Malone scanned the marsh for more Blood Slimes, the squelching ground beneath his boots echoed loudly as he walks.
Casting long shadows across the coastline, and the air grew heavier with the scent of brine and rot.
It would seem that the water around the shore was contaminated, it's stark blood red, that smell strong of blood and rotten meat, it was clear this breeding ground for the crittens.
Hence th strong scent of rot that spreads out in the entire area, making it hard to breath the closer one gets to the shore.
As Malone walks his Hunter Page glowed faintly in his peripheral vision.
Eight more Slimes to go, then the Ügra Grass and Mandra Cores. If he paced himself, he could finish before nightfall and make it back for the guild's evening party.
Not that he cared much for socializing, but Elizabeth's invitation lingered in his mind. Maybe he could get some more information one can't get typically when playing the game.
The marsh stretched endlessly before him, dotted with clumps of reeds and the occasional gnarled tree. The next cluster of Blood Slimes wasn't far, Malone could already see them from where he was.
Their red forms shimmered in the distance, blending with the heat haze. Malone adjusted his grip on his sword, its weight reassuring in his hand.
His Level 4 stats gave him an edge as they where just level 1 or 2 with the strongest of them reaching level 50 in game from what he had remembered, but he knew better than to underestimate even low-tier monsters.
The Prime Lands were unforgiving, but leveling up would be faster the more he killed.
As he approached, the Slimes stirred, their gelatinous bodies rippling as they sensed his presence. This group was larger, at least ten, and they moved with a sluggish coordination after all, the entire race was basically hive mind species.
Malone's eyes narrowed.
As he glanced at his surroundings, noting a nearby dune that could serve as high ground. If things got dicey, he could funnel them into a choke point.
These slimes where even bigger than previous one, each the size of a school bus.
They swarm him with great speed, if caught they will suck his blood dry, the more blood these things devour the larger they get.
In-game, they have no set growth limit, still these lesser monsters are basically monsters born from the natrual Miasma of the Gluttony Demon, that mutate or spawns these creatures.
The Miasma is what create Monster, and the Demon King is what create the Demons naturally.
But even then.
He goes on to offense.
As he stepped forward, deliberately slow, baiting the Slimes into action. The nearest one lunged, its body elongating into a spear-like tendril. Malone rolled to the side, his blade flashing as he cleaved through its core.
He leaves no room for recovery, as his attacks are to kill.
The Slime burst, splattering crimson goo across the sand. Two more surged forward, and Malone met them with a sweeping strike, dispatching both in a single motion.
His movements were fluid, honed by the
The Slimes didn't stand a chance, but their numbers were starting to wear on him. Sweat beaded on his brow as he carved through the swarm, each kill adding to his tally.
[✦ Quest Progress: Hunt 20 Blood Slimes – 19/20]
One more... Malone's breath came in controlled bursts as he scanned for the final Slime. It was smaller than the others, hiding among the reeds, its core pulsing faintly.
"Sneaky bastard."
He said while darting forward, his sword raised, but the Slime was faster than he expected. It shot a glob of acidic goo at high speed, forcing Malone to dive behind a rock at the last minute.
The goo sizzled where it landed, eating through the sand. Not bad, he thought, a grin tugging at his lips, the battle was exciting.
With that, he leap forward once more, as he leaped from cover, closing the distance in a heartbeat, and drove his blade through the Slime's core. It burst with a satisfying pop, leaving behind the final essence.
With the core destroyed, the form lose it method of moving, as falls like unstable puddle.
[✦ Quest Complete: Hunt 20 Blood Slimes – 20/20]
Malone exhaled, wiping his blade clean.
The marsh was quiet now, save for the distant crash of waves. He opened his nap sack, securing the shatter core for evidence. The Guild would pay decently for these, but the real prize was the rank-up.
Becoming an official Hunter meant access to better quests, better gear, and, most importantly, broader information. Information that could lead him to places of benefits in the future.
"Next up is the Ügra Grass. According to the Guild's database, it grew in patches along the beach, its silvery blades sharp enough to cut through leather."
Malone said as she trekked along the shoreline, eyes scanning the dunes. The grass wasn't hard to spot, its metallic sheen caught the sunlight, glinting like scattered coins.
He knelt beside a patch, careful to avoid the razor edges, and began harvesting. His sword, no practical for this, but useful nonetheless moved with precision, severing the stalks at their base.
Seven stalks, as the quest demanded, were quickly bundled into his sack.
[✦ Quest Progress: Collect Seven Ügra Grass – 7/7]
Two down, one to go. The Mandra Cores were the real challenge. Malone pulled up the Guild's map overlay, pinpointing the nearest grove of Mandra Trees.
They grew deeper in the marsh, where the ground was wetter and the air thick with the hum of insects. The trees were sentient, as some of them could be mutated by the Miasma the infects fog that covers the world, although he had to be careful as their vines would lash out at anything that got too close.
Harvesting a core meant digging through roots while dodging the venomous barbs of the plant.
The grove came into view, a cluster of twisted, black-barked trees rising from the mire. Their branches swayed despite the still air, and Malone felt a prickle of unease. He wasn't alone.
'Am I being stalked.'
He said, gripping the hilt of his sword.
He could feel something was right over him.
As a low growl rumbled from the shadows, and a pair of glowing eyes locked onto him.
Slowly turning around, his eyes, meet the monsters that stalk him.
It was a wolf-like creature, a mid-tier monster of [Level 30], it had sharp teeth and claws, it fur was black, and it stand four meters tall. In layman terms it was way bigger than Malone, atleast several to eight heads higher than him if place one above the other.
Malone tightened his grip on his sword, his other hand hovering.
"A black wolf ha?! A
It's fur matted with mud, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
No time for this.
He needed those cores, and a fight would slow him down. But the Black Wolf wasn't giving him a choice. It lunged, jaws snapping, and Malone met it head-on.
His sword clashed against its claws, sparks flying as he parried a swipe. The beast was fast, but Malone was faster.
He ducked under its next attack, picking up a sharp stone he found under, slice it into his stomachs.
The demonic feind howled in pain, as it's stomach sack fall to ground along with it's innard, blood soak the squishy sand, as poured out of its mouth as well.
Seeing the opportunity, Malone went in for the kill, and with great skill and precision, he cut the beast head clean off it's own shoulders, finished it with a lethal blow.
"Fweeeh... I manage to kill it."
Malone said with worry free face.
And right after, he saw a notification popped up infront of him, congratulating him on leveling up to the Level six.
It would seem that this monster was strong enough to help promote him two entire levels.
Not that Malone mine.
"This trip was definitely worth it."