BXBX NOVEL Chapter 67 Strength
Tap... Tap...
Rain pounded against my body, soaking through my clothes and sending shivers down my spine. I clutched my katana tightly, unwilling to let go despite the exhaustion weighing me down.
My eye flickered and my breath came in ragged gasps. The battle was over, but its toll had left me on the brink of collapse. Though I had vanquished the shadows, my body screamed from various wounds.
There was also a strange status window hanging above my eyes, but with one eye wounded and the other obscured by blood, I couldn't read its contents.
"..."
My left hand was numb, but I forced it to move, fingers trembling as I fished out a health potion from my Spatial Ring. With only three fingers left, it was a struggle to hold the vial steady as I brought it to my lips.
The cool yet disgusting liquid flooded my mouth, soothing my parched throat and starting to slowly mend my battered body.
The potion tasted foul, but I forced it down without so much as a grimace. My mind was growing hazy, a side-effect of the blood loss.
Clank...
I threw my Katana in my inventory and stumbled to a nearby log, once a tree before it was cut down by the Demon Worshipper's Shadow.
My back slid down the rough surface as I slumped against it, too drained to stand on my own. The potion had mended some of my injuries, but I knew it would take time for my body to fully recover.
"What the hell are you..."
I muttered, squinting at the bright azure window hovering before my eyes. The light was so irritating that I had to shut my eyes tight.
Slowly, I wiped the blood from my face and opened my eye, gazing at the glowing screen.
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I stared at the characters hanging in the air, watching as they slowly dissipated into nothingness. My jaw clenched, and I was about to speak when I bit my tongue, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
"What the hell!"
I called up my status window, scanning my skills and styles for any changes. But nothing was different. It was as if the previous screen had been a figment of my imagination, a mirage created by my fatigued mind.
No way in hell was I just imagining things, I know what I saw, but what was that? I never recall anything like that appearing in the game. There wasn't even a mention of something similar to a Status window appearing before someone's eyes.
"..."
A creeping fear of the unknown threatened to consume me, and suddenly, every shadow around me seemed to stir to life again.
Ever since I had reincarnated in Leclentia, I had relied on my knowledge of future events as a safety net.
However, with the escape of the Wyvern and the changes in our Wild Lands outing, I felt like I was losing control.
The shadows that I had vanquished now seemed to mock me, their very existence a reminder that my knowledge was limited.
"Focus..."
I muttered, giving myself a sharp slap on the cheeks to shake off the dark thoughts. Although the events were getting out of hand, I wouldn't allow this to hinder my progress.
So what if the knowledge I had brought with me to Leclentia have been altered by unforeseen events? I'll just lay out extra safety measures to avoid being bitten by these unknown variables.
I took a deep breath and scanned the area, keeping a sharp eye out for any signs of danger.
The shadows thrown by the trees seemed harmless enough, not as deep as the ones that had attacked me. I tried to ignore them, focusing instead on assessing my injuries. My body was battered and bruised, but I deemed it capable of walking.
With a deep breath, I pushed myself to my feet. The rain had lessened to a drizzle, but the cold still clung to my bones. I shook it off and focused on the task at hand.
I needed to retrieve the artifact before any of the monsters within the dungeon had a chance to respawn. I didn't relish the thought of having to fight my way through hundreds of them if I could avoid it.
Every second counted, and I couldn't afford to waste any time.
With a determined stride, I headed towards the lush greenery, my eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement.
Tap... Tap...
As I took each step, my body slowly healed, though the pain in my eye persisted, it was bearable.
It was strange to think that once, I was just a guy who played video games every day, and now, I was like one of those unstoppable machines from movies, pushing through pain to reach my goal.
I felt slight excitement comparing myself to the terminator, but I knew I wasn't a robot, just a person who found himself in a fucked-up world.
I had powers, but I was up against an entire race of demons. Some might envy my position, but it was honestly very stressful and hard.
I had been thrilled to be reborn into a fantasy world, but my dreams of god-like power and a perfect life were quickly shattered. The path ahead was treacherous, and I was weak. I doubted my ability to make it through without stumbling.
Still, I couldn't give up. Doing so would be a death wish. If I failed, the Protagonists and the world would fall with me. I had to be the shadow player, controlling the situation from behind the scenes, making sure everything worked out.
"For my own good..."
I muttered under my breath, as I walked over a small hill and caught sight of the tree made entirely of stone
My eyes were drawn to the rubies and emeralds that shone on its rocky branches, but I ignored the valuable gems and instead focused on the roots of the tree - or more specifically, the gap between them.
"Found it..."
Taking a deep breath, I approached the gap between the stone roots, the small entrance that would unlock my next destination. From my Spatial Ring, I withdrew a key.
The key was, of course, my Katana!
Clank...
I 'carefully' inserted my blade into the lock and moved with such care that the sounds of metal clashing against rock echoed throughout the entire vicinity.
It is said that violence is not the answer, but sometimes it can be a key.
After a few moments of fiddling, the stone plates gave way and parted, revealing a dark entrance beyond.
I took a deep breath and stepped inside, my Katana at the ready. The darkness inside was suffocating, and I couldn't see anything. But I could hear the sound of something moving in the distance, something large and menacing.
I slowly made my way forward, my eyes trying to adjust to the darkness. As I moved deeper into the cavern, the sound grew louder and closer.
And then I saw it.
A massive lizard stood before me, its eyes glowing red in the darkness. It towered over me, its muscles rippling beneath its skin. It looked like it was made of stone and lava, and its scales were as thick as my bones.
I gripped my Katana tightly and took a defensive stance, ready to strike at any moment. The monster bellowed and charged towards me, its claws extended.
Whoosh...
I dodged to the side and sliced at its limb, but my blade barely left a scratch on its stone-like skin. The creature roared in anger and swung at me with its massive tail, but I jumped over it and landed behind it.
I struck again, aiming for its weak spot, but the lizard was too fast. It spun around and slammed its tail into the ground, sending shockwaves through the cavern.
I struggled to keep my balance, but I managed to stay on my feet. I had to find a way to defeat this monster, and fast.
Whoosh...
My blade became coated with Shadows, blending almost seamlessly with the dimly lit cavern. Unfortunately, it failed to leave any damage on the Lizard's tough skin.
Although the monster was only F Rank, its defense was better than average, and I lacked the necessary firepower to pierce through its scales. They were as tough as metal plates!
Swish...
That was until golden threads began forming on my palm, and my Aura blade appeared in the length of a dagger. It cost me nearly half of my remaining mana reserves to create it, but I had to take the risk.
I had approximately thirty seconds before my mana ran out completely.
Roar...
Suddenly, the Lizard roared and charged at me, but it was momentarily blinded by the light of my shining Aura Blade. Taking advantage of the moment, I sliced its neck.
Thud...
The monster fell to the ground and I breathed a sigh of relief. For now, everything was going according to plan.