James undressed away from the lake, near the dungeon walls. He was soaked. His fur, drenched in cold water, seemed to sap away at his body heat. He gathered his mana and tried to create a campfire.
“Hmm… There are two corpses here. I should take the legs and the lungs…” James pondered as he examined the fishmen. The System named them Sahuagin. A fish monster that has humanoid features such as legs and arms.
His chimera skill could only take one set of body parts at most. The voice seemed obvious. This is a water dungeon. So, getting himself gills that could make him breathe underwater is a must.
After a few moments of hesitation, James confirmed with the System. He didn’t forget to butcher one of the corpses, so the skill didn’t take them. He was starving. He then roasted a chunk of their meat on a fire.
Motes of light gathered at the corpses. It swirled at the half-butchered corpse and one full corpse before it consumed them and directed its power to James. James felt his power increasing, his ability enhanced. When James looked at his feet, he didn’t find scaly feet like that of a fishmen. It was a webbed foot like that of a platypus.
“No scaly feet, huh?”
[You have designated wolf’s fur in your skin slot. If you would like scales as your skin, please find another corpse to plunder. Chimera skill does not allow two types of parts in the same slot]
James took a chunk of the meat and hesitantly bit into it. His hesitation disappeared when he realized that the meat tasted like fish. The light from the flame grew dimmer. His lesser mana core didn’t have much mana and will run out soon.
“System, why can’t you upgrade or repair that trident?” James asked out of curiosity, he had time to spare, and he was curious.
[The System will not register a monster’s weapon or decorations on dungeon floors. They will only register weapons from treasure chests or from other survivors. Survivors may use monster’s weapons at will, but The System will not repair or upgrade them. Moreover, they will not be affected by Survivor’s skills]
The thing about not providing repair and upgrade was fine, but not being able to use weapon skills with them was fatal. James had swiped some goblin’s knives earlier on the first floor, and now they sat uselessly in his backpack. James decided to throw them away later. After drinking from his water pouch, he refilled them with his waterspout dagger.
He suddenly realized he already had daggers all this time. However, no dagger mastery skill ever came to him. Maybe because he had been using it like a water pitcher. He had never killed monsters with this dagger, after all.
After getting his things in order, James wore his armor back and tucked himself in the corner. He found a good hiding spot right behind a rock. It covered him from all angles except the front. After getting comfortable, he decided to let sleep come to him. The sound of trickling water and the splashing painted a good background music to his ears.
Inside his dreams, James recalled his previous boss and the CEO of the company over marketing strategy. He remembered when the boss had an argument with the CEO. Instead of the CEO firing the boss, the CEO resigned. He was a respectable man who had prevented James from getting fired. During his two years of career, none of the workers were fired.
James couldn’t help feeling frustrated and confused. Why did he resign? He couldn’t comprehend why such a man let go of this company. Sure, he didn’t achieve the target the greedy shareholder set on him. But the target was unrealistic to begin with. He could not comprehend why the man chose to resign instead of fighting.
The more James dwelled on it, the more he began to resent that CEO’s decision. James secretly looked down on him. He couldn’t comprehend why that man would leave such a position of power and try opening up a new business. Such a risk-taker with no gain. ‘He was crazy,’ James thought.
James followed him on social media, so he knew what happened to that CEO. That CEO had filed for bankruptcy and now worked as a mere government employee.
Now, James understood his decision a bit. He recalled when the System had invited him to this hellhole. The situation was not the same for James had nothing left when The System invited him. However, he now understood what that man was trying to do. He tried to challenge himself, trying to improve himself. The difference was that man simply failed.
James woke up with a start when he heard footsteps echoing in the cave. It was closer than James thought. The Sahuagin emerged from the lake. Their splashing sound was obscured by trickle and distant splashing that always echoed in the cave. James only realized their presence when they were already on land. They walked in a neat row.
They were walking aimlessly, as if they were looking for something. They hung their tridents in the back, showing that they were armed but not alert. James hid in the shadows, trying to mask any sound that escaped from his heart.
This was a more elite sahuagin. Their trident was the same, but these four had leather armor, helmets, and leggings. All of them were made of leather, and they looked much thinner than James’s armor. James was confused, but the reason soon became apparent. Heavy armor, such as James’s vambraces and gauntlets, would hinder their movements in the water. It would also make them sink. These elite fishmen wore armor to prove they were stronger. To prove that they could still swim well even with additional weight.
James pondered. The element of surprise was on his side now. Should he strike, or should he wait? James had lived a peaceful life before. He had grasped some basic survival skills, but he had yet to have the expertise to make strategic decisions like this.
As always, the situation soon made the decision for him. One of the fishmen wandered closer and closer to James’ position. James clenched his fist. Its muscle tightened on the axe’s handle. When the Sahuagin was within striking distance, James activated his skill.
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The Sahuagin’s unblinking eye snapped towards James. Before it could raise its trident in defense, an axe already chopped off its head. James quickly went for another Sahuagin, while drawing his sword. Another golden hue lighted up his sword.
The piscine creature reacted swiftly, activating a skill of its own, but James was faster. His sword skill, [Hurricane], carved a spinning arc from below to upwards; the skill made James leap. The sheer force of the strike sent the sahuagin flying, its body arcing through the air before crashing into the lake with a splash. A deep gash ran across its torso. Its blood soon mingled with the lake, creating a pink hue on its clear water. Its thin armor was utterly useless against James’s sword skill.
The water creature gawked at the scene before rallying themselves and charged. Confidence filled him. The creature prepared another spear skill. James smirked at the monster’s foolishness.
“Stupid creature.” James prepared to dodge. He learned that a weapon skill forced the user’s body in a predetermined motion when they executed the attack. It often left them wide open after it. If James knew a skill was coming, all he needed to do was evade and counterattack it. He had learned that weapons skills were not blockable.
The skill activated. The Sahuagin lunged its body as it intended to make a kebab out of James. Thanks to the dexterity granted by his stats, James could see the golden trajectory. Victory was within his grasp. All he needed to do was sidestep to the left, and then he would serve himself another sashimi out of it with his sword.
The decisive moment was upon him. His muscles tensed as he leaped to the side. The golden meteor from its trident passed an inch away from his head. James’s heart raced as he gripped his sword handle tightly. Yet, He was suddenly blown to the left as searing pain shot from his right arm.
It was supposed to be his victory. James had anticipated and evaded the strike. However, the spear skill didn’t stop. Instead, the blade curved sharply to its right, and the strike hit home as James was flung away like a ragdoll. An orc’s arm that was holding his trusty axe drew an arc in the air as blood sprayed out from it and onto the cave’s floor.
“GAH!!” air was knocked out of James’ new lungs as his body slammed against the cave’s walls.
“What the fuck happened? This is one heck of a shitty game.” James spat, clutching his missing arm as blood poured out from the stump. The pain made his vision blurred for a moment, but he knew he was in a battle. He stood up, gripping his sword with his remaining hand.
“What was that skill just now? It didn’t stop after a swing…” James looked at the Sahuagin in disbelief. The Sahuagin charged at him. Its trident glowed another golden hue. This time, James didn’t dare to dodge it; he quickly dropped his sword and went for the crossbow in his waist.
Pain obfuscated his concentration. His hand trembled from pain, and fear was etched into his mind. Even when he was distraught, the arrow still hit the mark. The Sahuagin felt a sharp pain shoot through its legs. It stumbled and crashed head-first into the cave’s floor. The glow on its trident flashed and disappeared, marking the cancellation of the skill. James quickly seized the opportunity. He threw away the crossbow. With the sword on the ground, he slipped the sword inside its body. The sahuagin let out a high-pitched squeal. It then twitched for a moment before laying motionless.
Now, there was only one fishman left. The one that took James’s arm. It growled angrily, its sharp threat marked for James’ death. It charged toward him with the ferocity of a shark. Golden light glowed from its trident. It’s going to use a spear skill. James drew his blade low, and a similar golden light burst from his sword. James had no more tricks left. Whatever the new skill this beast was using, he had to meet it head-on.
Time seemed to slow down as both entities closed in. James lay his sword low, his sword ready to bisect the fishmen. The fishmen came at him, preparing to skewer him. Two golden lights clashed in a thunderous boom. The sound of metal striking metal rang. They echoed, creating ripples in the water.
James was confident in his strength. His leftover orc’s arm had served him well. The Sahuagin was kicked to the ground. The sheer force of the strike dragged its body several meters back to the edge of the lake.
James’s gaze snapped to its spear. Its golden glow had faded, marking the end of the skill. He quickly seized the opportunity and stabbed the fish monster in the throat. The Sahuagin tried to fight back. However, without its skill, the trident merely scratched James’s leather armor.
[You have leveled up to Level 16! Coins Received: 40
[Name: James
Age: 35
Sex: male
Levels: 16
Coins: 170
Stats:
STR: 73 (up 3)
Dex: 66 (up 2)
Magic: 0
Mana: 0
Skills:
* Beginner Axe mastery level 8 (Powerstrike) (up 1)
* Beginner Sword mastery level 6 (Hurricane)(up 1)
* Beginner Bow Mastery level 4 (up 1) (up 1)
Unique Skill:
* Chimera:
* Goblin stomach (Iron guts) (stomach slot)
* Lightning Wolf’s fur (physical resistance +5%)(skin slot)
* Lesser Mana core (Fire spell, Magic+10, Mana +50)(Extra slot 1)
* Orc’s left arm (STR+10%) (Arm slot)
* Sahuagin’s webbed legs (+10% dexterity in water)(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 webbed hands(+10% dexterity in water)
* Sahuagin’s webbed feet (+10% dexterity in water)
]