Chapter 88 - Improvements

I started working on my new tool. While I didn't have the materials that I wanted, it was just a prototype, so it was fine. I created a mask using the leather of the giant fire crow and then added the base of a simple and small metal plate on the other side. I put some holes in it as well for breathing and for my voice to leave.

I failed on the first attempt, but then I made some adjustments and then eventually, the mask reached the uncommon rank and then I added the muffled sound enchantment to it.

"Let's see, testing… 1, 2, 3…"

I whispered that and noticed that my voice changed a bit. It got a bit more grave, but not as much as I wanted. It will be better if I ask someone to make the mask for me, someone skilled.

I wanted to make a mask that could emit the sound of my breathing to people around me, all in order to unsettle them. That certainly would make me stand out, but at least I wouldn't be underestimated. Buying a helmet could help, but I didn't want a single set of armor. I wrote down a few things and then decided to rest for a bit. At night, I felt the most full of energy, so it took a while before I fell asleep.

Although that was a bit dangerous, I didn't mind since I kept the magic implement on my ear active. If anyone approached, I would wake up. If anyone attacked from a distance, it was hard to imagine that they would do that without emitting any bloodlust.

Regardless, nothing happened, and I woke up when the sun was rising. Things didn't change that much around me, aside from the fact that a lot of the guards were sleeping in their tents. I decided to wait instead of leaving, since that would help me avoid trouble.

Cassius showed up around six in the morning and he looked surprised when he saw me already there. Still, he soon understood what had happened.

"That is why you should have accepted my offer… you should know how much you stand out in a weird way."

I just stayed silent and then Cassius shrugged. Before long, he went to talk with the guards there. They went silent for a moment, and soon they all looked at me. I felt like using camouflage to gain some experience by disappearing in front of them, but I decided to just wait.

"You can enter now. Here is a map of the dungeon."

Cassius approached and then gave me a book with the layout of all the floors of the dungeon. It was pretty well-made, so I wouldn't get lost at all. 

"How are you planning to deliver the bows to us?" 

I was already expecting that kind of question, so I just showed him a piece of paper that I had written down earlier: I would return every morning to deliver the bows. Or, I can bring them once every week, your choice.

"Every day, it will do. I need to come here every day, after all."

I showed him another piece of paper with another message: then bring me some food with you as well, if you don't mind.

 "Hahaha! Leave it to me!"

It couldn't be helped… given the circumstances, I had to rely on Cassius for food. Perhaps that was a good thing. Not talking with anyone for several days with no end might affect my head more than a little.

I headed to the dungeon while reading the maps of each floor and then trying to memorize all the paths. At the end of the last map, I found also images of drawings of the monsters there. The first group was the wood golems. However, they were a bit different from I remember. The new variety had things like claws, they were bigger and they also had some wooden spikes leaving several parts of their bodies.

'Well, it is the variation of a labyrinth that belongs to the empire, after all.'

Maybe it was too soon to study those monsters, but I decided to do so anyway. The second type was called Woodkin. A humanoid creature made of animated wood and plant matter, resembling a wooden version of a forest dweller. Woodkin are guardians of nature, capable of blending into their surroundings and using natural camouflage. They can manipulate vines and branches to entangle enemies. They get enraged when people use fire inside a dungeon.

The third type was the Root Beast. A monstrous creature that emerges from the ground, made up of twisting roots and dead vegetation. Root Beast can burrow underground and surprise unsuspecting prey by erupting from the earth. They can ensnare targets with their powerful roots and drain the life energy from them to grow stronger.

Much to my surprise, the fourth type was the Glade Serpent… A massive serpent-like creature with a body covered in bark-like scales and foliage. Glade Serpents can camouflage themselves among the trees. They possess a venomous bite and can constrict their prey with powerful coils, using the terrain to ambush unsuspecting targets.

Finally, there were the Barkwood Basilisks… A fearsome reptilian creature with bark-like skin, camouflaging it perfectly in forest environments. The Barkbound Basilisk has the ability to petrify creatures with its gaze, turning them into wooden statues. Its tough, bark-covered hide makes it resilient to most physical attacks, and it uses ambush tactics to hunt prey.

On the other sides of the pages, there were also strategies on how to defeat the monsters, but they were all battle tactics for full parties. I closed the book that was more like a full guide to conquer this dungeon and then proceeded to explore the first floor of the dungeon. I moved my cloak to my back and then grabbed my short swords.

The interior of the dungeon was very different from all the others I had seen before. The walls and ceiling were covered in moss and there were a lot of vines and plants coming from the ceiling as well. All of a sudden, one of those vines suddenly moved to grab my neck, but I twisted my body to the side and then rolled on the ground.

In the next moment, a large thud echoed in the area and then I found a wood golem waiting for me… the creature apparently was formed in the ceiling and fell from it and I didn't have the chance to see either.

The creature pointed its arms at me and then fired a barrage of seeds. Using my swords, I repelled all of them until the monster targeted my legs. I jumped to the side and dove on the ground before using Roll. I closed the distance between us in no time thanks to roll and then stabbed the neck of the monster in no time, using my reverse grip.

Two large holes appeared on the chest of the monster, even deeper than my short swords could actually cause. Probably because they had two Sharpness enchantments each. The impact pushed the monster backward and then fell to the ground.

You received 10 experience points.

You received 01 experience points.

You received 01 experience points.

I caused critical damage since the monster died in a single strike and then gained that much extra experience. Still, I didn't feel satisfied since I had to use Roll. Against a monster of this level, I should be able to fight without using skills… at the same time, I couldn't use my hand crossbow. This was a chance to test my skill with the swords and all the training I did.

'I have to be more active and violent while using the short swords… I also have to be mindful in order not to get hit.'

My defense was still my weakest point… and while I didn't suffer anything thanks to it, it was better not to take chances when it comes to damage. I had to be deadly Against my enemies.

In any case, I picked the wood that had become the shrunk body of the monster and then proceeded. The same attack wouldn't work against me at the same time, so when the next monster showed up and tried to grab my neck, I swung the short swords and then cut off the vines of the beast.

I could see this time the monster quickly falling from the ceiling… the ceiling covered in moss was actually a fake ceiling. It opened for the monster to come and closed in no time when the beast fell. Still, as soon as the monster landed, it fired a barrage of seeds toward me when I was already running towards it. 

I swung the short swords violently to repel all of them. Still, while I barely felt any weight behind the attacks, I still ended up missing some of the seeds and they hit my arms. The impact made me hiss in annoyance, but it didn't stop me. I soon reached the creature and then stabbed its chest, creating two holes in it.

You received 10 experience points.

You received 01 experience points.

You received 01 experience points.

I only lost five points of health. It was the first time I suffered any real damage in a dungeon, but it was bearable. Regardless, it was a bit annoying, even though I had no experience training to dodge long-range attacks.

Fortunately, since I hadn't fought seriously for a while, my head was working at full power to come up with battle plans and soon new ideas came to me. I could use the monsters to train my parrying skills… focusing on blocking them all could be the wrong choice, after all. 

Still, the best option was to kill the monster before they could have the chance to wound me at all. With that in mind, I began to test my legs a bit… jumping from one side to the other using my improved strength. I could easily jump from one side of the corridor to the other in a single moment, but after doing that a few times, my legs began to hurt.

'My strength is high, but my endurance is still normal… I can't use this too many times in a single battle.'

It would be easier to use camouflage for a moment and then disappear from the field of vision of the creature for a few seconds and finish it off, but that was another thing that I didn't need… I had to sharpen my fighting style. If I wanted to reach the 20th floor of this labyrinth solo, I would have to use all my cards, and they had to be at the best of their effectiveness.

When the next golem showed up, I immediately jumped forward and to the side after chopping its branches. The creature aimed its seeds at me again, but I jumped to the side after lowering my posture. I avoided the barrage of seeds two times while approaching and zigzagging toward the creature… and that did the trick. The beast didn't have time to adapt to my quick approach.

'This is what I need… even with my dexterity, I am not doing things right. Still, I guess I could enchant some boots with the Swiftstep in case I have to use this same move several times against a boss. The other option is to eventually unlock the endurance parameter and then improve it.'

There were many ways to get stronger, but the key would be to always choose the best option or at least the least flawed option. I had to write down those options and then give a score to each one of them as well.

Author's Notes: 

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