The air changed here. Light filtered faintly from gaps in the ceiling, making the chamber brighter. At the bottom of the stairs, a rocky stage jutted out, bushes sprouting across its surface as if someone had planted them deliberately. The slope on one side led into a wide chamber below.
And in that chamber, three lizard monsters slinked across the floor, their tongues flicking in and out, claws scratching the stone.
I ducked into the bushes at the edge of the platform, peeking through the leaves. My heart hammered, but excitement stirred in me too.
"Okay. Think. Fire's bad here. so Ice it is." I smirked. "And coincidentally lizards are weak to ice. Hehe."
How do I know? Basic game and anime knowledge. Heh.
The problem was, there were three of them. I racked my brain for some genius strategy—trap them all at once, pin them together. But nothing came. So I did the simple thing.
I conjured an Ice Spear, and hurled it down.
SCHLK!
The spear punched clean through one lizard's chest. It screeched once, then collapsed.
Congratulations! You have defeated [Lvl 6 poison Lizard].
EXP gained: +120
Total EXP: 500/2000 → Level 15
The other two jerked their heads up, tongues whipping out as they scanned the chamber.
Thanks to the bushes, they hadn't noticed me yet. Whoever decided to let plants grow here deserves a medal.
"Good. Let's keep it that way."
I shaped another spear, but instead of aiming at them, I flicked it toward the far side opening.
CRACK!
The spear shattered against stone, shards clattering noisily.
Both lizards hissed and bolted toward the sound.
I snickered under my breath. "Heh… just like those assassin games—'Huh? Must've been the wind.'"
With their backs turned, I conjured two more spears and hurled them in quick succession.
SCHLK! SCHLK!
One struck true, pinning the second lizard to the floor. It writhed, screeching, then went still.
[MP: 340 → 300]
Congratulations! You have defeated [Lvl 6 poison Lizard].
EXP gained: +120
Total EXP: 620/2000 → Level 15
That left only one.
Confidence buzzed through me. I stood tall, stepping out from the bushes, and climbed down the slope to face it directly.
The lizard spun, its eyes locking on me with a sharp hiss.
"Alright. Just you and me."
Its tongue lashed out like a whip. I dodged to the side, but it snapped at the last instant, grazing across my shoulder.
White-hot pain exploded, sharp and searing, like someone had pressed a burning brand into my skin. My arm jolted numb for a heartbeat, then throbbed with every pulse.
[HP: 630 → 590]
A faint green glow flickered at the edge of my vision.
Status Effect: You have been inflicted with [Poison Lv.1].
"What?!" My stomach dropped. My legs grew heavy, arms sluggish. Every breath came ragged, as if the air itself had turned thick. "No way… I'm poisoned?!"
I glanced at my shoulder. The skin around the wound was already turning a faint blue.
The lizard lunged again. I barely had time to conjure another Ice Spear and fling it. The shard struck its side, slowing it but not stopping the charge.
[MP: 300 → 280], [HP: 590 → 585]
Gritting my teeth, I forced another spear into existence. This one came slower, shakier, but I hurled it anyway. The point skimmed its leg, but failed to drop it.
[MP: 280 → 260]
The monster hissed, charging again, tongue snapping out. I staggered backward, nearly tripping over my own feet.
"Come on—!"
Summoning every bit of focus I had left, I shaped one more spear. Frost spiraled into a sharper point than the last. I hurled it with a roar.
SCHLK!
The Ice Spear drove straight through the lizard's skull. It jerked once, then collapsed in a twitching heap.
[MP: 260 → 240]
Congratulations! You have defeated [Lvl 7 Poison Lizard].
EXP gained: +160
Total EXP: 780/2000 → Level 15
I collapsed to my knees, gasping. My vision blurred at the edges.
[Status Effect: Poisoned – HP, Strength, Agility, and Mind reduced temporarily.]
"D-dammit… this stuff… is strong."
Fumbling, I yanked out one of the small vials from my satchel. My hands shook as I uncorked it and forced the glowing green liquid down my throat.
[+100 HP restored.]
[HP: 585 → 630 (MAX)]
Cool relief spread through me, dulling the pain. The wound sealed halfway, the throbbing fading to a faint sting. But the sluggish haze clung to my body, leaving me light-headed.
"I… need a break."
I slid down against the wall and sat there for a while, catching my breath. Minutes passed before my breathing steadied enough to move again.
I groaned and pushed myself upright, leaning against the wall until my legs stopped wobbling. My shoulder still throbbed where that stupid tongue got me.
My eyes drifted to the lizard's corpse. Its slack face looked almost smug.
"Don't give me that look," I muttered, and gave it a weak kick. "Stupid lizard… you nearly killed me! Poison? Really? Who even has poison at level seven?!"
As my foot connected, something inside the body glimmered faintly. I froze.
"…Wait. Is that—?"
Kneeling down, I squinted. A faint purple glow pulsed under its scaly hide. My stomach dropped. "Oh no. Don't tell me I have to… again."
With a grimace, I pulled out my knife. "Fourth time skinning something gross. Still feels like I'm in some nightmare butcher shop."
The blade sank into the hide with a slick noise. I gagged, looking away as I fumbled around. My fingers brushed something hard and cold. Tugging, I pulled free a smooth stone that shimmered violet in the dim light.
"...A mana stone. Poison type, I guess."
I stared at the lizard's blank face. "Fine. You tried to murder me, but at least you dropped loot."
By the end, I had three violet stones glowing faintly in my palm.
I packed them into my satchel, and pushed forward.
The corridor narrowed into a stairwell, winding down farther until I stepped onto the third floor. And right there, at the bottom of the stairs, loomed a massive stone door.
I froze. "This… this looks like a boss room."