IDBIRR Chapter 9: Leveling Up Steadily.

How long has it been already since I've awaken into this body? A few days? weeks...? No, A month, if I count it right. It has already been a month since I started grinding for some levels. In order to grow. In order to proceed.

All I could think of through a whole month, was to proceed.

The stronger I become, the slower my progression becomes. It came to a crossing point of where I had no more need to kill. This Labyrinth cannot satisfy the needs I lack anymore. In other words, the monsters EXP weren't enough to quickly raise my Lvl anymore.

In the past month that I had roamed here, I stopped at nothing in order to become stronger. Day in and out, from hours to no end, I was dyed in red for most of the part, and then surrounded by light particles after.

It became a daily routine, with no rest, nor lives to spare. I kill, and killed, and slew. As how the Administrator claimed, the variants were a killing machine bred for war.

It was like having a god of war possess over your body and continue to slaughter and massacre everything within sight.

I heard from the administrator that the monsters themselves "refresh" daily. Think of it as a respawn cycle, where monsters will be recreated in their territory, but as the cycle goes on, the monsters become more dangerous and powerful only by a little bit.

But it wasn't enough, it felt like there was something missing in order for me to proceed. Although I became strong enough to rule over this Labyrinth, I still have a dreaded thought of a very overwhelming difference of gap between me and Big Boss.

Which meant I was still weak. I was faced with a wall in which I couldn't climb over, no matter what effort I tried pulled off.

Damn...just how strong is he?

I haven't even fought him yet, but I'm already losing confidence.

Administrator, tell me...

Tell me how? Why isn't my level increasing just like it used to? It feels like...I'm missing something...but I just can't put my finger around it.

[[What you're missing...is something a Variant Golem's innate trait should prioritize.]]

I knew it, I really was missing out on something. Administrator, please tell me.

[[What you're missing...is food consumption.]]

I see- wait what?

[[The Variants, unlike any other Golems, can consume.]]

Consume...consume what exactly? Meat? If that was the case, I would've collected the pieces of [monster meat] I received from loot drops.

But that doesn't seem to be the case...you would've told me to stop throwing them away, weeks ago.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

[[The Variants have no need for normal food consumption of meat or vegetables. What they need in order to proceed, is the consumption of Minerals.]]

Huh? Like...metal? rocks? or gold??

[[Indeed. Consuming Minerals is a vital necessity for the Variant Golems.]]

[[Let it be a rock, copper, gold, crystals, silver, titanium, orichalcum, etc.]]

[[The body of the Variants uses a special natural function in which increases their gain for growth.]]

[[It was due to this discovery, the Earth King, who created the Variants, used this newfound power in order to raise an unstoppable force of an army, and then, conquer the lands that reached the span of his already spreading wings.]]

Huh, who would've thought my race would have a complicated history like that.

Looking at the scrap of metals I've collected, I guess it was due to my natural instincts to collect my food.

But then...how would I eat my food? My mouth doesn't open by my own will, it only stays shut.

And even if I was able to open it.....wouldn't I choke on hard pieces of metal?

Remember kids, eating small pieces of hard objects is bad for you. Especially if they are sharp scraps of metal.

[[No need to worry, my dear Angus. Upon trying to consuming your natural source of nutrients, your mouth will automatically open itself in order for you to put it inside your mouth.]]

[[No known mineral, no matter how hard it is, can defy the jaws of a Variant Golem. It will only melt in your mouth like heated butter. Vanishing into the void that is deep in your throat.]]

[[Keep in mind also that the better the quality of the mineral, the better it's effects will be to your body. Some may even give temporary buffs to you.]]

I see...so the minerals are like an EXP booster for my kind. It doesn't necessarily permanently increases my stats, but helps to gain EXP.

[[I am delighted to see you understand it so well. If you have more questions to ask, please, without reservation, ask away.]]

Then...

I took out some scraps of metal.

What DOES this taste like?? I already forgot what metal tastes like...and I don't even want to imagine eating one...

[[Chicken.]]

What?

[[Iron tastes like chicken.]]

Huh?!

I took a bite out of the chunk of metal. Oh, my mouth actu-

*crunch*

T-....This flavor!

This simmered like taste....this crunchiness!

The CRISP!

The instense SPICE!

I-It's heavenlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!~~~ *foodgasm sounds*

W-Wait! This ain't that anime!

With every bite I took, and every metal I swallowed.

A nostalgic taste brought flavor to my grayed out world.

It...actually...tastes like chicken...

[[I'm happy that you seem to be enjoying yourself Angus.]]

Haha...am I now? It's been a century since I tasted food.

Who would've known...that just a taste would be enough to compensate for all this time?

[[Savor it well. Eating is a special delicacy for conscious sentiences that's able to consume.]]

You said it alright. Now let's eat this buffet!

I took out all of my scrap metals and slowly, at my own pace, munched all of it.

.

.

.

There's...no more left.

[[Sadly, all of your stock of scrap metals have all been devoured. Would you like to farm for more scrap metals?]]

Farm? You mean that fancy word you use when you slay a bunch of monsters to gather more EXP and specific Loot Drops?

[[Indeed you are correct.]]

[[I suggest that we farm for scrap metals.]]

[[Just further ahead. We can slay the Dark Armored Knight who just recently respawned from the Labyrinth.]]

Oh! That guy already spawned in?! Isn't he the guy that drops a lot of scrap metals?!

[[Indeed he does. With that monster, you can mostly satisfy your hunger, as he drops the best of metal scraps we could ever receive from monster drops.]]

Oho~! So he has even more delicious food tucked into him.

Well then, why don't we start our hunt?!

Just as I was about to run towards the Dark Armored Knight's Boss Room. I heard a couple of footsteps and noises.

Wait, it can't be...

Don't tell me...

I quickly sank into the ground and followed the voices that echoed through the halls.

With haste movement, I stumbled upon beings I never would have thought I'd be able to encounter again...

???: "So, what're we hunting for today?"

???: "Eeeh~ I dunnooo~ Fufu, It depends on oooour dear little sister~"

???: "We're gonna raise our levels! And then beat the hell out of that bastard!"

Humans.