Chapter 6: The Swamp King, Kasaka
POV: Narrator
Akira moved through the subway tunnels with steady steps, easily dodging the strike of a black monkey that lunged at him from the shadows.
With a swift motion of his katana, he split it cleanly in half.
"I've been exploring the entire subway…" he said, shaking the blood off his blade. "I'm using the same technique most players use in leveling or scavenging games — grinding."
Grinding was a simple yet effective strategy. Basically, it meant defeating every minor enemy in an area to quickly accumulate experience.
It could also be seen as clearing an entire level before moving on, ensuring no threats remained behind while gaining strength for future battles.
Sure, it took time and energy, but it was worth it.
"I still haven't used the Beast Style…" he muttered while checking his inventory. "By killing more beasts, I found another katana. It'll come in handy if the Blue Serpent is down there…"
He stopped in front of a stairway leading deeper into the subway — directly toward where the train should have been.
"I can feel it…" he said, narrowing his eyes. His perception wasn't perfect, but it was sharp enough to sense a heavy, ominous presence below.
"And it's giving me chills…" he exhaled, then smirked. "But it's not like I have a choice. If I want to get out, I have to defeat the boss."
Opening his interface, he checked his stats before proceeding, comparing them to the ones Sung Jin-Woo had in this same instance dungeon.
It was clear — Akira had come far better prepared than Jin-Woo ever did.
---
[Player Statistics]
Name: Akira ???
Class: None
Title: Wolf Slayer
HP: 1500 / 1500
MP: 0
Strength: 80
Speed: 80
Agility: 70
Endurance: 75
Perception: 40
Recovery: 40
Intelligence: 40
Fatigue: 10%
---
Akira closed the window and stretched, making sure his body was fully ready for what was coming.
He cracked his knuckles and neck, loosening his muscles before descending the stairs.
He knew something was waiting for him below, and he had to stay sharp.
When he finally reached the lower level, the place no longer resembled a subway station — it looked like a swamp.
The area was dark, a thick mist giving everything a grim, eerie tone.
The walls were covered in mold and moss, and where the train tracks used to be, there was only murky water — as if the place had been flooded long ago.
"It's coming…"
BOOM!
Without warning, a massive tail burst out of the water, slamming down with incredible force.
Akira jumped just in time, dodging by mere inches.
Something was moving quickly beneath the flooded tracks.
The sound of churning water echoed through the station — and then, in the next second, a colossal creature emerged before him.
It was enormous.
A giant cobra, the size of a house, with glowing amber eyes and blue scales that shimmered under the dim light.
Its long, black, forked tongue flicked out from its mouth, and its bluish fangs gleamed with deadly venom.
Each scale looked thick and solid — a natural armor that promised to make this fight hellish.
The mere sight of it would make any unprepared hunter tremble.
But Akira wasn't just any hunter.
He tightened his grip on his twin katanas and smirked.
He refused to be intimidated.
He had already died once — this snake was nothing.
---
[Swamp King: Kasaka of the Blue Venomous Fangs]
[Threat Level: Normal]
---
"Well then, snake… I'm gonna make a wallet out of your skin.
Always wanted one made of snakeskin," he said with a confident grin.
Even in the face of death, nothing could kill his sense of humor.
---
End of Chapter
If you'd like to read more of this fan fiction, here's the link to the original story in Spanish, with a much more detailed version so you can read it later.
The link is in the comments.