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Chapter 12: Second Portal
🕑 Added 2025-01-04 14:21:19 +0000 UTCThe wolf was cornered. With its hind leg limped, it was forced into melee combat with James. A cackle of electricity roused from deep within. Electricity coursed through its body. James holstered his crossbow and drew his axe.
“Come here, little puppy, let’s get close and personal.” James taunted. He gripped his axe tightly. The axe began to glow. Motes of orange light swirled around the blade. The glow grew brighter as his skill was nearing its activation.
The wolf snarled in defiance, he lowered its crackling horn and lunged forward. Even when its hind legs were paralyzed, the wolf felt no fear. Even if it loses this fight, it knows that it has fought a worthy foe. A flicker of respect shone from its eye. Their pride and will clashed.
The cackling horn clashed with the glowing axe in a thunderous collision. A massive explosion ensued as James flew to the center of the arena. His body bounced and rolled on the cobblestone, like a ragdoll. This reminded him of the clash between him and the orc’s boss. However, this time, James was not losing.
When the dust settled, the wolf lay down. Its proud horn was shattered to pieces like broken glass. It let out a whine as blood poured out from the remnants of its horn. Its chest was heaving as strength left its body. Its eyes grew faint. James walked closer, touching and caressing its fluffy fur. The beast soon breathed its last.
The system announced the beast’s death and gave him two level-ups for his brave deed.
[You have leveled up to Level 14! Coins Received: 50
[Name: James
Age: 35
Sex: male
Levels: 14
Coins: 125
Stats:
STR: 67 (up 7)
Dex: 61 (up 3)
Magic: 0
Mana: 0
Skills:
Beginner Axe mastery level 7 (Powerstrike)
Beginner Sword mastery level 5 (hurricane)
Beginner Bow Mastery level 2
Unique Skill:
Chimera:
Goblin stomach (Iron guts) (stomach slot)
Lesser Mana core (Fire spell, Magic+10, Mana +50)(Extra slot 1)
Orc’s arm (STR+10%) (Arm slot)
Orc’s legs (Str +10%) (leg slot)
Orc’s torso (torso slot)
Orc’s head (Head slot)
Jumping Spider’s fang (Weak Paralysis)(mouth slot)(new)
Jumping Spiders spinneret (Thread creation)(Extra slot 2)
Equipment:
Leather armor
Leather helmet
Vambrace
Gauntlets
War axe
Longsword
Crossbow
Leather pouch
Waterspout dagger
Health potion
Hematonic potion
Leather bag]
[Do you wish to modify your body? y/n]
[Available body part:
Lightning Wolf’s fur (physical resistance +5%)(skin slot)
Lightning Wolf Legs
Lightning Wolf’s Fang
]
James closed his eyes as he mourned the death of the Alpha wolf. After a few deep breaths, he let go of the wolf’s corpse. This is a dog-eat-dog world. He needed its horn if he wanted to continue traversing this dungeon. However, the system didn’t list its horn as a part to plunder. James tilted his head in confusion.
“System. Why wasn’t the wolf’s horn listed?” James had planned to swap out his lesser mana core with that of wolf’s horn. The absence of the horn in the available body part threw him off the loop.
[The horn was destroyed during combat. Thus, it can’t be plundered by Chimera skill. ]
“What the heck?” James was taken aback. The horn was the most precious thing the wolf had. It could shoot laser beams! James couldn’t believe he had destroyed such valuable body parts.
“Ugh… damn it. I didn’t think it would clash my axe with its horn like that…”
[repairing your axe will cost 15 coins]
James scanned the ground for his axe, and true to the system’s words, the blade of the axe had chipped. Its pristine edge now has cracks all over it.
“Hah.. you are going to charge me for everything, aren’t you? Fine, fine, I will pay.” James picked up his belongings and prepared himself for the portal.
[You have 110 coins left]
“By the way, why was the fur weren’t mentioned when I killed the other wolf? Was this fur simply better?” James wondered. The chimera skill said the wolf fur had 5% physical resistance. It wasn’t much. But James accepted every incremental increase. However, James also realized that the skill description wasn’t everything.
[the fur on the smaller wolf was not enough to cover your entire body. Thus, it could not be plundered by chimera skill. The fur from Lightning Wolf was indeed superior.]
“Alright. I will take it.” James nodded. He will take what can be taken. The horn was destroyed. At the very least, he could take its skin.
Motes of dark light started to consume the wolf’s flesh. Then, it swirled back to James, and he could feel his skin growing. White and blue hair dotted his body. James suddenly felt hot as fur enveloped its skin.
“Hmm… it feels like I am wearing a thick fur jacket,” James muttered as he patted his body. He had become furry, but not the furry that was often depicted in mass media, for he lacked the wolf’s ear and snout.
“Alright, let’s go! The next floor is the third floor, right? Will you merge with other trial dungeons because of the lack of survivors?” James took his belongings and headed to the portal. He then touched the portal. At that moment, the system made an astounding announcement to him.
[There are four other survivors here beside you. And yes, we will merge this dungeon with another. Confirmation received. Transfer in progress…]
“Huh? Wait a minute. There are others? Wa—” James’s body disappeared in a flash of light. He had given his affirmation, and thus, he was transferred away.
Unbeknownst to him, four shadows lurked at the arena. They are the other survivors. Three men with a woman whispered to each other.
“The coast is clear. Let’s go! Now is our chance! We are fucked if another boss respawned.”
The other survivors had just lost their leader against the wolf. They had no idea that James was a human survivor, just like them. All they knew was that he was a powerful, intelligent monster.
“Wait, what if that monster catches us. We should wait at least fifteen minutes before entering the same portal.” another survivor said.
“That thing must have been a wandering boss. It had both ranged and melee attacks. We couldn’t defeat that boss even with six of us working together, and he beat it by himself!”
“Well, now is our chance. The system said they would merge this server with another. There should be other strong survivors on the next floor. We can team up with them!”
“Ughh… I hope we don’t get arrogant ones. That Thomas was strong but he is insufferable.”
After waiting for more than an hour next to the portal, they went in.
After a minute that felt like an eternity in the waiting room, The system’s magic finally took hold, and James was finally transferred to the new floor. It was a new terrain; water trickled from the ceiling, and a small stream of clear water coursed through the rocky terrain.
“Another cave dungeon? Nice. I hate the sun and the forest.” James followed the stream, his steps were steady and excited.
James thought the cave would lead to something like a castle. Similar to his experience on the first floor. However, the path branched out and the water grew deeper. The small stream was as deep as his waist.
The cave twisted and turned, branching into endless corridors that seemed to explore the very depths of the earth. James always had his spinneret to tell him where he was going. As long as he didn’t wander in the same cave twice, he was confident he could clear this dungeon.
At the end of the endless corridors, a shimmering blue lake stood before him. A splash of water occasionally echoed in the dim cave, signaling that something was swimming there.
Standing near the lake, two monsters that James could only describe as fishmen, a humanoid with hands and feet but with a fish head and scaly skin, seemed to play with their trident. There was no possible ambush here as every step James made echoed in the cave.
The fishmen turned to James at once. They snarled at James for entering their territory. When they walked, a sloshing and flopping sound echoed in the cave. It proved the point that there is no stealth and ambush on this floor.
James took out his crossbow and shot one fishmen in the head. The bolt darted toward its eye, taking its left eye out. The fishmen let out a high-pitched, agonized cry. It fell backward, clutching its ruined eye with its scaly hand.
He then holstered his crossbow and drew his trusty axe and sword. He didn’t forget to bite his axe, letting a yellow ooze of paralytic poison in his spider fang coated its blade. The other fishmen drew closer.
Light grew on their trident. The confident smirk James had a moment before had vanished completely as he understood what the light meant. The fishmen were using weapons skills. James had unconsciously underestimated these fishermen because he took one down with a shot of his arrow. However, when weapon skills come into play, he must stay alert.
Unlike the orcs, the fishmen knew how to wield their weapons. They thrust their spear toward James. The cave was too narrow to properly evade, and James had to block the strike with his axe. James was preparing for a counterattack. However, he had underestimated what skills could do.
James felt his body knocked a few meters back. The cave was wide, but the path was narrow. He found himself falling into the stream that was now chest-deep. The world was flipped upside down as the cold river permeated his fur. Thankfully, the water was clear. He could see the fishmen eagerly going inside the stream.
“Yeah, they were fish!” James cursed. James stood up, trying to get to the edge of the stream. The fishmen swam at the stream as easily as… a fish.
Knowing it would be futile to outrun the Fishman, James took a deep breath and ducked; the weight of his armor and weapons kept his foot on the ground. He prepared his sword skill. The scaly monster lunged its spear with deadly precision. This time, the stupid monster was the one who underestimated a weapon skill. Even through dense water, the skill activated.
The sword carved a beautiful golden arc upwards, the blade connected with the fishman’s trident. James was surprised the trident didn’t relent under the force of a skill. However, like James, who was pushed back by its skill earlier, it was now the fisherman’s turn to fly away.
The knock sends air out of the fishmen’s lungs… or gills… or whatever the respiratory system this monster had. It wheezed. Before it could get up, James was already on the pathway, away from the wretched water.
The scaly monster squealed. Threatening James with a high-pitched cry. It stood up and readied its spear, and a golden glow emanated from the tip of its spear. James lowered her stance, preparing a weapon skill of his own. His axe let out a golden hue. Two weapons clashed like a crashing meteor.
The axe was superior in terms of power, the fishmen’s beloved trident was blown away from its arm. The force of the blow drew it back, and its scaly body was once again knocked down to the ground. James gave chase, and without letting up, he stabbed the fish in the torso. The fish cried out a death throe before its body slumped to the ground, motionless on the rocky surface.
“Hah… damn it. I didn’t think I would be this troubled over a mere mob.” James sighed as he took another deep breath. The other fishman that was knocked down before had stood up. James slung his crossbow, reloaded it with another bolt, and shot it toward the approaching monster.
The bolt shot straight into the monster’s gaping mouth. Its momentum tore through its flesh and penetrated all the way to its back. A gurgle escaped its throat before it joined its comrade in Valhalla. Silence returned to the cavern once again. Only the occasional sound of water dripping from the ceiling or faint splashes from the lake disturbed the quiet scene.
James exhaled as he checked his status. He had received another level up after fighting these two Sahuagins.
[You have leveled up to Level 15! Coins Received: 20
[Name: James
Age: 35
Sex: male
Levels: 15
Coins: 130
Stats:
STR: 70 (up 3)
Dex: 64 (up 3)
Magic: 0
Mana: 0
Skills:
Beginner Axe mastery level 7 (Powerstrike)
Beginner Sword mastery level 5 (hurricane)
Beginner Bow Mastery level 3 (up 1)
Unique Skill:
Chimera:
Goblin stomach (Iron guts) (stomach slot)
Lesser Mana core (Fire spell, Magic+10, Mana +50)(Extra slot 1)
Orc’s arm (STR+10%) (Arm slot)
Orc’s legs (Str +10%) (leg slot)
Orc’s torso (torso slot)
Orc’s head (Head slot)
Jumping Spider’s fang (Weak Paralysis)(mouth slot)(new)
Jumping Spiders spinneret (Thread creation)(Extra slot 2)
Equipment:
Leather armor
Leather helmet
Vambrace
Gauntlets
War axe
Longsword
Crossbow
Leather pouch
Waterspout dagger
Health potion
Hematonic potion
Leather bag]
[Do you wish to modify your body? y/n]
[Available body part:
Sahuagin’s lungs (Underwater breathing) (lung slot)
Sahuagin’s webbed hands(+10% dexterity in water)
Sahuagin’s webbed feet (+10% dexterity in water)
]
