched the red mana stone, though its glow had dimmed. Rusty could tell the girl had exhausted its power, and resummoning a monster of this caliber would likely be impossible. There also appeared to be side effects from using the crystal; the young summoner was visibly out of breath. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, shifting from awe to skepticism as they pieced together what had transpired. Congratulations! You have completed your mission. Due to an unforeseen factor, the mission difficulty rating will be reevaluated. Please stand by. ''Oh?'' While Rusty was glancing at the fading monster, a system message appeared before his gleaming metal head. The mission was marked as complete, but the presence of the salamander had evidently caused the difficulty rating to increase. The battle with the first monster had been relatively straightforward, but the new one was no pushover. This highlighted a critical issue: he couldn''t rely on the difficulty ratings. He would need to figure out what was causing these discrepancies and he knew who to ask for help. ''I''m sure Alexander and Aburdon will know what''s wrong here¡­ so, does this mean I get to go back now?'' There was a strange hourglass on his system window, its sand trickling down as it circled around. Rusty wasn''t sure what it meant, but after a moment, a sixty-second timer appeared. It seemed he would be sent back shortly. Yet while his mission was technically complete, the events around him were far from over. The arena fell silent after the Lesser Flame Salamander''s defeat. Katherine''s chest heaved as she tried to steady her breathing, her trembling hands betraying her. Fury radiated from her - at the loss, at the crowd''s shifting loyalty, and perhaps at herself. Whispers about the red mana stone grew louder, and the instructor who had conveniently ignored her actions so far finally seemed inclined to intervene. "This isn''t fair! She must have cheated!" Before the instructor could say anything, Katherine''s venomous voice rang out, cutting through the murmurs. She jabbed a shaking finger toward Gwendolin, then swung it toward Rusty. "That... thing is unnatural! There''s no way she could win otherwise!" Gwendolin opened her mouth to reply but faltered, her words sticking in her throat. The accusation had left her momentarily stunned. The crowd exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. They knew Katherine''s claims were baseless but were hesitant to get involved. ''Why is everyone always against me? Why?'' Rusty stood silently, the timer ticking down on the system window. Gwendolin''s thoughts echoed in his consciousness - despair, fear, and anger swirling together like a storm. Though his summoning was temporary, he could feel her emotions boiling over, demanding release. Gripping his poleaxe tightly, Rusty shifted his gaze to Katherine, her shouts echoing across the arena. Twilight began to encase his metallic form, shadows rippling across his frame as if alive. "Hey, what is that summon doing?" Murmurs of alarm spread as others noticed Rusty''s sudden shift. He had raised his hand, gripping the poleaxe in a stance resembling someone about to throw a javelin - aimed squarely at Katherine. The crowd collectively held its breath. Even the instructor, who had conveniently ignored Katherine''s earlier actions, took an uneasy step forward, his hand outstretched as though he might intervene. "Stop¡­" Before the teacher could call out, Rusty performed the throwing motion, hurling his poleaxe at Katherine who was standing on the other end of the arena, next to one of the summoning circles. It cut through the air like a comet, trailing black-and-white energy. The arena''s mana shields flared to life, intercepting the weapon just inches from Katherine''s face. The force of the impact made the shield shimmer violently, and the reverberation echoed through the space like a thunderclap. Katherine shrieked and collapsed to her knees, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the poleaxe hovering mere inches away, vibrating against the barrier. For a moment, the entire arena was silent, save for Katherine''s panicked gasps. Then, like a dam breaking, the crowd erupted into laughter. "She almost fainted!" "Did you see her face? Priceless!" "Not very dignified, is she?" Katherine''s face burned with humiliation as mocking laughter rolled through the stands, momentarily drowning out her own flustered attempts to recover. Amidst the jeering crowd, no one noticed the ominous development - the poleaxe still radiated energy, a metal hand stuck to it, channeling both light and darkness. Suddenly, a colossal explosion ripped through the arena, catching everyone off guard. The blast was so powerful that it cracked the mana shield, its force pushing through the weakened barrier. Katherine barely had time to raise her hands in defense before the shockwave tossed her backward. The instructor sprang into action, his own mana surging as he leapt to intercept her fall. A shimmering new shield enveloped them both, protecting them from the worst of the debris and chaos unleashed by the cataclysmic event. Rusty stood there, his right hand missing. He had remembered one of the old techniques he used to win fights. Mixing both light and dark energies led to those energies going berserk, producing large blasts. He had hoped to do more damage, but the amount of darkness and light he could infuse was quite low. Now, the timer had reached zero, and it was time to return. For a moment, he glanced at his summoner, Gwendolin. She was stunned, just like everyone else here, perhaps even more so. Her negative emotions faded as she saw Katherine''s shocked expression, and Rusty could feel it. He looked at the destroyed poleaxe, which was turning into particles of mana along with his body. The quest was over, and now it was time to return. As his body faded away, he saw Gwendolin reach out in his direction as if she were trying to stop him from disappearing. He could feel sadness wash over him as he sensed her emotions, as if she didn''t want him to leave. He wasn''t sure how to react, but just before he completely faded away, he managed to transmit a few words, finding her behavior somewhat daunting. "Become stronger, so that they don''t look down on you¡­" Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. With that, he was gone; his body faded from the arena, and he felt his soul being tugged back towards the Soul Forge. The body he had just lost reappeared, this time with the hand he had used to overload his twilight energies. Even the poleaxe was back, and another system announcement awaited him. Congratulations on your return. Calculating rewards¡­ please wait¡­ He was back in the grand summoning chamber and just as promised he would be given some rewards. Rusty didn''t expect to gain much from the quests as it was marked for easy but perhaps after defeating the Salamander he would be given something more exceptional. Congratulations on your return. Calculating rewards¡­ please wait¡­ ''Monster Combat'' Quest difficulty will be raised from easy to medium, please wait for the rewards¡­ Received Small Experience Talisman x3 Received Large Advanced Axe Schematic x1 Received Lesser Flame Enchantment Talisman x1 "Oh!" He cried out in joy as he saw the rewards appear in his storage system, which was now unlocked again. According to the instruction manual, completing this quest would grant him some experience, though he wasn''t sure how it would be implemented. It seemed tied to the experience talismans he received, but there was more to it. Along with the talismans, he had been given schematics for a weapon and an enchantment talisman as well. However, before he could take the items out of storage, his two guides called out to him. "Rusty! What were you thinking? Why did you attack that young girl?" Alexander exclaimed, his tone sharp as if he was trying to scold a child. "Haha, what do you mean? He did great! Did you see the look on that brat''s face? I bet she won''t be so pompous in the future!" Aburdon retorted, clearly pleased by what Rusty achieved during his quest. Alexander was displeased with Rusty''s actions, while Aburdon seemed to revel in the fact that he had put the noble girl in her place. Reflecting on his actions, Rusty realized he wasn''t sure why he had that outburst. It was almost as if the girl summoner had influenced him somehow. Still, he couldn''t help but wonder - would he have received even more rewards if he had defeated the summoner? After all, summoners were the source of their summons. If he could take her down, wouldn''t her summon vanish, ensuring his victory? If not for the powerful mana shield protecting her, he might have tried it sooner. "Oh quiet down you two and instead answer some of my questions." The two instantly froze when he raised his voice in a commanding tone. He had just been through an intense battle, but there were things he still needed to know. If he was to use the summoning chamber to his advantage, he had to understand exactly how it calculated the rewards and what he could do to influence them. "Do you know why the quest suddenly increased in difficulty?" He posed the question to the two and Alexander was the one to reply. "I think there could be a few reasons, one of which is how you handled the first monster." "How I handled it?" "Yes. Perhaps if you had struggled more, the other summoner wouldn''t have reacted in such a way. She seemed quite angered by it." "Oh?" As he thought back to the red orc, he realized he had defeated it rather easily, without even needing to use any of his extensive skills. "But maybe there was nothing you could do, and it triggered automatically? It could have been a trap¡­" "A trap? Is that something the Soul Forge could do?" Rusty was surprised by this possibility. He had trusted the Soul Forge to be a place where he could gain more power, not something that might work against him. "This place could have a mind of its own, perhaps it realised that the challenge was too simple so it offered you a chance at better rewards? You probably wouldn''t have gotten that flame talisman if you didn''t defeat that salamander." "A mind of its own?" Rusty wasn''t entirely sure what Alexander was talking about. Was the Soul Forge not just something within his soul that helped him build it up? But if it was connected to his soul, it might have reacted to his own desires, creating a more difficult scenario because the first one had been too simple. He would need to conduct a few more tests to be certain, but being greeted with greater challenges wasn''t all that bad - especially since they came with rewards. "Oh, right, how do I even use these?" After speaking with Alexander, Rusty retrieved the talismans he had acquired. As he pulled them from his storage system, they shimmered faintly in his metallic hands. He examined them closely, trying to decipher their purpose while his guides hovered nearby, eager to chime in. The first items were three Small Experience Talismans. They resembled pieces of paper inscribed with strange magical symbols, along with some writings he could understand. These talismans featured golden letters and a golden outline along their edges. Though Rusty wasn''t sure how to use them, he felt fortunate to have his guides present. "Interesting, It seems similar to magic scrolls. You''ll probably need to channel some of your mana into it to activate the item." Aburdon floated closer, hinting that Rusty should treat it like any other one-use magical item he had encountered before. Wasting no time, Rusty decided to test it. However, instead of the talisman activating, he was met with an error message. Error: Small Experience Talisman can not be used within the Soul Forge environment. "Makes sense. It''s best if you use it after you''re done with your evolution, Rusty" Alexander commented, having also seen the error message. Rusty felt a twinge of disappointment, but he understood it was likely better to use the talismans before he maxed out his experience points. Shaking off the thought, he next retrieved the Large Advanced Axe Schematic, which resembled the weapon the Red Orc had wielded. The schematic was a straightforward blueprint, far superior to the weapons Rusty had crafted on his own so far. It appeared to be designed for him to create by himself. The blueprint outlined every detail: from the type of flame he needed to use, to the specific tools required, down to the precise number of hammer blows on each side. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty knew it would probably take a few attempts to get it right, but the axe had the potential to become a powerful weapon in the future - or even a profitable product to sell once he established his smithy in the real world. The final item was the Lesser Flame Enchantment Talisman. It was similar in appearance to the first talismans but had red letters and a fiery outline along its edges. The borders flickered with tiny tongues of flame, and Rusty could feel a warm energy radiating from it. "This will come in handy," Aburdon remarked, hovering closer. As the group''s magic expert, he quickly identified its use. "I assume you can use it to imbue one of your weapons or tools with flame properties. It''ll probably make your attacks even more devastating, especially against enemies weak to fire." Rusty turned the talisman over in his metallic hands, studying the intricate runes engraved on its surface. He wasn''t entirely sure how it worked, but with only one in his possession, it would be best to save it for an improved steel weapon - perhaps a sword or a polearm. Satisfied, he carefully stored all his newly acquired items. With everything settled, Rusty turned his attention to the console for one final check. "I see... so I can''t use it again" The icon representing the summoning circle was now grayed out, and no matter how many times he clicked on it, it wouldn''t open. He searched for a timer or some indicator but found none. It seemed this was a one-time-use quest, and he would need to wait until his next evolution to attempt it again. "Oh¡­ what is that?" To his surprise, a new icon had appeared. It resembled a notebook and was distinct from the instruction manual. Without hesitation, Rusty pressed it. A new window opened, and a familiar name appeared: Gwendolin Rainstar. Chapter 116 - 114 – Time To Craft. Rusty stared at the display in front of him. On it was the image of a gloomy-looking girl - the summoner he had interacted with earlier. Her picture was grayed out, leaving him uncertain about its significance. Fortunately, Alexander seemed to have some understanding of these strange contraptions, so Rusty decided to ask him. "Do you know what this might mean?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hm¡­ It could be that after you successfully complete the quests, you can be summoned again by a summoner you''ve interacted with before. Though, I might be wrong¡­" "Is that so? But it doesn''t seem to be working right now." "Well, she probably needs to attempt a summoning first. But it might also just be some kind of record of summoning missions and nothing more. We''ll probably have to wait and see." "Was there any mention of this in that manual?" After Alexander shared his speculation, he turned to Aburdon, who had previously gone through the entire manual. "Hm, there wasn''t anything like that mentioned before. How strange¡­" The three decided to revisit the manual. When they brought up the interface, to their surprise, an additional section had appeared. The new section confirmed Alexander''s theory: after a successful mission, the connection with the summoner would be saved, and future quests involving that summoner could become available. "How interesting, this means that if you, dear Rusty, complete multiple missions with a particular summoner, you may form a deeper connection - something akin to a bonding contract." The manual was somewhat vague on the details, but it hinted that Rusty might be summoned to battle monsters on behalf of the young girl. While the prospect of fighting for her didn''t particularly interest him, the potential quest rewards certainly did. However, Rusty couldn''t help but wonder how this arrangement would work, especially given his limited access to the Soul Forge, which was only possible during evolution. "Hm¡­ I think there might be nothing more for me to do here¡­" The summoning chamber was vast, but there wasn''t much Rusty could interact with beyond the console and the now-dimmed summoning circle. For a moment, he wondered where exactly he had been summoned to and whether the time spent in the summoning chamber still aligned with the Soul Forge''s temporal flow - or if more time had passed in the real world, where Gleam was waiting for him. With those thoughts lingering, Rusty made his way back to the main forge chamber, where the three lifeless bodies awaited him. There he noticed one oddity, the summoning chamber sign was also dimmer now, probably indicating that it was out of order. Soon, he headed not to the smith part of the soul forge but to the library instead. Rusty was now permitted to use twilight steel as his primary resource for crafting new bodies and weapons. Previously, he had created a lankier version of himself and a larger, heavier variant. This time, he planned to do the same, making only marginal improvements to the designs since he hadn''t had much time to study. He reminded himself that the library offered new guides and knowledge on advanced smithing techniques. With access to these resources, he could likely level up his basic smithing and forging masteries - perhaps even evolve them further. Rusty entered the library, his metallic footsteps echoing softly against the polished stone floor. The vast chamber stretched out before him, with towering shelves of books and manuals. He noted that this place had become larger than before, with bookshelves that he had not seen before and it seemed that he had his work cut out for him. He approached a section that used to contain crafting manuals and noticed that another case had appeared which contained new crafting manuals specifically dedicated to Twilight Steel. The shelf gleamed faintly as if resonating with the energy of the material it detailed. Rusty scanned the titles quickly, picking up one labeled "Fundamentals of Twilight Alloy Forging" and another titled "Mastering Blacksmithing Techniques: Twilight Steel and Beyond." "These sound oddly specific, different from before." The instructions were more about handling the new alloy and how to shape it correctly and went past the fundamentals that he had already studied before. He settled at a nearby table, its surface already equipped with tools for note-taking and sketching designs. Rusty opened the first manual, its pages illuminated by the soft candle glow of the library. Aburdon didn''t say much as he immersed himself in the books, scanning through their pages. Meanwhile, Alexander remained outside, inspecting the forge and taking a keen interest in the newly improved smithing tools. Rusty, however, stayed focused on the fundamentals of working with twilight steel. These detailed guides explained methods for achieving balanced forging with this advanced material. Twilight steel, he learned, was still based on iron but included an essential addition called high-carbon. This alloy was created by combining iron with altered carbon in a process involving something called a blast furnace. Although pre-prepared ingots of twilight steel were readily available for his use, Rusty recognized the value of understanding the entire process. He couldn''t always rely on the system to handle everything for him - mastery of blacksmithing required a deep awareness of every step of the craft. "The melting point is a lot higher for twilight steel than regular steel, interesting¡­" One thing quickly became apparent: his new body would still surpass regular steel in strength. From what he knew, steel-based Living Armors would be somewhat weaker than his old iron body, while this new form made with twilight steel could rival even a D-rank monster at least when it came to durability. He was eager to begin crafting weapons and his new suit of armor, but he understood the importance of thoroughly reviewing all the books before experimenting. Rusty recalled his earlier attempts at working with iron, which had resulted in multiple failures. This time, he was determined to approach the process with greater speed and efficiency. Rusty absorbed the crafting manuals like a sponge, focusing on every nuance of twilight steel forging. Each page revealed new complexities about the alloy - its propensity for retaining enchantments, its resistance to extreme conditions, and its compatibility with mana infusion. This point in the manual stood out the most as it implied that this alloy was well suited for enchantments but this was not something he was capable of doing, as for that he would require mana skills similar to Gleam''s. ''The mana conductivity will still increase my twilight skills though If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The manuals offered step-by-step instructions for advanced forging. Rusty paid particular attention to the section on tempering methods, noting that twilight steel required a precise cooling technique to stabilize its mana-conductive properties. Cooling it too quickly or too slowly could result in brittle fractures or diminished magical resonance. Rusty paused at a detailed diagram showcasing a forge setup designed specifically for working with twilight steel. The illustration depicted a secondary bellows system, which introduced a steady stream of infused mana vapor into the forge''s flames. This innovative design ensured that the material remained malleable without sacrificing its innate magical properties. It was fascinating, and Rusty made a mental note to recreate something similar when he eventually built his forge in the city. While Rusty could recreate ingots and weapons using the system, he still needed to forge them manually first. Time within the Soul Forge was limited, and the duration required for each evolution would only grow longer as he progressed. If he wanted to advance efficiently, he needed to forge better weapons and armor components outside of this place. The Soul Forge offered immense advantages, but it also had its limitations. To complicate things, some stronger materials available in the real world might not be recognized by the system, making it crucial for Rusty to expand his skills beyond the forge''s boundaries. Time seemed to fly as he worked through the books, spending several days poring over new and improved schematics for weapon designs. While none of them matched the intricacy of the Advanced Axe Schematic, they were just a step below in quality. Once he had absorbed all the knowledge he could from the manuals, Rusty moved on to the next phase of his plan: crafting his designs. The forge provided Rusty with pen and paper, and his now more dexterous fingers allowed him to make use of them. Inspired by watching Aburdon draw up schematics, Rusty decided to try his hand at it. While his guide could wield a brush with ease in the Soul Forge, Rusty knew this wouldn''t be possible in the real world. Just like smithing, he needed to master the skill himself. At first, his efforts were clumsy. His metallic fingers wobbled, and the lines he drew rarely matched what he envisioned. However, after several attempts, a system window appeared: Basic Penmanship L1 Passive Skill The art of writing by hand. Basic Drawing L1 Passive Skill The art of creating drawings or diagrams. After hours of trial and error, Rusty unlocked these two skills. With them, his metallic fingers grew steadier, and he managed to recreate some of the schematics Aburdon had shared. Though his versions lacked the same level of precision, they were a large improvement over his earlier attempts. Rusty persisted, consulting his guides and practicing relentlessly until his skills leveled up further. Finally, he produced two armor designs that he felt genuinely satisfied with. The first design was the bulkier model, which he decided to name ''Ogre'' Variant. It had a greater size than the previous model and retained its imposing bulk, but Rusty had managed to incorporate advanced joint mechanisms that allowed for more fluid movements without sacrificing durability. The Ogre Variant''s plates were interconnected using a combination of reinforced twilight steel and a more flexible alloy version that he still needed to produce. This enhancement would grant the suit slightly more mobility, even for its massive frame. Rusty added spikes and reinforced edges to critical areas, ensuring it could double as a walking fortress and an offensive powerhouse. The second design, which Rusty named the Wraith Variant, was tailored for agility and unconventional maneuverability. He meticulously reworked the framework, making it even lighter by thinning the twilight steel plates without sacrificing structural integrity. To enhance its mobility, Rusty developed an intricate joint system, enabling the Wraith Variant to twist and bend in ways that were unnatural for most humanoid forms. The segmented limbs further contributed to its flexibility and range of motion. As a finishing touch, Rusty incorporated specialized hooked hands and feet, allowing this form to climb with ease. This addition eliminated the need for Gleam to carry his helmet around everywhere, making the Wraith Variant an efficient and self-reliant design. Both designs incorporated the newfound knowledge he had gleaned from the crafting manuals and now it was time to rebuild himself from scratch. Rusty returned to the forge chamber, eager to bring his designs to life. The dim, fiery glow of the smithing area surrounded him as he began assembling the materials. Twilight steel ingots sat in neat stacks, their surfaces shimmering faintly. He pulled up the schematics for both the Ogre and Wraith Variants and stuck them to a board on the wall. "Are you ready Rusty?" "Yeah, let''s do this!" Rusty answered Alexander who had joined him in the forge. This guide had also gone through this and could offer him some pointers while he worked. Soon Rusty started, the Ogre Variant would be first. He began by heating the twilight steel ingots until they glowed white-hot. The forge tools, upgraded specifically for twilight steel, exuded twilight energy as Rusty hammered the molten metal into shape. The bulkier plates for the chest, shoulders, and legs were the first components he tackled. He followed the tempering instructions meticulously, using the secondary bellows to infuse mana vapor into the flames. This kept the metal malleable while preserving its magical properties. While he failed a couple of times to keep the mixture right, eventually he succeeded. As the plates cooled, they retained a deep, metallic grayish sheen, a hallmark of perfectly forged twilight steel. Next, Rusty focused on the joint mechanisms. These were critical to improving mobility. Using a combination of twilight steel and the flexible alloy he''d learned to create, he crafted interlocking components for the shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles. These joints, reinforced with overlapping segments, allowed for an increased range of motion without compromising the armor''s bulk. Finally, Rusty added the finishing touches. He lined the shoulders and gauntlets with sharp spikes, reinforced the edges along the arms and legs for added durability, and began crafting the helmet. Initially, he envisioned a fearsome ogre-like design, but after realizing it would take too long, he opted for a simpler approach. The helmet featured human-like eye sockets, allowing for a design that Aburdon and Alexander could inhabit. While Rusty had considered removing the eyes altogether to keep people from attacking his core within the helmet, he discovered that doing so interfered with his vision. The eye sockets had to remain, adhering to specific proportions otherwise he would be blind. It took Rusty an entire week of continuous work to complete the first variant. The process was riddled with multiple failures, but eventually, something clicked. With that breakthrough, he moved on to creating the Wraith Variant. The Wraith''s construction progressed much more smoothly than the Ogre''s and required fewer materials due to its thinner armor plating. The streamlined design not only saved time but also reinforced the focus on agility and efficiency, marking a stark contrast to the heavier, more cumbersome Ogre Variant. The segmented limbs were the most challenging aspect of this design. Each segment required precise measurements and perfect alignment to achieve the unnatural flexibility he envisioned. Rusty crafted dozens of small, interlocking pieces, testing and adjusting them repeatedly until they moved fluidly. He also added a streamlined helmet with a smooth, featureless faceplate, enhancing the form''s eerie, otherworldly appearance and slits for his eyes. With both variants complete, Rusty took a step back to appreciate how far he had come. His crafting skills had improved significantly, as evidenced by the updates on his system window. Both Basic Smithing Mastery and Basic Forging had surpassed level nine, evolving into enhanced versions that no longer carried the "basic" prefix. Once upgraded, his crafting techniques had improved drastically, and the quality of his creations had become markedly superior. Nevertheless, his work was far from over. While his two new shells were ready to be stored away, he still needed to recreate his weapons and shield. He had already spent three weeks here and wasn''t sure when he would be forced to leave. Determined to make the most of his remaining time, he pushed forward without resting. Before the timer ran out, he planned to craft every possible weapon combination, use the new axe design he received from the summoner chamber, and decide which weapon would receive the enchantment talisman. "So much more work to do¡­ I hope Gleam is doing okay¡­ Should I make armor for her?" He asked himself and then returned to work. Chapter 117 - 115 – Basic Enchanting. "What do you think?" "I''m not sure she''ll like the color." "The color? Why would that matter?" "Oh, my dear Rusty, you still have so much to learn - one of those things is the intricacies of a woman''s heart." "..." Rusty stood there, staring at the black wisp of light as it babbled on about something he couldn''t comprehend. "It''s fine, Rusty. Just ignore him." Alexander glanced at the schematics spread before him. The design was for a small suit of armor intended for a monster ant. The focal point was an open-faced helmet with precise openings for Gleam''s antennae. But the schematics went further, detailing a full set of armor designed to cover his companion fully. The metal was thin yet durable, made from twilight steel and offered reliable protection without hindering Gleam''s mobility or her ability to cast spells. The primary challenge was that Gleam wasn''t present, so making precise adjustments to fit her body was a difficult task. This was why Rusty sought the expertise of Aburdon and Alexander, hoping their insights would help him produce the right dimensions. After considerable effort and collaboration, they had finally arrived at a design that seemed functional but perhaps not very elegant. Rusty examined the final design once more, ensuring that every detail aligned with the knowledge he had gained from his recent studies. The armor was lightweight yet sturdy, designed to complement Gleam''s agile movements. He had even incorporated a flexible underlayer using the same technique that enhanced the Wraith variant''s mobility. Despite the well-thought-out functionality, Rusty found himself hesitating. Would Gleam appreciate this? Or would she reject it entirely? Aburdon''s earlier comments about color choices made him uncertain. Rusty had never considered aesthetics when forging his own body - his focus was always on practicality and efficiency. Would Gleam see it the same way, or did she have preferences he had never considered? "Function comes first. If she dislikes the color, she can request a different finish later. What matters is that it protects her." Alexander continued, and Rusty decided to go along with him. There weren''t many ways to change the color here, as everything was made of twilight metals, and he didn''t want to create a lower-quality alloy that would compromise the armor''s durability. Then there was his other project - the high-quality axe schematic. However, one problem arose: it was a direct copy of the axe used by the Red Orc. Rusty had never trained in axe-wielding, as he had chosen to limit himself to a smaller selection of weapons, primarily swords, maces, bows, and polearms. "Hm¡­ is it possible to change this?" He held the schematic in front of him, examining it carefully. In theory, he should be able to modify it - lengthen the hilt, adjust the proportions, and make a few changes to transform it into something closer to a poleaxe than a standard axe. "Adjusting schematics and adapting them to your needs is something every craftsman has to learn. You should give it a try, Rusty." The words came from Alexander, who had been a master craftsman in his previous life. Though much of his past remained lost to him, he still had a wealth of knowledge to share. Additionally, a strange phenomenon seemed to be expanding his understanding further as he continued to evolve. Rusty nodded, taking Alexander''s advice to heart. He studied the advanced axe schematic once more, breaking down its structure in his mind. Grabbing a blank sheet of parchment, he began sketching the alterations. The axe head needed to be slightly slimmer to maintain balance, and he opted to add a spike at the top for thrusting attacks. Normally, a poleaxe would have a hammer-like counterweight on the opposite end, but he hesitated to alter the design too much, fearing it might reduce the weapon''s quality. Instead, he kept the double-axe design and focused on extending the hilt to improve balance. "How does that look?" "Not bad¡­ but not quite there yet." Alexander commented and even Aburdon got involved, his schematic-making skills far surpassing Rusty''s. With his guide''s help, Rusty refined the design. After using Aburdon''s redrawn schematic as a reference, he finally completed his own version. A system message appeared before him: Basic Schematic Modification Passive Skill L1 This skill allows the user to alter existing schematics without reducing their grade. ''Oh, neat!'' Rusty was gaining more crafting skills, each one proving invaluable to his new daily life. With this schematic modification ability, he could now adapt other people''s diagrams to better suit his fighting style. Rusty wasted no time implementing the changes. With his new schematic modification skill, he carefully re-adjusted the design of the poleaxe again to create a diagram for his next project. The forge roared to life as he heated the twilight steel, his hammer striking against the glowing metal with precise, practiced movements. As sparks flew, he focused on maintaining the perfect balance between sharpness and durability. Piece by piece, the weapon took shape. The extended shaft provided additional reach, and the axe head maintained its lethal edge while incorporating the subtle enhancements Rusty had planned. After days of relentless effort and a few failures, the poleaxe was finally complete. Its blade gleamed with a faint twilight glow, a sign that it had been forged flawlessly. He gripped the weapon tightly, testing its weight and balance. Satisfied, Rusty turned his attention to the final task - enchantments. The talisman he had obtained was his best chance to enhance one of his creations, and he debated whether to use it on the poleaxe or one of his armor variants. "Decisions, decisions¡­" The Lesser Flame Enchantment Talisman could be applied to weapons, shields, or armor, with its effects varying depending on the choice. If used on a shield or armor, it would grant increased resistance to flames. While his metal body already provided a degree of protection, extreme heat - like that from the salamander could still melt him. Fortunately, he had the ability to mend his wounds if that happened. However, increasing his offensive power seemed like the better option - sometimes, the best defense was a strong offense. His body already had high durability, so further flame resistance might have diminishing returns. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "The poleaxe seems like a better choice." Ultimately, he decided that enhancing his lethality would help him deal with threats more efficiently. With that in mind, he retrieved the paper talisman from his inventory and placed it on the poleaxe. Activating it was simple - he only needed to inject a small amount of mana.A surge of energy enveloped the weapon, and glowing symbols spread across its surface as the enchantment took hold. Then shortly after, a system window popped up: Weapon enchantment was completed successfully. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The flaming paper crumbled into dust as it was used and the poleaxe he made started changing too. He could see some glowing symbols embedding themselves to the bladed part on the tip and the twilight metal receiving a reddish tint. His new weapon was ready and he quickly examined it with his identification skill. Classification: Enchanted Twilight Poleaxe [ Intermediate ] Type: Polearm Grade: Refined Description: An enchanted poleaxe forged from twilight steel and containing a fire enchantment. The first thing he noticed was a new detail - his weapon now displayed both a grade and a ranking. While the weapon itself was only intermediate, meaning his craftsmanship still had room for improvement, its overall grade had reached advanced - higher than any of his previous creations. ''The grades seem to follow a similar naming system as skill ranks.'' This world had multiple grading systems. One applied to skills, starting with basic, progressing to regular, and eventually reaching advanced. It seemed weapons had a similar structure. The lowest grade was crude, followed by standard - which most of his previous weapons belonged to. Now, for the first time, he had forged a refined weapon, placing it in D-grade, a step above the E-grade his own body still remained in. Now that he had this enchanted weapon, he still had many other products to make. First he would fashion Gleam''s new armor and then lastly he would remake all the iron weapons into steel, that is if the soul forge didn''t push him out before his work was done. He had spent a month in here already but testing out this weapon needed to be done, so he headed to the training chamber where he picked out an enemy that he previously fought, a regular green dungeon orc. Rusty held his new poleaxe with a firm grip, feeling the shift in weight compared to his previous weapons. The length gave him better reach, and the enchanted blade radiated a faint heat, a testament to the embedded flame enchantment. Facing him in the training chamber was a standard green dungeon orc, a foe he had battled before but never with such a refined weapon. As the training simulation began, the orc roared and charged forward, its crude axe raised high. Rusty shifted his stance, allowing his new weapon''s length to dictate his strategy. With a quick step to the side, he swung the poleaxe in a wide arc. The blade met the orc''s axe mid-swing, and the impact sent sparks flying. The enchanted edge bit into the metal of the orc''s weapon, leaving a noticeable scorched groove. "I see¡­" The orc grunted and staggered from the unexpected force, giving Rusty an opening. He followed up with a downward strike, the poleaxe''s tip igniting as it connected with the creature''s shoulder. A sizzling noise filled the air as the orc howled in pain, flames licking at its wound. Rusty took a step back, assessing his weapon''s performance. The weight distribution was excellent, allowing for both slashing and thrusting attacks. The flame enchantment activated upon impact, burning his enemies while preserving the sharpness of the blade. He tested a few more maneuvers, each swing growing more precise as he adjusted to the poleaxe''s reach. The orc, though wounded, was not defeated. It lunged at Rusty again, this time with more caution. Rusty used the length of his poleaxe to keep the creature at bay, delivering a series of quick jabs before finishing with a spinning strike. The enchanted blade struck true, carving deep into the orc''s side and igniting a trail of flames along the wound. With a final, pained roar, the dungeon orc collapsed into a pile of fading embers, its form vanishing as the training simulation ended. "This is peculiar¡­ is this how enchanted weapons work?" He turned his head towards Alexander who was with him. "Did you notice Rusty?" "Yes, the magic inside of it seems to be fading¡­" After the battle, Rusty noticed that the flaming enchantment wasn''t permanent. With each strike, he could feel the mana draining from the weapon. He wasn''t sure why this was happening, but he knew his guide, Alexander, would have some answers. If enchanted weapons only lasted for a short time, they wouldn''t be very useful. "Enchanted weapons come in different types, some have permanent enchantments, but those are rare and require high-tier materials and expert craftsmanship. Most, like yours, have temporary effects that drain mana charges with each use." "Mana charges?" Rusty asked, eyeing the poleaxe in his hand. "Yes. Once the charges are depleted, the enchantment stops working. But that doesn''t mean the enchantment is gone. You just need to recharge it or use your own mana to activate it. Try it now - put some of your mana into the weapon. Even if it isn''t fully used up, you can still use it together with your mana" Rusty nodded and focused, channeling a small portion of his mana into the poleaxe. The moment his energy entered the weapon, the engraved symbols along the blade pulsed faintly before reigniting with their previous glow. A subtle warmth spread from the weapon''s core, signaling that the enchantment had been activated. "But¡­ it doesn''t seem that the enchantment is recharging¡­" Rusty asked as he noticed that even if the weapon activated by using his own mana, the amount of mana that had been previously stored had not been refiled. "That''s true, only an arcane craftsman can recharge an enchantment on the weapon or you can do it with a specialized item, like that talisman you used." "Oh¡­ but aren''t I a craftsman too? Shouldn''t I be able to do it?" "Well¡­ probably not at the moment, you lack some core skills like ''Basic Mana Manipulation''" "That skill again?" Rusty knew this skill was essential for casting spells, but for now, he only possessed mana sense. He could see the flow of mana but couldn''t manipulate it. It seemed he would have to hope that his next evolution granted him this elusive ability - or perhaps he could absorb it from a defeated mage along his journey. With a sigh, he returned to the forge, spending the next few days working on Gleam''s armor. Rusty worked tirelessly in the forge, hammering, shaping, and refining each piece of Gleam''s armor with meticulous care. The twilight steel, though challenging to mold, responded well to his expertise. He constantly referred to the schematics, ensuring every joint and plate allowed for maximum mobility while providing the best possible protection. He had also taken Aburdon''s earlier words into account and decided to add a small aesthetic touch - etching delicate swirling patterns along the plates that resembled some flowers he had seen out in nature. Soon after the process of reforging began, and while he could smelt down old iron blades, there was no need as thanks to the Soul Forge, which provided him with an unlimited supply of steel ingots. He practiced using the smelter for future reference but soon returned to working with the ingots, knowing he was short on time. Days turned into weeks as he remained focused on expanding his arsenal. Though he had his enchanted polearm, he wanted a variety of weapons suited for different enemies, along with various shield types to complement them. As Rusty finished the last set of weapons and armor, he took a step back to admire his handiwork. The forge had been both his sanctuary and his proving ground, pushing his skills beyond what he had ever thought possible. "You''ve improved, Rusty. Not just in skill but in understanding. Crafting isn''t just about function - it''s about intent. You''re starting to grasp that." Just as Alexander finished the sentence the Soul Forge started quaking, it seemed that the time had come to an end. He had stayed here a bit longer than previously and the biggest change was the summoning chamber. However, it had not activated again to allow him to gain more rewards now it was time to return and he could not wait to inhabit his new body and resume his real life together with Gleam. "Well, I''ll see you two outside!" He said to his two guides before walking towards the three suits of armor that were presented to him. He touched the middle one and his connection to his current form started to fade and transfer to the new steel shell. Chapter 118 - 116 – Over Points. Gleam perched on a nearby table, her antennae twitching as she observed Rusty''s unmoving body. The eerie silence of the hidden chamber was broken only by the faint hum of latent magic. Then, without warning, his frame began to tremble. She chirped in alarm and lept back as Rusty''s iron body convulsed, cracks forming along its surface. A soft glow emanated from within, flickering between shades of deep purple and silver. The transformation had begun. Rusty''s armor shifted, the old iron plates shedding like molted skin, revealing a refined, gleaming metal beneath - Twilight Steel - an improved alloy infused with both shadow and light. Ethereal wisps danced along the edges of his plating for a moment, giving him an almost spectral appearance. Gleam chirped in awe, her eyes reflecting the glow of the new body. Rusty slowly lifted a hand, flexing his fingers as he adjusted to the changes. His frame felt lighter yet more resilient, the magic coursing through him more potent than ever before. "( ?? ? ?? )? " Gleam cheered, fluttering closer as she examined his new form. The changes were minimal but it was clear to her that her friend was now a lot stronger. The helmet was slightly more angular and the plating a bit thicker. Rusty turned his gaze to her and once his sight returned he spoke out. "Gleam, I''m back!" Rusty looked at his friend whom he had not seen in months. He wasn''t sure how long he was gone for but now he was back and their adventure could resume. As he adjusted his new body he felt stronger, faster, and more dexterous. The twilight steel shimmered under the light of the chamber that Gleam conjured up. ''My shell hasn''t changed much but it does feel a lot better, how does my status look though?'' Quickly he brought up his status screen to see what he was working with. Only after inhabiting this steel alloy form could he glance over his stats and he noticed a few things that were out of place. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Steel Armor [ E ++ ] L1 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 361/361 Magic Points [MP] 283/283 Special Points [SP] 70/70 Strength 150 [ E ++ ] { + 6 } Agility 127 [ E + ] Dexterity 126 [ E + ] Constitution 150 [ E ++ ] { + 11 } Intelligence 131 [ E + ] Wisdom 133 [ E + ] Willpower S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 132 [ E + ] Durability D First of all, a few of his stats seemed to have reached the limit of E rank. Constitution and Strength had always been his top stats, and both were now at 150. It was already clear to him that E-rank stats were divided by increments of fifty points, whereas when he was an F-rank creature, that number had been thirty-three. However, some strange brackets appeared next to those two capped-out stats, perhaps indicating that he had more of them than met the eye. ''I should probably ask Aburdon and Alexander for advice, but first...'' Just like before, he should have received one more skill. He had gained Mana Sense previously and had hoped that this time, he would obtain a skill that would allow him to cast spells like Gleam. However, upon glancing at his system screen, he was disappointed to find an entirely new skill - one that had nothing to do with mana at all, but with fear. Basic Terror Aura Active Skill When activated, this skill generates a region around the user that terrifies their foes. Enemies unable to resist its effects will be rooted in place for a short duration. ''It could be useful¡­ I suppose¡­'' In short, this was a crowd control skill that would allow him to momentarily stun enemies around him. He assumed it would only last for a second or two and was likely more effective against weaker foes, as stronger ones with high willpower would probably resist its effects. ''I''ll need to test it against some goblins perhaps?'' " ( ¡Ñ _ ¡Ñ ) " "Oh sorry Gleam, I was just looking through my skills." As he was going through his status screen, he noticed that Gleam was staring at him with intent. "Speaking of which, how long was I gone?" Previously, he had no way of telling how long his evolution had taken, but with Gleam watching over his body, the mystery could finally be solved. "( ?? ? ?? )?" "Oh, it was a whole day?" He was a bit surprised by this revelation, expecting it to be closer to the few hours it had taken for Gleam''s recent evolution. "I''m sorry, I thought it would be faster. Were you bored?" "(£þ¦ê£þ)" "Oh¡­ well, once we''re out of here, I''m sure we''ll find some food for you." Gleam had been surviving on mana-infused water for now, but he knew she much preferred the mana crystals from dungeons - which, unfortunately, they had none left of. Once outside, he wondered if he could find something to fill her little ant tummy a bit more. After finishing his chat with Gleam, he turned back to his status screen - this wasn''t quite over yet. All his loadouts needed to be remade, as he now had new armor variants, making the old iron armor somewhat pointless. Besides the Ogre and Wraith variants, he had also reforged the adventurer armor using the new twilight metal and was ready to restore his forms. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. After dragging and dropping a multitude of items, he was finally set. With that done, he decided to summon Aburdon and Alexander back into his eye sockets. "Finally! I was wondering if you were mad at us." Aburdon grumbled, his tone laced with irritation from being kept waiting for so long. Alexander, on the other hand, remained silent on the matter. Instead, before Rusty could even ask for guidance, he pointed out the strange numbers in his status. "It seems you''ve become an Elite Monster, Rusty. You even have over-stat points." "Over-stat¡­ points?" "Indeed, hundred fifty is the point limit for an E-rank monster. Normally it is a barrier that can never be crossed." Rusty listened with interest and interjected before Alexander could continue. "It can not? Then why was I able to?" "Well, that''s because¡­" Alexander was about to continue but Aburdon was the one to interrupt now. "It''s because your evolution is pushing you through the threshold, my dear Rusty. Once you cross it, a whole new world will open up to you!" He replied in an overly dramatic manner, making Rusty believe this was a big deal. He glanced at the few extra stat points and the double plus mark, indicating that this was indeed something special. Did this mean he could handle D-rank monsters even as an E-rank? His durability already exceeded that of D-minus monsters, so with these additional stat points, perhaps he could. "I see that you''re excited, but I''ll have to disappoint you, my dear Rusty - it doesn''t work quite the way you think." "Oh?" Soon, Aburdon and Alexander began explaining, painting a clearer picture in Rusty''s mind. The extra points didn''t mean he had jumped an entire rank; rather, they simply added to his existing stats, as if they exceeded the usual 150-point limit. Normally, monsters couldn''t surpass that cap, and any points beyond it wouldn''t be counted. It was as if there was an imposed restriction on ranks to prevent them from reaching too high. However, there was something unique about these extra points - they were supposedly permanent. Once he evolved further, they would be added to his stats separately. "So that''s how it works¡­ interesting." "Indeed. You should have received a title along with it." At Aburdon''s words, Rusty quickly navigated to his title list and spotted one that seemed new. Over The Limit Title A title gained once the rank limit gets broken. Rusty examined the title carefully. Over The Limit - it had a nice ring to it. If this meant he was pushing past the natural constraints of his rank, then his evolution was progressing in ways even he hadn''t fully anticipated. It also suggested that if he had chosen to skip the E-plus rank, he might never have received this title or the ability to farm these over-points. "I see¡­" It was a lot to take in, and with his limited knowledge, he didn''t fully grasp all of it. But one thing was clear - he was now stronger and would continue growing with each evolution. More importantly, he wouldn''t have to worry about wasting future stat points if he decided to remain in one rank for longer. With that cleared up, there was still one thing left to do. ''I think these should work now, right?'' Rusty opened his inventory and retrieved the three Small Experience Talismans he had earned from his summoner quest. They materialized in his hand, and as he channeled some mana into one, he watched his experience bar shoot up, stopping just past the halfway mark. Without hesitation, he activated the second and third talismans, instantly pushing his new form to level two. Congratulations you have gained a level. Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Steel Armor [ E ++ ] L2 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [ HP ] 365/365 Magic Points [MP] 285/285 Special Points [SP] 70/70 Strength 150 [ E ++ ] { + 9 } Agility 129 [ E + ] Dexterity 130 [ E + ] Constitution 150 [ E ++ ] { + 15 } Intelligence 134 [ E + ] Wisdom 136 [ E + ] Willpower 135 [ E + ] Durability D As expected, his over-points continued increasing despite reaching the usual limit. He knew that once he advanced to D-rank, his stats would reset to something close to level one. However, there was a hidden boost that ensured higher-ranked monsters were always stronger, even if their displayed stats appeared lower. ''Great. Gleam and I have both evolved now, and we have the more important blacksmith''s head too. I should finally check out what Ferndale has to offer. I''ll have to decide whether it''s good enough to become my new lair.'' Even though he had advanced significantly and was now approaching D-rank, he was well aware that he was still far from truly strong. Many adventurers of higher ranks existed, with D-rank being quite common - often the rank where many seasoned veterans ended up. Realistically, he probably wouldn''t feel comfortable unless he reached C or even B-rank. "Oh right, before we go Gleam¡­ take a look at this." " ( ? -?)? " He was about to leave this hidden chamber made by the thieves guild but then remembered that he had made a present for Gleam. Rusty reached into his inventory and pulled out the desired object. In his hands was a newly crafted piece of armor - Gleam''s very own protective plating. Gleam''s antennae twitched as she examined the delicate craftsmanship. Rusty had fashioned the armor to complement her natural agility while enhancing her durability. The plating covered her thorax and parts of her legs, ensuring she remained as swift as ever while offering protection against stronger foes. "( ?? ? ?? )" She touched the piece of armor with her antennae and then performed a happy little jiggle. Rusty chuckled at her enthusiasm and asked if she was okay if he helped her put it on. After a resounding nod they spent a few moments getting it on. They were still traveling and it was much safer if she had it on. "How does it feel? Does it feel uncomfortable?" " ( ?? ? ?? )? " For a moment he was worried that he had gotten the dimensions wrong. It was his first time crafting armor for a creature as small and nimble as Gleam, but from her enthusiastic response, it seemed he had done well. The twilight steel plating fit snugly against her exoskeleton, providing protection without hindering her movement. "Good, then we''re ready to go." Rusty said, stretching his limbs one final time. His new body still felt strange, but it was undeniably an upgrade. His grip on weapons was steadier, his movements sharper. He glanced around the chamber once more before turning to the exit. Gleam fluttered onto his shoulder, her new armor shining under the light coming from Rusty''s eye sockets. With everything prepared, there was only one thing left to do - return to the outside world. ''This should open the path forward.'' They stood in the hidden chamber built by the Thieves'' Guild. From the outside, the tunnels had seemed like a dead end, but after activating the mechanism here, Rusty heard a deep rumbling - signaling that the path forward was beginning to open. "Get ready, Gleam. We don''t know what''s out there, could be more undead, or maybe another one of those strange spiders!" "????(? ?? ? - ? ) ?" For now, Rusty chose to remain in his current body, keeping the Ogre and Wrath on standby. In his right hand, the poleaxe he had fashioned earlier appeared, its enchantment giving it a crimson glow. In his left, he gripped a shield. After inserting his Thieves'' Guild coin, the stone wall outside groaned as it slowly slid open, revealing a passage beyond. Retrieving the coin from the slot, he finally left the chamber behind and their journey into the unknown resumed. Rusty tightened his grip on the poleaxe, and Gleam crouched slightly, ready to react to any sudden danger. Dust swirled into the corridor as air from the newly revealed tunnel rushed in, carrying the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic - blood, perhaps? He took a cautious step forward, his enhanced frame making barely a sound against the ancient stone floor. Then, without warning, light flared to life as torches lining the walls of the corridor ignited one by one, their flickering flames casting restless shadows. The passage stretched into the distance, and the steady glow of the torches made it clear: a long road lay ahead. Gleam''s antennae twitched as she scanned their surroundings, pressing her small body closer to Rusty''s shoulder. "( ? _ ? )" "You don''t like it either?" The two stopped for a moment, waiting for the rumbling to subside, their gazes fixed on the distant passage ahead. Aburdon and Alexander remained silent as the quartet listened intently. Then, just as expected, something stirred in the darkness. "Hah, were they drawn by the noise?" Aburdon chuckled as creatures began to emerge from the cavern before them. "It''s never easy, is it?" Alexander''s voice resonated within Rusty''s mind, his light flaring slightly as the approaching figures became clearer. "Those look like¡­ rats?" Rusty muttered as the torchlight finally illuminated their new foes - giant rats. A swarm of them scurried forward, their numbers stretching into the shadows beyond. Their sizes varied, some no larger than a housecat, others as big as a large dog. Foam dripped from their gaping maws, their jagged yellow teeth gleaming as they let out sharp, menacing squeaks. "( ?? - ?? )" "Impudent?" Rusty chuckled slightly, nearly laughing at Gleam''s odd word choice but there was no time to dwell on it. While the rats had numbers on their side, that was all they had. Rusty stepped forward, poleaxe in hand, eager to test his newly enhanced body. Chapter 119 - 117 – Journey Continues. "Gragh¡­." "This has to be the last one, right?" " ( ?? - ?? ) " "It does look bigger than the others, it might be their leader!" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Rusty responded to Gleam as he looked at a rather enlarged rat. Both of them had been battling a small swarm of monster rodents while trying to get to the other side of this tunnel. He adjusted his grip on the poleaxe, his stance firm as he eyed the last remaining giant rat. It was larger than the others, nearly the size of a bear, with matted black fur and deep scars running along its body. Its beady red eyes locked onto him with a feral intensity, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth. This was no ordinary rat; it was stronger, more experienced - likely the alpha of the swarm. However, this wasn''t their only problem, as behind them, a different scene was unfolding. Dozens of smaller rat bodies littered the ground, and beyond them, creatures from the forest had arrived - the same spiders they had encountered while searching for a body to possess. It seemed these monsters had been drawn either by the scent of battle or the cries of the rats as they fell. Gleam leaped down from his shoulder, landing in front of two of the spiders. Her rank had risen to E, putting her on equal footing with them. Though her body was smaller, she had her armor and magical abilities to rely on. "You''ll handle this? Are you sure?" " ( ?? - ?? ) " "I''m not doubting your skills, but¡­ be careful." Rusty replied to the pouting Gleam, who seemed determined to prove herself. Two spiders stood before her, their legs twitching as they circled warily. Rusty knew she had grown stronger, but these creatures weren''t pushovers. Still, she had proven herself time and time again, so he nodded and turned his focus back to the rat alpha. "I''ll give you an opening Gleam, so use it!" " ( ??? ? ??? ) " With those words, he activated his newest skill - Basic Terror Aura. A strange dark mist encased his body, tendrils of shadow lashing out from his twilight steel frame. A heavy, oppressive force filled the tunnel, radiating outward in all directions. The rat alpha remained unaffected due to its high level and E-plus ranking, but the smaller spiders hesitated. Their legs trembled as they remained rooted in place, paralyzed by fear. Unaffected by the aura, Gleam seized the opportunity. She surged forward, her small form a blur as she darted between the spiders, striking with pinpoint precision. Her mandibles snapped at the first spider''s legs, forcing it to reel back, while a swift mana bolt sent the second skidding across the stone floor. Rusty had no time to check on her battle. The massive rodent let out a guttural growl, its claws scraping against the stone as it lunged at him. He stepped to the side, bringing his poleaxe down in a sharp arc. The blade bit into the rat''s thick hide, but the wound wasn''t deep enough to end the fight. The beast shrieked in pain, twisting its body and retaliating with a powerful swipe. He raised his shield just in time, absorbing the impact. The force sent vibrations through his arm, but his new Twilight Steel body held firm. With a sharp counter, he drove the axe end of his weapon into the rat''s skull, staggering it momentarily. However, the thick layer of fur and hide prevented a fatal blow. From the corner of his eye, he kept track of his companion. Gleam, though much smaller than the spiders, used her size to her advantage. She darted around, climbed the walls, and harassed her foes with precise magical attacks. The spiders, struggling to keep up, were already missing multiple legs. One let out a piercing screech as she landed a direct hit to its eye, forcing it to reel back in pain. It seemed she was beginning to refine her magical prowess - lowering her MP consumption while maximizing critical strikes. Rusty took another step forward, his poleaxe held firmly in his grip. The rat alpha''s breathing had grown ragged, its body hunched over as it struggled to keep up. Even as a formidable opponent, it was no match for his newly enhanced form. With its beady red eyes filled with desperate rage, the beast lunged once more. This time, Rusty was ready. With a swift, fluid motion, he pivoted to the side and brought his weapon down with all his strength. The poleaxe cleaved through flesh and bone, its enchanted edge glowing with fire energy as it sliced straight through the rat''s neck. A final shriek echoed through the tunnel before the monster collapsed, its massive form twitching before falling still. A moment later, a system notification appeared before him. Congratulations you have gained a level. If he had lungs, this would be the moment to exhale in relaxation. Instead, he turned his attention to Gleam who was about to finish her battle. She had successfully taken down one of the spiders, its body twitching as it lay in a pool of its own fluids. The remaining spider hissed, rearing back in a desperate attempt to strike, but Gleam was too fast. With a final bolt of mana-infused energy, she struck it square in the head, causing it to crumble. "Great going Gleam, I think that was all of them!" Gleam jumped back to Rusty''s shoulder, her mandibles clicking in excitement. "( ?? ? ?? )" "Yeah, you did great." Rusty chuckled as he looked at all the defeated monsters. This large pack allowed him to reach level three already and he also was able to test out his new and improved body. The steel was somewhat more resistant than the iron he was composed of previously and even when the rats bit into it, they could not leave a mark behind. Now that the battle was over, Rusty took a moment to scan their surroundings. The tunnel was still illuminated by the torches lining the walls, their flickering light casting eerie shadows. The battle had been loud - perhaps too loud. If these creatures had heard them, then others might have as well. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "We should move. Those spiders are far more dangerous than the rats." Alexander said, breaking the silence as he scanned their surroundings. They had spent a good twenty minutes pushing forward, battling the rodents and likely drawing the attention of the spider monsters. Now that the large undead spider was gone, nothing was stopping them from swarming in. It was clear that their best option was to keep moving through the tunnel and see what lay on the other side. "You''re right. My evolution took a whole day, so those spiders might be swarming those caves now. Let''s go, Gleam." " (? ?? ? - ? ) " With one last glance at the defeated foes, Rusty pressed forward. His poleaxe had lost some of its magical glow, and he made a mental note not to use the enchantment unless facing a particularly strong opponent or at least until he figured out how to restore it. While he couldn''t do it himself for now, he was certain there were craftsmen who could repair it, somewhere. ''I wonder how I would fare against that undead spider now¡­'' If given the chance to enter the Soul Forge again and face the undead spider, he would. During his time there, he''d tried to test his steel weaponry, but had been bested when attempting to exchange blows. Without the radiant energies he could produce, there was no way to defeat it, though the steel weapons had been sharp enough to cut into its flesh. Now, with his increased stats, he was certain he could defeat the creature - even if he was still only an E-rank monster. Gleam remained perched on his shoulder, her antennae twitching at every small sound. Rusty took cautious steps forward, his steel-plated feet making faint clinks against the stone. The deeper they went, the thicker the air became with the scent of damp earth and decay. Behind him, faint echoes of monsters stirred - perhaps ones now feasting on the dead rats and spiders they had left behind. The tunnel stretched on, wide and well-lit, with markings on the ground resembling wheel tracks. Though partially buried under dust and dirt, it was clear this route had been used before. Their journey remained largely uneventful for several hours, encountering only a few small rodents that posed no real threat. Finally, as they rounded a bend, the passageway opened into a large cavernous chamber - one that looked more like a naturally formed cave. "It seems this is where the tunnel began. The exit should be near." Aburdon remarked. Just like at the entrance, the tunnel had started as a natural cave before being further excavated and expanded. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and the air was thick with moisture. Small streams of water trickled down the rocky walls, forming shallow pools that reflected the faint glow of luminous moss clinging to the stones. It was a stark contrast to the constructed tunnel they had just left behind. "No one has been here for years¡­" Alexander noted as his light brightened the path before them. "There must be an exit nearby, probably hidden like the other tunnel we just need to find it, look for another coin slot." There were no monsters waiting for them here, but it was also a dead end. After searching for a moment, Rusty found a mechanism with a lever instead of a coin slot. He yanked on it a few times until it finally activated, causing a new path to form. As the tunnel opened, a sudden gust of wind rushed through, nearly knocking Gleam off his shoulder. She had to cling to him with all her might to keep from being swept away. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. " ( ?? - ?? ) " The gears within the stone walls groaned in protest as Rusty pulled the lever. Dust cascaded from the ceiling as the mechanism slowly engaged. Then, with a loud click, the wall before them began to shift. A section of rock receded, revealing a narrow passageway that led into darkness. A cool breeze drifted through, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. "This must be it! The exit." Gleam chittered in agreement, her antennae twitching as she sensed the fresh air. With a final glance at the cavern they were leaving behind, Rusty led the duo forward. The passage was wide enough for one carriage to slip by. The stone walls bore signs of erosion, with roots snaking their way through the cracks, hinting at the forest that lay beyond. After a short walk, the passageway widened before sloping upward. Light peeked through a jagged opening ahead. Rusty pressed onward, and soon they emerged into the outside world. Their adventure through the caverns and the spider-infested forest had finally come to an end. Before them stretched a sparse forest, bathed in the soft glow of the late afternoon sun. It was a stark contrast to the shadowy woodland they had left behind - here, the canopy was thinner, allowing sunlight to filter through with ease. In the distance, the cheerful sounds of chirping birds and rustling deer filled the air. It was clear this place was free of monstrosities; after all, ordinary wildlife would not be so lively in the presence of such threats. "I think we made it¡­ but where are we, exactly?" Alexander asked the group. Realistically, though, only one person here was likely to have the answer. "If you ask me¡­ we might not be far from our destination, my dear Rusty. How about we head there? I have a good feeling about this." Aburdon replied, his black light glowing faintly in Rusty''s left eye socket. "Just watch your step - we may encounter some of the intelligent races here but perhaps we could secure you a second body if we did¡­" "We will ''secure'' it in a different way, stop giving him bad ideas Aburdon." "It''s still better than wasting our time with corpses." Rusty nodded and immediately switched to one of his alternate loadouts, transforming into his adventurer armor. This version had been upgraded with twilight steel, far superior to his standard set. His survival was the priority, after all. Gleam assisted by casting a silencing spell, and together, they moved forward cautiously, keeping their guard up. If any adventurers spotted a living armor monster wandering through the forest, they certainly wouldn''t just let him pass without question. Once he had settled on his equipment, he continued on his way with Gleam still perched on his shoulder. As long as people thought that he was an adventurer then his ant friend would just be seen as a tamed monster. Soon, after passing through several trees and bushes they arrived at a clearing. There he saw something in the distance, a dirt road along with a crooked signpost. The carver letters were worn, but one direction was unmistakably marked with a faded inscription that read something like ''Ferndale¡­'' followed by an arrow pointing left, while another arrow pointed right toward another city. "Ferndale¡­ That''s the settlement we were aiming for right?" "I''m glad you remembered! I hope you realize we only made it here thanks to my impeccable pathfinding skills!" Aburdon cackled within Rusty''s left eye socket, clearly proud of his accomplishment. While the tunnel they had taken was unexpected, their original plan had been to cross the forest and reach the road leading to Ferndale. Rusty ignored his companion''s boasting, instead recalling what he had heard about the settlement. Ferndale was said to be in a promising yet dangerous region. It lay near lands swarming with orc tribes and barbarian clans, making it a risky place to settle. The dungeon there was unexplored and treacherous. However, for someone like Rusty - who sought to grow stronger such turmoil was an opportunity. He did not need food or sleep; he could hunt endlessly, waiting for the right moment to strike. The only real challenge was securing a safe place to return to. If he had not discovered that crystal cave where he had taken Gleam, he might not have even made it this far. Now, all that remained was to continue trekking toward Ferndale. "How far is it from here?" "Shouldn''t be too far. At your pace, we should reach it in a few days¡­ that is, if nothing stops us along the way." They all turned their gazes toward the road stretching into the distance. Above them, dark clouds gathered - storm winds howling in the direction they were heading. "Maybe you should get inside of my armor, Gleam¡­" Chapter 120 - 118 – Unfortunate Adventurer. The night was thick with tension as Edmund and his group crouched at the edge of the orc camp. Torches flickered, casting long shadows against the crude woode n palisades that surrounded the encampment. The orcs were loud, their voices echoing through the night as they feasted and sharpened their weapons. The stench of unwashed bodies and charred meat filled the air, making Edmund''s stomach churn. "We stick to the plan." Whispered Mikol, their leader, his voice barely audible over the distant crackling of fire. "We get in, free the captives, and get out before they notice." "Are you sure this is a good idea? What if they spot us?" Edmund asked, peering through the camp. The Orcs weren''t paying close attention, but their numbers were overwhelming. If they were spotted, the five of them wouldn''t stand a chance in a fight. Mikol shot Edmund a glare, his expression clearly showing annoyance. "If you''re so scared, why''d you even come along?" Edmund clenched his jaw but said nothing. He had come for glory, to prove himself. This was his moment. He forced down his nerves and tightened his grip on his sword. The plan was simple. An opening in the palisade, barely more than a gap, had been spotted during their scouting. If they moved quickly and quietly, they could slip through, reach the cages, and free the captives before anyone noticed. They moved like shadows. Edmund''s heart pounded in his chest as they slithered between tents and past drunken orcs. The cages were at the far end of the camp, near a massive bonfire where several orcs were engaged in a brutal, drunken brawl. Their bodies were massive and a mix of both fat and muscles. The young adventurer followed after the group he had recently joined. Mikol was their leader, and as the newest member, he felt somewhat like the odd one out. He didn''t know them well, but he was certain this was his ticket forward. He had recently acquired his second class, but his progress had stalled. Only by joining this veteran party could he prove himself. If this mission went well, he would earn a permanent place in the group - and with it, the chance to reach his full potential. Soon, they reached the cages holding various prisoners. The captives inside were thin, dirty, and weak. A few lifted their heads as Edmund and the others approached. Mikol wasted no time, pulling out a set of crude lockpicks and getting to work. Edmund watched their backs, scanning the camp for any signs of movement. His hands were slick with sweat despite the cold night air. A click. Then another. One by one, the locks came undone. Edmund helped pull the captives out, urging them to stay quiet. Everything seemed to be going fine, the captives kept quiet after realising that a party of adventurers had arrived to save them. However, suddenly from behind them a shout erupted. One of the orcs had turned toward them, eyes wide with anger. Edmund''s blood ran cold. The orc screamed, with a deep, throaty sound echoing across the camp. The other orcs, still feasting and drinking, snapped their heads toward the commotion. For a single heartbeat, there was silence - then chaos erupted. "We''re blown! Move, now!" Mikol cursed under his breath. The adventurers sprang into action. Their rogue darted forward, sinking a dagger into the throat of the nearest orc before he could grab his weapon. Their mage began weaving a spell, her hands glowing with crackling energy. Their dwarven warrior plunged his axe into the first orc that charged. The captives, now realizing their only chance at survival was to run, scrambled to their feet and fled toward the opening in the palisade. Edmund raised his sword, heart pounding as an orc charged at him, a rusty cleaver raised high. He barely managed to parry the strike, his arms shaking from the sheer force of the impact. He retaliated, slashing at the orc''s exposed side, drawing blood but failing to bring the beast down. Another adventurer, the dwarf, finished the job with a well-placed axe cleave. Then Edmund felt it - a sharp, searing pain in his thigh. His breath hitched. He looked down in horror to see a dagger buried in his leg, the hilt still quivering from the force of the strike. His vision blurred as pain and shock flooded his senses. Staggering, he turned his gaze upward - just in time to see Mikol''s cold eyes staring back at him. "Sorry, kid." Mikol muttered. "We need a distraction." Before Edmund could react, Mikol shoved him backward - right into the path of the oncoming orcs. He hit the ground hard, gasping as fresh pain shot through his wounded leg. Above him, his so-called allies were already retreating, leaving him as an offering to the bloodthirsty horde. The orcs, realizing the easy prey before them, roared in anger. Edmund struggled to rise, his sword slipping from his grasp as his strength faltered. He could hear the shouts of the escaping adventurers, the distant cries of the freed prisoners, but none of it mattered. The orcs surrounded him, their snarling faces twisted in anticipation. One of them, larger than the rest, stepped forward, raising a crude axe high above its head. ''No. Not like this.'' Gritting his teeth, Edmund forced himself to move. His hands found the hilt of his sword, and with a desperate cry, he swung at the nearest orc. The blade connected, slicing through flesh and muscle. The orc howled, staggering back, but another quickly took its place. A heavy boot slammed into his chest, knocking the wind from his lungs and sending him sprawling once more. This wasn''t the end. No, it couldn''t be the end, he told himself. His whole life flashed before his eyes - a life filled with nothing but the misery of an orphan with a dream. He had come here to change his fate. So how could this be the end? The betrayal. The pain. The humiliation. This would not be the last chapter of his story. He would survive. He would crawl out of this nightmare. And when he did, he would find Mikol and the others. And he would make them pay. ***** "..." "That''s quite a strong will to live. This one almost turned into a vengeful undead spirit¡­ probably would have, given a few more weeks." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The left eye socket of the living armor pulsed while talking. "The head is well preserved. And look, the adventurer''s card is still intact¡­ How lucky." Rusty stared at the severed head of the man once called Edmund. Using his Possession skill, he peered into the memories left behind. This one was far more vivid than the last. The anger Edmund had felt toward Mikol was almost palpable. "It was worth leveling it up along our travels." "I''m not sure about this one Rusty, it seems to have a history." This time it was the right socket, pulsing with bright light. "What''s there to worry about? Just some weak adventurers - they probably won''t even remember his face." Replied Aburdon, while Rusty wondered how the head ended up on top of a tree. According to the memories of the man named Edmund, he had been betrayed during a quest. Using his possession skill, Edmund''s memories floated as lingering echoes in Rusty''s mind. The last few hours of his life were startlingly vivid: his body was torn apart by orcs, and the orc leader''s axe cleanly lopped his head off. Yet, what had once been the monster camp was gone. "I wonder what happened to those orcs¡­" "They probably moved. Wild orcs aren''t stupid - they knew more adventurers would be coming." "I see. Wild monsters are certainly different from those in the dungeons¡­" Rusty nodded at Alexander''s explanation. It seemed these monsters employed basic tactics and survived by never staying too long in one place. While the intelligent races eventually formed large groups to defend themselves, the monsters countered by being constantly on the move, making it hard for their enemies to organize. "As long as the orcs don''t go out of their way to attack large settlements, not much will be done against them." "That sounds rather inefficient¡­ why allow your enemy to prosper?" Rusty asked Alexander as he didn''t understand why the people of this world would allow this to happen. They clearly had the manpower to get rid of the small camps of monsters. "Oh my dear Rusty, you still have so much to learn. Humans and others like them, find it hard to work together." The old demon lord cackled as he knew that his past enemies were quite disorganized, petty, and unwilling to risk their lives. Rusty remained silent, contemplating Aburdon''s words. It was true - through his brief experiences with humans and other intelligent races, he had already seen their divisions. Even Alexander the so-called hero of humanity had been betrayed by his own people and left to die. Whether it was adventurers betraying one another for personal gain or settlements failing to band together against a common threat, cooperation was far from universal. "Hah, don''t listen to him Rusty, humanity still works better together than monsters or demons." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alexander replied quickly, noting that Aburdon who ruled with an iron fist had also been betrayed by his people suffering the same fate as Alexander. "Hah, if I knew of the unreasonable blessing you had, I would have never lost!" " ( ?? - ?? ) " "Gleam is right, stop arguing you two." "As you wish, my dear Rusty." After his two guides had settled down, he took the head of the man called Edmund and placed it into his armor. Previously in the soul forge, he had prepared a small shelf to place heads on so they wouldn''t fall into his chest cavity. Once in place he resumed using his possession skill to see if the head could talk. "G¡­r¡­g¡­hh¡­. T¡­e¡­" "Ho¡­w¡­ is¡­ this?" "Is this sounding right?" " ( ?? ? ?? ) " After a few tries, he managed to communicate with the head perched on his shoulder. He could still feel the rage within it building, but eventually, that fury subsided enough to allow him full control. The orc camp was deserted, though some of the man''s body parts lay scattered about, untouched by predators. With the head''s help, he was able to pinpoint where they had ended up and even managed to acquire an E-rank adventurer card belonging to Edmund. Fortunately, the card showed that Edmund was a fighter - making it a perfect alter ego to adopt before he reached Ferndale. "Is this normal?" Rusty glanced down at the scattered body parts he had managed to gather - both of Edmund''s hands, his left leg, and his right foot. He hadn''t expected them to be of any use, but as he possessed the head, he felt a strange connection to the limbs. The hands, in particular, were remarkably well preserved, enough that he wondered if he could actually use them. "The Possession skill is a potent ability. As long as the body is nearby, you should be able to utilize its parts." Aburdon commented as he could also see the connection. "That''s neat!" Rusty replied, picking up the hands from the ground. While he planned to keep his armor on at all times, there might come a moment when his humanity would be put to the test. If he could show that he had fleshy hands and a recognizable face, blending into humanoid society would be much easier. From what he understood, it wasn''t common for people to wear gauntlets all day, so having usable hands would be a valuable addition. "I think this is worth using. What do you two think?" "It seems this man had not yet arrived in Ferndale, so he will be mostly unknown to the locals. Also, it appears this incident happened a few weeks ago¡­" Alexander responded. Rusty knew there was a risk of being discovered, but even if he ran into that party of adventurers, they didn''t seem strong enough to challenge him. The risk was small, and he''d still be hiding his face behind his armor, so the chance of being discovered was unlikely. "Bah, if we see them, we just kill them. Going by this human''s memories, those adventurers weren''t anything special." Rusty nodded. He wasn''t sure how powerful this group of four was, but to Edmund, they were veterans. This meant they could have been a D-rank adventurer party that hired an E-rank as a disposable pawn, using him in the orc camp before running away. Edmund had been with them for less than a month, and before he died, he had assumed that the only reason they hired him was to use him as a meat shield. While D-rank adventurers hunted monsters above his rank, it didn''t mean that he wouldn''t be able to take them on. His stats were already close to that threshold, and he also had some tricks up his metal sleeve. Additionally, he had the help of Gleam, who was leveling up quickly, but that didn''t mean he could afford to underestimate his opponents. The face of the party leader and his name were deeply etched into Edmund''s mind. As long as he avoided him for the time being, everything would be fine. ''It shouldn''t be far now¡­'' Rusty took the body parts he could use and placed them inside of his storage area. Soon after, he and his group left this abandoned orc encampment. Rusty''s armor creaked as he moved through the dense woods, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick layer of fallen leaves. Gleam stuck to his shoulder as always, her silvery body reflecting the moonlight as they traveled through the night. The journey to Ferndale was a few days away, but Rusty wasn''t worried. He had already memorized Edmund''s memories, the faint echo of the young man''s life still lingering in his mind. Edmund''s memories also provided insight into the world of adventurers - tactics, behavior, and motivations. It was as if the man''s lingering ghost was trying to feed him information to carry out his revenge. The experience was far more vivid to Rusty than it had been to Albert, his previous body, likely due to his possession skill leveling up recently. After a day, they reached a clearing. The trees parted to reveal a winding road, and in the distance, the faint outline of buildings could be seen. Ferndale. A troubled settlement filled with possibilities awaited him. There, he would build his first stronghold and further enhance his body. He was a monster - feared and hated by humans but sometimes the best hiding place was in plain sight. No one would consider a living suit of armor to be among them, and thanks to that fact, he expected to succeed. "Well then, let''s see if we can buy ourselves a lair!" " ?(?? ? ? )? " Rusty nodded at Gleam, who also desired a place to call her own. Soon, the two emerged from the forest and stepped onto the path created by humans, their journey was just beginning. Chapter 121 - 119 – Ferndale. Rusty stood at the entrance of Ferndale, the large settlement sprawled before him, its outer wooden palisades weathered and reinforced with iron plating. Guard towers jutted from its perimeter, manned by watchmen who warily scanned the horizon. Beyond the walls, buildings of various sizes clustered together, constructed from stone and timber, their rooftops overlapped in dark, muted colors. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the air was mixed with the scent of burning wood and tanned leather. ''So this is it¡­'' Rusty stood in the distance looking at this potential new lair. The weather was cloudy, and a cold wind carried various scents that he could not really perceive. Gleam on the other hand, who was perched on his shoulder seemed rather perturbed by it and turned her face away. The settlement of Ferndale was larger than he expected, but not quite a city - it was a fortified town, one that had been hardened by years of conflict. Rusty could see signs of wear and struggle everywhere. The walls had been patched in places where they had likely been damaged by attacks. Many buildings had reinforced windows with heavy shutters, some scarred by embedded arrowheads. Aburdon had informed him that to the east, orc encampments sprawled across the plains. The orcs were a constant threat, raiding and pillaging when the opportunity arose. To the north, the jagged peaks of the Stonefang Mountains loomed, home to barbarian tribes that descended from their frozen heights to pillage settlements and take what they pleased. Ferndale was caught between a rock and a hard place, its only saving grace being the dungeon at its center - the town''s primary source of income. Despite the dangers, many still ventured here, undeterred by the risks. Most were low-level adventurers and soldiers seeking to make a name for themselves. The more established cities and settlements were difficult to rise through, overcrowded with those hoping for an easy path to success. For many, a perilous place like Ferndale was their only real chance at prosperity. They believed that, in time, the orcs and barbarians would be dealt with, and when Ferndale finally grew into a city, they would be there to reap the rewards. "It''s time¡­ Let''s go, Gleam and whatever you do, don''t attack them." " (? -?)? " "Yes, even if they start it, those humanoid types can be hard to understand." After consulting his guides, they finally decided to approach the entrance gate. Gleam played the role of a tamed monster, a companion to Rusty''s new adventurer persona, Edmund. Alexander had reassured him that everything would go smoothly, but Rusty couldn''t shake his doubts. He still remembered his arrival at the last city - how uncertain and tense it had been. He could only hope this time would go as easily as they had planned. A line had formed at the entrance, much like the one at the previous city where he had rescued Gleam. However, this one moved a bit faster, and security didn''t seem as strict. Despite the ever-present threat of orcs and barbarians, it appeared the guards weren''t too concerned about any of them sneaking in. Fortunately, Rusty had something that would allow him to bypass an identification check¡ªmoney. Before he could speak to the guards, however, a commotion on the other side of the gate caught his attention. A figure came flying through the air and landed face-first in the mud. "No please, you can''t do this to me¡­" "You know the rules, now get out and never come back!" Rusty''s gaze followed the poor soul who had just been thrown from Ferndale''s gates. The man was covered in dirt, his ragged cloak barely clinging to his bony frame. He scrambled to his knees, his face contorted with desperation. "Please, I have nowhere else to go! I can work! I''ll even clean the latrines, please!" He pleaded, his voice hoarse and desperate. One of the guards, a burly man clad in chainmail with a thick, fur-lined cloak, spat onto the ground beside him. "You had your chance. Those who can''t contribute get thrown out. No one cares if you rot out there. Now get lost before we decide to speed things up for you." The other guards laughed, one of them casually resting a hand on the hilt of his sword¡ªa silent warning that the conversation was over. The man slumped forward, slowly pushing himself up, his eyes darting toward the treeline beyond the road. Rusty could see the fear in them. Being exiled from a place like Ferndale was a death sentence. Between the orc raiders and barbarian warbands, the wilds were merciless to lone travelers. ''So, they exile their own?'' ''Indeed, in these sort of settlements food is sparse, they will throw away the weak and elderly if they can''t carry their own weight¡­'' Alexander murmured in his helmet, his tone showcasing disdain for this event. Aburdon, on the other hand, cackled, clearly enjoying the spectacle. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Hah, why should they spend their limited resources on someone who can''t even contribute? It''s a survival of the fittest, after all!'' ''I find it hard to believe that they don''t have anything to spare!'' Rusty listened to their exchange while watching the malnourished man stagger away, cold and covered in mud. None of the people trying to get in helped him or even looked his way as he turned to them for aid. This was the world they lived in - one where no one was willing to offer up their limited resources without at least the promise of a future reward. He wasn''t much different from these people in that regard. He had managed to amass money throughout his journey, and perhaps he could spare some to help the man survive - but then what? The man didn''t seem capable of taking care of himself here. Plenty of others were still within the city, yet he was the one being cast out. Perhaps he had a gambling debt or was simply a poor worker. Regardless, Rusty needed to focus on getting into the city, not on the fate of others. If he revealed that he had money to spare, he might make himself a target for the thieves'' guild or other thugs. Soon, the man sauntered off, and the waiting line inched forward until Rusty found himself face-to-face with the guards. "Halt. What is that thing?" Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. One of the men immediately pointed at the silvery-white ant monster perched on Rusty''s shoulder. The guards looked weary, more interested in keeping the line moving than thoroughly inspecting entrants. The one who had spoken was young - his helmet slightly too large for his head, his grip on the spear unsteady. The older guard beside him, grizzled and scarred, was clearly the one in charge. "That''s my com¡­ I mean, my tamed monster. I''m an adventurer." Rusty replied smoothly, ensuring his voice carried the right amount of confidence. His Possession skill had leveled up, making it much easier to speak - even though, technically, the only body part he had was a head without lungs. The magic within it somehow made speech possible, though he wasn''t versed enough in its workings to understand how. The older guard squinted at Gleam, who tilted her head in what could almost be mistaken for curiosity. "Tamed beast, huh? Never seen one like that before." "She''s a rare variant." Rusty said quickly replying to get this over with. "Got her in a dungeon." The older guard grunted but didn''t seem eager to press further. "Adventurer''s card and your permit." Rusty hesitated. He''d known this was coming - monsters like Gleam usually required official approval. The guild would need to identify and register her before issuing a permit. If a monster was deemed too dangerous, it would either be denied entry or required to be kept in restraints. Rusty planned to visit the city''s guild eventually to get the necessary paperwork. But first, he had to find a way inside. While he had Edmund''s old card from his remains, the man didn''t own any tamed monster permits. Thus, instead of handing over that he handed the soldier something different together with the card, a few well-hidden silver coins. The older guard barely glanced at the coins before making them disappear into his pocket with practiced smoothness. He looked at the adventurer''s card for the briefest of moments before shoving it back into Rusty''s hand without a second glance. "Yeah, looks good enough. Go on in." The younger guard opened his mouth, perhaps about to object, but a sharp glare from his superior made him think twice. He simply stepped aside, letting Rusty through without another word. Rusty nodded and walked forward, Gleam stayed perched on his shoulder, watching the guards with her unblinking, curious eyes. He stepped past the wooden gates and into Ferndale proper, the air inside heavy with the mixed scents of sweat, iron, and the ever-present aroma of cooking meat. " (?`?¡ä?) " "Does it really smell that bad?" While Gleam wasn''t too enthusiastic about the smell, they continued walking. Just like Alexander said, these people were a lot easier to bribe than the ones in the previous city. As long as he had his adventurer card and a bit of coin he could probably resolve most situations. Inside the settlement, the streets were alive with movement. The main road was packed with traders peddling their wares, adventurers boasting of their latest exploits, and weary laborers moving carts laden with supplies. Blacksmiths worked at their forges, and the rhythmic clanging of metal on metal rang through the air. Stalls lined the roadsides, selling everything from weapons and armor to dried rations and medicinal herbs. Rusty''s gaze drifted to a large building at the center of the settlement. It was made of heavy stone, its wooden sign displaying the symbol of crossed swords - a clear indication that this was the adventurers'' guild. That would be his first stop. He needed to establish himself within Ferndale and ensure his adventurer identity was fully legitimized. Even though he had bribed his way in, it was better to tie up any loose ends before someone started asking questions. As he walked deeper into the city, he took in more details. Armed guards patrolled the streets, their hands resting on their weapons as they kept a close eye on the people moving about. The buildings were sturdy but bore the scars of past conflicts - burn marks on wooden beams, hastily patched-up holes in walls, and reinforced doors that hinted at past raids. ''Did the orcs do this or the barbarians?'' For someone like Rusty, who hadn''t spent much time in the human world, this was fascinating. At first, he had assumed that these humanoids were the strongest creatures around, capable of cutting through monsters like him with ease. But the more he explored the outside world, the more he learned. Even a massive settlement like this wasn''t invincible - it could fall to monsters or rival humanoid tribes. The scars on the buildings hinted at past battles, proof that enemies had breached this deep into the city before. If Rusty were to make this place his new lair, he might have to defend it alongside the others. To the east, past the market, stood another heavily fortified section, one that was walled off from access. From what Rusty could recall from Edmund''s memories, that was where the wealthier residents and high-ranking officials lived. It was guarded far more rigorously than the rest of the town, and only those with the right connections or enough money could pass through the checkpoint leading into that district. As Rusty moved toward the guild, he couldn''t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. He had successfully entered Ferndale, and now the next phase of his plan could begin. With a proper base of operations, he could start gathering resources, building his strength, and perhaps even finding a way to exert influence over this struggling settlement. ''That was easier than I expected¡­ what should we do first?'' Rusty found himself in the center of the market square. While this city was new, it was designed similarly to the other one. Most stores and important buildings were clustered in the middle, while residential structures were spread out along the sides. The main difference here was the presence of numerous wooden palisades acting as temporary barriers. Some were even portable, haphazardly thrown into alleyways, as if waiting to be placed on the main roads to block invaders. ''Well, I propose we sort the guild out first and get Gleam registered to Edmund''s adventurer card. They probably won''t ask you for proper identification in a place like this.'' There were a few things Rusty needed to accomplish here, but the most important was establishing a base of operations to grow stronger. He was still quite weak, and in a world dominated by others, he needed to remain hidden. Instead of wandering the forests like a monster, he chose to hide in plain sight within one of these settlements. Even the orc tribes had to stay on the move to avoid being hunted by humanoid armies, and if he wasn''t careful, he would eventually face the same fate. The world was filled with D-rank and higher monsters, as well as adventurers, and without a plan, it would only be a matter of time before he met his end. Still, he needed to determine whether this place was worth his time. To do that, he had to visit the nearby dungeon and assess its potential. If the monsters were too weak to provide him with sufficient experience, he would have to find another location to settle in. Once that was confirmed, his next move would be to purchase a house and convert it into a smithy, allowing him to amass more resources. His system granted him the ability to copy wares using SP, enabling him to generate money quickly - money he intended to invest in better materials to enhance his metallic body. ''I don''t like it¡­ this doesn''t look like a domain fit for a demon lord¡­'' ''No one is asking for Rusty to become a demon lord, Aburdon¡­'' Aburdon wasn''t too pleased with the outlook in the city. It was dirty, gloomy, and filled with beings that he despised looking at. Rusty ignored Aburdon''s grumbling as he stepped onto the stone steps leading to the adventurers'' guild. The large wooden doors creaked slightly as he pushed them open, revealing the lively interior. The inside was exactly as he expected: rows of wooden tables filled with adventurers in various states of debauchery, some boasting of recent conquests, others nursing drinks or inspecting their weapons. A massive board dominated one side of the room, covered in bounty notices and quest postings. The reception desk at the back had several attendants, one of whom was arguing with a man in battered armor. Gleam tensed slightly on his shoulder but remained still, wary of the many gazes falling upon her and Rusty as they entered. Some adventurers barely glanced their way, while others gave longer, scrutinizing looks at the strange silvery-white ant monster perched beside him¡­ Chapter 122 - 120 – Another Guild Registration. For a moment, silence fell over the spacious guild building. All eyes were fixed on a large armored man and the strange silver ant perched on his shoulder. Time seemed to stand still as countless gazes bore down on the peculiar duo. But soon enough, people began turning away. A man in armor with a monster on his shoulder wasn''t such an unusual sight in these parts. Even now, several other tamed beasts roamed the area, some being registered at this very moment. ''Rusty, start moving. You don''t want to stand out.'' Alexander whispered, his glowing orb located in the chest cavity and hidden away by thick cloth to not shine through his armor. ''Ah, sure¡­'' Rusty hesitated, momentarily stunned by the attention. For an instant, he feared his identity had been exposed and considered making a run for it. Before entering the guild, he had Aburdon scout for possible escape routes and hiding spots in case something went wrong. If he was discovered, he would simply execute the same strategy as last time. Gleam was small enough to slip between buildings, and he could hide on her head. As long as his helmet remained intact, he would survive. But the moment passed, and the guild returned to its usual clamor. Conversations resumed, and adventurers turned back to their drinks, food, and quests. Rusty quickly stepped toward the reception desk, his boots clanking slightly against the wooden floor. As in other guilds, a line had already formed. While waiting, he glanced at the notice board, curious about the available quests. As he scanned the parchments and monster illustrations, Gleam shifted slightly on his shoulder. Like him, she was still young, and this was her first time inside an adventurer''s guild without being confined to a cage. Rusty could sense her unease - after being locked up for over a month, she wasn''t exactly thrilled to be in a similar place. He felt the tension in her tiny body, but registering her with the guild was necessary to make their team official. On the board, he spotted drawings of orcs alongside the faces of humanoid beings that resembled humans. One, in particular, caught his attention - a bald man covered in tattoos and scars, with a bounty of several gold coins. It appeared to be a wanted poster, likely for a criminal or perhaps one of the barbarian leaders roaming the mountain range. The rewards here seemed higher than in the previous city, but that also meant the quests were likely far deadlier. He approached the reception desk and waited for his turn. The guild worker, a woman with short auburn hair and sharp eyes, finished dealing with the previous adventurer before turning to him. Her expression was one of mild disinterest, likely used to dealing with all sorts of odd adventurers on a daily basis. "Next. What do you need?" Rusty focused on his possession skill, the head within his armor was still hidden from view but he was ready to identify himself to this woman if the need arose. "I need to register my tamed monster under my adventurer card." The receptionist''s gaze flickered to Gleam, eyes narrowing slightly before she reached for a small stack of forms. "What species is it?" "A rare dungeon variant. Found her in the depths of an unexplored cavern¡­" He tried keeping it vague as he did not wish to reveal Gleam''s true identity. He knew that she was a rare type of monster that could potentially entice thieves. The woman gave him a skeptical glance but didn''t press the matter. Instead, she took out a magical item, a pair of large square glasses, and put them on. A faint glow flickered across the lenses as she studied the small ant-like creature perched on Rusty''s shoulder. "I see¡­ It seems to be a docile creature, please wait a moment, I''ll begin the registration, I''ll need your adventurer card." "Of course, here." Rusty handed over his new adventurer card that used to belong to Edmund the E-rank adventurer. After she confirmed that the card was real she started filling out some paperwork which she handed soon after. "Please go through that door and give this document to the person there." "Ah, thank you." It seemed this wasn''t quite over, but things were going smoothly. His identity remained intact, and it was clear that security here wasn''t as strict. The woman hadn''t attempted to verify his identity or confirm whether he was Edmund. It was apparent that people in this guild didn''t concern themselves much with the possibility of a low-rank adventurer''s identity being stolen - or perhaps they simply had more important matters to deal with. After stepping away, he followed the receptionist''s directions and walked toward the door she had pointed out. Above it, an emblem resembling a wolf was carved into the wood, likely indicating that this area dealt with beasts and pets. Rusty pushed the door open, revealing a smaller, more private room. Inside, a man sat behind a desk piled high with stacks of parchment and ink bottles. His long gray hair was tied back into a messy ponytail, and his round spectacles rested slightly askew on his nose. "( ?¡ã?¡ã) !!" Rusty felt Gleam shiver the moment she saw the man. It seemed he reminded her of the one who had kept her locked up in the other adventurer guild. He gently patted her abdomen, trying to reassure her - she needed to go through registration, whether she liked it or not. "Ah¡­ Monster registration? Do you have the papers?" The man identified the issue rather quickly and instantly asked for Rusty to hand over the parchment that the woman had given him earlier. Rusty nodded and placed the parchment on the desk. The old man adjusted his glasses, muttering something under his breath as he picked up the document and skimmed through the details. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the wooden desk as he reached for a quill and began writing on another form. Gleam remained tense, her small legs gripping Rusty''s shoulder a little tighter than before. After a moment of scribbling, the man finally looked up and gestured toward a small stone platform in the corner of the room. "Place your monster there. I need to perform the alignment." "Alignment?" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty asked, not really knowing the procedure. Alexander informed him before that some type of magical device would be used but he didn''t know how exactly it functioned. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Is this your first time registering a monster?" "Yes," The man pointed to a metallic plate on the ground, etched with strange magical runes and circles. Gleam didn''t seem too happy about the idea, but the old man quickly explained. "Don''t worry. This process links your monster''s mana marker to your adventurer card. It''s a simple spell - once complete, your card will emit a small chime whenever it''s touching the monster''s body." It was a straightforward explanation and an interesting system for identifying bonded creatures. Since it only attuned Gleam to his adventurer card and nothing more, Rusty saw no reason to refuse. After handing the man his adventurer card he looked to gleam who didn''t seem too happy about the idea. "Ah, that''s interesting¡­ It won''t hurt, right?" "Hurt? No, it''s perfectly safe." The old man reassured him while taking the card and placing it in a special card-outlined slot on the same plate. Rusty carefully lifted Gleam from his shoulder and placed her onto the metallic plate. The small ant creature hesitated, her legs twitching as she tested the surface, but she remained still. The old man adjusted his spectacles and muttered an incantation under his breath. A faint blue glow emanated from the runes, forming a shimmering arcane circle beneath Gleam. The magic circle pulsed softly, casting shifting patterns of light onto the walls. Gleam tensed, her antennae twitching as the energy wrapped around her, but true to the old man''s word, there was no pain. The glow coalesced into thin lines that snaked up toward Rusty''s adventurer card, fusing into it with a soft chime before fading away. "There. It''s done." The old man adjusted his glasses again and took the card, giving it a once-over before handing it back. "Your tamed beast is now officially registered under your adventurer card. As long as you have that card, it''ll confirm your ownership should anyone question it. But remember, the monster is registered to your card, if anything happens to it, you''ll have to report it. But, as long as you have that card, it''ll confirm your ownership should anyone question it." Rusty nodded, recognizing this as both a crucial part of the system and one of its glaring flaws. If someone stole his adventurer card, they could, in a way, claim ownership of Gleam. While bonding and taming contracts existed, there were also items - like the ones he had acquired from the auction house that could dissolve them. It was reassuring to know he could quickly report a stolen card to prevent Gleam from being registered under someone else''s name. However, he had no intention of ever giving her up willingly. If such a situation arose, he would risk his life to protect her. Rusty accepted the card and glanced at it. The faint outline of a small creature, vaguely resembling Gleam, had been etched into the corner. He assumed that was the confirmation mark. "Thank you." The old man nodded absently, already moving back behind his desk. Once there he scribbled something again and handed him a note. "This is?" "It''s your registration fee, please pay it before you return, and don''t forget to renew the registration every year, the enchantment will dissolve by then." ''Hah, these people sure love scamming adventurers. Are you sure they aren''t demons in disguise?'' Aburdon''s cackling echoed within Rusty''s chest, a sound only he could hear. ''They''re just worried that after a year, the monster could become dangerous. Luckily, Gleam is a docile variant, so this went smoothly'' ''Sure, keep telling yourself that hero, we both know the true nature of these adventurers and your so-called allies.'' Rusty simply took the note. The registration fee was four silver coins - a hefty sum, considering a night at an inn only cost a few copper coins. He wondered if these steep fees were one of the reasons so few adventurers had tamed beasts. It seemed the stronger the monster, the higher the fee and the stricter the restrictions placed on its use. ''Don''t worry Rusty, once you become a B-rank adventurer, the guild won''t take any more fees for such things.'' ''Oh?'' Rusty picked up Gleam and listened as Alexander explained while they walked outside. It seemed that once an adventurer reached a certain rank within the guild, they were treated differently. B-rank adventurers, in particular, were considered strong enough to receive special privileges. In his current state, Rusty figured he could probably reach D-rank soon. With his enhanced stats and sturdy armor, he was confident he could meet the requirements. However, it was better to advance naturally. If the dungeon had enough monsters inside, he planned to return to the grind - just like in the past. And this time, with Gleam by his side, he had someone to level with and rise together. Once outside the room, he headed over to one of the booths to pay the fee. Just like in the other guild it was behind some bars and he needed to drop the coins into a special shelf on the side. After parting with his silver coins he left the guild building, his adventurer card now carrying the official registration mark for Gleam. The process had been relatively smooth, and he was relieved that no one had asked too many questions about his identity. With that task done, he turned his attention to his next objective - the town hall. If he was to establish himself in Ferndale, he needed a place to make his lair. A smithy would provide a good cover for his operation. A smithy would also provide a stable source of income and resources, allowing him to sustain himself and, more importantly, grow stronger. The adventurers'' guild was positioned close to the market, which made sense. Most adventurers would need supplies before heading out on quests, and having the guild nearby made it easier for them to pick up what they needed. The town hall, according to the directions he had picked up from the guards earlier, was farther west, situated in a slightly cleaner and more structured part of the settlement. ''This side looks a bit cleaner than the rest¡­'' He could instantly tell that this place was better defended and cleaner than the area around the adventurers'' guild. It seemed that merchants were living here, near city hall, who were better off than most but not wealthy enough to reside in the higher district alongside the influential elites and noble leaders. Rusty adjusted his helmet as he made his way through the cleaner streets, his heavy boots clanking against the cobblestones. Gleam remained perched on his shoulder, her antennae twitching as she observed their surroundings. The buildings here were taller and better maintained, some bearing signs of businesses - tailors, scribes, and merchants dealing in rarer goods. Compared to the chaotic and grimy adventurer''s quarter, this part of Ferndale had an air of quiet order. He spotted the town hall up ahead - a large stone structure with wide double doors and a small set of stairs leading up to the entrance. The building had an aged yet sturdy appearance, with banners hanging from its sides displaying the town''s emblem - a stylized oak tree entwined with a sword. Two guards flanked the entrance, wearing polished steel armor that marked them as part of the city''s security force rather than simple mercenaries. ''That emblem, I think I''ve seen it before¡­'' Alexander remarked as he inspected the banner. The emblem on it belonged to the noble family responsible for this area and represented them. ''Who does it belong to?'' Asked Rusty but Alexander didn''t seem able to collect his memories to get an answer. ''I''m not sure but I have a bad feeling about it¡­'' Rusty didn''t like the sound of that, but he still needed to get into the building. The guards at the entrance eyed him with interest, and as he stepped forward, they blocked his path by crossing their spears. "What do you think you''re trying to do, lowly adventurer?" "Um?" He wasn''t sure what this was about, but their tone was anything but pleasant. "Are you new here? Do they let just anyone in now? Look over there - use the rear entrance. Your kind is forbidden from using the main entrance." It seemed there were rules here he didn''t fully understand, but he had no desire to cause trouble. With a nod, he turned and made his way toward the side of the building, where a dimly lit alleyway stretched ahead. There, he noticed a small line of people of various races, shapes, and sizes waiting. It seemed he''d have to wait even longer before his business was concluded. Chapter 123 - 121 – Real Estate. "This is truly maddening¡­ Who do these inferior creatures think they are?" "Just be quiet. What if they have dark mana-detecting tools and discover you? Perhaps it would be best if you called Aburdon away." "Hah! You''d like that, wouldn''t you, hero? But my dear Rusty needs my expertise - more than yours!" "Be quiet, both of you." Rusty silenced his two guides through their mental link, putting an end to their bickering. They had already been waiting in line for over an hour before finally entering the city building - only to find an even longer queue inside. Gleam had to be left outside as no monsters were allowed in so she skittered over to a hiding place and kept her distance. The interior was both simple and cramped. It seemed as though the designer had tried to maximize the use of space by cramming everything into a single chamber, leaving barely any room to move. A narrow corridor led to numerous locked doors, each marked with a small plate describing what lay beyond. Only one person was allowed inside at a time. Rusty managed to steal a few glances through the openings - steel bars separated those entering from whoever was within. The setup made it clear that the officials feared potential violence, and judging by the rough appearances of many waiting in line, that concern wasn''t unfounded. The main reason he had come here was to secure a lair for himself. He had plenty of money stashed away from his journey and could always acquire more if needed. He still had monster parts and various other items stored away that he could pawn off if necessary. However, his first priority was to determine the cost of a home and whether purchasing one was even possible. His plan was simple. First, he would acquire a home and use it as a base to sell basic weaponry and tools. The blacksmith''s head he had obtained would serve as his cover whenever someone inquired about the craftsman behind the goods. It was also possible that he would need to register his second identity in this city, but from what he had observed, the settlement''s laws seemed fairly lax. Perhaps that wouldn''t be necessary after all. Rusty scanned the row of tarnished plates hanging above the doors, each bearing a different municipal notice. One, however, immediately seized his attention. Carved in elegant, slightly faded script, it read: "Property Transactions ¨C Purchase, Lease, or Exchange." This was the place he would find his lair and the wait resumed. After another hour of standing around and doing nothing, he was finally able to reach the door and hear the magic words. "Next." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At last, a tired city clerk beckoned him forward. Rusty straightened his posture, pocketed the thoughts of his potential lair, and stepped toward the designated door. After pushing it open, he was met by a cramped, dim room. Inside, the room was unmistakably plain, with signs of neglect in every corner. The air carried a faint musty scent, and the wooden floor creaked under his heavy boots. Dust had settled in the corners of the room, undisturbed for what seemed like months. It was illuminated by a few oil lamps and lacked any windows. Parchments were piled haphazardly on the desk, some yellowed with age, others bearing ink smudges and stains from hurried, careless handling. A heavy iron grille separated Rusty from the clerk within. The bars were thick, reinforced by additional metal bands at the base and top, making it clear that whoever designed this room expected trouble from those who entered. The official seated on the other side was a middle-aged man with sunken eyes and deep wrinkles etched into his face, likely from years of dealing with frustrated buyers and angry petitioners. His long, bony fingers tapped impatiently against the desk as he squinted at Rusty through the bars. Behind him was a single door, probably one he would use to escape if anyone got violent. "You here to buy, lease, or complain?" The man asked, his voice flat and devoid of interest. "Buying." Rusty shifted his stance, uneasy. The room felt too confined for his liking, but what unsettled him more was the lack of an escape route. There wasn''t even a place to hurl his helmet through if he needed to abandon his body. Still, his guides reassured him that as long as he didn''t do anything unusual, nothing would happen. If the people here truly saw him as a monster, they would have acted already and would not have let him in. "Buying, huh?" The clerk flipped through the pages with a practiced hand, barely skimming the contents. "Are you sure?" "Yes." The clerk narrowed his eyes as he flipped another page in his ledger. "I must inform you that all the best properties have long been taken by those with deeper pockets. What remains are run-down houses in the slums. They carry a heavy price tag even in their current state." "Slums?" Rusty knew what slums were, but for someone like him, a living suit of armor created in a dark dungeon, there was little difference between a slum and anywhere else. His only concern was finding a place to stay for the night and securing a cover for his crafting scheme. "I understand. I''m not looking for a mansion. Something with four walls and a cellar will suffice, preferably something spacious." He still preferred dungeon-like spaces, so an underground area to serve as a smithy would be ideal. The condition of the house above did not matter. He did not need a bed, warmth, or even a roof that kept out the rain. "A cellar?" The old clerk continued flipping through the pages, his sunken eyes scanning for any listings that matched Rusty''s request. He stopped on a particular sheet, tracing a bony finger down the parchment. "There is a property in the far eastern part of Ferndale, near the outer wall. It has a basement. The structure itself is¡­ well, let''s just say it hasn''t seen upkeep in quite some time." "It can''t be that bad, right?" He tilted his head at the mention of a possible lair. Its location near one of the walls was also a good sign. His guides had advised him to establish his base close to an escape route. They had even suggested digging a tunnel beneath the city walls to ensure a way out if he was ever discovered. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "The roof has partially collapsed, and the wooden beams have rotted away in several places. The previous owner abandoned it years ago after the foundation started sinking on one side. It has been deemed unfit for living by most." He paused, then added. "Yet, it still carries a heavy cost as the underground basement has remained mostly intact but still needs extensive repairs." "Oh¡­ that sounds great! How much?" Rusty asked, thinking that the description fit what he was looking for. "You wish to know the price without inspecting the property first?" The old man''s eyes narrowed as if he was looking at a fool but he didn''t care much to attempt to dissuade him. Instead, he took some papers and started writing down something. "Please give this to a clerk in the next room, they will prepare a guide for you. If you deem the new residence worthwhile he will help you prepare the contract for the land ownership." Rusty accepted the handwritten note and stepped out of the cramped room. Fortunately, he didn''t have to waste another hour waiting to enter this new area. A younger clerk stood behind a worn wooden counter, far less protected than the previous one. After handing over the note, he was instructed to wait outside the town hall for someone to escort him. With that, his business here seemed to be done. "This better be worth it. I do not wish to return here again. It''s such a bore." Aburdon grumbled, still unaccustomed to the long waiting times that came with human affairs. "We might have to come back to register the smithy." Alexander reminded them. The secondary identity had yet to be officially recorded in the city. The people of Ferndale didn''t seem too concerned with commoners, and the guards had let him through with nothing more than a bribe. That was one of the reasons he had chosen this place as his lair. He realized that people in this world are slaves to the golden coin. As long as he kept making money, he could continue to pay off those who might otherwise interfere. Comfort didn''t matter to him. His only goal was to grow stronger. "Is that person coming or not? It''s starting to get dark¡­" Rusty remained outside waiting. He had heard that city workers usually did not work night shifts, so the sun going down was a bad omen. Eventually, he heard someone running in the distance. To his surprise, it was not another old and tired-looking man but a young woman with strange, fluffy ears protruding from her head. She saw him and started sprinting, but before she could reach him, her foot caught on a rock, and she fell straight onto her face. The many documents she had been carrying flew into the air and smacked Rusty in the chest. "Guuuhhh¡­" Her orange hair was now streaked with dirt, along with her work clothes. Rusty tilted his head in surprise as a flurry of documents collided with his chest. He managed to catch most of them before they hit the ground, while the young messenger, clad in rough work clothes now smeared with dirt, scrambled to gather the scattered papers. "I am sorry¡­" She said in a soft, trembling voice. Her bright orange hair and curious, fluffy ears marked her as someone belonging to a feline beastman tribe and also not much older than nineteen. "No harm done. I think this is yours." He said, holding out the papers to her as she continued picking up the ones she had dropped. It felt like she was not only handling his issue but also had a mountain of work waiting for her once she was finished here. " (?? ? ??) " "... ACK!" " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " The young feline girl recoiled in shock as Gleam suddenly appeared beside her. The small silvery ant had been hiding on a nearby rooftop for the longest time, watching from a distance before finally approaching to check on what Rusty was doing. Startled, the girl fell back again, her ears twitching as fear flickered across her face. Gleam, just as startled, jumped back as well. "Oh, don''t be afraid. That''s Gleam. She''s my friend!" Rusty reassured her. "(?? ? ??)" Gleam skittered around his leg before perching back onto his shoulder. The feline girl, still wide-eyed, stared at the small creature in disbelief. The young feline girl blinked rapidly, then forced a small smile as she gathered her scattered papers. "I am Lira, I have been assigned to escort you to the property." Her voice wavered slightly as she bowed her head multiple times in apology for the clumsy entrance. "Thank you, Lira. I appreciate your help." Rusty replied, attempting to imitate the cheerful tone that some humans carried, but he did not quite get it right. Instead of reassuring the girl, his awkward attempt only seemed to startle her further. Alexander, who had been silently observing, spoke up in a low tone that resonated directly in Rusty''s mind. "She appears to be new and still in training. I suspect the senior workers left her to work tonight because they could not be bothered." Lira''s cheeks flushed a soft pink as she hurried to lead the way. "If you would follow me, please. The property is located near the outer wall of Ferndale in the eastern quarter." Soon, the two were on their way. Lira''s gaze held a hint of cheerfulness, and she navigated the alleyways with practiced ease as if she had lived here for a long time. Perhaps this was why she had been chosen to guide him. Rusty followed closely behind, his mind already calculating the possibilities of a new lair. His thoughts drifted to the previous description. A building with a crumbling roof and a basement that had remained mostly intact despite years of neglect. It showed potential. After they left the district it was clear that they had arrived at the slums. The buildings looked rougher and more worn than those in the heart of the city. Narrow streets wound between structures that bore the marks of long neglect. Rusty trailed behind Lira as she guided him along an uneven path littered with rubble and fading signs of former life. The air carried the scent of damp stone and horse manure, making Gleam''s antennae twitch in protest. " ( ? _ ? ) " "Just bear with it for now, Gleam. Our new lair awaits!" Gleam did not seem too happy about this place, but she kept quiet while looking around. There were a few people lingering in the streets, many of whom were quite thin. However, the number of beggars was surprisingly small, reminding Rusty of the scene when he first arrived here. It seemed that the people in this city got rid of anyone who could not contribute. Even in the slums, those who remained still found ways to work. The outer wall of Ferndale loomed ahead, its surface marred by time and weather. As they walked, the cityscape grew increasingly desolate until they finally reached a modest building with a sagging roof and walls that looked ready to crumble at any moment. Rusty examined the structure carefully. It was a two-story building, but the upper floor had a collapsed roof, which would likely make it difficult for anyone to use the bed chambers there. The walls were made of stone, showing signs of wear, but they could potentially be repaired. Lira halted in front of a creaking door that led into a small initial room. She hesitated before glancing at Rusty and speaking. "Dear customer, this is the property¡­ while it might not look like much¡­ I''m sure it''s worth the coin¡­" Her voice wavered as she spoke, making it clear that she was not very good at lying. She had a key to insert into the door, but once she managed to unlock it, the entire door slanted forward and almost crashed to the ground as it had been held up only by the lock. Lira scrambled to hold it up before it fell completely, as if trying to hide the fact that it did not function as a door should. Her hands fumbled against the worn wood, her tail twitching in nervous desperation. It was clear she was doing her best to conceal as many of the property''s flaws as possible. "She is really bad at this¡­" Alexander''s voice resonated in Rusty''s mind, his tone filled with sympathy. The feline woman''s attempt was painfully obvious. Nevertheless, Rusty stepped forward, his metallic visor scanning the interior to determine whether this place had the potential to become his new lair¡­ Chapter 124 - 122 – Decrepit Lair. ''I need to do something¡­ You can do it Lira! Just speak!" "S-sir how about we¡­ ack!" She was about to speak, but the man stepped forward. His armor screeched slightly, making her jump. Even before bringing him here, her nerves had been close to breaking. She was stuck escorting this strange man who looked like an armored bandit. Then there was the strange white ant-like creature on his shoulder. While it seemed cute, its sharp mandibles made her uneasy, and it kept staring at her in a way that felt almost hostile as if it did not like her talking to the armored man. "Uh¡­" The man vanished into the building after she opened the door, making her heart skip a beat. She slowly leaned in and saw nothing but darkness. The interior of this home was quite dim, with only faint slivers of light filtering through the broken roof and cracks in the walls. Dust hung heavy in the air, disturbed by the armored figure''s steps as he moved further inside without hesitation. Lira swallowed nervously, clutching her papers tightly against her chest. "Uhm¡­ sir?" She called hesitantly. There was no response, only the sound of shifting debris as the man inspected the remains of what had once been a home. The floorboards creaked ominously under his weight and she could hear him shuffling around the premises. Lira took a cautious step inside, her ears twitching at every sound. The scent of damp stone mixed with decay filled her nose, making her wrinkle it in discomfort. ''This place is falling apart, there is no way that anyone would buy this¡­'' Her heart raced as she forced herself to step inside. The property did not belong to this man, so if anything collapsed, she might be blamed for it. Her mind was consumed with worries, each thought another problem piling on. For a moment, she wondered if this was some kind of setup to get her fired¡ªor worse, a trap to leave her vulnerable to assault by this strange man in a desolate part of the slums where almost no one ever came. Lira stepped cautiously into the murky interior of the dilapidated property. The air was heavy with dust and the scent of damp decay. Shadows clung to the corners of the room and every step she took echoed on the creaking wooden floor. Suddenly a loud clatter startled her. Before she could recover, the armored man emerged from behind a crumbling column. His heavy armor gleamed in the stray beams of light and his voice resonated in the silence. "I will buy it." "No please, I''m too young to¡­ wait, you''ll buy it?" "Yes, that''s what I said." He declared with unwavering certainty. His sudden appearance made Lira jump, her hand clenching the scattered papers that had fallen from her grasp. For a moment the room seemed to freeze as she stared at him in shock. Then, as his deep tone filled the space, she began to regain her composure. "Um... are you sure?" ''Is something wrong with his brain? Why would he want this wreck? It''s going to cost a fortune to repair, and then there are also the orcs¡­'' She knew one of the reasons this place was in such terrible shape was because of orc raids. Sometimes, monsters and barbarians would attack the city, and this house, being close to one of the walls, had suffered more than most. Creatures would climb over during assaults, causing damage after the area had been evacuated. One more attack, and the house would surely collapse. But she could not tell him that. If she did, he would never buy it, and she could lose her job. "Of course, why wouldn''t I? But how much does it cost?" "Ah! The papers, here." She handed over some paperwork that she was handed from her superiors earlier. She was still too shocked to properly process what was happening. Of all the possible outcomes, this was the last thing she had expected. The man went through the papers which also had the price on them and didn''t seem to be perturbed by it. "This will do." Lira blinked. "It¡­ it will?" "Yes." Rusty confirmed. "We can finalize the contract now." Lira hesitated, her tail flicking nervously. She should be relieved. This disaster of a property was about to be off her hands. But something felt off. No one in their right mind would buy this place at such an absurd price. Did he know something she didn''t? Was he actually rich? No, that didn''t make sense. A noble or merchant wouldn''t be caught dead in this part of the city, let alone in a suit of battered armor. ''Or¡­ is he planning something illegal?'' A cold shiver ran down her spine. Had she just handed over an abandoned property to someone who might turn it into a hideout for criminals? But then again, did it really matter? It wasn''t her business what he did with it. Lira cleared her throat. "Alright! I will, uh¡­ I have all the papers here, we can either go back to the town hall and sign them there or do it here." "That''s great, could you wait a moment?" "Um? Sure?" The man seemed rather happy with her reply and suddenly decided to vanish into one of the other still-intact rooms. She was left alone to wonder if he would return with a dagger to slit her throat. Instead, after a minute, he reappeared with a large sack. "This should do it, right?" Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. She grabbed the sack and could feel its weight. Her hands trembled slightly as she loosened the drawstrings, peering inside. A glimmer of gold and silver caught her eye, the unmistakable shine of real coin. Lira''s ears twitched in disbelief. Her tail stiffened as she quickly tightened the sack again, glancing around to make sure no one had seen. "This... this is the correct sum." She stammered, struggling to process the fact that she was actually completing this sale. Her skills allowed her to instantly calculate the amount of coin inside the sack without even opening it. A glowing representation of the total hovered above the money-filled sack, a skill that had secured her this job. Simple mathematics and calculation skills were essential, something most people at the town hall were required to master. Lira''s fingers tightened around the sack, her pulse quickening. This was too good to be true. Nobody bought this place, not even the desperate. Yet here he was, throwing down a sack of gold without hesitation. A part of her wanted to run straight back to town hall and sign the deal before he could change his mind. But another part of her hesitated. "Alright, um¡­ we should sign the papers." She said, clearing her throat and almost fumbling the sack making it fall to the ground. "You just need to write your name here, here, and here. Then the property will officially be yours." The young girl wrestled with the idea that this person was simply foolish and being duped into making the purchase. He spoke in rather simple terms, but his appearance was anything but ordinary. There was also the possibility that he was part of the thieves'' guild and that this place would soon become a new entrance to hidden tunnels. She had heard rumors of such guilds always operating underground or within abandoned buildings, which made her think twice before asking too many questions. If the man was indeed part of that guild and realized she had uncovered his secret, her life could very well be at risk¡­ ***** Rusty took the offered quill and, without hesitation, scrawled his name across the parchment where Lira had indicated. His handwriting was rough, almost jagged, as if he wasn''t entirely used to the motion. Luckily he had Edmund''s hands equipped which allowed him to mimic the dead man''s handwriting. The ink bled slightly into the old paper, but the signature remained legible. Lira stood there without moving like some kind of scared animal and only moved after he was finished. "It''s done. The property is mine now, correct?" "Yes¡­ yes, that''s correct, I''ll just have to take these papers back. We keep a copy of the deed there and the main one is yours." "Good!" " ( ?? - ?? ) " "She isn''t an enemy." Gleam stared at the young woman with some intent as if she was a potential enemy for some reason. Rusty didn''t know why but the girl seemed rather harmless. She had no battle class nor was she an adventurer, with one sword swipe he would be able to defeat her. Thus, Rusty suddenly stepped toward her, his heavy armor clanking with each movement. She flinched, gripping the sack of gold tightly. "Will you be fine alone, with all that gold?" "Ah¡­ Yes, it will be fine." The girl brought out a different satchel and placed the sack of gold inside. He could feel faint traces of mana from within. ''It seems to be an advanced spatial bag, with an arcane lock on it, even a higher mage would have trouble opening it.'' Aburdon commented as the sack of gold vanished into the enchanted space. No one would be able to tell she was carrying anything valuable, and her clothes still bore the emblem of the city''s nobility, making it unlikely that anyone would dare to attack her. "Very well then, so this is mine now, right?" "Y-yes, Sir Edward. Enjoy your new home." The girl forced a smile while glancing at the half-destroyed house, trying not to let her doubts show. There was an odd pause between them. Lira clearly wasn''t sure if she should say something else or just leave. The transaction was complete, yet for some reason she hesitated. "Well¡­ I should be going now," Finally, she said awkwardly. "Good luck with your¡­ uh, new home." With that, she turned on her heel and hurried out the door, her tail swishing behind her as she disappeared into the darkening streets. Rusty watched her go before turning his attention back to the ruined building. He trailed his fingers along the worn stone walls and if he had a proper face, he would be smiling now. "This will do nicely" Gleam let out a small, approving chirp. "Really? This? How is this a proper ''Lair'' for a demon king to live in!" Aburdon finally gave out a large sigh of dissatisfaction. "Rusty isn''t a demon king¡­ but this place will need some work." Alexander replied, but he did not seem too fond of the place. Rusty did not really care. After the girl left, he used the key she had given him to close the door behind her. The red sunlight shone through as twilight approached signifying the end of the day. He was not concerned with how the place looked or that it had cost him all the money he had gathered again. Instead of worrying about that, he headed for the basement, something he had glimpsed while the girl was awkwardly entering his new home. Rusty descended the crumbling staircase leading to the basement, his armored boots sending small clouds of dust into the air. The wooden steps groaned under his weight, threatening to collapse at any moment. He paused briefly, evaluating their integrity before proceeding with careful precision. The air grew cooler the further he went and soon he was there. When he reached the bottom, he found himself in a surprisingly spacious underground chamber. The stone walls were old but sturdy, showing fewer signs of decay than the rest of the building. A few wooden crates and broken furniture were scattered about, remnants of whatever previous purpose this space had served. Most importantly, it was secluded. Hidden. Secure and also was connected to a chimney. "This will be my smithy!" " (?? ? ??) " He proclaimed in an enthusiastic tone, and Gleam wiggled her antennae in agreement. She skittered from his shoulder onto a stone slab, inspecting the space with her ant eyes. The small creature let out a soft chirp of curiosity before moving further in to explore every nook and cranny. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "Oh? You want to take care of them?" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, there were other residents in the old building, ones resembling the monstrous rodents they had faced during their travels, though much small er, as they were just regular rats. Gleam hurled herself at the little critters, still remembering the larger variants she had battled alongside Rusty. The rats scattered in all directions, but she was much faster, and soon the slaughter began. "Just don''t eat them, Lady Gleam. They might be carrying diseases," Aburdon commented while Rusty stepped forward to examine this new lair of his. Gleam skittered about, ruthlessly dispatching any rat unfortunate enough to cross her path. The cool stone walls, the sturdy foundation, and most importantly, the chimney that extended all the way up to the ruined roof¡ªit was perfect. It would take effort, but this space could become a proper forge. He brushed dust and cobwebs off an old workbench that had long since collapsed under its own weight. The room smelled of damp wood and rusting metal, but that was nothing that fire and time could not fix. "I suppose after cleaning this place up, assembling a forge will be plausible." "I knew you would agree with me." While it looked bad to someone like Aburdon, Alexander who was a former craftsman could see the potential here. There was enough space for a forge, smelter and even a proper workspace for repairs and crafting. The chimney would serve well as a means of ventilation, though it would need cleaning before any flames could be lit. Rusty ran a gauntleted hand along the old stone walls, feeling the cold surface beneath his fingers. It was solid. That was all that mattered. Gleam scuttled back toward him, her mandibles clicking in satisfaction. The last rat had been dealt with, and she proudly stood atop its tiny, lifeless form like a victorious warrior. Rusty let out a small chuckle at her enthusiasm before stepping toward the center of the room. His armored boots echoed in the underground chamber, and he could already imagine the glow of the forge lighting up the space, the steady rhythm of hammer against metal filling the air. "We will need materials. Proper bricks for the forge, tools, and, of course, fuel for the fire," Alexander remarked and Rusty nodded. This was the start of his new lair and now he just needed to complete it as the framework was now established. Chapter 125 - 123 – Being Followed. "Skreee¡­" A screeching sound echoed through the thick forest as a monstrous spider crashed to the ground, its many limbs twitching erratically, its head missing. The spider-infested forest was a labyrinth of shadows and silk, its air thick with venom scent. Glistening webs stretched between gnawed trees, some draped like curtains shimmering faintly under the slivers of moonlight that pierced the dense canopy. The ground was littered with the husks of unfortunate prey, picked clean by the forest''s eight-legged inhabitants. Amid this eerie stillness, a group of cloaked figures stood still, their dark robes blending seamlessly into the night. "Is this the right way, brother?" One of the robed figures called out while glancing down at the dead spider. Many similar carcasses lay amidst the twisted underbrush, some that were still falling from the many trees above them. A second figure stepped forward, lowering his hood slightly. The faintest sliver of moonlight illuminated a pale wrist, revealing a tattoo depicting an ornate scythe nestled within the cradle of a crescent moon. "Yes" The tattooed one murmured, his voice quiet and raspy. "The target passed through here¡­ of that, I am certain." A third figure crouched down, running gloved fingers over the trampled undergrowth, revealing a faint indentation. "Another footprint left behind¡­ the weight is still odd¡­" He remarked, studying the barely visible impression. He traced it lightly, his expression hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. "Light but still large. A person of this size should weigh much more¡­" The depth of the footprint suggested that whoever they were tracking was unexpectedly light, despite having a shoe size belonging to a much larger individual. "Let''s go." The robed figures exchanged glances before continuing their trek through the forest. Their movements were eerily silent, their presence blending seamlessly with the dark surroundings. The deeper they ventured, the thicker the webs became. Pale strands clung to their robes, stretching and snapping as they forced their way forward. The chittering of unseen creatures echoed from above, but none dared descend upon the group. Whether out of fear or instinct, the spiders kept their distance. The group moved on, undeterred. At last, they arrived at a hidden cave, its entrance concealed by overgrown vines and tangled foliage. One of the cultists knelt, tracing a finger over a faint indentation. "He went through here. No prints are leading out, so he could be still inside¡­" The others nodded in silent agreement before drawing their weapons - curved daggers that gleamed faintly in the dim light. Without a word, they slipped into the cavern, vanishing into the darkness. Their eyes glowed red as they followed the trail of their prey. ****** Night had finally draped Ferndale in shadow, the last embers of twilight giving way to a chill that seeped through every crumbling stone. Deep within the basement which was Rusty''s newly claimed domain, the sound of metallic footsteps echoed. The large suit of living armor was pacing around the basement looking over every old stone, his guides Aburdon and Alexander in their glowing orb form floating next to his head making him appear as some kind of ghost knight. "Now that I look at this palace, perhaps we were too hasty¡­" Alexander examined the rubble and cracked stones, many of which would likely need to be replaced or reinforced to prevent the entire structure from collapsing. "I told you, but no one ever listens!" "It''s too late now. Just tell me what I need to prepare, and we''ll start tomorrow!" Rusty replied, watching as Gleam tugged at the bodies of defeated rats, dragging them toward the hole leading to the chimney. These little creatures spread disease, which could be a problem for his future customers. It was best to burn them, along with any other vermin they found upstairs, before attempting to restore the place. "You sound quite enthusiastic about this, Rusty" Alexander remarked, floating around and casting a soft glow over the area. "Why wouldn''t I be? I have my own lair, and those people above don''t even know I''m a monster!" To Rusty, this was a major victory. Things were progressing much smoother than he had expected. Now that his lair was secured, he just needed to check out the dungeon outside. Perhaps he had been too hasty in purchasing this place without first surveying the surroundings, but he was confident that making more money wouldn''t be a problem, thanks to his storage system. If things took a turn for the worse, he could always leave and search for other opportunities in this vast world. However, before making any big moves, he needed to keep learning. From what he understood, much of this world was ruled by kingdoms and empires. It was home to various races, with humans, elves, and dwarves being the most prominent. The fourth major race consisted of beastmen, like the young woman who had sold him the deed. If this was to be his true lair, he needed to be aware of potential enemies. Many powerful organizations existed in this world, and he had to determine whether any of them operated within this settlement. While the town was not particularly large, it had been around for many years, meaning there was a chance a thieves'' guild had already formed. It would be wise to investigate, and with the right amount of coin, he might be able to protect his new home. Apparently, it was possible to pay a small fee to safeguard a building from being targeted by the guild''s members. While it would cost him, it was better to pay protection money than constantly worry about being robbed. After all, he was still in the slums, where the rules were more relaxed. Just like in the previous town, the guards did not patrol here often, meaning most disputes were settled by the residents themselves, which could easily lead to fights. "Maybe we should first get some logs to act as support pillars so it doesn''t collapse on us. There might even be some outside, why don''t we¡­" You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Alexander was in the middle of his sentence when they heard the upper floor creaking. Someone had entered the building in the middle of the night. Rusty froze and glanced at Gleam, who skittered to his side, trying to remain silent. Both of his guides quickly floated back into his helmet to avoid being discovered. After casting a silencing spell, they made their way toward the stairs leading up. ''Who are those? Goblins perhaps?'' Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He asked while peeking through one of the holes of the door leading to the basement he was currently in. Rusty could easily see in the dark and he spotted a group of small creatures creeping into his home. They were the size of goblins but after further inspection, turned out to just be four children dressed in tattered clothes. ''Those are just children Rusty, probably homeless orphans trying to find shelter, put your sword away.'' Alexander informed him as the small group of street urchins gathered beneath a collapsed window, seeking refuge from the bitter night. Their eyes, wide with both fear and hope. They followed one another as they huddled together among dusty remnants of what had once been a home. It was clear that they believed the place to be abandoned, unaware of the metallic master who now claimed it. "Are you sure we are safe? What if they find us? We didn''t meet the weekly quota¡­" "It''s going to be alright, they won''t find us here." Rusty listened as the kids started talking. The leader seemed to be a lanky boy, no older than eleven or twelve, with a scarred cheek and dirty hair matted to his forehead. His ears were a bit strange, pointier than human ears but lacking the length of elven ears. The other children were smaller, two of them clinging to each other while a younger girl, no older than seven, pressed against the cold stone wall, looking for reassurance. ''Who do these brats think they are, let''s chase them out before they get the wrong idea!'' Aburdon quickly commented, not liking the fact that some random orphans entered what was supposed to be their new base of operations. ''What are you even saying, they are just children.'' ''So what? We aren''t responsible for them they need to learn to survive by themselves, this is such a world and you know it, hero!'' Alexander was a lot more kind-hearted, so it was obvious that he wished to help them. However, in the end, it was up to Rusty to decide what to do with them. If Rusty had a face then his brows would be furrowing. He had no interest in taking on responsibility for a group of ragtag orphans, but they were here now, and they had likely nowhere else to go. They were in his space, and he didn''t want to scare them, at least not until he figured out if they could be useful or if they would cause him trouble if he showed himself. ''Perhaps they will go away once it''s morning?'' He asked his guides while wondering if he should confront them. Before he could make a decision, the situation took an unexpected turn. A rough voice suddenly echoed from outside the building. "Oi! Where are you lot hiding?" Rusty turned toward the source of the voice and immediately activated his life detection skill. The ability revealed two people standing outside. While their signals were not exceptionally strong, they still belonged to individuals with combat classes, similar to adventurers. From the way they spoke, it was clear they were looking for the children, who quickly began to panic. The children huddled closer together, their breaths shallow as fear took hold. The lanky boy with the scarred cheek clenched his fists, his expression that of dread. He took a step toward the broken window, as if debating whether to make a run for it. The younger ones clung to his ragged clothes and would probably need to be abandoned if he decided to escape. Rusty remained silent, watching from his concealed position in the basement''s entrance. His mind worked quickly, analyzing the situation. These children were clearly being hunted, and the ones outside were no ordinary street thugs. Combat classes meant they were either trained fighters or enforcers working for someone more powerful. That meant whoever these children owed their "weekly quota" to was more than just a petty gang leader. "You brats think you can run? We know you ain''t paid up this week. Boss don''t like that." A second voice, gruffer than the first, chuckled darkly. "Maybe we take a finger or two this time, make sure they learn their lesson. The children whimpered, the youngest girl burying her face in the fabric of the lanky boy''s shirt. Rusty felt something stir inside him. It wasn''t pity, nor was it anger. It was irritation. He had claimed this place as his lair but for some reason, they brought their squabbles into his territory. "Shhh¡­be quiet, they are going to¡­" Just as he was considering whether to step out and scare both the children and the men outside, the youngest child began to cry. This, of course, instantly alerted the two men outside to their whereabouts. The moment the cry escaped the youngest child''s lips, the men outside turned their heads toward the broken window. The first thug grinned, a twisted expression of amusement spreading across his scarred face. Without hesitation, he strode forward and slammed his boot against the already weak entrance door. The old wood cracked under the force, splintering apart as the entrance gave way. The children shrieked and tried to scramble back, but the two thugs stepped inside, their heavy boots echoing against the cold stone floor. Dust swirled in the dim moonlight as they towered over the frightened orphans. "Heh, look at ''em" The first thug sneered, crossing his arms. "Like little rats caught in a trap." The second man chuckled darkly and reached out, grabbing the lanky boy by the collar as he tried to shield the others. "Thought you could hide from us, huh? Bad move, kid." Kicking and clawing, the boy struggled, but the man''s grip was firm. The younger children whimpered, pressing themselves against the wall, too scared to move. The second thug turned his gaze toward them and leaned in, his grin widening. "No running, little ones. We got business to¡­" The man stopped himself as he felt that something was off, there was a strange presence looming behind him. Before he could react, a massive metal fist crashed into his face. The impact sent a sickening crack through the air, and his body was flung across the room like a ragdoll. He slammed into the far wall, his head snapping back against the stone before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious. "Huh? Who goes there?" In a panicked tone the remaining thug shouted at the figure that emerged from behind his ally. Rusty walked forward his steps slow and deliberate. His body gleamed faintly in the dim moonlight and Gleam occupied his shoulder, her antennae pointing at the man before them in a meanacining fashion. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "You broke my door." Rusty cracked his knuckles, the metal grinding ominously as he took a step forward. His voice was deep and devoid of emotion. The thug holding the lanky boy gulped, his grip loosening as he tried to process what he was seeing. His partner lay motionless on the ground, his face twisted in pain. The children, now forgotten by the remaining thug, huddled together, their wide eyes fixed on Rusty as he approached. "W-what the hell are you?" The thug stammered, instinctively reaching for the dagger at his belt. Rusty tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the short blade before he lunged forward without a warning. This was his lair, his territory, and he would not allow some thugs to set the rules. He knew how the laws worked here, and now that he owned this home, the law was on his side. Even if these men were part of the thieves'' guild, so was he. As the thug pulled his weapon, Rusty caught the incoming blade between his steel gauntlet, locking it in place before the man could react. While he had every right to defend his lair, killing them was unnecessary. Instead, he chose to disable them. His gauntlet shot forward, slamming into the man''s solar plexus and dropping him to his knees. A swift knee to the jaw followed, knocking him out instantly. The fight was over as quickly as it had begun. "Now, what should I do with you¡­" Though the attackers were down, four others remained in his house. The children huddled together, their fear evident. The lanky boy grasped his own dagger and pointed it at Rusty, his hands trembling and terror clear on his face. "S-stay back!" "..." Chapter 126 - 124 – Children. A group of children huddled together in an old house lit only by the moonlight. They stared at a large armored figure standing before them. The oldest child held a dagger, pointing it directly at him. "Don''t come near! I''ll use it!" Rusty tilted his head slightly at the boy''s feeble attempt at defiance. The dagger in the child''s hands trembled, the tip wavering as he struggled to hold his ground. His legs were locked in place, frozen with fear. " ( ?? - ?? ) " Rusty raised his hands in mock surrender, the motion slow to not scare them. His towering, metallic frame loomed over the children, and for a brief moment, an uneasy silence settled in the ruined lair. Gleam didn''t look too happy but just kept to his shoulder. "I''m not going to hurt you." After a moment of silence, Rusty''s deep voice finally broke the tension. Yet, even though he assured the children he wouldn''t hurt them, they didn''t seem to believe him. The three smaller ones curled up behind the oldest boy, who looked on the verge of tears. To Rusty, this was unfamiliar. He had never really interacted with the young of humanoid races before. To a monster like him, they were strange beings. They were older than him yet less mature, unable to defend themselves. The moment he was created he was already capable of killing a regular person and other monsters were similar, born to be able to defend themselves. "Rusty, you''re scaring them. It would be better if you stepped back. Why don''t we examine those two first? See if they''re from the thieves'' guild." Alexander, who had once been human, urged Rusty to move away rather than loom over the children and Aburdon nodded in agreement. "The hero is right. It would be wise to know who we are dealing with." "(?? ? ??)? " "You''ll take care of it Gleam?" Gleam hopped down from Rusty''s shoulder and approached the group of children. Her silvery-white body reflected the moonlight, making her shimmer in the dimly lit room. The children stared at her, and the boy instinctively pointed his dagger in her direction. But before he could react further, his eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly, Gleam began wiggling around, performing the little dance she sometimes did when she was happy. The boy''s grip on the dagger loosened slightly as he watched the strange creature wriggle and twirl. The younger children, who had been cowering moments ago, now peeked over his shoulders with wide, curious eyes. One of them, the smallest girl, hesitantly reached out a hand toward Gleam, her fingers trembling. "No, don''t touch it! What if it bites you!" The boy shouted at the youngest in fear that the monster ant would snap her mandibles at her but instead, Gleam continued to wiggle. "But¡­ Is¡­ is she dancing?" Rusty, who was now going through the two thug''s belongings nodded and tried to assure the children that everything was fine. "She does that when she''s happy. Don''t worry, Gleam doesn''t bite and neither will I, so calm yourselves." " (?? ? ??) " The children exchanged uncertain glances, but their fear was slowly fading, giving way to curiosity. The smallest girl, emboldened by Gleam''s harmless display and Rusty''s assurance, took a cautious step forward. Gleam wiggled her antennae in response, sensing the shift in their emotions. The girl knelt and gently poked Gleam''s hard, silvery body, her face lighting up with wonder. The older boy still gripped the dagger, though he didn''t lower it completely. His tense posture eased slightly as his gaze flickered between Rusty and the unconscious men he was patting down on the floor. "You stopped them..." "Yes. This is my territory." "Your territory?" The boy repeated Rusty''s words, glancing around the run-down building. It looked even worse than the place the children had been staying before. Everyone assumed it was just an abandoned ruin, destined to collapse in a few years. Rusty straightened from his crouched position, shaking his head as he tossed aside some of the thugs'' belongings while pocketing their coins. "No thieves'' guild tokens." That was good news. It meant he wouldn''t have to deal with the guild. While these two had combat classes, their low levels indicated either a lack of effort or an inability to rise through real combat. Some people with combat classes never pushed themselves to grow stronger. Rusty didn''t understand that mindset. For him, the drive to evolve into the most powerful monster he could was instinctual, an unshakable goal. Yet many feared risking their lives against monsters, and without killing opponents, leveling was impossible. "They might not have anything identifying them as members of the thieves'' guild, but that doesn''t mean they aren''t. Not everyone carries a token, and they could have been hired by a member to do this. There are many possibilities" Alexander said, trying to make Rusty understand the situation. While these two men didn''t seem particularly important, their attack could still bring trouble to Rusty''s doorstep in the future. "Still, you bought this home, so you''re free to deal with anyone who enters without your approval, I wouldn''t worry too much about it. Let''s just toss these two out for now. Better not to kill them." There were some rules even among thieves. If someone was caught trying to steal another''s loot, the victim had the right to retaliate to protect their property. There were not many rules, and people were free to steal from others, but if they were caught red-handed, retaliation was allowed. Rusty dragged the unconscious men toward the door, their bodies limp as sacks of grain. The armored figure made no effort to be gentle, letting their heads bump against the uneven floor as he moved. The children flinched with every dull thud, but none dared to speak up. Their fear had lessened, but unease still clung to them like a thick fog. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. With one final heave, Rusty shoved the thugs outside, letting them collapse onto the cold, dirt-covered ground. He didn''t bother locking the door as there wasn''t much left of it to lock. It had been hanging on one hinge, and now there was nothing left to salvage. The night air was still, aside from the distant sounds of the city''s nightly entertainment districts. Even in a place like this, surrounded by monsters and enemy tribes, people still found time to drink themselves silly and forget their troubles. Rusty dusted off his hands and turned back, his gaze settling once more on the children. "You should leave." His voice was calm but carried a warning. "This place is mine now." The oldest boy tensed again, but his shoulders sagged slightly. He had expected this outcome. There was no kindness in the world for people like them. Still, he had to try. "There''s nowhere else we can go¡­" He muttered, his grip tightening around the worn handle of his dagger before he pointed it down, knowing well that he would not be able to do anything to Rusty. "They''ll find us if we leave." Rusty remained silent, his shiny helmet reflecting the boy''s defiant expression. He understood survival. He understood desperation. And he understood that if he turned them away, they would likely be caught. Maybe worse. If that happened, he might have to deal with someone complaining that he had interfered, making it harder to start his workshop if he had to fend off the local gang. "Rusty, won''t you reconsider? They''re just children. We should help them¡ªnot like you need the other rooms." Alexander tried to convince him, but Aburdon was quick to counter. "Are you crazy? You want Rusty to take care of some slum kids when he just got here? They''ll be fine. Someone else will take care of them." Logically, it was best not to get involved. There weren''t many benefits to keeping them here, and he was still a monster. Having more people around who could discover that made little sense. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s not my problem." As expected, all of them frowned. What Rusty didn''t expect was the one who looked the most saddened. "( ? ? ? )" "Huh? Don''t look at me like that, Gleam¡­" The small creature had already taken a liking to the youngest child, gently tickling the girl with her antennae. For some reason, she seemed particularly fond of her, though Rusty wasn''t sure why. Normally, he would have tossed them out into the night. There were probably other run-down homes where they could hide without causing him trouble. But if Gleam wanted them to stay, he was willing to make an exception. It wasn''t likely to cause him much trouble either way. These kids didn''t seem important enough for whoever sent those thugs to waste even more resources hunting them down. "Fine¡­ they can stay for the night but once it''s bright, they will have to leave." " (?? ? ??) " Gleam did a little twirl and Rusty stepped towards the four children to repeat his statement. "Stay if you want for the night but then leave." "T-thank you." The children hesitated at first, unsure if Rusty''s offer was genuine. The oldest boy''s grip on his dagger finally loosened, and he lowered it entirely. The youngest girl, now attached to Gleam, clung to the creature''s side, finding comfort in the soft, warm glow her tiny body had begun to emit. With his decision made, Rusty strode through the shattered doorway into the cool night air. Outside, he noticed a pile of heavy logs stacked near the crumbling foundation of the building. The underground basement needed reinforcement, and some of these logs were thick enough to serve as support beams. Many were too short, but a few looked long enough to work. While the children settled inside, huddling around Gleam''s gentle warmth, Rusty sorted through the logs. Once he found two that were both long and sturdy enough, he hefted them, one in each arm, and carried them inside. The kids watched him move back and forth but were too preoccupied with the small creature, who had cast a simple heating spell to keep them warm. Just as Rusty was about to finish with the logs, he heard low grunts from the side, the thugs were beginning to wake. Their groggy eyes widened as they took in the sight of Rusty towering above them, logs in hand. Even though they recognized him as the one who had beaten them, they still clung to some shred of courage. "Oi¡­" One of them croaked, his voice trembling despite his earlier bravado. "What did you do to those brats¡­?" Rusty paused, turning his visor toward them. "They ran off. Didn''t want to stick around." His answer was blunt, leaving no room for argument. He turned to leave but stopped after a few steps, glancing back at them. "If you ever break into my home again, it won''t end at just this." His voice was cold and carried an obvious warning. "Now get out, otherwise¡­" Rusty placed the logs down and rested his armored hand on the sword at his side. Luckily, the two thugs did not need to be told twice. Their bodies were sore from Rusty''s punishment so they scrambled to their feet. One of them muttered something about retribution but was quickly silenced when Rusty began to draw his sword. They stammered out some half-hearted threats he did not understand, but their priority was escaping the armored man. Limping away, they disappeared into the shadows, their dignity clearly shattered. After sliding his sword back into its scabbard, Rusty picked up the two remaining logs and carried them into his home. The door, though damaged, could still be leaned against the entrance to create the illusion of being intact. Gleam seemed to have taken a liking to the young ones, so Rusty left them undisturbed and used the time to reinforce the underground basement. After about an hour, he returned upstairs to find the children fast asleep in one of the corners, huddled together. Even the oldest had succumbed to exhaustion. " (?? ? ??) " "You like that one? and no, we can''t keep them, they need to leave in the morning." "( ? ? ? )" "Lady Gleam, listen to our dear Rusty. It''s too dangerous for us to take care of these¡­ orphans. This will never end well." Just like clockwork, Aburdon agreed with his decision but Alexander was opposed to it and took Gleam''s side. "End well? What are you even talking about, they pose no threat to us. Let them stay here, they''re just kids. We got enough coin from those two thugs to keep them fed for more than a week. They could even help us. I''m sure the oldest knows about the situation in the city and could act as a proper guide." "¡­ I don''t know¡­" Rusty was not fully convinced, but he was not entirely opposed either. It all depended on what kind of trouble these kids were really in. Perhaps once they woke up, he would listen to their plea and make a final decision then. "I suppose we can ask them once they wake up¡­" " (?? ? ??) " Gleam was happy at his response and the two soon began going through their new but dirty lair. There was a lot of work to be done here and both of them started cleaning. While Rusty took care of the bulk of the work, Gleam still used her mandibles to carry smaller rocks outside to get their new home clean. As the first light of dawn crept through the broken slats of the ruined house, Rusty found himself watching the children as they stirred from their slumber. The oldest boy was the first to wake, his body tensing as he took in his surroundings. His fingers instinctively reached for his dagger, only to find it still clutched in his hand, loosened but not lost. He exhaled slowly, eyes darting around the now sun-lit space. Rusty stood near the entrance, arms crossed, his frame as unmoving as a statue. Gleam was curled up near the youngest girl, who still had one hand resting on her silvery body, murmuring softly in her sleep. "Good morning." Rusty''s voice cut through the silence, making the boy flinch slightly. He straightened his posture, shaking off the last remnants of sleep as he glanced at his siblings. The other children awoke, stretching groggily, their expressions shifting from comfort to guarded apprehension as they remembered where they were. "Tell me, who are the forces that control this city¡­" If he was going to involve himself with these four, he needed to know who ruled this territory first. The boy''s answer would determine his next move and probably decide if he would allow them to stay here longer than he had previously expected. Chapter 127 - 125 – Ferndale Underbelly. "( ?¡ã?¡ã) !!" "Calm down, Gleam. They aren''t dying; that''s just their stomach rumbling," Alexander commented as attention shifted to the youngest girl. Her tummy rumbled which was a natural occurrence among humanoids. To Rusty, who neither needed food to sustain himself nor sleep to function, this seemed highly unfavorable. Humans appeared weak, burdened with countless vulnerabilities. While they slept, they were defenseless against surprise attacks. They could even be rendered unconscious by fumes or by simply burning the air around them. And yet, despite all these weaknesses, they had somehow managed to conquer parts of this strange world he now lived in. "( >©n< )" "Do I have any food for humans? Hm¡­ let me check¡­" Rusty accessed his storage system. During his journey, he had passed through monster encampments and come across fallen adventurers. These adventurers often carried rations such as dried meat, bread, and water tucked away in their supplies. It was not anything fancy, but for this child the taste probably would not matter. For a moment he removed himself from view to open his hidden storage. After rummaging through his inventory he pulled out a few pieces of dried meat and a small loaf of bread wrapped in cloth. Along with them, he had a leather water bottle taken from one of the many adventurer corpses he had come across in goblin or orc encampments. There was one table remaining in this house, it was missing one leg but after using some nearby bricks, it regained its function. However, before he could place the items on it, Alexander called out to him. "At least put something clean over the table first, Rusty." "Do I have to?" "Yes, they might get sick from the dust." "Humanoids are really troublesome¡­" Rusty sighed inwardly, his eyes flickering slightly as he begrudgingly followed Alexander''s advice. Within his inventory, he found a clean cloth devoid of dust and laid it over the table. Only then did he place the food and water on it. The children, who had been silently watching him, stared at the meager meal with wide eyes. "Eat now." Just as expected, the children were a bit apprehensive about taking this meal from a stranger. They were young but knew well that poison and other drugs could be mixed into such food. However, they also were aware that they were at Rusty''s mercy. Gleam moved down to the ground and urged the children with her antennae to take the meal. " (?? ? ??) " The youngest girl was the first to move, drawn by the scent of food. She hesitated only for a moment before taking a small piece of bread, nibbling at it cautiously. When no harm came, the other children followed suit, their hunger outweighing their lingering fear. The oldest boy took the dried meat, splitting it evenly among them before drinking sparingly from the water bottle. Rusty observed them quietly, making mental notes of their behavior. So?" The boy flinched at Rusty''s sudden question, swallowing hastily before answering. "So¡­ what?" "You were about to tell me about the forces that control this city." Rusty reminded him. Now that he had smacked two people around to get them out of his home, he needed to find out which faction they belonged to. There were a few people in this city he could not afford to cross. One was likely the city lord, and another was the leader of the adventurers guild. Beyond that, he was not sure who else he needed to avoid. The oldest boy hesitated, glancing at his siblings before turning back to Rusty. His expression was wary, but he understood that withholding information wouldn''t help them. "The city''s controlled by a few major groups." The young man began, his voice low as if he was afraid that someone would hear them. "The city lord rules from the central district, which is also called the noble district, but he doesn''t really care about what happens in the slums or lower districts. If you don''t cross him or the guards, they won''t care. We like to call him the round baron but better not say it out loud or you''ll get in trouble." Rusty nodded as the children laughed at the noble''s nickname. He continued to listen, hoping that Alexander and Aburdon would remind him later if the name proved to be important. It was already clear that nobles were not to be trifled with, and the same applied to the guards. Unless he had official business, he would not be allowed to enter the central district which would lower his chances of getting in trouble. "The merchant''s guild has a lot of power too. They own most of the trade routes and even the guards sometimes listen to them more than the city lord. They keep things running, but they don''t really care about people like us. As long as they make their profits, they look the other way when bad things happen." Rusty took this information in. The merchant''s guild could be useful to him if he intended to start his workshop. Having a neutral party with economic influence meant he could find potential clients without getting too entangled in city politics. "Then there''s the adventurers'' guild. They do their own thing, but they don''t mess with people unless they''re paid to. If you don''t bother them, they don''t bother you." Rusty nodded his metallic head, trying to ignore the munching sounds some of the children were making. As he listened, he finally stopped the youth from continuing and asked a direct question. "I see. Does this place have a Thieves'' guild?" Before the young man could continue further, he asked a direct question and received a quick answer. "No, I don''t think so¡­" The boy shook his head. Perhaps the chaotic state of the city had prevented the thieves guild from establishing itself. It was also possible that there were simply not enough profits to be made from stealing, as the settlement was barely surviving. There was little to gain from people who were already poor. "But there are others like them." "Like them? Are they together with those two?" The boy nodded and finally started explaining who Rusty got involved with. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "They belong to the Black Hound." Rusty stood still, processing the boy''s words. The name "Black Hound" was unfamiliar to him, but judging from the boy''s cautious tone and wary expression, it was not a group to be taken lightly. He remained silent, waiting for the child to continue. "The Black Hound used to be a group of mercenaries, they were hired by the lord a few years back to clear out bandits and protect the city''s borders, but once the contract ended, they didn''t leave." He listened but noticed that something didn''t add up so he quickly asked. "Bandits? Not orcs or barbarians?" ''Oh, you''re catching on, Rusty. Well done.'' Aburdon''s mocking voice resounded inside his helmet as he complimented him in his own twisted way. "I think they were supposed to, but something went wrong, and a large number of them died. Later, I heard they settled in the lower districts and started working for themselves. At first, they just acted as muscle for merchants and nobles who needed extra protection, but over time, they became something else." ''So we are facing mercenaries that got lazy. That explains why two people with classes were looking for children. This boy must have gone through a lot, he doesn''t act his age.'' Alexander realized that the child, probably eleven or twelve, was acting far more mature than he should. He was able to stay mostly calm in such a situation and knew a lot of critical information about the settlement that would help him survive. He probably knew well who not to anger. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Interesting. Anyone besides these Black Hounds?" "Well¡­ they are on the top, but there are many smaller groups here and there." The boy continued his explanation, painting a vivid picture of the city''s hidden underworld. Many criminals operated in secret, largely because the lord cared little about what happened in the slums and lower districts. This also meant that Rusty would have to watch his back, as he wouldn''t be getting much help in these lawless areas. Apparently, young children here were often used for pickpocketing merchants and unsuspecting newcomers who didn''t know any better. Even if they were caught, they usually got away with little more than a slap on the wrist since they weren''t adults. Low-level thugs exploited them in various ways, from transporting illicit substances to being sold into slavery. A pleasure district was also beginning to take shape in Ferndale, offering prostitution and gambling to keep adventurers and mercenaries entertained. This, in turn, encouraged them to stay and help defend against monster attacks, or at least, that was how his guides interpreted it. ''Nice, thugs, criminals and mercenaries¡­ Well, at least we probably won''t have to worry about a permit to sell anything here.'' ''Are you sure about that? I''ve heard that your human lords are especially savage when it comes to collecting taxes.'' Aburdon replied to Alexander and to Rusty''s surprise the two actually agreed on something for once. ''... You might have a point.'' "So that''s how it looks¡­" Rusty leaned up against one of the walls and started thinking. He wasn''t sure if helping these children would come back to bite him later, but one thing was certain: he had already drawn attention to himself. If the Black Hound thugs had reported back to their group, it was only a matter of time before someone higher up decided to check on what had happened. For now, though, the immediate problem was the children. He had given them one night of shelter, but what came next? His original plan had been simple: secure a base, establish a workshop, and operate without drawing too much attention. But life never seemed to work out that easily. "What''s your name?" Rusty turned his visor toward the oldest boy. The boy hesitated, still unsure of Rusty''s true intentions. But after a moment, he answered. "Rolo." Rell gestured to the others. "My sister, Natia." He pointed to the youngest girl, who was bouncing around with Gleam and having a good time. Then he pointed to the other two children, who were another boy and a girl. "And the twins, Ria and Isan." "Twins? They don''t really look alike." Rusty knew what twins were, but to his knowledge, they were supposed to look the same. However, these two didn''t even have the same gender. Their heights were also different, and the only trait they shared was their brown wolf-like ears which identified them as a person from the beastmen tribes. ''Why are you asking for their names Rusty? We got what we needed, it''s best if we remove them from ''your'' lair.'' Aburdon seemed unhappy that he was asking personal questions. The demon lord quickly identified that Rusty wasn''t removing them as quickly as he liked, there was a chance that he had changed his mind after Alexander pestered him to help these rascals. "Do you wish to remain here?" He posed a question to the oldest boy. It wasn''t out of the goodness of his heart but due to how badly this home here looked. "You''ll let us stay? But why?" "I''ve just bought this place, but as you can see, it''s not in good condition. If you stay, you''ll work. The place needs to be cleaned, reinforced, and organized. If you do that, you can sleep here and have more food. But if I find you slacking, you''re out. Understood?" Rusty did his best impression of an adult. He had been analyzing the speech patterns of humanoid creatures for a while now, and with his new head, he could finally speak fairly easily. His body movements had also become more human-like, allowing him to blend in more naturally. Rolo''s eyes flickered with surprise, but he quickly masked it. He glanced at his siblings, who looked hopeful, especially Natia, who had clearly grown attached to Gleam. Exhaling slowly, he gave a nod. "We''ll do it." ''The boy is truly commendable. He must have been through a lot in his life.'' Alexander seemed elated about this fact, but just like before, Aburdon protested. ''Bah, we do not need those brats loitering around here. What if they steal something while we are gone?'' ''Steal what? There is nothing here but rubble Aburdon, we''ll be fine and I''m not planning to let them stay forever.'' While Rusty allowed the four to stay for now, that did not mean they could remain forever. Once the cleanup was done, he would make them leave. He was still a monster, after all, and living with four humanoid creatures under the same roof was dangerous. Sooner or later, they would realize something was off about him and perhaps even report him to the guards. For now, he just needed someone to watch over his new lair while he visited the Ferndale Dungeon. Now that morning had arrived, he wanted to see what kind of monsters lurked inside and how quickly he could progress to D rank. "Good. Then, start cleaning. Get rid of any debris, and organize what little furniture remains. If there''s anything salvageable, set it aside. Understood?" "T-thank you, sir." "Just call me Ru¡­ I mean, Edmund." The children nodded, and without hesitation, they set to work. Rolo directed his siblings efficiently, clearly accustomed to taking charge. Natia, despite her small frame, eagerly picked up broken wood pieces, while the twins began sweeping dust after finding an old broom in the corner. Rusty watched them for a few moments before turning away. "I will be leaving for a while, I might be gone for a few days." He was not sure what he would encounter in the dungeon, but once there, he intended to stay as long as possible to increase his levels. Perhaps the street urchins would be gone by the time he returned, which would make things easier. "Where are you going?" Rusty had no obligation to answer, but since he was entrusting them with his lair, it seemed reasonable to offer some explanation. "The dungeon." Silence followed his statement. Rolo''s brows furrowed, and the twins exchanged nervous glances. Natia, however, simply continued playing with Gleam, seemingly unbothered. "The Ferndale Dungeon?" Are you¡­ you''re planning to go in there alone?" Rusty nodded. "Yes." "That''s¡­ dangerous¡­" "That''s fine. I am not that weak. Now take care of my home. If you need a place to hide, go to the basement. The door there is quite sturdy. Now, Gleam, let''s go." " ( ? ? ? ) " Gleam seemed a bit saddened when he called her over, but leaving her here alone was out of the question. Natia was just as sad, but with Rolo''s help, they managed to separate the two. With that, the monster duo set off toward the dungeon. Things were progressing well for now, but soon, that peace would have to be earned¡­ Chapter 128 - 126 – Home Alone. "..." "So, this is also how humanoids live? Interesting¡­" " ( ? _ ? ) " The streets of Ferndale were just as Rusty had expected: filthy, chaotic, and filled with the smell of excrement. Gleam, who was sitting on his shoulder, did not look too happy about the smell, and once the wind picked up, it was hard to avoid. For some reason, the people here did not mind it that much. They might have developed some kind of smell resistance or suppression skills that helped them get through the day if they had lived here long enough. The further he moved away from his lair, the more eyes followed him, gauging whether he was an easy target. However, his above-average size, armored body, and the presence of Gleam at his side dissuaded any attempts at interference. Even the most desperate of cutthroats knew better than to test their luck on someone who looked like a seasoned adventurer. "Are we really going to live in this... vile hole? I''ve seen corruption demon pits that were cleaner than this." Aburdon let out a sigh of indignation as he commented on the state of the place. Now that they no longer had to worry about securing a place to stay, they could take a good look around, and it was not pretty. Alexander noticed that Rusty was unusually quiet, so he tried to lighten the mood. "We don''t really have much of a choice. It''s this or living out in the wilds in some random cave." "I like living in caves!" Rusty replied enthusiastically. As a monster born in a dungeon crypt filled with poison, undead, and dirt, he found this city much cleaner in comparison. Besides, there were plenty of things he could exchange for money, which was the main reason he had decided to pretend to be human. "We finally have a place to buy food for Gleam too... we just need to make more money." "( >©n< )" "You''re not a burden, Gleam. You''re my friend, and it''s not like you''re not helping." "(?? ? ??)" After a small pep talk between the two monsters, they headed toward the nearby gate leading out of Ferndale. There was supposed to be a dungeon not too far from the settlement, but it was still a two- to three-hour journey away. He wasn''t sure what to expect to see there but he had already had Aburdon look through a map provided by the Adventurer''s guild. "Let''s head out then!" There was still a lot of work to do. He needed to reach the dungeon to level up and achieve D rank. Then, he would use the resources gathered from his dives to restore his new lair. The children were there for now, but he did not expect them to fix it up too much. Their bodies were small and weak, and without classes, they could not do much. After that, he would finally open his workshop and start selling some of his useless gear. From what he had seen in this city, there were not many blacksmiths. The best one was near the adventurer''s guild, and he always seemed busy. The weapons and armor they sold were fairly standard, so if Rusty could figure out how to enchant weaponry, he might be able to carve out a niche for himself. ''For that, I need mana skills. I hope this dungeon has some magical creatures. If not, maybe I''ll get it from one of the adventurers inside¡­'' He was still missing one of the most important skills¡ªthe ability to manipulate mana. Only with that skill would he be able to unlock enchantments that could make his body much stronger. The weapon he had forged within the soul forge was starting to run out of power, and he had no way to restore it. "Let''s go, Gleam." "(?? ? ??)" Rusty and Gleam made their way through the slums, heading toward the city gates. As they passed, many eyes followed them, but no one dared to approach. There were a few beggars scattered around, which made Rusty wonder about the previous policy he had heard of and the man who had been cast out. It seemed there was a time limit for people who didn''t contribute, but as an adventurer, he appeared to be exempt as long as he continued to work. The sun had barely risen when they reached the outer gate of Ferndale. Unlike the central district, which had imposing stone walls and trained guards, the slums'' entrance was barely guarded. Two men in mismatched armor leaned against wooden posts, lazily watching those who came and went. Their spears were dull, and their expressions vacant,either due to exhaustion or sheer disinterest. One of the guards straightened up as Rusty approached, his eyes narrowing. "Adventurer?" "Yes." The guard squinted at him, then at Gleam, who was still perched on his shoulder, rubbing her tiny arms together. "Heading to the dungeon?" "Yes." The guard sighed and waved him through. "Your funeral." Rusty did not respond and walked past them, stepping onto the dirt road that stretched toward the unknown. Alexander and Aburdon, who had remained quiet, eventually spoke up as they passed through the checkpoint. "If this¡­ ''City'' Ever gets attacked, our little ruin of a ''home'' will probably be destroyed¡­" "Aburdon is right. This side of the settlement is under-defended. It''s as if they want the monsters to spread through the slums. I don''t like this. Are they doing it on purpose, or do they just not care?" There were walls within the city, and the central district, where the round noble was supposed to be, was the best defended. However, other districts had their own barricades and defenses, while the slums had little to none. "No need for us to worry about that now, first I need to visit that dungeon." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty wasn''t sure what Alexander was trying to imply, but he didn''t think his new lair was in any danger, at least not at the moment. There was nothing valuable inside, and even if some pesky orcs showed up, he could simply lock himself in the basement and set a trap for any intruder foolish enough to invade his territory. Soon he was walking with wide strides, looking around to see what he might discover in the area. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The road ahead was uneven, flanked by patches of dry grass and the occasional twisted tree. Few people traveled this way alone, but every so often, Rusty passed a group of adventurers heading in the same direction. Some eyed him with mild curiosity, likely wondering why he was traveling alone with a strange bug on his shoulder. Others ignored him entirely, focused on their own tasks. After about an hour of walking, he came across a crossroads and a lone sign pointing toward the dungeon. For a moment, he wondered where the other path led, as he could only see tall mountains in the distance. It was probably where the barbarian tribes lived, but if he followed this road, would he eventually reach one of their cities? Did barbarians even build cities like other humanoids did? He was not sure. From all the tales he had heard, many people believed these tribes were little different from monsters themselves. An hour and a half later, the dungeon entrance started coming into view and it was much different than the one he came from. A massive, gaping hole in the ground, surrounded by cracked stone pillars that jutted out like broken teeth. The air around it felt heavy, charged with magic. A wooden outpost stood nearby, manned by a handful of adventurers and guild workers who managed the flow of people in and out. A crude wooden board was in front of it, and it had the dungeon''s name on it: ''Ferndale Sunken Mine.'' "Sunken? Will there be water inside there?" Rusty hadn''t seen any flooding yet, but water was one of the elements that could seep into his metallic frame and cause problems. He wasn''t waterproof, nor had he designed his other bodies to be resistant either. Even if they were completely sealed, he would still struggle to walk without using his weight-increasing skill. "There might be. I think I''ve heard about this place before" Alexander murmured inside his helmet, trying to think. Ever since he had arrived in this city, he had been experiencing flashbacks. He was sure he knew something about Ferndale, but the memories just wouldn''t come back to him. Aburdon, on the other hand, simply cackled before speaking. "What would you ever do without me? Fine, if our little dungeon expert of a hero is useless, then I''ll take care of it." "Oh? Do you know this dungeon?" "Not at all. But at least I can read. You really should pay more attention when you''re in the guild, my dear Rusty." Rusty took out his adventurer card and gave it to one of the guards there while Aburdon continued to explain what awaited them inside. "This dungeon is a remnant of an ancient mining operation that collapsed decades ago. When it sank, it exposed a deep underground cavern teeming with various creatures. The dungeon heart must have expanded its influence into this area, which is what created this maw-like entrance." Rusty listened carefully as the adventurer running the checkpoint inspected his card. After a brief glance, the guard nodded and handed it back. "You''re clear to enter. Standard rules apply: loot belongs to the finder unless marked by the guild. Stick to your rank and don''t go deeper than advised unless you''ve got a death wish." Without replying, Rusty nodded, his mind already preoccupied with figuring out the quickest way to reach D-rank. Soon, both he and Gleam moved toward the entrance, where a steep drop awaited them. The entrance seemed quite unique, with ladders made of rope and steps crafted from wood surrounding the tooth-like opening. He noticed other adventurers climbing down, while some were making their way up. Many of those trying to climb out were injured, some holding broken weapons or covered in blood. The grim expressions on their faces painted a vivid picture of the dangers waiting below. To many, this would be a sign to turn back, but to Rusty, it only motivated him further. If these strong adventurers were so badly injured, it meant powerful foes awaited him inside. "Hey, are you listening Rusty?" As he approached one of the ladders, Aburdon spoke out in an annoyed tone. While he had been trying to explain what was inside the dungeon, Rusty had been deep in thought, his mind already focused on what lay below. "Ah¡­ sorry, could you start again?" "¡­ What did I get to deserve this¡­" "You''ve killed an immeasurable amount of people?" Alexander quickly interjected before the old demon lord could continue spewing nonsense. "Oh, I suppose I did, didn''t I?" Aburdon just chuckled and resumed his speech, detailing what was in store for them down there, or at least all the information he could scrape from the guild. "Right. So, this dungeon, the ''Ferndale Sunken Mine,'' is known for a few things. First, it''s a tricky place, full of monsters and traps. It''s mostly populated by low-tier creatures like frogmen and kobolds, but there''s also a higher level of threats deeper inside, so don''t get cocky. It''s divided by floors just like the other dungeons, and the first is the mine area, so watch out for any cave-dwelling monsters. Yes, my dear Gleam, there are ants here." " ( ?? - ?? ) " Gleam wasn''t sure what Aburdon was insinuating, but she responded by quickly wiggling her antennae before skittering down into the hole, while Rusty began climbing down. The hole shook a few times before he regained his balance, and soon he ventured further into the maw of the dungeon. The air grew heavier the farther down he went, thick with the scent of damp earth and blood. The light above faded, replaced by the flickering glow of torches lining the walls of the cavern. As Rusty stepped onto solid ground, he surveyed his surroundings. The dungeon was somewhat similar to the crypt he had come from, starting with a tunnel. However, there didn''t seem to be any temples, just mining equipment scattered around, which somehow became part of the scenery. It made him wonder if dungeons could absorb areas within their domain, like the mine it had overtaken. "Are there any magical creatures in this dungeon?" He posed a question, interrupting Aburdon''s babbling as he was going too much into detail about things he wasn''t interested in. "Magical? Ah yes, you wish to absorb the mana manipulation skill¡­ I suppose, there should be a kobold caster in here somewhere." "Great! Point me towards them!" Rusty ordered, and soon the group of two monsters and two glowing orbs ventured forth into the dark dungeon, their forms sinking into the shadows. ***** Back at Rusty''s lair, the children had already begun their work, as directed. The air was filled with the sound of scraping brooms, the clinking of metal as broken furniture was moved around, and the murmurs of the kids working hard to clear the debris. One of the twins, Ria, paused, wiping her brow with the back of her hand as she surveyed the room. The place was slowly starting to look less like a ruin and more like a home, but there was still much to be done. She glanced toward her twin brother, Isan, who was sitting on an old crate, looking deep in thought. "Do you think he''s really coming back? Can we trust him? He looked scary¡­" Isan whispered, his eyes fixed on the door, which was leaning against the entrance in such a way that it wouldn''t fall over. "I don''t know, but¡­" "But?" "But I think you should get back to work. Rolo said he wasn''t like the other adults, so it must be true." Isan frowned at the mention of their current leader, Rolo. He had decided it was best for them to stay here, but Isan wasn''t entirely convinced. The man was large and intimidating, and there was no way of knowing what he would do once he returned, if he even returned at all. Rolo had left to fetch some tools they could use to repair this place. It seemed like he was trying to get into the good graces of that strange armored man, a decision the younger twin wasn''t entirely on board with. "Get of butt and work!" The youngest of the group popped her head out of nowhere, startling Isan before handing him a broom. With both girls against him, he could only sigh and return to work. However, he suddenly stopped as something caught his attention. For a moment, he could have sworn he saw a strange shadow outside through one of the windows, but now it was gone. Isan rubbed his eyes, wondering if fatigue was playing tricks on him. But the unsettling feeling in his gut didn''t fade. He turned toward the others, but they were too absorbed in their work to notice anything. "Hey¡­ did anyone see that?" Ria followed his gaze but only saw the empty, dust-covered streets beyond. "See what?" "Never mind¡­" The boy turned around, thinking that it must have just been due to the lack of sleep, and soon the group resumed their work, all hoping that their leader Rolo would return soon. Chapter 129 - 127 – Kobold Hunting. You have gained +3 experience points. "Well, these aren''t giving me much¡­" "( ? _ ? )" "They taste bad?" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rusty stood over the dissolving remains of a monster. It looked like a clump of mud with a strange broken core hidden within, a Mud Slime. When it was alive, it had a glistening brown body made of an unusual goop. Normal slimes were transparent to some extent, allowing people to see their cores easily, but this one hid its core due to its different form. "At least they fall easily to your magic, Gleam¡­ I wish I could use magic too¡­" There were several of these little creatures dead around them. They were the first monsters Rusty and Gleam had encountered. While they were unable to damage his steel body, they had made it quite dirty. He had used a simple mace to smash their bodies, hoping to hit their cores, and even when he missed, their bodies exploded everywhere, covering him in grime. That was why he decided to leave it to Gleam to shoot them from a safe distance. Whenever a spell touched their bodies, the mana would somehow destroy the core instantly, which only made him long for magic even more. "(¡ä?¦Ø?`)" Gleam climbed back onto Rusty''s shoulder, her antennae touching his helmet in a reassuring way as she tried to comfort her friend. "You''re right. I''ll get it eventually, if not with a level-up, then with my absorption skill." Rusty was confident that he would gain the ability to cast. He was only missing one skill to do so. His absorption skill had a drawback, though. The more skills he absorbed, the longer the cooldown before he could use it again. If he overused it, he would have to wait weeks, maybe even months, before trying again. That was why he limited how often he used it. Besides, there weren''t many skills around that would make him significantly stronger. It was better to save this ability for other rare skills instead. "So, you''ve said that they should be some mages here?" "That is what that old dirty board said at the adventurer guild¡­ but who knows?" Aburdon replied from within Rusty''s left eye socket, his dark glow radiating next to Alexander''s who was on the right side. Now that Rusty was back in the dungeon, he had adorned his full monster form with no troublesome cloth parts to impede his movement. " (?? ? ??) " "You''re right Gleam, no use waiting here and complaining, let''s go in deeper and see what this dungeon has to offer for us!" Rusty pointed with his steel finger toward the next tunnel, and soon, his metal footsteps echoed through the corridors. Even though this place was called the Sunken Mine, he had yet to reach the sunken part. Instead, he was moving through various mining shafts. "Wait¡­ could it really be?" As he turned a corner, he arrived at a dead end. At first, he considered heading back, but then he spotted a mineral deposit on the far wall, dark gray with streaks of rusty red. Approaching it, he quickly accessed his system and retrieved a steel pickaxe he had forged within the Soul Forge space. With a few well-placed strikes, he dislodged a chunk of rock and examined it. "It''s iron ore!" "Well, this is a mine dungeon. It''s normal for it to have metal ores." Alexander commented as Rusty examined both the rock in his hand and the larger deposit within the wall. "We might find something more valuable deeper inside, but don''t get your hopes up." "What do you mean?" Rusty asked while using some SP to place the ore chunk into his storage. "Most precious metals above iron have probably already been mined, and this deposit was likely left behind because it wasn''t worth the effort." Rusty studied the wall and the ore in his hand. He could tell it had a lot of impurities, which would need to be removed through smelting. Not everyone had a system like his to process it instantly. Iron wasn''t particularly rare or useful for monster hunting either. Equipment above E-rank was usually made from superior metal variants, like black steel, which was said to be enhanced by dungeon mana to form a stronger alloy. This iron wasn''t black iron, so he wouldn''t be getting a head start from it. "We should be careful, if the guild or the city lord has a contract to mine out the metals, if we get caught, we will be in a lot of trouble." "Humanoid laws again? Those are really troublesome¡­ wouldn''t it be better if there weren''t any?" "( ?? - ?? )" Rusty nodded as Gleam agreed with him. The two of them were monsters, not truly part of humanoid society, so all these rules and systems seemed like a needless burden. "If not for those laws, the world wouldn''t be able to function" Alexander replied. Having once been part of that society, he understood its importance. Without laws, the world would descend into chaos. Worse, without unity, the races might fall to the ever-present threat of monsters. "Bah, who needs laws? The strong should decide what''s right. Isn''t that so, Rusty?" Aburdon cackled as he rebutted the fallen hero. As a former demon king, he had ruled through sheer power, unchallenged and absolute. In his world, laws didn''t exist, only his will mattered, and no one had been strong enough to oppose him. Rusty struck the wall again with his pickaxe, dislodging more iron ore while listening to his two guides argue. He couldn''t help but wonder what an ideal world would look like. Would more laws bring order, or would no laws bring true freedom? If he ever became as powerful as Alexander or Aburdon had been in their prime, could he shape the world with his strength alone? Questions swirled in his hollow mind, but they quickly faded as he refocused on his current objective which was to find a mage. Ever since coming here he was sticking to the walls and using his skills to fade into the shadows when other adventurers approached. This dungeon was new and as before, he was more worried about adventurers than the monsters lurking inside. At least the monsters wouldn''t try to fool him while the people in this world had many other agendas besides just being strong. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "You might be right¡­ this iron ore is probably not worth the trouble¡­" After smacking the wall for around ten minutes Rusty decided to give up on this endevour. The quality of the ore was just too low for his liking, and unless he found a more valuable deposit deeper within, it simply wasn''t worth his time. He stored away the few chunks he had mined and turned away from the wall, refocusing on his goal. "Let''s move on. We''ve wasted enough time here." He adjusted his grip on his weapon and started backtracked to take a different tunnel. The deeper they ventured, the more the air seemed to change. The dampness increased, and a faint mist began creeping along the cavern floor, swirling around his metal boots. The mine shafts gave way to rougher terrain, and wooden supports became sparser, replaced by jagged stone walls and the occasional carved-out alcove where old mining equipment lay abandoned. "Oh¡­ Look Gleam, doesn''t that one look similar?" " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! " They arrived at a larger chamber filled with numerous holes in the walls. From within, crawling creatures began to emerge. They resembled the centipedes Rusty had faced before, but these were noticeably larger. Their carapaces looked more like they were made of rock rather than chitin. Classification: Rocky Giant Centipede E Type: Insectoid Description: A variant of the Giant Centipede, commonly found in deep mines. It has a rocky exterior that is highly resistant to slashing weapons, and its bite can paralyze its prey. "It''s stronger than that leader I faced and it''s not alone!" Rusty had fought a Giant Centipede before, but back then, he was still in his corroded bronze form. It had been a tough battle, but now he had reached the apex of E-rank, with stats that exceeded the usual limits. He had no reason to fear. Instead, this was the perfect chance to test his progress and see just how many of these monsters he could take down. "They look angry. Get ready, Gleam!" "( ?? - ?? )" Gleam skittered off his shoulder and moved toward one of the walls. The dynamic duo was back to fighting monster bugs, but their strategy had evolved alongside Gleam''s expanding magical abilities. Rusty used his larger frame, metallic body, and skills to keep the monsters focused on him, creating the perfect opportunity for Gleam to strike from a distance. Soon the battle started and many giant centipedes launched themselves at the two. The first centipede lunged at Rusty, its powerful mandibles snapping shut just inches away from his chest plate. He responded with a swift, calculated strike, his heavy mace crashing down onto the creature''s rocky carapace. A loud crack echoed through the cavern as the impact left a dent in the rocky exoskeleton, the monster squirmed but wasn''t quite dead. Several more emerged from the burrows, their multiple legs skittering against the stone as they encircled him. Their movement was swift, their rocky hides blending with the cavern walls. Rusty knew better than to expect that these monsters would be slow so he took on a defensive stance and started smacking his shield with his mace. Just as planned, the monsters focused on Rusty, giving Gleam more than enough time to finish casting her spell. A glowing blue projectile shot toward one of the centipedes approaching Rusty from behind. It struck the creature''s rocky exterior, punching through but it wasn''t enough to kill it. "( ¡ã?¡ã )" Perched on the ceiling, Gleam stared at the monster as it squirmed. Her mana bolt had done real damage, but the rocky armor covering the creature had prevented a critical injury. While its underbelly was softer, the centipede moved fluidly across the ground, walls, and even the ceiling, making it nearly impossible to land a direct hit unless someone flipped it over. "True, they are quite tough but¡­ so are we!" Rusty planted his feet firmly against the cavern floor, his steel frame bracing against the skittering swarm of centipedes. His shield took the brunt of the next attack, a forceful lunge from one of the larger creatures. The impact sent a reverberation through his body, but he held his ground. Once the monster hit his shield he pushed back to send it flying into the air. With a powerful swing, he slammed his mace into the creature''s exposed underbelly, finally cracking through the softer shell. The centipede screeched, its segmented body twisting in pain before it collapsed, motionless. Gleam, still clinging to the ceiling, took the opportunity to launch another mana bolt, this time aiming for gaps in the rocky centipede armor. The shot connected, and the creature recoiled, its movements frantic as it thrashed against the cavern walls, hitting some of its allies in the process. "Keep aiming for the weak spots, Gleam! I''ll keep them busy, just take your time and don''t worry about me." Rusty proclaimed as he activated his ''Provoking Shout'' skill. Even though he had no organ to produce sound, a loud noise escaped from his armored form. The resonating sound of echoed through the cavern, vibrating the rocky walls and causing loose debris to tumble down from above. The centipedes momentarily hesitated before all turning their focus toward him. Their many legs skittered across the stone floor, their movements now more aggressive and frantic. "Alright, come at me!" Rusty taunted as he raised his shield once more, bracing himself against the oncoming swarm. Gleam wasted no time repositioning herself, crawling along the walls with swift steps. Her ant eyes locked onto the creature''s weak spots as she began charging another mana bolt. The first centipede lunged forward, aiming to sink its venomous mandibles into Rusty''s leg, but before it could make contact, he pivoted on his foot and brought his mace down hard onto its head. The impact sent the creature crumpling to the floor, twitching as it let out a gurgled screech. A second centipede tried to coil around him from behind, its segmented body wrapping around his torso in an attempt to constrict him. Rusty struggled for a moment but soon realised that the monster was not strong enough to deform his metallic body. The durability of the twilight steal was much above what an E rank monster could handle. With a powerful burst of his strength gained from the Fury Skill, he pried the creature off and slammed it against the cavern wall. Cracks formed along its rocky exoskeleton before it slumped to the ground, motionless. "( ?? - ?? )" Gleam, seizing the opportunity, released her charged mana bolt, striking the exposed underbelly of another centipede mid-lunge. The creature let out a high-pitched screech before its body convulsed and fell limp. "Great shot! Keep it up!" Rusty encouraged her as he continued to fend off the approaching swarm. Despite their rocky exteriors, the centipedes were beginning to fall one by one. Rusty''s calculated strikes, combined with Gleam''s precise magical attacks, were a testament to their progress. Even though they were outnumbered soon the entire chamber was riddled with close to twenty corpses of these insectoid monsters. " (?? ? ??) " "You did great, Gleam, and congratulations on your level up." The battle was over and his friend had even leveled up. However, Rusty wasn''t quite as happy as these monsters didn''t offer him nearly enough experience points to raise to the third level. It seemed that he would need to find higher tier monsters closer to the D rank to get anywhere. "Not bad, but still not enough..." Rusty muttered, shaking his head. He was beginning to realize that if he wanted real progress, he needed to face stronger foes. Gleam, still perched on the ceiling, wiggled her antennae in agreement. She had gained a level, but even she could tell that they needed more powerful opponents to push themselves further. "Let''s keep going. There''s bound to be something stronger deeper inside." Rusty turned toward the tunnel leading further into the dungeon. The mist in the air thickened as they progressed, As they moved, a faint noise caught Rusty''s attention. He raised a hand, signaling Gleam to stay quiet. In the distance, there was a noise, something resembling footsteps. Creeping forward, Rusty peered around a bend in the tunnel and spotted a small figure crouched against the wall. The creature had scaly, dark red skin and sharp, clawed hands. It wore tattered leather armor, and a small dagger rested on its belt. Its reptilian eyes darted around as it picked at the ground, seemingly trying to bury something. "Is that a kobold?" He wondered while keeping to the shadows. While this creature didn''t look like a mage, perhaps if it was here, then another variant that could use spells was close by¡­ Chapter 130 - 128 – Crawling From Above. Rusty remained still, watching the kobold work. The small creature meticulously placed a strange device into the dirt, covering it with loose gravel and pressing it down carefully. A trap. Rusty''s eyes glowed dark and light as he shifted his weight slightly to remain undetected. The kobold''s tail twitched as it glanced around warily before scuttling away further into the tunnel. "( ?? - ?? )" Gleam tapped Rusty''s helmet gently with her antennae, indicating she had noticed the same thing. "Yeah, it''s definitely setting up traps¡­" Rusty muttered as his words trailed off. He had been a monster within the dungeon, and the ones he was patrolling with didn''t possess true intelligence. If there were traps, they had been placed by the dungeon itself, not by the monsters. This behavior didn''t seem like something dungeon monsters would exhibit. It was more characteristic of free monsters. "I see you''re confused, Rusty, but this happens sometimes." Alexander chimed in. "Some monsters create their own encampments within an active dungeon. It''s a kind of symbiotic existence." "I see, that''s neat!" Rusty leaned in to look at the trap and spotted a faint shimmer on a nearby rock. Poison. If an unsuspecting adventurer tripped the wire, something, perhaps a volley of darts, would be unleashed. This wasn''t the work of a simple dungeon monster but a being with heightened intelligence. "A pressure plate of some sort that''s connected to a wire¡­" While Rusty had no trap detection skills, it was hard to miss once he knew where it was. The pressure plate was expertly concealed beneath loose gravel, and a thin wire connected it to the wall. His glowing eyes traced the wire to a concealed mechanism above, where a small cluster of sharpened darts rested. "A clever trap." Alexander commented again. "A human rogue might have trouble spotting it with all this mist around." This mine shaft was still covered in a layer of white vapour. The Kobold vanished into a side passage leading away from the moisture, but if Rusty continued on his way, he would probably finally reach the flooded parts of the mine dungeon. Rusty turned his gaze down the tunnel where the kobold had disappeared. If there were traps here, then it was likely leading to something worth protecting. Perhaps the kobold encampment? And if they had rogues setting traps, then maybe, just maybe, there would be a kobold mage somewhere among them. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "You''re right. Let''s follow it Gleam." After stepping away from the trap, Rusty moved cautiously into the corridor where the kobold had vanished. Torches flickered on the walls, but visibility was poor. If he weren''t a monster capable of perceiving his surroundings without light and unaware of the kobold rogue lurking nearby, he might have fallen victim to one of the traps. However, even if the darts were fired at him, they likely wouldn''t cause any harm. Even if they pierced his body, as long as his core remained untouched, he would be fine. "I''m not sure it''s wise to go through here, my dear Rusty." Aburdon called out to him, and it was clear that something was wrong. However, neither Gleam nor Rusty had a thief class or the skills needed to easily detect such dangers. Gleam might be able to learn a spell to help, but she would first need to see someone cast it in front of her. Both of them stood at the entrance, moving forward cautiously. Before long, they spotted another wire trap ahead, with the possibility of more hidden further inside. "This is troublesome¡­" Suddenly, Gleam jumped off his shoulder and onto the wall. She skittered up to the ceiling and hung upside down, scanning the area. "Ah¡­ You''re right. They probably didn''t expect anyone to go through the ceiling!" "(?? ? ??)" His friend had a good idea. Why move through the middle when they could use the side walls? The corridor was tight but had a higher ceiling, and the small kobold would likely struggle to reach it. Most of the traps were probably on the ground or the lower sections of the side walls. "This is a good opportunity. I wonder if it works" Rather than shrinking his helmet size and letting Gleam carry him, this was a perfect chance to test his upgraded Wraith Variant. He quickly pulled up his loadout and switched forms. His body expanded, his limbs stretched, and his human-like fingers elongated into claws. This form was taller than before but also lighter. His larger hands sank into the hard rocky surface as he started to climb. "Just as planned." He had gained the Climbing skill while traveling to Ferndale, before entering the spider-infested forest. It was a general skill that most creatures could learn, and with its help, he could cling to the wall with greater precision. His feet also had claws, allowing him to grip some surfaces almost as well as his hands. Rusty and Gleam moved forward along the cavern ceiling. While Gleam skittered quickly, Rusty was slower and more cautious with his movements. This was his first time hanging upside down without being carried, and the thought of falling onto potentialy explosive trap was unsettling. "Can you track it, Gleam?" Rusty asked as they finally passed through the corridor. "????(?? ? <)" After passing through the first trap-filled corridor, they reached a fork with three new passages. Fortunately, Gleam still had her tracking skills, allowing them to follow the scaly monster''s trail. The deeper they went, the more elaborate the traps became. Pitfalls, tripwires, and even a rudimentary swinging log trap lay in wait below them. These kobolds clearly had experience dealing with adventurers. However, none of their contraptions accounted for an enemy that could move along the ceiling. Rusty and Gleam advanced cautiously, their forms blending into the dark recesses of the cavern. The deeper they went, the clearer it became that this wasn''t just a small gathering of monsters. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Then, they saw it. Clinging to the wall and using his Meld skill, Rusty remained perfectly still. A group of kobolds emerged from a concealed entrance in the rock wall. The opening had been cleverly hidden behind a shimmering illusion, flickering only slightly as the creatures passed through it. Rusty remained motionless, with Gleam tucked inside his body. His invisibility skill worked not only on himself but also on anything contained within him, including living beings. "That''s concealment magic. They must have a kobold mage," Aburdon observed. They watched as the goblin-sized reptiles dragged something into the hidden entrance. The opening was tucked behind jagged rocks on an elevated platform¡ªan area few would bother inspecting. Rusty realized he might be the first to discover this secret lair. Perhaps adventurers overlooked kobolds as insignificant prey, but for him, who needed one particular skill, this was an opportunity he couldn''t afford to miss. Rusty remained motionless, his metal form blending seamlessly into the cavern shadows. His glowing eyes dimmed slightly as he watched the kobolds drag bodies into their hidden lair. The adventurers they carried were fresh kills, their armor still intact but stained with blood. This wasn''t the work of mindless dungeon monsters. These kobolds were organized, methodical, and dangerous in their own way. "That confirms it. I need to get in there and find their spellcaster" "I wonder what those adventurers were even doing here¡­ must have been E or F¡­" Alexander muttered to himself as they waited. Kobolds weren''t known for their individual strength, but like goblins, they thrived in numbers. Unlike their green-skinned counterparts, they were more intelligent and preferred the safety of underground tunnels. "They probably target new adventurers or anyone unlucky enough to fall into their traps. If they''ve been doing this for a while, they won''t expect anyone coming through their hidden tunnel." Alexander said again, his voice hinting at a bit of malice. "Good. Let''s go then." Once the last kobold vanished into the concealed passage, Rusty finally revealed himself. His clawed hands moved carefully along the ceiling until he was sure no one remained nearby. Then, he dropped down soundlessly. Even as his metal limbs met the ground, no noise was made, as Gleam''s Silence spell was still active. Slowly, the two crept forward. Rusty paused to examine the illusion concealing the entrance. From a distance, it looked like a solid rock formation, but up close, he could see the faint wavering in the air where the spell distorted reality. He reached out and pressed his hand forward. His fingers passed through the illusory wall, meeting only empty space beyond. "Neat!" Cautiously, he leaned in, pressing his helmet through first to check for any remaining guards. "Oh¡­" Beyond the illusion, a corridor stretched further inside. No kobolds stood watch, but as he tilted his head downward, he spotted something: a long, thin line of scrap metal strung across the floor. If he stepped forward carelessly, he would trigger it, likely creating a loud racket that would alert the kobolds. "That was close. Let''s keep to the walls again, Gleam." Rusty carefully climbed back up onto the ceiling, his clawed limbs finding purchase on the uneven stone surface. The hidden corridor was narrow, lined with jagged rocks that made it difficult for anyone larger than a kobold to navigate easily. However, his form was flexible enough to slip through without making much noise. Gleam followed closely, her nimble legs skittering effortlessly along the rough terrain. As they moved deeper inside, the passage widened, revealing a small underground settlement. Wooden structures, crude yet functional, were built into the rock. Some served as makeshift homes, while others resembled storage sheds. A handful of kobolds moved about, carrying supplies, sharpening weapons, and cutting into adventurer meat. "I don''t think they''ve been here for long. That might explain why no one has raided this place yet." Alexander commented as he scanned the settlement, noting the unfinished wooden shacks still in the process of being assembled. The adventurers were long dead, their bodies repurposed for the kobolds'' survival. It would likely take days before anyone noticed they were missing, if anyone reported them at all. Ferndale wasn''t a fully established city. A few missing adventurers wouldn''t raise eyebrows unless they were prominent enough for people to care. "But¡­ do they have a mage here? Do you see any?" " ( ? -?) " Gleam didn''t seem able to distinguish the kobolds from one another too well, but her antennae twitched as they picked up faint traces of mana. She pointed in a specific direction, and Rusty followed her gaze. That''s when he saw it, a kobold dressed differently from the others. Unlike the other kobolds clad in ragged leather and crude armor, this one wore a patchwork robe adorned with bone trinkets and small, glowing stones. A staff, carved from dark wood and capped with a crystal, rested in its clawed hands. The faint glow of magic flickered at the edges of its fingertips as it spoke to a group of warriors gathered around it. "There it is, but¡­ there are more of them than I expected¡­" Though Rusty had managed to sneak in unnoticed, there were at least thirty monsters in the settlement. The kobolds appeared to be F-rank monsters, with the mage being at the same rank as Rusty. Several others were also of the same rank, adding up to around six in total. While Rusty had faced large groups of goblins before, they were typically weaker than these kobolds. It was possible that other corridors leading out of this hidden settlement could lead to more enemies, traps, or even dead ends. "There could be more of them waiting, perhaps it would be better to wait¡­" "You sure love that tactic, don''t you my dear Rusty?" "It is quite effective against fleshy beings." "That it is." Aburdon chuckled as Rusty retreated to a secluded part of the cave where no one could see him. Hidden behind some large boulders, he waited for the right moment. Though there was no way to know if the sun was still up, the monsters still followed a day-and-night cycle. Eventually, they began returning to their makeshift sheds and dug-out holes in the walls to sleep. As the kobolds began to settle down for the night, Rusty''s patience finally paid off. The small settlement, which had been bustling with activity just moments before, grew eerily quiet. One by one, the kobolds shuffled to their resting spots, curling up in the corners of their wooden huts or sprawling out on the cold, stone floors of the cavern. Rusty''s glowing eyes flickered in the dim light as he surveyed the sleeping kobolds. Gleam, nestled safely within his chest, remained silent and just cast the silencing spell on him as he crept towards his first victim. A kobold, curled up in a nest of tattered cloth and human bones, breathed slowly, its chest rising and falling in rhythm with its slumber. It had no idea death loomed just centimeters away. His clawed fingers stretched out, wrapping around the creature''s small, fragile neck. With one swift motion, he crushed its throat, cutting off any chance of a scream. The body twitched briefly before going still. Rusty set it down carefully and moved on, his glowing eyes scanning for his next target. Gleam remained nestled inside his chest cavity, keeping the Silence spell active. The spell ensured that no sound escaped, but he needed to hurry. Eventually, the scent of blood would rouse these monsters, and he had to thin their numbers before that happened. One by one, he approached the sleeping kobolds, dispatching them with methodical efficiency. Some he strangled; others he pierced through the heart with his sharpened claws. The process was slow and methodical but had one problem. "( ¨C ? ¨C )" "Just hold on for a bit more Gleam¡­" Gleam, nestled inside his chest cavity, was forced to constantly recast her spells, rapidly draining her mana. While Rusty had managed to procure a few mana potions, their supply was dwindling fast. This pushed him to adjust his plan and move toward the mage''s dwelling sooner than he would have liked. The numbers were shifting in his favor, but he knew he had to be especially cautious with this one. A spellcaster could sense the flow of mana in the environment, and if he got too close, the kobold might detect Gleam''s spell in action. The kobold mage was curled up in the corner of a crude hut made of wooden planks and scavenged materials. Unlike the others, its hands still clutched its staff even in sleep. Arcane energy pulsed faintly from the crystal at the tip, reacting to its owner''s subconscious grasp of magic. Rusty pounced on the monster, aiming to disable rather than kill. But as he descended, the kobold''s eyes snapped open. For a fraction of a second, recognition and fear flashed across its reptilian face. Its mouth opened, likely to cast a defensive spell, but Rusty was faster. He grabbed its wrists and pinned it down, restraining the reptilian mage in place. "Now, Gleam!" " ( ?? - ?? ) " Gleam shot out from within his chest, pushing his helmet up and slamming it down onto the monster''s head before it could react. The kobold struggled, trying to cry out for help, but the Silence spell was still doing its job. With Rusty''s helmet now covering its head, it was time to see if the skill he had wished for so desperately was finally there¡­ sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 131 - 129 – Mana Control. Not even a muffled groan escaped from the short reptilian creature as a helmet latched onto its head. The kobold mage struggled, but Rusty''s claws held his hands and legs firmly in place. His staff had fallen to the side, and without it, he could not activate his spells. To make things worse, a splitting headache overtook him the moment the helmet was secured. His mind began to drift as a strange pull surged through him, as if his very soul was being consumed. Compatible skills have been found. Please choose a skill that you want to learn. ''Here it comes¡­ please be there¡­'' Rusty wasn''t sure if the other kobolds had been alerted to their presence. Even though Gleam was doing her best to keep the sounds contained with her spell, the thrashing monster was still causing chaos. Even if no noise escaped, the makeshift sleeping quarters shook violently, which would likely wake some of the nearby warrior variants if he didn''t hurry. He quickly glanced at the list of skills and started reading. Three of them appeared before him, and he hurriedly went through them. Kobold Language Passive Skill Allows a person to understand spoken words and writing of the Kobold Language. Basic Staff Proficiency Passive Skill A skill that makes it easier to wield a staff. This skill is required to unlock more powerful staff skills. Basic Mana Manipulation Passive Skills Allows the user to shape mana into various effects, a requirement for spell-casting. This reminded him of the first time he used Skill Absorption, as the first available skill was a language skill. He neither needed nor wanted to understand these monsters, as he was not here to bargain. Rusty quickly moved on to the second option, then his gaze landed on the third. The skill he was looking for was there. Do you wish to learn the Basic Mana Manipulation Skill? Please confirm to begin the process. Without hesitating, he confirmed, and the process began like many other times before. Beginning the process of skill absorption ¡­ Please wait as the skill is absorbed from the host. Just like before, the Skill Absorption ability required the target to be alive. Once that condition was met, his helmet would latch onto the target''s head, glowing and heating up. Those subjected to this process experienced intense pain, as not only their minds were torn through, but their bodies and souls as well. Rusty felt the familiar rush of information flood his mind as the absorption process began. The kobold mage thrashed wildly beneath him, but his grip was unyielding. The reptilian creature''s claws scratched against his armored hands, but it was futile. Its consciousness was fading while his helmet radiated more and more light, which of course, complicated things. " ( ?¡ã?¡ã) !! Gleam was maintaining the silence spell but noticed that the brightness of the helmet was lighting everything up too much. The dwelling of the kobold mage lit up like a Christmas tree, causing some of the kobolds to wake from their slumber. Rusty cursed internally as he saw the flickering lights bounce off the cavern walls. The nearest kobolds stirred, blinking awake at the strange glow emanating from their mage''s hut. Some sat up groggily, sniffing the air, while others grabbed their weapons, sensing something was wrong. Gleam frantically waved her antennae, not sure what she should do. There was no way to speed up the absorption process, and depending on the skill, it could take even longer. This time, it was clear that this mana manipulation skill was rare, as his helmet was glowing much more than when he absorbed common skills. When he took the climbing skill, his dome had produced no more light than a small candle. Now, however, it looked as if someone had placed a burning lantern in the middle of the kobold settlement. Rusty knew he had only moments before the entire camp erupted into chaos. The kobolds were still groggy, but soon they would be fully awake and ready to defend their territory. He had to think fast. "Gleam, I need a distraction. This will take a moment." " ( ?? ? ?? ) " She understood instantly. She jumped forward and skittered up the wall to the nearest wooden shack they had previously avoided. Inside, two kobolds were waking up. An unlit torch sat nearby, which was quickly ignited by a small flame spell. A second later, the wooden structure was bursting into flames. The fire rapidly consumed the dry wood, and within seconds, thick black smoke began filling the cavern. The kobolds instantly focused on the fire rather than the glowing aura around their leader''s dwelling. The flames spread quickly, licking at the wooden structures and sending panicked kobolds scrambling. Cries of alarm filled the air as they grabbed buckets, desperately trying to douse the flames with water from crude clay pots. Others rushed to wake their sleeping comrades, their attention now fully consumed by the growing inferno. The distraction had worked, giving Rusty more time to absorb the new skill. He could feel the arcane energy of the kobold mage being siphoned into his own being. The process was excruciatingly slow, but the knowledge of mana manipulation was gradually seeping into him. It was not quite what he expected, difficult to comprehend, yet something akin to a magical circle was forming within his mind. He could see it taking shape, presenting a method to bind mana and produce magical effects. "This is really taking a while¡­ it seems our dear Rusty was not meant to get this skill this early, or perhaps, ever? Very interesting." Aburdon commented while residing inside Rusty''s helmet. He was a demon lord, so such a skill like mana manipulation was something he was born with so he couldn''t offer that much guidance during the process of understanding. Stolen story; please report. Rusty, on the other hand, saw something peculiar. An internal mind space where a simple magic circle was forming. He had seen similar phenomena before. Each time a human or even a monster used a spell, a magic circle would appear. Sometimes it manifested in the air, other times beneath their feet or above their heads as they prepared their magic. It seemed that using mana was intrinsically tied to these circles filled with strange symbols and geometric shapes. ''I see¡­ so that is how it is¡­'' Understanding dawned on him. To cast magic, he needed to focus his mind and recreate this circle. It was as if the skill itself was guiding him, showing him how the circle should look and giving him space to replicate it precisely. He concentrated, trying to form the image, and to his surprise, a second circle began appearing right next to the first. The second circle was fainter than the first, incomplete yet brimming with potential. Once it was fully assembled, the guiding circle produced by the skill began to fade, leaving only the one he had created. Rusty had seen other beings cast spells before. Humanoids typically chanted in a strange language to activate their magic, but he did not have a mouth in his current form. However, he was a monster. Gleam did not need to chant either, instead performing strange movements with her antennae to cast spells. It seemed that he would have to approach magic differently. He would need to memorize these magic circles before casting a spell and then visualize them superimposed over his metallic body when the time came to use them. Soon, the light of his helmet began to dim, leaving Rusty with not only a new skill but also a spell that came with it. The magic circle he had been forced to remember was small, but just like Gleam before him, he had learned it. Without thinking, he recalled the vivid image of the circle, and soon a bright white light appeared above his helmet, signaling the casting of his first spell. Lesser Produce Light Spell A simple spell that produces light "I can do it now to¡­ what a strange feeling, the man is flowing and taking shape¡­" Rusty murmured as he got up from the ground and placed his helmet back on his head. The process of his absorption skill was over, and the kobold mage lay there, not quite dead but in a dire state. The absorption skill didn''t simply copy abilities¡ªit tore them away. Without the mana manipulation skill, this monster would be unable to cast spells, making it a foe he no longer needed to worry about. "Gleam, you did well." " (?? ? ??) " "Now, let''s take care of them¡­" While he wanted to practice his spells more, there was still the matter of dealing with the remaining kobolds. The fire Gleam had started was beginning to die down as the last of the wood had nearly burned away. Luckily, the smoke still lingered, and for a creature like him, who didn''t need to breathe, this was the perfect environment to strike. First, with a swift motion, he silenced the defeated kobold mage permanently. There was no need to leave it alive any longer, as its purpose had been fulfilled. Now, the monsters before him were nothing more than experience points, ones he needed to harvest to continue his growth. A few of the warrior variants had fully awakened, their reptilian eyes darting around in search of an enemy. They shouted orders in their strange language, clearly trying to organize their forces. However, a conflict arose. Without their leader, some of the kobolds began to bicker, and Rusty decided to use this to his advantage. Suddenly, a blade burst through the skull of one of the kobold warriors. From behind, Rusty''s metallic form emerged. He had switched to his regular body, better suited for wielding a sword and shield, and was ready to wreak havoc among the small reptilian creatures. The sudden execution of their warrior sent the others into a frenzy. Some screeched in alarm, others scrambled for weapons, and a few simply froze, unable to process the horror unfolding before them. These monsters were not created by the dungeon and this gave him just the edge that he needed. Rusty wasted no time. He pushed the lifeless body off his blade with a sickening squelch and lunged toward the next enemy. His blade cleaved through the thin armor of another kobold before it could raise its weapon. Blood splattered across the cavern floor as the dying creature collapsed, gasping weakly before going still. The nearest warriors finally reacted, snarling as they charged forward, their crude spears aimed at what should have been his weak points. But Rusty didn''t move. Instead, he let their weapons collide with his newly reinforced twilight steel body. Even as they tried to wedge their short swords and spears into his knee joints to bring him down, he remained standing. With his sword raised, he swung down in a brutal arc, decapitating two more kobolds who had no idea what they were truly up against. Now, all the remaining kobolds were fully awake. Around ten of them remained, and as one, they hurled themselves at him. They clung to him like glue. While they weren''t particularly strong, their attacks were quick and coordinated. "Gleam, do it now." " ( ` ? ¡ä ) " Nevertheless, Rusty had come prepared with a plan. While he could fight them off one by one, even his body had its limits. There was a way to minimize damage though, and that was with his friend''s help. While he kept the kobolds'' attention, Gleam had been clinging to the ceiling, quietly casting a spell. The moment Rusty was completely surrounded, she unleashed a wave of flames straight toward the center of the battle. The fire engulfed him, but thanks to his steel body, the flames did minimal damage. His metal form required far more heat to melt. The kobolds, however, were not so fortunate. Congratulations, you have gained a level. The system reminded him of his victory, as the kobold village was no more. Rusty stood amidst the burning remnants of the kobold settlement, his blade dripping with fresh blood. The scattered corpses of the reptilian creatures lay motionless around him, their weapons discarded. Smoke curled through the cavern, its scent mixing with the stench of death. The battle was over, but Rusty''s work was not yet finished. A faint rustling sound caught his attention. It was soft, almost imperceptible beneath the crackling flames and the fading cries of the slain kobolds. His glowing eyes flickered in the dim light as he turned towards the noise. Beyond the chaos of the battlefield, past a partially collapsed wooden barricade, a narrow tunnel led deeper into the cavern. The sound was coming from within. "Could it be more kobolds? Or perhaps some adventurers?" Alexander asked as Rusty made his way toward the source of the noise. Due to this miscalculation, Gleam was out of mana, so he could not have her cast the silencing spell to muffle the sound of his metallic legs clacking against the hard ground. However, he suspected that whoever was there did not want to fight. It was more likely that they were hiding. This was somewhat problematic. If they were adventurers, he would need to switch to his other shell to conceal his true form. However, if they were more kobolds lying in wait to ambush him, it was best to remain as he was. He reached the tunnel''s entrance and peered inside. The passage was cramped, barely large enough for him to squeeze through. It was clear that this tunnel had not been made for a human-sized person to crawl through. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He gestured for Gleam to stay close. The small monster ant skittered forward, her antennae twitching as she picked up faint traces of movement. Rusty pressed on, his metallic hands dragging lightly against the walls for balance as he maneuvered through the tight space. The rustling grew louder, more frantic, until finally, he emerged into a smaller chamber. Inside, huddled in the farthest corner, were a handful of smaller kobolds. Their eyes were wide with terror as they clung to one another, their small forms trembling. These were not warriors. They bore no weapons, no armor. Their scales were softer, their claws underdeveloped. They were the young, left behind when their elders had rushed to defend their home. "Hah, interesting¡­" "No, don''t you even think about it!" "Hah, this is not for you to decide, hero!" Aburdon said, gently chuckling as if he were pleased. There were about ten small kobolds here, but one of them was slightly larger. He wasn''t certain, but this one didn''t seem like a fighter. It looked a bit different, perhaps a female from the small tribe that had survived or one deemed too immature to fight. His blade was in his hand, still stained with the blood of the other kobolds. It dribbled down as the seconds counter, and he stared with an intensity that would send shivers down a person''s spine. Chapter 132 - 130 – Elemental Magic "Well? What are you waiting for, Rusty? Get it over with." "No, don''t!" "Don''t what? These are monsters. They would kill us instantly if they had the chance. Once they grow up, they will seek revenge and kill to survive." "But¡­" "Oh? Is it their age? How merciful and naive. But that is how you died, hero. Let us not have our dear Rusty repeat your mistakes." Aburdon and Alexander were having a heated conversation while Rusty glanced at the small kobold children. Though they were monsters living in a dungeon, they were not controlled by it. They were more like him than anything else. But just as Aburdon said, they were still monsters. Once they grew up, they would start killing. Perhaps they would even seek revenge on him, the one who would still come to this dungeon to gain more levels. Rusty stared down at the cowering kobold children, his metallic hands tightening into fists. Their wide, fearful eyes reflected the glow of his helmet, their small bodies trembling as they huddled together. He could feel their terror, their helplessness, something he knew himself. It was as if he was looking at his old corroded bronze shell, so easily destroyed. "They don''t have a choice." Alexander continued to argue as if he was bent on saving these monsters from certain doom. "They''re just surviving, like we are. Like you are." "And so were their parents, the ones we just slaughtered." Aburdon countered, his tone clearly mocking Alexander. "Survival of the fittest. Isn''t that the law of this world? You hesitate now, and one day, one of these pathetic creatures will drive a blade into your back." Rusty remained silent, his body moving forward as his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. Logic was on Aburdon''s side. He was right. Given time, these monsters would more than likely become potential threats. Just like him, they could evolve and grow into something stronger. It was better to take care of them now rather than risk them becoming a problem in the future. "Hesitating now would just be foolish. Kill them now, before they grow into something worse. Mercy is for the weak." Aburdon scoffed and continued to urge him in one direction while Alexander in the other. "Rusty¡­ Just because they could become a threat doesn''t mean they will. There is no reason to do this." It seemed that Aburdon was the more logical one here. There was a good reason to eliminate these creatures now, and their bodies could be sold for profit. It was clear to him that his other guide was being emotional, something the humanoid creatures of this world seemed bound to. Rusty somewhat understood those feelings, but only after Gleam appeared in his life. Even so, he stepped closer until he stood directly before the trembling monster children. "Hm?" Before bringing down his raised sword, the face of Rolo, the leader of the quartet of street urchins, flashed before him. The fear these monsters showcased reminded him of the time he had saved those children from two thugs who had intruded on his territory. He recalled the youngest of them playing with Gleam, both of them clearly enjoying themselves. He hesitated. He wasn''t sure why, but something told him that proceeding with his actions would go too far. "Tch. You''re soft." Aburdon muttered again as he noticed Rusty lowering his sword. "Why would you want to risk leaving loose ends? Don''t expect mercy when one of these creatures rams a dagger into your core years from now." "By then, I will be much stronger too. They can come and try, right Gleam?" While Aburdon was right to a certain extent, the probability of these kobolds ever becoming a threat to him was slim to none. Rusty couldn''t imagine them growing strong enough to challenge him, let alone finding him if they even tried. Somewhere deep down, he also welcomed the challenge. Facing stronger opponents and growing stronger himself was part of his nature. Leaving these young monsters behind didn''t seem like much of a problem. " (?£þ?£þ?)? " Gleam, who had been watching closely, skittered beside him, nudging his side approvingly. Alexander let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Rusty. You made the right choice." Aburdon scoffed again. "Sentimentality will be your undoing." Rusty ignored the demon''s words. He didn''t believe he was being sentimental, just more balanced in his approach. His very existence was about maintaining equilibrium between light and dark. It felt natural that someone like him shouldn''t stray too far to either side. He didn''t want to become a demon, but he had no desire to be a hero either. Something in between that just felt right. He glanced back at the young kobolds one last time, then at the enclosed space around them before turning on his heels. There was nothing in this small cave worth his consideration. Outside, the smoke had already settled, and the fires had died down, leaving only the charred remains of the hidden kobold village. The settlement was now nothing more than a smoldering ruin, littered with the bodies of its fallen inhabitants. Rusty stepped toward the corpses and asked Aburdon. "So, any worthwhile parts from these monsters that we can sell?" After spending almost all of his money on buying the practically collapsed house, he knew that he needed to start accumulating wealth again. Even though he didn''t have many personal needs, maintaining his equipment, securing resources for future upgrades, and ensuring Gleam had everything she needed were all essential. "Let''s see¡­ kobold bones can be ground into low-quality alchemical powder. Their claws and fangs can be made into trinkets or charms. It''s mostly junk¡­ but for some reason, the guild still buys it. The rest isn''t worth the time." Rusty could take all the bodies with him, but they would only clog up his storage system. He could process the parts before selling them, but that would cost SP, which took time to restore. The larger the item he stored, the more SP it consumed. With that in mind, he decided to simply slash off the claws and fangs, leaving the rest behind. The kobold bones were low quality, and he knew that deeper in the dungeon, he would find far better resources than these. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. After searching through the settlement, Rusty gathered a few pieces of weaponry and armor that could be sold, along with some loose coins scattered among the ruins. With nothing else of value left, he turned his focus to something far more important, his newly acquired Mana Manipulation skill. Although he had managed to cast a basic spell, he wanted to learn more. Fortunately, there were three individuals who could offer him guidance. First was Gleam, a natural caster with an instinctive understanding of magic. Then there was Aburdon, the former demon lord, who specialized in dark magic. Lastly, there was Alexander, the fallen hero, who likely knew a thing or two about light magic. With his options clear, the only question was, whom should he ask first? "So¡­ what spells should I learn first? Are there any limitations?" He was like a newborn when it came to magic, as he just relied on existing skills to activate his elemental abilities. Aburdon was the first to respond, his voice laced with amusement. "Limitations? Your imagination is your only real limitation. As long as you understand the way of the arcane arts, you can do anything!" "Anything?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He liked the sound of that, but before he could fully rejoice, Alexander interrupted. "Don''t lie to him, he is still limited by the mana he has and the affinity for spells. I''d be surprised if he can cast anything other than light and dark type spells." "Oh? But can''t Gleam cast fire and other spells besides light?" "(?? ? ??)?" He asked his two guides while slowly making his way outside the kobold settlement. Gleam perched back on his shoulder while standing proudly as if trying to showcase her arcane capabilities. "First of all¡­ do you know about the Elements in magic and how they interact with each other?" "Uh¡­ There is fire, water, earth, wind, and light and dark?" Aburdon chuckled after asking his question. "Indeed, but that''s not all; those are just the basic elements. We in this world call them the six elemental pillars of magic but there is more." "Oh?" Rusty had heard some theories while traveling, but he had been too focused on his journey and obtaining the mana manipulation skill to ask about them. Soon, both Aburdon and Alexander were explaining to him how the elemental system worked. "Now then, let us start with the fundamentals¡­" Apparently, there were six basic elements that could be combined to create other effects. Combining fire with wind, for example, resulted in a fusion element called lightning. There were various combinations of these elements, and even fusion elements could merge into something even greater. The first level of fusion was called double elemental fusion. Beyond that were tertiary elemental fusions. If a person combined fire, lightning, and light, they could create a plasma spell that harnessed the power of the sun. Meanwhile, combining darkness, decay, and abyss would create necrotic spells, the domain of necromancy. There was also a separate force known as Null. It wasn''t truly part of elemental magic but instead functioned as anti-magic, a power that nullified spells and reduced them to nothing. In addition, there were non-elemental spells, such as the one Gleam used to silence sounds around them. It seemed that the most powerful results came from mastering multiple elements and fusing them together. However, even mastering a single element was extremely difficult and dependent on a person''s affinities. Elemental affinity was usually an inborn trait, and in Rusty''s case, he had a strong connection to both light and darkness. When combined, these two elements formed the fusion element of twilight, a name that had been engraved into his identity as a monster. "Now, here comes the interesting part. Mastering both light and darkness was said to be impossible and just unnatural. I still can''t wrap my head around how an existence like you came to be Rusty¡­ it just doesn''t make any sense." Aburdon continued to babble while Rusty finally left the kobold settlement behind and return to the dungeon proper. "Unnatural?" At the end of the explanation, Aburdon pointed out that darkness and light were elements that naturally rejected each other. The most anyone could do was condense the two elements to create chaotic explosions, like Rusty did with his body parts. However, truly melding them together was not a natural process, and only a few beings in the world were said to be capable of it. This was the territory of legends - twilight magic. Rusty tried to absorb this information carefully, it seemed that there was far more to magic than he had originally thought. Then, to make things worse, Aburdon''s next phrase brought the world crashing down on him. "And because of your affinity for both elements that reject each other, you will probably be unable to fuse any other elements together. The only magic you will ever be able to produce is twilight, light, and dark." Rusty stopped walking. "What?" "I said you''re stuck, my dear Rusty." Aburdon repeated nonchalantly. "Unlike most mages who can expand their elemental repertoire, you''re going to be constrained by light and dark. Your current form is tailor made for twilight; both light and dark are in perfect balance but, if you attempt to add another element, it could be disastrous." "Disastrous?" Rusty asked while looking over his own twilight-forged body. Alexander, sensing his unease, quickly interjected. "It''s not all bad, Rusty. You may not be able to mix other elements, but Twilight is one of the rarest and most powerful affinities. Few in history have ever wielded it." "Oh? What spells can I use with twilight?" "Uh¡­" Alexander had no idea how to reply. While he had been a hero in the past who wielded the power of light, he had no idea what twilight magic could do. "Hah, that''s why you should hold your tongue if you don''t have anything wise to say." Aburdon loved to see the hero stutter, but he was also hit with a quick rebuttal. "Not like you know anything about it either, do you?" "Bah, I probably know more than you, hero!" "I''m sure you do¡­" Alexander almost laughed at the empty retort, but Rusty, on the other hand, tried to process the information. Gleam was a monster with the light affinity but also had affinities for other elements, like fire. She could tap into many different fusions, and if what Aburdon was saying was true, then the more a person used spells from a particular element, the stronger their affinity would grow. Rusty, however, was stuck with two elements: light, which was associated with godly divinity and used for healing and purification spells, and darkness, which belonged to demons and was tied to corruption and entropy. Perhaps it was best to first learn these elements separately and then see what combining them would achieve. This seemed to be uncharted territory, and even his guides were at a loss. However, Alexander had mastered the element of light, and Aburdon had mastered darkness. They could at least teach him how to use those two before he attempted to tackle twilight magic. In the past, he had already used twilight to some extent. By combining the two elements, he could create powerful explosions. He assumed that combining them could produce powerful attack spells, but perhaps it could also lead to something different. His twilight mantle skill was a buffing skill, so maybe he could learn a skill that would raise his stats in the same way. There were many possibilities, but first, he needed to get the two elements under control and see what he could do with them. "Good, I''ve decided! Aburdon, you will teach me the basics of dark magic, and Alexander, you will teach me the basic light spells!" "Hah, don''t think I''ll go easy on you." Aburdon replied, his black light pulsating in Rusty''s eye socket as if he was scheming something. "I think that''s fine. Probably best if we start with the basics¡­" Alexander, on the other hand, dimmed in his right eye. He seemed unsure about how to approach the situation. He had been a hero, a warrior on the front lines, not a magic teacher, so he wasn''t sure where to begin. "Great¡­ but first, perhaps we should see what''s deeper in this dungeon. These kobolds were rather weak." "(?? ? ??)" Gleam squeaked in agreement from his shoulder, her tiny form wriggling with excitement. She, too, seemed eager to explore the next stage of their journey. Rusty took a step forward, his sword gripped tightly in his hand, ready for whatever awaited them. Chapter 133 - 131 – Ugly Monsters. "Like this?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. " ( ?? ? ?? ) " "No? How about this then?" Little arcs of light energy escaped from Rusty''s fingertips. They started to slowly take form before him, but just before the spell could finish forming, the light burst and all of the energy faded. " (?¨C ? ¨C) " Gleam shook her head, her antennae brushing against Rusty''s head as she tried to cheer him up. "Tch, pathetic. I''ve seen goblins cast better spells than that. Are you sure you have part of my soul in you?" Aburdon''s voice echoed in Rusty''s mind, his amusement barely concealed. "Don''t listen to him, Rusty. You just need more time, that''s all." Alexander interjected, trying to encourage him, though even he seemed uncertain. Rusty''s eyes shone with the light of his guides, making it look as if he were squinting. He could feel the energy swirling within him, but every time he tried to shape it into something usable, it simply fizzled out. "Why is this so difficult? I can do it with that other spell¡­ did I imagine the circle wrong?" After invading the kobold settlement, Rusty and Gleam had ventured deeper into the dungeon. Instead of battling more monsters, he was focused on creating new spells. While he was limited to only two elements, there were still spells that shouldn''t require any elemental affinity, like the mana bolt spell Gleam used or the silencing spell. He wanted to learn the latter so he wouldn''t need Gleam to stick so close to him, allowing them to explore different combat strategies. "Why is this happening?" He muttered, clenching his fist as he tried to recall the feeling of energy coursing through him when he had used his first spell. It wasn''t as if he lacked the ability¡ªhis body practically thrived on magical energy, and he had already wielded powerful skills that generated far grander effects. " ( ? -?)? " "You don''t know either?" Gleam shook her head, uncertain why Rusty was struggling to replicate spells. She had no trouble doing so, and if a spell was performed in front of her, she could easily recreate it. "Fine, let me explain..." Before he could even ask, Aburdon sighed, his voice emanating from Rusty''s eye socket. His tone was as mocking as ever as if implying they were fools for not knowing the answer. "Monsters usually gain a separate organ for spellcasting. Our cute lady Gleam has one too." "She does?" "Indeed." Rusty looked at Gleam, and when he focused his mana sense, he noticed her mana was concentrated in her abdomen more than anywhere else. The magic seemed to travel from there to her antennae and head before she cast her spells, but it clearly originated from that spot. "But I don''t have organs¡­" "That you don''t, but¡­ you have your core, which is normally responsible for handling such tasks." "But I have a core, so¡­ shouldn''t it work?" "Let me finish¡­ Now, where was I? Ah, yes¡­" Aburdon did something akin to clearing his throat, which made little sense given his current form as a wisp of light. "The way you gained the skill required for spellcasting was unnatural, so I assume your core hasn''t undergone the proper changes to accommodate it." "Is that so?" Rusty nodded as he listened, considering the explanation. It seemed plausible. "You might eventually be able to cast simple spells, but unless your core changes, you''re not going to be much of a spellcaster." "The core has to change? ¡­ Then I just need to!" Before he could finish the sentence, Aburdon interrupted him with praise. "Bravo, I see you understand." Rusty nodded again. The solution was simple. If his core needed to change, then there was only one path forward¡ªevolution. Once he had gained enough levels and returned to the soul forge, he would be able to obtain a new body, one designed for spellcasting. "Let''s go, Gleam!" " (?? ? ??) " After realizing that he just needed to evolve once more to gain control over his magic, Rusty felt invigorated. The dungeon he was in was the perfect place for him to reach D rank, and he could already feel the power at his fingertips. Once back at the soul forge, he was eager to see what new shells awaited him. Perhaps he could even add a fourth form to his armors. He already had the Ogre and Wraith types. Maybe the third could be specialized for casting, or he could integrate everything into his existing variants instead. He was not sure yet, but the thought of experimenting in the soul forge again was enough to send a thrill through him. Without hesitation, he delved back into the mist-covered dungeon to find his true opponents. The mine grew colder and more humid. Eventually, he stopped and saw a strange creature before him, something he had never encountered before. Without waiting he activated his skill that would show him its classification and started reading. Classification: Lesser Mermlock E- Type: Aquatic Description: The mermlock is a bipedal, amphibious race of aggressive monsters usually spotted near bodies of water like coastlines or lakes. Their slimy, green skin glistens with moisture, helping them retain hydration even when venturing onto land for extended periods. Their large, bulbous eyes are adapted for both underwater and surface vision, giving them excellent depth perception and the ability to track prey in murky environments. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Their most defining feature is their wide, gaping mouths lined with sharp, uneven teeth, evolved for tearing through flesh with ease. A single bite from a mermlock can inflict deep wounds. Along their backs, they possess a series of spiny, fin-like ridges that help them navigate turbulent waters with surprising agility. This is enhanced by their webbed hands and feet. ''Now that''s a long description¡­'' Rusty took a moment to go through the description before closing the window. It was an aquatic species of monster, one he had never seen before. His Identify skill revealed one key detail: the creature was best suited for underwater combat. However, they were nowhere near a lake or deep water, and the monster carried only a crude iron spear. It didn''t seem to be a match for him. "You haven''t seen half of it, Rusty. Once your identification skill evolves further, it will even reveal the monster''s weaknesses and suggest strategies to defeat them." Alexander said as Rusty examined the description. Once Rusty realized the creature was only a lesser E-rank monster, he stepped forward with his sword and shield in hand. The creature let out a low hiss, its gaping mouth stretching unnaturally wide as it bared its jagged teeth. Its webbed feet slapped against the damp stone as it crouched low, raising its crude iron spear. "Looks like it''s not running. It''s not a natural-born monster like those kobolds," Rusty muttered. It was clear he was now facing the true denizens of this dungeon, likely his main foes for the next few days or even weeks. This creature showed no fear, and despite being two small ranks below him, it charged recklessly as if unaware of the danger it faced. The monster held its spear out and rushed straight at him, but he didn''t panic. Instead, he stepped forward and, at the right moment, thrust his shield forward and to the side, smacking the spear away and letting it slide along the surface. A shriek echoed through the cave as dark blood splattered against the damp stone. The creature stumbled back, clutching a bleeding stump. Rusty had brought his sword down swiftly right after deflecting the attack and severed the creature''s webbed hands in a single clean cut. He surged forward, his blade flashing as he drove it straight through the Mermlock''s chest. The monster let out one final gurgle before collapsing to the ground, twitching as the light faded from its bulbous eyes. " ( ?? - ?? ) " "I''ll let you have the next one Gleam, there seem to be more of them ahead." Gleam chirped in slight displeasure as she had little to do but perch on his shoulder, and the boredom was starting to get to her. Her small body bounced with excitement when she heard about another group of enemies ahead, and soon the two moved forward. The mist that had covered the bottom of the mining tunnels had turned into shallow puddles of water. As they rounded the corner, they finally understood why this place was called the Sunken Mine. The tunnel opened into a vast chamber, the rocky walls slick from moisture. Shallow water covered the cavern floor, rippling as Rusty stepped forward. The air was thick with humidity, which he could feel attaching itself to his metallic body. The dim glow of luminescent moss clinging to the ceiling provided just enough light to reveal movement ahead. Lurking further within were dozens of Mermlocks, their slimy, green skin glistening under the weak illumination. Their large eyes reflected the dim light, tracking Rusty as he entered their domain. Some crouched low, their webbed fingers gripping rusted weapons, while others shifted uneasily, their wide mouths opening and closing as if tasting the air. "Only lesser variants, shouldn''t be too hard¡­" He judged their power to not be above the monster he just slew. It had fallen just from one of his attacks so even if this group was large in numbers, they weren''t much of a threat. "Gleam, stay back and give me cover." " (?? ? ??) " She jumped off his shoulder and moved onto one of the walls but the moment her feet touched it, she noticed a small problem. " ( ¨C ? ¨C ) " "Oh? You can''t get a good grip?" While this posed a small problem, there were some parts that Gleam could climb on. Once she skittered over to a good position while trying to avoid the water the fight finally started. The creatures hissed and gurgled in their strange language, their webbed feet splashing through the shallow water as they tried to surround him. Some wielded crude spears, others jagged rusted blades, but all of them moved in a rather clumsy manner, something that he quickly exploited. "Now Gleam, target the ground!" " ( ?? - ?? ) " From afar, a large orb of flaming energy collided with the ground, sending water and steam flying everywhere. Gleam had been practicing her other elemental spells precisely for such an occasion. With the rise in heat and limited visibility, the enemies'' numerical advantage was now working against them.He quickly rushed forward, smashing his shield into one of the confused monsters and sending it crashing into two others. There was no need for any fancy elemental skills as his raw swordsmanship was more than enough. The screams of the Mermlocks echoed through the chamber as Rusty carved through their ranks. His blade, shining in the dim luminescent mosslight, cut through slimy flesh with precision. Though they outnumbered him, they lacked the coordination to overwhelm him effectively. Their crude weapons clattered against his shield and body, but they couldn''t penetrate his defenses. Gleam continued her support, sending bursts of fire into the water, creating thick steam clouds that obscured the battlefield. This only made the creatures more frantic, and it seemed to affect them in strange ways. Their gill-like appendages reacted poorly to the heated water. Once surrounded by it, they thrashed about in agony, making his battle much easier. Before long, their remains littered the cavern, and victory was his. "That was rather simple¡­ but¡­" Although victory was his, Rusty wasn''t satisfied. Despite slaying nearly a dozen of the creatures, he had not leveled up. It was clear that his current evolutionary stage required stronger foes, monsters that were at least full E-rank or even higher. Neither the kobolds or these beings could probably fulfill this role, unless he could defeat them in droves. "Do they at least have anything I could sell¡­" Once the monsters were defeated he looked at their bodies and asked Aburdon for what was best to harvest. "These creatures? I suppose some produce aqua crystals but it''s a rare find that materialises within their bodies." "In their bodies?" If Rusty had a face, he would be frowning now. He had no desire to cut up the monsters in search of a rare drop, but he could likely speed up the process by using his SP and storing them in his inventory. Since he had already recovered all of his points, he decided to take all the monster corpses. They seemed far more valuable than the kobolds he had previously encountered. After processing them, to his surprise, one of them contained exactly what Aburdon had mentioned. Classification: Lesser Water Crystal Type: Elemental Crystal Description: A crystal containing a small amount of water energy. When held close to one''s ear, the faint sound of running water can be heard. It was a nice bonus to his trip, but all he could think about now was leveling up. He had gained the ability to control mana, but another evolution was needed to truly master it. After cleaning up, he delved deeper into the dungeon, hunting the same type of monsters for hours until he finally reached level four. At that point, one of his guides reminded him that perhaps it was time to return. "Rusty, why don''t we go back?" "Oh? Why should we?" "Well¡­ we''ve been in here for nearly two days. What if something happened to your lair?" "My lair?" Rusty asked while pulling his sword from a Mermlock''s head. Before he could continue, Aburdon''s cackling rang out. "Haha, you''re bad at lying, hero. You''re worried about those little thieves, aren''t you?" "So what if I am? Besides, people might start wondering where Rusty is. He''s pretending to be human, and humans usually need to eat and sleep¡­" Alexander tried to convince Rusty to return, and for the time being, Rusty began to wonder if it might be for the best. He knew that leaving his home empty for too long could bring trouble. There was even a possibility that someone might have decided to invade the space he was trying to create. The battle with the kobolds had also made him think about the four children. "Perhaps Alexander is right. Let''s head back. Now that we have some monster parts, we''ll be able to get better food for Gleam too." "(?? ? ??)" While he knew Gleam could sustain herself on water mixed with stones filled with mana, it would be best to get her higher-quality crystals or mana-rich food. There were probably some options in the city, so returning now before heading deeper into the dungeon seemed wise. Soon, the group made their way back. Thanks to Aburdon, it only took a few hours to return to the entrance, and before long, they were climbing out and heading home. ''Perfect, just before sundown.'' Rusty made his way toward the city gate, gaining entry with ease thanks to his adventurer card. As he headed straight back to his lair, he wondered if the street urchins were still there and if they would be capable of eating monster meat if they were hungry. When he arrived, he immediately noticed something was off. The door had been tossed aside, despite the children''s promise to fix it¡­