Chapter 16
A round-shaped creature emitted a melancholy sound, as if in anguish.
It was caused by the item that punctured its body. It has a metallic appearance with a subtle red tint and sharp edges on both sides. It was quite a long sword.
The creature let out a loud squeal after the blade was removed before exploding into light particles.
The man wielding the sword knelt and picked up the blue object. The blue item was banished from his hand as he kept it in his inventory.
There is also one item left on the ground. It has a brown sheen as if it were made of wood.
The man examines it to determine the item's properties.
——
Woodser Staff (Uncommon)
Requirement(s): User level 4, Magic 2
Effect(s): Magic Power +12
Class Limitation: Mage Category, Cleric, Exorcist
——
It was an Uncommon item. A staff with a +12 magic power effect was already deemed valuable at this point in time, so the man picked it straight away while planning where he would sell it.
The man then scans his surroundings, but there are no monsters in the area.
"Perhaps this was the final one. After that, not a single elite emerged huh..." He grumbled a few words before beginning to stroll deeper into the place.
Caleb, the man, had been inside the dungeon for the past three and a half hours, grinding [Mana Stones] from every monster he encountered. Though all of them were small Ovoids with a level of 3 and occasionally a level of 4.
Of course, it was all the same monster because he was in the Vicious Ovoid's zone but he couldn't seem to find another elite monster from the time he killed Pioo.
In any case, he was still overjoyed with the results. He looked through his inventory and noticed the stack of mana stones he had amassed. He now has a total of 360 mana stones and he also leveled up by two causing him to reach level 8.
With just a little prodding, he'll be finished with his quest.
His [Slash] skill also leveled up to two causing its effects to add 12% damage and the cooldown brought down to 8 seconds. The other skill he owns such as [Frontal Speed] and [Moon Slice] have increased their Proficiency Points to 5% of the needed points to level up again.
It was a little increase but he wasn't discouraged by this.
Caleb knows that using the following skill on monsters with levels lower than his level would not give generous Proficiency Points.
Afterward, he went further from his current location to grind the remaining [Mana Stone] he needed.
Because the bright crystals that had provided luminescence to the previous location were no longer visible in the walls, the light had dimmed again. Instead, it was released by the bluestones that slightly glow in the passage's corner.
'Hmm?' Caleb paused after noticing something that attracted his attention.
He peered into one section of the corridor he was in and noticed a circular nest made of vines and roots above him.
The size was larger than a typical bird's nest, and he estimated that two average humans could fit within. He can also see the same nest, which is not far away. One, two, five...a total of ten large nests.
Surely it wasn't just a display in the hall, and especially not a bird's house either.
Thinking back, Caleb remembered there was a monster like this living in this dungeon. And based on the distance he'd traveled up to this point, he guessed it was just the right time he will encounter it.
Caleb remembered the name and some of its distinguishing characteristics.
That said, he realized this would be difficult to deal with because these monsters could fly.
He quickly turned around and prepared to flee but as he moved his legs many sounds could be heard in the air.
It was the sound of wings.
Monsters lurking in the first and second nests nearby shot up from within and dove at his location. The monsters' appearances were caught by the passage's dim light, which revealed a pair of green and orange wings. Their heads were small, and both of their arms were long, glinting whenever the light reflected on them.
It was a bladed arm.
Both were fashioned from a single leaf with a blade sharp enough to sever the average human in half.
Caleb turned his head slightly and saw the monsters flying at him. He jumps backward in time as the first monster's blade nearly scrapes his body. Simultaneously, he swung his right sword, delivering a [Moon Slice] to the second monster, halting its advance.
The bluish energy burst in its body, causing 86 damage to appear on its head. He checks its status while retreating and keeping his steps in the dim passage in mind.
——
Vicious Leafly (Normal Monster)
Level: 4
HP: 264/350
——
A level 4 monster with wings. In comparison to his stats, he was capable of killing the two monsters who pursued him. However, he wasn't sure if he could go any further in the place because there were still so many nests in the distance.
This will be a problem because these insects were faster than the cute Ovoids he hunted a while ago. Also, [Vicious Leafly] can attack with their two-bladed arms, and they have promising flying speed. Three was more than enough for him. He would have been sliced to death if more monsters attacked him at the same time.
If he had a tank warrior, it might have taken some of the pressure off his shoulders, but he was alone in this passage right now.
The first monster also started to move after its strike from before was dodged. It made a slice attack on Caleb but he sidestepped to his left as his feet landed on the wall before shifting his body to turn in the air while swinging his sword, slashing the neck of his enemy. It lets a loud screech as a response, probably because he landed a critical hit to it.
The second [Vicious Leafly] that was stopped a while ago move its two-bladed arms as they began to glow in light green and swung it in the air releasing two sharp green beams to Caleb.
It was arranged in a cross as it traveled to Caleb but he was unperturbed by the incoming attack.
As he landed on the ground, he immediately made a proper stance and bent his body backward as the two sharp beams passed through him. It scraped the ground on both of his sides, while his nose was spare in hairbreadth.
The beams carry a slight air on it and this causes his hair to flutter a little.
It was a miss!
Caleb then dashed forward and swung his sword at the monster who fired the beams, but it reacted quickly by raising its bladed arms to block his sword.
'Easy.' He thought before skillfully changing the arc of his sword and slashing the unguarded left flank of the first [Vicious Leafly]. His movement didn't stop after that strike and followed up a few chops before ending its life.
Caleb quickly picked up its [Mana Stone] and turned to the remaining monster. It also looked at him and began to hover in the air. It struck once again, but he raised his two swords to meet the attack.
Tang!
A high-pitched metallic sound resounded in the passage.
Caleb took this opportunity to move around and deliver a slash to its right body, causing the [Vicious Leafly] to knock against the wall and make a crash sound.
Not surprised by the effects of his strike, Caleb dashes into the monster's side and performs a consecutive thrust on its body. It screeches before bursting into light.
[System: Level 4 Vicious Leafly (Normal) was killed. Obtained 15 EXP!]
He killed a level 4 monster but it only provides meager experience. Since he was four levels ahead, it only gives him 25% of the original EXP. This was also the reason why, despite farming 300+ level 3 Ovoids, he only gained two levels.
He then shifted his gaze to the ground, a single common wand fell on it. He stored it as well as the [Mana Stone] and began to retreat from the area.
Since he cannot pass through that place, he will find another zone of monsters to continue to collect [Mana Stones].
"Or should I wait for the Ovoids to respawn? That would take time though, and there were only 4 hours left before the server's shut down." Caleb muttered, thinking between finding a new place or waiting for the Ovoids to respawn in the previous place he went to.
He remembered the respawn time of every monster in one hidden dungeon was set between 2-4 hours, depending on the location and what kind of monster it was.
In his previous life, he had only dived ten times into this hidden dungeon of Vicious Leaves, so he only remembered the things vaguely. However, he believes that if he gets into trouble, he will find a solution in time.
In the end, Caleb decided to find another area to farm [Mana Stones]. He walks away from his spot and goes deeper in his search for the monster.