Seth sat in an alcove, the curved structure giving him shelter as he bit down hard on the raw meat of the Cave Lizard that he had just killed half an hour ago.
A stab to the eye had been enough for him to kill the Level 7 Lizard, but chasing it had taken a long time. By the time he was done with it, his stomach was rumbling and he had no choice but to cut off the meaty parts of the monster to eat.
"This tastes so bad. I would do anything for some chicken right now."
He stared at the brown, unappetizing meat of the monster in his hand that he had cut into smaller pieces to eat it more easily. He had no idea if the meat was even edible, especially raw. But he had no other option and there was no way to light a fire in this godforsaken cave.
Seth had been eating it for a few days and thankfully, he hadn’t fallen sick. Although it tasted horrible, there didn't seem to be any bad effects other than the horrible aftertaste. The meat did its job and that was as much as he would get.
He had also found a small pool of water to drink from.
"Maybe it's because of my increased stats that I'm able to digest this without any side effects."
His thoughts wandered to his fights with the Cave Lizards as he ate. At first, it had not been easy. He had escaped death by a hair’s breadth quite a few times, but as he had levelled up, his hiding and fighting skills had gotten better. It was as if with each skill level and class level, his system was pumping information into his brain.
Though, one strange thing he noticed was the efficiency of his weapon.
The Dark Blade - ???
"I still can't see any information." Seth examined the blade, squinting his eyes at the symbols. He hadn't noticed it before, but they seemed to glow dimly. He couldn't understand them, but he found himself relying on the dagger a lot to kill monsters, almost as if it was an extension of his arm and it had been made for that sole purpose.
"I don't know how I got it, but I need to find out what these symbols mean. Maybe it would give me a clue on how to get out of this place."
The only thing Seth wanted more than good cooked food was to see the light of the day. Though, that seemed like a distant dream right now.
Shaking his head, he pulled out his status screen, and eyed it.
Name: Seth Williams
Age/Sex: 31 years/Male
Affiliations: None
Class: Rogue
Rank: 1
Level: 8
Titles: Earther, Bane of Monsters
Skills: Identify (Level 2), Backstab (Level 3), Passive Sneak (Level 4), Double Slash (Level 2), Nocturnal (Level 3), Dagger Mastery (Level 1)
Mana: 110
Health: 150
Stats
Strength - 17
Agility - 26
Constitution - 15
Wisdom - 11
Luck - 16
Other than the stat points he had gained in Agility and Strength, he had invested most of his points in Constitution after finding out that it increased his health points. They were correlated, so bringing Constitution to 15 had increased his health points to 150.
He had also invested 2 stat points in his Luck stat. Although he didn't know if he was right, he credited the Giant Centry leaving him alive to his Luck stat. Even in games he had played, luck applied to better critical strikes and finding loot, so it wasn't a waste.
There was also the "Bane of Monsters" title he had gained that gave him 10% surge in attack power everytime he's against an enemy of superior level than him. It had helped him a lot in previous battles.
His skills had also grown a lot in the last few days. The newest addition was Dagger Mastery that he had gained just yesterday while killing two Level 5 Cave Lizards.
Dagger Mastery (Level 1): A passive skill that increases efficiency while using Daggers and improves chances of landing a critical hit.
The skill made him feel connected to the dagger. He also noticed that he was holding it a bit differently from before, in a way that would let his attacks land faster.
All thanks to one skill.
I wonder how many skills are there for me to collect, he thought, getting up from the ground and deciding to go hunt more monsters. Truthfully, Seth would have already gone crazy from the silence of the cave had he not had monsters to kill. It was the only thing he could do here and by this point, he had started treating stalking prey as a hobby. Hunting had become quite addictive.
You have concealed yourself in the surroundings!
With that, he was off.
He had already grown familiar with most of the area around him where the Cave Lizards frequented. With his Nocturnal skill, he could see without any problems, so scouting was easier.
It seemed like monsters had divided their areas among different species somehow. Taking a right tunnel would lead to the Cave Rats and the left would lead to the Lizards.
Seth took the left one and stayed close to the walls in a crouched position. Any monster nearby would not be able to detect him.
Thus, he slowly advanced forward, keeping to his usual route of hunting, but strangely found no monsters. Usually, they would be in a group and then he would just have to tail them.
He didn't give up and increased his speed. Soon, he felt the air around him grow heavy. The damp smell of the cave was filled with something that Seth had gotten familiar with.
Death!
He stopped, looking around the vast cave. Finally, his eyes landed on a dead body lying in a small puddle of blood. It wasn't a Cave Lizard. Instead, it was covered in a black fur coat.
It was a Cave Rat.
What are they doing here in this area?
Checking its level, he found that it was Level 12. Seth walked closer to it and saw marks all over its body as well as a large wound on its head, like someone had smashed its head on a wall.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Raising his head, he found out that it wasn't the only dead body around. A whole trail of them followed, all of them being Cave Rats between Level 8-12. Most of them had been killed in a similar way and three of them had a burst head. Whoever had killed them had done it brutally.
Seth followed the trail slowly and soon, his steps came to a halt. In front of him, a Cave Lizard was smashing the face of a Cave Rat with a ferociousness he had never seen before. Blood and brain matter spilled everywhere, but the lizard seemed to be enjoying the gruesome act.
As he stared, he noticed that the Cave Lizard was a bit different than the ones he had seen before. It had red eyes and was taller in height, almost as tall as Seth. The scales upon its back looked tougher, its tail twice as long as the average Cave Lizard. And rather than sharper claws, it had more brute power as it punched the Cave Rat repeatedly.
It gave off the feeling of a boxer.
One use of his identity skill was enough for Seth to realise why.
Cave Lizard Brawler - Level 13
A brawler? Is it a variant or just an evolved version? Seth wondered as the brawler continued its assault even after the Cave Rat was dead. The monster was clearly a case of short temperedness and crazy.
He contemplated his course of action here, his eyes on the back of the brawler. Should he return back and find some weaker monster to hunt? Or should he take the chance?
The difference between their levels told Seth that he should back away, but the lower levelled Cave Lizards weren't really giving him the experience he wanted. Levelling up took more and more kills.
The brawler had a few scratches and wounds on its body. The Cave Rats hadn’t gone down without a fight. If he could kill the brawler, he would level up once at least.
If it doesn't work out, I could at least run away.
One thing Seth was now confident of was his ability to run. His Agility stat was his highest and he knew his way around this part of the cave. He could easily escape if things went wrong. With his backup plan in place, he moved fast.
The brawler was still punching the face of the Cave Rat, lost in its rage. Taking the chance, Seth moved towards it, using boulders in the way to approach his target sneakily. His steps made no noise as he reached the brawler.
Then, he Backstabbed it, hoping that it would be a one hit kill. Blood gushed out as Seth put all his strength into his attack, yet he wasn't able to go all the way in, the hide of the brawler too thick.
It let out a sharp, screeching noise like it was trying to roar and turned around. Rageful eyes landed on Seth and pressure weighed down on him. It felt like he was being looked down upon by a being that was more evolved than him.
The pressure only stayed for a second as he fought it, taking out the knife and holding it in front of the monster.
Immediately, he used his other skill, Double Slash. His body moved faster than the blinking of an eye as he aimed for the torso. Before the brawler could react, he made two sharp cuts. It let out a screeching noise filled with pain.
"That’s obviously not enough to kill it," Seth muttered and retreated a step, but the next moment, a punch hit him right in the stomach. Blood and spittle flew from his mouth.
It's too fast, Seth thought. He spent the next few moments putting his everything into dodging the brawler’s attacks. If even one more punch struck him, he would be close to death.
As he kept dodging, the brawler grew more and more agitated. In that agitation, Seth managed to hit it two more times. The damage was nothing compared to what would’ve happened if the brawler managed to hit him. He was losing stamina with every passing second and he knew that it wouldn't be long before he would join the dead rats on the floor.
Seeing an opening, he kicked the brawler in the stomach, pushing it back a few steps.
The brawler stared at him, eyes looking excited for a fight, but before it could launch a few more attacks, Seth turned around and ran away.
Slitted eyes followed him in bafflement.
I need to run. That monster is too dangerous.
Seth ran as fast as he could, making no attempt to conceal himself. His stomach hurt from the attack, but he wasn't focusing on it. Adrenaline helped him not focus on the pain and only on the running.
Soon, he heard a loud screech. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the brawler close on his heels.
Ah, fuck!
He put more energy into running and tried to change his course, but no matter what, the brawler kept following him, screeching at every turn like it couldn't wait to kill him. Unlike the Forsaken Prowler, Seth couldn't even use stones as distractions here.
His only option was using the terrain he knew and hiding before the brawler caught up to him. Every corner he turned, he looked for a hiding spot, but found nothing.
The brawler picked up pace and it wouldn't be long before it could catch up to him.
I am really going to die like this!
Seth regretted attacking the monster with every fibre of his being and prayed to whatever God was free enough to listen to help him. And as if his prayers had been answered, when he took another turn, he finally saw something that gave him hope .
An alcove.
It was one with a boulder in front of it and just enough space for him to slide in. Without wasting any time, he jumped in, his knees scraping upon the jagged ends of the rocky surface.
He quickly tried to slow his breathing, pushing himself to the farthest corner.
You have concealed yourself in the surroundings!
Seth calmed down at the sight of the message.
Hopefully, the brawler couldn't see him anymore. Footsteps echoed and Seth soon saw the outline of the brawler. His heartbeat increased, but his opponent passed by the alcove, looking for him.
He took a sigh of relief, and prayed for the brawler to leave.
But it didn't.
It just stood a few steps away from the alcove, looking around for Seth.
A few minutes passed by but the brawler was still standing there.
Why isn't it moving?
Seth, perplexed, studied the Lizard Brawler's body. Blood was still gushing out from the area he had attacked and although he hadn't noticed before, the bruise and cut wounds from the battle with the Cave Rats were quite severe.
If not for its rage, he was sure that the brawler wouldn't be standing.
Do you really not plan to go away?
Seth frowned as the brawler still didn't move. He saw no way out of this. If he tried to run, the brawler would attack him, but he also knew that he couldn’t stay in the alcove forever.
I need to take a chance again.
He gulped, knowing that the last time he had attacked the brawler, it hadn't gone well, but it looked too bloodied and bruised. Something inside of him told him that it would work this time. He just had to make use of his skills.
Thinking it through, Seth finally decided to act.
He waited until the brawler’s back was facing him, before he crawled out, slowly walking up to him and aiming at the wound he had given it on the neck.
A screeching sound followed as Seth Backstabbed the brawler, putting all his force into it. The brawler tried to throw Seth away, but he stabbed harder, blood spurting everywhere.
For a moment, Seth doubted whether a second backstab would be enough. The skin of the brawler was too thick, but with a little bit more force, a flurry of notifications popped up in his vision, just above the now dead body of the brawler.
You have landed a critical blow!
You have defeated a Cave Lizard Brawler!
You have defeated an evolved monster!
You have received experience!
You have levelled up to Level 9! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 points in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.
You have received experience!
You have levelled up to Level 10! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 point in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.
Your skill "Backstab" has levelled up to Level 4!
You have reached Level 10! You can now move to the next Rank. Do you want to evolve your class?
Blood pooled at Seth’s feet as he basked in the success of his hardest kill till now. It had been hard and he had almost died, but the end result rewarded him with two more levels.
He smiled at his notifications, particularly on the last one. Class evolution? He had a slight idea of what it meant.
"I can finally rel—"
No sooner had he said that, a rumbling voice echoed in the distance.
Seth turned around, only to freeze. In front of him, a group of over 20 Cave Lizards stood, their slit-like eyes looking over at the dead body of the brawler, then locking onto him.
They erupted into enraged hissing.
Fuck... My luck is really in the gutters today!