Chapter 15: Incoming Danger
[Name: Steampunk Bee Spirit]
Rank: None
Potential: F-
Status
* Strength: 3
* Constitution: 3
* Agility: 1
* Intelligence: 0
* Mana: 0
* Mana Power: 0/0
* Spirit Power: 0/50
Skills
* [Ferocious Bullet Stinger]
* [Invisibility]
The bee spirit buzzed silently behind Niko, translucent wings shimmering faintly in the dim light of the clearing. He grinned, his mind racing with the possibilities. "This is leagues ahead of those weak spirits," he thought, feeling the thrill of power. The Steampunk Bee Spirit might have been one of the lowest-ranking creatures in the world, but with its unique potential and deadly skills, Niko was already imagining an entire swarm at his command.
"Who needs an army when I can build one?" he mused. The bee’s [Ferocious Bullet Stinger] had already proven its lethality, capable of wounding Louis even when it missed its mark. With a ranged attack like that in his arsenal, Niko felt a surge of confidence. But it was the second skill that truly set his mind alight—[Invisibility]. The ability to make the spirit vanish, move through solid objects, and reappear in ambush was a game-changer. "This could be my ace in the hole."
But there were still so many questions. “Does the spirit inherit its skills from the creature it once was? If I kill a human with a skill, could I summon their spirit with that ability? What are the limits?” Niko felt a rush of excitement, tempered by the unknown dangers of this world.
Before he could dwell too much on the implications, Maria’s voice broke the silence.
“Did anyone else notice their EXP go up?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
“EXP?” Simon tilted his head, then quickly muttered, “Status.”
Niko followed suit, his mind immediately summoning his own status screen.
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[Name: Niko Lazar]
Level: 1
Exp: 0.11%
Status
* Strength: 1
* Constitution: 1 (+2)
* Agility: 1
* Intelligence: 1 (+1)
* Mana: 1 (+1)
* Mana Power: 1/4
Unique Title
* One Surrounded by Spirits (Passive)
Skills
* [Celestial Probe]
* [Spirit King’s Order]
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Niko’s face darkened. “That’s it?” he muttered under his breath, the disappointment seeping through his voice. The others seemed equally unimpressed as they checked their own statuses.
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“Yeah… only 0.18 EXP for me,” Simon groaned, shaking his head.
“I got 0.36!” Maria chimed in, her eyes bright with excitement. Niko didn’t miss the spark of triumph in her voice, though it only served to deepen his own frustration.
"Why did I get less than them?" he wondered, his mind racing through the possibilities. "Is it because I let my spirits do the killing?" He sighed, starting to see the cruel limitations of his skill. "This world really is unforgiving..." If even killing dangerous monsters barely scratched the surface of experience gain, leveling up would be a brutal grind.
"If I have to kill 10,000 of these creatures just to reach the next level, what kind of nightmare have I been thrown into?" The thought weighed heavily on him. For someone like Marcos to reach level 11, it was now clear that countless battles and near-death experiences must have been the price.
Niko clenched his fists. "It’s going to take more than just strength to survive here. It’ll take strategy—and allies." He glanced around at the small group he’d found himself with. While he didn’t trust anyone fully, he knew they were in this together, at least for now. Louis, with his agility and speed, could be an invaluable asset. Simon, with his RPG knowledge, had already proven himself useful. Maria’s trapping skill, though newly acquired, could play a crucial role in future fights.
They sat in the grass, facing one another, exchanging thoughts as the tension built. The monsters were unpredictable, and the dead flies lying nearby were a grim reminder of the stakes. Simon broke the silence, rubbing his hands together nervously.
“It’s been a while since the last wave,” he said. “Feels like something’s about to happen.”
Louis nodded. “Yeah... I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Suddenly, a metallic clang echoed through the jungle, sharp and menacing.
Clang! Clang!
Niko’s heart jumped into his throat. The sound was unnatural, unlike anything they’d encountered so far. It wasn’t the buzzing of flies or the mechanical whirring of the bees. This was something bigger—something far worse.
“Move!” Niko snapped, his instincts kicking in. He commanded his bee spirit to go invisible, not wanting the others to see it yet. They retreated, nerves on edge, as the clanging grew louder, the ground trembling beneath their feet.
Boom!
Trees at the edge of the jungle bent and snapped under the force of something immense. Then, a figure hurtled out of the darkness, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Niko’s breath caught as he realized who it was.
“Marcos?!”
The crowd fell into stunned silence as Marcos staggered to his feet. His armor was cracked, blood trickling down the side of his face, and his once imposing figure looked shaken. He gripped his sword tightly, the blade trembling in his hands.
“Prepare yourselves!” Marcos shouted, his voice strained but commanding. “Those without skills, fall back! Everyone else, get ready—we’ll need every bit of strength to survive this!”
Niko’s pulse quickened as he stepped forward, joining the other skill-bearers. If Marcos got thrown around like that... what kind of monster are we facing? His mind raced, but there was no time to hesitate. He’d have to trust the spirits he’d summoned, the skills he’d learned, and the people around him.
“Those with buffing skills, hit me with everything you’ve got!” Marcos barked, his eyes scanning the group. “Ranged fighters, keep your distance. Close-combat fighters, stick with me and... good luck.” His grim expression said it all—this was a fight for survival.
For a moment, no one moved. The fear was suffocating, hanging over them like a dark cloud.
“Now!” Marcos roared.
Crack!
The trees at the jungle’s edge splintered, snapping like brittle bones. The ground trembled as a massive silhouette emerged, towering over the clearing. Niko’s breath hitched, his heart pounding in his chest.
The creature stepped forward, its long, spiked limbs gleaming in the pale light. It was enormous—over three meters tall, with a body covered in dark, chitinous armor that shimmered like metal. Its eyes, cold and unblinking, locked onto the group with predatory intent.
A monstrous praying mantis, its scythe-like arms raised high, screeched into the night, sending a wave of terror through the group.
Niko’s hands tightened into fists. This wasn’t a game anymore. This was death, standing right in front of them.