books44 Chapter 31 Emerald Forest
Chapter 31 Emerald Forest
Boom!
The moment the vortex threw me out, my senses felt empty, and at the same time, an even stronger feeling of nausea washed over me.
This is likely because I passed through two portals simultaneously. One took us to the dungeon entrance, while the other led us directly into the depths of the dungeon. The two were connected, so there was no interruption, but this also meant a longer teleportation time and stronger repulsion.
"Ugh..." I gritted my teeth and tried my best to suppress the urge to vomit.
“Oh? Not bad, you managed to hold back on your first visit,” the man said. His voice brought me back to my senses and reminded me that there were other people present. I turned to look at him and saw him take out a cigar from his pocket, light it, and wear a smug smile.
"Tsk!" I clicked my tongue inwardly, glaring at him. Was this guy doing it unintentionally, or on purpose? The smoke alone was enough to make my lungs ache.
I can't help but wonder, how can these people not care about their health when they inhale this stuff every day?
But in the end, I have no right to criticize others... After all, I am currently putting my body on the brink of life and death, and everyone has their own reasons.
"What? Wondering how I knew this was your first time here?" He misunderstood my gaze. "Kid, I've seen way too many people like you. I've been in this business for ages." He said in a boastful tone, but that only made me more annoyed.
“Nobody wants to know how long you’ve been here. Just by your habits, I can tell you’ve been here for at least 15 years,” I thought to myself as I stood up.
"Sigh... You really are a weirdo. Anyway, I'm leaving now. You should have already read the rules... You can stay here for a maximum of ten days. If you haven't left after ten days, we'll assume you're in danger and send a rescue team. But then your money will be deducted, so it's up to you."
He waved as he spoke. I nodded and began to organize my gear.
"Good luck." After saying that last sentence, he turned and left, heading towards the dungeon entrance, leaving me alone here.
And so I stood there, watching him leave.
"what……"
I took off my mask, took a deep breath of fresh air, and calmed my mind. The air was filled with the fragrance of the forest, which invigorated me.
The dungeon was vast and vibrant, a stark contrast to the artificial environment of the academy, exuding a wild atmosphere. Tall trees formed a green canopy overhead, sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows. The air was filled with the melodious chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
But I knew perfectly well that it was all an illusion. My keen eyes had already detected signs of battle in the gentle breeze. There was even a faint smell of blood in the air, indicating that a fight had recently taken place.
This means even the dungeon entrance isn't safe. However, I haven't sensed any monsters yet.
I took a step forward, and the ground seemed to pulsate faintly; I could sense a magical flow in the area. It was a very subtle feeling, a reminder that this was no ordinary forest, but a place filled with magic and danger.
The dungeon was shrouded in an air of mystery, and this unpredictable environment kept me constantly on my guard. Every step I took felt like stepping into the unknown, as if every tree and every bush held a secret.
And all of this stems from the monsters that inhabit this place. The [Savage] had already provided me with information about the monsters in the dungeon.
There are three main types of monsters that inhabit this area.
"The Singer"
This is the first type of monster. These monsters look like monkeys, but having come from a magical otherworld, they have long since evolved.
'Roar! '
Just as I was thinking, a piercing scream came from the forest.
This is one of their skills or characteristics. These monsters are marked as intermediate tier 2, and although their physical attack capabilities are not strong, they are known for their deafening screams and ranged sonic attacks.
More importantly, they usually operate in groups.
As I was pondering these things, I sensed the presence of some monsters around me.
'Shh shh shh'
As the leaves rustled, a monster charged rapidly toward me.
It was a wolfhound-like monster, but it also had some human-like features. It attacked me with its two claws raised high.
I could sense the killing intent in its attack, but I was already prepared for that.
'clang!'
I raised my dagger and immediately blocked its claws.
"I was originally planning to use a bow or a gun, but let's deal with this first."
With that thought in mind, I channeled my magic into the dagger. This time, my magic was white, unlike the red of the last time. I wasn't sure what caused the change in color, but I definitely felt different than before.
If red magic makes me more bloodthirsty, then white magic makes me more agile...
'Whoosh! '
The monster lunged at me again with its ferocious face, its sharp claws aimed straight at my chest.
'Whoosh! '
I quickly dodged the attack to the side and retaliated with a side kick, making the monster stagger. But it quickly regained its balance and roared as it pounced on me.
"Roar..." The monster's roar made me even more focused.
Its movements tell me that its body is designed for fast attacks, making it a glass cannon type of monster.
This is why its body is relatively weak. And in such battles, the first to be hit is usually the winner.
'Swish swish swish!'
Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly swung my dagger, delivering three precise slashes to the monster, forcing it to retreat temporarily.
However, this was not enough to completely repel it. The monster growled again, preparing to launch another fierce attack. But its leg was injured, and my attack targeted its weak point—the tendon—greatly reducing its speed and making its attack posture clumsy.
"This is your end."
With a whisper, I lowered my center of gravity and dodged its attack.
'prick!'
The dagger in my right hand pierced its body precisely, blood gushing from the wound, and the monster staggered.
"Awooo..." It let out a painful cry, but I showed no mercy.
'brush! '
With a final, clean strike, I severed the monster's neck.
I wiped the blood from my dagger and stored the monster's corpse in my spatial bracelet. This was just the beginning. Taking a deep breath, my eyes sharpened like an eagle's, preparing for more battles. "It's time to make some money."
I activated the skill [Keen Eyes] and began to carefully observe the monsters around me, locating every trace of them.
"It seems there are only some kobolds around. It appears the magic concentration at the dungeon entrance is low, and there aren't any particularly powerful monsters."
The operating mechanism of dungeons is actually very similar to that of wild ecosystems. Anyone who has studied biology should be familiar with the concept of "species distribution" and the various factors that influence its distribution.
The concentration of magic in the dungeon determines the strength of the monsters. The higher the concentration of magic, the stronger the monsters will occupy that area. It's like the rule of capitalism: the strong get stronger, and the weak can only eke out a living.
Therefore, the magic concentration is lower on the outskirts of the dungeon, naturally attracting weaker monsters, such as kobolds.
The [Keen Eyes] skill allowed me to sense the presence of several kobolds on the outskirts of the dungeon. They were hidden in the shadows of trees and bushes, lurking and waiting for their prey to enter their attack range.
But I am just a shadow.
There's a reason I chose this forest as my dungeon: my [Shadow] trait is greatly enhanced in shadows or darkness. I discovered this in the training room, while this trait is weakened in bright daylight.
Therefore, staying away from the sun makes it easier for me to hide my figure.
I moved cautiously through the forest, remaining vigilant and with my senses heightened. When I spotted three kobolds gathered ahead, I decided to test the power of my new weapon—a pistol.
I took the black pistol from the spatial bracelet on my wrist; the cold metallic touch gave me a sense of security. I aimed at the nearest kobold.
I took a deep breath and steadied myself. For a ranged combatant, the most important thing is to stay focused and constantly observe changes in the surrounding environment.
After I adjusted my shooting stance, I infused magic into the bullet. Although I couldn't see it, I could feel the magic attaching to the bullet, enhancing its power.
Then, I pulled the trigger.
'boom! '
The gunshot shattered the silence, the bullet striking the kobold precisely in the chest. It let out a painful howl and staggered backward.
'boom!boom! '
Before the other two kobolds could react, I quickly fired two shots, taking them down one by one.
Gunshots echoed through the forest, and I knew they would attract the attention of nearby monsters. But before they could find me, I had already vanished into the shadows.
"Roar... Roar..." As expected, more kobolds emerged from the shadows, their eyes filled with anger and hungry desire.
For me, this means only one thing: more prey.
I took a deep breath, used the shadows to move, readjusted my position, and climbed a tree.
"I also need to train my adaptability to different environments," I thought to myself, somewhat dissatisfied with my tree-climbing speed. But this could wait; after all, I couldn't handle everything at once.
Keen Eyes
With the skill activated, my vision became even sharper. I silently aimed at each kobold, automatically analyzing their weaknesses in my mind while sensing the optimal attack path.
'Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!'
Gunshots rang out one after another. Precise shooting quickly took down the monster in front of me, and soon I was surrounded by fallen kobolds.
Seven kobolds lay sprawled on the ground, but I could sense more monsters approaching.
It's time to start the real slaughter...