《Soulmancer》


 Vol. 1 - Ch. 1 - A Blind Walker

    Waaah, Uwaaah!Izel Ethart Blind, a unique yet fragile and fairly brown-skinned baby, cried softly as he lay wrapped in a white silk cloth, nestled in his mother''s trembling arms. Amid his infantile cries, unexpected words barely reached the child''s delicate ears.


    "That thing is disgusting.¡±


    These harsh words were the first his father uttered bitterly upon Izel''s birth. Exhausted from labor, his mother wept helplessly, her expression twisted in disgust. "What curse has befallen us to bear such a child...?¡±


    ¨C ¨C ¨C ¨C


    The E-rank dungeon raid starts in 23 minutes and 5 seconds.


    Izel stirred from his slumber as the next raid timer stung his ears, urging him to open his dull-sharp eyes with scarred golden pupils. As usual, he couldn''t see a thing.


    Three days had passed since he accepted an invitation to raid the fortress of dungeons, yet Izel doubted he would ever get used to this harsh schedule.


    Ruffling his chin-length curled white-silver hair, he got up from the comfy bed in the room''s center and sighed. Despite being here for three days, he had only completed two tutorials and an F-rank dungeon.


    "When will this raid end?" he murmured reluctantly. A few days ago, he spent his time in his room listening to the bunky television about famous Hunters¡ªthose who hunt monsters¡ªall day.


    "When can I go home?" he wondered, unable to answer that question. He flinched bitterly as painful memories of the last raid flashed vividly in his mind. The despair and terror he had endured evoked a desire to return to his peaceful yet boring life.


    Feeling a bit dizzy and mentally exhausted as if he had a hangover, the blind man was greeted with the notification of the next dungeon raid, even though he had only gotten three hours of sleep since his previous raid.


    Half-asleep, he began his daily morning exercise. A while later, after completing a hundred push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and jumping jacks each, sweat seeped down his body, making him feel more relaxed and freshened up.


    Healing all injuries and status fatigue. This effect is consistently applied in the waiting room.


    After receiving the notification, gray vapors gushed out of his body while a rush of colorful light embraced him, swiftly healing any muscle tears and relieving his fatigue.


    Experiencing this healing effect within the room had become practical during his workouts. It was more than mere healing; it was almost extraordinary. Izel had tested this phenomenon a few days ago by causing a minor flesh wound. To his astonishment, the spilled blood reversed its flow back into the wound before sealing it shut.


    He speculated that this was a restorative ability, perhaps involving temporal manipulation, as the blood re-entered his body rather than the wound simply regenerating instantly. Nevertheless, these supernatural effects granted Izel the advantage he needed to train more efficiently in this perilous, isolated world.


    Surviving in this isolated world alone had its dangers. High stakes and high gains defined the difficulty he faced within his first two days at the fortress. He narrowly escaped death when chased by hordes of hideous zombies armed with poisonous weapons, adapted to gargantuan insects with razor-sharp teeth in each tutorial, and barely managed to slay (though failed to subjugate) the ginormous ''mother worm'' in the F-rank dungeon using a non-graded sword provided.


    "My rewards in the F-rank dungeon were halved because of it, which was disappointing." Izel exhaled deeply, feeling he was starting to get the hang of things


    [Verde remaining: 2]


    As the currency of the fortress, he clicked his tongue in frustration at the small announcement that stung his mind while purchasing breakfast. He bought some dry strips of jerky, a loaf of bread, and a full waterskin. Despite being essential for survival, food and water were expensive in the Fortress of Dungeons.


    Each pack of jerky strips cost five Verdes, making it the most expensive use of his currency, but survival depended on it. He couldn''t afford anything else, so he considered them the most efficient option, despite their high price.


    Izel placed a dry strip of jerky in his mouth and chewed through its tough and somewhat salty texture, eating bit by bit. After a few bites of the loaf, he tore off the water bottle''s lid and eagerly gulped down the water, relieving his parched throat.


    Once he completed his daily rituals, the raid timer signaled the deactivation of the Fortress system, its echoing sound in his ears.


    Deactivating the ''Extreme'' difficulty¡ªfortress operating system; the Broker, Trading Center, Inventory, and Forums.


    The E-rank dungeon raid starts in 9 seconds.


    8¡­ 7¡­ 6¡­


    In quick succession, Izel stored some waterskins inside a pocket-sized bag around his waist. He then tied a black blindfold around his eyes, recalling the effect and activating the [Flawlation] skill of his special blindfold¡ªonly sold in the fortress.


    [Flawlation (F) had been activated.]


    [Effect: Within a radius of 360 degrees, the world would be composed of only black lines on a white background. Objects and soundwaves perceived consisted of only black lines illustrating their outline. While ''mana'' can be sensed in color.


    Proficiency: 1%


    Demerit: The host remains blind.]


    5¡­ 4¡­ 3¡­


    As the clock counted down, anticipation hazed his mind, and he nervously clenched his fists, awaiting what came next


    2¡­ 1¡­ [Break over!]


    The E-rank dungeon raid is now starting.


    Immediately after the timer ended, a notification echoed in his ears.


    Do you wish to enter the E-rank dungeon?


    Yes/No.


    Without hesitation, he selected "Yes." From nothingness emerged a beam-sized black hole. It swiftly expanded: from the size of a coin to that of a volleyball, eventually growing large enough for a person to walk through. The flat oval shape swirled with an infinitely deep crimson coloration; however, the blind man could only perceive it as a blood-red glowing outline. One moment it was open space, the next a portal into the unknown; he couldn''t help but be amazed by the mysterious phenomena.


    Compared to the darkness that once enveloped him, now that Izel wore the blindfold, he could observe the black croquis contours of both stationary and animated subjects against a white background. The blindfold not only supplemented ordinary vision but also allowed him to see the patterns of mana concepts and the invisible shockwaves of sound. It synergized neatly with his [sound reading] skill.


    [Passive Skill: Sound Reading (innate)]


    [Effect: To analyze and detect sound waves and types of frequencies, determine the location of objects in the environment by using reflected sound waves while perceiving multiple different body languages at once at a rate of 30% accuracy,


    Demerit: high-pitched, screeching sounds as well as those in the upper mid-frequency range can cause physical discomfort or a pain response to the ears and might cause bleeding. High-pressure waves stimulate the overly sensitive nociception, causing a sensation of discomfort or pain, which could lead to headaches and mental strain.]


    Finally prepared, he strode into the portal, which then slowly shrank to nothingness. His surroundings veered toward a cozy, cavern-like passageway with no apparent end.


    Entering the dungeon.


    Starting the E-rank raid.


    Objective: Slay the boss monster "Albino (?)".


    Raid Reward: [Soul Assimilation] skill. s?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Raid Failure: Death.


    "Damn, I can never get used to this..." As he walked out of the portal, Izel pondered aloud, "So I''ll risk my life for soul assimilation? Not bad." A faint smile formed on his face soon after. It was a good skill to risk his life for the power to transmute all forms of souls into ¡®essence¡¯ and then allow its caster to devour it, as per his knowledge, albeit as a low-rank hunter. His body slightly twitched in anticipation of the opportunity.


    Starting the E-rank dungeon theme.


    Izel initially believed the dark surroundings to be a place devoid of sound. However, as he examined the darkness, he noticed an oscillating pattern darting about. Fortunately, he didn''t perceive any immediate danger.


    *¡®Could this be a random horror dungeon? Heck, could anyone even call this place a horror dungeon?¡¯ *The blind man absentmindedly pondered how this new location differed from the previous dungeon he had faced. The mostly empty cavern-like passageway was rather hideous, crammed with fragments of broken weapons and potion bottles. A mild smell of dust and rusty, sour iron permeated the air.


    Moving further along, a few pieces of scenery began to reveal themselves. With dried gore and flesh scattered about, it appeared that other Walkers had passed through this dungeon as well.


    "In short, it seems I wasn''t the only one who had braved the extreme difficulty." Izel felt a mix of relief and anxiety, wondering how many walkers had died just to reach this point.


    It was such a remarkably atrocious scene that anyone here would be terrified by the hazy, pitch-black darkness around them. It felt like a vast and spacious, yet synthetic, world that even his blindfold gear skill couldn''t visualize beyond.


    "This... is rather ominous. Alright." He thought aloud, tilting his head. Recognizing that the only way forward was through the enchanted darkness, the blind man resolved to explore it in search of the boss monster.


    The Albino Goblin King is approaching!


    His fulfillment remained elusive, disrupted as something from beyond the unknown decided to approach him first.


    "KIEEEEKKK¡­!¡±


    An eerie shout reverberated through the passage, its roaring sound so loud it threatened to burst his eardrums, causing them to bleed. Without granting him a moment to recover, the entire floor quaked. From the darkest depths emerged an unsightly entity.


    Nearly ten feet tall, it possessed unkempt brown hair and beaked eyes brimming with savagery. Despite being drenched in flesh and gore, its gray skin and grotesque saunter were evident. Each step it took sent tremors through the ground, the monster wielding a gigantic axe in its right hand.


    Within Izel''s sight, the gargantuan silhouette of the lumbering creature pulsed with magical power.


    "KiEEEEKKK¡­!¡±


    Menacingly, the monster shrieked, seizing control of the moment and startling Izel''s heart. At the same time, he heard another notification.


    Defeat the Albino Goblin King!


    Time left: 9 minutes. 59 seconds.


    "Grrrrrrrrr¡­ Is it the Little Hobbit? Krrr¡­ I¡¯m hungry¡­ Stay still¡­¡±


    "Wait, it can talk?" Izel inquired in amazement. It was the native language of the monster family, and although he couldn''t understand what it meant, he was still surprised that a monster could speak at all. Even though his fragile mind hadn''t gotten over the past F-rank Dungeon, every thought about it seemed to be displaced as soon as he confronted the disastrous shout of the impending Goblin King.


    "... Forget it!" The blind man was unable to fake ignorance, even if he tried. Izel took out his longsword from its scabbard on his wrist and mentally prepared himself for the fight.


    [Iron longsword (ungraded)


    A brittle and one-handed iron longsword.


    Durability: 3.95/5


    Effect: Damage +10


    Demerit: The lower the durability, the more the blade becomes rusted and weakened.]


    The equipped item notification provided new details about the longsword obtained in the F-rank dungeon a day ago. Despite being a non-graded weapon, it had weathered numerous battles with monsters, with its durability decreasing by only 1.5 during that time. This familiarity offered hope that the 15 hours of training would pay off when faced with the grey king''s threat.


    "KRAAAAA¡­ HOBBIT¡­ STAY STILL!" The sudden exclamation jolted the blind man from his doubts as the towering grey king, armed with a honed axe, closed in on him.


    "What is this feeling? The air is suffocating. I can''t breathe." He gasped desperately. Compared to the monsters in tutorials and the F-rank dungeon, this intimidation shook him to his core. Every hair on his body stood on end as the fear engulfed him.


    *''Should I run away?'' *The blind man''s mind raced, longing to escape the danger by sprinting into the dark passage. But fleeing would increase the chance of a pitiful demise. Izel gritted his teeth, resisting the overwhelming pressure, summoning the fighting spirit he had honed.


    It felt like a gravitational pull, akin to a black hole, held him captive. The thunderous approach of the enemy outpaced his attempts to move. Facing such overwhelming terror for the first time since the initial tutorial, he couldn''t budge an inch. His legs trembled in fear.


    ''What should I do now? Fight or run? Wait or die?'' Thoughts whirled in his mind, analyzing every possible action. His only hope lay in the time limit that echoed every few seconds and the long aisle ahead as the goblin closed in.


    **


    Time remaining: 9 minutes and 45 seconds.**


    "What? Only 15 seconds had passed!" Izel''s expression distorted in astonishment. The blind man couldn''t believe he was lost in his thoughts for 15 seconds, during which the thudding sound of the Goblin King became clearer, but it felt like five minutes had passed.


    "No way¡­" He disapproved. Accepting the invitation, he wanted to become stronger than his pitiful self; he would rather not be a helpless blind man. Therefore, he knew the answer to his query.


    "I have to fight¡­!" He decided, his hands tightly clenching the hilt of the longsword in his hand as his dull golden eyes narrowed underneath his blindfold. He''d fight to get stronger than lay helplessly to any of his enemies, regardless of whether that be now or in the future.


    Soon, he focused his [Flawlation] upfront, trying to auscultate the mana surging from the goblin king. As if the gray albino employed the darkest haze to conceal his magic power, which disrupted Izel''s vision and erased any frequencies around and within the black haze.


    [Soundless Mist Steps] is one of the skills in the Goblin King''s arsenal and is presently activated. However, it was not known by ex-hunters or walkers, including Izel, making his opponent more perilous than any monsters he had faced.


    As the heartbeat resounded throughout his body, Izel nervously focused on every direction to inspect the reflected sound waves and ''body language''. Although ''that'' is only about 30%.


    ''It''s faint, but it''s all over the place. It''s like the goblin king''s thudding ripples and body language are all over the darkness.'' The fairly brown-skinned man concentrated deeply. ''What direction would it spawn from?'' He traced all the faint bouncing waves and body language piece by piece with both [flawation] and [sound reading], trying to find that certain direction.


    Amidst that concentration, he began to doubt if his sword would be able to do anything to the Goblin King. A non-graded weapon that had decreased in durability had a low probability of impaling through the thick skin of the goblin king.


    "Damnit, if only the F-rank dungeon was lucrative in its reward..." He regretfully murmured. If that had occurred, he would have gotten enough ''Verdes'' to get himself a better weapon, but that wasn''t the case.


    Regardless, he had to fight, even if it cost his life. It was then, with the pitch-black haze dissolving, the gray menace zoomed out and swung his axe through the air at Izel stealthily.


    Dazed at the impending metal swerving through the air, the blind man couldn''t help but pause his initial thinking as his [Flawlation] and his ears¡ª[Sound Reading]¡ªcaught a glimpse of the mana''s signature and sudden bodily responses.


    In the end, he coerced his body to evade the axe at the last second, which smashed the ground with a great impact. At that moment, Izel found that he could sense the creature if it left the haze.


    ¡®In that case, I would only have to attack it as soon as it appeared from the darkness.¡¯ He concluded, per his premonition. Shortly after the attack from the left wing failed and its discovery, the dark haze enveloped the Goblin King and disappeared again.


    "What a crafty monster." In short, it was as if the monster was trained as an assassin and predicted his reaction. The blind man reluctantly curled his tongue as a red line drew itself across his cheek as blood seeped from within.


    ¡®I dodged it too late.¡¯ Instead of panicking at this realization, he could have been dead if he had been even a tiny bit later. Izel kept himself cool-headed, realizing there was no use for panic. After all, that would only cause irrational decisions and an inability to think things through.


    "Come to think of it¡­" He mused. One of the things Izel learned from listening to Hunter news, monster outbreaks, and successful raid articles from the most experienced hunters was that monsters had mana ''fragments''.


    Low-tier boss monsters like the Goblin King couldn''t completely hide it within their bodies due to their passive mana-gathering innate abilities.


    Knowing this, a sneer spread across his lips as his expression grew cold. Presumably, he was now well aware of its weakness and also ''how to attack it''. *¡®I would just have to break that fragment as soon as it showed itself.¡¯ *He confidently concluded, taking a deep breath to relax the tension and nervousness within him while trying to grasp even the tiniest responses and sounds of the gray giant.


    ¡®Found it.¡¯ A glimpse of light shone forth from behind Izel as the surging wave of mana bounced back after sticking to the fragment bulging from its body, identifying its location. At that moment, the blind man released his calves and threw himself up, stylishly backflipping with precision over the impending axe from the darkness.


    "I could sense it now," In other words, its stir, its mana signature, its frequencies, heartbeat, breathing pattern, blood pressure, and other body languages.


    With its axe stuck in the wall, the Goblin King thrust in quick succession an unexpectedly hefty punch from the darkness towards him. Of course, it was discernible since [Flawlation] had no blindspots, but Izel''s reaction speed itself was on the slow side.


    "Argh!" His mouth widened, and blood spatter from the impact caused his body to go impassive as he was sent flying into the darkness. Of course, if he hadn''t twisted his body at the last second, mitigating the impact and preserving vital organs, he would have died.


    Despite the throbbing pain, Izel was filled with diverse thoughts. He wasn''t certain he could get close to it; even if he were able to get close by chance, how would he damage the fragment with his sword?


    *¡®How much strength should I exert to deal with that damage?¡¯ *Of course, since his strength had risen past that of an F-rank walker, his weapon wasn''t durable enough to apply all of his strength here. Hell, those thoughts were palpable, as there was a possibility that the sword wouldn''t be able to leave a scratch on it.


    Izel doubted while many ideas rushed in and out of his mind, akin to a roll of film steering through a recorder. Meanwhile, he focused on his surroundings, trying to find where the Goblin King would appear again.


    If the sword wasn''t able to damage the core, he needed to at least attempt the only possibility he thought might work. He needed to react faster since this monster was smarter at utilizing its surroundings to its advantage.


    His X-ray-like visual expanded in every direction amid the swarming darkness.* ¡®Would I be able to react quickly enough to dodge its attacks?¡¯* He wondered. Who knew how many it would attempt this time?


    Izel shouldn''t ponder like that, he thought, but his trembling arms and troubled breathing made it difficult to think, let alone fight. Despite much contemplation, he couldn''t find a way out of the desperate situation.


    "Above!" he realized, detecting the goblin king and feeling a faint ripple of the grey boss monster. His heart shrank; he felt like spewing profanity, yet his determination to get stronger jolted him awake. With strangely strong mental fortitude, he dodged the swinging magical axe.


    The axe shuddered, creating a deep crater on the ground. Seemingly seeing an opening, the enemy threw a surprise attack, but Izel, anticipating the move, reacted swiftly.


    "Same pattern, King!" he analyzed aloud. The blind man contorted his body, murmuring, "... Not going to work on me twice!" He bent his knees, avoiding the sharp magical swing, then sprang toward the monster''s base.


    "HOBBIT¡­! STAY STILL!!¡±


    However, the Goblin King''s hefty hand swiped the weapon down, descending upon him again.


    Now, the mana coating was denser, capable of tearing him to shreds instantly. "It seemed you were getting serious," Izel nervously realized the drastic change in its body language and breathing pattern.


    SWOOSH!


    The deadly axe approached close to his head. Feeling the air, he decided firmly at the last second, lowering his body as mana imbued his legs. The erratic mana power tore his ankles and calves apart, causing intense pain as he dashed past the axe''s blade.


    The king''s attack struck the ground, exploding through Izel''s ruptured eardrums. Focused on combat, the blind man thrust his sword into both of its feet, causing agonizing screams and unbalancing the king.


    "Don''t be a coward facing me from high up; come down to my level!" Izel yelled, blood splattering as he struck the king rapidly

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 2 - The Blind Walker II

    "KIEEEKK! HOB¡­ BIT!!!"A sharp shriek escaped the Goblin King as it lost balance and fell onto its back with a loud thud.


    THUD!!!


    Without hesitation, Izel jumped onto its muscular chest, pinpointing the exact location of the ''fragment'', and slashed at it as hard as he could.


    Fortunately, the gray monstrosity was concussed from the fall, giving the blind man the opportunity to attack.


    "Damn it, it''s so tough!" He couldn''t help but spout profanity. With such a blunt impact, the sapphire-like fragment didn''t sustain a single crack; instead, a sharp sound echoed through the passageway and trembled his body.


    "Ugghhh!" Izel gnashed his teeth as blood burst from his ears. "I will not give up; I will defeat you and become stronger!" Ignoring the pulsating agony, the flame of determination to triumph burned within his heart, and he continued to stab and slash with vigor. After nearly a dozen hits, the fragment began to slightly crack.


    The Goblin King, despite the concussion, whether due to fear of death, adrenaline, or wild instinct, quickly tried to retaliate as its eyes brimmed with murderous intent.


    "KRAAAAAA DIE... HOBBIT!¡±


    Knowing the sneering difference in size, it planned to grab the pathetic fly and crush it with its enormous meaty hand, rapidly morphing into sizzling heat as crimson-hot as lava.


    [Hand of Abomination], one of the trump cards of the Goblin King in this dire situation, utilized the condensation of magical power around its palm, enough to shatter a big iron boulder into smithereens instantly.


    ¡®As expected of an E-rank boss monster,¡¯ the blind man snorted, having predicted this endeavor. Izel deftly evaded the grapple by imbuing mana onto both his feet to lighten his torn calves and jumping off the Goblin King''s chest.


    "KRAAAAAKKKKK!!!¡±


    In its rage, the boss monster failed to consider how collapsing on its chest would damage the ''fragment'' from the aftermath caused by such a resonating impact, which was already damaged, resulting in the small cracks expanding.


    The King, now faced with the ground, attempted to stand back up, but before it could completely rise, Izel rushed toward it in a desperate but ingenious maneuver.


    Using his battered longsword, which might as well be a toothpick in comparison to the monster before him, he jumped up above the monster and thrust his sword down the king''s spine at the base of its neck as hard as he could, hoping to strike between the vertebrae according to the [Flawation] visual.


    The gray giant''s muscular flesh was tough, but the magical longsword was able to pierce cleanly through its spine. The goblin boss was now paralyzed.


    "Good¡­!" Panting from exertion as sweat seeped from his forehead, but determined to finish the fight, Izel repositioned himself until he was in its line of sight. Deciding to impart some last words, "You¡¯re scared to die? Well, guess what? I am too. It¡¯s that fear, that desperation, that pushes me forward. Your arrogance was your downfall.¡±


    Imbuing his longsword with magic power, Izel thrust one last time toward the Goblin King''s fragment.


    [Longsword Effect activated.] S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    [Damage +10.]


    "Go to hell." With great force, the magical sword''s tip struck the crystal, shattering the blue gem.


    The Goblin King has been slain.


    Shortly after the message pierced his ears, the Goblin King''s scarlet eyes darkened, and the magic power that infused every organ in its body dispersed. Lifeless.


    Time left: 0 minutes, 9 seconds.


    The E-rank dungeon was successfully raided.


    Izel collapsed upon the fallen prey, gasping for air. His heart raced wildly, and his lungs contracted and inflated as if they were about to burst. His trembling legs were bruised and torn; blood oozed from cuts on his cheek, and his hand couldn''t stop shuddering.


    Amidst the dripping sweat, his head pounded, feeling the unfamiliar rush of adrenaline. He couldn''t fathom if this was the sense of victory that other hunters felt after defeating a powerful foe.


    Strangely, it felt natural, the emotion of accomplishment he hadn''t experienced on Elilaum, satisfying him so much.


    "I had slain the Goblin King after all, with only ear and leg injuries," he mused. It was surreal and rare for a hunter who couldn''t even defeat a normal goblin in the real world. After catching his breath, he smiled brightly¡ªa smile that could instantly brighten a woman''s dull life.


    That was enough for the thrill of triumph to blur his mind. Yet, it didn''t last long as he became despondent again, recalling what had happened until now.


    Just like his last dungeon attempt, he barely managed to survive this time too. Although Izel did turn the tides in the end, that wouldn''t work on a smarter monster.


    "I wouldn''t last for ten seconds against a hobgoblin," he regretfully admitted. The Goblin King might be the strongest among goblins, but it still had the same clear weakness as a partially exposed fragment. An evolved goblin, a hobgoblin, would have been equivalent to the Grim Reaper if Izel had to fight it.


    Nonetheless, all those considerations were pointless now that he had successfully defeated it. Staying positive, he knew that the only reality was that he survived. After taking a deep breath, he finally felt a wave of relief.


    Congratulations. You have successfully raided the E-rank dungeon of the Fortress of Dungeons.


    As a reward, you have acquired the skills [Soul Assimilation (E)] and ''10 Verdes''.


    As a bonus reward, you have acquired the skill [Hemostasis (E+)] and ''50 Verdes''.


    "Soul Assimilation," Izel repeated aloud, feeling elated to have received his first personal skill apart from the one acquired at birth. Although he also gained the gear skill in the second tutorial, it was only usable when he wore a special blindfold. The joy of seeing his hard work pay off was undeniable.


    ''The bonus rewards feature is new to me though,'' he contemplated the reason behind receiving such bonuses. However, he welcomed the extra skill and Verdes nonetheless. A sentiment filled his heart that he couldn''t describe with words. Yet, his musings were abruptly interrupted, giving him little time to dwell on them.


    Please move to the Waiting Room.


    The air shattered; a portal, initially the size of a coin, expanded into a shimmering oval large enough for a human a few meters away. Ignoring the surging portal momentarily, Izel rose with a grunt, feeling the pain throb in both his legs, his whole body aching, and his ears ringing intensely. The adrenaline from the fight had masked the pain, but now it surged through him.


    Annoyed, he scowled and kicked the Goblin King; after all, it was the cause of his agony. Despite the pain, he acknowledged he should be grateful¡ªhe was still alive and breathing. As he limped toward the fallen foe to reach the portal, a familiar voice tingled in his mind, accompanied by intensified haptic feedback.


    [A special condition has been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    Inwardly, Izel asked,* ¡®What is this? A condition¡­?¡¯ *He was aghast enough to forget his pain; the deceased goblin was gleaming with a jet-black glow. Though he hesitated before the phenomenon, he instinctively reached out his hand.


    **[**Would you like to devour the goblin king, ''Albino''?


    Yes/No**]**


    Receiving a barrage of unfamiliar messages, Izel felt a sting in his mind. Confusion swept over him briefly, but he swiftly grasped their meaning. This ability offered a means to consume the Goblin King''s soul as transmuted essence, transforming it into an essential supplement for its caster. Overwhelmed by its potential, a flurry of wild thoughts raced through his mind.


    The blind man urged himself to regain composure. Acquiring a new skill shouldn''t disrupt his calmness; there was still much to accomplish. It was premature to celebrate. Mentally fatigued, he accessed his status window, scanning for any alterations, including explanations of the newfound skills.


    **[**Name: Izel Ethalt Blind.


    Age: 19 years old.


    Strength: 22 Stamina: 35


    Agility: 38 Mana: 15


    Constitution: 12


    Active skills


    Gear: Flawlation (F)


    *Soul Assimilation (E)


    Hemostasis (E+)


    Passive Skills


    Sound Reading (Innate)


    Fortress Currency


    Verdes: 62**]**


    The status that he hadn''t heard in a while swarmed through his head, almost unrecognizable due to the significant progress he''d made within the fortress. Since it had been such a long time since he''d last heard about it, alongside his new skills ¨C both active and passive, as well as his gear skill ¨C he urged the voice subconsciously for further details about his new ''Soul Assimilation'' skill.


    **[***Active Skill: Soul Assimilation.


    Rank: E


    Proficiency: 0%


    Effect (1): Transduction¡­]


    **[**Transduction: Devour the soul of the slain targets into transmuted essence. Automatically notify its host close to its slain target.


    Demerit: The effective success rate will be lowered if the target has an overwhelming presence when alive or has a weighty soul when dead.]


    Izel, as he had thought previously, could devour the transmuted soul of any target he had slain. Furthermore, there was an interesting demerit: a lower chance of devouring the soul if the target held significant worth when alive or if its soul carried considerable weight after death. Ultimately, he needed to bear in mind that when the skill failed, he would understand why. The blind man resumed the voice


    [Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation.]


    **[**Augmentation: The host can permanently increase stats by up to five randomly allocated points, depending on the devoured essence.


    Demerit (2): Stats can''t increase more than five randomly allocated points, no matter how worthy the devoured essence or how high the skill proficiency is.]


    "Holy sh~moly!" He exclaimed, a slight profanity escaping his lips, as the reward he had risked his life for proved to be more than worth it: a bonus effect that could permanently increase his stats. Astonishingly, his stats in general had slowly increased over the last three days he had spent at the fortress. Now, he could further boost his stats. The sensation of winning a jackpot enveloped his heart.


    [Bonus Effect (2): Capacitance.]


    **[**Capacitance: The host can store up to ten devoured transmuted souls ''essences'' for future use.


    Demerit (2): Essence capacity depends on the host''s willpower. Reserved essences will possess the host if their will is sufficiently weakened.]


    To maximize the effectiveness of the willpower barrier, Izel knew he had to maintain a level-headed demeanor at all times. A steady mind was essential to prevent possession. "Overall," he mused, "it was a pretty dodgy demerit." Deciding to move on, he shifted his focus to inquiring about the ''Hemostasis'' skill.


    **[**Active Skill: Hemostasis.


    Rank: E+


    Proficiency: 0%


    Effect: Using blood cells, the host can quickly recover from bruises and mild internal injuries.


    Demerit: cannot recover excessively damaged muscles, or severed limbs. Also, overuse of this skill could lead to Hypovolemic shock.]


    Despite being a rare recovery skill that could heal its caster mid-battle, this particular one wasn''t very effective. The demerit rendered the skill practically useless, especially since every hunter inevitably encountered such a situation.


    However, Izel considered the skill might be helpful during fortress raids or in extremely dire situations. Progressing would become tougher; the next dungeon awaited at D-rank. He couldn''t help but imagine the dangerous nature of the upcoming raid.


    The blind man had no way to prove it, but after three days in the fortress, he sensed the ''administrator of the fortress'' wasn''t providing these skills out of kindness. Though the only way to acquire them was through the risk-inducing rules, the demerits were confined solely within the fortress.


    "Damn it¡­¡±


    Despite the potentially profitable rewards, living with various demerits was inevitable and hazardous. Failing a raid meant instant death, as, unlike monsters in the subterranean labyrinths'' on Elilaum, a Hunter couldn''t escape a fortress dungeon without clearing it. It was a bleak prospect for a blind man. There were risks that no sane, sightless person would take, but Izel was no ordinary man. He harbored an incredible ambition: to become the strongest hunter and live a life of luxury.


    Initially, these were just premature and absurd goals he told himself while listening to famous hunters on the news. He even recorded a ''list of rules on how to raid a ''subterranean labyrinth and become an Ascender even if disabled'' to listen to every day upon waking. Yet now, he felt these pursuits were within reach; all he needed was the strength to grasp them.


    "I can''t die, no matter what." He clenched his fist tightly in determination. The blind man knew too well that everything would be futile if he perished. To continue fighting and stay alive, he couldn''t let his guard down¡ªnot for a single second.


    He yearned for the privilege to look down on the strong, even without his eyes. To achieve that, he needed to learn more about how to utilize all the resources he had been given.


    Izel decided to agree to the message and devour the stiff, gloaming Goblin King.


    [Soul Assimilation (E) has been activated.]


    A jet-black, hazy transmuted soul flowed from the hefty, decaying body and swarmed into him. Simultaneously, another notification rang in his mind.


    [Effect (1): Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the essence of Goblin King ''Albino'']


    [Capacitance: 1/10.]


    After the stream of messages, a simple but concise message announces the new outcome of his skill.


    [Due to devouring your first bodily transmuted soul, ''essence'', Soul Assimilation (E) has risen by 5%.]


    A bizarre sensation pervaded Izel as if he were overflowing with vitality. He somehow knew exactly how to utilize this skill. His stats could be enhanced by simply wishing for them at any time.


    *''Is this how all necromancers feel every time they devour the dead?'' *wondered the blind man, as surreal sensations continued to affect his body. Before he could inspect them further, more suggestions echoed forth after a message.


    [Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation had been activated.]


    [Would you like to permanently augment your stats using the essence reserves?]


    Inwardly, Izel responded, ''Yes''.


    [Augmentation has been acknowledged. Permanently augmenting stats using the essence reserves¡­]


    [Strength augmented by 1.]


    [Constitution augmented by 1.]


    [Capacitance: 0/10.]


    An abnormal sense of enhancement surged through his body; Izel felt his burdens lifting from his shoulders, experiencing a surge in energy. Though injured, the pain became more bearable. Tempted to test his newfound strength and inspect his changed body, he swiftly reconsidered: "No need to rush for now.¡±


    He needed to prioritize healing. With blood trickling from his ears and injured legs, along with fatigue and mental exhaustion, he hesitated to immediately test his altered abilities. The blind man was so weary that he lost count of the times he grunted from exhaustion.


    Teleporting to the Waiting Room.


    Izel trudged through the crimson portal, and his surroundings transformed back to the room.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 3 - Overbearing...

    You have entered the D-rank waiting room.After the portal disappeared, the first thing that filled his mind''s eye was the jet-black croquis outline of the rectangular chamber. It bore an antique architectural style reminiscent of ancient Chinese-era design, illuminated by numerous white sapphires embedded in the ceiling.


    Healing all injuries and status fatigue. This effect is consistently applied in the waiting room.


    After receiving the concise notification, a gray mist began to exude from him, while colorful lights engulfed him, mending his injuries and relieving his fatigue. It wasn''t that surprising anymore to Izel, who had grown accustomed to the comforting presence. Compared to his first experience, he was stunned at the effectiveness of the room''s healing. Nevertheless, his pain shriveled amid the vapor.


    On the contrary, it felt almost as if he had never fought a battle; everything seemed like a dream. However, the blind man knew it wasn''t. What was apparent was that sticky, coagulated blood covered parts of his body. It felt like the waiting room effect focused on essential healing rather than addressing the need for cleaning.


    [Flawlation (F) has been deactivated.]


    Deactivating the skill allowed his mind to relax, no longer sustaining the drain on his willpower.


    He took off the blindfold and tossed it onto the simple white bed. Immediately, he retrieved some waterskins from a black, pocket-sized bag around his waist and roughly washed his face, legs, and ears. Though his boots were also drenched in blood, he decided against wasting water on washing clothing unless ¡®absolutely¡¯ necessary. Ensuring to sufficiently clean the blood off his blindfold due to its importance.


    Tasting the iron tang of blood, he realized he must have accidentally swallowed some during the fight. His throat felt sour. On Elilaum, injuries similar to his would have required around three months in the hospital, unless he had the means to access an S-rank healer. In the fortress, his wounds were instantly healed, relieving one more problem to worry about.


    Once sufficiently calmed, he used [Sound Reading] by slamming his foot on the ground. Strolling to the bed, he focused his senses to feel for anything new, now that he was E-rank. The soundwave bounced off the white walls and ceiling of the spacious, empty room, reflecting onto any obstacles, utilizing echolocation principles.


    The room could only be described as cold and desolate.


    "Nothing has changed except for the new eucalyptus-like scent, huh?" Izel clicked his tongue in disappointment at the familiar setting. The only furniture was the bed in the middle, while glowing gems adorned the ceiling. In short, it resembled the waiting room beforehand. The blind man hadn''t expected anything too unique.


    "But it''s a bit of a letdown compared to the change of rank," he sighed. The waiting room remaining unchanged disappointed him. He assumed there was no use in dwelling on it. After all, being blind meant he couldn''t appreciate any distinct setting, and his sensory skills didn''t rely on light, rendering them ultimately pointless.


    "Plus, I won''t stay here for long," he murmured to himself. His room would change again within 24 hours if he passed the next raid and upgraded his rank. So, contemplating the room''s change seemed bothersome. With that, Izel collapsed on the bed, his head filled with numerous thoughts as he faced the ceiling with his eyes closed. ''What will the next dungeon be like? Can I navigate it like the E-rank dungeon?'' Apprehensive, his future seemed bleak.


    ''Why me? Why was I invited here? No, for what purpose?'' Understanding the fortress''s decision remained a great challenge. Even after spending three days here, all his questions led to more doubts and helplessness. He didn''t know if he''d live in the fortress indefinitely or if he could return to Elilaum. ''Anything is possible in the fortress,'' he concluded. Lying down, he breathed deeply, letting his thoughts drift away.


    All E-rank dungeon raids of ''Extreme'' difficulty had been completed.


    Reactivating the ''Extreme'' difficulty¡ªfortress operating system. All commands are reactivated; commands require verbal execution.


    After the series of announcements concluded, Izel returned to reality.


    "Finally, the Broker, Trading Center, Inventory, and Forums are reactivated," he sighed lightly. According to the administrator''s rules, all fortress operating system commands were typically deactivated before a raid commenced. Moments later, Izel spoke up, "Next raid.¡±


    Dungeon raids cannot be assigned at this time.


    Please wait until authorized by the administration.


    The D-rank dungeon raid begins in 22 hours and 15 minutes.


    As he hoped, it was the D-rank dungeon. After taking a deep breath, he continued, issuing commands guided more by instinct.


    ''Inventory.¡¯


    The word created an invisible yet familiar rift out of thin air, sensed only by him. Within it lay a game-like, movable, pocket-dimensional interface, where items and weapons could be stored and materialized by the host''s thoughts. However, in his case, he couldn''t see the fancy interface; merely summoning any reserved items and weapons would suffice for them to appear and vanish in his hands.


    In short, his inventory differed from the ones normal walkers accessed.


    Currently, a few waterskins, strips of jerky, rare wheat bread, and other miscellaneous items were available, as labeled by the voice.


    ''Hmm... could I have a waterskin? I''m a bit thirsty and would like more water.¡¯ At his request, a pouch of water immediately flickered into his hand, and he gulped down its contents, feeling refreshed despite his awkward demeanor.


    He summoned the Trading Center.


    Once again, Izel initiated an intuitive command, and another invisible ripple erupted. Soon after, a shopping catalog materialized in his mind. With more Verdes at hand, he hoped to purchase real items. The Trading Center listed thousands of useless items, small and large, alongside miscellaneous items like furniture and even worthless skills, all categorized in his mind. Yet, after sifting through, he found nothing he required.


    ''Hah¡­ It felt like my brain would fry from overload,'' he restlessly murmured, briefly caressing his forehead as his face turned a shade paler. Despite the mental strain, he found nothing he needed. Shortly after, he interrupted the long-listing computerized voice and checked the Broker system, hoping he''d earned more Query points.


    Welcome to the Broker.


    You may ask questions you desire. Each question costs one Query point.


    The administrator is unavailable; Beelzebub will answer any desired questions.


    Query points: 1.


    Naturally, Query points were utilized to pose questions to Beelzebub, the personal assistant of the administrator. However, he only had one query point for now, so he needed to use it sparingly and ensure absolute certainty about his request.


    Beelzebub remained a mysterious entity closer in nature to the administrator than the Fortress of Dungeons. Each query point allowed for one question and could be accumulated over time.


    Even after three days, it wasn''t enough time for a thorough investigation. Although Izel hadn''t determined who was behind this phenomenon in the brief period, he believed that as long as he survived and progressed through the fortress, the culprits would reveal themselves later.


    ¡®I''ll hold off for now,¡¯ he decided, stopping the beeping sound of the recorder to compose his queries. There was no need to rush into using it. He then considered checking the forum¡ªa daily habit of his.


    You have entered the Forum.


    You are online.


    Difficulty: Extreme.


    Rank: D.


    (4100/5000)


    Walker aliases are only visible to those of C-rank or above.


    Anonymous 4989: Can anyone explain what''s going on?


    Anonymous 3753: Right, You have passed this round; be at ease!


    Anonymous 4989: I know. But I can''t still wrap my head around growing my stats all over again for the last three days.


    Anonymous 3753: Don''t be anxious, just like mine. All your Walker stats will grow stronger than a Hunter¡¯s.


    Anonymous 4989: Fuck! It''s great that I will go stronger, but all my stats and skills that I had worked so hard for?! Give me my stats back...


    Anonymous 3753: Pft, Hahaha! Dude, you think you''re the only one that happened to?


    Anonymous 4995: Hey, I''m not even a hunter. Why did I get sucked into this and have to live as a Walker for three days?


    Anonymous 4996: Lol. I''m over it now. Of course, I miss my family, but still, all I know is that if I survive this piece of sh*t, I will get to see them one day.


    Anonymous 4997: Damn, bruh, you are so positive. But still, slaying monsters is growing on me.


    Anonymous 4998: My first day in this fucking world will always be Memorial Day. However, I wonder if my wife has remarried or is still waiting and searching for me.


    Anonymous 4999: Bruh, it''s only been three days¡­ I agree! I was in my bathroom! I woke up in the tutorial and almost got killed by a million horned rabbits! I cried like hell, wiping sand off my sorry ass. But now I''m slaying monsters with vigor. Lmao!


    "¡­¡±


    Izel clicked his tongue, bracing for the familiar onslaught of messages resonating in his head. His memories rewound to the day he received the invitation to this world. Recollections flooded back of how he survived, cried, and dashed through, bleeding profusely from arrows and blades protruding from his body, resembling a porcupine fleeing a poison zombie plague, wielding a rusted chainsaw in a sizzling desert.


    This chaotic forum served as an actual communication network, encompassing a myriad of voices¡ªfrom cursing individuals to worried souls still concerned about their families. Izel labeled certain individuals ''Black leakers,'' who divulged information from high-ranking Walkers to others.


    From the very start, many, including ordinary non-awakened people, were thrust into the fortress without context. A staggering 80% didn''t survive the tutorial, succumbing to panic or denial. Some with the will to survive simply fell victim to unfortunate circumstances. Few were deemed worthy of the invitation, and among them, only 50% passed the tutorial, with a mere 30% attaining E-rank.


    In this cutthroat environment, everyone sought to progress, knowing deep down that nobody would extend a helping hand in this hellish scenario. Those who attempted to assist quickly realized how the world punished their efforts. "Wait a minute¡­" He paused in contemplation. Some high-ranking hunters claimed to have boosted their stats from the start upon invitation. However, that didn''t apply to Izel, whose stats were initially unstable after transitioning from a Hunter to a Walker. s?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    These individuals would undoubtedly possess more strength than most Walkers due to their prior experience as hunters. Amidst the forum''s chaos, lies intertwined with truth, as sinking others'' boats meant a higher chance of survival, even if only by a few fleeting minutes.


    ''Or perhaps some simply delighted in trolling others,'' the blind man somewhat disapproved. This world was more treacherous than the awakened world of hunters. Whatever transpired within the fortress remained eternally confined, while the raid persisted, unfazed by the turmoil.


    Anonymous 3825: Is it true that those who are in the Fortress of Dungeon can¡¯t get out once they¡¯re in?


    Anonymous 4994: That''s a fabricated lie. Otherwise, why would some be happy to be invited?


    Anonymous 4362: Right! They could get stronger and go back to the real world to fight.


    Anonymous 3567: But why hasn''t anyone returned? Even I thought it was a lie when I hadn''t heard of some returning.


    Anonymous 4783: Hmm, because only the higher-ranking Walkers could get the chance to go back. Big guilds would find them first and recruit them, shutting off any news of them getting out.


    Anonymous 2562: Ohhh!


    A deluge of information constantly flooded the forum, often leading to chaotic scenes. Izel, while intermittently dozing or honing his skills, remained attentive. He speculated that the reason he hadn''t heard about the Fortress of Dungeons until entering it was due to the deliberate limitation of public information by the renowned guilds.


    Understanding now why numerous Hunters possessed extraordinary power, it all seemed uncannily supernatural. The forum overflowed with miscellaneous data, some still beyond the blind man''s comprehension, while others, though unrelated, helped him maintain composure and mental fortitude, setting him apart from the rest.


    Just as he contemplated leaving the forum, a tremendous rupture jolted the air around him, causing a vibrating sensation in his mind. Before discomfort could settle, an announcement abruptly pierced his ears.


    The administrator is now online.


    Before long, another grand notification clogged his mind.


    Administrator XXX has joined the Forum.


    After this simple yet concise notification on the forum, the stream of chats froze in its narration, while other walkers'' forum interface windows froze.


    The chat is now locked.


    This is the reminder procedure done by the administrator for newcomers to the Fortress of Dungeons and to occasionally remind the most experienced folk of the rules and regulations.


    ADMIN XXX: This is an announcement for both newbies and experienced Walkers.


    The reminder information the administrator wanted to convey was usually simple.


    ADMIN XXX: I will acquaint you with how to utilize the ''Verdes'' you''ve gained from raiding the Fortress of Dungeons.


    As usual, there was no confirmation of the method used to return to Elilaum. Izel silently thought that this lack of confirmation affirmed that the high-ranking Walkers held that knowledge.


    Was he disappointed? Not at all. Such disappointment was a luxury reserved for those with high expectations. He never anticipated the high-ranking Walkers to share the return method since they rarely engaged in conversations within the lower-ranked forums. If the admin had any intention of disseminating the method, it would already be common knowledge. He briefly sighed, then fully concentrated on the luxurious voice.


    Unfazed by the oral content, Izel attentively listened to the following message, eager to discern its content.


    ADMIN XXXX: Verdes is the main currency of the Fortress of Dungeons and is mainly used in the trading center.


    ADMIN XXXX: Verdes can also be transferred and traded over the forum.


    ADMIN XXXX: Within the fortress, you will not be allowed a single piece of grain without the currency, and demerits are an ''equivalent exchange'' for survival.


    ADMIN XXXX: Verdes can only be earned in raids.


    ADMIN XXXX: All Fortress operating systems, such as the Broker, Trading Center, Inventory, and Forums will be deactivated before a raid and be activated after all ''Extreme'' difficulty raids have been completed, the same goes for the other difficulties.


    ADMIN XXXX: That is the end of the announcement.


    After the narration, a massive rupture exuded, and the air around him started to vibrate again.


    Administrator XXXX has left the forum.


    The administrator is now offline.


    The grand, toneless voice began to fade into thin air, and soon after, the massive rupture completely swallowed the voice. The air turned to normal.


    The chat is now unlocked.


    Izel sighed, calming his pounding heart and regulating his vigorous breath. The blind man murmured, still gasping for air. "What an overbearing entrance¡­" His mind wandered, questioning how the mere presence of the administrator could cause such a spatial impact.


    Of course, the blind man dared not comprehend such an entity. However, he knew well within his heart that it was an overwhelming lifeform, capable of regulating and overseeing the activities in the Fortress of Dungeons with ease.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 4 - Training and Forum...

    Once the chat was unlocked, all of the Walkers started chatting in the Forum at the same time. They were expressing their frustrations and anxiety.Anonymous 4477: That was it, after being silent for three days?! The admin doesn''t talk much. Rumbling about how we can use the ''Verdes''. Really? And how ''Demerits'' are part of the Fortress of Dungeons or whatever.


    Anonymous 4787: Hey, stupid. Shut the fuck up! Don''t let the unexpected grand entrance fool ya. The main solution is to find the admin¡­ beating him to a bloody pulp after raiding all the dungeons.


    Anonymous 3750: Dumbass! I felt as if my heartbeat was beating like the drums of liberation. Haha.


    Anonymous 3752: Ah, you¡¯ve got anger issues or something? Stop making a racket.


    Anonymous 3749: Just ignore the ''bastard...4787'' and report him to Beelzebub.


    Anonymous 4975: Excuse me? Admin? Can you please tell us a method used by High-Walkers to get back? We have been here for three freaking days already.


    Anonymous 4974: Does this mean we D-Walkers aren''t getting the method to return? I want to see my daughter already. Ugh!


    Chats steadily flooded through Izel''s head as he gathered his thoughts, feeling total dismay at the occasional update. It was obvious that raiding all the dungeons in a short time was impossible. Who knew how many dungeons existed? They''d probably be slaying monsters for many more days, or perhaps even months. Would it be smarter to refuse to raid the dungeons and stay in the waiting room?


    Probably not, he tilted his head, disapproving of that notion. Verdes could only be earned in dungeon raids, essential for survival unless he wanted to starve. The fairly brown-skinned teen could only go so far with the few Verdes he earned from past raids, unable to purchase weapons or skills.


    Sixty Verdes might seem like a lot, but that illusion shattered after a quick scan of the Trading Center. ''60 Verdes simply wasn''t enough,'' he thought to himself. Not even a single grain of rice could be obtained without Verdes. In any case, as always, he would have to continue accepting raids.


    Sucking his teeth, Izel clapped his palm resoundingly, then picked up the plain-black leather scabbard attached to a belt lying next to the bed. It was the weapon he acquired in the second tutorial.


    Unsheathing the sword, he was greeted by the notification of the weapon.


    **[**Iron longsword (ungraded)


    A brittle and one-handed iron longsword.


    Durability: 2.5/5


    Effect: Damage +10


    Demerit: The lower the durability, the more the blade becomes rusted and weakened.]


    The notification indicated a significant decrease in durability, worsening the status of the blind man''s trusty longsword after the last raid. He frowned as he delicately ran his fingers over the blade''s surface, realizing it was in a far worse condition than its appraisal suggested.


    Though the effect remained unchanged, he doubted if the sword could carry him through the next dungeon. He needed additional protection alongside his debilitated weapon. Izel''s capabilities surpassed those of an E-rank dungeon, but facing unknown monsters in the next one made him uncertain about his weapon''s ability to endure the strain.


    Reliance on equipment for self-defense against surprise attacks, difficult to evade with his reflexes, urged caution. Luck couldn''t always be relied upon. He had several reasons to consider upgrading his weapon.


    "... might''ve been better off with a steel sword," he mused. Izel had never explored any affinity for weapons beyond swords and standard techniques like slashing, thrusting, and parrying. It wasn''t laziness but a lack of consideration for its necessity that halted his exploration. However, now he pondered its importance.


    Light armor with quick mobility suited a beginner-friendly fighting style, easier to adapt to than heavier armor. Defensive light armor could improve survival chances. He aimed for something light, and fast, with an added gear skill to enhance movement, crucial for his vulnerable body.


    After an hour of contemplation, he made a decision: ¡®Trading Center.¡¯


    Experienced hunters minimized the damage by combining swords or spears with armor. The list detailed each weapon''s attributes, and Izel narrowed his choice based on specifications. Closer to a military vest and an eastern katana would suit him best. To master the equipment, he knew practice was crucial.


    A few minutes later¡­


    [You have purchased an Esoteric Steel Military Vest (E)]


    [Verdes Deducted: 25]


    [Verdes Remaining: 47]


    After a slight spatial rupture, the acquired equipment materialized into existence. Feeling the vest''s structure and black matte-leather texture, he immediately wore it underneath his dark cloak. It would help protect him from the force of oncoming hits and reduce the effectiveness of his enemies'' sound-based abilities.


    Although a little expensive, the configuration and thickness were just right, with high-quality steel and foam shock absorbers to engross and block E-rank attacks. Other Hunters might think vests are weak, but that wasn''t always the case. He chose to check the military vest''s details.


    [Esoteric Steel Military Vest (E)]


    **[**Description: This military armored vest was made and used by an evolved race of ''Kwanyan'' in 1423 AD. The exterior is made with five layers of high-quality black steel, and the interior is made of ultra-high-molecular-weight "polyethylene" shock aegis.


    Effect: Absorbs the impact of sustained attacks.


    Demerit: Attacks to D-rank strength or above can destroy the armor¡¯s layers. Also, an overwhelming difference in weight will engulf the Host when worn for the first time. Thus, this strange consequence would adapt to the Host over time.]


    Ever since the monster outbreak from Vulkan, their realm, into Elilaum a century ago, the development of equipment and weapons has skyrocketed. Super-light and sturdy military vests like this one are worth at least 10,000 Lupi in the general market.


    "Hmm. Probably more in the black market, though," Izel pondered doubtfully.


    His sense of money had dulled a little after spending three days in the fortress. The price might''ve been higher due to recent tariff increases and other settlements. It was a hefty price that an E-rank hunter would find ridiculous to spend on an item compared to a weapon.


    Moreover, acquiring such an amount of Lupi would have required an insurmountable amount of hunting E-rank monsters. Given his previous trash rank, it would have been significantly harder for the blind man to obtain in the real world. But now, it didn''t matter since he wouldn''t casually expose the armor to anyone.


    Taking a deep breath, he positioned himself in the vest; typically, his posture was decent. Training seemed worthwhile, given that his improved stats made handling the sword much easier. But currently, Izel was in his best condition.


    To hone his reflexes, he practiced fighting and moving in the vest while wielding his sword for two hours. Finishing the brief training, he paused and scanned the Trading Center again, where the system voice monotonously listed the items available.


    "Damn it, I never thought moving in this armor would be so light yet difficult," he thought in frustration, feeling an awkward lightness in his upper region compared to his lower region. If it weren''t for the room''s passive recovery, Izel''s body would have been exhausted, gasping for air, and possibly keeling over from tiredness after such training. The strange lightness in the upper section was due to the vest.


    "I guess the demerit was true to its words for the ''lightness'' being overwhelmingly strong," Izel sighed in dismay, unable to adapt quickly enough despite knowing it was just the demerit doing its job. Instead of giving up, a flame of resolution began to well within his heart.


    "Instead of waiting for ''it'' to adapt to my body, I will just adapt to its weightlessness," he decided, determined to master the vest''s strange ethereality and improve his reflexes in the process. Firmly, he gripped the sword hilt, showing that a blind man could possess as much determination as anyone else.


    Finally, he needed to purchase something, even if it was small and for emergencies. The Trading Center''s low-cost, and thus low-ranked item category, echoed in his mind. Plenty of varieties were listed¡­ s?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡®Stop! Purchase!¡¯ Inwardly, Izel contemplated specific items flashing through his mind.


    [Boost Potion (F-)]


    **[**Effect: Temporarily doubles stats for five minutes.


    Demerit: The host experiences extreme pain.]


    He also bought two daggers;


    [Feeble Dagger (F-)] X2


    **[**Description: An old, brittle dagger with dulled edges.


    Demerit: Single application. It will shatter after use.]


    He didn''t hesitate to purchase all the items he wanted for emergencies, and as always, each had a demerit. At least, in comparison to a demerit he saw a few months ago that needed his balls to function, they were decent enough. He couldn''t imagine who in the Fortress of Dungeons would create such a negative effect. Who knew? Perhaps it was some system bug or malfunction.


    ¡®Fortress: equivalent exchange, my ass,¡¯ Izel cursed, stressfully.


    [Verdes Remaining: 12.]


    As the balance of his Verdes echoed within his mind, he smacked his lips. Still having enough points to purchase some new food supplies and also about to consume the remainder of his old food supplies, his stomach suddenly growled.


    "...¡±


    "Alright, alright, meals are coming right up. Hehe," he carefreely stroked his belly and began to resupply his food reserves.


    [Otherworldly Wheat Bread (N/A)] X4


    **[**Description: A very soft wheat bread produced by the ''Korotan'' Empire in the 2nd century AD.


    Demerit: Addictive.]


    ¡­


    [Otherworldly Waterskin (E)] X4


    **[**Description: Somewhat tasty and sometimes salty. However, it''s rather drinkable but chilly water from the frost pool of an icicle sanctuary.


    Demerit: May cause dehydration if overdosed.]


    ¡­


    [Otherwordly Jerky (N/A)] X4


    **[**Description: Roasted and dried meat from a Brown White-snow Bear from the base of Mount Everest, in a world called ''Earth'' in the Milky Way galaxy.


    Demerit: Bitter flavor in taste and may contain artificial ingredients, in which overconsumption might lead to a loss in fat and carbs.]


    He assumed it would suffice to sustain him for a while. Munching on his old supplies¡ªtwo wheat breads, jerky, and waterskins¡ªthe blind man delved deeper into his thoughts. He contemplated how the ''Boost Portion'' could aid in prolonged fights by temporarily enhancing his stats.


    The five-minute buff seemed ideal for any formidable opponents he might encounter during the fortress''s next raid.


    He pondered the downside: ''Demerit: extreme pain.'' It was yet another aftermath of surpassing the Host''s physical limit. Izel shivered, considering the future agony he''d endure after boosting his stats. Once the demerit reverberated in his mind, he resolved to search for ''pain resistance'' or ''tolerance skill,'' but the cost was staggering¡ªa minimum of 150 Verdes.


    Internally, he swallowed hard before cursing. ''Damn you, Fortress of Dungeons, or whatever made this shit!¡¯


    After venting his frustrations, he calmed his mind, focusing on the next item he''d acquired.


    ¡®Feeble daggers for unexpected situations,¡¯ he thought. Thanks to [Flawlation], he could anticipate attacks that would otherwise be in his blind spot. If used cleverly, it might become his best method for redirection or launching surprise attacks.


    As he gripped the dagger''s blade with hands seemingly feminine in stature, he contemplated its potential¡­


    [Feeble Dagger (F-)]


    [Description: An old, brittle dagger with dulled edges.]


    At the presentation of the item''s status, those words echoed in his mind. ''Screw it; it''s been called ''feeble,'' but weak things still have their uses,'' he frustratedly declared, stowing it in his pocket-sized bag. It was enough ¡®battle¡¯ supplies for now.


    Izel sighed, placing chunks of bread and jerky into his mouth. He nibbled on a piece, realizing its confectionary and bitter taste, along with its mouth-wateringly soft yet dry texture. There was still plenty of time left before the next raid, so he had numerous hours to get used to his vest. Before continuing his training, the blind man silently sipped some tasty water to help him swallow the bread and jerky.


    ¡®Ah, that''s the ticket!¡¯ Relaxed, the mint-flavored water refreshed his body, soul, and stomach, relieving his hunger and stress. However, the sweetness and oddly inconsistent saltiness of the bread blended with the bitter-flavored jerky and water took some getting used to. Despite some time passing, he hadn''t grown accustomed to the discomfort of the vest''s lightness around his upper body.


    Yet, there was a noticeable difference in his light swings, thrusts, and reflexes, as well as abrupt changes in movement. If Izel couldn''t get used to them, it would almost certainly cost him in the upcoming battle. But both his body and mind were in pristine condition; even if he tired out from training, the waiting room would quickly recover him. Therefore, after training, the obvious choice was to rest before entering the anticipated dungeon.


    The D-rank dungeon raid begins in 17 hours and 32 minutes.


    During training, he re-enabled the Forum''s narration to monitor the other Walkers'' chats, suspecting potential intelligence leaks before the raid. After the admin''s abrupt departure, the situation momentarily calmed, and the Forum appeared more organized than before. However, that impression faded swiftly when the following chats flashed before his mind.


    Anonymous 4685: Screw this shit. I can''t use my spear or shield because my proficiency isn''t as high as during my hunting days.


    Anonymous 4756: Me too. I''m a necromancer, but with low proficiency, I can only summon two or three skeletons. Damn, I miss my legion.


    Anonymous 4243: I don''t care about any of that. I just hate how low my stats are right now, even after clearing the tutorial and the F-rank dungeon. I almost died in the E-rank dungeon raid.


    Anonymous 4539: Ah, I see... I just acquired the archery skill, but I have to build up its proficiency to survive the next raid.


    Anonymous 4396: At least you hunters know what to do. What are non-awakened people like me supposed to do? Can I even pass the upcoming D-rank raid with 40+ per stat? I''m nervous.


    Anonymous 3987: Try trusting in your survival instincts. You should also buy a new sword, a spear, a shield, or even a bow with some arrows. Just make sure to practice as much as possible.


    Anonymous 4787: Damned. I wouldn''t have to do this if I had my old stats and skills. It''s all thanks to that shitty admin.


    Anon 4787 has been reported to Beelzebub.


    ¡ú You have been warned.


    Anonymous 4787: Who the hell reported me? You fucker. I will fucking kill you.


    ¡ú Due to excessive profanity and a pre-existing warning, you will be banned for 24 hours.


    "¡­"


    Anonymous 3749: Finally, a breath of fresh air. That should serve as a warning to others.


    The chats remained relatively unchanged except for the sudden report and subsequent blocking of a particular Walker causing a stir. Anxiety, skepticism, and desperation saturated the Forum as every Walker nervously prepared for the imminent raid.


    However, none of this applied to Izel. Despite receiving the Hunter''s test, he barely scraped through. He considered himself worthless as an F-rank Hunter and even worse as a non-awakened individual. His blindness, he reckoned, somewhat assisted him. He sensed a change within himself in the Fortress of Dungeons, confronting death, despair, and agony daily. Perhaps, it was a blessing for a lifetime of suffering due to being born blind.


    With his sensory skills and the newfound [Soul Assimilation] ability enhancing his stats, he believed he could climb the ranks of the awakened society. Positive thinking became Izel''s only recourse during training for the next raid. The battlefield grew tougher with each raid, surpassing both the tutorials and the F-rank desert raid.


    The increased competition seemed rooted in Hunters on Elilaum re-establishing themselves and accelerating their skill acquisition, while others honed their abilities faster than ever. To catch up, he needed to push his training to its limits each time. His growth was directly tied to survival.


    Izel had to train two to three times harder and more efficiently than anyone else. This way, his journey to becoming the strongest would be more strenuous than the road to Eden. He pushed his body until it collapsed. Thankfully, the recent stat increase and auto-recovery in his room slightly altered his exhaustion rate during training. He was a different person from the one ready to give up just three days ago.


    Stats, skills, and weapons: Izel gained more within the fortress in days than he ever could outside, where he waited for death in his cozy yet mundane room with dulled senses. His will to live had almost faded. But if he continued to adapt, improvise, and overcome, he knew he''d surpass not only the High-Walkers but also the ''Ascenders'' in the outside world¡ªthose above both High-Hunter and High-Ranker.


    His time of powerlessness, humiliation, freeloading, and worthlessness due to being blind and abandoned was over. His parents saw him as a cursed child, but he would prove them wrong. From his F-rank fate on Elilaum, he conquered the tutorial, the F-rank dungeon, and even the E-rank raid. If he survived the next one and kept tackling every dungeon thrown at him, everything he dreamt of would be within his grasp. No, he would achieve much more.


    The Fortress of Dungeons wasn''t where he''d meet a futile end. The raids promised rewards and Verdes to further bolster his power. The higher the raided dungeon, the greater the gain. Then, the possibility of returning to Elilaum emerged. His primary aim was to clear the D-rank dungeon.


    The D-rank dungeon raid begins in 15 hours and 15 minutes.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 5 - D-rank Raid Begins...

    "...Fuck! This can''t be real!" The teen boy, suddenly finding himself in the middle of a massive desert, gasped for air as he ran desperately through the saturated reddish-yellow sand. His feet engraved abysmal footprints with every step taken.This mysterious, spacious location had no single breeze and was composed of an empty white sky, faintly rippling only as the teen boy could sense. Regardless of how enticing the location was, his heart beat violently, and his lungs contracted and inflated vigorously as his legs pushed themselves instinctively through the thick grain of sand.


    "KIIIEEEHHHK!!!¡±


    The eerie sound resonated everywhere as the earth rumbled violently. A horde of grotesque-looking zombies exploded out of the sand, left and right, almost equaling a colony of bees, unrealistically numerous. The decayed-like zombies parted through the sand and rushed toward him, flinging and firing their weapons, eager to pummel their prey into bits.


    ¡®Why? What have I done to deserve this?''


    The boy exclaimed in desperation, oozing cold sweat enough to fill an entire bucket, as multiple weapons flew through the air ferociously, parting the sand.


    "What the hell is going on? Why am I being chased?" This brown-skinned blind teenager hurriedly spun around and continued to staggeringly race as five roasted poison arrows pierced his rear and the back of his arms, almost stinging him to death. "Arghhhhh!!!" He gnashed his teeth tightly in agony, yet there was no time to deliberate on pain.


    "I can''t die in a place like this. Never." He refused to give up as blood and roasted poison slowly morphed his white t-shirt into purplish crimson; if he wanted to live that badly, then he had to run. That was the only thought racing in his head, filtering out all the excruciating pain from his receptions and focusing the only skill he was born with, [Sound Reading], on any eerie zombies leading an ambush underneath the sand or impending aerial weapon attack enough to instantly end his life.


    However, even before he had taken several more steps, another pillar of beige sand exploded upwards, not far from his position.


    "Euh-hkkkk?!" The boy fell on his rear from the powerful shockwave as thick crimson blood seeped from his back and arms, slowly dripping from the sleeves, dying the sand red. He rolled on the sandy ground before urgently getting back up amid the despair, agony, and terror. He was terrified of death; the pitch-darkness in his vision was comforting compared to this.


    "I can''t die, No¡­ No way!" He hurriedly swiped the sand off his despaired face. Momentarily, a rusted, dull sword from a certain zombie almost split his head open with an enormous arc-curve swing. The blind man couldn''t wait and wondered why a very fragile zombie could swing like that. As his [sound reading] caught that, He tossed his body and slightly rolled away from it. The sand erupted from that impact as the sword coated with poison melted the sand instantly.


    At the same time, multiple sand eruptions went off as the sand exploded. Before he had even noticed the multiple waves that stung his ears, more hordes of zombies, three times the previous value, were jutting out from the sand with more rare hideous weapons like rusted chainsaws, encased with steaming, corrosive poison. All of them were glaring at him like premium meats, drooling with saliva and gores.


    "KIIIEECHHK!!¡±


    "KIIEEEK!!¡±


    Whaaaaaaaaangggg!!!!!


    Whaaaaaaaaangggg!!!!!


    As the zombies issued shrill cries, along with all the engine harsh start-ups, sounds resonated loudly with each other. The teenager''s complexion changed for the worse. It got a lot worse as more weapons flew toward him¡ªarrows, axes, swords, and spears¡ªin all directions as they chased after him. In addition, the ones wielding chainsaws were unexpectedly fast, rapidly closing up on him like a butcher.


    WHAAAAAAAANGGGG!!!!!


    SWOOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    KIIIEECHHK!!


    "God damn it. Why?" Tears rolled from his eyes, racing as if the world had forsaken him, as his parents did.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    From the horrendous nightmare, Izel jolted awake suddenly, his head pounding as if he had a hangover. He had fallen asleep after training under extreme stress. Calming his sudden, racing heartbeat, he gasped for air. "Haven''t I moved on from that nightmare from the first tutorial?¡±


    His face twisted with bitterness and stress as he held his forehead. It might seem like a weak statement to convey, but that first tutorial exposed him to the most extreme danger when he received the invitation and selected ''extreme'' difficulty. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    He might have grown accustomed to the fortress''s schedule, but deep down, his calm soul hadn''t recovered from that horrifying incident.


    "Ha! This time it was just a nightmare¡­!" Frustration quivered on his lips, and he was sweating profusely. Despite his strangely unwavering mental fortitude, he wasn''t immune to trauma, seizures, and cramps. He wished he could leave the fortress right away and hurried to his rehabilitation center.


    "Jane Austen," he soberly murmured that particular name. He needed therapy from this person before his accumulated trauma burst through its bottleneck. The last time he had such therapy with this individual was in the entertainment section of the first district¡­


    The D-rank dungeon raid begins in 2 hours and 15 minutes.


    Just before he could mop in this nightmare and drown in his desire, the raid countdown beeped in his mind. After this realization, he decided to listen to the forum while lying down, aiming to clear his mind.


    Anonymous 4189: Morning Walkers! I just woke up from a long sleep. I love the bed I bought to calm my anxiety. It¡¯s so soft and comfy!


    Anonymous 4526: Oh! This morning, my body ached from sleeping on my old, so-called ¡®comfy¡¯ bed.


    Anonymous 5000: Weird though¡­ Bruh, just buy a comfier bed from the Trading Center already.


    Anonymous 4526: Yikes, I''d rather get a nice bowl of rice and fish with that amount of Verdes.


    Anonymous 3999: Quit it; you''re making me hungry.


    Anonymous 4526: Legit. We don''t have any other desires¡­ Why are we still hungry? We don¡¯t even piss or shit anymore.


    Anonymous 4888: Y''all are talking about food this time, huh? Just go buy some jerky and a few rare wheat breads from the Trading Center. That''s the cheapest thing you can get.


    Anonymous 4755: Hehe. Good guidance¡­ Haha!


    ¡­


    Anonymous 4776: Guys, I can''t buy any first-aid because I don''t have any Verdes left. Why are magic items so expensive and stuffed with so many disastrous demerits?


    Anonymous 3999: Haha¡­! Magic isn''t always immediately available in many worlds. Of course, it''s expensive, but the Fortress of Dungeons takes it to another level with its demerits. At least it¡¯s always accessible if you can afford it.


    Anonymous 4999: Is it just me who received a bonus reward? I earned quite a bit of Verdes from it.


    Anonymous 4189: I received one, although mine were new skills rather than Verdes.


    Anonymous 4489: What? I didn''t get anything like that. Did it give you a bonus skill slot? I thought you could only have one skill at a time.


    Anonymous 3989: You must not be ''awakened'' if you don¡¯t know this. Hunters don¡¯t have a maximum number of skills, so only having two skills as a Walker is child''s play.


    Anonymous 4489: Noted¡­


    ¡­


    The D-rank dungeon raid begins in 12 minutes and 2 seconds.


    The messages in the Forum slowed down when the countdown approached ten minutes.


    Anonymous 4887: The last raid was difficult as fuck¡­ How extreme will the D-rank dungeon be?


    Anonymous 4787: Screw this, I don''t want to fight¡­ I just want to sleep. No, actually, I just want to go home to my family.


    Anonymous 3749: It seems you have been released from your banishment, huh? Then stop pissing your pants and get ready to fight!


    Anonymous 4787: Fuck, I don''t want to go. Why did I select the highest difficulty? Can I change it? Shit, please don''t report me; I felt lonely the last time.


    Anonymous 3987: Hehe. This bastard became humble after getting banned once. Would you take the bone out of the dog''s mouth?


    Anonymous 4787: Indeed, I have! Also, you are right! I can''t take the bone; I will just get bitten instead. In that case, I will fight to live.


    ¡­


    The D-rank dungeon raid begins in 10 minutes and 30 seconds.


    The Forum appeared grim as the timer counted down, and Izel was no exception as he performed his morning routine, warming up.


    "Will I survive?" he wondered nervously, spitting out a long groan as doubts hazed his mind. Alongside the accumulated traumas swaying within him, his hand shook, his limbs trembled, and his heart beat faster, all while his hair stood on end. If he didn''t fight, the only thing left for him would be a pathetic death. That was why every Walker present in the Fortress of Dungeons was prepared to fight¡ªto survive another day.


    Having finished his morning ritual, he dressed in his vest and dark cloak and gulped down some water while the room''s rejuvenating light slowly swept over his body.


    The D-rank dungeon raid begins in 9 seconds.


    As usual, Izel tied his blindfold, securing his long, silver-white hair in a ponytail with tiny bangs. The length had become bothersome, prompting him to place his pocket-sized bag around his waist for easy access to additional water skins and bread. A fleeting thought crossed his mind about how much time had elapsed in the real world. Finally, he activated [Flawlation].


    [Flawlation had been activated.]


    Break over!


    The D-rank dungeon raid is now starting.


    Do you wish to enter the D-rank dungeon?


    Yes/No


    He selected ''yes'' without hesitation, and, sequentially, the same crimson portal as yesterday formed.


    Entering the dungeon.


    Starting the D-rank raid.


    Difficulty: Extreme.


    Objective: Subjugate the boss monster, ¡°Avalanche¡±.


    Raid Reward: Stats boost, [Long Collar Cardigan Cloak (D)], and [Aurora shortsword(D+)].


    Raid Failure: Death


    "Subway?" Izel exclaimed in surprise.


    Vibrant surges of vibrations coursed through the jungle-like subway station''s interior. Thick, twisted vines sprawled overhead, piercing through the cracked walls of the long-abandoned station. As the black outline of overhanging vines appeared in Izel''s [Flawlation], rancid odors assaulted his nose. Above all, the distant screeches of what seemed like wild beast species tickled his ears as the portal closed.


    Remaining time: 15 hours.


    "Subjugation¡­!" He reluctantly acknowledged. This raid had a time limit, expected from its rank but also surprising.


    The Dungeon theme was subjugation or domination by brute force. ¡®Do I have to subjugate a boss monster?¡¯ Izel wondered. He had never faced such an objective before; this heretical goal was a first from the fortress.


    What kind of Walker dominates a boss monster? A Hunter? No, in this case, Walkers were beings that fought their way through any monster, ripping them to shreds¡ªno planning for subjugation when life was at stake. It was a letdown for Izel, but¡­


    "I''ve been in a case like this before," he thought, recalling a certain past. Truthfully, this objective occurred once in the F-rank dungeon, but it didn''t seem common. Yet, it didn''t bother him much; failing the original objective might halve his rewards, yet it didn''t change what he had to do.


    "I have to try to overcome it my way, with my life on the line," he decided. That was how the Fortress of the Dungeons worked¡ªprioritizing life through decisions and struggles and awarding rewards based on them. Determined, Izel nervously swallowed his saliva and descended the steps.


    He held his breath, surveying his surroundings with all three senses, yet found nothing. But it was forbidden to underestimate dungeon dangers¡ªespecially in the fortress. Among low-ranked monsters, many excelled at hiding and waiting to ambush prey. Izel walked past the bathroom, strode deeper, and encountered underground shopping malls.


    Futuristic shops were worn down and in complete disarray. Glimpsing the ruined, human-less shops dimly lit by flickering lamps, an ominous aura weighed on him. Flickering lamps were surrounded by midges and gnats, warring an ugly battle over grubs. Carefully, Izel stepped over overgrown weeds jutting between cracked floor tiles, moving forward.


    Alert, his senses pegged up on a general aura of unease as he scanned his surroundings. Everything seemed quiet and still, not satisfying his [Flawlation]. Yet, he smelled something¡ªthe scent of a rotten beast carcass, presumably buzzing with flies, emanated from an unknown place.


    The blind man, with a keen nose, recognized the familiar smell of a decayed carcass. Despite realizing it, he hadn''t found its whereabouts; the beast could conceal its bodily sound. He scrutinized for even the tiniest sound, akin to a predator stalking its prey.


    Time remaining: 14 hours and 20 minutes.


    "I can''t waste much time. Let''s make haste," Izel sighed at the time limit that beeped in his mind. He summoned the map.


    [Opening the Dungeon Map.]


    [Relaying the locations of beasts and ''Avalanche'' to the Walker.]


    Upon deciphering the message, a sequence of locations flooded his mind. Initially, he contemplated the presumed difficulty of the D-rank dungeon''s ''Extreme'' level until stumbling upon a conversation in the Forum initiated by a High-rank Walker. It seemed that his habit of constantly monitoring the Forum had finally paid off. With the locations firmly fixed in his mind, he pinpointed the most crucial spot among them.


    An obscure location nestled in the heart of the subway was revealed, guarded by formidable beasts, where a door led into a lengthy cavernous passageway. Then... a sizable blank filled Izel''s mind, leaving him with a myriad of unanswered questions despite replaying the narration. Undeterred, he resumed the voice, A lengthy series of steps appeared to lead to what could only be the entrance to the sub-train basement, housing what seemed to be a colossal subterranean serpent named ''Avalanche¡ªSnake Lord.'' Without a map, uncovering such information would undoubtedly take more than the allotted six hours, potentially exceeding the time limit.


    Furthermore, aimlessly scouring the subway without a sense of direction would prove perilous and time-consuming, eliminating the option of exploring the decaying underground space. With the ticking countdown of the time limit weighing on him¡­


    "I need to hurry up," he decided, summoning his weapon from its scabbard.


    [Iron longsword (ungraded)


    A brittle and one-handed iron longsword.


    Durability: 2.5/5


    Effect: Damage +10


    Demerit: The lower the durability, the more the blade becomes rusted and weakened.]


    Slowly, he moved with the longsword in his hands, making his way halfway to the first marked location. Then, he laid low and began to crawl on hands and knees toward the path, deliberately exposing his back. "This should do it, right?" he murmured, recalling an idea from a hunter''s guild''s raid analysis he had watched on his bunky television. The concept was that an animal would pounce on its prey as soon as its back was shown. He reasoned that a monster would behave no differently. Since he couldn''t identify its location from sound, this was his best bet for now.


    He needed caution to react and avoid injury. As he waited for the creature hiding in the shadows to strike, he knew it would remain hidden. Almost a minute into his crawl, the creature pounced.


    The food pub behind him shattered into pieces, and a menacing black silhouette of a four-legged beast jumped out, instantly landing on the ground and leaping toward Izel''s exposed back in one swift motion.


    "RAAAAR!!!"


    "A four-legged beast?!" His body froze in shock as the sound of the E-rank beast''s roar reached his ears. The shockwaves combined with a weak amount of white mana contained by the silhouette of the black wolf were enough for him to retaliate.


    Almost immediately, he turned into a crouched stance, twisting his body and swinging his sword toward the contour. It was a precisely executed, instinctive counter. The sharp edge of the blade sliced through the creature''s open maw, eliciting a pained cry as it skidded away from Izel and crashed on the ground, whining in a heap.


    Slightly larger than a regular wolf, the creature had a black coat of fur and sharp fangs. Struggling on the ground, black ripples and a red hue flowed from its damaged neck.


    Careful of any final bout, he quickly approached the wolf, hacking at its neck with his sword before it could sufficiently recover. While he wasn''t too worried about its bite, which he had already disarmed, the beast''s sharp claws posed a considerable danger. The wolf spat out a gurgling whine and promptly stopped breathing.


    [You have slain a Requiem Wolf.]


    "Good," he let out a breath of relief, the dead wolf gleaming in a black ambient glow. With slight hesitation - he still hadn''t gotten used to the surreal phenomenon - he extended his hand toward the carcass... Until he recalled that waving his hand didn''t do anything.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    **[**Would you like to devour the Requiem Wolf?


    Yes/No**]**


    "Yes," he uttered.


    [Effect (1): Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [Capacitance: 1/10.]


    After the usual stream of messages, the dead wolf transformed into a hazy black essence, siphoned into his hand. Feeling the awkward sensation, Izel moved further ahead. The first marked location opened up through the edge of the narrow, distorted entrance entwined with green moss.


    "¡­?¡±


    ''Wolf guards?!'' Stunned, Izel inquired as two hefty, much larger requiem wolves guarded a roughly ancient yet futuristic entrance that could only fit one grown adult at a time.


    ¡°GRRRRRRR!!!¡±


    ¡°KRRRRRRR!!!¡±


    The roar he sensed earlier was probably from a soldier, while this roar was from a guard. Donned in leather armor and equipped with steel jaws, they looked tough. Although he wanted to keep observing them, he decided to retreat and strategize, finishing any meaningful examination of the guards.


    With a keener sense of smell than him, the wolves might discover him, even if he snuck past them¡­


    "Firstly, I need to go into the opposite passageway to slay the ones that are patrolling to increase my stats," he murmured his plan, according to the map. However, if discovered, he would be forced to fight. Fighting the intimidating guards would not only decrease his chance of subjugating the Snake Lord due to the injuries and exhaustion he would sustain but also force him to face both the guards and the hunter wolves.


    "Which is something I can''t afford, even if I kill the patrols!" He deeply sighed. Slowly, he distanced himself from the entrance back to the passageway of the taverns he came through and inspected the nearby areas. Now that he had found the guards, which were completely different compared to the soldier wolf he fought earlier, he needed a place to observe them out of their detection range; perhaps they could have natural management and routines in their forces that he could take advantage of.


    That was his initial thought anyway. An area out of their detection range¡ªa place with high humidity. Yet, after a while of searching and pondering, maybe there could be shortcuts or hidden passages. Alas, Izel didn''t find either place.


    "Tsk," he clicked his tongue in frustration. ¡®I just needed to do the ''no way out'' plan.¡¯ A plan he never wanted to follow. No, rather, he never thought he would be using such a risky plan, but he had to do it. After all, time is ticking fast.


    Time remaining: 12 hours and 5 minutes.


    "I have to do it!" He decided. Even if his chances are low, he has no choice but to do it, or he will be dead if he fails the raid.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 6 - D-Rank Raid II

    After contemplating his strategy and the dwindling raid time that unsettled his mind, he tightened his fists and adhered to the ''No way out'' plan.[Mossy Mud (F)]


    [Artificially created mud that had existed in old, ruined buildings for thousands of years. It can be used by rubbing it on your body.


    Duration: 5 hours.


    Effect: Prevents emitting sound or magic. The host cannot be discovered by sound, scent, or other sensory D-rank abilities. Also, it had a high combustion rate; if kindled, it burned fiercely.


    Demerit: The host perceives a terrible stench.]


    He anticipated the usefulness of this purchase before agreeing to the raid. The decision stemmed from news about a renowned hunter surviving a dungeon using [Mossy Mud] to evade orc detection. And since Izel never knew when it might come in handy, he searched for it and purchased such an item for only ten Verdes.


    "No one can be too careful." He thought aloud. Sealing off the blister packs of mossy mud, he covered himself in it. Izel''s lips trembled and his face distorted. The scent reminded him of a rotting egg, which he despised; rather, he hated the raw scent of an egg. Plus, mixed with decayed flesh, he tried his best to ignore it. Anyways. He didn''t know about other monsters, but this would be more than enough to get past the wolves.


    Even wolves with heightened detection senses couldn''t sense him when covered in this mud, even within their sensory range. ''Since this is settled'', His mind pondered his plans: ''If I killed all the patrons and gained extra stats, and eventually got past the entrance without being detected¡­'' Izel placed his hand on the top of his upper lip. The problem was that any blood that splattered, or even if the whimper of a wolf howl within its range of the wolf guards was heard, they would swarm back in to apprehend the intruder.


    "If so, all my plans, including the ''No way out'' plan, will be for nothing." The blind man sighed at the predicted outcome of his ongoing plan. Normally, if wolf guards were sighted in a dungeon, that would mean there would be wolf soldiers. Guards, soldiers (patrols), and boss monsters had clear and distinct roles. Wolves that knew how to coordinate needed to be intelligent, similar to the other one who tried to sneak attack him.


    "More so, according to the situation faced, their intelligence could spike up and be more alert." Izel knew that while a D-rank dungeon was within the scope of an E-rank hunter, it couldn''t be easily raided. Above all, he might not be able to clear it even if he risked his life. That, as long as the Wolf guards were stationed, he would never be able to overpower them.


    "I will need twenty E-rank hunters like me to hunt this level." He assumed. In other words, one needed a D-rank party to slay all such units of Wolves, so there was no way he could do that alone. Objectively, his stats were still physically weak; he might have gained a few skills on the last raid and would have gained extra stats if he slayed the patrols. However, any confrontation above E-rank before the Snake Lord would be futile.


    Even the one active skill that could help him wouldn''t activate unless he killed something. Then, how will he slay the rest of the wolves inside the ''entrance'' and subjugate the snake lord, Avalanche, without the Guards'' realization?


    "¡­!"


    Momentarily, a crazy and insane idea popped into his head as he sneered. The only way was to utilize ''disruption and distraction'' procedures.


    "But in this case, it would be used against a group of monsters." He murmured as the details flashed in his mind. Causing chaos within their ranks, slaying the majority of the wolves inside the entrance to gain leverage...


    "And bam, slay the snake." Izel''s lips formed a satisfying smile at that wonderful thought-out plan; however, he shook his head; he mustn''t think the plan would proceed so easily. No matter how great the plan is, in the fortress of dungeons, a single mishap could crumble it all, instantly ending his life.


    Plus, considering the ridiculously short time limit, if an uncalculated variable appears, he might not have enough time to recover. Once again, he memorized the plan''s calculated facts, which he mustn''t do at all costs.


    Overpowering wolves above E-rank wasn''t an option, and the goal of subjugation would be near impossible with wolf guards on duty. The mossy mud wouldn''t change that fact. So the utilization of haste movements and precise slaying are needed.


    ¡®Let''s make haste.¡¯ He silently resolved as he commenced his plan in an abandoned grocery store located far to the east of the ruined futuristic subway.


    Time remaining: 11 hours and 12 minutes.


    Gathering dry vines, he coated their edges with mossy mud for improved combustion and ignited them by condensing mana into his index fingertip like a gas igniter. The blind man lit a few torches similarly, nervously perceiving the dancing, partially magical blue flames. He then stored them according to his inventory.


    [Affirmative]


    [Objects in a combustion state detected.]


    The forum had all kinds of fabricated and sincere information about the fortress, its systems, and walkers'' systems always flowing in and out. And "How the Fortress'' inventory worked" is one of them. Though it''s deactivated when a raid commences, Izel realized it was still possible to store pre-combustion objects there, seemingly like a bug in the system so no familiar rupture was heard by the blind man only the feminine voice declaring, the object''s current tendencies are detected.


    [Object combustion had been halted.]


    Izel doesn''t know how such a bugged phenomenon exists or for what purpose. Regardless, it''s useful to him now, and he is happy to utilize it. In short, the torches stay lit and frozen while inside the inventory.


    ¡®Hehe, that''s what I called convenient. He proudly assumed, If only I could have this on Elilaum.¡¯ He began to wonder about the suitability of the inventory in the outside world. He could sign up for an ''escort guild'' and grind as a transporter for important items without having to pay for transporter fees, carrier trunks, flying ships bills, and profit-draining additional taxes.


    The thought of entering the smuggling and porter business briefly flashed through his mind¡ªthe awakened world of monsters'' carcasses, fragments, and weapons transportation would receive a leap in revolution, and the etheric world of opportunity would skyrocket.


    "Now, let''s concentrate on the matter at hand." He settled on focusing on the current situation for now; he held his breath in anticipation and began moving. Firstly, stealthily slaying all the patrols with pinpoint accuracy and precision.


    Slashing off their necks is sufficient. Blood littered the surroundings crimson.


    [You have slain the Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have slain the Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have slain the Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have slain the Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have slain¡­]


    [....]


    Since all six Soldier Wolves shattered about three meters in diameter from the main ''entrance'' were mostly E-rank, they wouldn''t expect such (due to mossy mud) sneak-chained attacks. "Ah, that was pretty dodgy." Izel gasped for air as he shook off the blood dripping from his longsword.


    Soon after, he carried all the carcasses to a different location to devour the bodies, leaving one carcass for his next plan.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    [Effect(1):Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [Capacitance: 5/10.]


    Without hesitation, he activated the next effect of [Soul Assimilation] for extra stats.


    [Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation has been activated.]


    [Augmentation has been acknowledged. Permanently augmenting stats using the essence reserves...]


    [Strength augmented by 2.]


    [Mana augmented by 4.]


    [Stamina augmented by 3.]


    [Agility augmented by 4.]


    [Capacitance: 0/10.]


    Alerts reverberated in his mind as he increased his stats with the wolves¡¯ transmuted souls (essences). If he continued farming stat points, he would have a much better chance against the Avalanche.


    "Now then, let''s proceed to the next stage of the plan, ''disruption and distraction''." He murmured. Shortly, he began to bisect the last corpse into tiny pieces and tie them together to the plucked, dry, thick vines. He consequently found some silky, thin vines lying about, and the outer layers were covered with mossy mud.


    Without delay, he began to spray the finished product of the bisected carcass over the entire area from the range of the Guards'' detection, sprinkling the final pieces of corpses to the far end he could explore. About to take out the torches, a strange, unexpected notification popped from his inventory.


    [Invaild! Hidden Bug of the fortress'' Inventory had been found and fixed by the administrator.]


    "What a bummer!" Izel clicked his tongue in disappointment. He sighed, as this was one of the unexpected mishaps that could happen in the fortress, condensing mana onto his fingertips as a gas igniter. He began igniting them manually and sequentially, he strolled back. As the mossy mud boasts of its high combustion rate, everything was quickly set ablaze since the subway dungeon had generally transformed into a somewhat old forest.


    "Let''s wait till the scent tickles their nostrils with the smoke." He thought aloud as he hurried back to the initial location where he had once discovered the Wolf Guards.


    Time remaining: 8 hours and 46 minutes.


    In truth, the preparation and utilization of all the plans he could think of took too much time, due to the quick fix of a hidden bug in the inventory took more time than that, but if this worked, then...


    It''s all worth it. He thought as he attentively watched the Guards. Exactly three minutes passed, which was a bit more than he intended.


    GRRRRRR!


    KRRRRRR!


    Utilizing his [Flawlation], two Guards exchanged glances, instinctively sniffing at the faintly blackened misty air tendrils approaching them¡ªa scent reminiscent of their kin, tingling their nostrils.


    After intelligently nodding to the confirmation of their kin, they hurriedly leaped toward the mist to investigate the reason why they could smell the scent of their kin.


    "Yes! The plan worked." He chuckled silently. See that, admin, it works out, sucker. He inwardly mused. Those crazy methods of planning did pay off. However, he had no time to pat himself on the shoulder; he had to proceed without delay. All he had to do now was farm more stats before he got to the Snake Lord. He lay low on the ground and crawled through the mossy entrance.


    Honestly, Izel wanted to mull over a plan to lure the Guards to an advantageous spot and deal with them. But ultimately, due to limited ticking time, it would have been a drag. He might even die battling the Wolf Guards. Plus, the effect of the mossy mud would soon run out.


    ¡®There is no need to hesitate.¡¯ He declared. Although it was strange that the objective was subjugation, the raid made it very difficult to do so. Now inside the entrance. The dismantled interior is rather dimly lit, with flickers of archaic faulty overhead bulbs and the rotting scent of decayed carcasses shattered about stinging his nose. The ground was rather wet from occasional drops and the stagnant flow of water from a broken water system somewhere, as the sound frequencies jammed his [Sound Reading].


    Together, the experience inside the mossy place was far too nasty.


    ¡®Yikes, this stinks.¡¯ Izel pinched his nose and spit out saliva as he attentively crawled deeper. If Izel could go directly to the Snake Lord, it would be a rather efficient course, but if he could slay at least ten Wolf Soldiers, he could change the tides of the battle with the boss monster. Since the ''kin scent'' was ultimately spread out far, the Guards wouldn''t be coming anytime soon.


    "Mostly five hours if they searched deeper." The blind man hypothesized. He hadn''t sensed any wolves, just like the first time he entered the subway. Overwhelming silence harboring the feeling of bloodlust and the absence of sound waves, ripples, scents, and mana. The death that lingered in the air tensed his neck. If they could sense the intruder, they''re ready to pummel on whoever it is.


    It seems all the wolves were cautious and had a notion they had become prey. Though they couldn''t sense who entered their base, instead of rushing in stupidly to inspect, they tended to watch who that predator was and how to lower its guard and increase the chance of hunting it down.


    With his fist tightly clenching his hilt, he continued as the Wolf Guard cries predominantly shriek, slowly drowning out in the distance, causing goosebumps to rise on his body as they reached his [Sound Reading].


    "There isn''t any time to waste." He murmured that no more mishap could transpire. With a low profile. He crawled into a cavern-like interior, covered in more dense mossy mud, through the huge, distorted, barely lit passage, with hidden hideouts everywhere, akin to the construction of a honeycomb.


    "So, this was the secret unregistered areas (blanks) on the map." Aghast, he murmured under his voice at how the outline of the interior looked like a maze-like large den with bunches of hideouts. ¡®But why was such a place blank though?¡¯ He wondered hopelessly.


    Finally, in the so-called den, amidst multiple overwhelming wolf soldiers, Izel was sure he could fight them all to increase his stats. Yet he couldn''t ever be too careful; after all, a single mistake might end up costing him his life.


    Through [Flawlation] and deep concentration, he could perceive the black outline and very faint sound waves of the scattered, insurmountable amount of Wolf Soldiers in their hideouts, along with the sound frequencies jamming his [Sound Reading]. Izel kept his breath steady while crawling, carefully avoiding any detection of the wolves.


    ¡®Let''s conclude the final stage before meeting the Snake Lord.¡¯ He considered, as he slowly changed its route to a ticket auction little depot, a bit bigger than a pub for his preparation. Which was disorientated and disarrayed with broken glass cracks on walls some were smashed while insurmountable vines crawled about and moss filled both the ceiling and walls, a few dim lights here and there, but not too brightened. It was a well-suited place for his plan.


    Once inside. Occasionally, he would observe wolves in their cave-like hideouts; their movements and actions due to his [Sound Reading] bodily response effect. Regardless, the Wolves weren''t strong past E-rank monsters. Just like the patrols Izel killed. At least that was his evaluation.


    They were watchful and observant; they knew what the guards'' howls were about. Their empathetic link was another characteristic of the [Wolf] species. Unfortunately, they never knew there was a flaw in their detection.


    Time remaining: 7 hours and 32 minutes.


    Soon, as if tired of observation and the increase in their wariness skyrocketed, two or so Wolf soldiers were dispatched to scan the surroundings for any intruders, as the Guards had instructed from the earlier howl.


    KRRR! KYRAH!


    The low roar of wolf soldiers communicated among themselves, tilting their heads as they searched everywhere chaotically.


    KWRR! KGRAH!


    Pale-faced at howl in the distance, Izel knew he needed to be silent and unnoticed to execute the final stage of his plan. He called the last blister packs of old mossy muds, sealed off four blister packs, and sprayed them about the little depot.


    "These should be perfect for spreading thick, milky smoke from a fire." The blind man murmured, lighting it with mana from his fingertips. After ten minutes, the fire spread wildly as the moss and dry vines burst into life of their own. However, Izel needed the smoke, not the fire, to obstruct their view of how the last few minutes of the mossy mud he encased around his body would run out.


    Soon enough, the dense, gray, and hazy smoke gradually clogged the atmosphere as Izel tied a blindfold from his pocket-sized bag to his nose and mouth to prevent difficulties in breathing amidst the smoke. Such delicate preparation is needed to hunt intelligent monsters.


    Since all of the prey were hesitant to come out of their cave-like hideouts, he deemed that this smoke would also disrupt sound waves, so he could take his sweet time and hunt them without any interference from unexpected variables like the guards.


    Amidst those, instead of hiding out in a stall and waiting for them to leave their hideout, he began to hunt the patrol one by one like a predator.


    Stealthy splashed off each of their guts, perfectly arched swinging his longsword coated in mana at every hidden patrol in all directions. He mustn''t be hesitant to reveal his skills. Blood splashed like fountains, littering everywhere in crimson. And without delay, the skill ''Soul Assimilation'' activated, in which he retracted himself from devouring the last corpse.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    The usual messages stung his mind as the next concise alerts rang through.


    [Effect(1): Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of Requiem Wolf.]


    [Capacitance: 4/10.]


    Without hesitation, he activated the next effect of [Soul Assimilation] for extra stats. A few more transmuted souls (essence) crammed his mental storage and soon vanished simultaneously.


    [Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation has been activated.]


    [Augmentation has been acknowledged. Permanently augmenting stats using the essence reserves¡­]


    [Strength augmented by 1.]


    [Mana augmented by 3.]


    [Constitution augmented by 3.]


    [Stamina augmented by 1.]


    [Agility augmented by 4.]


    [Capacitance: 0/10.]


    With every increase in stats, he could feel himself getting stronger; his movement became faster, and his mana increased as well. His constitution which meant the state of his body that could handle all the increase in stats augmented by [3], in which he felt more flexible and light. Moreover, the gap between the Snake Lord and him should only get shorter. Well, at least that was what he thought anyway.


    After that, the blind man tossed the corpse into the fire to accelerate the process. Soon, the beasts would investigate the scent of chaos in the air. The smoke should be enough to corral them. Above all, the smoke and their kin scent spread at a rapid pace.


    Moments later¡­


    As anticipated from the Guards'' reaction, the scent dispersed among the remaining Soldiers'' Wolves.


    "KYRGH?"


    "GRRRRR!"


    The air was filled with loud whimpers as the creatures leaped out from their hideouts, charging towards the mist of smoke. Possessing a keen sense of smell, they could detect their kin''s scent within it. The blind man, unaware of his actions'' consequences, had effectively lured them out. While it might appear as a mere method to draw them out, it held a deeper significance for the creatures. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The scent of their kin held a horrifying meaning for the wolves - a sign that their kin were in trouble or had died. It raised many questions among them: Who killed their kin? Were there intruders? How many were involved? And where did it happen?


    They moved amidst the smoke in confusion.


    "KYGH!?"


    "GRRRR!"


    More horrified cries as each of them was taken aback as they moved in search of the direction of the smoke, hoping the dense mist would disrupt their detection and vision to fade.


    [The 5-hour limit of the mossy mud has been met.]


    As soon as the notification reached his mind, the mossy mud on his body vanished. By that time, this blind man was already standing firm in front of the black outline of wolves amid the misty smoke on a white interior background.


    "There wouldn''t be a better opportunity than this." He murmured. Despite his words, his heart was burdened with fear, and he was wary in case the Wolf Guards happened to return early; he knew it would be all over. Nonetheless, there was no need to ponder about it anymore. He just had to move according to the plan. On guard, he crept through thick smoke, racing as rapidly yet quietly as he could toward the nearest foe.


    "G-Grrrr¡­?!" Sensing danger, the Wolf panicked and spun around. Izel shoved the sword into its stomach. There was no way it could have reacted to this; without even so much as a whimper, the Wolf stumbled backward.


    "¡­?"


    "What?!" Murmured. The blind man was taken aback; its stomach stopped bleeding as its mana stiffened its muscles. It was strange yet typical of a D-rank beast; such a wolf could do this to halt its bleeding.


    "Which means only the patrols were lessened than D rank," Izel concluded. However, it didn''t change anything. His eyes underneath his blindfold narrowed in intense malice.


    In contrast, perhaps as a beast instinct, according to the Guards'' earlier howl, this must be the intruder and also the one who killed and burned the corpses of the initially dispatched wolf soldiers. It''s finally clicked. The wolf let out a voiceless whimper before glancing back with murderous malice.


    if it was during the tutorial, such intense gazes and bloodlust might have unnerved him. However, he had faced more intense gazes from the goblin king. "Ugh!" A slight flinch and a throbbing in his head reminded him of accumulated trauma, but he steadied his breath and calmed his heartbeat through mental fortitude, gripping his sword''s hilt tightly.


    The wolf lunged at him, and without hesitation, Izel drove his sword straight through its jaw.


    "RA¡­WR!"


    With a weak breath, the wolf collapsed to the ground, lifeless, blood-staining the damp earth.


    As the wolf leaped toward him, Izel thrust his sword straight through its jaw without any hesitation.


    "RA¡­WR!" Letting out a weak breath, the wolf fell to the ground, lifeless. Blood littered the partially wet ground.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) rank Requiem Wolf.]


    [Capacitance: 1/10.]


    "(D-) rank Requiem Wolf!" Exactly as he anticipated. It marked the start of the intense battle against the (D-) rank monsters, a challenge tougher than the patrols, albeit reduced by the Guards within the mist. When the chilling coercion of a blind man who was obsessed with surviving subconsciously landed on each Wolf, he approached them one by one, after many struggles with them as the beasts also unleashed unexpected traits yet befitting of their rank. Yet, he slashed off their heads in the end.


    Each skirmish added to his fatigue and anxiety, intensifying his trauma. Blood covered his blades, cloak, and hands, staining the surroundings in sticky crimson. Exhausted and gasping for air, Izel relentlessly attacked without respite in an unexpected and grueling battle.


    Remaining time: 5 hours and 56 minutes.


    Only two hours had elapsed, yet they felt like an inferno of struggle and torment.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 7 - D-Rank Raid III

    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)''][Effect(1): Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    The corpses of the wolves he had slain numbered over fifty, yielding enough essence for fifty wolf soldiers. Despite augmenting his stats through every transduction, he was still unable to devour them all. Currently, his storage is full.


    [Capacitance: 11/10.]


    ¡­


    At that moment, another austere ''mastery growth'' message beeped in his mind.


    [Proficiency increased by 25%]


    He activated the ''Soul Assimilation'' Bonus Effect...


    [Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation has been activated.]


    As soon as he activated the effect, he immediately felt the increase in the augmentation rate of his transmuted souls (essences) into stats.


    [Augmentation has been acknowledged. Permanently augmenting stats using the essence reserves¡­]


    His mental essence storage contracted as transmuted souls vanished one by one.


    [Strength augmented by 1.]


    [Agility augmented by 2.]


    [Stamina augmented by 4.]


    [Mana augmented by 1.]


    [Constitution augmented by 3.]


    [Capacitance: 1/10.]


    Shortly after, Izel felt a relief sensation in his mental storage. He opened his status window, feeling a rush of adrenaline at the same time.


    [Name: Izel Ethalt Blind.


    Age: 19 years old.


    Strength: 30 Stamina: 43


    Agility: 45 Mana: 23


    Constitution: 18


    Active skills


    Gear: Flawlation (F) S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    *Soul Assimilation (E)


    Hemostasis (E+)


    Passive Skills


    Sound Reading (Innate)


    Fortress Currency


    Verdes: 3]


    His strength currently stands at 30. All his stats had undergone significant advancement and had become quite imbalanced. His improved constitution now suggests he might be ready for direct battles with the boss monster. Yet, he hasn''t caught his breath, and his arms tremble from stress.


    "Damn it, I feel my body going numb just by breathing," Izel murmured, describing his current condition. He deemed these (D-) Wolf Soldiers to be tougher adversaries than he intended. It was a variable he hadn''t considered much, assuming the Wolf Guards were the only challenge. Despite that, he knew his plan wouldn''t proceed smoothly, as unpredictability defined everything within the fortress of Dungeons.


    "¡­!¡±


    As the flames in the depot began to diminish and the milky smoke slowly cleared, he needed to act swiftly.


    Time remaining: 4 hours and 46 minutes.


    As the time notification beeped through his fragile mind, the air shattered.


    "CRR¨CROARRR!¡±


    A few more recovered their senses and became more intimidated as they inspected his whereabouts. They threw themselves violently. Chills tensed his neck. He tightly clenched his longsword hilt, skillfully retracting himself from their sharp jaws, and stood confronted amidst the partially cleared mist with all three (D-) Wolf Soldiers.


    With a bit of struggle, all three beasts showcased their vitality and hostility. Surprisingly, as surging mana encased his blade, it happened instantly; his strengthened stats played a role in taking them down as they parted ways with deadly slashes.


    "¡­.??¡±


    The blind man''s dull eyes widened as he gobbled dry spit dumbfoundedly at the slight cuts on both his arms and his cheek that the Wolf Soldiers inflicted on him, just as his deadly strikes did unexpected destructive damage to them.


    A minor splatter of his blood and the gore of the beasts littered the ground.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    [Effect(1) Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Requiem Wolf.]


    [Capacitance: 4/10.]


    That''s not all; the Wolf Soldiers, who had never left their cave-like hideouts, leaped down and began their attacks.


    "What kind of wolf is this?" Izel clicked his tongue in shock. This wolf had metal jaws but lacked body armor and steel claws like the Wolf Guards. Instantly, the peeved metallic sound made by its jaws caught Izel off-guard, jamming his ears due to the demerit of [Sound Reading]. He was sent flying and slammed into the disarrayed joint of one of the wolves'' hideouts, blood spurting out of his mouth.


    "Damn it, I need to enter the boss monster location before the Wolf Guards arrive." Gritting his teeth and exhaling air, Izel narrowed his [Flawlation] and leaped out of the joint toward them.


    "GRRRRR!¡±


    Once again, he barely dodged all their attacks. Even with his strengthened stats, he managed to swing his longsword, coated with mana, slashing off their necks one by one.


    Blood splashed and littered the ground.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    [Effect(1) Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Eequiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Eequiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Eequiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Eequiem Wolf.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (D-) Eequiem Wolf.]


    [Capacitance: 9/10.]


    "Finally!" he exclaimed. "I see, a new species of wolf." They were, of course, a new breed, but they were few in number and the only ones that managed to break a few of his ribs. Although he sustained some injuries, including internal ones, it wasn''t something he couldn''t endure. However, he needed to be in top shape to fight the Snake Lord.


    [Active Skill: Hemostasis (E+) had been activated]


    Immediately, his body felt hot as blood surged within it. The blind man felt agony creeping up throughout his body, yet he bit his lower lip to suppress any unexpected noise as his internal and external injuries began to heal.


    ¡®Is this how hemostasis works¡­?¡¯ He surprisingly figured out the process amid the pain. His blood was sapped through all blood vessels to the area of his external wounds, stitching them together until they vanished, while his broken ribs were reassembled using the sizzling blood, healing up. He had never used it before, so he never understood its concept, but the ''agony'' from his blood boiling wasn''t noted in its demerit. Why, though?


    "Well, strange things happen in the fortress of the dungeons," Izel sighed, showing his lack of surprise. Eventually, he grasped the mechanisms behind ''hemostasis''.


    It was a skill that sped up the healing process by stitching flesh and recovering a few broken ribs, all achieved by consuming blood essence. However, it wouldn''t do much beyond those kinds of injuries. Thus, the blind man felt a bit sweaty and numb, but he had recovered enough to continue fighting.


    ¡®I don''t need potions¡­ at least not yet,¡¯ he mused, especially the ''boost potion'' intended for use against the boss monster. Still gasping, he converted his remaining transmuted souls (essences) into stats.


    [Augmentation has been acknowledged. Permanently augmenting stats using the transmuted souls ''essences'' reserves¡­]


    [Agility augmented by 2.]


    [Stamina augmented by 2.]


    [Mana augmented by 1.]


    [Capacitance: 0/10.]


    Unlike the other Wolf Soldiers, regardless of hierarchy, he conveyed, which only randomly increased his other stats except strength and constitution. Poundage was lifted off his body as it felt lighter as a feather, and his breathing became more relaxed.


    Then, he noticed something. According to the voice, the rate at which his strength improved had lessened. It was pretty easy to guess why this was happening. Izel''s stats were starting to reach new heights; until his ''constitution'' was high enough to handle them, it wouldn''t be that easy to increase them. Gradually, he was surpassing the limit of a (D-) rank Walker.


    Soon, the once-raging flame began to fade away, and then eventually, it completely went off, leaving the majority of the depot in worse condition. Though the milky mist still lingered in the air, the surrounding area was now visible.


    Although the surroundings felt a bit warm and oversaturated with clotted blood, all the carcasses were fully devoured. Now, the ''Avalanche¡ªSnake Lord'' was all that was left to slay¡­


    Time remaining: 3 hours and 46 minutes.


    After the raid countdown beeped through his mind, an overwhelming terror tensed his body. He felt the atmosphere suddenly change.


    "¡­????!"


    The surrounding air was heavily distorted by the drowned-out, loud cries of the Wolf Guards. Simply put, the smoke had died out, and they were returning with more murderous intent as if they had already sensed the blood scent of their kin.


    "Damn, let''s hurry!" Sweat pouring down his face, the blind man murmured, his expression changing as he sprinted. At the end of the cavern passageway to the left, he opened the door to the patio, gripping his trusty sword tightly and quickly descending the steps.


    "¡­!"


    The Wolf Guards'' cries grew louder and sharper, indicating they were almost at the earlier cavern passageway and fully aware of their kin''s blood. They began to investigate the intruder. However, Izel faced a dilemma. ¡®Could I have been mistaken when the step felt unusually long?¡¯ he wondered as air jammed his face. Regardless, it didn''t matter; he never wanted to fight the Wolf Guards. There was a chance he could win with his improved stats, but time wasn''t on his side.


    "No matter how carefully I plan it, the fortress..." he murmured about the unreliability of plans in the Dungeons'' fortress. Could other difficulties also experience this? If so, the [extreme] would be much worse, at least for him. The blind man swallowed dry saliva as he moved down the steps. The lighting was worse than in the first locations, but there was no problem with sensing as his [Flawlation] darted around, and [Sound Reading] felt any sound frequencies in the vicinity.


    ¡®Is it instinct or tension?¡¯ He had no choice but to acknowledge the improvement in his [Sound Reading] skill, even though it had never progressed before. Realistically, a certain amount of tension was wrapped around his heart to maintain peak condition. Izel cautiously perceived a long flight of steps.


    Lowering himself, he opened the last mossy and rusted door, eventually spotting the black silhouettes of the futuristic railway tunnel used by the subway train. The affluence of sparkling magic that wasn''t visible to the naked eye was scattered everywhere. The tunnels were pervaded with jet-black liquid, swells enlarging throughout the entire space. It was as vivid as jadeite and emitted the utmost sacredness. But a colorful aurora-like hue panoramaed his [Flawlation].


    ¡®What is this?¡¯ Izel was dazed. Rather than a subway tunnel, it was more like a magical palace. Just as Izel took one more step forward to make a closer observation, a long, log-like object shot out from the surface of the black water. ¡®The Snake Lord?¡¯ Upon his sharp realization, the object flew so fast that he couldn''t ponder how to react.


    The snake that arrived in front of his nose in the blink of an eye wasn''t a log but an overstretched monster with a thickness rivaling that of an overgrown log.


    C-Rank Snake Lord, Avalanche had sensed your presence.


    "Hoek!" Taken by surprise, and with the reflex training he had before the raid, he could only swing his sword and strike the impending head of the snake away from him.


    Izel''s mouth opened wider. ''What the heck?!'' The blind man did succeed in deviating in the direction of the lunging giant, but his trusty longsword ended up breaking apart from the overwhelming impact, which also shook his body. The hefty Snake Lord, who was surprised by the counterattack as well, didn''t try to follow up right away but chose to simply glare instinctively at him, coiling itself up a distance away.


    Its surging bloodlust raged everywhere, distorting the atmosphere. "So this is the Snake Lord Avalanche?" Inwardly, Izel ensured it was a C-rank creature that was incomparably faster and tougher, and its intimidation was higher than that of the (D-) Wolf Soldiers, (D+) Wolf Guards, or even the (E) Goblin King.


    "¡­!"


    His body shook, and the accumulated trauma from the depths of his heart erupted once more. As a result, his head banged, his heartbeat rose rapidly as well, and his breathing got rough.


    "Urgh!" He gritted his teeth to endure the agony and terror, and sweat began to seep from his body as he observed the properties of the Snake Lord. The outline of idiosyncratic chromatic scales coating its body gleamed in an oily, esoteric manner as if it had draped itself with thick mysticism armor; those scales had no gaps to speak of. Yet, it burst forth ripples and metallic frequencies each time.


    Sword strikes, thrusts, and slashes wouldn''t have worked in the first place; it''d be the same story for punches. As the trauma subsided a little, Izel wanted to ponder his way out of this situation. But all he could perceive next were colorful flashes of magic approaching him. Sharply, the avalanche opened its maws wide and¡­


    "¡­!"


    A huge fireball arose from its mouth, and it took about ten seconds for the flame to get a bigger, sizzling oval shape. It was only then that the blind man realized what the damn Snake Lord was attempting. He began to wonder why there were neither (D+) guards nor (D-) Wolf Soldiers in front of the entrance.


    A peaceful predator has hibernation without any slight disturbance whatsoever. The Snake Lord was treated akin to a god, so it was left alone with tight security, but that was all deceived by his plan. Of course, Izel figured they were protecting the Snake Lord, but he didn''t expect this to be such a threat.


    ''Why would the Snake Lord be a magical beast?'' Regardless, that didn''t change what needed to be done. He''ll be ending its life and completely raiding this dungeon. Decided, the blind man encased himself in mana and crouched with his entire body exuding a flimsy shield. That''s the effort he could attempt at the moment since there wasn''t enough space and time to dodge.


    The air shook as the ball of raging flame hurled toward him with a great crash.


    Alas, it wasn''t very effective. The overwhelming impact broke the flimsy shield as it clashed with his cloak, then the military vest he wore, instantly catching his blindfold on fire. Resulting in his vision going awry.


    "Haaaaaa¡­!" Every inch of his skin revealed burns and the harsh vapor was excluded as the scent of blistering burned flesh clung to the air.


    "Argggg¡­!" Even then, he stayed put with his last half ounce of mental fortitude; if not for the esoteric vest, he would have felt much more agony at being burned alive. Yet, currently, it was to the point where he would rather rend the searing skin off himself.


    Amidst the agonizing pain, he stepped forward, and that was the only thing he could do at the time.


    "¡­!"


    Suddenly, danger crept down his spine as a frightening turn of speed was attempted by the avalanche. "What?!" Puzzled, Izel focused his [Flawlation] as huge ripples of incoming¡­ Unable to perceive the processed data as his head was still throbbing.


    By focusing harder, he could fill in the gaps and partially detect the attack that Avalanche had made from his rear.


    It was only natural that his [Flawlation] had detected it, yet rather, he couldn''t even properly decipher the attack direction in the beginning as his ears were vigorously still ringing, rendering his [Sound Reading] inactive.


    Ultimately, that doesn''t change the fact that the avalanche opened its maw side and tried to swallow him whole. Shrouding his singed-sooted body in mana, he forcefully and swiftly sidestepped; the high-pressurized attack brushed past him, occasionally incising part of his body. Blood splatter.


    The air shattered, and the blind man''s singed-sooted hand shoved into his partially burnt pocket-sized bag around his wrist; a frail yet sliver-looking dagger wheezed through the space into both his hands.


    [Feeble Dagger had been equipped.]


    [Feeble Dagger had been equipped.]


    Without delay and still encased in mana, he leaped over to the top and pierced both eyes of the snake with the feeble daggers. Like Izel had previously stated, ''feeble daggers had their utilizations''


    Blood splashed, and the snake wailed deafeningly.


    [Feeble Dagger demerit had been activated.]


    [Feeble Dagger demerit had been activated.]


    Feeling unbalanced due to the sudden momentum, all the feeble daggers crumbled to pieces. Regaining his footing, he momentarily wrapped his arms around the creature, catching it in a headlock with the full aid of his mana and [Strength] stat.


    [Active Skill: Hemostasis (E+) had been activated]


    Without the immediate stitching of his skin tearing from abnormal muscle expansion, his muscles would have turned into lumps of flesh. However, that wasn''t enough to lift this huge boss monster. Desperately, he called out to his partially seared pocket-sized bag with mana to retrieve a portion.


    [Boost Potion.


    Demerit: 5 minutes.]


    It was an item that boosted stats for five minutes. As its colorless substance spewed onto his head, the droplets of the potion dripped down, melted into his skin upon contact, and rejuvenated his body as a bluish hue emanated from him. Immediately, a message rang through his mind.


    [All stats had temporarily been increased by 200%.]


    The message indicated a surge in stats, followed by the countdown as the demerit timer decreased.


    [Demerit time begins. 4:87 minutes left.]


    He could only wish to slay this monster using his current stats, but that''s not an option. The aftermath would shatter his bones, despite his muscles'' ability to mend themselves using his blood essence, leading to relentless agony. However, how long would his blood essence last to heal both internal and external injuries?


    In essence, he had a 5-minute window with this potent power-up from the [boost portion], more than adequate to defeat the creature. Avalanche''s sharp, black contour oozed mana, drawing and tearing blood. Nevertheless, Izel tightened his grip, unable to suppress his cry of pain as blood spurted like a fountain.


    Despite excruciating agony engulfing his entire being, the blind man exerted an unbelievably powerful pressure, constricting the snake''s main artery. Despite its efforts, the massive snake couldn''t break free and thrashed around in torment.


    [3:50 minutes left.]


    Izel gritted his teeth so hard that blood seeped from within, strengthening his arms further. His body vigorously banged against the wall and floor, creating huge craters, yet he never released his grip. Blood spurted out of his mouth, nostrils, and ears as the scale attacks struck him


    [The esoteric steel military vest had absorbed 50% of the attack''s power.]


    [Demerit had been activated; D-rank attacks were too strong, thus bypassing and demolishing its layers.]


    After the vest crumbled to bits, sharp scales impaled his flesh, and blood gushed out. His refractory nerves ran amok, causing his entire body to throb in terror. He could no longer feel them. However, he never released his grip.


    It was as if the heavens were pleased with his struggles and unwavering tenacity.


    [For the ''Blind Walker'' that had been unyielding in the face of ''scorching flame'' and ''agonizing pain''. An achievement had been unlocked.]


    [''Anesthesia'' Skill has been generated.]


    A couple of notifications resounded in his mind, jolting awake his awareness that he was between the realms of life and death. Amidst the pain, he had no idea what the voice had just said as his mind faded in and out of consciousness.


    [Hemostasis (E+) is still on standby!]


    Internal injuries and bruises began to close as Izel couldn''t focus on anything except staying conscious enough to maintain a tight grip with both hands.


    [2:10 minutes left]


    Firmly enough, akin to hugging a loved one, he did figure out one thing for sure.


    "Ugh¡­ U-hhgregg!" He survived. If only he had intimidating eyes. Instead, he applied that boiling intimidation in his voice; he mustered...


    "I was happy¡­ to be born blind. If not¡­ you would have¡­ killed me today." Even though he barely survived, his body was beyond exhausted; he could hardly breathe. Yet, those words gave off feelings, pain, and memories.


    Avalanche, a magical beast, seemed to understand despite the language barrier and closed its bloody eyes without any struggle.


    "Sh¨C" Chaperoned by a rather awful noise and sudden internal frequencies, the skull of the Snake Lord gave in and cracked apart.


    Snake Lord, Avalanche had been slain.


    Time remained: 0 minutes, 4 seconds.


    Congratulations. You have raided the D-rank dungeon.


    The Reward for ''slaying'' instead of ''subjugation'' had been reduced by 35%. No bonus rewards would be given.


    As a reward, you have received the items ''Stats Boost Long Collar Cardigan Cloak (D)¡¯, ¡®Aurora-Short Sword (D), and ''100 Verdes.''


    You have acquired the skill ''Anesthesia''


    Please move to the waiting room.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 8 - Narrow Escape...

    The formation of the beam-sized portal began expanding from the size of a coin to full-adult size.Still backed against the crater wall, Izel''s head spun like a spiral ribbon. His entire body ached to the point of numbness. Despite the flood of messages in his mind, he couldn''t care less about partial success in this raid.


    [1:67 minute left.]


    Although hemostasis had healed his internal and external injuries, he was overly drenched in crimson from his blood, and his exhaustion was severe. But he needed to stay awake. Despite the extreme numbness, he mustered the strength to slap both cheeks. ''Who knows what might happen? I could be killed by the Wolf Guards.¡¯


    Of course, he knew those Guards weren''t stupid enough to waltz in when the Snake Lord was alive due to the overwhelming mana and presence swarming about. But now that it was dead, it was only a matter of time before they would discover the intruder, who was present here and had slain their ''god''. They would be pissed beyond belief.


    ¡®But... the portal.¡¯ He soon realized this. At least now he could decipher the faint frequencies of the portal.


    [0:53 minute left.]


    He didn''t want to conk out, but he was already at his breaking point. If his eyelids trembled even slightly, he would pass out, prompting the need for emergency measures.


    [00:00 left.]


    [The approximate demerit time has been reached. The Demerit: ''extreme pain'' has been activated.]


    Shortly after the interrupted alert that filled his echoing mind, Izel was bombarded by a backlash of increasing his stats by 200%. "Ahhhhhggggh!" Terror and anguish shook his entire body, the most tormented cramp he had ever felt assailing every part of him. Even his bones felt as though they would break apart; his blood ran amok; his heart was splitting, and his lungs were jerking.


    His scarred pupil spun back like an omen. Floundering without direction, he landed inside the jet-black swells, where foreign substances melted into his skin. "Urrrgggggggh!" He screamed deafeningly as his now-fragile body was seized by convulsions, seemingly caused by the jet-black substance. Squirming in the swells, the liquid seared his flesh into reddish spots, while gray vapor exuded out. He could feel his insides melting, the excruciating heat making him ponder if he were in hell.


    [Constitution increased by 1.]


    [Constitution increased by 1.]


    [Strength increased by 1.]


    It seems the jet-black magical substance tended to increase his stats, though it was just a few measly stats. Still, it was something unexpected that such overwhelmingly liquid could have mostly melted most walkers into indistinguishable junk of meat. Instead, it tenaciously augments his status.


    And, his stats continued to rise.


    [Strength increased by 2.]


    [Constitution increased by 2.]


    [Mana increased by 2.]


    Though his strength and constitution mostly increased, his mana stat also saw a slight boost. As the drowned-out messages echoed in his mind, he absentmindedly crawled out on all fours and began rolling around the floor, flailing in all directions. Eventually managing to stand, he staggered about like a madman. His bones and muscles churned, his blood seeming to flow backward. Two minutes of this torment felt like years, yet strangely, it proved profitable in a sense.


    [The Demerit: extreme pain had been deactivated.]


    As the pain began to subside, he exhaled a breath of hot air, realizing he was close to a wall. Lifting his body, the blind man relied on the walls for support. His [Flawlation] was blurred due to a half-charred blindfold, and his ears momentarily ceased to exist.


    "Argh¡­!" Unaware of his current status, he drags his body like a zombie toward the carcass. ¡®I had to devour it before I passed out,¡¯ he wheezes. Passing out would mean becoming prey for the Wolf Guards. He can''t allow that; he''s endured too much to reach this point. The blind man must see it through.


    "¡­!¡±


    The Snake Lord''s carcass doesn''t gleam in the black ambient glow. Before confusion overwhelms him, messages flood into his mind.


    [You are unable to devour the body of the Snake Lord, Avalanche!]


    [The objective was slayed instead of subjugation! Proficiency increased by 35%.]


    [Effect (1): Transduction Demerit has been deactivated.]


    ''Too bad, I couldn''t devour a magical beast.¡¯ Izel lamented, smacking his stiff lips. They were so rigid that he couldn''t even grit his teeth in bitterness over his unprofitable suffering¡ªbeing unable to devour a magical beast and obtain the Snake Lord''s transmuted souls and stats.


    [Flawlation had been forcibly deactivated]


    His blindfold, dark cloak, and vest either burned or crumbled away, leaving his bloody muscles exposed, with only burned pants and seared sneakers remaining.


    Abruptly, a deafening BANG! echoed, accompanied by a menacing GRRRR! The mossy, worn entrance door was forcefully banged open, torn apart, and flung away. It was the Wolf Guards Izel had managed to avoid confronting earlier.


    The two Wolf Guards surged forward with murderous intent, jaws wide open, aiming to devour the unsteady intruder in a single bite.


    They were late, seeking revenge for the blood of their kin littering the floor. Deceived by charred bodies, they were now filled with rage at the loss of their ''god'' and the treacherous tactics used in the hideout.


    ¡°GRRRRRR!¡±


    ¡°GRRRRRR!¡±


    Their gruesome roars conveyed hatred, fury, and the desire for revenge. They''d lived a peaceful life until his arrival, wondering what they''d done to deserve such chaos. Yet, their armored faces revealed the sorrow of losing loved ones.


    In their blind rage, they sought to end the intruder''s life, allowing their ''god''s'' significant soul to return to the ''realm of the gods,'' and their kin to rest in peace.


    As their sharp metal jaws, adorned with razor-sharp fangs, almost tore into the exhausted intruder, the air vibrated, and they narrowly missed by a hair''s breadth, tumbling into the jet-black swells.


    ¡°GRRRRR!¡±


    ¡°KRRRRR!¡±


    Their sorrowful cries resonated.


    Unaware of the imminent danger, the blind man lost consciousness in front of the portal. Through sheer will, he slowly collapsed into the portal, narrowly escaping death.


    Teleporting to the waiting room.


    Izel felt a wave of relief as the portal retracted from a full adult-size magical surging flat oval shape to nothingness.


    Izel awoke on the room''s white linoleum floor, feeling a bit blurry and exhausted. He managed to prop himself against the white wall, retrieving a waterskin from his half-burnt, pocket-sized bag to soothe his parched throat.


    ¡®How did I survive?'' The blind man contemplated his existence in the waiting room, struggling to comprehend how he got there. Wiping his lips with his right hand, he felt thankful that his ''capacitance'' was empty, preventing the transmuted souls from overtaking him.


    As his mind cleared, he tapped his palm against his body, employing [Sound Reading] to assess his condition. He realized his physical fatigue and severely damaged muscles, beyond his hemostasis''s ability, had healed promptly.


    Gradually rising to his feet, he pondered, ''What happened to my vest?'' Recollecting its state as nothing more than a piece of irreparable junk, he doubted its usefulness for the next dungeon raid.


    "Did the Snake Lord''s scales and flames cause such destruction?" Izel wondered aloud, acknowledging the vest''s failure against D-rank attacks, ultimately saving his life but leaving it in ruins.


    "Well, I guess it did its job," Izel reflected proudly, despite feeling upset about mastering the vest through hours of training, only to see it destroyed.


    Frustration etched his lips as a powerful desire to confront and defeat the Snake Lord surfaced in his thoughts. ''Die, you evil monster!'' he inwardly exclaimed. Chuckling carefreely, he imagined an unscarred victory over the evil monster.


    Grateful that the vest absorbed 50 percent of the impact, preventing him from becoming minced meat, Izel also acknowledged the usefulness of his dark cloak, deflecting 40 percent of fireball impacts with its special [Flame Resistance] effect.


    Letting out a relieved sigh, Izel''s numb body dragged itself towards the bed, hoping for the reactivation of the Fortress operating system. However, it remained dormant. Anxious that something might have gone wrong, he slowly uttered, "Next Raid.¡±


    The C-rank dungeon raid starts in 22 hours and 15 minutes.


    ''Could it be that I was unconscious for about two hours?'' Awestruck, he had no choice but to open his mouth wide upon this realization. ''So that''s why the Fortress operating system never came!'' He reflected, realizing it had been reactivated long ago. Being unconscious for two hours, even after being healed up by the room''s recovery, meant his body and mind had been pushed beyond their limits.


    ''At the very least, the waiting room is pretty effective,'' he flatly said as he lay on the white bed. Even though the recollection of being burned alive by the Snake Lord and the excruciating agony of the ''Boost stats demerit'' were still fresh in his mind, he wondered, ''But did something occur after that?'' Seemingly, that piece of memory remained murky, indicating that the terror he experienced was overwhelming. ¡®hmm?¡¯ It appeared he tapped back and forth out of consciousness at that point. ¡®Hmmm?'' He shook his head right and left in an attempt to clear it, but after a minute of pondering, Izel decided to let the thought go. Since he¡¯d get nowhere by just thinking about it right now, it might eventually come back to him later. However, he couldn''t shake the feeling that he got off far too easily.


    If it had been more severe, he would have been rendered useless by the demerit and chomped by those Wolf Guards if they had returned. Yet, at the end of his schemes and struggles, he did miss the Snake Lord''s carcass for completing the raid on his way.


    ''In other words, it was an unprofitable endeavor.'' He felt bitter for not being able to devour the Snake Lord. His hard work had gone unrewarded. Yet, if viewed from another perspective, he should give himself a little more credit.


    ¡®I gained experience¡­'' he considered. The blind man defeated a magical beast, tested his limits, and pushed beyond his boundaries. Even more significant was the announcement about gaining a skill valued at a whopping 90 Verdes in the trading center, [Anesthesia], earned through a brutal brawl with Avalanche. Ultimately, he acknowledged his credit as he smiled gently at the list of rewards echoing within his mind. Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened his dilated eyes, but a painful sensation throbbed in his forehead as if thorns were struck within them. He let out a few groans before it began to relieve him a bit.


    ''The blindfold effect took a huge toll on my brain,'' he thought. The defect that was never mentioned in the demerit was the agony he would experience if the blindfold were forcibly removed.


    ''This had once happened on an F-rank dungeon raid,'' Izel reminisced, still vividly recalling the extreme torment he experienced then. It was an unwritten demerit that he seemed to understand the reason for. In short, since the blindfold acted like an extra projection onto his retinas instead of his pupil, which is scarred in the form of a lens by utilizing his mental fortitude if cut off forcibly, it could not only cause painful mishaps but also damage his brain.


    "I guess I was lucky again. Damn, or I would have become brain-disabled as well," he let out a bitter laugh. ''But how long would my luck last?'' His face became a little sober. Although, at some point, before he blacked out, all he could see were blurred black outlines, murky hues, and ripples before the blindfold crumbled away. These unexpected reactions caused both nerves that connected his eyes to his brain to strain as well.


    "Hu!" His brain tingled, a sensation lingering amidst the tension. He reached out to his eyes, caressing his eyelids, and left them closed to hasten their recovery.


    Feeling restless, he recalled the hidden bug he attempted to utilize in the raid but ended up being fixed by the administrator. He clicked his tongue conflictingly before opening his mouth and saying, "Inventory." As usual, that word created an invisible rupture out of thin air.


    Within this fracture, new items Izel had never heard of, yet familiar, took the spaces of the second and third slots. He went on and inquired about the first item''s details.


    [Stats Boost Long Collar Cardigan Cloak


    Grade: D.


    Boost all stats by 10.


    Description: Black Cardigan Cloak with ten layers of flexible polyethylene fiber internal wear specially designed for the chieftain of a tribe, ''Mule'' by the best designer, ''Newmark''. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Improved ''Heightened Sense'' by 30% for one minute.


    Active Effect: While imbued with mana, the user can grant a 50 percent boost to his or her movement speed produced solely by agility.


    Note: Purchase the ''Cloud Boots'' to maximize the effect. Without it, the user would sustain calves'' wear and tears from muscle reaction shock from a 25 percent movement boost.


    Demerit: The active effect can be used again after 24 hours of cooldown time.]


    Surprised, Izel couldn''t believe what echoed through his mind. Even after discerning it repeatedly, he knew it was overpowered. Yet, at the back of his mind, he acknowledged it wasn''t a great reward as he''d have to purchase ''cloud boots'' for full utilization using the Verdes he just acquired.


    "It''s enough to brighten my day," he sighed slightly. An item made by the best designer, ''Newmark''...


    ''What a mysterious name!'' Izel nodded to himself.


    ¡­ Even though he didn''t fulfill the full requirements of the raid. Taking a closer look at the item, the default active effect was already incredible, improving all stats by 10 and increasing his senses by 30% for one minute. He considered that unbelievable enough until he discovered the active skill: if imbued with mana, his overall movement via the agility stat would skyrocket by fifty percent.


    "If I add ''Cloud boots,'' the movement is sure to be epic," he thought aloud. However, without those ''cloud boots,'' he''d still be affected by the reaction shock.


    In conclusion, the epic cool-down time tensed his mind. "Expected from a demerit, always spoiling a nice reward," he scoffed, feeling conflicted enough to hate it in more ways.


    He moved on to the next reward, occupying the third slot in his inventory.


    [Aurora Short Sword.


    Grade: D.


    Reaction speed: 6% at a critical point.


    Attack speed: Increase by 11% when chained onslaughts are involved.


    Description: Extremely jet-black sword, created and forged using a thousand years ''ashes of hell'', thus emitting sinister heterochromatic magic energy when wielded. It had approximately 78 cm of incredibly thin dual-sharp edges that don''t dull easily and a thin, well-made leather hilt for better handling.


    Demerit: Although well-forged using ''ashes of hell'', it''s regarded as the failure of its creator because it could only handle up to C-rank attacks.]


    Baffled by the item''s benefits, a gentle smile formed on his lips. It was a short sword capable of handling attacks up to C-rank, an amazing reward for Izel at this moment, an expensive item with greater graded value compared to the one-handed longsword.


    ''Thankfully, it wasn''t a dagger,'' he expressed his disdain for a certain weapon. ''I hate that shit. Even an axe or a long whip is better.'' If it had been a dagger¡ªa weapon mainly for assassins or those with a cunning style of battle¡ªhe would''ve tossed it into his inventory without a second thought. Or perhaps sold it on Elilaum if he managed to survive in the end.


    Therefore, Izel had no complaints; the short sword was a perfect weapon for diverse utilization. Grunting from slight pain at the side of his head, he rose and practiced swinging the sword a couple of times.


    The sword moved through the atmosphere like silk, making clean and stealthy movements, slashing effortlessly through the air. No unnecessary effort was required for its razor-sharp blade to swing and thrust. When encased in mana, every arched motion was fine-tuned and enhanced, emitting a dense, sinister heterochromatic glow. If Izel could see, he might have thought his slashes and thrusts were made by the aurora in the night sky.


    The sharpness caused slight air friction, but he could only feel those soundless frequencies if he paid deep attention to them, something unnecessary in battle. This demonstrated that the improvement of the shortsword was incomparable to the longsword he had previously used.


    ''I''m sure the durability would be way better,'' he pondered, nodding without a single doubt. Regardless, he summoned the ¡®shortsword miscellaneous details,¡¯ expecting to be further amazed by the high value he predicted in his head.


    [Aurora Short Sword.


    Grade: D.


    An extremely sharp and dual-edge jet-black shortsword.


    Durability: 100/100


    Effect: Damage +30


    Demerit: it could only handle up to C-rank attacks.]


    The blind man''s gentle smile broadened as he sensed the durability of the item drawing closer to his prediction. The decision to replace his lost and broken trusty longsword was now settled.


    ¡°Indeed, it''s a nice sword¡­¡± he murmured, running his palm along the jet-black blade. ''Ouch!'' Suddenly, a line of red appeared on his skin, swiftly evaporating due to the room''s recovery system.


    "¡­ With very sharp edges!" Izel exclaimed. This indicated to him that despite being a C-rank weapon, the new item was crafted with remarkable quality and precision. He chose it as his main weapon and securely stored it in the black matte-textured scabbard next to his bed.


    Satisfied with the new items, it was time to check the new skill. With determination, he initiated the process. Instantly, a monotonous, feminine voice began narrating the details of the newfound skill.


    [Skill: Anesthesia (D).


    Proficiency: 6%.


    Effect: The user is resistant to physical pain by 20%, allowing him or her to power through serious injuries and continue to function.


    Demerit: The user is only resistant to E to D painful impacts and attacks, immune to C-rank by only 2%.]


    A disgustingly 90 Verdes ''Pain tolerance'' type of skill, different from the ones sold in the trading center, was unlocked by coincidence as he grappled with the Snake Lord. The demerits, though somewhat manageable compared to the higher-priced [pain resistance] and [tolerance skills] in the Trading Center, were more notable.


    ''Besides that, it had 6% proficiency,'' he mused. It was one of those rare benefits that happened by chance but nothing too overwhelming. Yet, it would be useful for Izel, who utilized every little item, skill, common scheme, and survival instinct to scrape together for another day in the fortress of dungeons.


    ''But... It''s not enough.'' Contrary to the long road he anticipated for his goal and ambition, he felt he needed more. His growth is limited by each raid, as the demerit is akin to some entity above the heavens trying to limit his growth to not disrupt the balance in the fortress. ''But the world has never been fair since the beginning of time,'' he stated his belief. It''s somewhat underwhelming for something he risked his life for. ''I guess it''s better than nothing.''


    At least he received a reward for attempting and completing the raid, so it''s a positive outcome. As indicated in the skill effect, which also applies to Elilaum, all tolerance and resistance skills aren''t initially cost-efficient. It becomes worthwhile only when a hunter increases its proficiency or advances in rank based on the amount of pain inflicted on the user.


    While it varies from hunter to hunter, in the fortress of Dungeons, the cost is a definite ''no.'' The higher the rank, the higher the demerit, posing a significant challenge for the blind man, who is still grappling with normal demerits and aims to catch up with the experienced walkers in the fortress.


    "Darn, I despise that kind of training," Izel clicked his tongue in disgust as he imagined the amount of consistent agony and terror he had to endure just to increase the proficiency and grade of the skill. Shortly, his mind drifted as he strolled back to the bed while eating some wheat-rare bread minced in two imbued with plenty of jerkies, like a bread sandwich, the blind man wonders. "Did the others pass?¡±


    A fretted query that he had already figured out the answer to before he gulped down some water since there were former experienced hunters in the mix, he wasn''t too worried. Anyway, more introspections wafted in as well as queries about the D-rank raid objective. Just like the F-rank dungeon raid, the goal of the dungeon raid was subjugation, yet even after he subjugated the boss monster by killing it, His reward was again halved. Regardless, even if the objective was specific to taming the boss monster just like in the F-rank dungeon.


    ''I won''t waste my time taming a magical beast,'' he disregarded such an objective. The blind man admitted he would choose the same notion again. Generally, magical beasts aren''t meant to be tamed by humans, especially those that are far too weak. In other words, a suicidal attempt for someone like Izel, who is at least a (D-) rank walker at the time trying to tame a magical beast of at least a C-rank. Just imagine how impudent that action would have been. It''s the same as an eagle trying to tame a dragon just because both could fly.


    ''Yet, I barely survived just slaying that damn snake,'' he assumed, which was still the same in the past. If the heavens hadn''t bestowed a helping hand, it would have ended badly for him. It would have been more dangerous if he hadn''t prepared emergency procedures and planned out some scheme beforehand. In an impossible raid, the blind man survived because he avoided the intended subjugation and planned thoroughly. Yet there was no guarantee that the others would follow suit.


    All in all, the dungeon was partially cleared by 65% as the F-rank dungeon raid. It would be strange if he had contemplated doing otherwise. He wouldn''t have been himself. No, rather, he didn''t let it bother him and just went along with what he knew he could do as a human. Perhaps if it wasn''t an incredible, strong magical beast, he might have reconsidered it. But that wasn''t the case.


    Munching on the last bite of the jerky sandwich, he muttered, "Forum," to listen to how it went for others.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 9 - The Heart of a Blind Man

    [You are now active.][You have entered the forum.]


    [Difficulty: Extreme.]


    [All Walkers'' pseudonyms had been enabled.]


    [C-rank forum.]


    [(2200/4000)]


    Blue Crown: Fuck, am I alive? I feel I no longer have my head.


    Troy Bases: idiot, how are you typing? Fr! Did everyone die? Seriously?


    Githzerai Humon: Yeah, at least 1,000 walkers are dead. However, there are still a ton of walkers in the D-rank waiting room.


    James Eladrin: What the fuck? Why was there a C-rank magical beast in the D-rank Dungeon? And why did the administrator fix the hidden inventory bug so quickly?


    Ghiscari Douglas: Same here, my plans almost failed because of that; I barely survived using both my passive skills. Yikes. Both my legs grew back.


    The devil''s tail loves to waggle: Darn it. Keep that to yourself. Hah¡­ Looking at the forum, a total of 1000 people were fucked. Perhaps a lot of people die because of the admin fixing the damned hidden inventory bug.


    As Izel predicted for each raid since the tutorial, the number of Walkers kept decreasing as the rank of the raid rose more, perhaps due to the admin''s quick fix. Also, it seems some Walkers had many higher-rank magical beasts as the boss monsters of their raid, while others had different ones. The most important observation came next, as the blind man paid attention.


    The seadog that eats weed: Wait! Y''all had C-rank magical beasts? I only fought a group of goblin kings and said I should assassinate the great goblin king without my frost sword from my inventory. How in hell will I assassinate goblin kings when every one of them looks the same? Hah, I just killed them all.


    Westeros Caleb: Same here¡­ What goblin kings? Akin to the D-rank dungeon? I had a freaking beautiful Saintess summon a ton of skeletons. Telling me to subjugate the saintess¡­ Damn admin.


    Diana Ross: Huh? Does a Saintess summon skeletons? Is that some novel... Hey! The system told you that. I don''t see any of that! I just had to survive for 10 days in some red desert with giant scorpions and giant worms. Fuck the admin, I had no food and water to consume. I felt like I ate a lot of sand, as my throat itched and hurt!


    Ionia Trey: Eh? I had to fight a bunch of protagonists one-on-one in some colosseum. The objective was to steal the protagonists'' abilities. Lmao, I brought a pocket-sized bag just in case. I know we will get caught sooner or later. S?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The Thousand Waves: Was everyone given a different raid and objectives? I fought some golems with a lightning axe. Saying I should collect the lightning axe of the great Thor?! Yeah! Me too, I never believed that hidden bug would last this long.


    As the chat streamed through his mind, the blind man could discern that each walker had been assigned different individual dungeon raids and objectives. They all seemed to find these tasks unreasonably difficult. It also appeared that almost everyone was thwarted by the administrator''s quick fixes. Well, this did disrupt his plan a bit. Izel wasn''t surprised, given that his raid was relatively brutal, coupled with such an unexpected mishap.


    ''Thankfully, I''ve always kept my now burnt pocket-sized bag with me on raids,'' the fairly brown-skinned teen mused.


    The Vegeta that slays Goku: What was so great about me that they turned me into a Walker and made us stronger? Quit complaining about the admin quick fix, Get a pocket-sized bag for 50 Verdes!


    One with the heavens: I like how fast we''re growing. Since I was an F-rank hunter four days ago without being able to grow, everyone hated me for being weak and called me "The weakest hunter", but now I am stronger and growing more. Hey don''t speak like that, do you know how costly 50 Verdes is?


    Isla Necron: I hope you grow more manly. But I was a normal guy before this. I just want to get back. You have a point! Plus It''s not all Walkers that were given pocket-sized bags from the F-rank dungeon before the rumor of the hidden bug went around.


    The Sexist: It''s going to take so long for me to get back to the SS hunter where I was before.


    Emiya Clark: Sigh, is there even a method for us to get back to Elilaum?


    The forum partially delved into discussing the method for returning to Elilaum, while the rest were content with their rapid growth or debating the 50 Verdes cost for a pocket-sized bag.


    The blind man held onto one certainty: if the method or how to obtain it became known, the Walkers could return home. But which method could that be?


    ''I could ask Beelzebub,'' he pondered, acknowledging that only Beelzebub could answer such queries, as the administrator was always unavailable. ''No, I need to save it for an important use,'' Izel nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of this query''s importance.


    However, this account excludes other restless Walkers who had been confined for almost five days. They seemed to have lost interest in the situation entirely.


    Damien Chelsea: Isn''t it about time we use the broker?


    Miraluka: I think so. We should ask about the method of returning to Elilaum and getting our former powers back.


    Little Lily: Let''s all share all the information we find here. I''ll ask about the method to get back to Elilaum. Why must it only be the high-walkers that have access to it?


    Louise Maya: Correct! Why should they be the only ones? I''ll ask about restoring our former powers.


    Charles Dickens: I''ll ask about how the rewards are calculated within each raid. And how we achieved different objectives from what the system gave.


    At some point, Izel had thought about joining the forum; however, on second thought, he decided against it, saying, ''I will just wait and see.¡¯


    It also seemed that most walkers tended to agree with the blind man and take more of an observer''s approach. Could it be a smart decision or a cautious conclusion? Neither way, it was simply the notion of those who thought, ''One had more to lose by stepping up than to gain something valuable.¡¯


    Little Lily: Beelzebub answered.


    Louise Maya: Really? What did she say?


    Damien Chelsea: Do we have to become high walkers?


    The seadog that eats weed: Come on, please. Share the news with us.


    The forum was barraged with messages.


    Little Lily: The method to go back is¡­


    "¡­"


    Little Lily: Is this¡­


    A method to return to Elilaum started to appear in the forum.


    Little Lily: Basically, you can get the method back to Elilaum once you clear the A+ rank dungeon.


    Louise Maya: Is that where all the raids end?


    Devil''s Tail loves to waggle: Seeing that they said the system would expand after then, probably not.


    Ghiscari Douglas: Haha, in your dreams. Sub-raid development would take place.


    Westeros Caleb: What? Sub-raids development¡­ I will be damned! ¡­Well, that should be expected since, according to Beelzebub, at that level, the administrator is planning to add more authorities and start selling an item called the runic stone to return to Elilaum.


    As thoughts of unlocking more authorities in the A+ rank dungeon raid raced through his mind, Izel paid closer attention to the series of conversations. He focused intently, sifting through the chats and observing the details.


    Buckley Bills: So that''s why the admin was always busy and unavailable!


    Little Lily: However, the runic stone you can buy after the A+ rank raid will only let anyone return temporarily.


    Troy bases: Did Beelzebub tell you how much it would cost?


    Little Lily: Of course not. Beelzebub wouldn''t do that since they wanted me to ask another question, which I don''t have, so I stopped!


    Blue Crown: Then we can never go back to Elilaum forever?


    Vegeta slays Goku: Nah, I hear from the high walker that there''s another permanent item for that after taking the SS+ dungeon raid.


    One with the heavens: So all we have to do is survive till then.


    The series of conversations among the walkers had gradually died down, with an air of somberness hanging over everyone. For Izel, however, this was a significant victory. The permanent method to return lay in an ''item'' he needed to purchase after completing the SS+ dungeon raid. "Ha!" He exhaled sharply. Ever since he had successfully survived the tutorial four days ago, his sole desire had been to grow stronger ¡ª to aim for heights beyond imagination.


    Yet, amidst this longing for strength, some walkers still yearned for freedom, while others craved the opportunity to display their achievements in the outside world, maybe even live a life of luxury. Once a Walker succeeded in the SS+ dungeon raid, they could return to Elilaum.


    Izel exhaled again, a trace of depression evident in his expression as he inclined his head to the side. Why, despite the good news, did he not feel happiness? Why did there have to be a permanent way out?


    Diana Ross: Everyone, be quiet. It''s my turn to spread some knowledge.


    More information amassed from the broker started to spread in the forum.


    Miraluka: Basically, it''s not possible to get one''s former power back! However, one can grow quickly by raiding through the dungeon.


    Diana Ross: Ah, I asked how the rewards are calculated within each raid. And how we achieved different objectives from what the ''fortress'' gave us.


    Isla Necron: Oh, share it!


    Diana Ross: So everyone gets their raids and objectives according to the difficulty they choose. And you get bonus rewards depending on the decision you make to pass the raid!


    The Sexist: I see¡­ Come to think of it, that''s simpler than I thought. No wonder we get bonuses when we either perfectly complete the raid or take a different approach than intended by the ''fortress''.


    Diana Ross: I guess¡­


    The thousands of waves: you guess? Shouldn''t it be correct? Aren''t you the one who asks the broker?


    "¡­"


    Every Walker began sharing what they had discovered extensively. ''Could they be privately charging Verdes among themselves for information?'' Izel questioned inwardly. He noticed an overflow of information, more than usual. If so, it''s no wonder that no single Walker attempted to openly sell anything in the forum. However, if not, it seemed they were all too occupied with methods for returnees and other future developments.


    Diana Ross: Also, I just asked about the sub-raids development and got a response.


    Merriweather: Really? That was fast. What did Beelzebub say?


    Diana Ross: Starting after the A+ rank dungeon raids, there''ll be sub-raids like [bronze], [silver], [gold], and [diamond]. And selling [better weapons] with [higher demerits] will be a thing. As well as more items like the permanent and temporary returnees'' runic stone.


    Louise Maya: Oh, so after a dungeon raid, we get to choose one sub-raid before getting to the next real dungeon raid. Higher demerit, sh*t! I hate that feature; almost all the stuff in the trading center has a demerit!


    Diana Ross: Yeah! And they''ll even be selling skills with double demerits starting after the SS+ dungeon raid. Not only you, but I fucking hate that shit!


    Charles Dickens: They''re going to sell skills with double demerit... I guess I shouldn''t be surprised by anything anymore.


    Buckley Bills: Is that all the sub-raid developments? Well, I get that you can only ask one question!


    Diana Ross: I had two questions, though.


    What?!


    What?!


    What?! Fr?!


    A ton of "What?" and "Fr?!" exclamations permeated the forum, nearly shredding Izel''s brain. "Ha!" His mind whirred like a spiral ribbon. It took a few minutes to piece together his thoughts.


    Anyway, many walkers are just lucky in this world, much like ''Diana Ross'', who was blessed with two query points comparable to others. Some Walkers remarked on the unfairness, while others were glad she used her query points to help.


    But Izel chuckled cheerfully at their conversation. ¡®The world has always been unfair; just get used to it.¡¯ He wasn''t depressed; truthfully, he was carefree about such topics. After that, the blind man skipped it all, deeming the rest of the conversation irrelevant and boring.


    Diana Ross: Hehe... I''m just so lucky... (If one could see the latter''s face, one could see how evil her grin was.) Ahem, ahem, I think they''re also adding a new branch system to the fortress operating system called the ''SABER''.


    [The new branch system called ''SABER'' was a very simple design that was architected with based-type development features'' imbued, which allowed walkers to three-based raids before a main dungeon raid.]


    [The labyrinth-based raid.]


    [The battlefield-based raid.]


    [The expedition-based raid.]


    [After the SS+ dungeon raid, walkers who chose to stay would get to choose one of these based-type raids from the ''SABER'' system. Essentially, it all depends on how one wants to grow in the Fortress of Dungeons.]


    Diana Ross: Once you choose one of these ''based-type raids'', you''ll get to go on a pertinent raid.


    [If a specific walker chooses a labyrinth-based raid, he or she gets to plunder and loot types of hidden labyrinths scattered about in the Fortress of Dungeons.]


    [A battlefield-based raid would consist of a walker that involves each group of walkers, akin to protecting the batons or flags for an extended period.]


    [Lastly, an expedition-based raid would be mostly exploration and adventure with a party through lost tombs and hidden historical sites.]


    While listening to Diana Ross''s explanation, Izel attempted to imagine various scenarios from all three raid types. He pondered which one to choose when the time came.


    The Vegeta that slays Goku: And even if one plans to leave after the SS+ dungeon raid, no one still knows how expensive the ''item'' would cost.


    Louise Maya: Hah, I guess it''s time to start saving Verdes.


    Ionia Trey: Haha, you will die if you never spend on your gear per raid. Be careful. And take it easy.


    The seadog that eats weed: Y''all might have to keep accepting the dungeon raids to save enough Verdes.


    Diana Ross: Yeah. I guess¡­ I wasn''t able to find anything else. Too bad!


    James Eladrin: Of course! You have two questions... I expect you to have more than that.


    Githzerai Humon: I don''t like the sound of having to go against the other walkers.


    Little Lily: As a survival theme, they probably won''t let the losing side live, would they?


    Westeros Caleb: Expect the Unexpected


    "It seems Beelzebub wasn''t willing to provide the Walkers with the complete picture of whatever they asked using their Query points," Izel muttered to himself. In other words, the administrator''s way of informing his assistant was by giving the ''dogs'' a few slices of jerky at a time.


    "Damn, that''s some impressive information control," he murmured, returning from his reverie. He took these observations into account, preparing to use the Query points when the time came. The blind man then casually skimmed through the Forum, searching for more scattered snippets of information.


    The Hand of a Warrior: I think I understand the ''SABER'' system now.


    Barry Strick: Shhh! I think we''ve figured out as much as we can at this point.


    Walter Morell: Right! I guess everything else is up to us now to survive.


    Andr¨¦ Miller: Damn, the other walkers from other difficulties have probably already finished their raids.


    Kelvin Otto: Lmao, yeah, I guess we are the only ones that passed early.


    However, all the chats became more fruitless. Izel yawned as his mind felt a bit sleepy, so he turned off the forum.


    ¡®Why ain''t I happy about finding out the returnees'' methods?¡¯ Izel subconsciously wondered. It was only natural for the blind man to return permanently, get accepted by a famous guild as a returnee from the fortress of Dungeons, and become something bigger and more famous¡ªa high-rank hunter.


    He folded his hands and nodded. If he utilized his experiences and skills, he could conquer various ''subterranean labyrinths'' on Eliluam, created and filled with monsters, devour stronger monsters, and eventually become an S-rank hunter. Or perhaps discover and uncover the FFO secrets of the world, the causes of monsters'' outbreaks from their (Vulkan) ''realm'', and the origins of the fortress of Dungeons.


    So many insurmountable benefits could fall into his grasp if he permanently returned to Elilaum. Yet, those honors didn''t sit well with him, possibly because he had set up a goal for himself that made him aware of his greed as a human.


    Honor, wealth, love, power, and fame - those were feelings that humans developed as time passed. With greed as its fuel, it becomes a limitless desire that knows no bounds. Of course, he had the right to think that way; after all, he was once a pitiful and freeloading blind forsaken human waiting for death''s call. But in just four days, he accepted the invitation to the fortress of Dungeons, risking his life since then and suffering other side effects¡­


    ''I had become a D-rank Walker.'' Aye, it was an undeniable fact that made him consider that given more time, he could become much stronger. Exactly. Izel desired to get stronger so that even the sky wouldn''t be his limit. He wanted to accept more dungeon raids and devour more monsters. "Then, I could live a carefree, fulfilled, and luxurious life with a loving wife and kids." With those concluded thoughts, an involuntary smile formed across his face.


    ¡®Then why am I becoming insatiable, to the point of forsaking my ultimate goal?¡¯ After pondering this, a resounding slap landed on both his cheeks, jolting him from the clutches of greed. The A+ raid and SS+ dungeon raids posed future problems; surviving the C-rank might be a challenge in itself. He needed to focus more on the raid happening in a few hours rather than those far ahead. ¡®I''ll consider those raids when the time approaches.¡¯


    Moreover, survival and becoming stronger stood as the most crucial objectives. He exhaled sharply and summoned his status.


    [Name: Izel Ethalt Blind.


    Age: 19 years old.


    Strength: 35 Stamina: 43


    Agility: 47 Mana: 26


    Constitution: 22


    Active skills


    Gear: Flawlation (F)


    *Soul Assimilation (E)


    Hemostasis (E+)


    Anesthesia (D)


    Passive Skills


    Sound Reading (Innate)


    Fortress Currency


    Verdes: 103]


    After sensing his new growth, which had significantly increased since the last dungeon raid and surpassed the measly stats from the tutorial where all his attributes were below 7, a faint yet satisfied smile crept across his lips, acknowledging the steady improvement. With his total stats now nearing 180, he felt notably powerful for his current level.


    "My agility and stamina are too high," murmured Izel, displeased with the imbalance in his stats. His preferred combat style leaned towards being an all-rounder. He believed in maintaining a nice balance among all his stats rather than focusing solely on pure agility, except in cases where it was necessary to push ahead.


    Amidst his thoughts, doubts began to throb in his mind about whether his current stats would suffice for the next raids. His desire to improve further surged within him.


    "Souls Assimilation details," he uttered, seeking more information.


    [*Active Skill: Soul Assimilation.


    Rank: E


    Proficiency: 30%


    Effect (1): Transduction¡ªDevour the soul of the slain targets into essences ''transmuted souls''.


    Demerit: The effective success rate will be lowered if the target has an overwhelming presence when alive or has a weighty soul.


    Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation. The host can permanently increase stats by up to five randomly allocated points, depending on the devoured essence.


    Demerit (2): Stats can''t increase more than five randomly allocated points, no matter how worthy the devoured essence or how high the skill proficiency is.


    Bonus Effect (2): Capacitance. The host can store up to ten devoured transmuted souls ''essences'' for future use.


    Demerit (2): Essence Capacitance depends on the Host''s willpower. Stored essences will possess the host if their will is sufficiently weakened.]


    After hearing the feminine voice''s narration, he nodded proudly at the 30 percent increase in skill proficiency.


    ''I hope I get a new effect when it reaches 50 percent,'' he hoped, contemplating the different skill development tendencies compared to Elilaum hunters in the fortress. Skills evolved to a higher rank at 100 percent proficiency, but at 50 percent, there could be an improvement and additional effect.


    ''However, it all depends on probability,'' Izel mused, acknowledging the uncertain outcome.


    Deciding to move on, he checked his Gear effect details.


    [Active Gear skill: Flawlation (F) effect: Within a radius of 360 degrees, the world would be composed of only black lines on a white background. Objects and soundwaves perceived consisted of only black lines illustrating their outline. While ''mana'' would be sensed in color.


    Proficiency: 3%


    Demerit: The host remains blind.]


    The skill proficiency was getting closer to 5 percent, a significant improvement from the previous one percent. He wondered what he might perceive through the blindfold once it reached its assumed threshold. Anyway, he summoned his [Sound Reading] details to check for any improvements.


    [Passive Skill: Sound Reading (innate)


    To analyze and detect sound waves and types of frequencies, determine the location of objects in the environment by using reflected sound waves while perceiving multiple different sensory and body languages at once at a rate of 30% accuracy.


    Demerit: high-pitched, screeching sound as well as upper mid-frequency range can cause physical discomfort or pain response to the ears and might cause bleeding. High-pressure waves overly stimulate the overly sensitive nociception, causing a sensation of discomfort or pain, which could lead to headaches and mental strain.]


    ''Ah! Same as always,'' he let out a sigh. It was the same as when he was in the tutorial. In truth, he wasn''t disappointed but rather felt weird. ''An innate skill that had neither proficiency nor extra effect yet had a demerit.'' Izel could guess something was up but didn''t know what. Perhaps it was because it was a skill he was born with. After pondering for a minute, he just brushed it off and ended up with an overall conclusion: ''It''s a skill that''s part of me.¡¯


    Setting that aside, his stats weren''t increasing as much as in the tutorial and F-rank raid, but he wasn''t too worried about it. As long as he found more monsters with a ''less overwhelming existence than when alive'' to devour, he could slowly increase his stats by five random points.


    [Soul Assimilation] makes the user stronger the more he or she slays and devours. So, he could increase [Soul Assimilation] skill proficiency in the upcoming C-rank dungeon raid if he prepared himself. Currently, with his stats, Izel could probably kill a wolf with his bare hands. Feeling energized, he got up from the white bed.


    TACK!


    Soon after, he decided to test himself by doing some jumps. He propelled himself off the ground as hard as he could. His now-light body went far beyond his expectations now that he had reached a certain point in his constitution. Landing back on the floor, he counted off six rounds of jumps he unleashed, yet he wasn''t fazed in the slightest thanks to his increased stamina stat.


    ''What a warm-up!'' He took deep breaths without any form of fatigue. The blind man started to feel more inhuman as his agility increased; he sprinted from the end of the waiting room to the opposite end in a matter of ten seconds.


    ''It feels as if my body is like a living weapon.'' He flexed his body for more tests. After a while, he figured that he wouldn''t generally be used to such an increase in agility yet. No, rather, his control when on top speed is lacking. As the air jammed across his face, he happened to stumble on his footing before he could roundhouse to the other end of the room.


    SLAM!!!


    "Ugh, shit!" He slammed into the white wall with a huge impact, creating a hollow crater in his attempt to slow down his movement to quickly meander and evade the wall. It was an aftereffect of his lopsided stats, so therefore, proper training to control his agility would have to be deployed. Though, how did he fight in the D-rank dungeon raid despite his unnerving stats? Or did something happen that increased my stats unknowingly? He wondered hopelessly.


    Even though he couldn''t still recall such moments, he concluded it to be so. Nonetheless, he is currently physically superior to the Wolf Guards, as long as he can get used to the difference.


    ''Defeating them now would be easy peasy.'' He nodded proudly as he attempted to get up from the floor. At least that is what he had in mind. Anyway, he should never let his guard down at any moment; a single mishap could cost his life on a larger scale. Just like now, he had knees, ankle injuries, a broken nose, and a damaged spine, which is currently healing from the waiting room amid an absence of grey vapor. ''Ah, I will wait till I get healed up!''


    The C-rank dungeon raid starts in 17 hours and 21 minutes.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 10 - The Gatekeeper...

    After his injuries healed, Izel dedicated ten hours to training his body, aiming to improve his agility stats and enhance his reflexes. He was keen on avoiding overconfidence after defeating a magical beast and yet, not succumbing to excessive caution. As part of his regimen, he also allotted six hours for rest, intending to restore his mind to a pristine condition.Before that, "Trading Center," Izel''s words created a rupture out of thin air. In his mind, as always, the trading center''s catalog opened up. The inner monotonous voice narrates through the catalog by category. Moments later, he shook his head: ¡®Is this the extent of items I can purchase at the moment?¡¯


    He chose to purchase a new vest identical to the old, scarred one; however, it was no longer available in the trading center. Perhaps due to the high traffic caused by multiple walkers making rapid purchases, the vest lacked all the skills and items Izel would have to buy alongside it. After previewing most of the currently available items, he had a pretty good idea of what he should purchase.


    "Alright, to begin..." Izel made his decision clear: "Please purchase this.¡±


    [You have purchased Groot Vest (D-).]


    [18 Verdes have been deducted.]


    On the blind man''s bed lay a black, shiny, mature-looking vest with a polished matte finish. It cost a total of 29 Verdes less than the previous vest. It was the third armor-like item that the teen had purchased during his time in the fortress. However, instead of testing it out immediately, he remarked, ''I will try it out later.¡¯


    "Next¡­" the feminine voice stated as she flipped through the catalog. He then selected his next item. ''I''ll take the ''black-slim fitted trousers.''


    [You have purchased ''Black-slim fitted trousers''.]


    [9 Verdes had been deducted.]


    A whopping nine Verdes are enough to feed a walker''s appetite for three days straight. It was nothing compared to the Verdes that Izel normally spent for his food supplies, but there were some Verdes that should be possible to earn back during a raid.


    The fairly brown-skinned teen simply shrugged his shoulders and continued shopping.


    ''Cloud boots and a special black blindfold.'' He decides.


    [You have purchased ''Cloud boots'']


    [32 Verdes had been deducted.]


    [You have purchased ''Special Black Blindfold''.]


    [15 Verdes had been deducted.]


    A pair of tonal white leather boots, embellished with a large black upward-pointing arrow across their upper, along with a familiar black simple-looking blindfold, appeared above his bed.


    [Remaining Verdes: 29.]


    Having only 29 Verdes remaining might feel quite low at the moment, but to Izel, it was still enough to renew his food supplies and stock up on a few low-cost emergency supplies if needed. Starting with the Groot vest, Izel began to wear his newly purchased item. Its full details swarmed into his mind almost instantly


    [...]


    [Groot Vest (D-).


    Grade: D-


    Description: A fragmentation protective coating and hard fiber-based pre-active layers that ''Groot'' gifted the ''Lionheart Hero'' for his hard work. Made from ultra-high-molecular, lightweight polyethylene Groot wood that doesn''t break easily and absorbs impact.


    Effect 1: Activates a tree''s tentacle layers to protect its user from all attacks when health falls below 10%.


    Demerit: The effect wouldn''t activate if its user was at a critical health drop of 5%.


    Effect 2: 10% root tentacles attack power against impending enemy attacks.


    Demerit: high mana-consumption rate according to the tentacles produced.


    Effect 3: Increase the strength of the vest after taking a certain threshold of gruesome impact.


    Demerit 3: All effects work with the user''s mana. Standby operation drained mana exponentially due to its overly pre-active layers'' mana conductivity. The vest can only withstand C-rank impacts.]


    It was a pretty valuable item, in contrast to its whopping price, and it boasted ample effects compared to his previous vest.


    ''Plus, its demerits are bearable, with creepy effects,'' Izel thought as he put the vest on. To his surprise, it fit perfectly without training. Imbuing mana into the vest, he was able to tell that its mana conductivity was on another level. His mana enveloped its detailed pre-active layers and flowed smoothly.


    But such high quality and durability did have their flaws, such as high mana consumption and... Moments later, he felt his mana decrease exponentially. S?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Which also seemed to be true according to its last demerit.'' He paid close attention to the item and retracted his mana. These could also be the drawbacks of its insurmountable characteristics.


    One of the things that caught his attention was the phrase ''made for a hero.''


    He clicked his tongue, wondering what kind of human he was. Later, he deemed it a ridiculous reflection.


    ''It doesn''t matter.'' Whoever he truly was, that didn''t change the fact that he had to fight non-stop if he wanted to stay alive in this fortress.


    He put on the black slim-fitted trousers. Instantly, its full details tickled his mind.


    [Black-slim fitted trousers]


    [Grade: None


    Type: Wears


    Description: A low-cost piece created and made by the designer in an unknown alley. Weight reduction spells had been applied to its raw materials as well as the inbuilt belts, allowing the wielder''s movements to be even more agile and flexible than before.


    Demerit: Wear and tear occur according to the increase in body weight. Being low-cost, the materials are also of poor quality; it is advisable to change after a year or so to avoid body overheating.]


    As information swiftly raced through his mind, a kind smile graced his lips. ''Finally, a terrific pair to replace the last,'' he thought. However, his satisfaction waned when he noticed the demerit at the bottom.


    ''Ah! To think such a demerit could render low-cost wear unsuitable for long-term use.''


    Yet, it seemed a fair trade-off for weight reduction and ''agile'' features. Considering this aspect alone, disregarding the demerit, comparing it to his previous charred trousers seemed trivial. He had acquired those trousers handsomely in the second tutorial, valuing their ''wear and tear resistance'', not to mention the ones he strode into the fortress wearing. Moreover, these new ones boasted built-in belts. Running his fingers over the quality black smooth fabric, Izel nodded proudly, imagining how stylish he would appear. ''I bet I''m going to look much cooler.¡¯


    Truthfully, he favored his prior attire, which never required thrashing and perfectly suited the fairly brown-skinned teen managing his hard-earned Verdes. However, as ''these'' were the only option currently available, he had no choice but to purchase them. ''No, it wasn''t really a choice. Who knows if the previous option will still exist in the next hour?¡¯


    Surprisingly, the trousers were more comfortable and adjusted better to his weight, making him feel lighter in them.


    ''Even the inbuilt belt securely holds onto my scabbard,'' he marveled. Putting it to the test, he dashed around the waiting room, feeling no discomfort whatsoever. He felt notably agile. Suppressing his satisfaction, Izel shrugged his shoulders.


    "Moving on¡­¡±


    Next, he sought the item he had been confounded about, his face slightly contorting as he clapped his hand to find its location. Retrieving it from the ground near his old longsword scabbard, his fingers explored its form.


    "¡­!¡±


    ''Uptowns.'' Bewildered, sweat beaded down his cheek as he realized his mistake. Although it bore some resemblance to what he had in mind, it was actually the ''Cloud boots'' he had purchased. Sighing with a tinge of disappointment, the full details flooded into his mind.


    [Cloud boots.


    Grade: D.


    Description: These are the black boots that its creator, ''Newmark'', had specially created a long time ago, but its owner, the chieftain of a tribe, ''Mule'', had one day lost them amid a bloody battlefield, and they had been lost and forgotten in time.


    Active Effect: While imbued with mana, the user can grant a 50 percent boost to his or her movement speed produced solely by agility.


    Note: Purchase the ''Stats Boost Long Collar Cardigan Cloak'' to utilize the effect to the max. Without it, the user would sustain irreversible muscle damage from flesh reaction shock and body overheating from a 25 percent movement boost.


    Demerit: The active effect can be used again after 24 hours of cooldown time.]


    Amidst his admiration, evident from his gentle smile, the boots reminded him of ''uptowns'' he couldn''t purchase on Elilaum due to their incredibly high price. Despite being disgustingly pricey, the effect and ''Note'' indicated that these were indeed the right boots needed for the full utilization of the ''Stats Boost Long Collar Cardigan Cloak'' agility effect without any drawbacks. He couldn¡¯t suppress his smile, no matter how hard he tried, and nodded with satisfaction. ''All I can say is that this shit''s worth it.¡¯


    The last piece of equipment remaining would be the ''Special Blindfold'' for his vision.


    [Special Black Blindfold.


    Grade: None.


    Description: A black special blindfold that could only be utilized with a special visionary skill. It comes in a variety of colors and materials.


    Demerit: It could only be sold and used in the fortress of Dungeons...]


    ''As always, it''s the same,'' Izel thought, familiar details flowing through his mind. He clicked his tongue, frustrated by the insufficient demerit still affecting his vision.


    He sighed, twitching his eyelids. The tickling pain had subsided further, ensuring it would be fully healed before the next raid. "Seems that''s all; let''s continue the training," he muttered.


    With a concentrated look, he rose from the bed, placing the blindfold into his inventory, where it vanished. After ensuring everything was in order and adjusting his clothes, the blind man resumed his training with his Aurora short sword.


    The C-rank Dungeon Raid starts in 15 hours and 9 minutes.


    Steadily, Izel immersed himself in training, adapting to his deficiencies and controlling his strengths. Apart from mastering his reflexes and adjusting to his high agility stat, he also needed to acclimate to his recently acquired gear, particularly his Aurora short sword, which had significantly shortened his reach.


    "This is so much fun, hehe," he remarked, unperturbed by the vast amount of skills he needed to acquire. The more he trained, the more he found himself enjoying it. Time flew by, and thirty minutes had already passed. During that time, he grew more accustomed to wielding the short sword and harnessing his inhuman agility stats.


    In simple terms, when he aimed for full speed, his cloud boots not only assisted in guarding his footing but also amplified the control of his calves, a skill he had recently mastered. However, without his ''Cloud Boot,'' he could only manage 85% of his agility speed and a 22% improvement in control.


    He could only maintain almost full speed for ten minutes before losing control again¡ªan improvement from training while sustaining injuries and fatigue. However, despite the healed injuries, he felt his progress was minimal. Giving himself some credit, he acknowledged that without the waiting room, his improvement wouldn''t have been possible, if at all.


    Thirty minutes later, he improved several deficiencies, including reflexes, and almost fully adapted to the effects of his newly acquired items, except for his [Flawlation], which was still affecting his eyesight.


    Suddenly, a deafening BOOM! echoed through the room as dense mana streaked by at breakneck speed. It was accompanied by chains of various attacks relentlessly bombarding the white wall. Shrapnel scattered around, and dirt and dust filled the air.


    Healing all injuries and status fatigue. This effect is consistently applied in the waiting room.


    As the gush of dust began to disperse, he gasped for air amidst the gray vapor, feeling a gentle light sweep over him as the room''s auto-recovery triggered.


    "Wow, to think I could deal this much damage," he exclaimed, momentarily stunned by the aftermath. The waiting room bore the marks of his battle¡ªcraters, shattered walls, and cracked floors¡ªa sight he couldn''t see but could sense through the cacophony of loud sound waves and dominant mid-range pitch frequencies assaulting his ears. Dust brushed around his nostrils, creating a tingling sensation.


    Though the wall remained stationary compared to his enemies, he never imagined himself causing such a huge, distorted mess. Despite the chaos, a sense of enjoyment washed over him, prompting a reverent smile to tug at his lips. As the dust faded completely, he mused aloud, "Is... this quite nice?" His lopsided stats, once despised, now shed new light on his path of repetitive training.


    ''I guess I''m doing the best I can.'' It wasn''t because he suddenly became a prodigy in fighting or training; he just felt a bit ecstatic about trying his best to catch up to the experienced and prodigy-like Walkers. As the waiting room also healed up in a few minutes, he began to train again.


    His body fluttered; his heart vibrantly beat faster, and his whole body grew more alert compared to a while ago. He began to feel more alive. Perhaps he was slowly going crazy as his body repeatedly got healed while he energetically trained as if he were in a trance.


    ''Was it normal to feel like this, despite knowing I could die at any moment?'' he contemplated with a happy smile. Or maybe he was just an awkward teen from the start; he just never realized it. He couldn''t answer those questions, but he knew one thing: ''No one knows what they have until they have lost it all.¡¯


    After all, this was also the first time Izel ever had a chance to build potential; he never knew its purpose. No, rather, he never got the chance to figure out the fortress objective for inviting him. But as a blind man with an ultimate goal and ambition, all he could do now was work tirelessly toward that self-created purpose.


    "I needed to grow beyond surviving the next raid," he muttered, hoping for those days to arrive sooner. ''I guess that''s enough training,'' thought Izel as he moved to the white, comfy bed. He unsheathed his shortsword, had a few meals, and then took a six-hour short nap.


    The C-rank Dungeon Raid starts in 1 hour and 3 minutes.


    As the timer''s countdown jolted his mind awake, he struggled to slowly open his eyelids, the tickling pain within them finally subsiding. Despite being unable to see, he felt relieved that things were unfolding as he had predicted.


    Still half-asleep, he contemplated how he would survive the upcoming raid, just fifty minutes away. Lost in thought, he managed his dinner and engaged in exercises to invigorate his stuffy body. As always, the waiting room alleviated his fatigue and exhaustion.


    Time swiftly passed, marked only by the ticking of the timer. Its sound was undeniably cruel. Suddenly, an alert resounded, signaling the imminent moment. With just 10 seconds left, Izel swiftly removed his special blindfold from the inventory before...


    The C-rank Dungeon Raid starts in 0 seconds. Time up.


    Deactivating the ''Extreme'' difficulty¡ªfortress operating system; the Broker, Trading Center, Inventory, and Forums.


    The long-awaited moment had arrived. Izel quickly tied his special blindfold around his eyes and secured his partially burnt pocket-sized bag around his wrist. It was time to embark on the next raid.


    Do you accept the C-rank mission?


    Yes/No


    "Yes," he said, ruffling his white-silver hair back, causing a few bangs to fall onto his forehead. He was well-dressed for battle, resembling a ripper. ''Fully prepared,'' he nodded to himself as he entered the flatly oval portal. It was time to test out his ten hours of training.


    As Izel''s feet confidently stepped out of the portal, he understood that he had done the best he could to prepare. To survive and live another day, he knew he had to succeed in this raid at all costs.


    Entering the C-rank Dungeon


    Difficulty: Extreme.


    Starting the dungeon theme.


    In front of the blind man, gargantuan, archaic citadel-like fortresses emerged enveloped in crimson flames. Aye, they were super-sized, boasting tall fortresses over a hundred floors high, standing erect as if to pierce the heavens above. Were he not blind, the mere sight would induce extreme dizziness by looking up.


    This foreign vista was filled with desperation, despair, and agony. His mind couldn''t help but remark, ''It feels as if I''m standing before hell.'' Though they appeared as a red hue emitting from black contours, spreading outward and skyward in his [Flawlation], an ominous sensation still tensed his neck.


    Accompanying the resonant glow of the hell-like flames, searing sounds loudly resounded through the pitch-black, foggy atmosphere. Izel couldn''t help but wonder about the intense heat within those fortresses. After the portal fully disappeared, the pitch-black fog began to clear, revealing a massive gate in front of the burning buildings. Above, a vivid eclipse gleamed. ''Such a creepy sensation!'' he thought.


    The C-rank raid is commencing soon.


    Raid condition: Assassinate the gatekeeper.


    Raid Failure: Walker''s Death


    Raid reward: Holy Water of Titanium.


    After the flurry of messages, he noticed that no matter how bright the searing flames were, they couldn''t penetrate the thick, dark fog. Furthermore, sound waves seemed disrupted upon nearing the fog. In short, battling amid the fog would be disadvantageous due to its differing temperatures.


    From this observation, he felt the ground, wet and chilly. Izel concluded there was a temperature difference between the cold and hot regions, neither overpowering the other.


    ''What a rare sight to behold,'' he admired. ''I wonder how the gatekeeper would be.'' The fairly brown-skinned teen began imagining who or what the gatekeeper might look like.


    As curiosity grew, caution followed. Izel understood the stakes; failure here meant certain death. He shook his head, took a deep breath, and ventured deeper. Fear began to grip him as no presence resembling the gatekeeper manifested, except for the large gate ahead.


    ''It might lurk in the shadows, trying to catch me off guard,'' he speculated. Swallowing hard, he assumed an alert posture, right hand on the hilt. As he approached the gate, it seemed he had to reach a specific point for the gatekeeper to sense him. Tension mounted in his chest.


    Unable to inspect the fog''s depths with his sound reading, memories of battling the goblin king stirred within him. Heightened alertness drove him to keep his guards close.


    As his steps cautiously crossed a certain threshold, a gate knob unlocked, echoing faintly. Was it instinct or nervousness? His eyes widened beneath the blindfold as he leaped backward.


    "¡­!"


    The gatekeeper had sensed your presence.


    The gatekeeper will spawn in 10 seconds.


    After receiving the concise messages, cold sweat beaded down his cheek as he exhaled with a touch of grace. These familiar words indicated that the ''opponent'' hadn''t surfaced yet. It was the monotony of these words that exerted more psychological pressure on him.


    Initially assuming it might be lurking in the shadows, the recent message suggested it would spawn randomly from somewhere. Consequently, there wasn''t much he could do in this perilous situation but wait. Patiently, Izel kept his guard up, feeling his body quiver and the tension grow.


    His heart raced as if he were driving a Lambo truck; he continuously swallowed dry saliva enough to fill a bucket. Truthfully, he wasn''t overly scared; he was simply on edge due to an adversary he knew nothing about. ''The gatekeeper of what?'' Even the name alone felt suffocatingly ominous.


    The gatekeeper is spawning now.


    "KRRRRRRR!¡±


    Immediately following the message, a peeved shout reverberated deafeningly, coinciding with his eardrums being assaulted by a spurt of blood. Despite the thick, dark fog blocking sound waves, it seemed imperceptible to the gatekeeper.


    As a gust of shredding wind loomed towards Izel from the left, his [Flawlation] alerted him. He forcefully twisted his body, instinctively conjuring a superfast, flimsy barrier to mitigate the unseen attack.


    Regrettably, it proved insufficient. The feeble barrier shattered almost instantly upon contact, causing aftershocks that trembled his hands. It had been a desperate attempt, yet he had never imagined a mere gush of wind could shatter the barrier that had spared him from certain death during the avalanche.


    That wasn''t the end of it; the attack was potent enough to elicit a groan from him and thrust him three meters back. Momentarily panicked, Izel exhaled deeply, swiftly overcoming his trembling arms and returning to his stance.


    After leaping back to his initial position to confront the new foe¡­


    Assassinate the gatekeeper, Brotnos.


    After the grand announcement, the gatekeeper, who had once sufficed his mind, finally emerged. A shadowy humanoid figure slowly strode forward, wielding a greatsword brimming with a rivulet of eclipse.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 11 - A Monstrosity beyond belief...

    Its humanoid build surged with mana, as though searing with a cobalt-like flame. Despite not towering like a goblin king or being as colossal as the Snake Lord, it stood slightly taller than a 3-meter-high orc. Wielding a hefty weapon that emitted the sound of a million crickets, it was a greatly irritating noise for Izel. Thankfully, his ears were already inactive. With [Flawlation], it appeared as nothing more than a black outline brimming with a bluish hue, wielding a greatsword that emitted strange ripples.This was the first time Izel found himself facing a creature about which he hadn''t heard a single piece of information. ''There''s no way high-walkers have ever faced this monstrosity,'' he doubted, feeling all of his hair stand on end. A blind man fighting an unknown adversary was a significant handicap¡­


    ''But I had to fight to win,'' he thought, adopting a battle stance, resolving never to initiate the first move. Instead observing the knight-like monster''s bodily and battle responses. Meanwhile, the gatekeeper also stood motionless, watching him closely. It seemed as though it, too, was surveying what kind of prey this walker might be.


    "¡­!"


    ''This isn''t good.'' Sweat nervously beads down the blind man''s cheek as he faces an unexpected challenge. The abomination before him acts solely based on his actions, a stark contrast to the monsters he encountered in previous tutorials. The extreme difficulty of this encounter becomes painfully apparent with each raid, pushing Izel further towards the brink of death.


    Perhaps this is what it''s like to climb a sloppy mountain with nothing but bare hands.


    "KRRRR!"


    The featureless dark facial region unveiled a terrifying, symbiote-like maw that emitted a high-pitched, deafening growl. In an instant, Brotnos'' greatsword arced horizontally towards Izel''s neck.


    "¡­!"


    The overwhelming ability to close the distance without a single sound or ripple frightened the blind man as if time had frozen. In haste, he involuntarily leaned backward, narrowly evading the latter''s greatsword from grazing his neck. Specifically, it was a delicate hair''s breadth evasion that reflected his dumbfounded expression as the surging blade whisked off a few of his bangs, dropping them to the ground.


    BLAST!


    The aftershock blew the pitch-black haze away overwhelmingly, akin to a lash of wind, as its impact resonated throughout the atmosphere. A strong force indeed, raising and scattering dust and dirt.


    But that wasn''t all. Amidst the chaos, a humanoid''s roundhouse kick swiftly found the blind man''s gut. His mouth gaping wide, he was forcefully propelled back into the darkness. If there had been a wall, he would have crashed into it, shattering it into smithereens.


    ''Such absurd amount of resilience, just from a kick.'' Izel commented, as his body became impassive, and his mind went blank. As the aftershock surged through his body, he stiffened his muscles with mana, aiming to preserve his organs from being ripped to shreds. This effort caused blood to spout out of his mouth and nose. The agony was so immense that, for a brief moment, the brown-tanned man felt the cataclysmic void of death. But¡­


    ''I wouldn''t allow myself to be defeated...'' He clenched both his fists and bit his lower lip, jolting himself awake. ''...so easily,'' Blood dripped. Momentarily, he unsheathed his sword and struck it into the ground. Of course, it wasn''t easy, since he was coursing through the air at an overwhelming speed.


    A trail of friction scraped between his blade and the ground before he gained control of his trembling feet. Despite the immense agony plaguing him relentlessly, Izel narrowed his vision, which was obstructed by a blur. Thoughts bitterly raced through his shaky mind: ''This shouldn''t be called a monster!''


    Right. To be precise, it was a mysterious nightmare with limitless range, superior physical strength, and overwhelming mana. A calamity with stats that defy the law of strategy and proper planning. It was a completely distinct monster from the ones he had fought so far. It was as though all his planning and critical thinking had just shattered to pieces. His strategy of isolating the weaker opponent to increase his stats before having a battle with the apex wouldn''t work here.


    It was a confrontational death match; no surrounding monsters, and no escape route. Just a one-on-one battle between a symbiote-like abomination and a blind man. The sudden epiphany of his new reality clouded his mind; despair and confusion overcame Izel. So, the straightforward way to survive was to defeat this monster. It was as if giving the Walker enough time to dwell on his thoughts was forbidden.


    WHOOSH!


    The latter''s greatsword shot toward him at breakneck speed. It was an attack too potent to be parried by the blind man''s shortsword. In that case, he instantly decided to evade with a minimal amount of movement to react fast enough to its predictable next attack. At least, that was his thought at that moment.


    "Argh!" He executed a backflip at the last second, narrowly evading the powerful thrust. However, the attack unexpectedly fragmented into seven separate thrusts, grazing his left arm with two of them, causing blood to splatter. Without missing a beat, the black humanoid anticipated his reaction and countered with a swift right-horizontal swing attack.


    Shaking off doubts and hesitation, Izel shifted to the left, managing to narrowly evade the attack. A thin tendril of blood splattered around his chest, accompanied by the cracking of bones as he staggered back one meter.


    ''Ugh! This fucker!'' Profanity raced through his mind as successive swings assailed him, leaving no chance for recovery. The Greatsword flashed perilously close to his head, followed by an unrelenting chain of onslaughts. Izel struggled to maintain his ground, gritting his teeth against the numbing sensation in his hand as he parried the final attack to the left.


    As excruciating pain surged through every fiber of his being, blood began to emerge from his body. The attacks were hard enough to parry, but not completely. Limping back cautiously, his cloak became soaked in blood as gore continually beaded down. His head pounded violently as he lost more blood, and his body trembled uncontrollably.


    ''I wanted to save my skill for later, but...'' he thought. Without a doubt, it was the wrong idea against this adversary. He had no choice; he had to use it, or he might faint from excessive blood loss.


    [Active Skill: Hemostasis (E+) had been activated]


    His body immediately felt a searing sensation as blood surged within him. "I can''t get used to this sensation," he muttered, sucking his tongue. Agony crept throughout the blind man''s body. His blood cells snaked through his vessels, stitching together the external wounds until they vanished. Meanwhile, his cracked bones closed using the sizzling blood, healing rapidly.


    With his left hand, he shook off the remaining patches of gore from his body, leaving only sporadic traces. Crimson blood littered the ground. Afterward, he leaped toward the area where he last envisioned the monster, but to his surprise, the humanoid was nowhere to be found. Instead, only a hazy void greeted him.


    Instead of nervously surveying his surroundings through his [Flawlation], which had become stable compared to the blur earlier, he had his [Sound Reading] active again and focused on both. No matter where the being could be hiding, he just had to sense ''that'' point where ripples and frequencies emerged. It was a point that could change the tides in this battle.


    If he couldn''t find ''that'' point, this blind man would tire out just trying to stay alive. As if in a trance, Izel concentrated on his hazy surroundings, much like he did in the E-rank dungeon. It was faint, but a somewhat familiar wave across the white vastness of space panoramaed his [Flawlation]. Like the gradual waves of a bell''s tintinnabulation, the chirping sound of a million crickets seemed to merge among the faint ripples and frequencies.


    It was a point, the blind man named ''Focal Point''.


    "Found you!" His expression brightened upon realizing his foe''s location. However, the main question lingered: how would the gatekeeper react if he closed the distance? Brotnos seemed to welcome close combat, often overwhelming opponents and preventing counterattacks. The blind man was puzzled by the ease of discovering the humanoid''s position. Could it be that it wanted to be found?


    Regardless, this was his chance. He needed to capitalize on the opportunity and unleash a series of chained attacks towards the gatekeeper, even if its behavior was anticipated.


    In the end, with mana imbued in his feet and sword, he unleashed multiple jabs and swung in all directions. However, the gatekeeper parried all the chained attacks without taking them lightly.


    "KRR! CRRR!"


    Its featureless facial region formed a light growl as it barred the shortsword, materializing an eerie, opaque, knight-like helmet to counter the last stab. The Gatekeeper was shocked by these consecutive chained onslaughts, allowing the Walker to get dangerously close, attempting to demonstrate the gargantuan difference between their overall stats. However, it had no idea that the flex of overwhelming strength lay within this blind man''s predictions.


    Moreover, the Blind Walker anticipated why such a powerful being as the gatekeeper was guarding the gate of the unknown. What lay behind it? No, what was it protecting?


    ''Let''s not dwell on it!¡¯ Overthinking things was taboo. Right now, he has to focus on the task at hand. Izel took another stab. Suddenly, he realized that Brotnos could only counter an attack if it was aimed at its fatal points: the nap, left lower chest, spine, forehead, and even the attempt to slash its legs off to take it off-guard.


    ''I see. I have almost gotten used to the 360-degree view of the flawlation.'' The brown-skinned teen pondered, but it wasn''t the time to pat himself on the shoulder; relatively, it was a crucial moment to utilize what he just recognized. But that stab was a feint. Instead, he immediately created a wide swing coated with mana in an attempt to slash off the humanoid''s body in half in one go, from head to crotch, The sudden endeavor forced the gatekeeper to take a step back. Then he persisted with a vertical slash.


    All three attempts were so fast that the humanoid couldn''t fend off the onslaughts with its greatsword. However, preferably, the entirety of its chest half evaporated precisely before that slash could get to it.


    ''Evade¡­? No, it disperses its upper body. Ah, that doesn''t matter,'' Izel briefly ponders. The point of those three attacks wasn''t to cause the monster any damage. To be precise, all those attacks were decoys. Izel coated his foot with more mana and booted the gatekeeper from the side almost instantaneously, just as it previously did to the latter.


    To be honest, most monsters would instantly lose their balance from a mana-imbued kick. However, this nightmare''s legs slid backward as if affected by the kick. It''s surging, reformed head lurched concurrently as its limbs stiffened onto the ground to balance its stance.


    ''What kind of unwavering nightmare is this?'' Baffled for a second, the blind man didn''t hesitate. He aimed directly at its joints with a lesser concentration of mana. Or at least, that''s how it seemed. Regardless, that didn''t matter; it appeared to be less effective. However, Izel didn''t believe physical attacks would be entirely ineffective.


    ''This... was just unexpected.'' Gasping for air, his heart raced rapidly. Sweat beaded down, trailing along his right cheek onto his delicate neck. Despite this, he persisted. Frost escaped his lips. After their brief exchange of attacks, Izel distanced himself, allowing time to properly catch his breath.


    The stats of this monstrosity were incredibly high, yet it seemed to have underestimated its opponent even more clearly. ''It''s even switching from ''attack'' to ''defense'' now,'' he considered. Clearly, an assailant capable of efficiently alternating between attack and defense demonstrated overwhelming stats. A faint, hollow laugh formed on the lips of this blind man as he fully comprehended why it wasn''t referred to as a gatekeeper for mere frivolity.


    Nevertheless, the longer this exchange continued, the more adaptable this monster would become. Should that happen, it wouldn''t matter if his opponent attacked or defended; defeat would be inevitable.


    Izel wiped the sweat away with his left hand, feeling the daunting disadvantage weighing upon him. As the realization settled in, he understood the intricate manipulation potential of the humanoid body before him. Its intelligence to adapt and predict his battle patterns extended the fights, possibly concealing even more abilities. Despite this quick interaction, Izel grimly concluded that if the confrontation continued, his demise was inevitable.


    ¡®I must end this swiftly,¡¯ he thought. With determination, the blind man resolved to use every resource at his disposal. He lunged towards the creature, his mana-infused aurora swinging once again. The monster adeptly parried each strike, demonstrating complete adaptation to Izel''s attack patterns. But there was a reason behind Izel''s consistent swaying of his shortsword, no matter what**¡­**


    ''It''s about time to end this raid.'' He firmly decided.


    [Chained onslaughts detected.]


    [Attack speed increases by +11%.]


    ¡­ was to activate the Aurora Effect.


    Now initiated, the rapid mana-coated attack didn''t stop as his sword became lighter. An aurora-like heterochromatic aura seeped from its blades as if he were one with the sword in every attack. After all, there had to be a limit to how much impact this damned gatekeeper could handle.


    ''To be precise...'' the blind man briefly thought back and pieced an idea together, ''...I think it couldn''t handle a specific attack, so it vaporized its torso to evade it.'' Aye, if he could put continuous pressure on this non-human character, it would eventually and unconsciously show an opening.


    "¡­!"


    As predicted, an opening point emerged from its black outline. It represented a gap he needed to utilize instantly.


    [Critical point detected.]


    [Reaction speed: +6%.]


    Izel''s hypothesis proved correct. The Gatekeeper glimpsed its impending devastating end and leaped away, evading countless slashes. Nevertheless, the onslaught persisted, culminating in a huge collision. Overwhelming mana dissipated the surrounding haze in a stupendous air blast.


    Shortly after, the blind man suddenly appeared behind it, radiating murderous malice as he slashed toward the monster. Sensing the attack, it swiftly ducked and rolled to evade the swing, which smashed into the ground. Brotnos performed multiple backward somersaults to regain footing as the monster rushed with simultaneous vertical and horizontal slashes, blurring in speed.


    Amid this chaotic exchange, the nightmare carefully imbued mana into its feet, attempting to execute a grass-cut maneuver against the blind man.


    As the cold air at the bottom shook, Izel hopped up, evading it. He countered with a mana-coated kick to the latter''s black cheek, the impact pushing the humanoid back two meters, leaving it in an unstable stance. Without allowing it time to regain balance, more onslaughts from Izel came into contact with the latter''s materialized greatsword.


    Before the gatekeeper could ponder further about what the blind man had in mind, a mysterious clap emanated from the walker. His hands, briefly off his blade, were now coated with mana. A bluish-greenish hue of mana brushed past the monster, catching it off guard before it could realize what was happening¡­


    "...?!"


    [Critical point detected.]


    [Reaction speed: +6%.]


    Slightly confused, a quick stab shot directly from behind without a slight delay. It was as though it were an afterimage, and the blind man had been intensely at its front all along.


    "IM¡­POSS¡­BLE!" Baffled words that couldn''t form in its hollow mind began to seep out of the monster.


    [A clean thrust had been initiated.]


    ''The monster spoke?'' He briefly contemplated the notion but dismissed it as an expected phenomenon, unlike encountering the Goblin Lord. However, now wasn''t the time to dwell on it. The result of his quick decision, trick, and unexpected action had paid off. As if time had frozen, his mana¡ªaccompanied by a sinister aurora of heterochromatic energy¡ªcried out from his shortsword. The thrust shot towards the creature''s forehead.


    BLAST!


    Sizzling hot, black, muddy liquid splattered and poured out of the newly formed hole. The gatekeeper staggered back two to three steps, visibly dazed for a moment before regaining its stance. Though it seemed a little dazed, its life wasn''t in extreme danger.


    "IMPOO¡­ SIBLE! HOW¡­ DARE! GR¡­ R!"


    "¡­?"


    A terrifying, symbiote-like maw formed on its facial region, and a deafening cry erupted with unbelievable rage. As a result, the ground started to shake¡ªnot just the ground, but the entire space they occupied.


    Realizing this, Izel quickly deactivated his [Sound Reading]. Just in time, he prevented his ears from being busted like before.* ''I mustn''t let my guard down for even a second,''* he thought, gritting his teeth until the shuddering subsided.


    It seemed the monster couldn''t believe what it had just experienced. This prideful entity wasn''t slightly shocked; instead, it was flabbergasted and full of fury. A blind Walker was able to fight with it more beautifully and last this long without any critical damage.


    Of course, it acknowledged that the latter had some mysterious skill that healed the previous impaled injuries, sustaining only patches of dry gores here and there on his cloak. ''How dreadful,'' it pondered briefly as the dripping mud from the deep hole on its forehead made its fury skyrocket. ''It was about time I got serious,'' it settled. Just like the Walkers that came before him, it was time to end his petty, insignificant life and engrave despair and agony onto his peasant soul. s?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The creature''s teeth, akin to a symbiote, formed an eerie and hollow grin. Simultaneously, the muddy liquid reversed its flow, retreating into the hole in the gatekeeper''s forehead before closing itself.


    "¡­!"


    Gobsmacked, the Walker sighed stressfully. ¡®It was similar to the waiting room''s auto-healing.¡¯ Familiarly, he thought back...


    As Brotnos raised its head, a black outlined grin painted a panorama for him, [flawlation] obscured. Izel''s entire body flinched in terror, his head throbbing from the sudden resurgence of accumulated trauma within him.


    Unconsciously, it was the monster''s bloodlust stirring up the unrest.


    Though he couldn''t see the eerie or terrifying grin in real time, chill goosebumps rose across his whole body. He could also feel the change in its bodily visuals, indicating that the monstrosity was about to get dangerously serious.


    ''Ah¡­ I''m glad the physical attacks didn''t appear completely useless,'' Izel briefly pondered, gritting his teeth to endure the mental agony. Since the humanoid felt imperiled by this walker, indicating that his chained attacks and tricks were perfectly effective, he concluded that it wasn''t immune to all physical attacks. As long as he utilized any trick in his mind to lower its guard just for a split second and unleash an attack strong enough to penetrate its armor-like defense.


    ''An attack to its head or a grave impact might be able to kill it,'' he hypothesized. Truthfully, not many monsters are unaffected by decapitation, but Izel also considered that this monster shouldn''t be an exception. On the contrary, from the instant healing from the ''thrust'' attack just now, he could tell it could regenerate even its head after being guillotined.


    However, employing new tactics learned from experienced hunters should prove effective. The earlier assurance was enough to prompt him to give it another try. He utilized everything at his disposal, setting up a long link to his trick, culminating in his final attack. Decisively, he steadily condensed his mana into his ''Long Collar Cardigan Cloak'' and ''Cloud Boots.''


    ¡®Let''s test these newly acquired items,¡¯ he took a deep breath, he braced himself, enduring the accumulated trauma.


    [The Special Effects of Stats Boost Long Collar Cardigan Cloak (D) had been activated.]


    [Boost all stats temporarily by 10.]


    [Increases heightened senses by 30% for one minute.]


    [Activation time has been created.]


    [Activation time left: 00:00:56.]


    [Cloud Boots had been detected.]


    [A Special Condition had been met.]


    [Agility had solely been added to Movement Speed]


    [Movement speed has increased by 50%]


    [Black Cardigan with flexible polyethylene fiber internal wear had hardened tenfold.]


    After the spring of messages, all of his stats had temporarily increased by 10. His boots and cloak were shrouded in a whitish-blue ambiance. In other words, his body was rejuvenated as though he were being infused with euphoria-inducing drugs. His body felt light, brimming with overwhelming stamina.


    ''I''ll use all my items and skills, even if it''s unbearable.'' He firmly believed that bearing such a burden was necessary to shift the tides back in his favor and win this raid as soon as possible before his mental trauma reached its breaking point. Instantly, he lightly pushed his foot off the cold ground; his [Flawlation] locked onto the target as he dashed through the air with overwhelming speed. With agility 50% higher than normal and strength over 45, Izel managed to regain his balance while zooming through the air.


    This became achievable after ten hours of training. In the waiting room, he will demonstrate what he has practiced extensively before. Focusing mana at the tip, he drew out its sinister, aurora-like heterochromatic aura. Yet, he wasn''t arrogant enough to aim directly at its head again.


    "¡­!"


    "I¡­WILL¡­KILL YOU!!! WAL¡­ KER!"


    With murderous intent surging around the humanoid, it let out scattered yet pretty comprehensible words. Wielding its materialized greatsword with vigor, it potently seared out cobalt-like mana. Horizontally swinging its sword, it formed a wide magical slash toward the impending walker.


    The blind man, aiming to slice its neck open using his new speed and strength, leaped over to evade that overwhelming slash.


    "FU¡­ CK YOU!" Izel responded the best he could.


    Both of them had adapted to each other''s attack patterns and bodily responses, with their speeds spiking to greater heights. The gatekeeper wore an eerie grin resembling a grim reaper, while the other had a subtle expression. They collided with such force that they struck each other and their surroundings fiercely.


    An unfamiliar, loud metal-to-metal clash rattled their brains upon impact. Shockwaves erupted as multiple attacks bombarded both sides. Despite the overall coating of mana, the onslaught of high-pitched frequencies interfered with his [Sound Reading], causing blood to spurt from his ears and nose.


    Izel, amidst agonizing pain, didn''t have time to scream. He only managed to let out a groan, gnashing his blood-stained teeth fiercely.


    [Health falls below 10%]


    [Effect 1:Groot''s tentacles had bound around the user like steel armor; had been activated]


    [Groot Vest Effect 2: Groot Tentacles had been sent to the impending enemy; had been activated]


    After a series of drowned-out messages, his entire body shook. Leafy vines snaked underneath his clothes, weaving through every layer of his skin and swathing themselves onto his flesh-like armor. But his mind, reaching its limit, phased in and out.


    ''Will I die like this?'' The cataclysmic void of death once again filled his bleak mind. However, unconsciously, Mana disagreed with him.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 12 - Dont underestimate a blind man...

    [Groot''s Vest Effect 2 has been activated.][Root-like tentacles'' attack power had increased by 10% against the impending enemy.]


    As the messages lanced Izel''s mind, a flame of determination and resolve to survive erupted within his heart. ¡®No, I mustn''t let myself be defeated,¡¯ he thought. He bit his tongue, instantly jolting his drifting mind awake. ¡®... after I''ve come this far,¡¯ he muttered. Blood spurted from his mouth, welling down his neck.


    [All ''Black Cardigan Cloak'' flexible polyethylene fiber layers had been shattered by the accumulation of mysterious, overwhelming impacts.]


    SHATTER!


    The ruptures and disintegration of the Cloak layers placed additional burdens on Groot''s vest. His mana-coated root tentacles worked tirelessly to shield the blind man, deflect attacks, dash, and assail the foe with a furious octopus-like fervor.


    [Demerit 2 has been activated.]


    [The high mana-consumption rate had increased fivefold, directly proportional to five-root tentacles.]


    With a preoccupied mind, Izel sensed the rapid drain on his mana core and the recoil from each withered root tentacle colliding with the Gatekeeper''s greatsword. As extensions of his limbs, the chaotic aftermath sent shivers down his stiffened spine.


    As swords and root tentacles clashed, slashing through the air, countless abysmal marks imprinted on the chilly, rigid ground. The two traded dozens of blows, and after a while, a specific condition of Groot''s vest was met.


    [A certain threshold of accumulated impact had been met.]


    [Effect 3 has been activated.]


    [The Strength of the vest had increased by two-fold.]


    The Gatekeeper''s Greatsword moved smoothly, tracing sharp arcs, and then ¡­


    KLANG!


    ... Magical attacks erupted from each side, their fury and fierceness resonating. The heavy greatsword wielded a chained, sharp air pressure, prompting Izel to tightly grip his Aurora shortsword.


    "Hmph!" The blind man released a deep breath, repeatedly swinging his shortsword vertically and horizontally. A mana-shrouded heavy sword needn''t be slow; instead, it quickened, moving with precision and mountain-like power, severing every looming magical root tentacle.


    WHOOSH!


    CLANG!


    Izel''s sword was eventually deflected, swinging upward. He almost lost his grip, and an ominous sword thrust advanced. "What is this force?" he wondered, feeling death approach. However, his [Cloud Boots] faintly shimmered, lifting him from the ground to evade the attack. Twisting in mid-air, he created momentum at the end of his shortsword, swinging it like a Beyblade.


    WHOOSH!


    Izel unleashed five sharp root tentacles along mana-coated slashes toward the humanoid in mid-air. Clashes filled the air, kicking up dust and dirt. Emerging from the haze, the monster zoomed out with a wide slash. Deflecting the heavy attack with two mana-coated tentacles, Izel landed on the ground. His body went numb, pain coursing through him as if it would break him.


    In the grip of agony, he grimaced, grateful for the protection afforded by Groot''s vines shielding his skin. The pain snaked through his body, and he spat out clotted blood, contemplating the dire outcome if those protective tendrils hadn''t shielded his organs. S~?a??h the N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    [Activation time left 00:00: 30.]


    With only thirty seconds remaining, the intense struggle against the Overpowered Gatekeeper had not yet reached its conclusion, despite the latter''s heightened senses. The battle hung in the balance, poised on the precipice of either side''s demise.


    Amid the relentless onslaught, each of them adapted, intensifying more strain on Izel''s traumatized mind. His visuals blurred as a mental overload engulfed him, turning [Sound Reading] into a disorienting symphony of tinnitus, making echolocating the monster''s position an excruciating task.


    Undeterred, the blind man contemplated the advisability of keeping Groot''s tentacles on standby. His double-digit mana stat hinted at a mere two minutes of endurance, perilously close to leaving him drained. If depletion occurred before he could conquer the looming monstrosity, it would undoubtedly seal his demise.


    Amidst the turmoil, both somehow collided in an impactful finishing blow, casting distinct mana shrouds throughout the area.


    CRACK!


    "¡­!¡±


    Was it desperation or simply a display of overwhelming strength?


    FWOOSH!


    The Gatekeeper''s body ignited, rapidly combusting into a raging bluish-dark flame¡ªa peculiar fire encircling its weapon with vigor.


    "¡­!!!¡±


    A terrifying yet familiar sensation tensed Izel''s neck, an extreme sense of danger that triggered memories of being burned alive by searing flames in the past.


    ''I need to retract...'' He trailed off, realizing his mana was insufficient to sustain his [Cloud Boots] for swift evasion. As he forcefully pulled back, the strange flame followed his movement.


    ''This is dangerously bad.'' He shockingly acknowledged this as the flame relentlessly sprayed towards him, spreading like wildfire.


    FWOO, FWOOSH! SIZZLE!


    An extremely fast area-of-effect flame-combustion skill quickly caught up to the blind man. He hastily created a thin-reinforced mana shield with an outer layer of five coupled tentacles¡ªa significant improvement from the flimsy shield he used against Avalanche.


    GNAW! SLAM!


    The sizzling flame collided with the somewhat sturdy shield, cindering the coupled tentacles and diminishing the firepower. It then dashed past the shield, rupturing it into pieces, with remnants of the Gatekeeper''s AOE flame attack lingering in the surrounding area.


    RANT!


    Despite the immediate numbing, shuddering arms, and excruciating pain more intense than the [Snake Lord''s fireball], "Ugh!" Izel grunted.


    "¡­!¡±


    Almost immediately, he slightly ducked as a flame-encased horizontal slash from the rear aimed for his neck. Thanks to his 360-degree [Flawlation] effect, he managed a delicate hair-breadth evasion. Izel then executed a roundhouse, mana-imbued kick at the Gatekeeper. However, the kick hit nothing but dead air¡ªan instantaneous movement of the monster, vanishing without a single sound wave.


    Izel felt his mind going numb. Wobbling from the earlier ''AOE'' attack, he was partially conscious and frustrated, almost consumed by flame-attack skills again. ''Why always flame-type skills?'' he cried inwardly.


    "¡­!"


    "WHY¡­ ARE¡­ YOU FLAILING? WAL¡­ KER!" jeered the Gatekeeper, the words tickling Izel''s heightened sound reading. The distance between them closed instantly as Izel drew swift swings.


    "HAHAHA! YOU HAVE GOT¡­TEN WEAKER!" mocked the Gatekeeper, words yapping underneath its eerie grin. It swiftly dodged Izel''s seemingly strong heterochromatic magical slashes, moving left and right. The Gatekeeper then crouched its helmet-like head, evading a heavy thrust.


    At that moment ¡­


    [00:00 left]


    [All Heightened Senses had reciprocated back to normal.]


    "Shit!" Izel clicked his tongue, his luck taking an unexpected nosedive. The blind man caught off guard, felt a sudden emptiness as if all his heightened senses had deflated. Hormones and invigorating enhancements, everything that once strengthened him, vanished, leaving only a blank void.


    Before he could make sense of his empty mind ¡­


    SLAM!


    Dazed, the blind man was assaulted by a flame-coated uppercut, followed by a punch to his blood-drenched gut from grotesque, shady hands. The snap of jaw muscles and the crunching of bones sent Izel flying through the air.


    [Health falls below 10%.]


    [All critical damage had been taken from flame onslaughts.]


    [Hell Flame has been identified and added to the database.]


    [Health falls below 3%]


    [The host is currently at a critical Health drop of 3%.]


    "Urghhhh!" Excruciating pain surged from his jaw to his entire body. His dilated eyes, hidden beneath a blindfold, quivered involuntarily. The double-fast jaw attack rendered him instantly passive, incapable of bracing his internals against the relentless onslaught.


    As he tried to collect his drifting mind mid-air, his 360-degree vision revealed impending, unavoidable thrusts. ''Damn it, my mind and body aren''t responding; I need to activate [hemostasis],'' Izel sadly acknowledged. He never anticipated being utterly helpless, despite rigorous training, preparation, and the assortment of items at his disposal.


    "DiEEEE! WALKER!"


    The Gatekeeper''s loud shout was drowned out as blood splattered, decorating the air in crimson. His body was impaled by thrusts, shattering all mana defenses unconsciously deployed. His expression turned worse and gloomy, unable to comprehend his fate. The monster, quite amazed, knocked the fallen blind man to the ground.


    THUD!


    Craters appeared on the chilling soil, and dust arose. Reflecting on the deadly actions until now, the monster landed strongly on the Walker with a searing-flame-like impact.


    BOOM! CR-CRACK!


    The rupture on the ground expanded with an even louder explosion. Not even a groan leaked out from the latter; no blood spouted. Only the sound of whacked bones and snapped muscles pervaded the air. A pool of blood soaked the ground.


    Izel was squashed under the foot of the Gatekeeper; the ground underneath buckled, unable to handle the weight. His heartbeat and all body functions dimmed.


    The Gatekeeper finally found satisfaction, detecting neither mana nor body responses from the adversary buried beneath it. It shook off the blood from its massive sword.


    "DAMN... WALKER. SO PERSISTENT. BUT..." The Monster uttered bitterly, reflecting on the fight from the beginning to this very point. Its grin vanished, and its featureless face returned. Clenching its fist tightly, it left the crater and began to stroll. "I NEVER EXPECTED THAT BRAT TO LAST THIS LONG!¡±


    Deep down, the Gatekeeper was aware that it had let emotions get the better of it, unnecessarily prolonging the battle just to savor the taste of combat it hadn''t experienced since encountering a few ''skilled walkers'' years ago.


    With its strengthened body returning to normal and its great sword dissipating into nothingness, the Gatekeeper mused, ''I guess this blind walker wasn''t that great....'' It suddenly trailed off.


    [Critical point detected.]


    [Reaction speed: +6%.]


    PSHK!


    A chilling sensation pierced through its back and chest as the Gatekeeper spouted black, muddy blood from its newly formed lips. Looking down, it saw a black shortsword shrouded in a familiar aurora-like, heterochromatic aura, drenched in its blood.


    [A clean thrust had been initiated.]


    "KGH¡­!"


    "You should never let... your guard down... in a fight against a blind man," Izel said shakily, blood dripping from his lips as he pushed up on his shortsword.


    The Gatekeeper grabbed the blade with its melting, shady hand, using sheer force to barely prevent his body from being cut in half.


    However, it could do nothing about its hands getting torn apart by the sinister aura.


    "AHHH...HHHH!¡±


    The Gatekeeper was shocked ¡­


    [The Host''s critical health of 1% rapidly increased to 15%]


    ... No, it was overly bewildered by this unpredictable action.


    "H¡­OW! H¡­OW?!" exclaimed the Gatekeeper. An unexpected phenomenon unfolded, unprecedented among the walkers it had fought and defeated. The blind Walker endured a relentless assault, a [million crickets] greatsword and flame-smash attack penetrating vital points and organs consecutively ¨C a combination of cheat-like skills capable of shattering any prompt defenses and turning the insides of a Walker into a gory mess.


    "IS IT BEC¡­AUSE OF THAT SKILL?" inquired the Gatekeeper, genuinely curious about the blind Walker''s inexplicable survival.


    [The Skill: Hemostasis is on Standby.]


    Izel''s body stitched his deadly external injuries and fatal wounds using blood cells and sizzling heat, welling up and strewn about, healing all internally damaged organs. He let out a slight groan. The monster sensed a peculiar flow of mana within him. Initially, it didn''t matter, given there were Walkers before him with many recovery-related skills, but it appeared this was no ordinary skill.


    "It''s a pretty good skill," Izel admitted. At the last minute, before his HP dropped to 0%, fortunately, his skill [hemostasis] answered his call and activated. Since then, he focused the little mana he could muster to accelerate the effect of the skill more than anything, silently bidding for the appropriate time to strike the monster.


    ''There''s nothing better than this skill for that.'' The blind man pondered to himself, contorting the Aurora shortsword as the ominous heterochromatic mana resonated with increasing intensity. Despite his minimal proficiency in (Hemostasis), its current impact, coupled with the draining of blood essence, raised concerns. Given his significant blood loss, Izel wisely opted to activate it at the last possible moment, seeking an advantage against the formidable monster.


    As viscous fluid dripped from the creature''s form, the Gatekeeper declared, "IT''S NOT OVER YET!" The cobalt-like mana surged, merging with the bluish-dark flame in a furious display. "IF ''SMASHING'' WON''T KILL YOU, I WILL B¡­URN YOU TO CINDE¡­"


    "No!" Izel abruptly interrupted, donning a reverently eerie smile. Every muscle in his body stiffened, amplifying with boosted [Strength] and [Constitution] stats, morphing into something more formidable. "It''s over!"


    "WHAT...?" The Gatekeeper''s confusion was evident. It knew it was in a dire state, the worst possible actually, but Izel lowering his guard so suddenly was unexpected. The blind Walker began to calm both his fighting spirit and mana and before the Gatekeeper could grasp its intentions¡ª.


    "¡­!"


    The humanoid''s head spun as a sinister heterochromatic aura erupted. Cold sweat gathered on its shady forehead. The ecliptic sky and the sizzling, chilling surroundings blended ¨C the last things it saw before unconsciously knocking the blind Walker away and crashing down on his shady ass with a great thud, creating an overwhelming crater with extended ruptures. Both attacks were swift and heavy, catching each other by surprise.


    SHATTER!


    A permafrost sensation spiked through a vital hole in its chest. Muddy substances splattered as disconnected regions formed on its body from the heavy impact and sinister aura. An intense convulsion overcame the Gatekeeper, its shady mind unable to comprehend its second demise ...


    WHOOSH!


    "¡­!"


    Blood spurted from Izel''s lips as he was unexpectedly kicked by the Gatekeeper at the last second. ''Even on the brink of death, that monstrosity still retaliated strongly.'' Izel, flung away through the air, reflected on both attacks a second earlier.


    [The active effect is presently undergoing a 24-hour cooldown.]


    [All effects had been disabled, and the Groot''s vest had crumbled away.]


    Mid-air, a concise message about his 18 Verdes Groot''s vest meeting its unfortunate demise tickled his hazy mind. ''Well, it did its best,'' he thought happily. In other words, the Groot''s vest served its purpose, protecting its holder until the end, making the pricey tag worth it. A cold yet hot blast erupted as he landed somewhere with a huge slam.


    ... Until its shaky life evaporated from its ragged, shady shell into nothingness.


    Brotnos, the Gatekeeper, had been slain.


    Congratulations! You have raided the C-rank dungeon.


    As the completion messages tingled in his mind, a sigh of relief escaped him. Soon, overwhelming physical and mental exhaustion, muscle agony, and hypovolemic shock dulled by his fighting spirit engulfed his frail body. Grunting in tiredness and distress, extreme dehydration took hold.


    He hastily grabbed waterskins from a pocket-sized bag, gulping two or three at once. His dry-heaved throat burned, matching the sensation in his chest. It was chaotic. Gritting his teeth, he endured the boiling sensation, his entire body beading with sweat as if suffering from hyperhidrosis.


    All of this was the downside of excessive use of [Hemostasis]. Amidst agonizing distress and terror, confusion began to cloud his fragile mind.


    [The Skill ''Anesthesia (D)'' has been activated.]


    [All physical pain has been reduced by 20%]


    That''s not all.


    [Hemostasis Proficiency has increased by 5%.]


    [The Skill: Hemostasis had been forcibly deactivated.]


    The skill couldn''t be maintained due to insufficient blood, instantly deactivating. However, a message echoed in Izel''s mind before its deactivation.


    ''Its proficiency increased!'' He spat clotted blood from his throat, donning a faint smile. "I guess that was unexpected but profitable." He sighed in relief, clearing his blood-itching throat and enduring the lessened distress. Normally, he shouldn''t endure such amassed exhaustion and hypovolemic shock, but with [Anesthesia], it became bearable to some extent.


    The Dungeon Raid Reward has been deemed disproportionate due to the spiked difficulty.


    An unexpected phenomenon unfolded.


    Auto-Requesting a meeting with the Administrator for an ethical reward.


    Izel''s stressed mind fluttered in confusion. His [Flawlation] stared blankly into desolate space as he wondered, ''Auto-requested a meeting with the administrator? When?'' Still lying where he landed, his heart raced, and his breathing became shallow just from hearing that grandiose name. The presence was so powerful it felt like his body was being pressed down.


    However, something differed from what he had reflected.


    The Administrator disapproved of your auto-request.


    The formidable presence dissipated, yet the space quivered violently as if the entire world teetered on the brink of collapse. ''No way¡­!!!'' He trembled while pushing himself upright from the scorching gate. Undoubtedly, he had collided with the colossal gate when the abomination struck him. Izel''s eyes widened beneath his blindfold, doubting the sensation despite the initial notification suggesting otherwise.


    The unsettling spatial disruption mirrored what Izel had felt when the ''Administrator'' entered the forum, but it differed from his expectations. Amidst the colossal rumble, the next notification jolted his weary mind as he grunted, ¡°Kugh!"


    The dungeon raid''s reward had been changed to be directly proportional to the spiked raid difficulty.


    As the new reward, you have received the ''Blood of the Gatekeeper.''


    As a reward, you have received ''150 Verdes.''


    As the new bonus rewards, you have received the skills ''Basic swordsmanship (E) and Hell-Flame (?)''


    Rewards have been placed in your locked inventory.


    Please move to the waiting room.


    As the messages flooded his mind, Izel breathed in solace. His gloomy expression and somewhat bluish complexion unexpectedly brightened. He hadn''t anticipated a change in the initial reward, and the newly bestowed one added an unexpected twist.


    ''Blood of the Gatekeeper?'' he wondered to himself. This monstrosity surpassed any agile movement, physical strength, intelligence, instinct, and mana compared to creatures like Avalanche. It resembled a calamity, possessing balanced stats that defied the laws of strategy and proper planning¡ªa truly splendid monster, superior even to magical beasts.


    Izel pondered the Gatekeeper''s blood, its splendor seemingly warranted by the unbalanced difficulty. Despite the odds, he defeated it. Yet, items like the [Blood of the Gatekeeper] and [Hell-flame] eluded his ex-hunter memories.


    ''An item and flame skill I''ve never encountered,'' he mused. Rare high-ranked items like ''Colossal Fire'' or ''Angel or Demon Blood'' were familiar, but this was unfamiliar.


    ''Well, I guess it doesn''t matter,'' he concluded. The Fortress never betrayed effort, altering rewards to match the difficulty of a perfect raid. That fundamental truth echoed in the blind man''s mind, a result of his training and ability to adapt in dire situations.


    ''No, that was the fundamental truth of this world,'' he deduced, hoping it held true in the future. Recalling the surprising [Basic swordsmanship] bonus, he thought, ''I bet it''s something pretty.'' His smile broadened as he moved deeper toward the Monster. With his blood essence currently at 2500 ml, hunger intensified.


    As Izel''s physically and mentally drained body traversed the pitch-hazy darkness, he initially reflected on the slight improvement in his strength, allowing him to fend off monsters with only a few injuries. Shockingly, the situation had reversed; without his last trick and [Hemostasis], he would have been the lifeless one.


    ''Fortunately, that didn''t happen.'' The blind man released a deep breath, calming his mind. Time seemed to crawl with each hobbling step he took toward its location.


    "¡­?"


    Three meters away, nestled within a monstrous, unsightly crater riddled with cracks was ...


    "Damn, you look more horrible than when you''re alive," Izel couldn''t help but comment as his [Flawlation] revealed the gatekeeper''s disintegrating silhouette.


    ... the once-spectacular, shadowy humanoid had transformed into a disjointed, tattered mess, a fading shell with formless legs and arms. Despite the slow dissipation, it still retained a shadowy appearance.


    ''But it doesn''t matter, right?'' The blind man smiled as he flicked away the muddy substance from his Aurora shortsword before sheathing it into its scabbard. He believed that, as long as its soul remained intact, he could devour it. With those thoughts in mind, he strolled toward the nightmare-fading carcass, ready to consume the body.


    But something felt quite strange: the abomination''s shady corpse¡ª.


    ''It isn''t gleaming in the dark ambiance!'' he realized; instead, it was only steaming away.


    Rather than feeling disheartened by the unprofitable fight or bamboozled, he took a deep breath. He decided to figure out the true reason, whether the fortress''s demeanor was the cause of the changed reward.


    [ ''Soul Assimilation (E)'' has been activated.]


    [Transduction Demerit has been activated.]


    [The Gatekeeper had an overwhelming presence when alive and a weighty soul when dead. Transduction of this particular transmuted soul had been disallowed.]


    [ Transduction has been deactivated.]


    [ Soul Assimilation (E)'' has been deactivated.]


    As these messages ran through his mind, Izel clicked his tongue. "So, that was it, huh?" he remarked. Of course, he had anticipated this reaction from the start. After all, Izel knew that the Gatekeeper''s intelligence, awareness, and overwhelming stats weren''t like any other; its existence was much more hefty.


    Otherwise, the blind man would have gnashed his teeth with bitterness for not being rewarded for his struggles and hardships.


    "But I shouldn''t be too greedy," he sighed, acknowledging the demerit he knew he''d face from the start. "Plus, I gain 100 Verdes." He shrugged, shivering in the chilling surroundings. As his lips escaped frost, he turned towards the flat, oval, crimson portal. ¡°Let''s get cleaned and healed up. Ha... Ha... ha!¡± A parched laugh escaped his lips as he entered the portal, which revved back to nothingness.


    You have entered the B-rank waiting room.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 13 - Reflection and Information...

    You have entered the B-rank waiting room.Healing all external and internal injuries and status fatigue. This effect is constantly applied in the waiting dorm.


    Izel, welcomed by familiar messages, strolled to the white bed positioned at the center of the typical waiting room. He lay flatly on the plush sheet, sighing with relief as his body slightly ached, presumably from the active room''s restorative effect.


    "B-rank dungeon raid, huh?¡±


    The blind man found humor in the fact that he had already raided six dungeons, facing death six times. Each raid had subtly altered his perception of this isolated world, deviating from his initial beliefs.


    Upon passing through each portal, Izel found himself in diverse locations¡ªfirst, the beige desert of the initial tutorials, then the F-rank dungeon, followed by a dilapidated futuristic subway for the D-rank challenge, and finally, the C-rank region with two distinct temperatures. These thematic shifts led Izel to a clear realization: the fortress wasn''t just transporting him to dungeons but also to extremely surreal niches.


    With these reflections, a relieved sigh escaped Izel as he deactivated [Flawlation].


    [Flawlation (F) has been deactivated.]


    Removing his blindfold, Izel contemplated his vulnerability, hoping to survive each encounter in the fortress''s unpredictable landscapes. He understood that every raid thus far had been characterized by ''high stakes'' and ''high gain.'' Even assassinating the monstrous ''Gatekeeper'' in such challenging environments posed substantial risks, but the rewards were undeniably worth it.


    Exhaling deeply, the blind man acknowledged that his path involved not only defeating formidable foes but also risking his life while devouring a multitude of inferior opponents to grow stronger.


    ''It''s going to get deadlier from here on out,'' he reconsidered. Typically, a growth-type skill allows someone like Izel to gain strength from every enemy he defeats. However, the strict rules and conditions of the Fortress of Dungeons restrict its efficacy and rate of advancement, thereby limiting its overall growth. To be honest, he wasn''t too bothered by any of these challenges because he knew that eventually, his hard work and perseverance would be rewarded.


    However, he was a little miffed that this growth-type skill didn''t ensue a little sooner. If it had, he wouldn''t have gone through hell in the [Cascade Guild] as a F-ranked awakened hunter. Enduring a series of humiliations, all because he was blind, his teeth gnashed with fury as his lips conveyed a single name.


    "Velkist Cambormir."


    It was the name of the [Cascade Guild] leader in [Exodus] district.


    "You, blind fool, haven''t demonstrated your value even after extensive training within this guild. In that case, surrender the Cascade Guild''s Hunter ID from your pitiful hunter''s kit!¡±


    The echoes of his prideful and authoritative voice lingered in the blind man''s mind¡ªa painful reminder of the humiliation endured during a training session. Izel had been defeated by an E-ranked hunter, despite deploying every trick he had learned. The long, silk-crimson-haired man openly berated him, forbidding Izel from raiding dungeons or taking on even the most basic jobs. Considered an eyesore and burden to the guild, the authoritative figure declared him unwelcome among the guild members, effectively prohibiting his association with the guild.


    "P-please, just give me a few months to train; I-I will prove my worth, P-please!!!¡±


    Despite Izel''s desperate plea for additional training time, the long crimson-haired man glared at him intensively with his reddish-brown Will-o''-wisps-like eyes. This caused the blind man to shiver in despair, shock, and fear, resulting in buckets of sweat pouring from him. Unconsciously, he even leaked urine due to the overwhelming weight of the mana and concentrated presence in front of the trainees.


    "What a fool," sneered the certain E-rank hunter who had defeated him.


    "Why would a blind man want to become a hunter? Know your place!" Some clicked their tongues in disappointment.


    "Right. He doesn''t even realize his obvious weaknesses: being blind and a slow learner!" The other one shrugged.


    "Leave him be. He doesn''t have much time left without a guild, y''all know," one of them pinched his nose with an irritated face.


    "Damn, he even peed upon feeling the boss'' presence; what a nuisance," one turned his face away.


    Recalling the series of mockery comments from the bystanders, Izel tightly clutched the blindfold in his hands in wrath, still feeling the severe impact on his mental state. Realizing that this sudden turmoil could worsen his accumulated traumas, he decided to calm himself.


    ''After all, I need to survive the next dungeon raid to take revenge,'' he thought, regulating his shallow breath. He put a pause on such intentions for now. Shortly after, the bluish hue of the [Hemostasis] Demerit effect throughout his body almost faded out, leaving the urge to quench his overlying appetite and thirst to replenish the number of his lost blood cells. However, he put a hold on that as well since the Fortress system hadn''t been activated yet. S~?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Deciding to rest before the Fortress System kicked in, his closed eyelids quivered slightly as he continued to regulate his breathing and calm his mind.


    "Oh, yeah, I received bonus rewards." His grim expression brightened as an epiphany washed over him. It appeared that he had been so consumed by upsetting memories that the notion had slipped his mind. Without hesitation, he called up his status and selected the new skill that had caught his attention.


    [Active Skill: Basic Swordsmanship (E)


    Proficiency: 0%


    Description: As the name implies, the basic sword technique is made for effective combat.


    Effect: When using a sword, all fundamentals such as slashing, parrying, thrusting, and other simple sword movements are increased by 3x.


    Demerit: Without prior knowledge of the basic sword fundamentals, the effect would be impractical.]


    A satisfied smile graced his lips. "Finally, a skill without overwhelming conditions," he thought. What more could he ask for? Despite his preference for a rarer sword skill, he fully acknowledged that such a desire would inevitably come with a deadly and complicated demerit.


    ''Basic swordsmanship,'' Izel briefly reflected. The principle was common in Elilaum''s swordplay, learned during guild training sessions. ''Hah, my previous F-ranked awakened self couldn''t comprehend it,'' he chuckled lightly.


    Although easy for normal hunters, it differed for the blind man. It wasn''t a lack of talent, but rather a gradual learning process during spars or duels, making him appear as a slow learner. This naturally infuriated others, but Izel remained unconcerned.


    ''Anyway, let''s not dwell on the past,'' he considered it a forbidden act due to his unstable mind. Having perfectly learned the basics, the blind man could efficiently utilize this skill against a tough opponent relatively instantly. Izel appeared content with the skill effect but wondered about the dual bonus rewards.


    "Of course, I cleared the raid perfectly, but¡­¡±


    After a brief reflection on his raid approach, the blind man engaged in a one-on-one battle with the gatekeeper, supposed to halve his overall reward by 65% even if he defeated it. However, in the final moments, he lets down the monster''s defenses, dealing significant damage through assassination.


    ''I guess it was one of the reasons my rewards were altered,'' he surmised. Speaking of bonus rewards, he resumed the feminine voice, narrating the other skill.


    ''Hell-flame!'' Izel''s mind went momentarily blank. Indeed, it was the same ferocious skill that had nearly reduced him to a heap of ashes. While still dumbstruck by this unexpected bonus reward, his expression remained as pale as if his reality had suddenly crumbled. Regaining his composure, he inquired about the details of the skill.


    [Active Skill: Hell Flame (?)


    Proficiency: 0%


    Effect: Burn anything and everything that is ignited to nothingness. When wrapped around the host''s body, one could gain resistance to other flame attacks.


    Demerit: Although the skill can overwhelm and consume all things and be resistant to other flames, it''s quite weak to ''Holy Flame''.]


    Neglecting the skill''s demerit that somewhat ached his heart, Izel remained oblivious to the weight of what gaining the [Hell Flame] truly meant. However, one thing was certain: acquiring one of the rare flame-type skills that never existed without making a contract or pact with a monstrosity like the Gatekeeper.


    "In addition, the ability to consume any other flames upon contact," Izel thought aloud as he began to theorize how amazing [Hell Flame] would be when merged with [Soul Assimilation].


    ''... Of course, both demerits aside, though.'' More introspection began to emerge in his mind. If the [Hell Flame] had such a strong effect and also a high combustion rate, contrary to the [Soul Assimilation]''s potent effects, he wondered how badass the final skill of both would be.


    "But when both demerits are added," his face suddenly scoffed as he disheartenedly murmured, "The demerit will be disgustingly badass as well." Izel couldn''t begin to imagine that fact.


    Momentarily, an inner, lingering, and seductive voice spoke in his ears, apprising him not to stop here and proceed with merging them both. That somewhat familiar voice overtaking him was the impulse he felt during the invitation difficulty selection. The voice continued, weighing his gains and losses if both skills were successfully merged.


    ''Hmm.'' Izel, deeply in thought as he analyzed the words of his inner demon, eventually spoke out, "Nah, buzz off." It was a vague reply, befitting the tempting suggestion. Aye, this time, the blind man didn''t let it get to him. He was fully aware that such an offer could lead to irreversible mistakes and death. Of course, he also knew he wasn''t some young master who would only get face-slapped. Moreover, at the end of the tunnel, there''s only darkness, not light, and lastly, this isn''t some VRMMORPG game; he would respawn if he died. If an unforeseen mishap occurred during merging or skill integration usage, he wouldn''t just die a dog''s death. Yes, end of story!


    Izel, still weighing the odds or coincidences, let out a deep sigh. "I need to be careful about my inner demon¡­" he trailed off. It was because of a familiar and thrilling sound wave that stung his [Sound Reading].


    All C-rank dungeons of all difficulty had been completed.


    Reactivating the Fortress operating system. All commands are reactivated; commands require verbal execution.


    The B-rank dungeon raid begins in 20 hours and 15 minutes.


    When the string of usual announcements faded, he chuckled lightly. It was about time. Izel wondered why the fortress system took a bit longer to activate than usual, but he guessed it was probably due to the unbalanced raid difficulty.


    "...Inventory," he called out. A familiar, invisible rupture emerged out of thin air, sensed only by him. The monotonous voice narrated all the equipment and supplies within the pocket-dimensional storage. He let out a deep breath, enduring the relentless hunger and thirst. Izel began to pull out all his gear and then requested a plain piece of clothing and two waterskins from his inventory.


    Currently in his shorts, Izel soaked the cloth with water from the waterskins and began to scrub off the dried blood from his whole body. He then cleaned the scattered clotted blood from his cloak and boots. The waiting room''s automatic restorative effect could only relieve fatigue and heal wounds, not clean his body from filth, gore, and specks of dust.


    After a few moments of meticulously cleaning his boots, he also wiped clotted mud and dirt from his Aurora shortsword. Taking a moment away from his items, Izel brought out the last two otherworldly wheat loaves of bread, a strip of otherworldly jerky, and two waterskins. He comfortably laid back on the bed, feeling refreshed as the supplies alleviated his appetite and thirst. Absentmindedly neglecting each demerit of the supplies as they went through his mouth, he mused aloud, "I must be feeling a bit peculiar right now.¡±


    [Verdes Remaining: 129.]


    While Izel munched, crunched, and gulped on his supplies to alleviate the oddly lingering defect, he summoned the silvery potion-like reward of the raid.


    [Blood of the Gatekeeper.


    Grade: C.


    Category: One-time use.


    Description: The blood of a mysterious and rare race called the ''Gatekeeper'', no longer knows what the so-called race protects and its reasons for doing so. Even when dead, the ''Gate'' that it protects shall be forever sealed. Its blood possessed the insurmountable essence of inferno souls.


    Effect: If injected, all stats increase by 10. The stat ''Inferno'' would be created. If the ''stat'' already exists, it will be increased by 20.


    Demerit: Can only be applied when overall stats are below 174.]


    The creation effect of a new stat piqued his interest, along with the horror demerit.


    "¡­"


    Izel quickly summoned his status to calculate his overall stats.


    [Name: Izel Ethalt Blind.


    Age: 19 years old.


    Strength: 35 Stamina: 43


    Agility: 47 Mana: 26


    Constitution: 22


    Active skills


    Gear: Flawlation (F)


    Basic Swordsmanship (E)


    *Soul Assimilation (E)


    Hell Flame (D)


    Hemostasis (E+)


    Anesthesia (D)


    Passive Skills


    Sound Reading (Innate)


    Fortress Currency


    Verdes: 129]


    After calculating his stats, Izel breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest with his right hand. "Thank goodness, I escaped by just one stat point." It was a delicate, hairbreadth escape, making the item in his possession potentially useful; otherwise, all his hardships would have been in vain. He had never heard of a stat named ''Inferno'' before, and he would have dismissed it as ridiculous if not for the item description.


    "But, I guess, it doesn''t matter." After a brief thought, Izel concluded that he would find out the nature of such a stat in due time. However, his mind drifted to the presumably high price of the item on Elilaum should he choose to sell this sacred item. It seemed crazy, even absurd, to possess something of this caliber, and yet, he felt a sense of pride.


    Even if the market price might be historically high, Izel had no intention of selling it. His eyes sparkled as he regarded the gleaming item almost like a god. Wasting such a valuable thing on mortal necessities felt disrespectful and foolish, especially considering his slow growth. After reaching this conclusion, the item vanished into his inventory, after which he called for the forum.


    [You are now online.]


    [You have entered the Forum.]


    [Difficulty: Extreme.]


    Disregarding the nostalgic feeling, he gulped some salty water to help the bread and jerky go down. He exhaled sharply, seeking relief.


    [B-rank Forum.]


    [(978/ 2243)]


    Moseley: Hmm, only 2243 of the Walkers survived this time. Nice job, y''all.


    Edmund: Nice job, my ass. I got my head chopped up. However, thank goodness for the waiting room.


    Moseley: What the hell are you talking about? How the fuck did you get into the waiting room if your head was chopped off?


    Edmund: Hey, shut up! I survived, and that''s all you need to know.


    Moseley: Hehe. Anyway, we just need to get up for one more raid to finally see some progress. It seems I was the only one who perfectly raided my dungeon to get my reward proportionally changed.


    Edinburgh: Lmao. We still need to survive to take on the A-rank raid, though. Nah, my reward also gets changed as well. My heart almost popped out of my chest when the auto-request of the admin got dialed.


    Rutherford: Damn! That familiar rumble was in tense¡­ Thankfully, he rejected the auto-request. I''m worried about how I am supposed to survive to that point with this unbalanced difficulty.


    Tension and anxiety gripped the forum as Izel scrutinized every chat. Such demeanors were justified, given the unexpected difficulty of the C-rank compared to the relatively straightforward D-rank dungeon. The latter wasn''t complicated for those who knew how to strategize and bravely face magical beasts. In Izel''s view, the forum''s mood wasn''t all that bad.


    "Plus, it seems a few experienced ex-hunters and genius Walkers did get their rewards proportionally changed," the blind man thought aloud. Seemingly, other Walkers also experienced the familiar administrator entrance ''rumble'' that tensed one''s neck and whacked one''s mind. That damned administrator oddly refused every Walker''s auto-request. This observation strangely kept his mind at ease.


    Yi Dong: I''m finally online after taking some rest! Calm down, man! Back when I was a hunter in a dungeon, we just stuck through it, no matter how tough the boss monster was.


    Xilong Cui: Says the ex-hunter with experience. Just don''t say sh*t! Just go back offline¡ªwe don''t need an ex-hunter with a shitty irrational experience!


    Jankovic Trevor: Lmao! Y''all crazy. It seems that only the more experienced and strong-headed people are still alive at this point.


    Some walkers were throwing punches, cracking jokes, and showing sympathy, while others shared both ineffective and helpful tips.


    Ji Suk Lee: Here, here, guys! I don''t recommend buying any items that require aura unless you have aura-related skills or knight-related skills.


    Shualilong Wang: Isn''t aura the most important thing for a knight-type hunter? However, that is rare, unlike magic-type hunters, so you need it to use skills, right?


    Zhang Chuan: That''s what the noobies think. The most efficient basic skills, like weapons skills, don''t use auras or magic. But techniques!


    Kim Sung: Really? However, I already bought a magic item and an aura item. Am I fucked?


    Maxime Coulon: Nah, you''re good. So keep your job-related traits to yourself. Since you unlocked it faster than others, focus on getting stat-related items now, like some cloud boots. Though it''s fucking expensive with some tiny but annoying demerits without the assigned cloak.


    Ross Kirby: I''m a hunter. Ahem ahem¡­ Sorry, I won''t be able to tell you about my job-related trait. However, what he says is correct. You can buy skills later, so you can just get magic and aura skills.


    Adam Penton: And if you want to increase your skill proficiency faster, you can train after turning the auto-recovery in the waiting dorm off! It could also work with learning new skills; as long as you can remember and partially perform the skills, you can obtain them.


    A slew of more useful tips circulated alongside the news about ''job-related traits,'' prompting Izel to reflect. Despite unraveling his thoughts, he couldn''t pinpoint the category to which he belonged. ''Hmmm.¡¯


    Amid numerous questions swirling through his mind¡ªwhether he could become an elemental-type hunter, a magic-type hunter, or a knight-type hunter¡ªthere was a palpable sizzle as if his brain were on the verge of popping into dark smoke. Izel, not just a slow learner but also a slow achiever compared to his fellow hunters, was well aware that he hadn''t unlocked that aspect yet. The uncertainty lingered, leaving him to wonder when, or if, he would unlock it soon.


    Playfully, a chuckle escaped him, "It won''t be long, suckers."


    Ignoring some of the other tips, the blind man discovered valuable information ¨C such as the fact that proficiency in ''Tolerance and resistance-type skills'' increases if he disables the waiting room''s auto-restorative by paying 10 Verdes to an unfamiliar category in the Trading center.'' Surprisingly, he had never delved deep into the Fortress operating system to uncover such details.


    ''It was unexpected. If that''s the case, I will quickly become proficient in [Hemostasis (E+)] [Anesthesia (D)] in no time,'' he mused. However, his optimism was overshadowed by the looming anguish and terror he anticipated during the process. A grimace crossed his face. ¡®I hate pain,¡¯ he muttered, sidely sighing


    After conducting a series of surveys through chats, the blind man discovered that the acquisition of job-related traits depended on each hunter''s limits, nature, soul, and origin. He noted that understanding oneself was crucial to unlocking these traits. Izel, intrigued, clicked his tongue teasingly, ¡®That''s interesting data. I truly want to know more about myself and my parents¡­¡¯ He paused as his lips trembled, feeling a hint of despondency about his origins. However, he chose not to dwell on it too much to avoid overwhelming his mind. Taking a deep breath, he refocused on the forum.


    Tonggong Qiao: Oh yeah. There''s a way to remove demerits from all skills.


    Haiyong Zhuang: You mean the ones that have annoying stuff that comes as an aftereffect on literally everything?


    Tonggong Qiao: Oh yes, at first I thought it was a bug until the administrator announced it wasn''t one. So you already know about it?


    Amanda Van der Walt: Yeah. I think it''s also called an ''equivalent exchange'' or something!


    Willy Kinkela: Legit, those things can be removed! I have already removed two demerits from two items and skills.


    Teddie Sizwe: Damn¡­ I just took bad hits, and the sh*t disabled my tolerance effect and activated itself.


    Anathi Qina: Damn man, I feel for you. If you get to remove the demerit from the tolerance skills or any skills, they are more useful than almost killing the user, so make sure you figure it out.


    After a certain point, Izel pondered whether demerits were consistently applied among Walkers, especially in the [Extreme] difficulty. However, as he followed these conversations, it became clear that equality wasn''t a constant, even in the most challenging circumstances. The question persisted: did this uneven application extend to other difficulties? Though uncertainty surrounded this, Izel acknowledged the potency and lethality of this mysterious ''feature.¡¯


    "After all, it''s an ''equivalent exchange'' kernel embedded in the system." Izel formulated a hypothesis regarding Dungeons, speculating that the fortress rewarded Walkers based on achievements while imposing demerits as a restrictive measure on their growth. It was akin to a double-edged sword¡ªoffering great benefits while holding destructive potential for the bearer. The catch: Walkers who discovered ways to disable these limiters remained tight-lipped, disappointing Izel, who disliked such features. In the end, he exhaled deeply, ''I shouldn''t rely on these black leakers.''


    Izel quickly overcame his initial disappointment. Despite thinking he knew it all, he acquired a decent amount of knowledge by listening to his bunky television and scanning articles on his hunter''s kit. Whether risking his life on raids or engaging in forum discussions, he continued to learn. The Fortress of the Dungeons remained a mystery, a strange world that surprised him daily.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 14 - Haunted Nightmare and...

    After a brief moment, Izel adeptly tapped his feet on the ground, locating his garments neatly arranged in the corner of the room. The blind man proceeded there, methodically donning each piece. Despite a lingering hint of blood scent, still faintly present and tickling his nostrils upon concentration, the overall discomfort was now more manageable than before. He sheathed his Aurora shortsword into its scabbard, worn around his waist. Once finished, he continued listening to the forum while seated on the white linoleum floor, back against the white wall.Frost: There''s something I want to say about the B-rank raid.


    Frost: According to the high-walkers, the B-rank raid isn''t individual like the others, but some sort of group raid.


    The perverted one: A group raid? What''s that? Some sort of special raid? Are we ''SWAT'' or something?


    Nightcrawler: Lolz! Everyone here would be given the same raid.


    Freaky Friday:... Maybe ''Frost'' didn''t get what the high-walker said. Or perhaps I''m the only one who doesn''t understand?


    Little Lily: Nah! I don''t understand either. Pls, explain who does understand.


    Shortly after, a random Walker brought up what seemed to be the objective of the B-rank raid. The Forum became enthralled by the subject to such an extent that it quickly rose to the top of the trending topics.


    Frost: At first, I got to chat with a high-walker who, at some point, mysteriously entered our Forum. I asked him or her about the B-rank raid, and all he or she told me was to be careful in the rank group raid. That was all. The chatter vanished like it never existed.


    Cos-[Needs to be Git Gut]: So you never got an explanation for that answer, huh? Seems suspicious!


    FiniteVoidSosLine: So guys, I just got some information about the B-rank raid using my Query point.


    In other words, Frost, whoever he or she may be, shared that they had an enigmatic encounter with a high-walker. This high-walker issued a warning regarding the B-rank group dungeon raid but then abruptly disappeared from the forum without providing a complete explanation of what he or she fully meant.


    Of course, Izel, engrossed in the chat, shook his head, finding the situation suspicious. Amid his doubts, ''FiniteVoidSosLine'' utilized his query to ask ''Beelzebub,'' the closest entity to the administrator, about the ''B-rank raid,'' seeking clarity and satisfying curiosity.


    Meanwhile, also intrigued by the unfolding events, he paid close attention to the forum to understand what he or she figured out.


    FiniteVoidSosLine: According to Beelzebub, the B-rank raid is said to be a group raid. All the walkers from all [difficulty] who pass the C-rank raid would be going through the dungeon together.


    Mueue [Pigeon Fucker]: Yeah, you''re correct. 35 walkers from all difficulties will be randomly shuffled, grouped, and placed on the same raid into three Walkers per team.


    "So it''s true," Izel sighed. Although surprising, a preposterous raid befitting a B-rank seemed plausible. The collaboration of walkers from all difficulties to raid a dungeon, or perhaps a strange niche, was imagined as an unthinkable raid that had a low chance of happening in the Fortress of Dungeons.


    ''Yet, it''s truly happening in the next raid,'' he thought, somewhat nervous yet excited. Even so, he chose to calm his racing heartbeat and focus more on the next conversation.


    Frost: It seems skeptical and weird. So that''s why I''m telling everybody.


    BOOKWORM: My good deeds for helping the elderly have been greatly rewarded.


    BearlyAlive: Yeah, yeah, take it easy for a second¡­


    Arrogantyoungmaster: It''s still interesting to know that we''ll be facing the next raid together. I wish to be with two beautiful girls. Like some milfies. So even if I died or got killed, I might as well die peacefully without regret!


    Tryanomaster: I feel you, though. Nonetheless, that could mean it will be 30 times harder to complete the raid.


    As anticipated, some Walkers speculated that the raid''s difficulty would skyrocket. While there were dissenting opinions, with some arguing that the Walker collaboration would ease the raid, amidst these debates, others harbored unfathomable dreams.


    Carefreely, Izel nodded. ''Well, everyone has the right to dream once in a while.'' To be honest, the blind man also harbored a wish of his own; he desired teammates with whom he could, at the very least, form friendships. However, he quickly dismissed such thoughts. ''This is the Fortress of Dungeons.'' It is indeed a harsh environment that prioritizes survival above all else. A single misstep or indulgence in self-desire could lead to a tragic end for him.


    Lightdefender: This probably won''t be a raid; all teams gathered up probably told to defeat a final boss or something.


    Humblest Cultivator: Nah! Team up, my ass! The objective of this mission is ''battlefield survival,'' so we might have to fight each other.


    Inevitably, the Fortress of Dungeons compelled Walkers to pit each other for survival, setting the stage for the next raid. Izel grappled with uncertainty, questioning whether the impending clash would manifest as a straightforward battle or a clandestine ambush with a singular goal. The setting, whether within a dungeon or some peculiar niche, remained elusive. In the end, he concluded that the vanquished would meet their demise, while the victorious pressed forward. Both mental and physical strength were prerequisites for delivering the fatal blow, leaving Izel in contemplative unease. Could he, indeed, take another human''s life?


    FiniteVoidSosLine: That''s all my question could get. That''s what I know.


    FiniteVoidSosLine: I wish I had more questions like some people¡ªI would have asked for more.


    Representing Envy: If anyone has more information, please share it.


    Soon, a deep silence fell over the forum as each Walker ceased chatting, signaling the ominous calm before the impending raid. Izel surmised that no one would expend their Query points seeking additional information, and even if they did, the collective decision to withhold such details prevailed.


    The Walkers, once comrades in arms, now stood as clear enemies.


    Indeed, those seasoned by experience, stats, and skills honed in various difficulties were poised to clash in a battle for survival. The blind man, tense from shared information, couldn''t shake a peculiar sense of anticipation and nervousness.


    ¡®Why didn''t they share this information a few minutes before the raid? Why now?¡¯ With turmoil swirling within, Izel took a moment to calm his heart, focusing on his breath. ¡®What could be his or her goal?¡¯ Shaking his head, he conveyed skepticism towards the entire noble undertaking. However, he soon exhaled deeply, recognizing the futility of questioning the chatter''s intentions. Whether deliberate or coincidental, kindness or strategic move, there was no concrete proof.


    Moreover, refraining from current conflicts merely postpones the inevitable clashes among Walkers ¨C they would face each other sooner or later. This raid presents a unique challenge, transcending all difficulties from [Easy] to [Extreme]. The weight of contemplating murder burdens every inexperienced Walker, Izel included. As thoughts raced, lingering questions filled their minds. Were they truly strong enough to survive? Izel, if not blind, would have found himself deep in contemplation, staring at the white ceiling. Could he take life for personal gain and survival by slashing or thrusting through blood and flesh?


    "¡­"


    A hopeless, dry laugh escaped Izel. "Hahaha! Everything just keeps getting more complicated every single day." He couldn''t seem to catch a break. Even though he anticipated having to act to save his life and reputation, steering clear of a regrettable future required preparation for the looming showdown. Victory was imperative at all costs.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    [Providing a weapon.]


    CLACK!


    Following the concise message about a weapon, a sword plunged into the sandy earth before him, its sharpened edge spanning about 28 inches¡ªa true longsword, crafted from iron. Despite surviving two tutorials through sheer brutality, Izel, taken aback, clicked his tongue and remarked that the ''Fortress of Dungeons'' should have provided such a weapon from the outset.


    [You have grabbed the Iron Longsword.]


    "Kyaaaaaaa!"


    "Krrrr, gyaaaa!"


    Distant cries, growing louder, spurred the cloaked blind man to quicken his pace through the blood-stained, sandy terrain. He was taken aback that the lurking monster had already detected him. As he hastened away, the creatures swarmed relentlessly from beneath the beige sand. Despite his efforts to escape, a log-like worm lunged at him, interrupting his desperate retreat.


    STAB!


    ¡°KRRRr, KISHISHI!¡±


    A peculiar, deflated cry emanated from beneath, towards his feet. This was the outcome of Izel''s innate skill, [Sound Reading], enabling him to preemptively detect sound waves and potential bodily responses. Additionally, the fighting instinct of a blind individual, who had resiliently endured two tutorials until now, rages.


    [You were the Six Hundredth Walker from the ''Extreme Difficulty'' to Kill a Desert Worm]


    [Strength increased by 1.]


    [Stamina increased by 1.]


    Izel, conflicted by the messages popping up, flicked away the blood from his sword. Despite adrenaline coursing through his veins, his right arm trembled as if it might fall off from that stab. Briefly checking the messages, he looked down at the bug that shot up from the ground.


    ''Desert Worm,'' Izel briefly thought. A beige creature with a gaping mouth and razor-sharp teeth resembled an oversized log-like worm at first glance. As it slithered across the desolate desert, Izel became its primary target. He took a deep breath, navigating the silent landscape under a plain-white sky, devoid of any breeze. Keeping a low profile, he heightened his alertness, closing his eyes to maximize the effectiveness of [Sound Reading].


    In this barren expanse, desert worms hunted their prey by burrowing through the sand. Walking with open eyes seemed futile, even for Izel, who couldn''t see. With his eyes firmly shut, he delved into concentration, enhancing not only the sharpness of [Sound Reading] but also heightening his other senses. Immersed in the oddly silent atmosphere, he detected the scent of blood lingering in the air, intensifying his survival instinct.


    SQUIRM! "GUGUGUGU!"


    Izel lifted his foot at the faint shriek emanating from deep within the sand. s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "KYAH!" CRACK!


    The desert worm that burrowed up from the ground got its head crushed by Izel''s mana-coated feet and [Strength] stat of 15, stomping on it with perfect timing. Concurrently, the blind man swung the longsword in his hand.


    [Mana had increased by 2.]


    [Strength increased by 1.]


    [Constitution increased by 1.]


    [Agility increased by 3.]


    The Desert Worm died, its head severed, blood staining Izel''s clothes and boots. Despite having slain only two, Izel''s overall stats seemed to approach 138. The announcement of the dungeon raid''s objective, subjugating the boss monster ''Mother Worm,'' made the blind man skeptical. It appeared an impossible feat, yet gaining stats through slaying proved achievable.


    These worms were not only dangerous but also cunning, stealthily observing and patiently waiting to hunt prey beneath the desert using echolocation and prey-induced soundwaves. As Izel walked, he recalled information from the [Cascade] Hunters'' Guild, describing desert worms as rare earthworm species living underground, holding their breath for extended periods. Large nests were crucial for these creatures.


    ''Such nest...'' Izel mused, tying the Black Special Blindfold over his eyes. Activating [Flawlation], the gear-based skill obtained in the second tutorial, he slowly opened his eyelids.


    SSSK, SSS! CRUNCH, CRUNCH!


    ''...should probably be grouped up in an open cave space.'' The blind man halted as if confirming his earlier hypothesis. Through [Flawlation], all he could discern were the black outlines of desert worms in the cave''s depths, their presence marked by occasional sand drips. Disregarding the shifting sand beneath his feet, he concentrated on what lay in his line of sight as he ventured further into the open cave space.


    [You have discovered the hideout of the boss monster ''MotherWorm''.]


    "Aah, Finally." Izel brushed the muggy blood off his face, then quickly gulped up some water from a pocket-sized bag around his wrist. ''Home of desert worms and the boss monster, mother worm.'' He briefly contemplated while discarding the empty waterskin. As if denying him the opportunity to catch his breath¡­


    "SHIIII!" CRUNCH! "GRRRR!"


    ¡­ Desert worms sensed the impending intruder, and they squirmed toward him, creating a disgusting sight. It seemed they forgot their cautious nature as creatures that typically hunted from below. Instead, they appeared driven by an insatiable desire to consume the bold prey that had ventured into their hideout. Izel, desperately wielding his longsword, swung at the desert worm hurtling towards him, as if his life depended on mastering the unfamiliar weapon in this brutal encounter. The struggle was evident, making it a challenging endeavor to navigate through the chaos. The worms, perhaps in their voracious pursuit, overlooked their usual stealthy approach.


    Certainly, he wished to believe it was an experienced jackpot; however, the accompanying swing brought agonizing numbness to his right arm. "This¡­ a lot stressful." The blind man, uncertain of the existence of such a place within the desolate desert, found himself revisiting a familiar niche he had once experienced.


    "KYAH!"


    The desert worm was severed, and a gory spray erupted like a fountain.


    SLASH!


    Izel deftly cut down yet another desert worm, this one attempting a stealthy approach from his blind spot. Little did the creature know, that Izel possessed no blind spots. With each kill and ensuing blood splatter, he remained vigilant. Suddenly, a projectile hurtled towards the blind man at an unnaturally fast speed. Executing a skillful dodge, he infused a hint of mana around his calves and swiftly countered, slashing the creature''s head. The resulting blood spray adorned his already crimson-dark cloak in a deeper shade of scarlet. At that precise moment¡­


    [Strength increased by 3.]


    [Stamina increased by 3.]


    As he gasped for air, blood beaded his face and trickled down his delicate neck. Despite the grueling raid, Izel maintained a faint smile on his lips. His limbs and legs shuddered, teetering on the verge of giving out, but he couldn''t afford to stop. The surge of adrenaline pushed him to endure the ordeal; letting his guard down even for a moment would mean facing certain death. Gripping his weapon firmly, he pressed forward, walking toward the menacing black outlines of desert worms baring their fangs. Each one, the size of a mature log, lunged toward him like a flung rope.


    Izel''s longsword cleaved through the air, swiftly severing the heads of the charging desert worms. Despite his arms growing increasingly numb and exhaustion setting in, he continued to spin with full force, the sword causing his palms to bleed. In a single, determined swing, the remaining two desert worms, which had attacked from behind, met the same fate as their counterparts ¨C heads chopped off.


    [Stamina increased by 2.]


    [Agility increased by 1.]


    [Constitution increased by 1.]


    [Mana increased by 2.]


    [You have achieved ''The Butcher of Desert-Worms'' title.]


    [Your body proficiency in utilizing and controlling mana has increased by twofold.]


    Upon encountering an oddly titled announcement, he found himself intrigued by another peculiar message. Initially baffled, he gradually grasped its essence. Despite a substantial increase in his constitution stat to 11, he continued to breathe heavily, feeling more exhausted after an indeterminate period of movement. Fortunately, as his body became more attuned to mana, there was a noticeable lightness to his movements. "Haaaaah!" With a composed breath, Izel closed his eyes for a moment, sensing the smoother flow of mana within him.


    REMAINING TIME: 00:15:58


    The remaining raid countdown disrupted the blind man''s ecstasy. Approximately fifteen moments lingered until the raid''s conclusion. "I can''t subjugate that darn Boss monster with the amount of time left." While the goal lingered in his mind, he has since completely erased it. Despite the improvement in his body with increased [mana] stats being smaller than a speck of dust compared to before, a clear difference remains apparent.


    SHHIII, SHIIIrNIK! CRUNCH!


    In the imminent threat, a multitude of desert worms, larger and more numerous than before, approached without Izel needing to draw near. Resembling an overpopulated ant colony, they surged towards him. In Izel''s hand, the longsword emitted a faint bluish-green glow, a testament to his enhanced body and increased [mana] stat. As he swung the sword, bluish-green arcs lit the air, accompanied by splattering blood and falling heads.


    "¡­"


    ¡°CRAAA!¡±


    There was a gargantuan bug-like worm, much larger than any other desert worm, besieged and with a body three meters thick and close to 16 meters in length. She feasted on the dead desert worm carcass brought to her by others in the distance. None other than the ''Mother-worm,'' she was the mother of the desert worms. Frequently laying countless eggs, the hatched desert worms hunted anything that could be food for her. The ''Mother-worm'' served as the boss monster in this F-rank dungeon assigned for Izel to subjugate. The full meaning of subjugation, whether by force or taming, no longer mattered to the blind man. His sole task: slay it and survive.


    "KIYAAAH!"


    The screeching of the desert worms grew louder as they approached. An estimate suggested there might be two or three hundred of them. Though individually not overly threatening, their sheer numbers covered the entire cave. The situation demanded attention due to the overwhelming presence of these squirming creatures. ''I don''t have time to deal with all of them.'' He thought.


    In the face of an intense assault by desert worms, Izel leaped into the air, channeling mana to inflate his calves. Upon landing, he swiftly dispatched the approaching and nearby worms, a faint bluish-green glow surrounding him as blood rained down. With determination, he dashed towards the mother worm, intent on taking down the boss monster in one decisive strike.


    His longsword, infused with a mere hint of mana, proved more effective against the desert worms. Recognizing this, he decided to concentrate all his mana into a single slash aimed at the motherworm. A stroke of luck was on his side; the blind man discovered the motherworm''s strong attachment to her offspring. As the battle unfolded, Izel''s actions flowed seamlessly, each movement purposeful. The desert worms fell before him, and with focused precision, he directed his energy toward the impending confrontation with the formidable motherworm.


    "KIYAAAH!"


    The colossal mother worm''s black outline began to undulate. Strangely, her fury resulted in the unintentional crushing of her own offspring. Izel found himself perturbed by the sight. "You let your emotions get the better of you; what a lack of common sense." The mother worm advanced swiftly, her speed a serious matter. Within range, she lunged at the blind walker, attempting to engulf him in a single bite. Ominous sounds echoed as her sharp teeth clashed, yet nothing found itself ensnared between them.


    "GUURUGH¡­?"


    The mother worm emitted a bewildered cry¡­


    CRACK!


    ... as a blood-stained longsword thrust into her head.


    "GIYAAAGH!"


    The Mother Worm emitted a haunting howl, the echo of agonizing pain coursing through her nervous system. Blood splattered, creating a macabre scene.


    "Thank you for letting your guard down." Izel drove his blood-stained sword repeatedly into the monster''s head as if his own life depended on ending hers. With urgency, he swiftly ascended onto the boss monster''s body.


    "GYAAAAH!"


    The Mother Worm thrashed violently as the blind walker mounted her. Swiftly realizing the threat, she rolled over, causing a chaotic explosion of sparks that sliced through his blindfold, leaving it precariously hanging on his face. However, this revealed a vulnerability ¨C her exposed belly. At that moment, Izel''s longsword pierced through her stomach in a relentless assault. Blood erupted, showering the blind walker, while the bluish-green light around his sword intensified. Seizing the opportunity, Izel continued his merciless onslaught. The wounded belly of the Mother Worm became increasingly ragged and shredded as crimson blood splashed around.


    "KYAAAAAAAGH!"


    Amid agony, terror, and impending doom, the boss monster, writhing with these emotions, once more revealed her sharp, corrosive teeth to the blind man.


    "KYAAAH!"


    [The longsword Effect has been activated.]


    [Damage +10]


    Izel infused his longsword with all his magical power, deftly cleaving the mother worm''s head in half.


    REMAINING TIME: 00 : 00: 12


    As time ceased its countdown, Izel gasped for air while perched atop the lifeless mother worm amidst a gruesome mountain of desert worm corpses. The slashed black blindfold slipped from his face, cascading down alongside*¡­***


    [Flawlation had been forcibly deactivated.]


    ¡­ and a surge of overwhelming exhaustion engulfed him, accompanied by a throbbing pain that welled up in his eyes.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    Izel''s dull-sharp eyes, adorned with scarred golden pupils, opened slowly. His breath, shallow and heavy, betrayed the weight of countless nightmares. The past had tormented him repeatedly, each nightmare leaving him jolting awake in a cold sweat. Yet, this particular dream diverged from the usual horrors, standing out in its own unsettling way.


    Slowly, he reflected on achieving a title that had slipped his mind. He acknowledged it wasn''t entirely his fault; the system never displayed titles. Amidst this, a throbbing sensation in his head persisted, akin to being struck by an electric current.


    Soon, he realized his body refused to respond¡ªhead, feet, arms, everything immobilized. Stiffness and pain enveloped him, joints rigid as a rusted iron door lacking constant oil and lubricant maintenance. Sensations dulled to the point where he couldn''t feel his legs, arms, and even fingertips without intense concentration.


    Unfazed by the familiar negatives he had encountered before, he lay flat on the white-comfy bed, a prisoner to the cramped space, his stats and [mana] powerless against it. Despite this, one nagging worry persisted: ''I''m so hungry and thirsty.¡¯


    Overwhelmed by helplessness and distress, he succumbed to the indefinite silence and darkness of the waiting room, his discomfort intensifying. Incessant growls emanated from his stomach, their protest amplifying, while his dry-parched throat stung with each passing second.


    Within the waiting room''s oppressive atmosphere, he lingered, yearning for respite from both hunger and thirst. The sensory onslaught heightened the torment, making every moment feel insufferable.


    "¡­¡±


    Just how much time had passed¡­


    "...I must... meet... Jane Austen soon," he muttered through his dry, stiff lips. To accomplish that, he had to escape the oppressive confinement surrounding him and successfully conquer the next dungeon, starting with the first.


    ''AHHHhhhh¡ªARGHHhh!!!'' His agonized scream reverberated through the depth of his soul as he forcefully channeled mana through every fiber of his rigid body, determined to move once more. The excruciating pain was both familiar and alien, a paradox that intensified the urgency of his quest.


    The B-rank dungeon raid starts in 13 hours and 47 minutes.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 15 - Gruesome training...

    After an agonizing hour, Izel could finally move. Drenched in cold sweat, enough to fill a bucket, he found solace in the waiting room''s restorative effects. It alleviated fatigue, pain, and muscle tension, leaving his body in a pristine state."Inventory," he whispered.


    As always, an invisible rupture occurred as the blind man''s desire was fulfilled, materializing into his hand.


    In his grasp lay the [Blood of the Gatekeeper], a sumptuous-looking portion that could fetch an insurmountable amount of Lupi if auctioned. Despite its value, Izel had other plans ¨C he intended to consume it.


    [You''ve taken the Blood of the Gatekeeper.]


    "Hah!" The blind man exhaled sharply, the dense, bluish-dark substance gurgling down his throat and swelling through his gut at a rapid pace. Before long, another alert buzzed within his mind.


    [The Demerit Condition had been activated.]


    ''Here comes the devil,'' Izel''s heart skipped a beat. He swiftly double-checked and calculated his stats, then breathed a sigh of relief


    [The Condition had been fulfilled by 1.]


    [Demerit had been deactivated.]


    After the echoed messages, a barrage of haptic feedback and notifications consistently pricked at his mind.


    [A special stat ''Inferno'' has been created.]


    [Special stat ''Inferno'' has been increased by 20.]


    [All stats had been increased by 10.]


    Suddenly, an oddly strong adrenaline surge coursed through his entire being. ''Uh, isn''t this sensation... familiar?'' Izel swiftly recalled the sensations of ''ecstasy and craze'' he experienced when he first took tricyclic antidepressants and fluoxetine pills. It resembled what he felt now but with heightened intensity. If he were to articulate this feeling, it would be like emptiness engulfing his mind, accompanied by a refreshing blast of air snaking through his entire body, as if he could surpass his current capabilities¡ªsomething akin to that.


    Simultaneously, another element unfolded, and his heart abruptly pounded.


    BU-DUM!


    The urge to vomit gripped him, yet he resiliently endured the overwhelming terror, gritting his teeth.


    [The blood of the Gatekeeper seeps through every fiber of your being, hardening your soul, and bones and flaming your body, encapsulating the physique quality of a Gatekeeper.]


    Clutching his chest in pain, Izel felt the agony subside quickly along with a fleeting message. Rising from the bed, he engaged in a light jumping session, alternating between clenching and unclenching his hands. As he stretched his body, he adapted swiftly to his new condition.


    ¡°This..." He exclaimed, surprised by the calm rhythm of his heartbeat, contrasting with the odd sensation of his body feeling both oily and strangely energized. Despite a speck of discomfort, his blood flowed exceptionally well, as if released from an invisible constraint. His bones, curiously hardened, lent an unexpected sturdiness to his frame. Overall, a sense of refreshment enveloped him, akin to emerging from a hot spring. In essence, the ''Blood of the Gatekeeper'' proved to be remarkably effective.


    ¡®...Is amazing!¡¯ He exclaimed, a satisfying expression on the blind man''s face. He recognized that these visible changes were a result of enhanced stats and the sumptuous portion''s special effect. Undoubtedly, it was the most astonishing transformation.


    He eagerly wanted to test this development right away... However, with a faint smile, his expression soon turned rueful. ''It doesn''t matter,'' he sadly mused. It seemed his heart still grappled with the question of whether he could truly take a fellow walker''s life for his survival, and how he would endure when a walker threatened to end his life for their survival. After deep contemplation, he shrugged his shoulders, contradicting those thoughts, as he needed to prioritize his survival above all else. Yet, in all honesty, he wished to avoid murder if he had the choice.


    [Name: Izel Ethalt Blind.


    Age: 19 years old.


    Strength: 45 Stamina: 53


    Agility: 57 Mana: 36


    Constitution: 32


    Inferno: 20


    Active skills


    Gear: Flawlation (F)


    Basic Swordsmanship (E)


    *Soul Assimilation (E)


    Hell Flame (D)


    Hemostasis (E+)


    Anesthesia (D)


    Passive Skills


    Sound Reading (Innate)


    Fortress Currency


    Verdes: 129]


    As an improved status echoed through Izel''s mind, a brief moment of pride swept over him. Although prioritizing his safety, he hesitated at the thought of unnecessarily taking a walker''s life. Fulfilling such a desire seemed challenging in the Fortress of Dungeons or even on Elilaum. Still, he was determined to try. ''How strong am I against other walkers?'' He questioned, mindful that each of them was growing as fast as he was. Experienced ex-hunters, dreaming of becoming the best long before he was born, added another layer of complexity.


    "Damn, this is brain-racking," he stressfully sighed. No matter how hard he unraveled his thoughts, figuring out his standing eluded him. Uncertainty lingered, and he couldn''t avoid the inevitable confrontation with others. But he shouldn''t think like that. Izel shook his head, denying such defeatist thoughts. The once dispirited blind man had gained confidence and experience since awakening in the fortress.


    "I can do this!" Without a hint of doubt or hesitation, he clenched his fist firmly. ''I won''t cowardly distrust my current skills, efforts, and perseverance up until now.'' No, he mustn''t. As his tightly clenched fist loosened, a few resolute words escaped his lips.


    "I will succeed in this raid, no matter what.¡±


    The B-rank dungeon raid starts in 12 hours, and 12 minutes.


    As the countdown pressed on Izel''s mind, the ''Blood of the Gatekeeper'' continued its potent journey through his veins, arteries, muscle fibers, cells, blood, and down to his very soul, fortifying and evolving them with escalating intensity. A sudden, sharp groan escaped his lips, reminiscent of being struck by lightning bolts, yet the shock seemed to emanate from within, scattering throughout his internals. His limbs abruptly weakened, causing him to drop to his knees. The astonishing effects of such substances working wonders within his body were beyond his prior belief. Before long, faint steam hissed from his flesh, akin to cold water poured on sizzling charcoal.


    Izel felt a peculiar sensation, making him strangely coquettish yet more cushy than usual. Although the effect took its time to evolve, harden, and spread through every nook and cranny of his body, it soon dissipated. A hint of dissatisfaction lingered as the reward and odd sensation vanished, leaving Izel convinced that his body endurance had skyrocketed.


    "Well, it''s already too late to worry about that," he mused, taking a deep breath as he inspected the items in his inventory. He contemplated going easy on the Verdes this round. "Simply put, I wouldn''t buy anything besides replenishing my supplies and emergency rations," Izel thought aloud.


    "Trading center," Izel uttered, creating a rupture out of thin air that only he sensed. In his mind, as always, the trading center¡¯s catalog opened up.


    [Otherworldly Wheat Bread (N/A)] X2


    [10 Verdes have been deducted.]


    ¡­


    [Otherworldly Waterskin (E)] X5


    [25 Verdes have been deducted.]


    ¡­


    [Otherwordly Jerky (N/A)] X3


    [15 Verdes have been deducted.]


    He surmised these would suffice for a while. In the blind man''s inventory, newly acquired supplies manifested. The inner monotonous voice narrated the catalog by category, detailing the advantage of purchasing specific portions without incurring a burdened demerit, offering the potential to replenish his health in dire situations. After a moment, he sighed in disappointment, ¡®It seems such portions aren''t available.¡¯


    Perhaps the high traffic from multiple walkers making rapid purchases for the upcoming raid could be the reason. Regardless, Izel thought it was better this way and decided to close the trading center. He believed more useful items and skills would soon appear, making it a wise choice to save up some Verdes.


    Above all, he trusted that his current equipment and skills would sustain him throughout the raid.


    He sighed, pondering his blood quality, insufficient for [Hemostasis] to be forcibly deactivated. He hoped it would be enough to activate the skill when needed. Unbeknownst to him, the waiting room had already restored his blood quality, and the bluish hue over his body was gone. With the raid''s objective being ''Battlefield Survival,'' Izel reasoned that the forum remained oddly silent as everyone awaited the impending raid.


    Nervousness, tension, and anxiety permeated the forum, creating an uneasy atmosphere.


    "Teams of three¡­ huh?" remarked Izel, recalling the previous chat a few hours ago. This marked his first encounter with anyone in a week since awakening in the Fortress of Dungeons. Despite feeling a bit uneasy, the blind man found himself strangely excited. ¡®How will each of the Walkers look?¡¯ he pondered with folded arms, well aware of the diverse superior creatures inhabiting Elilaum. ¡®Demons, giants, angels, or perhaps dragon kins?¡¯ he wondered about the possible companions. Curiosity extended to their strengths, though he couldn''t disclose his own progress or compare to those with innate job-related traits. Humans in the mix, including Izel, were experiencing accelerated growth.


    "Is every walker facing different challenges advancing more rapidly than those tackling ''Extreme''?" He pondered aloud. Izel harbored curiosity, given the tight-lipped nature prevalent among forum participants, even during the heyday of its activity. ¡®Hell, most aliases weren''t genuine names,¡¯ he mused, keenly aware of the prevailing anonymity. Regardless, he surmised that each difficulty possessed its unique strength, and the Walkers demonstrated prowess by conquering all six raids within a mere week.


    No matter his progress, Izel reminded himself not to succumb to arrogance. He mustn''t underestimate himself or others. With determination, he straightened his scabbard and activated [Hellflame].


    [Hellflame (?) had been activated.]


    His skin gleamed with an oily sheen, swiftly igniting a bluish-dark, searing sphere in his palm. A groan escaped him as strange humming frequencies jammed his [Sound Reading].


    SHWOO, SHWAAAH!


    The sphere-like flame wasn''t stable; instead, it morphed irregularly, reminiscent of crude fire from a melted candle. This was clear evidence that he struggled to properly condense and mold the flame. Izel concentrated on the unsteady searing sphere in his palm, attempting to infuse it with mana. Yet, he couldn''t maintain a proper fixed form like the ¡®Hell-flame¡¯ that nearly burned him to cinders.


    [Inferno: 20]


    Izel''s mind absorbed the newly mysterious stat, realizing it likely explained the irregularities in his skills. At just 20, this stat served as the ''fuel'' for the skill.


    "...¡±


    ''I suppose this hell flame demands a higher Inferno power with advanced mana control.'' The blind man concluded, noting the somewhat endurable and constant frequencies when mana was applied. Despite the instability, Izel managed to create a sphere-like flame with a mere 20 inferno powers, thanks to his body efficiency and exceptional mana control honed through fortress raids. The effect of [Blood of the Gatekeeper] also played a crucial role.


    BOOM!


    The unstable hell flame erupted, its power scattering like shrapnel, sending Izel crashing into the white wall. The impact lightly damaged the surroundings, both wall and ground alike.


    Healing all injuries and status fatigue.


    As the restoration effect in the waiting room instantly applied to his body, mending the damaged walls and ground, Izel clenched his fist with a faint smile.


    "This is quite nice," he remarked.


    Izel had a higher goal beyond merely surviving the Fortress of Dungeons¡ªhe aspired to become the strongest. Climbing the ranks of ''Elilaum''s continental hunter'' wasn''t just about power or wealth for him; it was about protecting everything precious, from his future wife and children to property, friends, and even his luxurious life.


    ¡®No, this is undoubtedly pleasant,¡¯ he thought cheerfully. Perfectly and quickly utilizing such a skill and improving its proficiency marked the essence of a genius. Even the mere activation, though unstable, was great for someone like him¡ªa slow learner and achiever. He harbored no disappointment or disheartenment; after all, over time, this card of his could evolve into a bigger masterpiece in his arsenal.


    A few minutes later, fully healed, Izel hurriedly resumed his training. He aimed to master his lopsided stats, gaining more control in agility both with and without the [Cloud Boots] at top speed repeatedly.


    He moved on to the next step without hesitation. In an instant, Izel issued another intuitive command, and once more, a ripple surged through. Soon after, a shopping catalog unfolded in his mind. However¡­


    "Hidden sort..." Izel added.


    The feminine voice flipped the trading center catalog to the mysterious category discussed in the forum.


    Do you want to disable the waiting room''s auto-recovery?


    Yes/No.


    With that information, he selected "Yes".


    [10 Verdes have been deducted.]


    The waiting room''s auto-recovery had been disabled. The Walker''s body will retain physical stress and fatigue, and injuries will not be restored to its former pristine state.


    If the information gleaned from the forum aimed to enhance one''s tolerance and skill proficiencies through enduring physical pain, it could prove invaluable. Despite having honed his agility and other stats, the excruciating training ahead seemed inevitable. With a hesitant breath, he unsheathed his sword, battling his aversion to pain, and mustering courage.


    "Argghhhhhhh!" The waiting room echoed with screams as blood splattered and rained down.


    As time unfolded like an apocalypse, more horrifying screams filled the air, and the white linoleum floors became stained with blood. His legs shook and ultimately gave way. Izel, now doubled over on all fours, nearly vomited, bitter gastric juices churning onto the blood-soaked floor.


    [Hemostasis (E+) Proficiency had increased by 2%]


    Engulfed in searing heat, enduring excruciating pain that seized his body. He moaned in distress, uttering a strained "huuuu!¡±


    Gasping, he exhaled vapor, gradually rising to his feet. With relentless determination, he continued slashing and thrusting, blood splattering as agonized screams escaped his lips. "Ughhhhh!¡±


    [''Anesthesia (D)'' Proficiency had increased by 7.8%.]


    [Your body''s blood cells steadily drop.]


    [''Hemostasis (E+)'' Proficiency had increased by 4%]


    [Agonizing pain and burns had crept through your body.]


    Izel exhaled a deep sigh, finding relief in the enhanced [Constitution] and his newly improved body. The tension around him eased slightly, even as the aurora-heterochromatic aura seared his skin with every step.


    [''Anesthesia'' has negated the heat from the skin.]


    [Your body''s blood cells steadily drop.]


    [''Anesthesia'' has gained additional tolerance against skin burns and terror.]


    [Your body''s blood cells steadily drop.]


    [''Anesthesia (D)'' Proficiency had increased by 7.6%]


    FWOOOSH!


    Izel clenched his jaw, biting down on his lower lip, Aurora''s shortsword poised as he thrust into his own legs. The excruciating pain surged through the blind man''s limbs, but he suppressed any screams, blood seeping between gritted teeth. A sinister aura snaked through his veins and muscles.


    STAB! STAB!


    "Urghhhhhhhh!" Eventually, he couldn''t hold back the scream as blood splattered, the agony overwhelming.


    [''Anesthesia (D)'' is resisting the sizzling pain.]


    [''Anesthesia (D)'' Proficiency has increased by 5.5%.]


    [Your body''s blood cells steadily drop by three-fold.]


    [''Hemostasis (E+)'' Proficiency had increased by 3.1%]


    [Your body''s blood cells steadily drop two-fold.]


    [''Hemostasis (E+)'' Proficiency had increased by 3.1%]


    In the throes of anguish, despair, and agonizing pain, Izel found solace amid repetitive torment as uplifting messages punctuated his beleaguered mind. His head throbbed relentlessly, and muscles felt like they were being torn from their joints, limbs splaying out in grotesque angles. A sinister aura seeped through, ravaging his insides, and squeezing his body like a wet rag.


    "But I guess... it''s worth it," he thought shakingly, replenishing his stamina with food and water, exhaling sharply and grunting. He repeated the grueling training until finally succumbing to a short nap by the cozy wall.


    The B-rank dungeon raid starts in 1 hour and 16 minutes.


    Suddenly jolted awake as if whacked by a cane, he quickly immersed himself in his daily rituals before meals¡ªa routine accomplished in a mere 20 minutes.


    Shortly after, he gathered a few loaves of wheat bread, jerkies, and waterskins, placing them into his half-burnt pocket-sized bag from his inventory. A familiar message dinged in his mind, notifying him that it was almost time.


    The B-rank dungeon raid starts in 59 minutes.


    [Flawlation (F) had been activated.]


    After securing the special blindfold tightly over his eyes, he opted to activate the waiting room''s auto-recovery system.


    Do you want to turn on the waiting room''s auto-recovery?


    After nearly five hours of relentless training, Izel had significantly boosted the proficiencies of both [Hemostasis], a crucial skill for the upcoming raid, and [Anesthesia], acknowledged as the most challenging skill stat to enhance. Gasping for air, fatigue burdened his entire body, and pain tormented him without respite. These were the drawbacks of disabling auto-recovery, making the training markedly more difficult and less effective.


    "Just like when I train in the Guild''s training room," the blind man reminisced about all his past struggles, which led to slow yet steady development. In this case, the goal was to increase his skills'' proficiency, making the struggles worthwhile. Even after his usual 200 repetitions in each workout, he typically accomplishes them without a speck of fatigue. However, this time, he reached his physical limit rather quickly. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Even wielding my sword is incredibly exhausting,'' he mused, sweat streaming down his cheeks. Despite a five-hour nap and his enhanced physique, every muscle fiber ached, and the persistent pain lingered in his bones. His heartbeat pulsed through his body with each passing second. Only fueled by determination and perseverance, the fairly brown-skinned teen managed to stand on his trembling feet.


    All in all, the repetitive infliction of pain and constant self-recovery have borne good fruit.


    [Active Skill: Hemostasis.


    Rank: E+


    Proficiency: 23.8%


    Effect: By using blood cells, the host can quickly recover from bruises and mild internal injuries.


    Demerit: cannot recover excessively damaged muscles or severed limbs. Also, overuse of this skill could lead to hypovolemic shock.]


    The constant recovery of his wounds within hours marked an astounding increase. To be honest, Izel couldn''t overdo it, as he had no desire to experience the demerit of the skill just yet. His mind hadn''t moved past the memory from the last raid, so he opted to endure a few bruises and deep wounds here and there.


    "Damn it, I hate pain." He clicked his tongue as he grunted. "Ugh!"


    [Skill: Anesthesia (D).


    Proficiency: 35%.


    Effect: The user is resistant to physical pain by 20%, allowing him or her to power through serious injuries and continue to function.


    Demerit: The user is only resistant to E to D painful impacts and attacks and immune to C-rank by only 2%.]


    In other words, should he desire to enhance these skills intentionally, rather than haphazardly through battles or raids, it would amount to a form of self-inflicted torment. The existence of such loopholes in the Fortress of Dungeons was akin to achieving multiple objectives with a single effort. However, despite recognizing the advantages, Izel found himself unwilling to consciously endure pain to elevate his proficiencies. Nevertheless, the fact remained that torture, in any form, retained its essence.


    "I wish I could imitate a skill or two," he expressed aloud. This desire arose primarily because these moments provided unique opportunities for a walker blessed with exceptional memory and mimicry capabilities to repeatedly execute specific skills and thereby acquire them. Yet, unlike Izel, who had only grasped basic swordsmanship, his pursuits seemed devoid of significance.


    Despite grappling with a multitude of injuries, he managed to achieve significant gains in just a few hours¡ªan accomplishment that would typically be deemed impossible. Proudly shrugging his shoulders, he privately reveled in how cool he must appear. Izel couldn''t help but ponder the considerable cost associated with disabling the auto-recovery effect of the waiting room. Undoubtedly, constantly toggling it on and off when low on Verdes wasn''t a cost-effective strategy. Nevertheless, the blind man, armed with a surplus of Verdes, decided to experiment, hoping to boost his survival rate.


    Amidst the grueling training, his movements became more efficacious, and his basic swordsmanship was flawlessly remastered, even though its proficiency remained stagnant. The waiting room bore witness to a series of abysmal slashes and thrust marks, evidence of his intense efforts.


    As he clapped his hands, surveying the waiting room''s transformed state, a chill ran down his spine. "I guess that 10 Verdes is worth it," he mused, exhaling deeply as he evaluated the outcomes of his unconventional training approach. ''I don''t think I will stop training at this rate.'' he doubted aloud.


    The B-rank dungeon raid starts at 10 minutes, and 16 seconds.


    As the countdown interrupted the blind man''s train of thoughts, he responded with a decisive "Yes!" to activate the waiting room''s auto-recovery.


    [10 Verdes have been deducted.]


    The Waiting room''s auto-recovery had been turned on and on standby.


    [Remaining Verdes: 60]


    Momentarily, the sapphires embedded in the white ceiling lit up sequentially. Izel, unable to see a thing, paid little attention to the spectacle. Simultaneously, his body emitted grey vapor, reminiscent of cold water raining down upon blazing charcoal. His burnt, injured, and stiff body gradually relaxed and healed, while stamina and blood were swiftly restored. With all hindrances now removed ...


    The B-rank Dungeon Raid starts in 0 seconds. Time up.


    Deactivating the ''Extreme'' difficulty¡ªfortress operating system; the Broker, Trading Center, Inventory, and Forums.


    ¡­ It was the long-awaited moment to accept the next raid at last.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 16 - B-Rank Raid began...

    Do you accept the B-rank dungeon raid?Yes/No


    "Yes," Izel responded, dressed impeccably with his half-burnt, pocket-sized bag adorning his wrist. His breaths were steady. Rather than the expected emergence of the Crimson Portal, unfamiliar messages reverberated in the air.


    Queuing the Walker¡­


    Please wait until the matching is complete.


    Current number of selected Walkers: 13/42.


    Izel, momentarily puzzled, contemplated the enigma of the [matching system]. Swiftly, epiphany dawned upon him, revealing its purpose within the Fortress of Dungeons ¨C a mechanism to determine the allocation of walkers from varying difficulties into appropriate ''parties'' and ''realities'' based on their strength, raid records, and decision-making.


    Contrary to initial uncertainty, Izel considered the possibility of error but, guided by a sudden premonition, embraced the truth. Without undue self-praise, he acknowledged his prowess, surpassing most low-level hunters. Factoring in his items and instinctive combat skills, the once-significant rank difference with experienced ex-hunters now dwindled to a draw. Mindful of the growth-limiting demerits common to all walkers, he weighed these considerations.


    Yet, he hoped he wasn''t up against superior races, fearing it would decrease his survival rate. The unequal strength, driven by their ruthless nature and innate job-related traits, weighed on his mind. Izel doubted the possibility but stroked his curled bangs back nonetheless.


    "But what if it does happen?" His dulled eyes narrowed beneath the blindfold. The possibility couldn''t be dismissed; after all, the Fortress of Dungeons was known for unexpected twists. "There must be a reason for such coincidences," he mused, offering a straightforward yet vague conclusion.


    In this cruel world, everything bears a cost, and each Walker''s life holds a price. For such an event to transpire, it implies that every life within the fortress possesses an equal standing. The only way to defy this rule is through one''s strength and a creative mind, a decision that can shatter the established order.


    "It might be the reason why it selected a specific category of people scattered throughout Elilaum..." Lost in contemplation, Izel was abruptly pulled from his thoughts by resonated messages.


    DIING!


    The current number of selected Walkers: 42/42.


    Matching complete.


    Concurrently, a trusty portal began forming from a beam-sized black hole, expanding gradually from the size of a coin to that of a volleyball. Ultimately, it transformed into a flat oval black outline, shrouded with a crimson hue, large enough for a person to walk through.


    Prepared for teleportation, Izel walked into the portal, maintaining focus on the task at hand.


    Entering the B-rank dungeon raid.


    The following raid is a special dungeon where 42 selected Walkers enter to form a party of three.


    The raid objective is ''Battlefield Survival''.


    The surroundings shifted into a dense landscape filled with towering trees and lush vegetation, brimming with life and luster. Above, a vibrant, bluish, serene sky occupied with a faint misty atmosphere set the scene. With the rustling of each gargantuan tree¡¯s leaves, the surroundings turned cool and dark under the ginormous canopy.


    The air, damp with moisture, brushed across the blind man''s nostrils, and the outlines of every stump were full of moss. If he weren''t blind, he would have marveled at the green expanse of the spacious forest, a landscape entirely different from any he had encountered. Even the cool breeze that fluttered and billowed anything in its path calmly tickled his skin.


    Nonetheless, in a daze, Izel''s eyes, underneath his blindfold, widened at the amazingly dream-like scenery. Since all he could sense through [Flawlation] were black outlines on a white background, his admiration soon turned rueful as he imagined the disaster that could unfold within this paradise-like view. As if telling him there was no time to admire the picturesque setting, messages resonated.


    Choosing the parties.


    Achieve a close relationship with each Walker around.


    Collaborate with them and complete the Dungeon raid before any other party does.


    As the trusty portal he had ventured through slowly shrank into nothingness, two additional portals of different colors emerged behind him, expanding to their full size.


    The B-rank dungeon raid is starting soon.


    Remaining time: 24 hours.


    Raid condition: Slay the ¡®Titan Orc Lord¡¯ before the timer runs out.


    Raid reward: Mana stat +20.


    Raid penalty: Death for all party members.


    It''s time. Izel tightly clenched his right fist as his [Flawlation] showed a black outline of what seemed like a massive, seamless, carved-like gate, once obstructed by the faint yet dense haze, slowly beginning to emerge in the distance.


    The party has been formed.


    The Nanzahemir gate will open in 20 minutes between each created reality. Harmonizing will be finished by then to begin the raid.


    From the newly expanded portals emerged two mysterious and unfamiliar Walkers, validating the Forum''s information.


    "Battlefield Survival in such a dreamy landscape. Is this truly a B-rank dungeon raid?" questioned a fully-robed female mage. Holding a meticulously crafted staff, this beautiful young woman, aged at least eighteen, possessed vibrant emerald hair matching her brows and eyelashes, flowing down her back. Her snow-white skin radiated nobility and elegance, while her sharp-green eyes darted around in amazement, keenly observing every detail before deepening in thought.


    Conversely, the calmly composed man, with grey skin, sharp ears, and a vibrant personality matching the mage''s apparent age, doesn''t appear surprised. In reality, his cobalt-like eyes glance around, unfazed by the fantasy-like scene; perhaps he''s witnessed it too often or simply doesn''t care. He suggests the trio exchange pleasantries, being party mates.


    "First things first. Shall we introduce ourselves?" His words, like his shoulder-length black hair, cut through the need for small talk.


    "I''m Izel Ethalt. Nice to meet you," the white-silver-haired teen carefreely introduces himself.


    "¡­!¡±


    Subconsciously noting the black blindfold on the latter, the gray and crystal-clear-skinned teenager, seemingly from the demon''s race, hastily obstructs his vision. He waves his hand, indirectly inquiring whether Izel is genuinely blind or if the blindfold is merely a stylistic choice or skill.


    Whatever the case, it piqued his curiosity.


    The latter, however, didn''t interpret it that way; he shook his head, attempting to evade the demon kin''s awkward behavior. Despite his efforts, no results were achieved. His carefree demeanor shifted to solemn, and with a sigh, he uttered, "Don¡¯t you know how to take the hint?¡±


    ¡°Well, I''ve never lived while worrying about taking hints, so¡­¡±


    Izel wordlessly scratched the side of his head, wondering if this guy was simply good-natured or just strangely awkward. He observed the young man and his curious yet bright smile. Eventually, the man introduced himself, "Excuse me. Pardon my disrespect; I was just a bit curious. By the way, I''m Daniel Lan. Northwestern. The first son of the King of all demons.¡±


    A demon Walker.


    The blind man sensed something was amiss. His identity seemed aristocratic, yet not in the usual way; the colorful hue of magic never surrounded him when viewed through [Flawlation]. Instead, a blank outline persisted. Izel lightly nodded to the apology for the latter''s inappropriate behavior before shifting his attention away. ''Northwestern?'' Those words echoed in his mind as if he misheard.


    Northwestern. It was a grandiose and popular name he had heard so often while listening to Hunters on his bunky television or researching his Hunter''s kit. No, it was a name he couldn''t have known.


    ''Ascender Gabrilius Northwestern: King of all Demons, Ancient Demon Lord, Monarch of War and Battle, Guildmaster of the major Hell guild¡ª[Reaper]. A hero of the great war, ''Armaedggeon.''


    A surprisingly formidable demon lord, larger than expected, loomed behind Daniel. The strength of the guild, [Reaper], rivaled that of [Cascade]. If this demon was indeed from Gubrilius'' bloodline, his significance equaled Velkist Cambormir''s. Unlike [Cascade] guild, [Reaper] boasted numerous ancient demon lords.


    The young demon in full armor, initially curious, awkwardly scratched the back of his head before returning to his spot. The female mage, visibly shocked by the presence of such a powerful being, composed herself and spoke, "Jenna Rivel. Callen, nice to meet y''all."


    She stole a quick look at the face of the dark, androgynous teenager, draped in a long cloak and wearing the fortress'' special blindfold. A momentary breeze tousled his shoulder-length, curled bangs before she averted her gaze.


    The name of this exquisite individual triggered a faint recognition in Izel''s mind, but he couldn''t recall the guild associated with such a beautiful last name or the lineage and district she hailed from. Nevertheless, his primary curiosity lay in understanding why this mage had briefly turned her eyes in his direction.


    ''Why did she do that?'' Curiosity naturally overwhelmed anyone at the first sight of a real blind man as a Walker, but her expression differed from Daniel''s. Although every entity, living or non-living, stationary or movable, appeared as black contours to Izel due to the effects of [Sound Reading], he could still sense bodily responses with an accurate rate of 30%. Thus, he could discern when someone gazed at him.


    Overall, Izel pondered whether she was too shy to ask, like the young demon, or if she was just sizing him up. Regardless, these were his new party members for the raid. Despite their peculiar behavior, the introduction proved quite interesting for Izel. After a short while, Daniel swiftly changed the topic.


    "Did anyone bother looking up information about the raid?" he inquired.


    "Yeah, as Diana Ross, used my lucky stash of query points to dig up some extra intel," Jenna proudly responded with indifference.


    ¡®So, she was ''Diana Ross'' in the Extreme Difficulty forum, adorned with two or perhaps more query points,¡¯ Izel''s eyes widened beneath his blindfold as if he had just spotted a superstar, but he quickly regained composure. "Hmph!¡±


    The conversation persisted, as Daniel remained unfazed by whether she had more query points or not.


    "Good. What did you find out?" he retorted.


    ¡°Well, I did manage to gather all the information Beelzebub wanted us folks to know.¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­¡± The young demon sighed. ¡°I guess I didn''t completely lose the party lottery," he exclaimed brightly, seemingly relieved.


    Izel shared a similar sentiment. Jenna, while appearing a bit shy, didn''t strike him as a troublesome teenager. Interestingly, these seemingly reserved types often prove to be the most resilient walkers. Although having her as a permanent teammate might introduce a touch of monotony, the blind man considered her a suitable companion for a raid like this. Ultimately, their paths would part once the raid was successfully cleared.


    "Let''s disclose our skills before we begin," Daniel suggested, keen on bypassing small talk and delving into a discussion of their abilities. Such upfront conversations were crucial, especially for first-time collaborators embarking on a raid. It served as a strategic approach to assess how each participant''s skills could contribute to a faster and more efficient progression. S~?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The female mage appeared a bit hesitant, given that both walkers were essentially strangers. However, recognizing the strategic necessity for such discussions in the context of the raid, she soon opened up after a deep breath. "I specialize as a mage-type Walker, making the use of magic a breeze. While close-range combat isn''t my forte, it''s not a big issue. Generally, I prefer the latter since I boast the highest mana stat here." She explained, her tone more confident now.


    Daniel''s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he heard of magic different from the demonic energy he was used to. He approached her dazzlingly, wielding his hefty shield with a fairly middle physique. Seemingly, anyone would inquire how he could carry such an out-of-his-legend shield, resembling a tanker.


    According to Izel''s [Flawlation], it becomes evident that the overcolored mana surrounding her possesses remarkable density and potency, implying an innate mastery over mana. Her mana level is expected to exceed 80. Faint ripples emanate both outward and inward from her center, indicative of a constant ebb and flow of mana, akin to breathing. Genuinely amazed, Izel shook his head, redirecting his focus to Daniel, who, possibly due to his demonic nature, lacked a core but emitted peculiar waves.


    As he took a deep breath, the blind man speculated that these two, like him, were uniquely peculiar. He pondered whether it was mere coincidence or fate that he found himself paired with these valuable walkers.


    "Oh, obviously. What kind of magic can you use?" The curious young walker inquired with sparkling eyes. The brightness was so intense that Jenna turned her head, almost flustered, as her mage-like pride soared through the heavens. Nevertheless, she managed to compose herself and replied, "Nothing too grand. I specialize in long-span and support magic.¡±


    Subconsciously, she boasted of her prowess. It was expected for a young mage with not only a large mana reserve stat from the [Extreme] difficulty but also a specialization in both long-range and support spells to be relatively rare among mages on Elilaum.


    Finally, Izel opened his mouth and asked, "Can you use Buff-type magic?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Not all mages can master buff-type spells or delve into debuffs, as these demand arduous effort in learning and applying them. Amplifying or demolishing external entities'' stats through mana transmission is a creatively challenging feat. While her close combat prowess seemed genuine, the blind man''s speculation hinted at the possibility of her massive mana holding untapped potential.


    His guess aside, he remained clueless about her journey post-tutorial, yet her preference for long-range, potent attacks was evident. Considering the potential hidden card of close combat proficiency, Jenna appeared well-equipped for buff-type magic.


    The interceptor''s eyes widened briefly, seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected questions. "I guess you could say that, but I can only use some buff-type magic," she admitted, her tone cautious.


    Despite her response, Jane contemplated keeping a few of her skills hidden until she fully understood the blind walker before her. Questions swirled in her mind ¨C how had a blind young man survived until now? How could he move with such sharpness and contradictory smoothness, as if he could perfectly see?


    Jane''s curiosity appeared to be piqued by these observations, yet her answer remained honest. She couldn''t cast debuffs, not because she lacked the skill, but due to her overly potent mana pool preventing her from neutralizing others'' mana. Perhaps she believed it prudent to observe the party further, including the enigmatic demon, before deciding whether to extend her aid.


    In the context of this B-rank raid, the failure condition is the ''death of the entire party,'' emphasizing the crucial importance of prioritizing party members. Similar to evaluating a ship captain''s competence, assessing the qualifications of those leading the battle is essential for the crew''s safety. Faced with a party including a Blind Walker with unknown skills and a radiant demon tanker she couldn''t trust with her back, the rational decision was to relegate the Blind Walker to a supporting role, place the demon tanker at the front, and position herself in the middle to observe both sides.


    With a rational mindset, she demonstrated her capability to lead the group through challenging waters. However, her focus wasn''t solely on leadership qualifications. Instead, she contemplated the possibility of abandoning the ship if the crew proved weak or if someone might betray the group for personal gain. Most importantly, the crew''s failure to fulfill the objective would have dire consequences¡­


    The blind Walker''s concise words interrupted her train of thought. "As you said, you''re a pretty strong mage; I give you that. But I think you''re more fit in a captain role.¡±


    Daniel Lan of Northwestern didn''t seem interested in any of that. He kept searching each tree, hoping one could at least bear fruit.


    ¡ª Mr. Fruits, where are you? Show your face; I''m hungry!


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    Plus, his demeanor was too bright and carefree for such a position. Regardless, Izel pondered what to reveal before speaking up. "I specialize in close combat, boasting swordsmanship skills and a detection ability to navigate my surroundings.¡±


    The response was concise, providing enough information for them to assess him, partially dispelling suspicions and curiosity. While not entirely truthful, neither of them seemed to doubt it, likely because he wore a sword at his waist, aligning with the appearance of a swordsman.


    "¡­!¡±


    "What a fateful coincidence..." The demon walker gracefully descended from a peculiarly tall tree and approached both of them. "I seem to possess an oddly demonic anti-magic skill," he declared.


    "Seemed to be a tanker?" Izel inquired with confusion.


    "Well, you see, I haven''t awakened my demon job-related trait yet," Daniel explained, capturing Jenna''s wide-eyed attention with the skill''s name.


    "Demonic Anti-magic...? That''s an amazing, high-quality skill!" Jenna exclaimed loudly.


    A rare skill that any mage would covet was now in her new party mate''s possession. If he were a normal human, it would have just been ''Anti-magic.'' Instead of feeling jealousy, envy, or sudden hatred, Jenna''s curiosity about Daniel being ''one of the ancient Demon lords'' descendants skyrocketed. It was akin to a scientist, brimming with questions and ideas, eager to recruit him for experimentation.


    And that crazy demon, who was always reluctant to speak, responded brilliantly without any arrogance, engaging in a conversation filled with curiosity.


    "As the first son of the Monarch of War and Battle, my status transcends that of a mere mid-level human Walker," he declared, a boastful smile lighting up his face as he joyfully delved into the topic of his origin.


    Izel, observing his exuberance, could only speculate about the source of his bright and positive demeanor. A genuine demon with a unique demonic anti-magic skill, Daniel stood apart from the typically arrogant and prideful demons. This particular skill could repel and neutralize magical properties in both attacks and mana skills, making it a perfect complement to demonic power, especially for those skilled in close combat and tanking.


    Daniel smoothly transitioned the conversation, suggesting they share their hunter ranks from the outside world. "I was a D-rank demon hunter before awakening here," he announced, proudly indicating the bronze ''D'' letter on his hovering Hunter¡¯s kit.


    Jenna chimed in, revealing her own past rank. "I was a C-rank," she disclosed, displaying the sliver ''C'' letter on her translucent-craved Hunter¡¯s kit that floated from her pouch bag around her waist.


    Daniel carefreely peered through Jenna''s floating black crystal-craved orb''s screen and commented, "Not bad for a captain. You must have been quite skilled.¡±


    "I must have been... hehe," the female mage chuckled. Dismissing the tanker''s interest, she leaned in, eager to hear more about the demonic anti-magic. However, the tanker''s attention shifted towards the white-silver-haired teen.


    Izel, lacking a rank to reveal, was merely an F-class hunter, restricted from dungeon raids and low-paying jobs due to the inability to prove his worth. Still, he clung to his Hunter''s Kit. "Ah, never mind me," he waved off, "I wasn''t a hunter but a porter. I was preparing to become a hunter until this happened." His hunter''s kit, surrounded by a faint swirl of mana, floated beside him. "That''s why I got a Hunter''s Kit a week before.¡±


    Unmentioned was his previous guild status and the fact that he had checked his rank, slightly above that of a normal civilian. He had even been part of a popular guild in the ''First District'' before being ousted.


    "Legit?" The once-bright young demon''s face contorted into disapproval, casting a shadow over the conversation.


    "Regardless," Izel continued with a reverent smile, "I''m still confident in my ability to fight.¡±


    However, Daniel seemed to clutch his head, perhaps not even attempting to hear him out. The blind man, sensing a familiar, non-existent gaze, took a deep breath. Daniel''s face stiffened as he confidently walked, bravely stopping in front.


    "Confidence, my ass. But don''t worry, I''ll protect both of y''all. Just stick close to me." His cobalt-like eyes darted forward, assuming the role of a protective big brother, while his pointed nose gleamed against the sky. "I''m from a superior race, so I''ll do what I can.¡±


    Izel scratched the back of his head, and Jenna stroked her fluttering trail of hair over her left ear with a faint smile.


    ¡®Just who would protect who?!¡¯ The same thoughts flowed through both their minds, leaving them utterly speechless.


    "...Okay. Thanks for the sentiment," Izel remarked nonchalantly. A new, strange feeling started to stir in his heart. He couldn''t quite discern its nature, but it carried a very familiar expression he had always associated with Jane Austen. This expression embodied a distinct demeanor that had been absent in the [Cascuade] guild. The sincere gaze of protection against the weak seemed to pierce deeper into his heart, resurfacing memories of the mistreatment he endured for being blind¡ªa slow learner and achiever who couldn''t prove his worth like others.


    However, that was in the past; although he was a slow learner and achiever, he is by no means weak in the present. He is now strong enough to protect himself. Staying quiet with a faint smile, he lets the other person take the lead with Jenna.


    "Just stay close to Jenna, the mage, so I can protect you both with my ultimate skill. Okay? What a strong demon I am. Hahaha!" Daniel proudly adds.


    Approaching Izel, Jenna opens her mouth after a stroll, "What a strange yet seemingly nice demon, don''t you think?¡±


    It''s almost as if she wants to start a conversation, staring at the humongous back of the young demon.


    Blankly, he replies, "Perhaps he hasn''t faced death or been killed before, resulting in his overly positive trait, even though anything could happen inside that gate.¡±


    "Do you mean a hero-type demon?" Sidely, the mage gazes at Izel, agreeing that this young demon could certainly be a virgin to bloodshed and war.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 17 - Teamwork

    ¡®A hero, huh?¡¯ Izel shook his head, reluctant to respond to the perplexing notion of a hero in a fortress where survival skills held greater significance than anything else. The enigmatic yet strangely familiar words seemed out of place. How could heroism thrive amidst a relentless focus on strength and survival? Yet, an uncanny sense of heroism emanated from the demon before him¡ªa dark silhouette that hinted at something beyond the ordinary.Izel observed the black outline exuding confidence and bravery¡ªpositive traits unique among demons. He concluded that if, following the events of the raid, this demon maintained his positivity and other qualities, he could be a true hero and a potential friend. Until then, Izel decided to play along. However, if he couldn''t, there was no reason to be friends with such a demon, right?


    ''I would find out soon enough,'' he briefly pondered.


    The Nanzahemir gate will open in 2 minutes.


    The raid will officially start soon.


    Izel questioned, ¡°Let''s hear the information you found out using your overwhelming query points.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Jenna responded, "Allow me to outline what will occur after that gate opens.¡±


    Frankly, the challenges faced by the Walkers weren''t entirely new. Certainly, every party would battle monsters as usual. However, this time, each group must swiftly navigate the horde and defeat the Titan Orc Lord.


    Jenna elaborated, "This raid unfolds across numerous ''realities,'' each containing randomly shuffled and grouped Walkers. Every reality hosts seven boss monsters, with a total of 42 Walkers. In our scenario, though segregated into seven unconnected regions, each with seven bosses, only 21 Walkers can successfully navigate this raid in our reality, with the belief that only half will survive. At each Nanzahemir gate, six parties target each boss, presenting a formidable opposition against us."


    "That''s not bad; there were only three Walkers against us," Daniel said as he considered the six walkers converging on the same objective. The situation seemed designed to be cruel. ''We will practically be murdering our opponents,'' he briefly thought. Indirectly ordering them to take out the other party for easy survival against the boss monster, which wasn''t necessarily true, left Daniel somewhat conflicted. "I guess we had no choice but to defeat the boss monster before the other party did.¡±


    Jenna responded, "And to do that, we''ll have to map out the area first.¡±


    "But who would help us to do that?" Daniel, deep in thought, seemed unable to figure out how to proceed as the leader, no matter how deeply he pondered. Seeking help, he turned to Jenna, as if he had been too carefree and unintentionally forgotten her expertise. He scratched the back of his head with a smile. "Captain, do you by any chance have a mana-tracking type skill?"


    Jenna questioned, "Did you forget I¡¯m a mage or something¡­?¡±


    Silence fell, and only the gentle wind whooshing through leaves could be heard.


    "¡­¡±


    Shyly, he tilted his head, embarrassment evident in his murmur, "Aye.¡±


    "¡­¡±


    Too carefree, in mere minutes, he had forgotten that only a mage possessed such a skill. While a normal hunter, high-rank hunter, or Walker could have similar abilities like ¡®Thousand-mile-eyes¡¯ or ¡®Falcon eyes¡¯, and ¡®Detection¡¯ skills, they couldn''t match the [mana-tracking] skill, requiring a large mana pool, high concentration, and precise mana control.


    ¡°Just take a look at the one who wants to take the lead?¡± Jenna teased, on the verge of laughter at his forgetfulness. Regaining her indifferent composure, she took the initiative: ¡°Yep, I¡¯ll lead the way, so the two of you can just protect me.¡±


    The mage agreed that it would be better that way, as the blind man had suggested earlier.


    Despite the demon''s disappointment, Izel and the mage both wore unfamiliar yet friendly, faint smiles. His gloomy expression brightened, and he seemed okay with the decision. He turned to Izel, offering reassurance with a bright expression once again.


    "Did you hear that, big brother? Just stand at the back of me.¡±


    The blind man simply nodded his head. His silence bothered the latter; however, he chose not to mention it. Instead, he didn''t have the chance.


    Time up.


    The Nanzahemir gate is about to open up. Be prepared.


    A resounding creak echoed in the distance, accompanied by the overpowering rush of wind that poured out. S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ready, guys?" Jenna initiated the conversation, swallowing dry spit, and preparing for battle. Daniel Lan, Northwestern, grasped his Greatsword and positioned his great shield with a stern face that seemed out of place. "Big bro, stay behind me.¡±


    Izel nodded, standing at Daniel''s back. "Please, just tell me where to go. I''ll be in your care.¡±


    Following Jenna, who took the lead, Daniel closely guarded the entire party. Jenna erected a filmy yet robust, colorful, translucent barrier, shielding them from the gust of wind that forcefully fluttered everything in its path. Despite Izel''s initial skepticism about their formation, formed during his first chat with the party in over a week, the good chemistry became apparent as Jenna took swift action against the tempest-like wind.


    The monsters are pouring in. Find the target as soon as possible and slay it.


    As the wind subsided and the barrier fell, cries echoed out as a massive figure, shrouded in a purple mana hue, loomed over the landscape, revealed from Izel''s [Flawlation].


    "KIEAAAKK!!!!¡±


    The ear-deafening shiek prompted Izel to quickly shut off his [Sound Reading] to prevent being torn apart. Simultaneously, a black outline of hefty feet strode out.


    The ground rumbled and shook with each step out of the gate. Startled, three of the Walkers widened their eyes at the imposing black shadows cast over them. Their feet trembled, not from the uncontrollable rumble, but from the unexpected entities before them. Despair, terror, and confusion suddenly overwhelmed them.


    ''This raid just started, and this has already happened?'' Izel nervously thought.


    ''Are these the Titan Orcs guarding the Titan Orc Lord? Are we supposed to defeat this?'' Jenna calmly pondered as chilly sweat beaded down her cheek.


    ''So massive, slightly taller than most trees here. Dammit,'' Daniel cursed, strangely admiring the monster''s height.


    Undoubtedly, numerous titan-like monsters made their way through the rugged forest, leaving abysmal footprints on the unpaved road. Witnessing an army of fully armed Titan Orcs, their necks tensed. Each of them knew that the Fortress of Dungeons would by no means make this raid easy. However, as confusion raced through their minds, the captain mustered courage, remaining as calm as possible as she spoke up, "...I can lead the way later. Let¡¯s get ready to fight.¡±


    Izel recalled how he had initially resisted accepting the invitation to the Fortress of Dungeons. Yet, as he reflected on it, the decision appeared to be one of the most awkward choices he had ever made.


    The brutal battle started following the captain''s announcement. A horde of roughly twenty-four colossal Titan Orcs surged in all directions, obliterating anything in their path.


    KIEAAAK!!!!


    A towering orc, standing at about six to seven feet with fierce crimson eyes and a formidable physique, catapulted towards the mage. His muscular form was adorned with gruesome trophies, resembling a seasoned warrior. Armed with a purple poison-dripping axe, iron armor, arm guard, and a backup greatsword, the orc exhibited a level of menace that belied the typical orc in a warzone.


    As the massive poisoned axe descended in a crescent arc towards the captain''s head, showcasing a refined axe-manship surpassing even the Goblin Lord''s, the ex-C-rank mage remained unfazed. With a staff raised, a translucent orb at its tip gathered mana, emitting a dazzling emerald ray of light, as an indescribable chant flowed from her lips.


    ¡°SHAT-TER!¡±


    The Titan Orc''s body erupted like a nuclear bomb, showering the area in blood. With whispered chants, the mage''s staff slammed into the ground, conjuring a massive boulder that struck down an approaching Titan Orc. The creature''s arms were instantly crushed as it was propelled several meters, colliding with another Titan Orc. Helpless on the ground, the mage''s staff struck again, summoning ice icicles that pierced through both bodies, creating a gruesome scene of splattered blood.


    "KIEEEEK! GRRR!¡±


    Meanwhile, amidst the ongoing battle, a four-foot-tall Titan Orc stealthily maneuvered through the tall trees, targeting Izel''s blind spot. Its Iron Greatsword swung in a horizontal curve, aiming to cleave the blind man''s torso in two.


    "¡­!¡±


    Unknown to the Titan Orc, Izel had no blind spot. He effortlessly unsheathed his shortsword, anticipating the impending attack. His sword glowed faintly with bluish-green mana as he deftly blocked the horizontal swing. Leaping into the air, he dodged another swing from the Titan Orc, countering with precise movements.


    However, even that proved insufficient; the Titan Orc, shocked by the blind walker''s demeanor, attempted to defend itself, thinking its life would end if exposed to that attack. Instead, both of its hefty arms were mercilessly slashed off, gunky blood splattering.


    ¡°GRRRRR!¡±


    Unbalanced and baffled, Izel¡¯s aurora shortsword pierced its heart without giving it time to comprehend its impending demise. Blood splashed as its colossal body fell, buried among the giant trees. The intensity of the encounter shook the forest, causing leaves to cascade around.


    ¡®Why was he attacked even though he was far back?¡¯ Daniel Lan. Northwestern pondered that something was strangely amiss. It seemed as if his strength had been acknowledged, prompting the attack. However, he dismissed it as a coincidence; he wouldn''t want a disgusting monster acknowledging him with its blade.


    Nevertheless, that wasn¡¯t the case; the young demon''s hoarded equipment was outrageously expensive, making it hard to believe he was only C-rank at best. The Titan Orc appeared to target the toughest foes first, but being from a superior race, he should be capable of handling all Titan Orcs, right?


    A few meters away from Izel, Daniel Lan. Northwestern didn¡¯t seem to agree.


    "What kind of giants move like this systematically?" The young demon yelled, barely blocking the heavy attacks of multiple Titan Orcs with his hefty shield, despite the absence of magic. His arms trembled, teeth gnashing tightly, yet he held onto his shield with all his might, absorbing the brunt of many weapons.


    "Ah!" Daniel''s feet pressed against the ground as he roared with fighting spirit, floundering and pushing a few Titans away, sending them crashing into countless trees.


    Cold sweat rolled down his cheek as he swung his Greatsword, carving out a few legs, blood splashing in the chaotic dance of battle. The onslaught continued as more Titan Orcs swarmed towards him like relentless flies. He couldn''t catch a damn break.


    "Dammit!" he loudly cursed.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Izel, observing through his [Flawlation], sighed. "Is he the one who bravely wanted to protect me?" His face maintained a faint smile, admiring the distant yet cute scene of the awkward demon Walker. The blind man understood the young demon''s struggle, facing giant Orcs of at least C-rank. It was a brave act, even without awakening his demon job-related trait. Yet, being from one of the superior races had its perks.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Indeed, even without the awakening of his job-related traits like Jenna, the young demon possesses inherited strength, [Demonic energy], innate battle instinct as the first son of an ancient demon lord, experience, stats, survival instinct, and skills acquired from raiding the Fortress'' dungeons.


    "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"


    With each resounding cry of his chaotic fighting spirit, Daniel executed a sharp crescent swing that severed both legs of a Titan Orc. In a swift motion, he leaped to its chest and thrust his Greatsword into the monster''s heart, causing blood to rain down. Upon landing, tension surged through his spine.


    A poison axe, capable of splitting giant trees and melting them to pieces, swung dangerously close to Daniel''s neck. Frustration boiled over as he yelled, "Damn it, why are these creatures still coming? Urgh!" Despite deeming the attacks bothersome, he skillfully fended off the assailant.


    Even after dispatching a considerable number of Titan Orcs, more continued to assail him, causing Daniel''s breathing to grow rough. He pressed on, grunting, "Ugh!¡±


    Struggling against the overwhelming numbers, Daniel showcased proficiency in handling a few of them, validating Izel''s theory. ''It seems Daniel didn¡¯t go through the same difficulty as Jenna and me,'' the blind man pondered. Initially a guess, it became evident through careful observation of Daniel''s fighting style. Although unable to discern the specific difficulty level, the blind man ruled out both [Easy] and [Medium] based on Daniel''s confidence and experience against formidable opponents.


    Unable to compare him to Walkers from other difficulties, it remained a gut feeling. In short, Daniel''s experience dealing with multiple strong presences and enduring unwavering attacks surpassed expectations. Even when overwhelmed by their grand populace, his mental fortitude remains unshaken.


    Though the young demon''s abilities didn''t quite match those of Izel and Jenna on the [Extreme] difficulty level, they were certainly noticeable, fitting the [Hard] difficulty. Despite facing fully armed and gigantic enemies, he confronted them with remarkable prowess and confidence.


    Izel pondered if this was the key to his survival since the tutorial, albeit a bit noisy.


    "Die! You fucking fatass!¡±


    SPLASH!


    "I''m the great son of a great demon! Die!¡±


    BOOM!!!


    Countless loud explosions echoed through the landscape, shaking the forest and causing numerous trees to fall. The chaotic, uneven road and countless trees were now covered and dripping with the monster''s blood.


    "¡­!¡±


    At this moment, the green-haired mage acted and let out a strained squeak as her magic squeezed a certain Titan Orc, on the verge of thrusting the young demon from his blind spot into a singular spaghetti. Before her shout filled the air, she commanded, "Daniel, fall back to Izel and act as his support. Your stamina is low, and you should take a rest to continue fighting.¡±


    After giving the order, her heightened senses, imbued by mana, went haywire. Goosebumps formed as she sensed a new enemy from deep underground attempting something unexpected to crush her.


    "BIND," she chanted as faint magic circles overlapped and expanded from her feet over a 12-meter radius.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Both Izel and Daniel were amazed as the ground shook and whittled into two regions. From the newly formed crater, a chain-restricted Titan Orc, only 5 feet tall, loomed out.


    ¡°What the hell? From underground!¡± Izel couldn''t believe it. Despite sensing waves and frequencies jamming his [Sound reading], he paid no attention, attributing it to vibrations from magical impacts. Unfortunately, it wasn''t.


    Daniel, who had split apart the head of a Titan Orc, sensed a familiar, overwhelming bloodlust from Jenna.


    ¡°This¡­?¡± His eyes shot open as a certain recollection stung his mind: ¡°Such murder intent, just like mother.¡±


    Before both Walkers could understand why Jenna became so intense, another murmur escaped her lips.


    "FREEZE, SHATTER.¡±


    The once-expanded and overlapped magic circles shrank back to her feet. Simultaneously, the chain-restricted Titan Orc began to freeze instantly, shattering to pieces.


    Jenna soon calmed down with a rough breath. Simultaneous heavy spells always took a toll on her. ¡®Damn, father, I''m still too weak.¡¯ She bitterly thought, clenching her fist and panting heavily, ¡®I¡¯ll get stronger and find you, father.¡¯ Her eyes darted to a shadow that flickered past her.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    "Die!!!!! You fucker!!" He yelled. "Shit, we are you guys. Keep coming after me.¡± Daniel, once among them, was no more. In truth, he had walked a bit forward, guarding multiple attacks with his shield, killing more Titan Orcs with one heck of a slash with his Greatsword. Blood splatter.


    With a back that seemed somewhat humongous, the young demon shot a glance at the panting mage. As confidently as ever, he spoke, "Captain, don¡¯t worry, I can handle this; just offer a buff or something!" His grin exuded reliability, though embarrassment lingered as his stamina dipped low. He shamefully sought help, hiding behind his shield, fending off the Titan Orc attack and striking when the opportunity arose.


    However, Izel appeared to disagree. He reasoned that, buff or not, the young demon and the mage were running low on either mana or stamina and more Titan Orcs kept emerging. ''If this keeps up, we''ll all get surrounded,'' he thought, foreseeing the inevitable outcome. He considered assessing his party mates'' skills against his own, and the result surprised him: ''They¡¯re all dependable.'' His decision was firm: ''I like them.'' The strategy of guarding from the rear, with the mage leading and the young demon on the side, worked effectively. It was enough to handle the Titan Orcs until they ceased, but unfortunately, the raid had a time limit.


    Both of them were nearing their limits, and an intense battle between Walkers loomed. ''They would end up dying of exhaustion,'' Izel pondered, realizing it was time for him to take the lead so they could rest. However, a petty problem nagged at him; could he handle them all on his own? After brief consideration, he arrived at a swift conclusion.


    He approached Jenna, unsheathing his shortsword. Despite the Titan Orcs being barely stronger than Avalanche, he felt confident, having grown stronger since then.


    "Huh? What are you¡­?" Jenna, the female mage, looked confused as the blind man walked past her.


    ¡°Like I said before, you¡¯re very strong,¡± he told her dismissively, ignoring her completely as he advanced toward Daniel. There was no intention to explain himself to her. "Gather your mana; you will be assisting me." The mage had been leading admirably, but¡­


    "Big brother¡­? Please protect¡­" The young demon, noticing Izel''s approach, nervously spoke. However, Izel interrupted him: "Return to your initial position and protect Jenna, as your life depends on it.¡±


    Daniel stared blankly at the man, eventually grasping the blind man''s meaning as his eyes glimpsed the peculiar aura enveloping his shortsword. He nodded and withdrew.


    ... It was now Izel''s turn to shine. With a sneer, he taunted, "Come at me, Titans," his feet pushed off the ground as he hurled himself toward the Titan Orcs. ¡°No, I¡¯ll come to you instead.¡±


    The distance between him and the monsters quickly narrowed. Evading a wide swing with a hair''s breadth, the frontmost attacker''s head flew into the air. Blood sprayed on tree leaves and trunks.


    With lopsided stats, his [agility] surged ahead, the result of dedicated training. Approaching at breakneck speed, the Titan Orcs in terror and rage hurled poison axes towards him.


    ¡°AIGO! KIEEEEKK?¡±


    ¡°KkARGGGGG!¡±


    Noticing his breakneck approach, the Titan Orcs threw their poison axes in a futile attempt. As Izel sped forward, each looming attack was halted mid-air with low-level chants, as per Izel''s request.


    Simultaneously, the mage, her staff outstretched, urged, ¡°Keep going; don¡¯t stop!¡± Her sharp eyes filled with determination. In response, Izel, hearing her command, accelerated, infusing mana into his feet.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Observing this, Jenna, with a hint of shock, wondered, ''Just how is he so fast despite being blind?'' Though Izel had previously explained using ''Detection'' skills for navigation, Jenna couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to the story.


    WHOOSH!


    As poison axes and swords whizzed through the air towards Izel from all directions, he skillfully evaded some while others succumbed to Jenna¡¯s lingering magic. Despite the bothersome onslaught, the blind Walker pressed on with confidence.


    Although Izel could detect the trajectories of their attacks using both [Sound Reading] and [Flawlation], the irritated air frictions from some weapons made his ears bleed. Jenna''s magic, however, dealt with unexpected decoys, unpredictable punches, inconsistent swings, thrown daggers, and various tricks. Working together against hordes of Titan Orcs in the surrounding forest, the two Walkers surprisingly found it stress-free.


    Blood splattered as Izel''s shortsword beheaded each monster with smooth, precise slashes.


    Soon enough, a chant rang out ¡­


    "SEAL, EXPLODE!"


    Another collection of impending poison axes and daggers was sealed by faint, translucent cube boxes. Some were bound by chains and exploded into bits. Daniel observed with wide-open amazement; he couldn''t believe it but mustn''t let his guard down.


    His demon''s senses caught traces of a sneaked Titan Orc aiming for Jenna. The young demon''s bravery soared, "No, you don''t."


    SLAM!


    The sound of iron against steel resonated as his shield collided with the attacks. His feet were carved into the ground, arms firmly clenched around his Greatsword hilt, and its blade made multiple overlapping slashes. Blood rained down.


    His reliability allowed the female mage to concentrate more on assisting Izel. With a faint smile, many low-level chants left her lips; sweat rolled down her cheek, gliding over her delicate neck as light gleamed from her staff.


    SLASH!


    Blood continued to splash like a fountain.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 18 - Teamwork II

    [Basic Swordsmanship has been activated.]With the [Basic Swordsmanship] skill activated, mana coating his feet, and the Aurora shortsword in his right hand, Izel''s movements became more fluid and sharper. It was as though he could sense the various sword paths, with every frame of each basic sword movement directed to his brain in real time. This alone heightened his serotonin levels and revved up his limbic system.


    ¡°KIEEEKK!¡±


    The Titan Orcs made a valiant attempt to resist, raising their immense arm guards in defense. Their strategy appeared to involve warding off the blind man''s attacks while seizing the opportunity to counterstrike. These graded iron guards were formidable enough to halt any weapon. Alas, the effort proved insufficient. The guards recoiled with each attack from the blind man''s mana-coated ranked item. Yet, fueled by Izel''s rigorous training, he unleashed enough force to not only shatter the weapon but also hinder the flesh of the monstrous adversaries. Each sword effortlessly sliced through their muscular arms, akin to a knife through butter. With precision, he thrust his aurora shortsword into the armless Titan Orcs'' neck, then weaved in a zigzag pattern through the trees toward the next wave.


    SNIP!


    Heads flew, blood staining nearby trees'' trunks gruesomely.


    PIT!


    PUAAT!


    The blood splashing didn''t cease; it resembled a ghastly carnage. More heads flew in all directions with each swing of his sword¡ªsome hanging onto tree branches, others rolling on the forest''s uneven ground. It seemed the monsters required decent equipment to contend with this blind man''s onslaught. Unfortunately, it was too late, as a swift and precise chained attack, assisted by Jenna, claimed ten more titan Orcs.


    [You have slain more than thirty Titan Orcs.]


    [Pre-existing achievement has been changed.]


    [The Title ''The Buchter of Desert-Worms'' had been changed to ¡®Titan Orc Slayer¡¯.]


    [Your ¡®Body Constitution¡¯ and proficiency in utilizing and controlling mana had increased by three-fold.]


    After the familiar yet unexpected notification pinged in his mind, a sense of lightness washed over him, and his traumatized mind found solace. His veins and arteries felt sturdier, having expanded. Similar to the previous occurrence but more pronounced, his body underwent a revitalization, and his breathing steadied. Mana coursed seamlessly from his core to every corner. Not only had his proficiency with mana improved, but his constitution had also undergone a positive transformation. ''Pretty dope,'' Izel briefly mused as he moved.


    As the lingering sensation dissipated, he noticed a heightened sharpness in all five senses, as mana flowed through his optic nerves, taste buds, olfactory system, and cochlea. Not only that, but sound waves and frequencies became more discernible through his [Sound Reading], presence was sensed via [Flawlation], the scent of repulsive blood, and even the air touching his skin felt different. ''Even my accumulated fatigue had reset.'' His expression radiated energy. This unexpected but highly beneficial achievement was a welcome surprise.


    He signaled the mage to cease her assistance, saying aloud, "Captain, take a break." A grateful smile graced his lips before he tensed his calves with mana, swiftly maneuvering over and under impending weapons toward the monsters. The surreal speed caused shockwaves, and blood splashing as sword movements were unleashed.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Jenna gasped for air, cold sweat beading down her face and delicate neck. Her panting, unlike before, was now much worse, a result of casting numerous spells. Even if they were all low-rank with no advanced chants, her body had reached its limit. Yet, she continued to assist Izel in his carnage. ¡®Damnit, this is a bad time for my mana to be at rock bottom; I can''t even get my ''Staff'' back down,¡¯ she gritted her teeth, forcibly lowering her staff. Her body felt stiffer than an iron bar. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    With non-existent strength, Jenna fell onto her knees, overwhelming exhaustion taking over. Her once potent mana was now smaller than a speck of dust. Despite this, she managed not to fall unconscious, showcasing her skill. However, she didn''t agree with such trivial worth. ¡®What the heck is wrong with me? I''m too weak to be controlled by demerit.¡¯ Regrets and confusion shook her mind as multiple demerits activated. But she mustn''t give up. Trembling fingers clutched the ground; she must be stronger¡­


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    The young demon, noticing the fallen mage, lost concentration, causing his unwavering legs to quiver as he forced his shield to block a Titan Orc¡¯s attack aimed at the mage.


    SLAM!


    ¡°Khek!¡±


    Blood spurted from his mouth due to an unexpected, potent attack from the latter. Despite his unbalanced legs, he managed to block the strike, tearing flesh around his wrists and calves in the process. Being a demon born from an ''Ascender,'' his determination soared. Gnashing his teeth, he mustered immense strength, wielded the Greatsword with a single step, and slashed the Titan Orc¡¯s limb. He didn¡¯t stop there; strongly tensing his calves with [Demonic Power], he parted with the ground at an angle, dodging a hefty punch from the monster.


    ¡°How dare you cowardly aim for my fallen comrade? Such impudence,¡± he declared, his eyes brimming with demonic savagery. His large sword carved out the monster¡¯s head, and blood splashed. Leaping back down from a tree, Daniel felt the beautiful mage struggling; however, as a hero, he decided to protect her until she recovered her mana.


    PATTER!


    Amid the relentless downpour of blood, the young demon''s dependability surged, shrouding his body in heightened murderous intent. "Come at me, you miscreants! I''ll carve out each of your heads and present them to the young demons.¡±


    RUMBLE!


    With swift precision, Daniel cleanly severed the hefty legs of each Titan Orc. Their torsos thudded to the ground, shaking the landscape, and without hesitation, he impaled their foreheads. However, this proved insufficient for a young demon spawned from the Ancient Demon¡¯s Lord of War and Battle.


    "Aaaaah!" Daniel''s shout echoed with fighting spirit as he spat at the head of another fallen foe using his enormous shield. The severed head rolled with wide, uncomprehending eyes, blood staining the edge of the shield. Despite the brutal encounter, he staggered, feeling an unexpected heaviness in his legs. "Haaaah!" He exhaled sharply. Even a courageous hero exhausts his immense stamina.


    The air resonated with the sounds of swift movements¡ª.


    SWOOSH!


    SLASH!


    Continuing his carnage, Izel skillfully evaded an axe swing from his blind spot, a luxury the Titan Orc did not possess. Seizing the opportunity, he spun, generating momentum at the sword''s end. His blade whirled like a Beyblade, leaving the Titan Orcs unable to match his formidable fighting style.


    ¡°KIEEKKK?¡±


    ¡°KERGH!¡±


    ¡°KIEEKKK!¡±


    In the blink of an eye, he dispatched all the monsters with a series of precisely chained attacks executed in a single fluid motion. Blood cascaded down, staining both his cloak and the leaves scattered around. After the demise of the six Titan Orcs, the onslaught ceased.


    The first wave of the battle had concluded.


    ¡®The end of the wave.¡¯ Izel, lying flat on the ruined unpaved road, finally caught his breath and slowly got up. His head throbbed as he observed his surroundings through [Flawlation]. The outlined unpaved road was adorned with blood and outlined decapitated heads, while the black outline of trees was littered with gore and hung with immense dead Titan orcs. Leaves dripped with the same gunky substance. It was in such a total mess that Izel simply clicked his tongue in disgust.


    He contemplated retracing his steps to rejoin his party. Yet, unexpectedly, the lifeless bodies emitted an eerie dark glow, their black contours discernible to him. It seemed their significance was inferior to the Avalanche, perhaps indicating they were mere lackeys. Izel wasn''t entirely certain. Nevertheless, this presented an opportunity to enhance his stats.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    [Effect(1) Transduction has been activated.]


    Simultaneously, transmuted souls, black and hazy, flowed from each hefty decaying body and merged into him.


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured¡­]


    [You have¡­]


    [...]


    [Capacitance: 11/10.]


    Almost immediately, after the stream of messages, a simple but concise yet familiar message tickled his mind.


    [Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation has been activated.]


    [Augmentation has been acknowledged. Permanently augmenting stats using the essence reserves¡­]


    [Strength has been augmented by 4.]


    [Constitution has been augmented by 4.]


    [Agility has been augmented by 2.]


    [Inferno has been augmented by 4.]


    Izel''s dull eyes widened at the newfound increase in [Inferno] stat, marking the first increase since he acquired them. A surge of adrenaline coursed through his body as various other stats also saw improvement. Determination fueled him ¨C this wasn''t over. Having slain over fifty Titan Orcs, Izel, hindered by stunted growth, yearned to absorb every available essence.


    Without hesitation, more notifications echoed as he leaped toward every fallen corpse.


    [Effect(1) Transduction has been activated.]


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured¡­]


    [You have¡­]


    [...]


    [Capacitance: 11/10.]


    Though he couldn''t store more than eleven or twelve, the blind Walker persisted, augmenting his stats.


    [Bonus Effect (2): Augmentation has been activated.]


    [Augmentation has been acknowledged.] Permanently augmenting stats using the essence reserves¡­]


    His mental essence storage contracted as transmuted souls vanished one by one.


    [Strength has been augmented by 3.]


    [Constitution has been augmented by 2.]


    [Agility has been augmented by 1.]


    [Inferno has been augmented by 1.]


    As a flurry of endorphin-rushing notifications enveloped him, an abnormal sense of enhancement overwhelmed him.


    "This feels great," he chuckled, driven to devour more corpses.


    [Capacitance: 6/10.]


    After a prolonged yet not lengthy endeavor, he devoured numerous Titan Orc essences, augmenting his stats countless times. However, he noticed something¡ªthe random points from transmuted souls had weakened. His once-satisfying expression now bore a slight frown, acknowledging the limits of his greed.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    He sighed, straightened his back, and began to walk back. "I never thought I went so deep into the woods," he absentmindedly mused as he strode.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± Daniel, having regained some stamina, groaned as he gathered a pile of yellow corpses. "Damn fuckers, so heavy," he muttered, despite some of their heads being decapitated, they remained disgustingly weighty. Swiftly yet loudly grunting, he moved more corpses, with scattered limbs and arms, to a single point, counting, "6, 7, 8, 9¡­¡±


    After some time, Izel finally arrived at the party location, baffled at the gruesome sight of bloody carcasses stacked on top of each other. He realized that Daniel Lan Northwestern had effectively protected the exhausted mage. In that moment, Daniel had proven his ability to handle dire situations while safeguarding something precious.


    "...!"


    "...!¡±


    However, both of the other Walkers, noticing Izel approaching, had awkward expressions. The young demon''s face was frozen solid, and the female mage, still catching her breath in a lotus form under a tree canopy, stared with wide eyes. Blood dripped from the impending Walker''s shortsword, and patches of both flesh and gore adorned his cloak, reflecting his fluid movement and quick decision-making.


    His initial words, akin to orders, still resonated vividly in their minds. The chill breeze fluttered about as they stood speechless. Eventually, snapping back to reality, Daniel spoke first. "Big brother, I never expected you to be not only strong but also decisive. You must be a hidden hunter; you should have revealed it earlier so you could have taken the lead," he said, giggling cutely.


    It was as though the image of an ex-porter shattered in the young demon¡¯s mind, now replaced by something else.


    "...¡±


    Izel hadn''t anticipated that his actions would resonate so deeply, leading others to mistakenly label him a psychopath. ''Ah, it appears I''ve made a rather unfortunate impression,'' he sighed. As for hidden hunters, they are individuals concealing their prowess in plain sight, delving into subterranean labyrinths while assuming the guise of porters to perpetrate deadly crimes solely for the thrill and excitement.


    Concurrently, Jenna, finally catching her breath and recovering some mana, akin to a small flame burning steadily, opened her mouth. "That doesn¡¯t seem right. He was the one who protected us.¡±


    Despite the mage''s words, the seeming tanker didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Originally, I never expected we would be up against C-rank monsters like Titan Orcs right from the entrance," he sighed, "It was quite bothersome.¡±


    ¡°You have a point. I never expected him to do this much; I was also irrational for underestimating him because he was blind,¡± Jenna dishearteningly sighed, shocked at her own pride.


    Daniel brightly smiled at Izel from the side at the mage¡¯s indirect apology before opening his mouth playfully. ¡°A human killed multiple Titan Orcs without breaking a sweat. That¡¯s sincerely an overkill.¡± Getting closer to Izel, he asked cheerfully, ¡°¡­hidden Hunter, can I get an autograph?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a hidden Hunter.¡±


    "What? I can¡¯t hear you. Give me your autograph already.¡± As if tensing, he plucked both his ears.


    Izel''s face reddened for the first time in a long while. "I''m not a hidden Hunter," he clarified.


    With such a misunderstanding, the blind man found himself trapped.


    "Yeah, yeah, whatever," Daniel scoffed, casually blowing away the dirt from his pinky finger.


    Izel pouted. Jenna had a faint smile on her face, filled with admiration. Even the young demon felt something different for the first time, though humans, and he was quite grateful to be paired with them as party mates.


    To Daniel Lan. Northwestern, the Fortress of Dungeons, meant an opportunity for a fresh start away from his prestigious Northwestern family and the demon district, where too many eyes closely monitored his every move. Once the promising first son of one of the Ancient Demon Lords, he now resembled a free-flying bird dethroned from the lane of comfort.


    Yet, many questions hung in the air wherever he went¡ª.


    "Why is, the first son of Ascender Gabrilius Northwestern, the King of all demons, hesitant?"


    "Wasn''t he destined for greatness, born with the power to dominate all demons?¡±


    "Could it be fear of fulfilling his duty as a royal demon?"


    "Or did he simply not desire that life?¡±


    Or perhaps the weight of expectations and the intimidating gazes that surrounded him as a royal demon caused him to neglect his true purpose.


    However, Daniel disregarded the murmurs and what had been predetermined for him, yearning for something beyond the desires of others. As a ''gentle bird'' avoiding disturbances and not troubling others, he believed that with his rare innate [demonic power], along with inherent strength and stamina, achieving Ascender status within the top ten of the ''Eliluam Continental ranks'' wasn''t a mere pipe dream. To be precise, maintaining his current pace would eventually propel him beyond his father, the Hero, during the war [Armaedggeon] among angels, demons, and humans.


    Such was Daniel Lan Northwestern¡ªhis life, goals, and ambitions. However, that narrative was from a few months ago; his rapid growth abruptly halted upon reaching D-rank and securing the 2,768th spot on the [Eliluam Continental rank].


    The young demon succumbed to despair as he relinquished the perks that came with his coveted royal status. Fortunately, a D-rank Demon Hunter earns significantly more than the average E-rank, notwithstanding the bothersome ''transporter fees'' and additional taxes. Despite retaining a trace of fame within the Continental rank, navigating life without relying solely on his family''s wealth and authority wouldn''t be a walk in the park. Thus, he made the move to the First District.


    Standing at a robust 185 cm and weighing 82 kg, his formidable physique and rare demonic power, which seamlessly complemented close combat, allowed him to persist in raiding labyrinths one rank higher than his own. However, the lack of progression inevitably caught up with him over time.


    On a melancholic, rain-soaked day in the First District of Exodus City, the Entertainment section witnessed the spectacle of a gloaming sky, ablaze with purple lightning bolts. The flickering wet neon signpost in a dark back alley served as an unintended canvas for the intermittent flashes. Thunderous roars, unleashed by the fearsome lightning, were drowned out by the forceful exit of the double doors of a nearby bar, spilling off a cacophony of laughter, curses, and the occasional scuffle.


    Drenched in booze and an acrid scent, the young demon wore a flustered expression, seeking solace from the near-death experience in a B-rank labyrinth earlier that day. He staggered out under the heavy downpour, navigating the rain-soaked streets alone. His thoughts drifted to the hypothetical nagging words his mother might have uttered, but she was conspicuously absent, never returning from the aftermath of the Great War.


    His cobalt-hued eyes, dilated with the effects of alcohol, observed the rain morphing into countless needles, puncturing the earth, drumming against his armor, and saturating his hair like a soaked rat. In this moment, he grappled with feelings of insignificance, loneliness, and inadequacy, both as a demon and a Hunter.


    The downpour, a relentless companion, painted a poignant backdrop for his intoxicated musings, intertwining the threads of his past and present in the city''s unforgiving embrace.


    "At this rate, taking the test to awaken my demon job-related trait seems impossible," Daniel muttered soberly. His words were blurred as he floundered among broken wooden boxes filled with grimy, gooey trash. Lost in a rainy storm, he resembled a tiny, solitary chick, barely registering his surroundings.


    ''Will Mother be proud of me?'' His eyes grew blurry from both ecstasy and dripping water drops over his eyelids as he stumbled through filth and pus from a trash heap. Despite being a demon, he clung to the notion of still being a royal demon, though he considered himself worthless.


    Coated in filth and leaning against a wall layered with never-ending pipes, metal-barricaded windows, and doors, he pondered, ''Why did it all go wrong?'' The question lingered without an answer. His so-called father was so ashamed that he refused to meet with his son. Lips trembling, teeth gnashing, confusion overtook his mind under the weight of pressure, regret, gaze, and expectation. Biting his lips until they bled, his clenched fist ungripped. He wanted to give up, tired of his life, yearning to quit it all.


    "I guess my life was truly noble and enchanting with roses." Indeed, as a free bird, it was, but with his growth stunted, he knew he would never surpass his father. Daniel suddenly laughed bitterly, shaking his head to comfort himself. ''I will...'' His thought trailed off, and his desire became the tangled trails of wire.


    Amid a torrential downpour, an enveloping haze reduced visibility on the tiled path, rendering everything imaginary and gray. The rain''s deafening sound was abruptly silenced, leaving only the echo of confusion.


    "...!¡±


    ¡°What the heck?¡± His voice, like the pouring rain, seemed to vanish. It was as if an unseen force had frozen time, erasing every molecular detail from existence. Amidst this surreal moment, a floating lavender hologram materialized, inviting him to the Fortress of Dungeons.


    Fortress of Dungeons¡¯ has selected all suitable Walkers from Eliluam.


    Please select your difficulty.


    Easy, Medium, Hard, and Extreme


    Hard had been selected.


    The hunter''s profession had been detected.


    Hunter¡ú Walker''s profession had been deployed.


    Current skills and stats have been reset.


    Suddenly, he vanished, leaving no trace of his existence, as the halted reality continued. Daniel Lan. Northwestern, found himself bestowed with a new life, successfully navigating through dungeon raids despite his stats and skills resetting. Unfazed, he embraced speedrunning, relishing the high gains while despising the dreaded ''Demerits.¡¯


    Though the [Hard] Difficulty posed a challenge, his determination to survive, even at the risk of his life, paid off. Against all odds, he acquired the unimaginable skill: "Demonic Anti-magic," a one-in-a-million skill that demons rarely achieved. Despite the weighty demerit it carried, Daniel leveraged this newfound ability along with ultimate healing resources and training in a waiting room to surpass his Eliluam strength.


    Contemplating his future, he envisioned surpassing A+, No, SS+ Dungeon raid, returning to the outside world with enhanced talent. He toyed with the idea of reclaiming his Hunter rank, challenging and defeating High-Hunters to ascend the Continental board, all while moving at his own pace like a gentle bird.


    A few hours earlier, reading in the forum about the B-rank Dungeon raid''s objective, ¡®Battlefield Survival,¡¯ Daniel finally grasped the essence of this test¡ªa survival challenge among snakes, lizards, eagles, and crocodile-like hunters, a first-time experience in his life.


    In a world seemingly at peace since the era of [Armaedggeon], Daniel found no inclination to take a life for his survival. The absence of this urge didn''t trouble him until he encountered a blind young human whose sheer strength and quick decision-making shook the heart of the demon. This unfamiliar display of cool-headedness and dependability in dire situations left Daniel questioning the human''s past experiences, evident in the loneliness and ambition etched on the young man''s face.


    BU-DUM!


    ''What''s happening to my heart?'' Daniel shook his head in denial. ''I''m a demon, goddamnit, a badass demon.'' His grey face faintly reddened as his demonic blood stirred, his sharp ears twitching in response to his conflicting thoughts. His gaze fixated on the blind man below him, who was busy wiping blood off his shortsword.


    Admiration, warmth, envy, and curiosity swirled within him. Glancing briefly at the mage in a lotus position under a nearby branch, Daniel acknowledged their exceptional prowess against the Titan Orcs.


    ''Both of them deal with the Titan Orcs splendidly,'' he thought, feeling a surreal sensation. Unlike him¡­


    Even during the brief break given to the party, Daniel''s mind remained in turmoil. He desired improvement and strength, wanting to outshine the blind man and the mage in facing Titan Orcs. Memories of each Walker effortlessly dealing with these formidable foes flashed through his mind.


    ¡®... Each of the Orcs was dealt with pure superiority.¡¯


    Though he wished to progress at his own pace, Daniel realized that continuing with the same behavior wouldn''t allow him to catch up with the two exceptional Walkers. Intentional action, spurred by the blind Walker and the mage, impacted his slow-paced life. Aware that change was necessary, Daniel saw the seamless gate in the distance as the potential catalyst.


    He clenched his fist, leaping down from the tree with his demonic blood pumping. A big grin on his face, as he smashed his fists.


    BAM!


    "Hopefully, we can grow together for the rest of the raid," he remarked.


    As the wind blew, it reminded him that from a young age, he understood he wasn''t the sharpest demon in the shed, but certainly not an idiot either.


    Jenna and Izel exchanged satisfied smiles as if they all shared and agreed to the same thoughts.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 19 - Instinct

    Jenna sensed an eerie presence lingering above her as if the young demon shared similar struggles. However, this sensation swiftly dissipated, leading her to conclude that Daniel Lan, Northwestern, was perhaps too carefree for such burdens. Despite his occasional lapse in remembering her mage status and his unintentional attempts to take charge, he remained a demon akin to others of his age¡ªdistinctive in his own ways. The female mage admired his freedom in decision-making, unburdened by the weight of responsibility and duty, a stark contrast to her¡­"Hah!" She exhaled frost slowly as pinpricks of mana seeped through her mana veins, returning to her mana core. Soon, it coursed through her mana arteries, away from the core. Tranquil meditation synchronized each movement of mana with her body''s blood flows, heartbeat, and breathing pattern¡ªa seamless cycle that left her hyper-alert, rejuvenated and optimized for battle.


    ¡®No, I still need to gather more; I can¡¯t be running low mid-battle.¡¯ She hesitated, considering the importance of reaching a trustworthy mana level. She couldn''t afford a repeat of her past irrational demeanor, which nearly led to her premature death. Losing control of her emotions, a demerit in exchange for her voiceless chant skill, resulted in hastily exhausting her mana. If not for Izel and probably Daniel, she''d be a goner after a single raid. ¡®I must prevent that.¡¯


    WHOOSH!


    In contrast to her internal turmoil, her outward composure remained unscathed; rather, her level-headed demeanor played a crucial role, mediating with indifference and an air of unconcern¡ªmuch like a beautiful stone statue, unmoved by the chaos within. The cool breeze gently tousled her long emerald hair, providing a soothing respite to her lingering fatigue.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    A shadow flickered overhead, landing in front of her. With her body hyper-alert and her mana nearly recharged, scanning over a 2-meter radius wasn''t a big deal. ''Daniel?'' She recognized the mana signature¡ªit was the young demon. However, something felt off. Specifically, his demonic power seemed unusually calm, and his body language had become oddly relaxed. It was as though he had experienced an epiphany. As she gently opened her eyes to inspect this shift, she considered if she was overthinking it.


    Soon, as bizarre words brushed across her ears ¡­


    "Hopefully, we can grow together for the rest of the raid," the latter smashed both his fists together, wearing a big grin.


    BAM!


    ... her eyes widened at the authoritative, familiar voice, resonating like her father''s, ''Islat De. Callen'' ¡ª same expression, different stance, yet the same importance. Aye, it conjured the same image; she recalled the day he vanished from ''Utopia'' in the Mage district. Though his tone was less tense, it exuded confidence, uncompromising determination, and dependability. Still, no one would believe it came from a demon.


    ¡®So, he too made up his mind, huh?'' How could she not grasp the true meaning of those words? Nevertheless, ''That was too hasty and unexpected.'' Yet, Jenna couldn''t resist, cracking a small smile. Despite being aware that it wasn''t as easy as he had imagined, he did try. This could ultimately spark a change within him. With a deep breath, the female mage continued observing them both, her non-partisan stance clear, retaining her indifference.


    However, she remained baffled by the blind man¡¯s actions, which surpassed her expectations, despite facing similar difficulties as hers. ''Unlike Daniel, though.'' Jenna realized she had to step up her game and wouldn¡¯t lag behind that carefree brat.


    ''No, I¡¯ll show them all what a mage from ¡®Utopia¡¯ is made of.'' Her sharp green eyes faintly glinted as she gently stood up and approached the young demon.


    "I''ll protect the rear with all my might," Daniel Lan. Northwestern declared, assuming the role of an unofficial leader within the party. Swiftly, he slammed his shield, securely hanging on his back, to the ground. "And protect the captain.¡±


    ''Oh! He''s changed a bit!'' It remained unbelievable; he no longer sought blind leadership but a commitment to protection. It was a difficult decision that most demons wouldn''t make, but Jenna found it appealing. Her smile widened significantly at his newfound determination.


    "Alright. Since we don''t know when the next wave will start, let''s stay alert," Izel, who had taken a brief rest, reluctantly spoke. He hadn''t anticipated such a development, but he seemed to appreciate how things were falling into place.


    "Don''t fret, big brother; safeguarding the party from behind would be too challenging..."


    "You keep calling me ''big brother¡¯," the blind man interrupted the young demon, shaking his head. "You don¡¯t have to be so formal; you¡¯re a royal demon, ain¡¯t ya? Just call me Izel."


    In the Fortress of Dungeons, Walkers are generally respectful towards the strong, regardless of age. On Eliluam, however, such insolence could lead to arrest by the demon guards. While receiving respectful words is quite sweet, it becomes bothersome in the long run.


    "It''s settled; Izel will take the front and lead us," Jenna wrapped up the conversation.


    Three of them nodded in agreement. Eventually, Daniel resumed his designated position at the rear, while Izel took the lead, positioning the once-C-rank mage at the center.


    "With our formation settled, let''s get going...!" Izel''s voice trailed off. A sudden curiosity gripped him, causing his attention to dart around. The piled-up corpses and scattered remains seemed to emanate a familiar dark glow.


    "¡­?"


    The mage gazed at the blind man in confusion, observing his movement toward the heaped corpses and mangled Titan Orcs. It was a perplexing sight. Ex-hunters and Walkers typically avoided dead monsters, unlike Daniel, who was now meticulously examining each one. Izel, too, displayed an unusual interest, scrutinizing even the one Jenna had crammed into a jumbled tangle.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Could it be? As Jenna experienced what felt like an epiphany, she wondered if it could be that. "Uh, if you''re checking for fragments, you won''t find any in the Fortress of Dungeons, unless they''re from the Goblin King, which these aren''t," she explained to Izel, her expression still puzzled.


    Izel, although it might seem otherwise, wasn''t focused on finding fragments; rather, he sought something else. He was well aware that monsters in the Fortress thus far didn''t retain fragments, except for the Goblin King, Albino, from the E-rank dungeon raid. However, these fragments, when broken at the end of the raid, weren''t particularly worth a single penny.


    "Just give me a sec," Izel added. "There''s something I''ve got to do." He walked toward the piled-up, swarming agony of the dead at the rear.


    [Special conditions have been met. Activating ''Soul Assimilation (E)'']


    [Effect (1): Transduction has been activated.]


    After the resounding simultaneous messages in Izel''s mind, accompanied by deep, dark tendrils that shrouded the atmosphere, unleashing an indefiniteness of turmoil. Steadily, these tendrils seeped into him, but he paid no attention to the puzzled walkers. Instead, he relished the rush of dopamine coursing through his body.


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured the Essence of (C+) ranked ¡®Titan Orcs'']


    [You have devoured¡­]


    [You have¡­]


    [...]


    [Capacitance: 14/10.]


    Then, an austere ''mastery growth'' message beeped in his mind.


    [Proficiency increased by 5%.]


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    "Found it," he exhaled, returning to reality. Izel, feigning nonchalance, traced the outline of a sturdy poison axe among the corpses. His hope lingered on this endeavor quelling any suspicions, even though both Walkers possessed enough shrewdness to sense something amiss, unable to grasp the specifics. Their guts churned with unspoken questions, heads adorned with question marks, yet the inquiries remained unspoken, stifled by curiosity.


    Izel, who devoured the transmuted souls of all monsters, neither cared to give them any explanation.


    ''What a bummer; most of them didn''t glow.'' Unfortunately, for some reason, the diced and jumbled Titan Orcs, even the majority of the piled-up Titan Orcs and mangled giants, didn''t gleam in the dark ambiance¡ªprobably because he wasn''t the one who slew them. But, as usual, he mustn''t be greedy and should be glad; he was quite lucky to devour eight essences and merely increase the proficiency of [Soul Assimilation].


    ''Should I augment my stats?'' he murmured under his breath. It would be the sixth time he had done that today, but instead of doing that immediately... ''I will do it later.¡¯


    "Mm." He picked up the black outlined hilt of the poison axe, which he found by chance as he walked back, and handed it over to Daniel.


    ¡°...?¡± S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    "Take this. The quality isn''t all that great compared to your Greatsword, but you can at least deal more damage to multiple monsters faster alongside your sword.¡±


    "You... mean like a Tyrant.¡±


    It was an alias of a certain aggressive Hunter who wielded two different weapons on Eliluam.


    "You could say that." Izel let out a light cough.


    "Ah... Big bro, I meant Izel. Thanks..." He retorted brightly, "But I think it would probably be more useful in your hands than mine.¡±


    The latter shook his head, "Nah, I can''t use it either. Plus, I don''t need it." He placed his hand on his shoulder with a sparkle. "You might need it when protecting the rear.¡±


    ¡°Uh, you have a point." With a light chuckle, Daniel scratched the back of his head.


    To be frank, it might appear inappropriate to entrust such a weapon to a demon who could undergo unpredictable changes and potentially become an adversary. However, Izel reasoned that strengthening his party members to secure victory in the raid outweighed excessive caution, which could lead to raid failure.


    Without further resistance, the young demon reached for the leather hilt of a dark, finely crafted axe. Its blade subtly dripped with a purple liquid, exuding an ominous aura. A warm smile adorned his face as he accepted the weapon.


    ¡°You did well for a human. I¡¯ll make use of it.¡±


    "Haha, it''s nothing. It''s not even mine.¡±


    As the trio strode down the long, disheveled road amid the haze that obstructed their view, they maintained a low profile while staying alert. Izel couldn''t help but wonder where the other parties might be lurking, yet he considered overthinking such matters to be taboo. He speculated that they should also head toward the seamless gate, slowly disappearing in the haze.


    Having covered more than 1,000 km from the starting area, the last wave had occurred in a straight line to their current location. Due to the considerable distance, regardless of their speed, it took them time to traverse it.


    ''So the seamless gate was this far,'' the female mage mused. At first glance, the distance didn''t seem this vast, but the faint haze deceived one''s perception. It was a rather irritating illusion. Despite that, the giant Titan Orcs effortlessly covered such distances in the blink of an eye.


    Considering the clear blue sky and cool atmosphere, it was easy for anyone to appreciate the overwhelming magnificence of nature. Yet, the deception of the haze made the true distance less noticeable unless observed carefully. In any case, they pressed on. As they reached the midpoint of the gate, the sun overhead began its descent, casting a warm glow over the landscape.


    RUSTLE!


    On the edge and alert, Izel sensed an indefiniteness in the rustling of the leaves, feeling that something was amiss. No, everything was definitely strange. He turned his head at Jenna¡¯s cautious voice.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    Discovering something awry as well, her eyes gleamed faintly. ¡°It seems the path we''re taking is quite wrong.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Baffled, Daniel summoned his demonic power, scattering it around. However, as if blocked by an unseen force, it couldn''t disperse further. ¡°It''s true; the haze strangely thickened.¡±


    Izel''s premonition proved accurate; what were once blustering winds now felt as insignificant as mere whispers. It seemed as if the three of them had been isolated. Only, a black outline of intertwined tendrils panoramaed his [Flawlation], while [Sound Reading] could only discern the vibrations and soundwaves generated by his party mates'' breathing, body language, and footsteps¡ªanything beyond that was nonexistent.


    Turning his attention to Jenna, who had initially released a faint interweave of mana underground, he urgently asked, "Can you find a way out?¡±


    Jenna locked eyes with Izel, and just as he inquired, she responded confidently, "With my Mana-Tracking, yes." It was a pretty reassuring reply that instilled a sense of hope in the challenging situation.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Immediately afterward, a cluster of mana erupted and spanned out. The mage pointed her index finger in a direction only she sensed. Though Izel couldn''t fully manipulate energy like she and Daniel, he could feel the rush of potent mana dissolving the haze at a single point, allowing her to briefly discover the tangled route. This exemplified the principle of ''Mana-tracking.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s that way.¡±


    SUWOO!


    As they followed her guidance, a surge of malevolent energy erupted, hurtling towards them.


    [You have discovered one of the possible routes.]


    [You have reached the end of the hidden dungeon barrier.]


    [You took a different route to exit the barrier.]


    [If your predetermined path is wrong, you will fall under the status effect: Lost reality.]


    ¡®Exit a barrier?¡¯ Izel thought in shock. No one realized they were within a barrier until it enveloped them. Such was the impressiveness of this isolated area¡ªit thwarted any Walkers from nearing the Seamless Gate while prolonging their stay.


    The current path in front of Izel appeared drastically altered. Dozens of divergent routes lay ahead, requiring one to discern the genuine path. A misstep on the wrong route would trigger the ''lost reality'' status effect, as the ominous message cautioned.


    "I never anticipated this twist in the raid," Jenna remarked, bravely resisting the surge of malevolent mana sweeping over her.


    "Are you suggesting Beelzebub lied or something?" Daniel questioned, shield guarding against troubling mana.


    "I don''t believe she lied," Izel interjected, leading through the storm of sinister mana in the Fortress. "It seems Beelzebub just didn''t spill the beans.¡±


    Simply put, Information control is the norm in the Fortress of Dungeons.


    Jenna warned, "Izel, don''t take a wrong step. Follow my guidance precisely; even I can''t save you if you get lost. We''ll all lose the raid.¡±


    Izel, using [Sound Reading], sensed Jenna''s unease as he followed her lead.


    TMP! TMP!


    Izel confidently led the group along the predetermined path, unhesitating in his direction. As they reached another crossroad with a dozen paths, Jenna activated her [Mana-Tracking] skill, spinning out her mana to pinpoint the correct direction. Without hesitation, she pointed towards the chosen path, and the blind man, guided by the proficiency of [Mana-Tracking], continued forward.


    Utilizing [Flawlation] and [Sound Reading], Izel sensed faint sound waves and frequencies as he walked. The accuracy of the chosen direction was evident. It became clear that [Mana-Tracking] wasn''t a mere half-baked skill incapable of piercing through the barrier surrounding the area. The group moved forward, assured of the precision provided by their skills.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡®How far does this go?¡¯ Anxiously, Daniel looked around as he followed Jenna. Each path seemed to stretch endlessly. Izel, following the mage''s directions, navigated through different paths over ten times. Each time, the young demon sensed the dense haze dissolving slowly.


    Time left: 13 hours, 12 minutes.


    As the notification appeared at the side of Daniel¡¯s retinas, he continued to follow the group through different paths, anticipating the end¡­


    WHOOSH!


    At the end of the twentieth chosen path, Izel once again faced a crossroads, prompting them to come to a halt.


    ¡°Wait, Jenna, there are two paths this time,¡± he asked, noticing that these crossroads differed from the others.


    ¡®Two paths, huh?¡¯ the mage pondered, swirling her mana-like circuits toward both directions. However, confusion clouded her expression. "What?" Her eyes widened.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Daniel asked.


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    ¡°Did you discover it?¡±


    Ignoring both questions, the mage decided to confirm what she had just discovered. She extended her mana and activated [Mana-Tracking] to scan back and forth between the paths. Despite the raid being relatively easy so far ¡­


    "Damn, it''s not working," Jenna cursed.


    ¡­ Her mana failed to find the correct path. She couldn''t let confusion overcome her. Jenna took a deep breath and spoke up, "It seems we all have to depend on the leader for this one.¡±


    ¡°Jenna, is that true?¡± Daniel''s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Are you saying even your [Mana-Tracking] skill was no good here?¡±


    The mage nodded. She could have sworn that her skill was working over the other paths until now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t need to worry, Daniel. I¡¯ll find a way.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? I could find a way too.¡±


    ¡°I know you could, but have faith,¡± Izel assured the young demon.


    Everyone swallowed dry spit; nervousness and tension overcame them. Their lives now depended on one man''s choice. However, both Walkers were rather calm, probably because the blind man had proven himself to be capable. Sweat beaded down Jenna¡¯s forehead; if he chose wrongly, all party members would be lost forever, never to be seen again.


    Izel turned around and concentrated on both paths. Which one was real or fake? He wondered which to pick as the tension behind him grew. In the end, he decided to trust his instincts. Through [Flawlation], the left path haze was lighter than the other, and his [Sound Reading] picked up something he had never felt from the other paths.


    ¡°I will pick the left path.¡± He declared.


    ¡°Really? How certain are you?¡± Jenna asked for his full assurance and how he came up with such a choice so fast.


    ¡°Probably 70%!¡± It was truly that high of a percentage. Did he trust his instincts that much? Probably. No, he fully trusted his intuition.


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    ¡°70%?" Daniel knew it was quite high for a guess; however, "Is it just entirely based on your instinct, Izel?¡± The young demon anxiously spoke, his expression more pale than grey. Of course, he had guessed ¡°the right path¡± but wasn¡¯t even 20% sure, so he zipped out his opinion. Also, he initially thought the tension was probably too much, so the blind man hastily decided based on instinct.


    ¡°No,¡± a stern response, ¡°It wasn¡¯t based entirely on my instinct,¡± Izel added. ¡°The wind.¡±


    ¡°This wind, you say,¡± Jenna murmured, uncertain whether to believe the latter. However, If they delayed any further, the other party might slay the Orc Lord, leading to automatic failure either way. She sighed, finally declaring, "I will trust your instinct."


    ¡°Me too,¡± Daniel''s decision wasn''t hasty either; having witnessed the blind man''s remarkable capabilities, he ultimately chose to place his trust in him. The urgency of the situation also compelled them to avoid any further unnecessary delays.


    After all, time is of the essence.


    ¡°Thank you for having faith in me.¡±


    TMP! TMP!


    With every step, the scenery around them underwent a surprising transformation. The thick, dense forest receded, unveiling a new landscape as if nothing peculiar had occurred.


    VOOM!


    ¡°Oh¡­ I can¡¯t believe my eyes.¡±


    ¡°Damn. Human, you seem to surprise me more, Muhahaha.¡± The young demon let out a comical laugh.


    ¡°Is it?¡±


    The walkers, now in this unfamiliar landscape, began to explore like tourists, seemingly having forgotten the sinister barrier they had just endured.


    The first thing catching their attention was the sky, clearer than any they had seen before. Small pinpricks of stars emerged on the other side, providing clean, refreshing air. Clock towers soared against the backdrop of an orange sun setting over the horizon. A paved road, distinct from the region they had left, added to the beauty of the landscape.


    ¡°Woah¡­ The Fortress of Dungeons does know to tease this mage!¡±


    "Yeah, it''s pretty cool," Izel remarked, the surroundings were dominated by black contours, yet a unique sensation lingered in this unfamiliar forest location. There existed an unmistakable distinction akin to that between heaven and earth.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Daniel hesitated, placing his shield on the ground, questioning the reality of their recent experiences. ¡°Is this truly the B-rank raid or some kind of barrier?¡±


    ¡°No, I don''t think so. It looks pretty realistic.¡±


    They barely had time to admire the paradise-like scenery before¡­


    The inner Nanzahemir monsters have started mobilizing.


    Please kill the dungeon''s target quickly.


    It was a way to convey to the Walkers that admiring moments were a luxury. Three of them clicked their tongues in disgust. Unavoidably, they faced a looming event, an elephant in the room they had been sidestepping. The realization lingered in their minds; soon, they would have to kill for survival.


    A tense silence fell, hearts engulfed in nervousness.


    "I guess it''s about time," remarked the female mage, noticing the blind man''s tightly clenched fist on his sword''s hilt and the young demon assuming a defensive stance.


    Her eyes gleamed, focusing on the urgent task. ''We must win this raid at any cost,'' she thought. Each member took their position, the tanker resolving to conquer the hurdle and become a proper royal demon. Dying early wasn''t an option; he was determined.


    "Well, let''s get going," Izel announced as everyone prepared. The raid needed to be completed.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 20 - A Genius and a prodigy

    Time left: 10 hours, 17 minutes.As night descended upon Nanzahemir''s inner city, the vibrant, glistening stars and various hues of the aurora seamlessly melded with the deep, dark sky. Typically, this would be a breathtaking spectacle to appreciate; however, on this occasion, the atmosphere was tainted by a cruel announcement ¡­


    The monsters are pouring in. Find the target as soon as possible and slay it.


    ¡­ everyone¡¯s fighting spirit had shot through the skies.


    "KIEEEEEK HUM¡­AN!¡±


    Deafening shrieks echoed from the giant Titan Orcs as Izel, with a swift and synchronized flurry, thrust his aurora shortsword into each of their hearts. Mid-air, he twisted his body with precision.


    SWOOSH!


    As a barrage of large weapons dashed through the air, intent on ending his pathetic life in one fell swoop, a sharp wind erupted briefly as the blind Walker executed a mid-air twist. Concurrently, he imbued mana into his [Cloud Boots] ...


    [Cloud Boots had been detected.]


    [Special Condition had been met.]


    [Agility had solely been added to Movement Speed.]


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ... he vanished. The Titan Orcs briefly succumbed to confusion as their weapons struck empty air.


    [Movement speed has increased by 50%.]


    Only one effect of the Cardigan Cloak partially activates, causing it to shimmer faintly, while the boots are engulfed in a whitish-blue glow¡ªbright, yet not excessively luminous.


    BAM!


    ¡°What the heck!¡± Izel, appearing stealthily behind one of the Titan Orcs to end its life, murmurs in disappointment.


    ¡°KR¡­ KRRRG¡­!¡±


    Their cries fade as their skin stiffens and veins grotesquely protrude.


    SHREKK!!


    As their iron-like skin clashed, resisting the blind man¡¯s aurora shortsword, tendrils of friction stemmed alongside the high-pitched shrieking noise that strongly throbbed his ears. Izel groaned in distress, ¡°Ugh!¡± Even, his [Strength] stat he applied was insufficient as his hand trembled and quite became partially impassive.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    His [Flawlation] detected a pretty much dangerously projected poisoned longsword from his blindspot, and he disappeared into thin air. It wasn¡¯t that he vanished; rather, it was the quick, brief speed at which he was moving. ¡®Just how can¡¯t I no longer pierce any orcs?¡¯ Izel¡¯s mind was quite troubled. He felt something was amiss. As mana coated his sword, he activated [Basic Swordsmanship], and deftly parried and quickly thwarted incoming heavy strikes and dangerous swings from multiple Titan Orcs.


    His fighting style, once effective against the Titan Orcs in the initial wave, now proves inefficient. It''s evident that this version of the Titan Orcs is not only stronger but unmistakably tougher, a conclusion reached by the blind man. Despite their enhanced strength, they still haven''t matched up to the gatekeeper''s prowess.


    While activating [Cloud Boots] might seem wasteful, Izel, valuing his precious time, decides against the inefficiency of conserving mana. With a swift thought, he propels himself through the air at an astounding speed.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    His training in [agility] and mastering control both with and without [Cloud Boots] in the waiting room comes into play. Izel is well aware that, with an 87% speed increase, he can maintain control of his footing and balance for only 45 seconds before a brief pause and then another surge.


    ¡®But, that¡¯s pretty,¡¯ he decides. As the breeze sweeps across his face, the blind man skillfully sways his shortsword ¡­


    [Chained onslaughts detected.]


    [Attack speed increases by +11%.]


    ¡­ the Aurora-shortsword effect activated, simultaneously rendering his sword lighter while a captivating, aurora-like heterochromatic aura emanated from its blade, momentarily distracting both fellow Walkers.


    ''Is that also part of a blind human''s skill? So he was hiding this kind of sinister power,'' Daniel thought amusingly, his expectation of such prowess from the blind Walker affirmed.


    Meanwhile, Jenna, convinced that the latter was undoubtedly concealing something, pondered, ''But to think it was this!'' She mulled over the revelation before refocusing on her task. Though her initial caution about the blind man dissipated, the scene she witnessed wasn''t admirable; she had witnessed more exquisite yet sinister moments.


    [Critical point detected.]


    [Reaction speed: +6%.]


    With the frenzy of notifications jolting his mind ¡­


    SLASH!!!


    ¡°¡­¡±


    [A clean slash had been initiated.]


    [A clean slash had been initiated.]


    [A clean slash had been initiated.]


    [A clean slash had been initiated.]


    ... the blind man felt an unexpected surge of mastery, swiftly wielding his sword like a swordmaster. With a precise dance of [Basic Swordsmanship] and the aurora shortsword, he sliced through the Titan Orcs, severing their heads. The giants'' decapitated heads rolled across the floor, splattering blood like gruesome orbs. Pausing to catch his breath, Izel was bewildered by the deadly efficiency of both [Basic Swordsmanship] and the aurora short sword effect.


    "Darn, enduring that speed for a while really takes a toll," he muttered.


    Indeed, the harsh reality contrasted sharply with the waiting room. Having sustained the breakneck pace for 36 seconds, a thick blur fixated via his [Flawlation], a slight migraine befell him. Clutching his head, he grunted. Frankly, he was quite pleased; rigorous practice spared him from being on all fours, vomiting. Exhaling sharply, he knew he mustn''t stop now. Over fifty Titan Orcs were on the move with murderous intent.


    ¡°AIGO KIEEEEKK!¡±


    ¡°HUMANS...!!! KERGHHK!¡±


    RUMBLE!


    The deafening cries echoed as their feet rumbled, leaving abysmal footprints on the earth. Izel took a brief moment to inhale before his feet departed from the paved ground in the next parade, striving for an overwhelming victory before his mana depleted.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    VMOOONG!


    FWOOOSH!


    Around Jenna, the mage, who held her staff high, spheres of morphed and condensed pinkish mana began to float above, rapidly increasing in multitude.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Startled by the escalating number of mana spheres, the young demon, fending off a Titan Orc''s attack with his shield, widened his eyes and asked, "Are those Mana Blasts?¡±


    The moment he uttered the question, he grazed a certain Titan Orc with a poison axe, acidulating it and slowing its fast movements.


    Jenna remarked, ¡°Why?!¡±


    "Why can a human conjure so many Mana Blasts?" the young demon inquired. Simultaneously, fueled by unspeakable adrenaline, Daniel deftly slashed off its limbs, blood squirting in a gruesome display. Internally counting each Mana Blast that Jenna had created, he murmured to himself, "Twenty of them..." Moments before carving off its sturdy head with his greatsword, its head rolled.


    Twenty [Mana Blasts].


    Furthermore, each of them packed substantial destructive potential, yet held few mana molecules. Soon, he spoke again, "What''s your mana stat? Scratch that ¨C you claim it exceeds Izel''s, so let me put it differently..."


    He defended against another hammer attack, his shield trembling with the impact. Gritting his teeth, he questioned, "Is it even possible for a human to control all these Mana Blasts at once? Do you even have demerits?¡±


    [Mana Blasts], a fundamental skill akin to [Basic Swordsmanship], was emblematic of both Walkers and ex-hunters. However, for Walkers, there was a distinction¡ªin exchange for formidable destructive power, they bore the burdens of ''High Mana Consumption'' and ''Instability'' as demerits. Moreover, its conversion, unlike the one gained on Eliluam, proved ineffective. Many ex-hunters and Walkers, who acquired it in the Fortress, voiced their grievances on the Forum.


    RUMBLE!


    "Hahahaha, Daniel, don¡¯t be overly surprised," Jenna¡¯s staff directed at the impending Titan Orcs. "This is, by far, the lowest and most effective skill in my arsenal right now."


    It was a jerking response, befitting his curiosity.


    WHOOSH!


    The scorching [Mana Blasts] streaked through the air, hurtling in all directions like rockets towards the Titan Orcs charging at breakneck speed.


    BOOM!


    Simultaneously, a deafeningly pink explosion erupted, shattering nearby buildings.


    ¡°HUM¡­AN! STRONG KIEK!¡±


    ¡°KIE¡­YHK¡±


    Amidst the fiery eruption, the agonizing cries of the Titan Orcs reverberated, their forms reduced to smithereens, scattering gores and flesh across the landscape.


    ¡°...!¡±


    Sensing the audible blast through his [Sound Reading], the ground vigorously rumbling, shrapnel and dust filling the air. Izel felt a chill creeping up his spine, acknowledging the sudden fear inspired by the female mage''s formidable abilities before resuming his task.


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    Meanwhile, Daniel, a witness to this chaotic scene, briefly entered a state of shock. His mouth opened wide in awe, utterly astounded. ''What in father''s name is this?'' he wondered.


    FWOOOSH! KA-BOOM!


    With each landing of a [Mana Blast], an explosive wave of pink energy rippled outwards, further damaging the nearby building. The cries of terror and despair echoed in the aftermath, harmonizing with the shattered remains of the Titan Orcs.


    But that wasn''t the end; the [Mana Blasts] continued relentlessly. The numbers were growing, ''Twenty total with that one,'' Jenna thought as she briefly closed her eyes, contemplating. ''I can do more,'' she decided. Soon, her concentration heightened, and her mana core exhaled pinpricks of mana. These split and morphed into spheres, multiplying as her staff aimed at the target. Each sphere struck its mark, reducing it to pieces.


    RUMBLE!


    Numerous cracks intertwined along each nearby clock tower compromised their stability, causing them to shake with increasing rumbles before collapsing onto the charging Titan Orcs ¡­


    ¡°KIEYKHOK¡­! AIGO!¡±


    ¡°KIKYHK¡­STRONG!¡±


    ... like meteorites, the clock towers collapsed, smashing the Titan Orcs to bits. It was such a cruel scene.


    ''And that makes it twenty-one,'' she sighed, a threshold she hadn''t reached in a while since her mother, Willow Vel. Campbell, a High-Ranker, taught her the Eliluam-type [Mana Blasts]. Even though a single increase in [Mana Blasts] wouldn''t significantly boost the destructive power, the significance of realizing one''s threshold was undeniable.


    The number of [Mana Blasts] correlated directly with the ex-hunter''s experience and the Walker''s swift, mana-controlling abilities. Using the most effective skill to instantly eliminate the Titan Orcs, Jenna felt a new sensation as a message floated at the side of her retinas.


    [¡®Monarch of Mana¡¯ Proficiency has increased by 18%.]


    A pretty innate skill, acquired during the E-rank Dungeon raid, significantly improved her sensitivity, control, and mana manipulation. However, its proficiency had not been properly honed since the D-rank dungeon raid. Despite this, [Monarch of Mana] consistently supported every mana-related skill Jenna employed. There was a catch, though ¨C a rather unpleasant demerit called ''Overconsumption'' kicked in when using unfamiliar or AOE-magic-related skills and juggling multiple high-rank skills.


    Moreover, it was the kind of skill any mage would covet, a true jackpot.


    [ Rank: S


    ? Proficiency: 23.74% ]


    With its significantly increased proficiency, it has demonstrated a more pronounced influence than before.


    VWOONG!


    Another [Mana Blasts] materialized. Jenna, before her stats and skills underwent a reset, could conjure up to 45 Eliluam-type [Mana Blasts]. Though her current skill demerit and proficiency limited her output, a sense of satisfaction lingered. "At least I now know my limit before the cooldown begins.¡±


    Disintegrating the constant charge of the giant Titan Orcs, the mage unleashed more [Mana Blasts] before the cooldown was initiated. An evil grin played on her lips. "It''s about time; I finish what I started. Hahaha!¡±


    At the comical laughter of the mage, Daniel Lan Northwestern couldn''t believe what he witnessed. As the first child of one of the ancient Demon Lords, Gabrilius Northwestern, he had encountered numerous formidable humans and demons connected to his father.


    The strength of a [Hunter], [High-Hunter], and [High-Ranker] appeared ordinary from the perspective of the young demon. Growing up, he witnessed the power wielded by these individuals, and the might of both [Hunter] and [High-Hunter] seemed beyond his imagination. However, a clear distinction existed between [High-Rankers] and [Ascenders].


    ¡®This isn''t possible?¡¯ He gulped.


    Controlling this much was already challenging for most [High-Rankers]. However, their destructive power couldn''t be compared to that of the [High-Rankers]. It implies that this human had the potential to reach even greater heights. No, she could potentially rank among the top ten within the ''Continental ranks'' in the distant future.


    FWOOOSH!


    BOOM!


    The ground and clock towers quivered in despair and terror as another pillar of [Mana Blasts] shattered the bodies of the charging Titan Orcs into gruesome pieces.


    ¡°KYEKKK¡­ AIGOO!!¡±


    Amidst the explosions, their cries struggled for a brief moment before fading into nonexistence. Daniel found it astonishing, sparking his curiosity about the mage''s background and the district she hailed from. However, the most surprising detail was the big grin on the young demon''s face as additional [Mana Blasts] materialized around Jenna.


    RUMBLE!


    "I can''t let a human outdo me, can I?" his grin broadened. It was a sense of pride, yet an intense excitement surged through him. His demonic blood bubbled, flowing fiercely. In his left arm, he wielded a poisoned axe, while his right hand gripped a greatsword. "Though it''s quite unfair.¡±


    For a human to not only possess an overwhelmingly high mana stat but also dominate mana to such an extent¡ªwas a testament to prodigious talent. "I guess Eliluam is much larger than I initially intended.¡±


    Daniel shared the same feeling as Izel, who had first witnessed her extraordinary ability. It was a true display of overwhelming talent, surviving [Extreme] difficulty¡ªa sleeping monster.


    WHOOSH!


    Daniel seamlessly integrated his innate strength and heightened [Strength] stat, causing both arms to morph impressively. His shield gracefully slid onto his back, signaling a sudden shift in his fighting style. Simultaneously, [Demonic power] and enhanced [agility] condensed around his feet, lifting him effortlessly from the paved ground.


    ¡°I should step up my game a bit. Don¡¯t you think so?¡±


    [Demonic Power Charge: 99.999%]


    It was a bubbling power that needed to be charged properly to be used. That¡¯s why the young demon rarely utilized [Demonic Power] in the Fortress, except when necessary. Due to such a demerit, he quite felt regretful, having experienced the aftereffects if he hadn¡¯t abided by such a demerit.


    DASH!


    ¡®But it''s different this time.¡¯ He briefly wondered as he leaped above a horde of towering Titan Orcs, numbering around twenty. As he descended into their midst, he coated his greatsword with [Demonic Power]. Without hesitation, he initiated a rapid assault, cleaving off their limbs with his axe. The agonized screams echoed as the Orcs crashed onto rundown buildings. In a seamless motion, he switched to his other weapon, swiftly beheading the fallen. Though appearing straightforward, this was a rapid and coordinated endeavor, overwhelming the Titan Orcs who struggled to keep up.


    ¡°Sorry, I was talking to peasants!¡± Daniel jeered.


    ¡°KIEYEKH¡­.!¡±


    ¡°DEMON¡­ HYEKH!!!¡±


    As blood rippled in all directions, others thrashed about in terror, unable to mount a counterattack against the swift and potent storm of dual-chained assaults. It was as if they were caught in the chaos dealt by a skilled dealer.


    GRIP!!


    With one hand gripping a poisoned axe and the other wielding a massive greatsword, the Titan Orcs unleashed a rampage as the familiar weapon dripped with ominous purple poison. The counterattack intensified, their fury matching the lethal combination of weapons.


    ¡°KIEEEEEKKK OUR¡­ WEAPON!¡±


    ¡°OUR ¡­COMMANDER KIYEKK!¡±


    ¡°AVENGE¡­KIEYEKK!¡±


    With more horrified cries infused with fighting spirit, they relentlessly thrashed through every obstacle, swinging, thrusting, and hurling their weapons at the approaching young demon. Ignoring their pleas, the poisoned axe now in his grasp appeared to be the weapon of the first commander from the initial wave, yet he remained indifferent. To him, they were just low-superior races. A broad grin adorned his face, fueled by an indescribable surge of adrenaline as he adeptly parried and redirected open attacks while gracefully dodging blindspot assaults. Rending the monsters into pieces was second nature to him, drawing from his experience as a seasoned ex-hunter.


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had¡­]


    [Titan¡­]


    [¡­]


    A barrage of mind-jerking messages played havoc with his retinas as blood spewed onto his clothes and face, adorning his weapons in the gruesome tableau. Agonizing despair enveloped the Titan Orcs. Suddenly, amidst the bloody massacre, a heavy attack struck him without warning.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    It was a distinct attack. Surprisingly robust, the young demon took two steps back and dodged to the left. Before he could redirect and counterattack, a swarm of magical onslaughts, targeting his vital spots, rushed toward him. From the skies, their gazes brimmed with intent-filled hollows.


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    Unfazed, Daniel clicked his tongue. "What on earth are these attacks?" Moments later, powerful punches, mysteriously enveloped in mana, tore through the air towards him, resembling meteorites.


    WHOOSH!


    "Ohoho, getting serious, are you?" His smile broadened as he leaped toward the punches, skillfully reading their paths with his experience, and evading them swiftly. However, that wasn¡¯t enough; there were too many. He revved himself with [agility] and coiled with [constitution] ...


    SLAM! CRACK!


    The air pressures scattered the air itself, creating an intertwined Crater on the ground, knocking off dirt and shrapnel into the air.


    ... within the crater, Daniel coughed up blood. "Ugh! Magic?" He steadied himself with the axe, a grim cocktail of blood and [Stamina]. Without coiling, he risked being crushed or smashed like a mosquito. Yet, as a young demon, he grinned unabashedly.


    Simultaneously, another hammer-like attack tore through the air toward him. Swiftly, he swapped his greatsword for a shield, infusing [Demonic power] into it. He deflected the attack and used the sharp momentum to emerge from the haze.


    RUMBLE!


    "Captain, those damn bastards are getting more aggressive," he exclaimed, adjusting his footing. Something''s off; it''s as if the monsters have adapted to the intense battle.


    "Yeah, you have a point!" Jenna retorted. To be honest, it''s more like adaptability than aggressiveness. Apparently, it wasn''t only him who noticed; the mage did too. [Mana Blasts] couldn''t deal enough damage to them anymore. Instead, they only managed to take arms or inflict injuries but never stopped them amid the explosion.


    It''s as if their skins have gotten tougher, and their [Constitution], [Strength], [Battle prowess], and [Vitality] spiked up greatly.


    ¡°Are they really (C-)rank Titan Orcs?¡± Daniel asked.


    "I disagree; maybe a (C+) rank?" Jenna retorted. After all, many hunters struggled with these (C+) monsters in Eliluam, leaving some labyrinths with these creatures unattended. Despite their low rank, their adaptability is impressive.


    KA-BOOM!


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°Who the heck is that?¡±


    ¡°Is that Izel? It seems even he can¡¯t handle them!¡±


    ¡°Ack!¡± A figure crashed into the run-down building, triggering clouds of dust and shrapnel that scattered in every direction. As the rest of the group rushed to the location, they discovered it was none other than Izel.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± The mage inquired, his voice tinged with concern.


    ¡°Human, can you still fight?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m fine.¡± The blind man reassured, standing up unfazed. His reflexes and honed agility saved him from the potent attacks of the Titan Orcs. Without the hours poured into perfecting his moves, he might not have twisted his body at the last second, preserving his organs and surviving.


    Sweat trickled down his neck, bruises marked his face and neck. Countless struggles are reflected in the patches of bruise, a testament to the challenges faced in defeating even one or two Titan Orcs with their heightened adaptability.


    Wiping off the blood stain on his cheek, the blind man reflected, "That fact harkens back to the ancient times of the species¡­¡±


    Jenna interrupted the blind man, questioning, "Ancient times... How did you know? Did you go to the Center library or read articles on the Hunter¡¯s Kits?" She scoffed, implicitly suggesting, ''You are blind; how did you read books in the library or read the Hunter¡¯s Kit?¡¯


    Izel proudly nodded, ignoring the indirect insult. "No. I¡¯ll take that as a compliment. While fighting a Titan species that attacked their villages in the far northwest, this once-green orc fought back. To cut that long story short, they defeated the titan with witchcraft. After their victory, the intense two-year battle caused drought and devastation to their farmland, leading them to feast on the raw flesh and organs of the Titans and drink their blood to survive.¡±


    Daniel and Jenna, seemingly recalling the history book, simultaneously chimed in, ¡°So, they woke up the next day with a lofty and hefty body and average stats due to the countermeasure of their genes. Instead, they gained ''adaptability''¡ªthe ability to adapt to any dire situation¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, you guys finally remembered.¡± Izel, briefly surprised, dusted off the dirt from his cloak.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Both of them nodded. Jenna remarked, ¡°Their once-flaws have transformed into almost perfection.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t read that part!¡±


    "Perhaps you just couldn¡¯t recall it all.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    In any case, the Titan orcs easily pushed those three dominating Walkers back once their ¡®adaptability¡¯ reached its limits. However, all their advantages were in vain, as these Walkers never utilized all their skills from the start.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s about time we show them what ¡®adaptability¡¯ truly means.¡±


    To Izel''s declaration and sneer, the young demon responded, ¡°Yeah. This demon is just getting started. Ohoho!¡± He chuckled briefly.


    ¡°Of course, I have prepared some mid-chant for their asses,¡± Jenna grinned.


    Three of them grew more focused, activating multiple skills simultaneously. Izel''s [Cloud Boots] faintly shimmered, indicating his remaining mana, and he swiftly transformed into the wind, creating a shockwave.


    Jenna''s lips moved as she chanted, ¡°Voltsgawugu benzguah Duamuah!¡± It was a mid-rank incantation, summoning a ball of roaring flames. Like a firework, it rained down, reducing their adversaries to cinders.


    RUMBLE!


    ¡°KIEEEEEK¡­STRONGER!!¡±


    Amidst the resounding cries, the ground quivered, scattering shrapnel once more. But that wasn''t all. "That''s the spirit! Let your desperation out, hahahaha," Jenna cackled in a comical manner. The orb on her lengthy staff faintly gleamed as she chanted mid-rank spells, skillfully avoiding irrational mana depletion due to euphoria. The battlefield transformed into a canvas of divine fireballs.


    Simultaneously, a new notification appeared in Daniel''s retinas, prompting him to release a deep breath.


    [Demonic Anti-magic has been activated.]


    With eyes brimming with savagery and disgust, a dark aura screamed out, disrupting the mana in the air like a demonic hollow. He assumed a battle stance, gripping a poison axe in one hand and a greatsword in the other.


    SLASH!


    In the heat of battle, chained attacks focused on both blades, deflecting any magical assaults as the newly adapted Titan Orcs clashed with him. Swift and absurd slashes unfolded, painting the scene with the crimson blood of his fallen foes.


    BOOM!


    RUMBLE!


    Everywhere was engulfed in utter chaos and mess¡ªa true disaster. Sweat formed on Daniel¡¯s brow as he charged through hordes of adapted Titan Orcs, showcasing his related skills to counter their adaptability. Alas, his weapons, coated with [Demonic anti-magic], negated all attacks and delivered critical blows.


    It became challenging to keep track of the number of Titan Orcs he had slain during this raid¡ªfifty, sixty, a hundred? The relentless onslaught continued. Soon ¡­


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had been slain.]


    [Titan Orc had¡­]


    [Titan¡­] S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    [¡­]


    Amid the chaos, a barrage of messages continued to flood in. But that wasn''t all.


    [Demonic power charge proficiency had increased by 15%.]


    [Demonic power charge¡¯s condition has been met.]


    [A Title had been unlocked.]


    [The Title ¡®Royal Demon¡¯ has been re-obtained.]


    [Demonic Power and Demonic Anti-magic have been synchronized.]


    [Demonic power has increased by 20.]


    [Demonic anti-magic proficiency had increased by 15%.]


    The message he had been wishing for finally arrived.


    ''Finally,'' he said with a satisfied smile, his expression seeming to broaden. ''it''s about time,¡¯


    Time left: 6 hours, 57 minutes.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 21 - Insight

    Demonic power.Mana and demonic energy exhibit distinct characteristics. While they may appear similar initially, demonic energy possesses a more chaotic nature, distinguishing it from the structured essence of mana. This chaotic attribute is the intrinsic power of demons, akin to the [holy power] wielded by angels. Notably, this power experiences a significant surge, increasing by 20.


    SLASH! RUMBLE!


    The ground was strewn with blood as Daniel unleashed his [Demonic power] and [Demonic Anti-magic], slaughtering more Titan Orcs. Jenna and Izel, standing at the forefront, shared a chilling thought. If it had happened just once, they might have dismissed it as a coincidence. However, the repetition of such events changed the situation.


    Jenna''s eyes widened as she closely observed Daniel. "What the¡­ Really?" she exclaimed, breaking the tense silence.


    SWISH, SHRIEWOOO!


    The unbridled dark energy surrounding Daniel swirled more intensely around his body. Although imperceptible to most with naked eyes, Jenna, a seasoned veteran familiar with ''labyrinth battles,'' could unmistakably sense it. Additionally, through [Flawlation], Izel observed a black outline of tendrils of haze enveloping him, emanating ripples from within, while [Sound Reading] detected frictional frequencies conflicting with the natural order. In conclusion, there was a more abundant flow of concentrated demonic power from Daniel, a deviation from the norm.


    "It doesn''t make sense,"Jenna pondered aloud.


    "...Yet oddly, it does make common sense," Izel unconsciously added, their thoughts mirroring each other, both Walkers sharing the same perplexity.


    Two powers, demonic and anti-magic, familiar yet distinct, defied the very essence of nature. For a Walker to wield both seemed implausible. If he were an assertive royal demon, their heads would be at risk. No, it wasn''t just that. Even in such a scenario, both Walkers wouldn''t have been able to lift a finger, despite their utmost efforts. With powers, stats granted by the Fortress, and inherent abilities resistant to reset, victory remained an impossibility. This was the shared perspective of both Walkers as they observed the formidable combination of powers and the sly grin on the young demon''s face, seemingly deriving enjoyment from the unfolding battle.


    ¡®Just because he is carefree, he is still a descendant of one of the ancient demon lords.¡¯ Izel briefly nodded and flicked away blood from his sword, signaling the end of the Second Wave as the Titan Orcs ceased their attacks.


    Jenna approached Daniel with concern, asking, "What happened to you?¡±


    Daniel, understanding the underlying reason for her question, responded. While other Walkers might have overlooked it, it was apparent that Jenna and Izel were more attuned to the situation.


    "I can''t say," Daniel responded vaguely.


    "You can''t say?" Jenna seemed confused.


    "I became like this after receiving a new title.¡±


    Hearing Daniel''s answer, Jenna was surprised. "Title? Mid-battle? Is it possible to obtain a ''Title'' just from fighting Titan Orcs?¡±


    "I''m curious about that as well," Daniel admitted, equally amazed.


    Even Izel, in the far front, listened to their chatter and was surprised. Acquiring a ''Title'' mid-battle? The blind man had never expected that Daniel could achieve such a feat. No, rather, he was glad he had managed to struggle to gain something that geniuses and superior races could acquire with ease.


    ¡­


    [ Royal Demon


    ? Title.


    ? Status: Incomplete.


    ? Description: The once-lost and discarded demon has reclaimed his royal blood and his body, now capable of handling intense demonic energy.


    ? Note: To fulfill the title, acquire a job-related trait.


    ? Demerit: To effectively wield 100% authority and control, acquire a job-related trait. Without it, your mind may go berserk, leading to a loss of reasoning. You''ll be limited to utilizing only 50% of your demonic power. ]


    [ Demonic Power: 86


    ? Properly synchronized with Demonic anti-magic.


    ? Demerit: Can¡¯t be utilized until charged to 100%. Otherwise, it can''t be properly implemented. ]


    After reviewing the stats and the newly acquired title, Daniel couldn''t help but let out a despairing laugh. ''What kind of ridiculous title is this?'' he mused, a mixture of disappointment and excitement filling him as he realized he had regained this reset ''Title.'' Although its rank and effect had been upgraded, the demerit now seemed horribly unpleasant and was not present before.


    As a gentle young demon, he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, finding relief in finally acquiring it.


    [ ? Title: Royal demon. ]


    A demonic title, possessed exclusively by the ancient demon lord''s descendants, is earned through success in the demon lord''s test at a young age. This fact is known by the High-ranking Hunters, High-rankers, and Ascenders familiar with the system of Eliluam. This also includes Daniel Lan. Northwestern.


    ''I need to acquire a demon job-related stat to properly utilize it; otherwise...?'' he thought, contemplating his next move. The plan involved obtaining a ''runic stone'' post A+ rank dungeon and attempting to acquire the ''Chains of Ash Bender'' before taking the ''Job-related trait'' test.


    ''Chains of Ash Bender? Where could it be in the first district...?'' he pondered hopelessly. Despite having recently regained this title, he was already strategizing his path to greatness. Recognizing it as a gratuitous gain, he found satisfaction in it.


    Well, then ¡­


    "Let''s make more blood splashing. I''ve got more royal blood bubbling," he declared with a grin, smashing both his fists.


    BAM!


    "Huh? What?" Jenna remarked, confusion evident in her voice, concluding the monsters were on her end.


    "What do you mean, ''what''?" Daniel retorted.


    Izel, returning from the far, bloody front, announced, "Let''s take a break, guys.¡±


    "Why?!¡±


    "The wave has ended!¡±


    "What? Really? But I just got a new title that I wanted to try out." Daniel was instantly disappointed; his shoulder drooped.


    "Don''t be too down; you''ll try it later against the Titan Orc Lord.¡±


    At the blind man''s cheerful words and shoulder tap, Daniel''s expression brightened. "Really?¡±


    Izel reassured with nonchalant nods, brushing the bridge of his upper lip.


    However, Jenna seemed so weary that she didn''t concern herself with their chatter. She walked to a suitable spot among the run-down rubble. "Yeah, whatever, I''m so stressed. I''m going to meditate, ugh!" she grunted.


    "¡­!¡±


    "Huh. Jenna, did you see how strong I became?" Daniel approached Jenna, proudly speaking.


    Gloomy and physically exhausted from the mid-rank chants she deployed, Jenna didn''t bat an eye at his words. She responded plainly, "Yeah, yeah, I''m proud of you.¡±


    Still brimming with energy, Daniel engaged in conversation with the drained mage, who sat in lotus form, attempting to concentrate and meditate. However, her efforts were interrupted.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°Quit it and rest; don¡¯t add to my damned stress!" She lashed out as if snapping from the incessant ear-buzzing of the young demon¡¯s words.


    Rather than growing furious or annoyed, he nonchalantly remarked, ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful when you''re angry.¡±


    ¡°Die!!!!!!!!!¡± She couldn''t bear it. Nevertheless, a slight fluster crept in.


    ¡ª &@%#%#%.


    ¡ª%&$@%@.


    Izel smiled as he made his way to the resting spot. A peculiar sense of home welled up in his heart.


    Soon, the demerits of [Demonic Anti-magic] began relentlessly plaguing Daniel. His once-energetic body grew weary and distressed, and he found himself yapping to himself, seemingly hearing the hollow voices of demons.


    The blind man sensed Daniel''s struggle and spoke with genuine concern, "Daniel, take a rest and be vigilant for any potential ambush.¡±


    On the ground, the young demon puffed and grunted, mumbling about how his legs refused to move. He reflected on the day''s accomplishments, proclaiming how a great superior being like him had done an exceptional job, gaining unexpected rewards.


    WHOOSH!


    The cool night breeze gently caressed his skin, bringing soothing relief to his fatigued body as he sleepily responded to Izel''s words. "Ah, su..re.¡±


    Leaning against the rubble that pressed against the run-down clock tower wall, he gazed at the bonfire''s flickering flames in the center of the group. His eyes gradually fluttered closed, and he drifted off into sleep.


    "¡­¡±


    Is this the demon supposed to watch for an ambush? Flabbergasted, Izel shook his head with a faint smile. "Ha." He exhaled sharply, shifting his focus to Jenna, who knelt elegantly a few inches away, checking her status window with an indifferent expression. Inwardly, she couldn''t believe her growth.


    "Can we chat for a minute or two?" he requested, his breath forming frosty clouds in the cool night air.


    CRACK! CRUNCH!


    As the wavering light and warmth of the bonfire emanated, the mage flinched to the cold, coating her body in a thin layer of mana. She figured the chill was probably due to the thrill of battle; she had once been exhausted.


    "Now?" she remarked, opting to finish recovering her mana and restore her body to its pristine condition.


    "Hm. I think now is the most appropriate time," the blind man insisted.


    "I don''t think I can now; I need to take a short nap," she said, yawning lightly.


    "I don''t have a choice either," Izel tried to convince her, his head facing skyward.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Jenna sidelong glanced at the blind man, who continued to admire the twilight sky despite his inability to see. Her expression betrayed a sentiment suggesting he had no awareness of disrupting her coveted beauty nap. Sensing her bodily responses, Izel sighed, realizing he needed to address the matter at hand before Jenna''s mood soured.


    This had been bothering him for a while, and even though he hesitated to ask, he knew this might be his only opportunity to gain insights from such a skilled mage. He contemplated seeking Jane Austen''s advice upon returning to Eliluam, but his curiosity persistently gnawed at him.


    The mage wearily released a reluctant exhale. "Alright, but I''ll give you one minute," she conceded.


    "Thanks; the raid is still ongoing, after all," he politely acknowledged, appreciating her consideration.


    In the silent night, a terrible scent of gore and flesh lingered. Despite the ominous surroundings, the night sky remained adorned with vibrant auroras, casting a picturesque scene where every crater was visible. More than a million stars were sprinkled around, dominated by numerous little white pinpricks with occasional twinks that caught the attention of both Izel and Jenna.


    Eventually, the blind man broke the silence. "I would love to understand how you exude mana outward, not [Mana-coating], but to feel and observe the surroundings.¡±


    Jenna''s eyes widened at the sudden request. "Huh?¡±


    "Well, it may sound unusual, but if I can learn this from you, it might prove useful in certain situations," he explained.


    "No, that''s not what I wanted to..," she responded, her cherry-red lips moving again after a light cough. "I just didn''t anticipate someone like you requesting the basics of [Mana Inspection].¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    "Really? Basis?¡±


    "Yes, it served as the foundation for every Hunter on Eliluam, following [Mana Blasts] for mage-types and [Basic Swordsmanship] for Knight-types.¡±


    Although she might have been irritated by having her nap interrupted, the mage couldn''t believe her ears. The idea that such a Walker wouldn''t have acquired such a ''basic skill'' intrigued her. She was also curious about learning without acquiring the registered skills made by the system.


    "Honestly, I''m a slow learner. When I was still picking up [Basic Swordsmanship] and [Mana-coating], others had already mastered them. Before I could even grasp [Mana Inspection], I found myself in the Fortress," Izel explained. Though not entirely true, it was close enough. "So, when I saw you and Daniel wield something unimaginable for an ex-porter like me inside the ''Barrier'' earlier, I resolved myself to ask."


    "Ah," Jenna sighed, clearly bored with the lengthy speech. She couldn''t fathom why strong individuals tended to be such blabbermouths when seeking a mage''s insight. What happened to his authoritative voice?


    "Quit the long speech already, urghh!" she exclaimed, turning her face away. "I''ll teach you the basics; after all, one minute is almost up.¡±


    "Haah," Izel scratched the back of his head. "Hehehe.¡±


    ''... He is too humble.'' After the mage finished her thoughts, she took a deep breath and began to explain the process of [Mana inspection].


    ¡°There are four stages to accomplish even the basics: [Mentifery], [Flux Control], [Efficacy Equilibrium], and [Highlight].¡±


    As she spoke, she slowly demonstrated each of the four stages to the blind man, starting with [Mentifery].


    "Izel, achieving [Mentifery] requires unwavering focus, where you must imagine the actions you want your mana to fulfill," she instructed, closing her eyes and taking a deep, calm breath.


    "...similar to the quick vision when I channel my mana to coat my cloak and body?" he inquired, recalling past experiences with the mystical energy known as ''mana.¡¯ S?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ahem. You could put it like that." With her magic staff resting on her lap, she opened her mouth again, ensuring he was focused in his seated position.


    "After [Mentifery], [Flux Control] comes into play. It involves guiding mana to flow through your mana veins, steadily streaming to every nook and cranny, then traversing through all the layers of your skin.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Following the latter''s instructions, his mana flowed steadily from his core throughout every nook and cranny. Unconsciously, he sensed that his breathing had become as serene as the sea after a storm, and his heart felt strangely relaxed; even his brain was inundated with Alpha waves. When had he ever felt this soothed before?


    ¡°Lastly, [Efficacy Equilibrium]: Equally thin out your mana at the last layer of your skin and slowly expand it through the skin pores.¡±


    As Jenna demonstrated her teachings, her thinned-out mana gently bubbled out from her skin follicles, then expanded in accordance with her [Mentifery] and the quality of her mana. Izel, who observed through [Flawlation] and [Sound Reading], was certain. ''She''s a prodigy.'' Just which district did she originate from?


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡®No, let''s concentrate,¡¯ his thoughts trailed off.


    SHWOO!


    Having grasped [Mentifery] immediately and comprehended [Flux Control], perhaps due to subconscious utilization linked to his ''Title,'' the bluish-green mana gathered at the final layer of the blind man''s skin. About to flow through his hair pores, it struggled to smoothly thin out and stretch, morphing irregularly between thin and dense. This irregularity was proof that Izel hadn''t mastered the art of properly thinning out his mana.


    Nevertheless, he didn''t give up. ¡®Almost there,¡¯ he inwardly persisted.


    Sweat formed on his cheek as he concentrated intensely. Eventually, he felt his mana passing through his hair pores, but it couldn''t maintain a proper form. Yet, it was ''definitely'' [Efficacy Equilibrium]. Despite the imbalance, Izel managed to attempt a ''Mana Inspection.'' Part of it was the blind man''s concentration, and the other was the acquired ''Title.'' Still, it would have been impossible without the insights of the female mage.


    FWOOSH! SPA!


    The irregular mana dissipated, its power detached, lightly tickling his skin and dispersing the air around him. "Huu!" he exclaimed, clenching his fist with a broadened smile. "I guess I need more practice to master it." His expression wasn''t despondent; instead, resolve and determination emanated from him.


    Jenna''s eyes widened in astonishment. She couldn''t believe a human with such apparent incompetence had survived the [Extreme] difficulty. Normally, without witnessing his fight, she would have expected his demise in either his Fortress or Eliluam''s cruel ecosystems. The mage doubted he would die so easily. No, she faintly smiled. ''He would become a catastrophe that could shake Eliluam when he returned.¡¯


    "Come to think of it..." The blind man, as if struck by a sudden epiphany, continued, "What about [Highlight]?" he asked.


    "Well, that allows the Hunter, who has perfectly learned the Three Stages of [Mana Inspection], to highlight any presence, locate, identify, and track the target(s) based on one''s mana quality and limit," Jenna explained, retracting her mana back to her core.


    Before the given one minute ended, Izel asked a few more questions, one of which was about [Mana Blasts] and its principles. Jenna did her best to answer. After one minute¡ªor rather, five minutes¡ªthe mage sighed deeply, thinking, ''I overly answered all his damned questions.'' It wasn''t her fault; all his questions were so basic. Despite that, as she explained each answer, she strangely gained insights to improve them. Surprisingly, it was a pretty productive conversation.


    "... Thanks for sparing a bit of your nap time. For real, I¡¯m glad; I was about to learn from you," Izel said, implying he had a conscience.


    Seemingly annoyed about the delay in her nap, Jenna stroked her side emerald hair over her right ear and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough; just rest up; we will depart soon.¡±


    ¡°Hehehe.¡±


    As the brisk breeze danced through the crackling bonfire, Daniel abruptly awoke, as though a war had erupted. "ACCCCK!" he exclaimed, bewildered by the warm glow of the fire. It seemed he had been dreaming of a war zone.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He swiftly regained composure upon noticing both Walkers shaking their heads, implying they were no longer surprised. The young demon interjected, "Haven''t you guys finished chatting?¡±


    "Yes, the business took longer than expected," the mage responded, settling into a meditation for a quick nap.


    Addressing the blind man, he questioned, "Why didn''t you wake me up to discuss it together?¡±


    Still feeling drowsy, he murmured self-blame for feeling excessively tired on a raid, speculating whether it was due to the demerit of [Demonic Anti-magic].


    "Aren''t you still feeling sleepy? Go back to sleep," Izel faintly smiled as he positioned himself atop a stack of rubble. Indeed, they seemed to have coincidentally fallen on each other. Settling down, he hoped to take a nap, aiming to alleviate stress and the throbbing in his head, perhaps induced by the prolonged standby of the ''[Flawlation] Special Blindfold.¡¯


    Daniel, without asking further, turned the other way, letting out a quiet "Hmph" as he slowly regained his composure from the clutches of other demerits.


    After he quieted down, Izel suggested, "Let''s rest for ten more minutes.¡±


    Although they all knew it wasn''t rational to take such a break during a dire raid, considering the other party''s 80% likelihood of resting to recover from the intense first and second waves and the imminent demerits, it made sense. The Fortress had purposefully allowed 24 hours, indirectly implying the importance of rest during this disgustingly difficult raid. A few minutes weren''t too bad.


    "Yeah!" Both of them agreed.


    Around the sparkling bonfire, heat slowly spread, and each of them hoped to defeat the ''Titan Orc Lord'' before the other party and survive.


    Time left: 5 hours, 33 minutes.


    As the forest landscape abruptly transitioned into the inner city of Nanzahemir, it became evident that the party had successfully navigated the challenging journey. Observing the awe-inspiring scene of towering clock towers beneath a dark, lustrous sky, each member of the party shared their thoughts.


    "Wow, a new landscape? Nice," remarked a dark-haired female with glasses, dressed in an assassin''s cloak. She took a moment to catch her breath, reflecting on the trials endured within the terrorizing, isolated barrier.


    Specifically, it was the barrier distorting the distance to the seamless gate, with multiple routes challenging to uncover without a mage. Luckily, their group included a skilled one.


    The blue-haired female mage, holding a magical staff, confidently stated, "I guess that route was the correct one.¡±


    With a sigh of relief, an average-looking young man, slim and athletically built, thought aloud, "We survived..." Before, the seemingly teenager could savor the captivating night scenery ¡­


    The inner Nanzahemir monsters have started mobilizing.


    Please kill the dungeon''s target quickly.


    ¡­ an ominous announcement demanding urgency flashed before their eyes, the former C-rank Hunter, Killy Donahue, a figure resembling an assassin, scowled at the teenager''s hesitant response.


    "Hey, boy.¡±


    The teenager flinched. "Y-yes?¡±


    "Y-yes?!" The mage, Tessa Kendall, grimaced at the slow reply. "Fucking ingrate. Responding slowly is unfitting for a D-rank ex-hunter. By now, you should have figured out what she meant.¡±


    "I''m sorry, big sis," cowered Randell Kinsey, the dealer. "I''ll be ready for battle.¡±


    Mercifully, they clicked their tongues. "Good!¡±


    "Hmph!¡±


    From the raid''s onset to the present moment, the party exuded confidence. As the second wave of colossal Titan Orcs loomed disgustingly overhead, the ground rumbled.


    RUMBLE!


    SLASH!


    Blood and flesh splattered all around as the party fought back.


    ¡°Hmm. Perhaps the other party presumed to meet might have died in the Barrier, even with a mage.¡±


    ¡°Our dear mage is so smart, even after utilizing [Mana-tracking skill] for the multiple routes and the lucky guess on the last single route. Even luck is a skill, huhuhu.¡± The Assassins chuckled as she vanished into the wind, simultaneously appearing at each Titan Orc''s sturdy throat with her dragon-tooth-like dagger. Heads fell skyward with the splatter of blood.


    As the battle raged on, the number of Titan Orcs had already increased to about a hundred. Although it was a bit harder compared to the First Wave, with the stealthy movement and dagger technique of the ¡®Assassin,¡¯ the overwhelming magic of the ¡®Mage,¡¯ and the unpredictable fighting style of the ''Dealer,'' it wasn¡¯t that hard to endure.


    ¡°Titan Orcs were just big and tall¡ªthey weren¡¯t monsters that were hard to defeat¡­¡± Killy Donahue soon trailed off, seeming to swallow back her words as the underestimated monsters¡¯ ¡®Adaptability¡¯ traits kicked in.


    ¡°Darn it, I jinxed it. I guess that damned admin wouldn¡¯t make a raid too easy.¡± She said as cold sweat started to form on her forehead.


    ¡°You did.¡± The mage¡¯s eyes narrowed. "I never expected these monsters to be utilizing that right now.¡±


    ¡°Well, it doesn''t matter. Huhu.¡± The assassin¡¯s chuckle echoed faintly as her hands wielded dual daggers coated in mana, dealing with newly adapted Titan Orcs.


    Meanwhile, Tessa Kendall, the leader of the party, racked her brains to come up with an idea to deal with the swarming fully-adapted Titan Orcs.


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    Recalling the article she had read on the Hunter forum about ''why no Hunters raided the Titan Orcs labyrinth'', an epiphany struck her. Swiftly, she called out, "Killy!" The assassin materialized, signaling the beginning of a strategy meeting.


    Before the meeting unfolded, the assassin issued a directive to Randell Kinsey, instructing him to keep the aggressive Titan Orcs at bay at any cost.


    "Randell, your role in this party is to be a decoy. Fight with all your gusto against these giant pigs. Got it?¡±


    ¡°But¡­?¡± The teen, momentarily startled, hesitated. Who were they to dictate his role, treating him like a nobody? He had been invited to the fortress just like them.


    "You don''t want to," the psychopathic yet enchanting voice whispered to him.


    "Just like I''m whispering to you right now, without any contact, I can end your life swiftly without struggle or pain.¡±


    The ominous voice resonated in Randell''s soul, making him feel the invisible dual daggers that could slash his throat if he disagreed. Bitterly biting his lower lip, ¡®Damnit, when did it all go wrong?¡¯ Randell Kinsey swung his longsword, hands tightly clenched around the hilt as he activated his Gear skill ¡­


    [Activating the Gear skill. ¡®Foresense¡¯(D).]


    [¡®Foresense¡¯ (D) synchronized with Special item ¡®Airpod¡¯.]


    ¡­ alongside a special white airpod that shimmers faintly.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 22 - Worst Case scenario

    Meanwhile, Tessa Kendall shares her plans with the assassin."Considering it''s appropriate to encounter another party, we were unaware of their strength before facing the Titan Orc Lord; it¡¯s only natural to preserve our strengths and only fight to warm up and not leave that brat to die.¡±


    "Considering that the mentioned party is still alive," she continued.


    "Never underestimate them; I''ve emphasized this repeatedly," Tessa warned.


    "Huhuhu. Alright," chuckled Killy Donahue, turning to observe the Dealer in battle. ¡°Simply put, if he dies, we¡¯ll also be screwed in this raid.¡±


    In sync with Tessa''s thoughts, the assassin prepared to face the Titan Orcs. Tessa''s magic staff gleamed, striking the ground.


    SLAM!


    CRACK¡ªCRACK!


    The paved ground carved into itself with intertwined ruptures. Immense tree tentacles erupted, coiling among themselves and slicing through the air, each end sharper than blades.


    ¡°KIEEEEK¡­! HUMANS!¡±


    RUMBLE!


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had¡­]


    [Titan¡­]


    [...]


    As the Titan Orcs approached, hollows formed on their chest as each tentacle plunged through, causing blood to splatter.


    A deep rumble echoed.


    "...!¡±


    But that wasn''t all. More Titan Orcs thwarted the tree tentacles with their gargantuan sizes and poisoned weapons, wielding curved arcs and slashes. As her staff roused, its mounted cube glowed. [Mana Blasts] and [Ice Missiles] shot towards them, disintegrating sixteenth Titan Orcs into nothing but gory messes.


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had¡­]


    [Titan¡­]


    [...]


    Tessa Kendall wasn''t merely a thinker; alongside Killy Donahue, an adept of [Extreme] difficulty and quite skilled, they could be deemed schemers.


    "It''s about time we finish this damned tasking raid," the assassin declared, deftly tossing multiple diminutive daggers dripping with lethal poison. She couldn''t employ [String Deviative Daggers] yet, lacking the skill learned in Eliluam, but these were precise enough to target the impending Titan Orcs'' vital points.


    ¡®I need to survive and return to Eliluam to learn that skill,¡¯ she concluded, focused on her mission.


    ¡°KIEEEK! STRO¡­ NGER!¡±


    ¡°SCREEKK¡­!¡±


    Even with their ''adaptability'' trait activated, these monstrous beings displayed no visible changes; instead, their bodies were merely toughened, resembling steel. Moreover, each adaptation varied; some axe-wielders mastered [Mana Coating], while others with daggers honed [Dagger Techniques], countering the assassin''s deadly, diminutive daggers.


    ¡°Wonderful, you pigs can awaken the dagger technique, but¡ª" Killy''s words trailed off abruptly. The thrown daggers turned out to be decoys.


    ... and those who favored fists possessed [Strengthening], transforming their skin into a searing red, akin to a skill seen in the Goblin King. In essence, more fists lunged towards the assassins. Yet, their strikes found only empty air.


    Despite awakening complementary skills to support their intricate movements, none of it mattered to the assassin. Silently, the lethal figure emerged behind each target, wielding dual daggers.


    ¡°KIEEEK¡­?¡±


    ¡°SCRECCK¡­!¡±


    Gore splashed as each dagger found its mark in their napes. The fully-adapted monsters were cruelly dispatched, their comprehension failing them in the face of such ruthless efficiency.


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had¡­]


    [Titan¡­]


    [...]


    "Good job. If we can go on like this..." the mage observed briefly, her eyes shifting to Randell Kinsey. ''Still, it''s baffling that ''Dealer'' can endure these monster attacks until now,'' she inwardly admired. Despite being attacked by the majority of fully-adapted Titan Orcs, it was an incredible feat for a [Medium] difficulty individual to survive this long. If not for the raid condition ¡­


    Tessa''s lips twisted. "It doesn''t matter. Soon enough, he will be dead," she hypothesized.


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan¡­]


    [...]


    Amidst the repeated euphoric messages, grins adorned the faces of the mage and assassin, while the ''boy'' could only express his frustration with a deep curse. Beneath the chaotic twilight sky, the foundations of nearby soaring clock towers weakened, becoming unstable and collapsing. In the ensuing turmoil, rubble and shrapnel rained down on the Titan Orcs.


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan¡­]


    [...]


    TAK! WHOOSH!


    Something. No, rather, someone got knocked back ¡­


    "Urggghhh!" A familiar, pained groan resonated through the air.


    Killy and Tessa''s eyes widened simultaneously. "Huh?" Killy clicked her tongue. "What? That brat can''t even¡ª¡±


    BOOM!


    ... and crashed into a ruined building. The audible crash instantly permeated the cold air, and dust oozed out. The shocking reality left them awestruck; they seemed to have forgotten about the raid condition. If one of their party members died, it was over. Technically, this incident hadn''t happened until now, so it had slipped their minds.


    "Why does this kid have to fall now that we''ve planned the progress so well?" Tessa murmured, a chill creeping down her back. Since the raid began, Randell Kinsey had always held on, no matter what, aware of the potential consequences of a mishap. But why now?


    ''Are the Titan Orcs more aggressive than the one I fought?'' The assassin mused. No, if their ''adaptability'' were truly a problem, he would have cowardly declined, just like he did in the barrier when she ordered him to take the lead.


    "Dammit." The mage became impatient, biting her fingers as she racked her brain for the next move. "10, 20, 37, 40¡­" Inwardly counting the remaining Titan Orcs, she took a deep breath. Thankfully, the number of formidable monsters wasn''t overwhelming. "About forty-something," she concluded. With this manageable number, preserving their strength wouldn''t be impossible. Clenching her staff tightly, she turned to the visible assassin.


    "Let''s split the monsters and conserve our strength as much as possible.¡±


    "What about that brat?¡±


    The mage''s eyes brimmed with malice. "Don''t bother him; at least let him rest a bit.¡±


    "Right!" Like vapor once more, she vanished.


    WHOOSH!


    From somewhere within the invisible realm, the assassin''s voice echoed, gripping dual daggers. "Let''s show all those fucking pigs what [Extreme] difficulty Walkers are.¡±


    SWSHOO!


    As purple mana erupted, a multitude of [Magic Missiles] and [Mana Blasts] encircled the mage in the air. "This is going to be entertaining.¡±


    RUMBLE!


    BOOM!


    The [Mana Blasts] and [Ice Missiles] soared towards each monster, shattering them into pieces, their gruesome remains tearing through the cold atmosphere.


    "...!¡±


    "We''ll take care of these creatures and slay that Titan Orc lord..." The mage''s voice trailed off, her tongue painfully sucked in as white currents danced around, exerting pressure on her body. It was the drawback of relying on [Ice Missiles] more than usual, given her limited mana pool for generating a substantial number of [Mana Blasts]. But¡­ ¡®This much is definitely bearable.¡¯ She thought.


    Until now, Killy Donahue had been strategically poisoning each Titan Orc to impede their advancement and hinder their nerve functions. Simultaneously, she executed a mid-air twist, generating momentum at the tips of her dual daggers, expertly severing their heads from their robust necks.


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had¡­] S?a?ch* Th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    [Titan¡­]


    [...]


    STEP! STEP!


    After a brief pause to catch her breath, the assassin echoed the mage''s sentiments.


    ¡°Huah, haah, It-It¡¯s over¡­¡±


    ¡°Fuah¡ªI thought I was going to die.¡± Tessa and Killy panted, gasping for air, hot sweat streaming down their cheeks. Exhaustion relentlessly plagued them. Fortunately, there were no major injuries, but for the first time, someone like Randell Kinsey lay unconscious amidst the crushed rubble.


    ¡°Should we drag him out and give him a beating?¡± The assassin gestured with her left thumb.


    ¡°Nah, not yet; we still need to gather more strength for the next batch.¡±


    ¡°Dammit, so this wave isn¡¯t over this time as well?¡± Impatient, the assassin flicked the blood from her daggers.


    ¡°It¡¯s too early to give up. We¡¯ve got to fight this time without him as well.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s true.¡±


    There was hope. As long as neither the mage nor the assassin was injured, they could handle any number of Titan Orcs. ¡°The other party should be in the same situation, right?¡± The mage involuntarily asked.


    ¡°Probably. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a party that could have survived this, even if they did make it past the barrier."


    The mage warned, "Maybe you shouldn''t underestimate the other party.¡±


    The assassin sighed, "I guess we shouldn''t have overestimated [Medium] difficulty, Walker."


    As a [Medium] difficulty Walker, despite his former D-rank Hunter status, he couldn''t progress as swiftly as a [Hard] difficulty Walker. Yet, his experience battling monsters as an ex-hunter made him more proficient than most [Easy] difficulty Walkers. Despite his skill, he was crushed somewhere.


    Soon, they found themselves in a precarious situation, with more Titan orcs closing in. Simply put, their thinking changed.


    "Though, I''m starting to feel weary," the assassin admitted, agreeing with a nod. "This demerit..." She murmured to herself as cyanosis crept up from her fingertips, accompanied by a wheezing sound in her muscles. Before she could dwell on her distress, more Titan orcs approached, and they had to act swiftly.


    RUMBLE!


    The earth trembled beneath the relentless advance of a horde of Titan Orcs, a formidable force surging forward with savage intent. They appeared to be the final contingent of the second wave, their sheer numbers foreboding.


    ¡°You fucking pigs are done for.¡± With a sense of pride, the mage tightly gripped her magic staff in her left hand. It gleamed more dazzlingly than ever, and additional [Mana Blasts] materialized around her. Tessa was confident that, if they managed to endure this wave, they could rest before the impending next challenge.


    Time left: 3 hours, 45 minutes.


    Two hours had elapsed, yet the atmosphere felt as apocalyptic as the days of Armaedggeon.


    WHOOSH!


    BOOM!


    ¡°Gasp¡­¡±


    ¡°Just how many have we killed?¡±


    RUMBLE!


    [Titan Orcs had been Slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been Slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been Slain.]


    [Titan Orcs¡­]


    [Titan¡­]


    [¡­]


    Euphoria-like messages flooded in relentlessly, one after another, as blood splattered, adorning the ground, walls, and run-down clock towers.


    "Don''t know... gasp. Don''t care!" The mage replied. Though it seemed like an endless horde of Titan Orcs¡­


    ¡°KIEEEKYHK HUMANS!¡±


    ¡°KYHKGH STRO¡­ NGER!¡±


    RUMBLE! RUMBLE!


    ... No, hundreds of Titan Orcs shook the earth, unleashing a maelstrom of [Magic blasts] and [Ice missiles] that rained down upon the monstrous horde. The once orderly road now resembled a chaotic path strewn with a grotesque mess of blood and flesh.


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had been slain.]


    [Titan Orcs had¡­]


    [Titan¡­]


    [...]


    Amidst the lifeless expanse of fallen Titan Orcs and dismantled structures, Tessa, shrouded in ethereal white currents, groaned in agony. "Finally," she murmured to herself, her trembling feet giving way. "¡­ we survived." With a thud, she collapsed onto the ground.


    Atop a heap of bloody Titan Orc corpses, Killy spat out clotted blood, evidence of the internal turmoil she endured. Her face, bluish-white, and limbs rendered immobile, she struggled to speak. "The wave has ended," she squealed, her blurred white eyes glancing at the unfocused, stunning sky. ''Really, the sky is truly beautiful.''


    In their thoughts, they opted for a brief nap before proceeding towards the expansive gate leading to the main hall within their line of sight.


    Time left: 3 hours, 00 minutes.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    After fifteen minutes, each member replenished their strength. Killy Donahue, her dual daggers sheathed, addressed the presumably fainted dealer, "Get up, boy.¡±


    "Huh... I fainted?" Confusedly awakened from a concussion, Randell Kinsey flinched not only from the atmospheric chills but also from the ear-jerking phrase. "O-okay!¡±


    Injuries and bruises adorned his body, not just from the crash but also due to the demerit of his [Foresense]. Despite this, the mage felt disdain for the dealer''s sluggishness.


    "Tsk!" She rose from her meditation position after her mana recovered. Though only a few minutes had passed, her fatigued body and demerit had eased.


    "How many times do I have to tell you? As a dealer, you should always take the lead." The mage''s words were thorns in the teen''s heart.


    The black-haired teen, with grey eyes and clad in an enchanted hoodie, apologized while cowering. "I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my mista¡ª.¡±


    "A mistake?" Tessa Kendall interrupted him, raising her glasses with her index finger, and glaring at the dealer. "God damn. Do you even realize where you¡¯re at right now?¡±


    It didn¡¯t sit well with them that a D-ranked Hunter, relying on the C-ranked Hunters to raid the B-rank Dungeon, was responding so slowly. What made them even more irritated was that this brat seemed proud, despite being of [Medium] difficulty. He couldn''t carry out their order and almost put their lives at risk. At least he should have had more guts to improve eagerly by selecting [Extreme] or [Hard] difficulty. Hell, he chose [Medium] difficulty and wanted to be treated equally after nearly sacrificing their lives due to his incompetence. Such impudence.


    Soon enough, the threatening atmosphere didn¡¯t last long.


    "Well, whatever. Are you sure the Orc Lord is in that gate?" Killy Donahue stepped back at Tessa Kendall¡¯s question, gesturing with her chin. Randell Kinsey quietly answered her, ¡°W-when I used my Query Point, it said the boss monster resides behind that gate.¡±


    Killy Donahue''s voice bore a threatening edge. "And you can''t confirm it''s the Titan Orc Lord?¡±


    Randell Kinsey hesitated, doubt flickering across his face as he glanced toward the mage. "Yeah¡­¡±


    Tessa Kendall scoffed, frustration evident. "Can''t you think before you speak? If Titan Orcs were all we faced on the way here, the boss monster has to be the Titan Orc Lord.¡±


    "I-I see," Randell stammered, visibly uneasy.


    "So, if Beelzebub is correct," Tessa asserted, "the boss monster is undoubtedly there." With that conclusion, she gazed toward the distant main entry, hoping they had slain the boss monster ahead of the other party and would make it out alive.


    Time left: 2 hours, 26 minutes.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    The B-rank 24-hour raid concluded once any of the parties vanquished the boss monster, the Titan Orc Lord.


    This raid condition was ingrained in their minds as they approached the main entry. Tessa Kendall delicately enveloped herself in a thin layer of mana to ward off the biting cold of the night. ''Stunning!'' she marveled at the breathtaking night view, acknowledging the city''s vastness. Even the haphazardly arranged clock towers surprised her with their impressive height.


    The glowing clock mechanisms unexpectedly complemented the atmosphere, casting a dreamy aura over the city. Even for a seasoned Hunter like Tessa, the experience was unparalleled. "Though it lacked this brilliance before the battle," she reflected.


    In the grand scheme, she couldn''t fathom the inner workings of the Fortress of Dungeons that birthed such a unique environment. A sudden hypothesis crossed her mind: maybe it originated from an existing niche somewhere. However, it remained just a speculative guess.


    In any case, she pondered that the place was quite impressive and stunning, enticing tourists from renowned powerhouses like Guilds and superior races who would pay a ransom to explore and wage bloody wars to acquire it. Lower-level districts, even the labyrinths on Eliluam, paled in comparison. The monsters were in a league of their own, and the items gained were equally intriguing. Inwardly, she clicked her tongue at the mysterious limiter, wondering who the hell added such a feature.


    Moreover, the rewards didn''t compare to what one could get from Eliluam''s labyrinths. Despite the formidable monsters, their carcasses were useless, but the rewards justified the risk. Returning to the outside world could propel her above B-rank, elevating her continental ranking from the current 2593rd position. With that, she might not need to persist as a hunter; being a Walker would be sufficient.


    The weapons and artifacts Tessa Kendall acquired in the Fortress would be priceless on the black market, free from taxes, transporter fees, item verification, and inspection bills. Surviving the SS+ raid could pave the way for a luxurious life upon permanent return, allowing her to travel freely across upper and lower districts without ''Moderator'' restrictions. Perhaps, she could even venture into the mages'' district and apply for the esteemed ''Archmage'' position.


    Whichever ambitions she had would work out for the mage if she managed to survive the SS+ raid. At first, she felt a little apprehensive when all her stats, skills, and titles reset, but looking back, this was such a delightful opportunity.


    Tessa Kendall contemplated the swarm of billions of Lupin, envisioning the immense power she could amass, but she shook off the distraction. ''Whatever. At least, we reached here without any problems.'' she mused.


    The silver lining was that the opposing party hadn''t reached the gate yet. Their defeat was imminent once Tessa''s group vanquished the Titan Orc Lord.


    Before long, they stood before the ostensibly colossal gate at the culmination of the chaotic path in the upside-down city. Indeed, it marked the entrance to the Titan Orc Lord, the formidable boss-level monster


    ¡°Let¡¯s take care of the boss and get our asses out of here,¡± urgently declared Killy Donahue. There was no need for unnecessary confrontation. "Tessa, what formation should we use?" she inquired, turning to the mage.


    "What else?" Tessa sneered, adjusting her glasses. "You and I will stand in the back. Kinsey weakens the boss monster from the front, and then we deliver the final blow.¡±


    "But what if the other party is still alive?" Killy questioned.


    "Well, considering they''re likely Walkers like us, same plan with a few tweaks," Tessa replied confidently.


    "You catch that?" Killy eyed the Dealer. "Lead the way.¡±


    "Okay," Randell Kinsey mumbled, staring at the imposing metallic inscribed doors with a depressed look.


    A comprehensive crown with patterned eyes engraved on the gate stared into his very soul. He sensed the boss battle looming as the gate would soon open.


    Randell Kinsey dreaded another life-threatening battle while his body hadn''t fully healed from previous demerits. That''s why he despised [Extreme] difficulty Walkers ¨C always violent, bossy, and overpowered. Resisting with his stats and gear skill might buy him some time, but his [Foresense] anticipated an inevitable demise, either by the mage''s or the assassin''s hands.


    Would things have unfolded differently had he chosen [Extreme] instead of [Medium] difficulty? Could his [Forsense] have foreseen an alternate future? It''s plausible; after all, he might have been stronger than them or, at the very least, on par with them.


    His life began with a rosy twist when he awoke as an E-rank Hunter instead of the usual F-rank. Thanks to his remarkable innate skill, [Foresight], he ascended to D-rank within just two years. Engaging in numerous labyrinth raids, both in parties and solo, he amassed a wealth of expensive treasures, monster fragments, and carcasses. The pinnacle was reached when a [Necromancy] Guild, drawn to his [Foresight], sought to sign him with an enticing contract.


    Yet, amid prosperity, misfortune struck. A C-rank labyrinth surfaced beneath the blizzard-ridden ''second district,'' wreaking havoc in a 50-meter radius and reducing a nearby city to ruins in a mere three days. Unluckily, he found himself in the vicinity during this catastrophe, drawn to raid the accursed labyrinth. The turning point came when he faced the ''spider boss monster,'' resulting in a near-death encounter before a lavender interface of the Fortress of Dungeons invitation materialized before his blood-stained face.


    Fortress of Dungeons¡¯ has selected all suitable Walkers from Eliluam.


    Please select your difficulty.


    Easy, Medium, Hard, and Extreme.


    Medium had been selected.


    The hunter''s profession had been detected.


    Hunter¡ú Walker''s profession had been deployed.


    Current skills and stats have been reset.


    In agreement, he opted for [Medium], driven by a desperate desire to cling to another day of life. However, this choice proved to be a grave error, as he grappled with serious injuries, teetering on the brink of death. The consequence of this regrettable decision loomed ominously.


    Biting his lower lip in remorse, he closed his eyes and whispered, "I''m opening it now." His hands, trembling with the weight of impending doom, inched towards the door, which emitted a grating sound as it swung open.


    KRROONG!


    Amid this jarring noise, his mind wandered through a cascade of thoughts. Although the Fortress had saved him, the repercussions of his ill-fated decision were still poised to claim him.


    Entering, Tessa Kendall and Killy Donahue swiveled their heads, startled by the sudden yet familiar creak of the gate from behind.


    The competing party has entered the Titan Orc Lord''s, Nanzahemir Hall.


    Momentarily, the mysterious crystal-clear messages jolted their eyes super-wide.


    The condition had been fulfilled. The special objective ¡®Survival of the Fittest'' commenced.


    A concealed barrier stood between the Titan Orc Lord and the group, suspending the "boss battle" until only one party remained. Glancing at the gate they had entered, another barrier became evident. Tessa recognized the futility of leaving the current area. In reality, it was an impractical notion.


    Bonus rewards will be calculated after the special objective.


    Beyond the lavender holographic message, blurry figures halted abruptly, chaos swelling in their hearts, visibly startled. Tessa Kendall swiped the screen away, seeking a ''clearer analysis'' of the opposing party now standing before them using [Magical Optical Sense]. An 184-cm, 85-kg blindfolded young man, possessing a slim muscular frame, adorned in a black cloak with a sword. Amidst them stood a dazzling female mage, 179cm and 71kg, and a 188cm, 82kg demon tanker, wielding an axe, a shield, and a greatsword, conspicuously not of Titan Orc origin.


    This was the formidable party they must overcome to survive the raid. Tessa sighed; the possibility was never underestimated, yet the reality of this party making it this far was unexpected.


    "Darn it," Killy Douche cursed, withdrawing her daggers, refusing to underestimate the threat. She''d always feared this worst-case scenario in the raid. Did the mage have an escape plan? She turned to the mage, saying, "Well, the worst fear has materialized.¡±


    "I know, so get ready to fight.¡±


    "You mean¡­¡±


    "Yes, the ''tweaking'' I mentioned earlier will be made now.¡±


    "Okay!¡±


    The Assassin and the Dealer exchanged a glance, swallowing dryly before nodding. It was time to confront the opposing party that had just entered the hall.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 23 - Special Objective

    Thirty minutes earlier, Izel''s group, fatigued and burdened with demerits, opted for a nap, sufficiently rejuvenating themselves for the impending battle. Although far from fully recharged, it proved a worthwhile rest.Izel extinguished the bonfire with a casual sweep of his feet, punctuating the moment with a light yawn before declaring, "Alright then. Let''s resume the holy crusade.¡±


    Both nodded in agreement, their teamwork improving amid the lengthy raid. As Daniel stretched his stiff back, they maintained their formation, navigating the topsy-turvy road towards the Titan Orc Lord, presumed to be behind the far-end gate. No doubt about it.


    Three of them maintained tight guards as they strode forward. However, an uneasy feeling lingered.


    ¡°...?¡±


    ¡°...?¡±


    ¡°...?¡±


    Though moving swiftly, not a single Titan Orc had attacked them. Surprisingly, the second waves of Titan Orcs continued to emerge, growing more formidable with each batch. Yet, an eerie silence enveloped them, as if the Titan Orcs never existed.


    ¡°It seems the monsters must have attacked the other party,¡± the mage speculated.


    ¡°That''s crazy.¡± Daniel glanced around in disbelief. "No way, they got here faster than us."


    On the devastated road, a strangely intertwined intersection emerged, unnoticed by all. It marked a convergence of an alternate reality overlapping with theirs. Something otherworldly seized their attention¡ªa spectacle beyond the ordinary.


    "Huh, what the heck¡ª?¡±


    "What a mess.¡±


    The others'' eyes widened as Izel witnessed the onslaught of lifeless black outlines, swallowing dry spit at the sight. The panorama of devastation unfolded before him, a convergence of his [Flawlation].


    "This is devastating!¡±


    Before them lay a mountain of Titan Orc corpses, heavily armed and sprawled among the rubble and collapsed clock towers. Blood oozed from their lifeless bodies, staining the surroundings. Amidst the flickering remnants of clock mechanisms, a nauseating scent of blood tainted the cold atmosphere, prompting them to cover their nostrils. In simple terms, it was a scene of unparalleled chaos and disorder.


    "But it doesn''t seem like they''ve been dead for too long," Izel observed, crouching down to touch a few of the corpses.


    It wasn''t difficult to figure out. Though only black outlines are visible to the blind man, there are still some faint heat ripples emitting from these corpses. So, he touched them to accurately gauge the amount of heat and to avoid any suspicion. In short, they just missed them.


    "They¡¯re probably just about to enter the Orc Lord''s Hall," Jenna added. S~?a??h the N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Almost immediately, cruel messages that proved their initial thoughts soon arrived.


    Intruders have infiltrated the Nanzahemir main hall. All the Titan Orcs had been defeated.


    Three of them gauged the opposing party''s strength from the bloodstained evidence, and that trio had just entered the main hall.


    ¡°But we mustn¡¯t waste any more time," Izel added.


    The outcome hinged on whether the group could defeat the Titan Orcs. Jenna and Daniel could only speculate about their strength and abilities. Could it be akin to the Titan Orcs'' ''Adaptability,'' or perhaps something even more sophisticated? Before the blind man could alert his party mates, the mage, sensing the same urgency, spoke.


    "Prepare for battle.¡±


    With a determined nod, the only fitting response was, "Yes. Let''s go in.¡±


    Determination and power emanated from their eyes as they clenched their fists. Izel pulled open the large gate¡­


    KRROONG!


    ...the all-encompassing crown-adorned metallic gate squeaked open, signaling the time to confront the other Walkers.


    Time left: 2 hours. 10 minutes.


    The special objective ¡®Survival of the Fittest'' is starting.


    The concise message echoed in Izel''s mind and appeared before others'' retinas.


    ¡®Special objective?¡¯ Izel inwardly repeated. While not surprised by the presence of fellow Walkers, the existence of an objective indicated something inherent to the Fortress of Dungeons.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Izel deepened his thoughts. He hadn''t considered the possibility of a new objective when the initial one went unfinished. However, after a deep breath, he concluded, ¡®The Fortress is never straightforward.¡¯


    No, it''s more like playing dirty¡ªblocking off all other options with barriers on all sides. This, though unexpected, still fell within the scope of the Fortress.


    ¡®Well, let''s not dwell on it.¡¯ Through his [Flawlation], Izel focused on the task at hand. Three enemy silhouettes with different hues of mana emerged. A preadult, stunning blue-haired woman adorned an Airy robe, holding a staff embedded with a grey cube. Simply put, she was a mage. The blind man trusted his observation and moved on to the next...


    Having completed her inspection of the group, Jenna exclaimed, "The fact that they had a backline just like me is nerve-wracking.¡±


    Daniel, unconvinced, responded, "Well, I don''t think so, but I suppose these humans might share some experiences with us." He then pulled out his axe, indicating he didn''t want to underestimate their opponents; their vigor felt surprisingly competent.


    The assassin, wielding two eerily identical daggers, emitted an ominous vibe, causing sweat to form on the blind man''s forehead. Meanwhile, the teenage dealer, slightly trembling with a longsword, displayed an odd temperament even a Demon Tanker like Daniel didn''t possess. Above all, the party seemed oddly balanced in an awkward way.


    "Jenna, the mage appears to be the center of their party," Izel murmured to Jenna.


    "Yeah, I can see that, with the assassin covering both flanks," Jenna replied.


    "Wow, you picked up on that quickly," Daniel said, surprised by the assessment. He knew Jenna was intelligent, but her ability to analyze the situation astounded him.


    "Isn''t it obvious? The central position typically involves buffing, protecting, or launching long-range attacks as needed. It''s that simple," Jenna stated, proud yet indifferent.


    In other words, the mage in the center exuded a more refined aura, seemingly the leader of the party.


    "And it appears none of them are daunted by the current situation," Izel added.


    "Are you afraid?" the mage asked out of nowhere. It was a peculiar question, but considering the blind man''s past as an ex-porter¡­


    "I don''t know," Izel responded vaguely.


    "You don''t know?" Jenna felt a strange concern.


    "I guess I have to figure that out.¡±


    Hearing Izel''s authoritative answer and seeing his right hand on his hilt, Daniel slammed his fists together with a big grin. "That''s the spirit, human.¡±


    However, a hint of concern lingered in the mage''s eyes towards the blind man before she let out a deep breath. "I hope so.¡±


    The assassin recalled the ''tweaking'' the mage talked about ¡­


    "Honestly, the tweaking is simple; three of us will attack, but one at a time.¡±


    "One at a time?¡±


    "Yes, the dealer would take out the odd one; you''ll take the strange demon, and I''ll handle the mage.¡±


    "Are you sure it will work?" Randell briefly asked.


    That question sparked annoyance in the assassin''s face. However, the mage formed a dubious smile, attempting to hide her emotions, particularly not showcasing their little weakness.


    "Of course, to the latter, they''ll have thought I''m the center.¡±


    "Are you not?" Killy asked.


    "Of course I am, but that''s what the little tweaking is all about in our usual plan," Tessa reassured, presenting the new plan.


    ¡­ finally, she opened her eyes; her gaze glared, describing what seemed to be a snake ready to take on prey.


    "Hey, boy, you know the drill. Fight like your life''s on the line, and don''t underestimate him," the assassin''s gruff voice echoed, distant and ominous.


    [Activating the Gear skill ¡®Foresense¡¯(D).]


    [¡®Foresense¡¯ (D) synchronized with the Special item ¡®Airpod¡¯.]


    Randell Kinsey, his longsword stained with blood, barely had a moment to react as she vanished, melding with the wind and disappearing into the shadows.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    The eyes of Izel¡¯s group snapped open. Instantly, Daniel''s demonic energy and Jenna¡¯s mana intertwined, forming an intricate dance around their bodies, attempting to pinpoint the exact location of the assassin. Their efforts, however, proved futile.


    ¡°Is her stealth proficiency that great?¡± Jenna clicked her tongue in frustration. ¡°Tch!¡± She couldn¡¯t fathom it. Speaking more broadly, she warned, ¡°I can¡¯t locate her; be prepared. She could emerge at any moment.¡±


    Izel''s throat went dry as the sound of [Sound Reading] echoed lowly, resembling a drop of water falling into a stagnant pool.


    "Is this stealth really is?" Daniel exclaimed, visibly startled and amazed. He retracted his energy, creating a faint aura around Izel. It seemed this was Daniel''s first encounter with a Walker, a rare being.


    From the invisible plane, the assassin slowly materialized, like tiny puzzles fitting together¡­


    "...?¡±


    Izel felt confusion as his [Flawlation], capable of spotting anything with no blind spots, couldn''t sense the invisible assassin. True, when invisible, she lacked the usual outlines, ripples, and mana. However, Izel had an epiphany, deepening his concentration to activate [Sound Reading], where all ripples and frequencies emerged. This, however, was a distinct focal point, deviating from the usual encounters.


    Faintly, a somewhat familiar tendril fluttered across the white vastness of space. It jammed his [Sound Reading], different from usual.


    "Daniel, behind you!" Izel shouted.


    At the rear of the young demon, just as the blind man announced, the assassin materialized. She swiftly pulled out mana-coated daggers in reverse, slashing toward the demon''s throat.


    The daggers cut through the air at breakneck speed, causing air frictions only the blind man detected. He groaned at the high pitch, jamming his [Sound Reading].


    ¡°...!¡±


    Jenna sensed the intrusion of an unfamiliar ''mana'' in her [Mana Inspection] zone, and she sidely gazed at the young demon with a wicked grin. Even in the face of impending danger, his expression exuded malice, and his poisoned axe swung menacingly towards the oncoming daggers.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Silent, Izel''s focus suddenly shifted forward. The dealer closed in on him in an instant, directing a swift mana-infused swing towards him.


    SWOOSH!


    CLACK!


    The blind man anticipated the swing''s trajectory, tilting his shortsword coated in faint mana to block the attack. A rush of wind and a clash of mana enveloped him.


    Terrified yet intense gazes from onlookers repudiated any notion of engaging in battle with the blind man. Pity or guilt lingered, but it didn''t deter the relentless assault. Teeth gnashing, mana screamed around the attacker''s sword as he swung wildly and strangely in Izel''s tunnel vision.


    "¡­?¡±


    Izel, however, lacked tunnel vision; being blind, he didn''t rely on sight. This time, he didn''t block with his aurora but skillfully deflected the attack. The blind man surmised that the previous strike served as a decoy to close in and lower his guard. By not falling for the ploy, Izel neutralized the plan.


    But that wasn''t the end; leveraging the recoil from the deflection, the opponent''s blade smoothly flowed backward, preventing a repeat. Metal-to-metal cries echoed through the air, accompanied by shockwaves.


    Contrary to his bloodshot eyes and trembling hands, seemingly strained from muscle stress and cuts, his longsword from the F-rank dungeon traced a sharp, clean arc. It hinted at considerable experience in the art of fighting monsters.


    Izel clicked his tongue, struggling to believe he was facing someone who might be an ex-hunter.


    Subconsciously, Jenna sensed danger from below, a familiar feeling from the first wave of the Titan Orc.


    "¡­!¡±


    Her premonition proved true as the ground suddenly caved in¡­


    CRACK¡ªCRACK!


    Unbalanced, the mage coated her feet in mana and leaped away.


    ¡°What?¡± The attacker, seemingly the enemy¡¯s mage, exclaimed in a stupor. How could a mage move like a knight-type hunter with such a demeanor?


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Tessa''s lips twisted.


    ... And from within the fissure, wooden tentacles shot out, dashing toward Jenna in all directions like logs with springs at their ends.


    KWAAAANG!


    As Jenna landed elegantly, her staff shimmered, and a series of fireballs morphed into existence, launching toward each tentacle, and causing multiple explosions.


    KA-BOOM!!!!!


    ¡®Oh, this mage is good,¡¯ Tessa thought briefly, a smile playing on her lips. Although they hadn''t exchanged many attacks, the prospect had already crossed her mind. The cube on Tessa''s staff glowed faintly, and ice missiles materialized, launching a swift counterattack.


    WHOOOSH!


    A barrage of ice missiles streaked through the air toward Jenna, who conjured a series of pinkish magic blasts in response. It became a dazzling exchange of colorful explosions, with mana swirling in every direction.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Jolted by Izel''s previous shout, Daniel grinned as he sensed the faint approach of daggers towards his throat. At the last moment, he deftly deflected the attack with demonic anti-magic dancing around his poisoned axe, repelling the mana surrounding the daggers.


    CLACK!


    The clash of three deadly weapons produced a clean sound. ''Strong...!'' Daniel inwardly commented, his feet firmly against the ground to endure the force behind those female arms. Despite his disdain for admiration, he couldn''t deny the assassin''s formidable fighting spirit. Soon, she vanished like a wafting wind.


    "Tch!" Daniel clicked his tongue in disgust. Assassins, he thought, were nothing more than annoying and cowardly bugs with an oddly assassination-focused fighting style, avoiding confrontational attacks.


    Without much time for contemplation, the young demon, not particularly known for his strategic thinking, faced a looming threat. A dagger emerged from the invisible plane, targeting his blind spot.


    "¡­!"


    Time seemed to freeze as Daniel''s senses, sharpened by defeating Titan Orcs and heightened by the faint demonic energy around him, honed in on the impending dagger. Although slower than the assassin''s initial attempt, he urged himself to block the attack in real time.


    Despite its reduced speed, the dagger possessed enough force to propel him three meters back, resulting in a crack in his axe''s blades.


    ¡®What?¡¯ Quite baffled, Daniel''s eyes widened surprisingly as he noticed the new crack on the axe. Despite utilizing his [Strength] and [Constitution] to grip the axe securely, it appeared that the latter''s [Strength] and [Constitution] surpassed his own.


    "Are you from [Extreme] difficulty?" the young demon curiously inquired, seeking an explanation for the evident difference in power?


    SHOOSH!


    However, there was no response; it was as though he spoke to empty air. Irritated by this perceived rudeness, he let out a deep breath. "I''ll take that as a yes!"


    Reminding himself of his superiority, he dismissed any frustration towards the seemingly introverted humans.


    With a carefree nod, he adeptly blocked counterattacks from his blind spot. Rapid, invisible chain attacks followed, lacking speed but gaining power with each strike.


    CLACK!!!


    The opponent, startled at the demon''s ability to withstand attacks despite having higher [Strength], [Constitution], and [Agility], pondered how he could achieve such feats. She knew the Fortress should have reset his stats, skills, and title. But how?


    "It doesn''t matter¡­¡±


    "Huh! You finally talk?" Daniel expressed astonishment at the assassin''s murmured words, though he couldn''t decipher their meaning.


    "... if you happen to block my attacks by chance," her voice echoed as she disappeared once again.


    Silence lingered.


    "What? How could you even think that?" Daniel''s irritation was palpable, his sharp ears twitching with pent-up anger. "What nonsense!¡±


    Jenna and Izel experienced a wave of relief as Daniel skillfully fended off the seemingly invisible assassin attacks, a challenge even for a mage with [Mana Inspection] and a blind man utilizing [Flawlation] and [Sound Reading] in combination.


    Amid the intense battles, Izel felt his arms morphing into a stronger form, thanks to his [Strength]. The increased [Constitution] stat further facilitated his movements.


    His muscles instantly gained strength, and his feet forcefully slammed into the ground, benefiting from the heightened force provided by his [Strength]. Oddly enough, his [Strength] stat had increased after devouring Titan Orcs, although it still lagged behind [Constitution], creating an ironic sense of omnipotence.


    Paying no heed to the evaluations and ripples of others, Izel''s focus remained sharp on the dealer as he swung his shortsword at him with full force.


    [Basic Swordsmanship has been activated.]


    With that initiated, Mana coated his Aurora shortsword in his right hand. With serotonin surging and his lumic system operating at full speed, Izel''s movements became more fluid and sharper.


    Each sword path and fundamental movement directed toward the opponent overwhelmed the dealer. It wasn''t just the strangely fluid swordplay; it was the uncharacteristically increased force behind every strike. Randell gritted his teeth while parrying with his longsword, unable to contend with such relentless power. Izel smoothly carved sharp arcs, and ¡­


    KLANG!


    ... the magical swings clashed with furious intensity. Randell''s longsword emanated a sharp air pressure, forcing Izel to tighten his grip on the aurora shortsword.


    "Hmph!" The blind man exhaled deeply, executing vertical and horizontal swings repeatedly. The opponent, however, skillfully blocked each powerful attack, seemingly mocking the blind man''s strength. Randell took a few cautious steps back before lunging forward, his trembling body reflecting a struggle against impending defeat. Nonetheless, he didn''t waver and thrust his sword.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Despite unsteady hands, the thrust possessed unexpected potency. Sensing this, the blind man deftly tilted his shortsword, redirecting the attack. Simultaneously, he infused mana into his [Cloud Boots] ...


    [Cloud Boots had been detected.]


    [A Special Condition had been met.]


    [Agility had solely been added to Movement Speed.]


    "...!¡±


    ... he vanished. Brief confusion enveloped the dealer.


    [Movement speed has increased by 50%.]


    ¡°Again?!¡± Izel, disappointed, murmured behind the dealer as he attempted to end his life stealthily. It had happened before, but now it made it twice.


    CLANG!


    Feeling the strength difference, Randell thwarted the latter attack and swiftly leaped out of the way. It was a fast maneuver; Izel hadn¡¯t seen it coming.


    The blind man was now certain. At first, he thought Randell might be hiding his skill, but he realized that wasn''t the case.


    Could it be an item or a Gear skill? Izel couldn¡¯t be certain. No matter how hastily he racked his brain, it was something his mind couldn¡¯t figure out right now. Yet he filtered the thought¡ªmaybe it could be an innate ability like his¡ªbut soon wavered back to such thoughts. In the end, he sighed, ''Whatever the case, I shouldn¡¯t underestimate him.¡¯


    Above all, whatever strange skill Randell possessed could change the tide of this battle if Izel let down his guard. Since figuring out what Randell could be utilizing was a no-brainer, he withdrew his sword and took a step back.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    On the other hand, the battlefield had turned into an absolute mess, with shrapnel and dirt permeating the air from multiple attacks from all sides. Pinkish and purplish mana danced about, while dark energy throbbed, repelling magical thrown attacks from the assassin, seemingly as a decoy. Though Daniel seemed somewhat mad, he didn¡¯t let it get the better of him.


    Of course, he hadn¡¯t used his greatsword and shield yet, but he was doing better without them, particularly because of the title ¡­


    [ ? Title: Royal demon.]


    ¡­ and since the assassin''s intent was apparent from the start, focused on defeating the weakest link in the party, exploiting Daniel''s loss of stats, skills, and title upon entering the Fortress. With a tumultuous history between demons and humans, it was a strategic move by both Tessa and Killy at the last minute. However, their schemes proved off-track, a glaring misjudgment.


    Despite this, the assassin displayed her experience as an ex-hunter, launching attacks with explosive speed and power, and moving stealthily with high proficiency.


    CLACK!


    Daniel''s [Demonic anti-magic]-imbued axe blocked the attacks, nullifying the mana-coating. He found himself on somewhat equal footing with the assassin, moving swiftly, coating [Demonic energy] around his feet, countering dual daggers with axe swings. The dealer''s movements slowed, indicating her realization of the misjudgment. She couldn''t press forward as strongly as before.


    WHOOSH!


    RUMBLE!


    As the whole battlefield shook at the fight of the mages, Izel concentrated on the dealer before him. Truthfully, there were a lot of elements in the Fortress of Dungeons that could change the tide of a battle. Even the roles of Walkers in one¡¯s party could also prove effective in a battle such as this. Thankfully, it seems the fragile Dealer was from the [Medium] difficulty, due to the absence of more skills, which the blind man could tell from the exchange of blows.


    And lastly, a mage, potentially aiding in secret, appeared preoccupied with Jenna.


    RUMBLE!


    FROST!


    The atmosphere grew eerily cold as [Mana Missiles] and pinkish [Mana Blasts] exploded, scattering shrapnel. Intense magic chants filled the air, a strategic dance to lower each other''s guard before facing the looming threat of the Titan Orc Lord. Amidst the chaos, Izel pondered whether the dealer was a decoy, a link to some hidden plan. Despite the uncertainty, he shook off the distraction, gripping his shortsword tightly. ''I need to finish this, regardless of any skills or items the guy is using.¡¯


    Taking a deep breath, he leaped towards the dealer, who responded in kind. The collision echoed with the thunder of metal meeting metal.


    CRASH!


    Dodging the latter''s horizontal slash, Izel countered with a barrage of arcs. However, with each arc redirected and evaded, he sensed the Dealer''s struggle, as if reaching his limit. Unyielding, the blind man pressed on.


    [Cloud Boots is on standby.]


    [Basic Swordsmanship is on standby.]


    His shortsword glowed, and the unpredictable movements of his shimmered [Cloud Boots] created a chaotic dance, reminiscent of a rookie hunter''s rough attacks.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°Hmm!¡± Something unpredictable and strange occurred. Through [Flawlation], four framed outlines appeared, and [Sound Reading] revealed each outline''s bodily responses with different reactions to the blind man¡¯s wild sword paths. Essentially, his body moved before his sword, which danced wildly.


    ¡®So it was a kind of prediction skill!¡¯ Izel murmured to himself, acknowledging the troublesome nature of the skill. He persisted in his actions.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 24 - Despair!

    CRASH!As they clashed strongly, Randell wondered if his opponent had discerned his ability, noticing a peculiar hesitation in his last stroke. ¡®That''s impossible,¡¯ he thought, despite the uncertainty and guilt thrust upon him by the Fortress and his party to partake in this seemingly futile match. Nevertheless, this dealer appeared genuinely intrigued by what this blind Walker could achieve¡ªa rarity on Eliluam or within the Fortress.


    ¡®Is he truly blind?¡¯ The dealer questioned his own thoughts, perplexed by Walker''s remarkably clean and swift maneuvers, defying expectations for someone without sight.


    RUMBLE!


    Slightly more than thirty minutes had passed since the battle erupted on all fronts, and a little over fifteen minutes since the blind Walker''s movement speed escalated. Amid the chaos, Kinsey''s once-fluid and sharp basic swordsmanship abruptly turned harsh, as though observing his novice self in combat. Stress engulfed his arm as he deftly parried two rough swings, his face showing a hint of annoyance. ''This... is really bothersome,'' he mused. Despite the increased difficulty in dodging, parrying with his Gear skill wasn''t overly challenging.


    [Gear skill ¡®Foresense¡¯(D) is on standby.]


    A specialized gear skill harmonizes with a unique ''Airpod,'' enabling the user to manifest the effects of frame prediction for any conduct their opponent performs. This information is directed by sound, making it an impressive ability. However, its demerits are too bothersome to elaborate on.


    [¡®Foresense (D)¡¯ analyzes the target.]


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ reads the paths.]


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ initiates frames.]


    As another harsh sword cleaved through the air toward him, the Airpod vibrated, injecting multiple frames into his mind: move, dodge, block, parry, and leap to counterattack.


    SLICE!


    Yet, the relentless sword attacks exhibited a strange fluidity, as if the blind Walker found loopholes in his ability. When the dealer moved left to dodge a wide arc, the latter¡¯s sword shifted mid-air to a vertical wide arc sideways. As Kinsey retreated to his initial position, the adversary executed dual horizontal slashes, aiming for his neck. Despite the challenge, the [Foresense] gear skill provided split-second predictions of the changes.


    However, a throbbing uncertainty lingered in the dealer''s shaken mind: ¡®Could this be bait?¡¯ Baiting, a tactic used by both Hunters and Walkers, involved purposely performing initial attacks and interchanging them at the last minute to exploit weaknesses. Randell Kinsey shook off the thought, fending off the interchanged horizontal magical slashes.


    His lips twisted at the power behind the attacks¡ªa force capable of ending him. Yet, the desire to survive this raid and lead his unfortunate party to the bitter end brimmed brightly in his heart.


    Randell Kinsey grappled with a desire that clashed with the weariness, trembling, and bruises consuming his body. The [Foresense] second effect, enhancing his reaction speed and flexibility, had carried him through the raid, drawing on four years of monster-hunting experience on Eliluam. Yet, as his vision blurred and he floundered, he sensed an undeniable demerit.


    His chest throbbed with the fear of death, urging him to consider an alternative to the fight. Should he attempt to convey with the blind Walker? But Randell swiftly dismissed the notion. The Fortress dictated the only path to survival: kill or be killed. Speaking to the enemy seemed inconceivable when the objective was clear ¨C eliminate the threat.


    A moment of self-doubt gripped Kendall, but he shook it off. The objective, Survival of the Fittest, aligned with the original goal. It was a task meant to be accomplished with one party standing victorious, leaving no room for alternatives. S?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    [¡®Foresense (D)¡¯ analyzes the target.]


    As Kinsey concluded his thought, he executed a counter-attack¡ªa potent vertical arc aimed at exploiting Blind Walker''s seeming tunnel vision. It served as a decoy, followed by a swift thrust of his longsword towards the latter''s chest.


    CLANK!


    Despite Walker''s appearance of tunnel vision, he agilely dodged the attack while effectively blocking the magical thrust. The conduct was sharp and fast, leaving the dealer momentarily stunned amidst the shrapnels and dust.


    In the blink of an eye, Blind Walker jumped clear, causing his sword to crash into the ground. Confusion swept across the dealer''s face. ''Where did he go? Did he disappear?'' For a split second, Walker''s black cloak shimmered, and he seemingly vanished.


    But, the dealer corrected his thoughts. The blind Walker hadn''t disappeared; he was moving faster than ever as if granted a temporary agility buff. And ¡­


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ reads the paths.]


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ initiates frames.]


    ¡­ from the faint frames relayed by [Forsense], all of his stats suddenly received a boost of at least 10 units. Could it be the mage secretly and temporarily augmenting his stats? His left eye subtly darted towards the mage, engaged in an increasingly intense battle.


    RUMBLE!


    BOOM!


    FROST!


    It wasn''t her; he shook his head definitively. Nor was it the demon. How did his stats experience this sudden surge? Before he could complete his thought, the latter''s sluggish sword movements veered toward him. The Dealer longsword glowed white, infused with mana, desperately parrying the unpredictably erratic sword paths like a frisbee. It then swiftly darted toward one of the potential frames [Forsense] relayed.


    Though risky to approach such an uncertain shadow, this might be the only way to halt the blind Walker in his tracks. The intention was clear: attempt to sever him from head to torso.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ reads the paths.]


    In a flash, the blind Walker, agile as an eel, skillfully evaded the wide swing of his Dealer. He extended and tensed his left calf, slyly balling his upper body mid-air to redirect the horizontal swing towards his jaw, crushing the soil with a powerful impact. Despite the lengthy explanation, this intricate exchange unfolded in an instant. Flustered by the blind Walker''s exceptional elasticity and seemingly trained reflexes, the dealer desperately flailed to strike him. However, the blind Walker''s reaction speed had surged to twice its initial rate, and the dealer struggled to land a significant blow.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    KLING, KLANG!


    SLASH!


    As each of them drew more arcs, attempting to catch each other off-guard, the dealer''s efforts were in vain; he still couldn''t land a sufficient attack on the Blind Walker, who moved like a slippery eel. Randall Kinsey''s shaken mind descended into chaos, making it challenging to counterattack. All he could do was struggle to dodge at a hair''s breadth.


    ''...This was actually a bait,'' he briefly pondered, reflecting on the change in the latter''s fighting style. He found it hard to believe such changes; there was absolutely no way he could actually see. Could he be feigning blindness? The thought crossed his mind that perhaps he utilized a gear skill to perceive and pinpoint loopholes in his ability. Moreover, he seemed to from the [Extreme] difficulty. Right. There was no way his fighting was straightforward; it was both clean and fast, too good to be true if he wasn''t.


    Kinsey gritted his teeth, battling the throbbing pain in his arms and the mounting exhaustion, steadily losing both mana and stamina in the ongoing fight. In this dire situation, a momentary lapse in his guard could result in the enemy''s sword piercing his neck at any second.


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ reads the paths.]


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ initiates frames.]


    ***CRASH! ***


    As they collided, two distinct hues of mana intertwined and dissipated into the air. The Blind Walker gasped for breath, revealing signs of exhaustion. Could the source of his stat buff be draining more mana than he can endure? As an experienced veteran, it doesn''t take much to discern the situation. His lips tremble, forming a sneer. In this critical moment, seizing the opportunity to wear him down and ultimately end his bleak life becomes imperative.


    Unaware of it, that''s exactly what the latter aimed for ¨C to highlight his flaws, subtly lowering his guard. In reality, the blind Walker grew weary, a fact he intentionally revealed, but gradually, allowing the dealer to catch on. Almost instantly, his [Cloud Boots] emitted a whitish-blue shimmer as mana surged through them. His speed momentarily surpassed his usual control.


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ initiates frames.]


    He vanished once more¡ªa swift, fleeting movement that prompted the dealer to shift his gaze. Though subtle, [Foresense] transmitted glimpses of numerous future frames behaving oddly in his direction. ''I must catch him redhanded,'' Kinsey resolved, determined to flip the situation entirely. Concentrating more profoundly than ever, he felt the skill range and prediction speed sharpen rapidly.


    [¡®Foresense (D)¡¯ analyzes the target.]


    [¡®Foresense(D) reads the paths.]


    The airpod vibrated faintly.


    [Mental fortitude is too low.]


    [Warming: Reduce your concentration!]


    As multiple predictions flooded his hippocampus simultaneously with quick, robust information, overwhelming the capacity of that brain region, he sensed a faint entity approaching. Before he could brace for its thrust...


    [¡®Foresense (D)¡¯ analyzes the target.]


    BU-DUMP!


    [Warning: Mental Fortitude is too low!]


    ¡­ his head shook, a phantom loophole conjured by his inability to contain such information. Tension coursed through him, yet he gritted his teeth against the onslaught of pain and distress as new bruises and wounds adorned his body. Struggling, he dodged each strike with precision, every frame etching itself in his mind. Blood splattered, the rough attacks becoming insurmountable. His eyes darted, desperately seeking accuracy amidst the different frames¡­


    [Warning: Mental Fortitude is too low!]


    The airpod vibrated vigorously.


    [Warming: Reduce your concentration!]


    A thrust, a swing¡ªhorizontal or vertical¡ªor an intersecting arc curve, even a cross-thrust, and a regular swing with a slash. Which one was real? Should he fend, leap, parry, or redirect? How could he evade them all and counterattack? As his mind juggled these thoughts, stress etched lines across his forehead, and veins throbbed. Blood seeped down his face, obscuring his vision in crimson. Unable to see, Kinsey stumbled backward as a hazy figure closed in, sword swiping toward him. "U-Uh¡­!" he stammered as the realization struck him, ¡®He wasn''t trying to bait me.¡¯


    Instead, he sought to adapt, pressuring his opponent to counterattack, while exploiting the flaws he displayed. A skilled Walker who had discovered the loophole earlier, he now realized his misconception. This adversary wasn''t one he could defeat outright; he was a ''sword'' honed with each clash, a relentless force. Could he be an experienced veteran like himself? No, his swordsmanship was too basic on Eliluam, yet strangely flawless, as if trained in it a thousand times. "Why do I have to face such [Extreme] difficulty, Walker?" He murmured to himself.


    His face wrinkled in confusion, bitterness, and regret. He couldn''t fathom why.


    [¡®Foresense (D)¡¯ analyzes the target.]


    [¡®Foresense(D)'' reads the paths.]


    [Warning: Mental Fortitude is too low!]


    Despite his blurry crimson vision and pounding head, he stood firm, attempting to block the thrust. Unfazed, he swung his longsword, only to find that his opponent had deftly altered both the attack and its trajectory, redirecting the collision.


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ initiates frames.]


    As a warm sensation enveloped his chest, his heartbeat raced rapidly, as if it might burst through. Another prediction from his [Foresense] intensified the throbbing in his head. "Ugh!" he groaned, following the frame to parry the next attack. The latter speed briefly surged, and ¡­


    RUMBLE!


    SWOOSH!


    ... the strike transformed into a potent thrust, as if certain this was the end. In reality, the dealer was at his limit; he could hardly see, with both his ear and head bleeding. His trembling arm had become as stiff as a boulder.


    [Warning: Mental Fortitude is too low!]


    [Warning: Mental Fortitude is too low!]


    [Warning: Mental Fortitude is too low!]


    [Error! Your mind had been overloaded!]


    [¡®Foresense(D)¡¯ had been forcibly deactivated.]


    SHUAK!


    The Blind Walker''s shortsword drilled the latter¡¯s heart, while, surprisingly, the dealer''s longsword hovered menacingly at the blind man''s neck. With a slight effort, it could sever his neck, leaving a thin red line in its wake.


    The boiling red airpod crumbled away, taking its wearer''s soul with it.


    In an instant, the entire hall froze. Blood oozed from Kinsey''s wide smile as he finally comprehended where it all went wrong. His regret was choosing the wrong difficulty, he fell onto his face. Lifeless.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Fights paused as everyone was shocked.


    The mage and assassin''s expressions froze for a moment, their gazes darting between the blind Walker, sword dripping with blood, and the fallen dealer. It was all too real, disbelief etched across their faces.


    ¡°W-wha¡­ this damn brat¡­¡± Killy Donahue''s disappointment was reflected in her eyes, lips curling in frustration.


    ¡°Wait, that bastard couldn''t even defeat a simple blind Walker?¡± Tessa Kendall gnashed her teeth, fury wrinkling her forehead. It was an unexpected outcome, tears of frustration rolling down her cheek.


    Both briefly pondered how the blind Walker had slain an experienced hunter so swiftly. The dealer may have been an ex-D-rank Hunter, but he usually posed a challenge for many Walkers¡ªunless his opponent was a [Hard] or [Extreme] difficulty Walker. If either was true, it wouldn''t be surprising for the Blind Walker to freakishly defeat a [Medium] difficulty Walker. With this realization, Killy and Tessa took deep breaths, aiming to strike the motionless Walker.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Noticing this, Daniel and Jenna, preemptively blocked any counterattacks amid the distraction, ensuring the motionless Walker went unharmed.


    Izel''s allies, shocked, briefly glanced at him before continuing with their fights. Yet, Jenna, for some reason, sensed something amiss with the blind man. Recalling their recent conversation¡ª.


    "Are you afraid?" she asked.


    "I don''t know," he replied.


    "You don''t know?"


    "I guess I will have to find out."


    His last response carried a hint of sadness, guilt, and hesitation to take a human life. Yet, it seemed he had somehow resolved himself, driven by ambition and a greater goal than mere survival. The mage gave a concise and uncertain reply.


    "I hope so."


    ¡­ Contrary to his thoughts, reality proved to be a relentless force. Jenna understood the profound impact such feelings could have on an innocent soul, much like what had once, happened to her.


    ¡°Khahahahaha¡­.¡± In the heart of it all, a chilling laughter echoed a sinister blend of amusement and anguish emanating from the motionless Walker. Horrified, his heart flashed the black outline of the dealer''s bloody smile. Izel, psychologically shaken, struggled to comprehend the gravity of his actions. He couldn''t fathom why the dealer would smile in the face of his impending demise. Through his [flawlation], his hands were stained crimson for the first time. This blood, unlike that of the monster, felt vivid and undeniably real.


    [Your ¡®Mind Barrier¡¯ is trembling. Calm your mind to regain yourself.]


    [''Soul Assimilation (E)'' has been activated.]


    [Bonus Effect (2): Capacitance Demerit has been activated.]


    [Your mental health is shaken.]


    [The stored essence is rampaging and seeking revenge.]


    As the merciless words echoed in his trembling mind, the unsettling discomfort of being engulfed by the souls of Titan Orcs began to seep into his consciousness. The haunting replay of taking down the hazy dealer played on a loop, relentlessly circling in his thoughts. Amidst the turmoil of shock, agony, and despair, he clutched his head in distress, struggling to escape the overwhelming onslaught.


    [Your mind has been inflicted by shock.]


    [Your mind has been inflicted by confusion.]


    As fear and confusion grip his mind, he starts to sink into a darkness even deeper than the abyss he once knew. Suddenly, a brilliant light cuts through the pitch-black void.


    [The Skill ''Anesthesia (D)'' has been activated.]


    [Your mind has been inflicted by grudges.]


    [All physical pain has been reduced by 20%]


    That''s not all.


    [Activating Skill: ¡®Hemostasis¡¯.]


    The feeble light struggled to pierce the profound darkness as the apparently lifeless dealer''s hollow, smiling face spoke accusingly, "WHY DID YOU KILL ME? WHY?!"


    The resentful voice resonated in his mind.


    [Your ¡®Mind barrier¡¯ has been broken.]


    [The Skill: Hemostasis had been forcibly deactivated.]


    [The skill ''Anesthesia (D)'' had been forcibly deactivated.]


    BU-DUMP!


    Izel trembled intensely; his two skills failed to keep him cognizant. Overwhelming fear and guilt for the murder overshadowed his consciousness.


    [Your mind has been inflicted with fear.]


    [The host''s mental health has been corrupted.]


    [The transmuted souls have rapidly swarmed into the host''s mind.]


    [Your mind has been inflicted with panic.]


    As the colossal storm raged on, the blind man found his mind suddenly engulfed in a sea of indefiniteness. The drowned-out sound of the ground rumbling echoed around him. Izel could sense voices in his mind¡ªa thousand, no, ten thousand eyes and teeth tensing his neck. He clenched his teeth, took a deep breath, and attempted to endure and persevere against this abnormality, but to no avail.


    [The transmuted souls stared at your soul.]


    The eerie rage of ten thousand eyes and teeth wasn''t visible to others, only to him. Malicious gazes zoomed deeply into his soul, as if questioning----.


    ¡°WHY! WHY! WHY! WHY!¡±


    ¡°WHY! WHY! WHY! WHY!¡±


    ¡°WHY! WHY! WHY! WHY!¡±


    Amid a dense and intense exclamation, a force that could drive a soul insane, they relentlessly probed his mind, seeking answers. Tears trickled down from beneath his blindfold. He recognized them and understood that these eerie gazes and fangs were mere illusory manifestations of the Titan Orcs'' deep-seated resentment and grudge. Throughout, he keenly sensed the emotions embedded in their terrifying conduct.


    [Warming: Your mind is in a severe state of shock, panic, despair, and distress! There is a chance that your mental state might be damaged beyond repair.]


    [The Resentful souls bared their fangs.]


    The warning was drowned out as their mouths slowly opened. With a strangely strong yet trembling mental fortitude, Izel''s quivering mouth finally uttered, "I-I''m sorry!"


    ¡°SORRY, SORRY, SORRY???¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, it wasn¡¯t my fault. I-I just have to do it to survive.¡±


    ¡°SURVIVE? SURVIVE? SURVIVE?¡±


    "Yes," the blind man replied shiveringly; his nose was dribbling, and his hunched shoulders betrayed a lack of confidence that had once defined him.


    ¡°BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!¡±


    It was then, that Izel''s torment intensified as he began sweating buckets, feeling overwhelming tension in his heart. While familiar with bloodlust and distress, this experience was different¡ªa drowning sensation in a bottomless pit of death. The bloodlust stirred inner traumas, unlocking terrified memories that overloaded his mind. Flashbacks of his past experiences rapidly played out, weakening his legs until they gave way, causing him to plunge to the ground. In the midst of this, the tenth-thousandth mouth fully opened, revealing its venomous fangs and teeth.


    [The Resentful Souls lick your Soul.]


    ¡°DEVOUR-DEVOUR-RED YOU-YOU WHOLE-WHOLE-WHOLE!¡±


    A sinister sound echoed, sending shivers down his spine. An unsettling sensation, as if unseen entities were probing his mind with elongated tongues, coursed through him. This dreaded day had been foreseen ever since he acquired the [Capacitance] demerit. However, the realization dawned too soon. Overlooking the critical mistake of not being able to enhance his stats with stored essences, he now deeply regretted his oversight.


    [Warming: Your mind has been corrupted.]


    [Warming: Your mind has been corrupted.]


    [Warming: Your mind has been corrupted.]


    [Warming: Your mind has been corrupted.]


    The hand wielding his shortsword quivered ever so slightly, and his weapons fell. He couldn''t breathe, and ...


    THUD!


    ... then the tenth-thousand mouth closed. A sharp impact was felt at the back of his head. He briefly recalled what Jenna had asked him at the beginning of this battle.


    "Are you afraid?"


    The blind man finally understood what it meant.''Yes, I''m scared... I''m really...'' His consciousness collapsed.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    Izel fell to the ground near the fallen dealer.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Daniel and Jenna were visibly shaken, their widened eyes reflecting disbelief.


    ¡°Big¡­ Bro¡­ Izel.¡± The young demon''s confusion echoed.


    ¡°Izel¡­!¡± Jenna''s yell conveyed her fear; this was exactly what she dreaded. The outcome was unfavorable. ''Damnit!''


    Time remaining: 1 hour, 30 minutes.


    Only forty minutes had elapsed, yet a complex event had unfolded, leaving an air of uncertainty.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 25 - Partymates

    Witnessing the spectacle, Tessa quivered with delight and whispered, "It appears that damned dealer managed to inflict some damage this time.¡±Though she hadn''t anticipated this turn of events when the dealer fell, it presented a golden opportunity to catch the mage off guard ¨C a chance she couldn''t afford to squander. Without a chant, but merely a flick of her finger, a faint, intertwined crack formed on the ground. A sharp wooden tentacle then emerged, looming towards Jenna''s back¡ªor at least, that''s what it seemed like.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    As it approached its target at breakneck speed, Jenna exerted all her strength to swiftly deploy a robust barrier forward.


    CRASH!


    [¡®Tier Two Barrier¡¯ combats against Tier Three ¡®Earth Stem Root¡¯.]


    [¡®Monarch of Mana¡¯ is resisting Earthly Mana.]


    [¡®Vega Robe¡® is resisting Earthly Mana.]


    FWOOSH, FWOOSH!


    The [Monarch of Mana] skill effortlessly supported, controlled, ruled and dominated mana. However, its proficiency fell short when attempting to manipulate the dense [Earthly Mana], also referred to as ''World Tree energy,'' emanating from the wooden log tentacle with a sheer (S) rank.


    [You have failed to resist Earthly Mana.]


    [The ¡®Tier Two Barrier¡¯ had shattered.]


    SIZZLE!


    The barrier shattered, and a sharp, log-like tentacle pierced Jenna''s robe. Though it couldn''t puncture through, the intense burning pain from the impact gripped her. Surviving the attack, Jenna realized, ¡®Ugh! Perhaps some extra vests from my inventory would have helped.¡¯


    She wondered how different it could have been if she had layered vests under her robe. Despite feeling a bit distressed and heavier, she might have had better resistance to physical attacks. ¡®Well, no use wondering about it now,¡¯ she decided, choosing not to dwell on what could have been.


    FWOOSH!-CRACK!


    Tessa''s next attack was already incoming, hurtling toward Jenna. The wooden log-like tentacles, resembling waves, enclosed Jenna from the ground. They appeared more like swarms of log-like snakes than actual wood. Tessa couldn''t summon the ''world tree trunk'' in the Fortress of Dungeons due to a recent reset on her former powers. However, High Walkers with mage-related traits and considerable growth might still have that ability.


    WHIRR, WHIRRRR!


    ¡®I can¡¯t seem to catch a break.¡¯ Jenna, grappling with a relentless onslaught, briefly pondered her situation. Despite her significantly diminished mana in this intense battle, she conjured twelve Mana Blasts¡ªslightly fewer than usual, yet a testament to her substantial mana reservoir and unwavering concentration. With a determined signal, she unleashed their formidable power upon her adversary


    BOOM!


    Consecutive explosions reverberated as each [Mana Blast] extended, colliding with crashing tentacles. However, their impact merely lessened the overall force.


    WHOOSH!


    BAM!


    Wave-like tentacles thrust forward, crashing into Jenna. She strained to shield herself with a [Tier three Barrier], leagues beyond the [Tier two Barrier]. The robust shield resisted both [Earthly Mana] and the reinforced [Vega] robe. S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    [¡®Tier Three Barrier crashes with Earthly Mana.]


    [¡®Tier Three Barrier¡¯ is resisting Earthly Mana.]


    [¡®Vega Robe¡¯ crashes with Earthly Mana.]


    [¡®Vega Robe¡¯ is resisting Earthly Mana.]


    [You have failed to resist Earthly Mana.]


    [The ¡®Tier Three Barrier¡¯ had been broken.]


    As a barrage of messages inundated Jenna, a corrosive surge of negative energy seemed to infiltrate her body, manifesting as leafy veins and weakening her legs, causing a wobbly dance reminiscent of a withered tree swaying in the wind. Soon, her Vega robe shimmered, exchanging stamina for healing effects. Despite its remarkable properties, the process of dispelling the corrosive Earthly Mana took time, especially given the formidable presence of an experienced veteran of earthly mana.


    SPARK! CRACKLE!


    Yellow currents and green pigment danced across Tessa''s body, highlighting the drawbacks of certain skills like [Earth stem roots]. Her mana dwindled steadily, and despite severe exhaustion, she fought to remain standing.


    ''I need to go all out,'' Jenna thought. ''But if I do that, what will I use to defeat the Titan Orcs?'' Contradictory thoughts echoed, as she clung to hope in the relentless battle for survival.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She blinked for a split second, convinced of ample distance from Tessa. Suddenly, around Tessa, a multitude of ice icicles and mana blasts, nearly a hundred in number, materialized, resembling swords and bullets aiming in all directions. With a finger signal, Tessa vanished as the bombardment commenced.


    CRACK!


    Tessa, creating a glacier against the onslaught, briefly felt the shock of the powerful attacks. Before she could reinforce the wall¡­


    WHAM!


    In an instant, Tessa closed the gap between them. The base of her staff struck into the green-haired mage''s chest.


    WHA¨CWHACK!


    Jenna, baffled, felt her ribs breaking. ''Teleportation?'' No, something akin. Unfortunately, that wasn''t the end.


    KA-BOOM!


    With a murmur of "Explosion," a spark blast erupted at the staff''s base. A familiar chant to the green-haired mage propelled her into the air.


    WHOOSH! CRASH!


    Her body soared through the air, colliding with the wall. The rigid structure crumbled, burying Jenna beneath the rubble of the Nanzahemir main hall''s opposite wall.


    ¡°Cough!¡±


    Pieces of the cracked wall trickled down, landing on Jenna¡¯s head. ¡°Ugh!¡± She dusted her robe and attempted to move, but the throbbing pain in her chest forced her to lay back down.


    ¡®Maybe I underestimated her too much,¡¯ she briefly pondered. The blue-haired mage might have honed her skills in the Fortress, surpassing her Eliluam abilities. Jenna realized that despite the extreme exhaustion and demerits, her opponent could still surprise her and catch her off-guard. While plagued with these challenges, the green-haired mage wasn''t an adversary Jenna could defeat without going all-out. She had assumed the other mage, burdened by exhaustion and demerits, would be the first to succumb. However, facing the [Extreme] difficulty, Jenna now realized it wouldn''t be as straightforward as she initially thought.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ [Heal].¡±


    While Jenna lay flatly, grunting in pain, she chanted, and her body shimmered faintly, healing her broken ribs. Simultaneously, her [Vega] robe activated other healing effects, concluding the healing process in exchange for stamina. It was all possible due to the additional proficiency of her skill [Monarch of Mana], gained from defeating many Titan Orcs.


    Time left: 1 hour, 45 minutes.


    Jenna thought about the upcoming fight. ¡®Just that, huh?¡¯ she mused, envisioning the rest of the battle in her head. ''For me to endure that...'' Recognizing the strength and craftiness of the blue-haired mage, she knew some tweaking would be necessary for victory. Jenna took a deep breath, surveying her surroundings, her fist quickening. ''Father, I''ll prove my worth today,'' she vowed, striving for success.


    The crash had filled the air with clouds of dust, making it difficult for her opponent to spot her. Jenna seized this advantage, deciding to prepare for the adjustments she had in mind. She smiled as she slowly sat in a lotus form, staff on her lap.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    VZZZT!


    More currents and green pigment sprayed around Tessa''s trembling body, a result of the overutilization of [Earth stem Root] and a single usage of [Mana Warp]. The intense pressure relentlessly cracks through her body, forcing her to grit her teeth in an attempt to endure the bone-crushing sensation. As the demerit subsides slightly, her knees give in, and she flops onto the floor.


    "Kegh!" Tessa vomits clotted blood; evidently, some organs have burst.


    "Blegh¡ª" More crimson flesh spouts out as she coughs violently, unable to keep her mouth closed. ''So... this is what being overwhelmed with demerits is like,'' she thought. Tessa had never pushed herself beyond her limits or properly experienced being engulfed with two or more demerits until this raid. Even when she did encounter one or two, the experiences were neither too prolonged nor as intense, leaving her with no previous fear of demerits.


    [XXX: Demerit? This disgusting feature can kill you.]


    [XXX: Those bad karma activated unexpectedly¡­ I almost died.]


    [XXX: Damnit, I hate that fucking feature; I don''t understand why that admin created such an impulsive ¡®equivalent exchange¡¯.]


    [XXX: Every time that ¡®Shit¡¯ activated, I feel my insides are going to burst out. I don¡¯t want to be a Walker anymore.]


    This was what she often saw on the forum after raids, but ...


    [XXX: According to a High-Walker, this demerit existed because of the difference in skill, amazing effect, power, and capabilities. So it acts as a limiter.]


    ¡­ she struggled to grasp the essence of ''equivalent exchange'' that left even seasoned veterans in awe and frustration. ''Limiter, my ass!'' Tessa cursed silently, the realization hitting her after a firsthand encounter.


    ''I can actually die,'' she acknowledged, recognizing the stark contrast from the ''will of Eliluam'' she had once encountered. Tessa attempted to articulate the sensation, uttering a single word¡ª.


    "Desire.¡±


    As the feeling of her existence teetered on the brink, a profound force surged within Tessa, emanating from the Fortress of Dungeons. It harbored a desire to curtail any Walker from exceeding its intended limits. This epiphany startled her. Initially viewing the Fortress as a mere alternate world to gain stats and skills at the cost of burdens, she now discovered it possessed its own consciousness and desire to regulate power beyond designated levels. It was an unexpected revelation.


    "But with this, all I need to do is eliminate that blind Walker¡­¡±


    Upon her command, formidable [Mana Blasts] and [Fireballs] materialized, swirling around her and converging on the unconscious blind Walker.


    SWHOOSH!


    An unusual yet steering voice cut through the air. "I can''t let you do that."


    SLAM!


    A gray figure leaped in, intercepting the impending [Fireballs] and [Mana Blasts] with a conspicuously large shield, and a rush of hot air swept past him.


    "¡­!¡±


    "¡­!¡±


    Tessa and Killy exchanged furious glares, realizing that the potent attacks capable of ending the battle had been abruptly halted.


    The audacious individual who risked himself amid the assault to protect a comrade was ¡­


    FWOOSH!


    ... none other than Daniel Lan. Northwestern, the first son of one of the ancient demon lords of the demon race.


    "... You demon bastard.¡±


    "What reasons does such a wretched demon have for protecting a human?¡±


    An attractive man with raven-black, shoulder-length hair, and cobalt-like eyes stood before her. His elegant and carefree radiance set him apart from other demons. Tessa recognized the face, recalling the dangerous and superior origin of the first descendant of the main progenitor in the last great war and one of the famous ancient demon lords¡ªascender Gabrillius Northwestern, the guildmaster of the renowned guild [Reaper] -- Daniel Lan Northwestern, was now standing in front of her, protecting a human.


    At first glance, she couldn''t discern him due to different characteristics and wear, but the oddly dense [Demonic energy] orbiting around him hinted at his entrance into the Fortress. Tessa wondered how she had missed such a significant detail. ''Is he really alright in the head?'' she briefly pondered. Her face relaxed, and she couldn''t bring herself to care about why a royal demon would protect a blind human.


    Of course, rationality dictated protecting a party member during a risky raid, as Beelzebub had said. However, a royal demon shouldn''t be bothered by such trivial reasons to save a mere human. The situation was strange and unusual.


    Focused on the fallen Walker, Tessa sighed, "Ha, Sir Daniel.¡±


    Her nonchalant response prompted Killy Douchue, who was not fully tense and unaware, to ask, "Do you know him, Tessa?"


    "Daniel Lan, Northwestern. The royal demon outcast who mysteriously disappeared," the blue-haired mage responded.


    "Disappeared? What the hell are you talking about?!" Daniel vehemently opposed her statement, unable to fathom the inaccuracy. He had severed all ties with his family, descended to the First District, and only later received an invitation from the Fortress. How could he be labeled a ''missing royal demon''? The frustration was so intense; that he felt on the verge of tears.


    "No," the mage shook her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Surprisingly accurate," she added, detecting the fishiness in her expression.


    "That''s absurd!" The young demon clicked his tongue, his [Demonic energy] tense around him.


    "Absurd? Whatever. What I''m suggesting is that all your formidable stats, skills, and traits have been reset now," she continued, her eyes overlaid with mana to assess his strength. "From what I can see, you seem to be from the [Medium] difficulty." Her fishy smile widened.


    Daniel¡¯s ears twitched in annoyance.


    "It appears my guess is correct!" Tessa''s response caused Killy to ease her guard slightly.


    "I was concerned for a moment, thinking he possessed some inherent [Strength] and [Demonic energy]. Hahaha," the assassin chuckled lightly. "Hey, grey kid! What made you think you could interrupt that attack when facing me? Well, I guess I haven¡¯t been taking our fight seriously." It wasn''t entirely truthful, yet not an outright lie.


    Daniel''s annoyance gradually escalated to anger, his [Demonic energy] orbiting around him growing.


    Instantly, the atmosphere shifted to mockery. Discovering that the greenhorn, a royal demon, was a [Medium] difficulty Walker and that all his abilities had been reset prompted Tessa and Killy to laugh and taunt him.


    ¡®There¡¯s nothing that he can do by himself.'' The blue-haired mage pondered briefly, acknowledging that despite the impressive performance on Eliluam, surviving this raid alone was a feat comparable to Randell Kinsey, likely earning him at least a C-rank Hunter status by Eliluam standards. Unfazed by the presence of Tessa and Killy, who held little fear for the young demon, a lingering tension remained.


    ¡°... What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Killy questioned, interrupting the mockery.


    Despite the taunting, Daniel appeared composed, channeling his anger into the slow orbiting and charging of dark energy. Encircled by two [Extreme] difficulty Walkers, including an unstable one with two bothersome fighting styles and job-related traits, he stood dependable next to the fallen Izel.


    Killy considered Daniel''s actions, on the verge of voicing her thoughts, but Tessa beat her to it. ¡°Are you planning on standing there and protecting that human until he awakens?¡± Tessa inquired.


    The young demon remained silent, his fist tightly gripping his weapon as wrinkles formed on his arms. He directed his finger toward the clearing dust in the distance, where Jenna had previously landed. The unspoken tension lingered in the air.


    BOOM!


    From within the collapsed wall, rubble erupted, and a cloud of dust fanned out. Jenna emerged from the mess, holding her staff.


    A fire reignited in Killy¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I thought you had killed her¡­?¡± Killy asked, confused.


    ¡°I thought so too.¡±


    ¡°Thought so?¡± Killy retorted.


    ¡°It seems I underestimated her.¡± Tessa shook her head. She never imagined this mage was actually this tenacious, even after enduring two hefty demerits to inflict damage. Perhaps the mage could be a hotcake on Eliluam before her stats, ability, and trait were reset.


    CRACKLE!


    The green-haired mage¡¯s feet majestically continued walking as the dust dissipated.


    ¡°She¡¯s¡­¡± Tessa trailed off.


    VZZT!


    FROST!


    The orb on her staff gleamed with a white glow, and suddenly, the surroundings became chilly, fanning around tendrils of crystal frost. It was as though she had converted the neutral attribute of the large pool of mana into the rare and uncommon ''Tier seven'' ice attribute, endlessly overflowing.


    ¡°¡­ Chilling,¡± the blue-haired mage concluded.


    The wall she had previously landed on collapsed, revealing its shabby state and exposing the barrier placed by the Fortress. Jenna took an off-guard attack from Tessa, sending her flying into the wall. Within the rubble and knocked-up clouds of dirt and dust, she decided to go all-out in a different way, attempting [Mana Conversion] on her remaining mana to a certain (-3) degree Celsius of that of her father¡­ Indeed, it was a more refined [ice] attribute than her father''s, or at least that''s how it seemed.


    "What do you mean ''chilling,'' Tessa?" Killy asked, confused by her words. Annoyance wrinkled the assassin''s face as her eyes darted between Tessa, Jenna, and Daniel amidst the chaotic mess in the hall. She had wanted to end this lengthy raid, return to Eliluam, and learn the [String Deviative Daggers], but everything seemed to be falling apart. A partymate was killed, and now this¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill her again; there''s no reason to be afraid of her,¡± Tessa assured. ¡°This suffocating refined [Ice] is a special case, and it seems her tenacious body wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it, though her mana had changed¡ª¡±


    ¡°Whatever¡­¡± Killy cut her off. Her patience finally hitting its limit, she took a deep breath and retorted to the blue-haired mage. ¡°You look very tired and exhausted, Tessa. Just end it here. Randell is already dead.¡±


    Tessa nodded, redirecting her focus to the approaching mage, shrouded in tendrils of permafrost. ¡°But their party mate is down as well.¡±


    ¡°Nonetheless, go all out and..." Killy insisted, her words trailing off due to the strange event that followed. Amid the freezing blizzard enveloping the hall, Jenna, who was walking from the pile of rubble a moment ago, had disappeared.


    ¡®Where did she go¡­?¡¯ Tessa coated her airy robe in mana to shield herself from the intense cold suffocating her. With that done, she conjured a cube-like barrier strengthened with [Earthly Mana].


    FR-FROOST! CR-CRACK!


    A loud collision of permafrost with an obstacle echoed from Tessa''s direction. Surprised, Killy protected herself from the icy wave combusting about. Daniel blocked the diffused icy shrapnel with his shield, shielding his fallen comrade and himself. ¡®So Cold!¡¯


    ¡°Kugh¡­! Ahhhh!¡± Tessa spouted in agony.


    WHAM, CRASH!


    Sharpenels mixed with icy snow storms erupted, instantly plunging the battlefield into chaos once more. [Ice Thorns], one of the most lethal ice attack skills that Jenna Rivel Callen possessed, caused the turmoil, albeit with hefty aftereffects.


    ¡°Annoying bug!¡± the green-haired mage shouted with fighting spirit, tightly gripping her rising staff.


    The significant barrage of [Ice Thorns] colliding with Tessa¡¯s [Tier Six Barrier] intertwined magical circuits. In response¡­


    SHISH!


    Tessa, gritting her teeth and coughing up blood, channeled [Earthly Mana] into the cube-like barrier, conjuring three protective magic circuits overlapping each other. "I won''t go down so easily, you disrespectful brat!¡±


    THWACK! WHIRR!


    As [Ice Thorns] clashed with [Tier Six Barrier], [Earthly Mana], and [magic circuits], they unleashed more ice storms and potent permafrost, capable of freezing the entire hall. The resounding clash echoed through the hall, ringing in everyone''s ears.


    Amidst the relentless ice waves, white currents crackled around Jenna, and yellow currents with green pigment sprayed, pressuring the blue-haired mage. Undeterred as blood seeped at the corner of her lips, Tessa summoned [Mana Blasts] and, this time, unleashed [Heatwaves], attempting to counter the drastic temperature change.


    RUMBLE!


    The storm, a fusion of ice and heat, persisted.


    ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª


    "Shall we continue our death match?" Killy, who had nothing to lose anymore, stared back at the young demon. The raid had already been lost for them.


    Daniel didn¡¯t utter a single word.


    Taking that as a yes, Killy could feel dense tendrils of dark energy dancing around his body. It must be the demonic energy she had heard about¡ªthe sinister force of demons. She took a deep breath, feeling the ominous aura, and adjusted her daggers from a reverse grip to a normal position. The most shocking part is that she intends to go all out this time around.


    "What are you waiting for?" Killy asked, raising one of her daggers and pointing at Daniel. "Bring it all, and I¡¯ll fight you at full power.¡±


    It was a provocation to the royal demon, whose mind was in turmoil; his body shook with temporary thoughts, urging him to regain his irrationality. ''I have to calm down; the fight isn¡¯t over. I¡¯ll protect Big Bro Izel and kill this human in full strength,'' he decided. After all, the other party had nothing to lose but to fight to the bitter end. Any more contemplation could put his life at risk. The young demon¡¯s feet parted the ground, currently wielding his axe and greatsword, and threw himself into battle toward the assassin in full power. His body shot out like a rocket as air dashed across his face.


    "Getting serious, huh? I like that!" The assassin burst out in full battle mode against the demon, unlike before.


    KA-BOOM!


    SWOOSH!


    Hot and violent air started blasting past them, trembling the already freezing-cold atmosphere. Killy couldn¡¯t help but gnash her teeth at the tension throbbing in her heart as they crashed. Two energies of entirely different attributes and characteristics diffused, causing the ground to erupt.


    Amid the chaos, Daniel sidelong peeked, resisting the knockback from the collision, preventing him from getting close to Izel.


    RUMBLE!


    FSHHH!


    After enduring the powerful blast and its aftershock, Daniel emitted a slight groan but pressed on. Possessing innate strength and infused with Demonic energy, in addition to his recently acquired title, he faced an opponent who proved to be an experienced veteran.


    [Demonic Power Charge: 82.549%]


    A bubbling power that required proper charging before use, and it wasn''t fully charged yet.


    He tilted his head, narrowly dodging a swift swing from the cunning assassin. His heart thundered, body heating up as he gripped his greatsword against the other''s dagger. The insufficient [Demonic charge] left him exposed, both physically and emotionally, but his confidence stemmed from other qualities.


    With a resolve to protect and counter, he swung his greatsword in large arcs, deflecting chained dagger attacks. The poisoned axe moved horizontally and vertically, blocking any stealthily thrown decoys. As the battle continued, the assassin vanished into the wind, and then, a sudden


    SWISH!


    Two daggers, empowered in both [Strength], [Constitution] and [Mana], darted towards Daniel. His heightened senses signaled the danger, making his heart race. A broad smile crossed his face, the sudden excitement jamming his mind. Pouring [Demonic Anti-magic] onto his arms, they morphed considerably, combining innate abilities with [Strength] and [Constitution]. The large sword in his right hand and the axe in his left traced the path of the approaching daggers.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    The defined attack sent shivers down Daniel¡¯s spine. The joy he felt intensified, making his blood rush.


    "Nice...!" The assassin marveled at the latter''s endeavor. Her voice echoed from the invisible realm, intending to trap him and restrict his mobility before executing her plan. For this to happen, the young demon had to either block or parry the strengthened magical daggers, making the activation of her highest proficiency, the [Ultimate skill], efficient. If her [Ultimate skill] triggered as per its conditions, it would imprison an ''A-rank angel hunter'' for two minutes with a critical hit. Against a royal demon, perhaps just a minute. ''Just keep on, grey bastard! Keep on!'' She assured herself.


    SWISH!


    Unbeknownst to her plan, Daniel, who despised thinking too much because it was too bothersome and he was carefree, decided to deflect the heavy attack. In that case, he slightly raised the axe and slammed the tip of the first dagger against his chest. In a smooth motion, he also parried the other dagger approaching his neck. The young demon almost let out a howl of victory as the sound of metal hitting metal resounded, diffusing dense mana into the cold atmosphere.


    RUMBLE!


    He really did it. With a delighted grin, he closed in on the assassin, who finally re-emerged, focusing fully on him as though her plan had worked perfectly.


    SWOOSH!


    CRACKLE!


    Out of thin air, by the cold murmur of Killy, "Ghost Restraints!" Glowing yet discreet chains loomed toward the young demon''s legs, weapons, and arms. Daniel''s body froze amid his onslaught, a confused expression filling his face as certain messages appeared in front of his retinas¡­


    [Due to the effect of the Ghost Chains, all effects, titles, and skills of the user are halted. Your mobility is restricted for 1 minute.]


    [Break free from the restriction to release your ''mobility'' and skills back to normal.]


    Soon enough, the invisible chains tightly gripped his movements.

 Vol. 1 - Ch. 26 - Unshakeable Choices

    Amid escalating tension that firmly tightened his whole being, the young demon sensed something was amiss as a notification flashed before his retinas. ''An ultimate skill, huh?'' he mused briefly. While it served as a mobility constraint with a one-minute limit, the crux lay in the fact that during that brief span, all his stats, skills, and titles were frozen. Essentially, any futile effort would prove inefficient. This trump card posed a significant challenge for a royal demon who favored carefreeness over critical thinking in combat.Of course, Daniel was certain; she had planned this scenario for a while now.


    "I never thought you would utilize such a cowardly way, human!''" he asked indifferently, as though her plan was worthy of applause, and he expected this much from a bud.


    "Shut up, grey bastard! You¡¯re the dumb one for attacking me without thinking!" The assassin retorted.


    "Ah," Daniel sighed. "For your information, a royal demon doesn¡¯t think too much and just lunges at the enemy.¡±


    For a moment, Killy was dumbfounded. Just who is this guy? Is he ''really'' a royal demon? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. Killy shook her head. ''A dead demon, don¡¯t speak!'' She sneered as she maliciously spoke. ¡°Dumb demon bastard, say whatever you like; you shall meet your end for your overconfidence.¡±


    With those words, Killy pointed her daggers at him, emitting a conspicuous aura of bloodlust. The black, sharp daggers reflected the level-headed young demon. It was obvious he was just babbling, and the dragon-tooth weapon would pierce straight through him effortlessly, with a difference in [Strength] and [Constitution] between him and her. Even with the newly acquired title, it wouldn''t be enough to reduce the large gap between him and her. So the only thing he could do was utilize his innate strength and the demonic energy that resides within his soul. He certainly knew that without a ¡®vessel,¡¯ it would be painful to call upon the power. ''But I have no other option!'' Plus, the quality would be at its lowest. ''Well, that¡¯s good enough!'' Daniel hastily decided. With that, the young demon pulled every fiber of his being and called forth his inherent powers within him.


    The assassin vanished into the wind, fluttering away.


    WHOOSH!


    Both daggers pierced through the empty void toward the young demon, Daniel.


    ''Come on¡­'' Daniel, pressed for time, unable to use the system as a ¡®vessel¡¯ to call forth his inner power, making the awakening process slower than usual.


    PHING!


    Sparks unfolded between the cold air and violently hot daggers as Daniel persistently called forth, eyes vividly opened, squirming his inner being slowly. His senses reflected the approaching daggers. ''8 seconds, 7 seconds, 6 seconds.'' Time seemed to freeze as the innate [Strength] and [Demonic Energy] slightly awakened. Dark tendrils coiled on every fiber of Daniel¡¯s muscles as they morphed. ''5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds...'' The young demon, unafraid of death, relaxed his body, charging his innate power through every nook and cranny of his internals.


    ¡°Argh¡­¡± He groaned as the dark energy snaked in different directions. At the side of his left retina, the lavender interface glitched into existence.


    [Demonic Power Charge: 95.549%]


    It was a bubbling power that needed proper charging to be utilized, but this time, it reached the threshold instantly.


    Despite the lengthy explanation, everything unfolded in an instant. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    CLACK! SWOOSH!


    His significantly morphed body jerked suddenly, contorting as it fell backward and sideways, skillfully avoiding the two lethal daggers. The attacks missed him by a hair''s breadth, slicing through space. Two red, sizzling lines materialized across his neck, and blood seeped out. Although the previous notification hinted at 30 seconds remaining, the timer''s countdown revealed an automatic weakening of the constraint. It was an evident flaw that any seasoned veteran would promptly notice and exploit.


    As scorching, violent air diffused into the surroundings ¡­


    "What?" The assassin experienced a brief shock, but since the demon remained bound by her ultimate skill, she dismissed that futile effort as a mere coincidence. Her daggers missed the target by chance. After all, if a royal demon were to die so easily without a bit of a meaningless struggle, it would be boring. She was determined not to miss this time, ensuring that the encounter carried the expected intensity.


    ¡­ Killy readied herself once more, infusing her daggers with crackling mana. She aimed to slice through the demon''s gray neck, ensuring his demise.


    ¡°...!¡±


    Daniel tensed as he felt the crafty bud reappear at his rear. The glitching notification on the side of his retina flashed the remaining time, but the pressure from the invisible constraint was no joke. Despite tendrils of innate [Demonic Energy] coiling around each invisible chain to lighten the burden, it still felt like a thousand pounds of iron bars on his arms and limbs. ''No wonder she was so confident in her plan,'' he thought begrudgingly, acknowledging the assassin''s cunning. If not for his hidden cards¡ªinnate powers immune to the fortress''s reset¡ªhis head would be carved off his neck. He sighed, recognizing why royal demons were revered as the pinnacle of the demon district.


    WHOAH!!!!!


    The icy air crackled with sizzling and suffocating mana as the assassin unleashed rapid attacks. Despite the precision of her dagger thrusts, the young demon, constrained by ghostly chains, narrowly evaded each assault, blood spurting from fresh wounds.


    "What the hell is happening?" she exclaimed, the realization that this wasn''t a mere coincidence racing through her mind. Killy struggled to comprehend the situation. Having narrowly dodged her previous attack, he appeared to be biding his time, gradually exploiting a hidden flaw in her ultimate skill.


    "No!" she shouted in disbelief as the unsettling truth sank in. Her ultimate skill, once believed invincible, was gradually unraveling. The assassin, intent on claiming Daniel''s head, found herself spouting nonsense in the face of this unexpected turn of events. The cold air hung heavy with tension as the battle unfolded, each move and countermove revealing the intricacies of their deadly dance.


    [20 seconds are over!! All restrictions on your ¡®mobility¡¯ and skills had returned to normal.]


    SCATTER!


    With enough force from his innate [Strength], the ghostly chains tightened around Daniel''s limbs, weapons, and arms, shattering and crumbling into pieces.


    Her eyes widened in disbelief, "Wh-Wait! L-let''s talk! I-I didn''t do it on purpose!¡±


    ¡°What? You didn¡¯t do what on purpose?¡± Daniel angrily retorted, raising and swinging his poisoned axe vertically. It collided with the assassin¡¯s left dagger, empowered by her [Strength]. The sharp attack expanded the already-made crack on the weapon. Another strike dashed through the cold air horizontally, worsening the crack and scattering it into pieces. A smile curled up the young demon¡¯s lips as he deftly deflected the right dagger attack with his greatsword. Maliciously closing the gaps between them, the assassin fumbled and disappeared in an instant.


    "¡­!¡±


    With his stats, effects, title, and skills returning to normal, [Demonic anti-magic] and [Demonic energy] stat glowed on his greatsword, making a wide, powerful arc.


    SLASH!


    A strange warmth enveloped Killy¡¯s feet as her field of vision slowly tilted downward. It was the intense attack that prevented her from completely disappearing into the wind. ¡°Ahhhhhhh!¡± The assassin screamed in agony and terror, her feet cut off. Blood squirted as her heart pulsated. Without feet for support, she fell to the ground, attempting to crawl forward with her arms.


    ¡°Uh, ugh¡­¡±


    SLASH!


    ¡°Ahhhhhhh!¡±


    Simultaneously, the latter''s greatsword swiftly carved out her right arm, which held one of her dark dragon-tooth daggers. Glancing back, she confronted the hazy, terrifying shadow enveloping her¡ªan ominous young demon with a malicious grin and bloodshot eyes.


    "F-fuck¡­ A-Argh! Y-you piece of shit!" Killy cursed, tears streaming down her face, sweat mixing with blood splattering around. The immediate loss of excess blood and the echoing pulsation of her body clouded her vision. Her foggy eyes could only project the grey figure of calamity, becoming half-clearer as he approached. He wore a smile of pleasure, seemingly overtaken by the euphoria of shedding blood. His dark aura resonated with vigor, sending a shiver down the assassin''s spine.


    But before anything else could unfold, the young demon spoke terrifyingly, "So, where were your confidences all mocking me earlier, human bitch?" He pressed down on Killy''s shoulder and ruthlessly slashed off her other arm, blood splattering over his blade.


    ¡°KUGH!!!!!¡­ UGH¡­!¡± Her chilling cry of terror echoes through the frigid atmosphere.


    "Where did that confidence come from earlier? If you answer earnestly, I''ll at least send you off peacefully.¡±


    Her response, laced with fear, stumbles out, "You demonic bastard... Motherfucker. Go to hell¡­¡±


    "Hell? Who told you I''d send you there?" Daniel retorts.


    Hearing Daniel''s words, Killy finally grasps the grim reality ¨C death without an afterlife. Not even Hell. Though she had heard rumors, she never took them to heart until now... Her cherry-red lips tremble in despair and fear. Just moments ago, she held hope for a successful raid and return. But reality proves otherwise. Desperation fills her gaze as she glances at Tessa in the distance, enduring multiple demerits, and at her last width. ''Tessa?'' The desperate words can''t escape her lips. Both experienced veterans chose the [Extreme] difficulty to grow faster and survive. Yet, their goals, especially Killy''s desire to learn the [String Deviative Daggers] secret technique and double her strength, are now thwarted by this formidable party.


    "I get you wanting to be welcome to hell, but I''m sorry, this royal demon can''t ''really'' allow that.¡±


    ¡°UH¡­ AH¡­¡±


    ¡°If you keep acting mute after all of this..." Daniel trailed off, increasing the pressure with innate and [Demonic energy] stats, as well as [Demonic Anti-magic] on his feet planted firmly on her chest.


    C-CRACK! P-POSP!


    Organs smashed, blood spouting from her mouth and ears, and gore spewed from her wounds, breaking down any defense she attempted.


    ¡°AGHHHHHHH!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just continue with what I was doing,¡± he continued, devilishly smirking.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk!¡± Killy screamed in agonizing pain as Daniel crushed her ribs. The force on his shoulder doubled.


    ¡°Wrong answer! Human!¡± Daniel''s response was jerky, shaking Killy.


    ¡°H-How¡­ I d-didn¡¯t e-even¡­?¡± Killy couldn''t complete her sentence, terrified by Daniel¡¯s sudden change in expression.


    ¡°Royal demons don¡¯t negotiate with humans.¡± Daniel''s arms grew as both [Demonic energy] and [Strength] swung his dark, glowing greatsword.


    SPLASH!


    The assassin¡¯s head thumped and rolled, blood splattering and coloring the ground crimson. Her eyes comprehended how her life ended, regretting that life was ¡®really¡¯ a bitch.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    The young demon, tense about slaying a human for the first time, was suddenly alerted by a loud outburst and a sudden temperature fluctuation.


    KA-BOOM!


    On the other side of the battlefield, the fierce duel between two mages approached its climax.


    FSSSH!


    As the [Heatwaves] and [Ice Thorns] gradually subsided, the sizzling, freezing vapor dispersed, and ¡­


    THUD! SPLASH!


    Daniel swiftly seized a hefty shield, intercepting the scattering ice and rock shrapnel to protect the fallen blind Walker. Two distinct mana characteristics dashed past him, setting the young demon''s nerves on edge. ¡®How did their battle go?¡¯ he pondered, cautiously lowering his shield. In the wake of the tumultuous clash, the aftermath of their disastrous collision unfolded.


    FSHH!


    The area distorted, caught in the grip of extreme heat and permafrost manifestations. Gradually, the cold and warm haze dissipated, revealing two figures within.


    "Both of them are alive," Daniel pondered aloud. His cobalt-like eyes squinted. "Barely, but alive." Confirming his statement, Jenna and Tessa were technically ''alive.'' However, the blue-haired mage was incapacitated ¨C her mana depleted, her magic staff shattered, both arms crippled and thick frost entwined her body. Survival would require strong will and years of experience, considering the aftermath of their intense collision.


    In the aftermath, Jenna, dragging Tessa by her torn-airy robe, approached her beheaded comrade. Frost exhaled from Jenna''s lips, indicating signs of life in the blue-haired mage''s subtle trembling and frost-emanating body. Jenna, though in better condition than the blue-haired mage, relied on concentration, the [Monarch of Mana] skill, and a strong will to survive amidst the lingering white currents that surrounded her. It was a battle between mages of unprecedented power just before the boss fight, a spectacle for the young demon to witness. Tessa hadn''t perished yet, but the demerit orbiting and pressuring her body suggested an inevitable fate.


    In the end, their battle concluded with Jenna''s victory, dragging the now-unkempt blue-haired mage through the disheveled, blood-stained ground. Tessa''s unstable mind pondered, ''Where is Killy? Did she succeed?'' Her partially frozen body, as if infected with frostbite, and countless demerits resounded within, preventing any movement, let alone a glance in any direction. As fate seemingly intended to answer her query, Tessa''s unclear eyes strugglingly darted around, catching sight of a familiar decapitated head, a blood-dripping iced body, and slashed-off arms. The unkempt raven-black hair and stunning beauty¡ªyet, no matter what, she concentrated her hardest to focus her vision on the... No, it didn''t seem to retain that beauty.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Her eyes widened in horror as familiarity snapped into her mind ¨C the decapitated corpse''s arms holding black dragon-tooth daggers, the cold blood-dripping limbs, and the slashed-off head pieced together. "U-uhh, ahhhh!" Trembling, her entire body shook, arms, legs, and teeth clacking, filling the desolate field with a concise conclusion. ''Killy is dead!''


    Having the same conclusion, Jenna sighed sharply, confirming beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tessa''s mana had been depleted, her mana core irreparably shattered. There was no last trick she could pull off; overwhelming demerits beckoned her into the abyss.


    CLACK!


    Daniel Lan. Northwestern stuck his shield at his back, flicked his greatsword to flick off blood, and turned his head. Despite being ready for the aftermath, bitterness filled him about how things turned out. Exhaustion and faint, hollow demonic voices around him slowly plagued him. It felt as though something had died within him, and something terrifying had awakened. Retracting his glance from the approaching indifferent mage, he replayed how the battle had unfolded until now.


    Meanwhile, Jenna Rivel Callen clenched her frosty fist and gritted her teeth, pondering, ¡®Where did it go wrong? What led to this?¡¯ The Fortress was known for its unpredictability, but this had exceeded expectations. Although the battle was won, Jenna''s party found themselves in a complicated situation. Her body was in critical condition, burdened with demerits; the royal demon bore countless cuts, and her last party member remained unconscious.


    Both the young demon and the mage wore a dull confusion in their eyes as if they had won a battle, not the war. Despite the victory, Jenna, as the second-in-command, faced the task of deciding what to do with Tessa Kendall.


    "P-please let me live... You''re not a murderer, right?" Tessa''s stiffened lips begged for mercy, a visible fear of impending death in her eyes.


    "We can go back to Eliluam, right? I''ll give you all my money. I have a lot and high-grade items. I was a hunter. You can scrape like 500k I-lupin from me," Tessa desperately added.


    "I see," Jenna responded, her tone dull.


    "R-really? If y-you j-just let me live!" Tessa''s face displayed an awkward composure, pleading for a chance at survival.


    Jenna firmly stated, "You know I can''t do that," closing her eyes in reflection.


    Tessa Kendall''s face crinkled in response.


    "The special objective stated that no one could get out until only one party was left," Jenna said, opening one of her emotionless eyes.


    "Y-yeah, y-you don''t know that. M-maybe there''s another way," Tessa hoped for a solution that never existed.


    "No," Jenna declared firmly, "there aren''t. That''s why we fought to the death." Despite her initial hesitation to kill instantly, she rejected the solution the fallen currently sought. And even if there were¡­


    Why should she let someone who would nonetheless kill her go? She had almost died when the blue-haired mage''s considerable [Heatwaves] collided with her [Ice thorns]. The pressure was putting huge stress on her mana core. Of course, she knew killing a fellow human was morally challenging, but in this world, she had come too far to feel guilty. It was too late to be a saint, especially among her two party members who had already taken a human life for the survival of this raid.


    "Darn," Jenna muttered, exhaling visible frost as wisps of white currents swirled around her. The green-haired mage found herself at a loss for words. A grimy sensation engulfed her, akin to sinking into quicksand. Lukewarm blood oozed from wounds inflicted by the enemy''s [Heatwaves], mingling with the frostbite. Carefully, she laid the blue-haired mage flat on the ground. She wasn''t a martyr, and not everyone within the Fortress of Dungeon or Eliluam was, but she certainly wasn''t a cold-blooded hidden hunter either. Straddling those lines left her feeling hesitant and burdened with regrets.


    Stats, skills, titles, and job-related traits underwent significant changes a century ago when monsters invaded Eliluam from Vulkan. The location of Vulkan remained a mystery, impacting individual choices yet eluding discovery to this day.


    Hidden hunters and ¡®Acolytes¡¯ in labyrinths committed unspeakable acts: killing fellow hunters for selfish greed, bloodlust, rewards, and loot. Essentially, they were like lizards cutting off their own tails in the labyrinths. Hunters were meant to hunt monsters, not each other. So, how did she differ from the ''bastard'' who seized control of the mage districts when her father disappeared during a crucial raid, her mother was never to be found, and her brother...? She became a hunter to unravel the mysteries surrounding her family and to question why that ''bastard'' swiftly took charge of the mage''s district overnight.


    Not this. Jenna''s fist clenched tightly in disgust and pain. The Fortress of Dungeons showed no regard for anyone''s goals, ambitions, or dreams; it only cared about raids, rewards, and growth. And if anyone attempted to extract more power from the Fortress it would bring demerits upon them. At this moment, Jenna finally grasped what the Fortress expected and wanted from every walker. She wasn''t inherently evil, but she wasn''t virtuous enough to let anyone hinder her goals, survival, and ambitions.


    She extended her hands and slowly stomped toward the fallen mage.


    "D-don''t! L-Let''s talk this out..." Despite the latter¡¯s persuasive words, the green-haired mage twisted her frozen neck with an impressive [Strength] stat. Without heeding another word, her frozen head was separated from her neck.


    CRACK!


    At that moment, a new message materialized in front of their retinas.


    Congratulations! You''ve cleared the special objective.


    Bonus rewards are calculated into the B-rank rewards.


    The Titan Orc Lord battle starts in 1 minute.