I wander around the woods for about an hour searching for more clearings, but I came up with nothing. I started following the stream instead, as at least I can follow it back to the pond if this stream were to lead to nowhere. Fortunately, there were several clearings flanking the stream, each of them containing several wolves of with fur that are various grades of the color grey. Each wolf was far smaller than the massive wolf I fought when I arrived on this floor. If this floor was anything like the first floor, then these wolves would be far weaker than the massive wolf I faced when I first got here.
I ignored each clearing for the time being as I wanted to continue following the stream to wherever it leads. After that I can go back and start fighting. Finally, the stream leads directly into a massive clearing, and standing in it are several groups of wolves and a few of the massive wolves just like that first one. All this crap in one clearing?! That's going to be a hard nope from me for the time being. I had a bitch of a time with one of those monstrosities. I'm not about to take on a pack of them!
I shudder at what I'm looking at and head back up the stream. I'm not about to fuck with that bullshit. If I run into that clearing now, I'm as good as dog food. I make my way all the way back to the first clearing from the pond and the small pack of wolves there. Might as start my grind here.
I circle around the clearing, staying within the forest for now, evaluating each wolf, looking for weaknesses or a way to attack without just immediately getting jumped and mauled to death. I have no clue how strong these monsters are. I really need an ability that allows me to inspect my enemy to see what level they are.
Skill Acquired: Inspect
I stop looking at the pack of wolves and just stare absentmindedly blinking at the words I just saw in my vision.
"A... Are you kidding me?!" I finally croak out, shocked at what I basically wished for coming true.
Is this part of my omniscience skill? I can just think of a skill, and I acquire it? I'm going to have to test this out later. First, let's see how this skill works and if I will actually get any useful information from it. I use inspect on the closest wolf to me:
Grey Wolf
Lv. 68
HP 2000/2000
MP 0/0
Skills:
Bite
Maul
Ok that's pretty basic. I haven't looked at my status in a while, but I estimate I'm several levels above this wolf. I use inspect on the remaining 2 wolves and they are pretty much the same, just varying in level or two in either direction. I can beat them. I have leveled enough after the large wolf and the fish/sharks in the grotto, that I'm pretty sure I'm around the same level as these sharks. I just need to be decisive about my attack and not give them an opportunity to get me.
I circle around until I am behind the group, where none of the wolves are directly looking at me. I pick up a stone and sneak into the clearing. I get about 30 feet from the closest wolf, and I toss the rock, not looking to do any damage, but just to get its attention. The rock hits the dark wolf right on the ass eliciting a small yelp from the animal.
The wolf quickly turns and charges for me. The other two having not registering the threat yet, but they did turn their heads toward the yelp. They each begin to sprint toward me after they see the one wolf charging me and registering what's going on.
The first wolf reaches me long before the other two. I draw one dagger and wait for its attack. The wolf leaps at me, mouth open wide, aiming its razor-sharp teeth at my throat. The problem with jumping at your target is you can't change your trajectory once you are in the air. That's what I was counting on.
I sidestep the airborne wolf and lay my blade across its face, slicing one side of its mouth wide open, and dragging the blade along its body as it flies past me. This leaves the wolf with a massive gash the entire length of its body. It tumbles to the floor, thrashing around in pain, but still very much alive.
The other two are closing in quickly, so I can't admire my handiwork just yet. I circle around in order to line up my attackers. Unfortunately, they are close together, so attacking one and ignoring the other would be a fatal mistake. I draw my second dagger and prepare for the assault.
When the first wolf reaches me and leaps at me, I sidestep and sink my dagger into its neck, and the second dagger into its abdomen. Then, using brute strength, I arrest the wolf's momentum, and turn the wolf toward the last wolf now airborne with its mouth wide. It doesn't get me but rather its companion as it sinks its teeth into my living shield. My daggers being used as handles for my literal meat shield.
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I remove my daggers, allowing the wolf shield to drop to the floor while the third wolf is still mauling it thinking it's me. I quickly slash the third wolf, severing its head. It's jaw still clenching its writhing companion. The wolf rises to its feet and thrashes around trying to shake off the severed head that is still clamped down onto its hide.
I watch with a smile on my face as the wolf thrashes around, flinging blood everywhere from my dagger wounds and comically, the severed head still clamped down on its hide.
I leave the comical scene and face the first wolf I slashed from face to ass. It's on its feet, but it doesn't look to be in any rush to attack me. When I move to circle the wolf, I can see why. It's face is rendered wide open, its chest has a gnarly wound with several ribs exposed, some of which have deep slices in them as well. But the worst was its abdomen where the wolfs intestines are eviscerated in several locations along the gash.
I walk up to the gravely injured wolf, and it backs away in fear. My bloodlust rises when I see its fear and injuries. I rush the injured beast and it tries to cower away to protect its injuries. Unfortunately for the wolf, this leaves its neck completely exposed. I slash the exposed neck and am rewarded with a warm spray of blood from a freshly severed carotid artery.
The smell of fresh blood is like a drug to me. I get an incredible high when I smell it, and even more so if I feel it fresh from the source. I love being covered in it, the life essence of my foe coating me. I would give anything for this feeling.
I leave the fatally wounded wolf to bleed out for the dungeon and I turn to face the second wolf. It finally shook the head loose and I turn just in time to see the severed head rolling away. I let out a small chuckle at the site. This reminded me of the time I punted the severed head of that goblin on the first floor. Good times!
The remaining wolf begins to attack me again though it's two stab wounds, pouring blood, prevent the wolf from putting any real energy into its attack. It tries to leap at me but barely even gets off the ground. I slash with a dagger and cleanly slice off its lower jaw. The wolf no longer has any means of injuring me.
I put away one of my daggers, and then I stand over the thrashing animal and grab it by the scruff of its neck. It lets out a gurgling yelp as it curls up in a submissive position. I kneel on the ground and pull the wolfs head on my lap. I then lift its head slightly, slip a dagger under its neck, and slice it wide open. I lay my dagger on the ground and rest the wolfs head on my lap while I pet it. It's warm blood pulsing out from severed arteries and coating my legs.
I continue to pet the fatally injured animal enjoying its life essence pouring out all over me. I stroke its fur until I feel it's final gasp for air and the final pulse of blood hit my lap. I remain there basking in the carnage until the dungeon starts reclaiming the bodies, leaving me sitting there in an empty field with three mana stones.
New Level Acquired!
I get up, grabbing my dagger off the floor, holster it, and head back toward the stream. I head toward the other clearings where I repeat the carnage in each one, gaining 3 more levels. Once I eliminated all enemies in every clearing, except for the final one that has several of those massive wolves, I follow the stream headed back toward my pond.
I made my way back to the pond but before I get to the water to jump in to wash off, I stop and think for a second. I slowly turn back toward the direction of the first clearing with the massive wolf that almost killed me. I have leveled up almost two dozen times since then, maybe more, so I wonder how I would fare against that monstrosity now. I'm feeling really good and still high from my last kills, so I seriously consider doing it.
I make up my mind and I head back to the large clearing and the massive wolf that almost killed me. I soon arrive at the clearing; the massive black wolf is facing away from me. I just stand there in wonder that I actually fought that thing. It's like fighting a large SUV if that SUV were to have teeth and claws. Let's see what it actually is, I use inspect.
[Elite] Dire Wolf
Lv. 80
HP: 5000/5000
MP: 0/0
Skills:
Dash
Bite
Maul
Well, that explains why I had such a hard time with this thing. First, it was easily 20 levels above me at the time, maybe even 30 levels, making it much stronger than me. Second, it has that Elite tag, of which I have no clue what that means, but I assume gives it an even greater boost to its stats. Finally, that dash skill. That explains why it got to me in pretty much a blink of an eye. That probably increases its speed by a considerable margin.
I have not taken a look at my stats since before I even fought the Minotaur I believe. I don't even know where I stand at this point. Status Open!
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[https://i.imgur.com/gqfzV1C.png]
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I look wide eyed at my stats. Here I thought I was just about the same level as the wolves I just faced. I guess I wasn't counting my levels properly. I cannot believe how strong I have become. When I was thrown into this dungeon, I believe I was only level 12, discarded in here as if I were trash. My captors obviously knew this place was FAR above even their levels, and it would make a convenient place to dispose of a person. Who would be stupid enough to even come looking for someone who went missing in here? It's pretty obvious what that person's fate would be. I close my eyes and thank them, for if they had not dumped me down here, I wouldn't have become this strong. I may be thanking them now, but I'm still going to kill them all when I get out of here though. I'm not done yet. This is only the second floor of this labyrinth, and I intend to conquer it all. I open my eyes and fix my gaze on my opponent, blissfully unaware that I'm behind it...