The dark part 02: A fight below and above!

Sh… She bit them off!?

{Notice: She is quite pissed off! For her, laying a hand on you is punished by the death penalty!}

Mei started screeching as the mole of blood dripped from her front teeth. Without waiting she jumped straight into the gaping hole that he left, aiming for its life.

"Mei that's dangerous!"

{Notice: No, Mei has the advantage! This mole rat is used to finishing its prey in one sneak attack, so being pushed into a straightforward fight is a first for him.}

The loud screeching of Mei and the mole can be heard throughout the entire cave.

Mei is fighting the mole in its own tunnel. Every now and then a vein bursts through the ground. It must be her druidic magic.

But how the hell is she fighting it? Wasn't the skill just level 1? and she bit his claws off not cut them!

{Notice: Usually the users of druidic magic are humanoids, so one of its uses is giving the caster beast-like features! Longer nails, sharper fangs, deeper voice… But what if the caster is already a beast? then it strengthens its features causing its natural weapons to get stronger! Also, the mole can't use its skill [Digging] to dig through Mei's veins!}

So Mei has more experience and her druidic magic gives her an advantage on the mole, winning isn't a problem then.

Just a few moments after the screaming stopped, Mei, came out dragging the mole corps.

She was drenched in blood that wasn't hers.

Just after dragging the mole out, Mei stopped moving.

"Mei!" Connor hurried to check on her.

Ariel, what are her stats?

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Name Mei. Level: 10

Social stats: hero pet.

Class: Holy beast. Race: brown squirrel

Titles: Servant of the hero, Nutcracker, Steel-willed one, Defender.

Health: 42/57.

Mana: 0/155.

Stamina: 7/56.

Strength: 4 , Dexterity: 20 , Speed: 28 , Magic: 26 , Luck: 14

Constitution: 12 , Wisdom: 22 , intelligence: 18 , charisma: 14 , Will: 28

Skills:

[Climbing: Level 14], [Nuts collector: Level 10], [Claws Arts: Level 2]

[Pain resistance: Level 6], [Druidic Magic: Level 3]

Conditions

Mana deficiency.

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Thank god, she just passed out because she exhausted her mana.

{Notice: You're the same, Fighting until all your mana is exhausted.}

Don't sweat the small details, at least the loud noise didn't attract any other monsters!

{Notice: Don't put a red flag! Wait… Oh, No! Run as fast as you can!!}

What, is there a problem?

Suddenly a monster burst from the wall, directly facing Connor.

It looks like a hybrid between a bulky ape and a beetle. standing fully at eight feet tall and five feet wide. Its enormous muscles are clearly visible from afar, making the weight between eight to seventeen hundred pounds. Huge sharp mandibles sprout out of its face, clicking as it looks at Connor. The monster is armed with giant claws that it used to dig through the stone wall, indicating how strong they are. The strong hide of the creature takes the shape of many plants that cover its chitinous body.

Connor looked at the terrifying monster before him in confusion.

{Notice: Mental effect has been detected! Appraising the effect!

Effect Confusion: decrease the target's mental capability of making decisions.

Fighting the effect by switching from Connor's mental processing to Ariel.

The effect has been transferred successfully into Ariel, as a result, Ariel's power has decreased!}

Ariel, what was that? Are you OK?

{Notice: Run...now… dumbass!}

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Name: N/A Level: 47

Race: Hulking Beetle

Titles: Worm slayer, Stonebreaker, doting mother.

Health: 875

Mana: 675

Stamina: 786

Strength: 44 , Dexterity: 10 , Speed: 24 , Magic: 17 , Luck: 15

Constitution: 44 , Wisdom: 18 , intelligence: 10 , charisma: 12 , Will: 28

Skills:

[Confusion gaze: Level 17], [Fearless: Level 15], [Tremorsense: Level 31]

[Tunneler: Level 37], [Claw arts: 38], [Earth eater: Level 9]

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[Confusion gaze]? Does that mean it needs to look at me to activate? I did look it in the eye so it might be something like a medusa gaze but instead of turning me to stone, it scrambles the mind?

Ariel is telling me to run, but I can win, right? I have to protect Mei as well so I might have a disadvantage. Let's just try and if things turned bad I will run away.

[Earth Magic: Stone spikes] The multiple stone spikes that aimed for the creature's massive body just broke upon contacting its armored exoskeleton.

Those were made of stone!! Is its shell as strong as iron or steel?

"ScReeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEeeeeeech!!!"

The monster rushed toward Connor like a truck going out of control.

Shit! [Earth Magic: Stone wall] this should at least buy me some time to run away.

Just as Connor thought that, with just one hit from its giant claws, the Hulking Beetle busted the wall into rubble as if it was a sand wall being hit with a pickaxe!

No use?! Then try this [Lightning Magic: Lightning Bolt]. The monster just kept charging, unfazed by the spell.

Shit! Shit! Shit! I bet that wind and water are useless too.

[Shell Shock] is bad since it might cause a cave-in! And this monster will just dig its way out of [Blast Furnace]

Highly explosive magic is also a no go, let's try something small then [Fire Magic: Fireball]

Connor dodged the monster to the side as he threw a fireball at its side.

The monster managed to block it with its solid claws.

So this can hurt you! I can win this.

{Notice:... Behind… surrounded!}

Surrounded? what?

Another two Hulking Beetles appear from the cave walls behind Connorm cutting his escape route.

A doting mother, of course, her children will be helping as well!

Shit! no matter how many lives I have they can just keep on clawing me like they do stone, I need to run, taking one is possible but three is just suicide.

[Enchantment Magic], [Martial Arts]. You will not take me Alive, nevertheless without a fight!!

Max output [Light Magic: Flash] Connor's body shone with blinding light, the monsters who were used to the dark had their eyes assaulted with it as they covered them in pain.

Worried about her children the mother ground her mandibles as she aimed to where Connor was standing with her eyes closed, just to be surprised with him jumping above her head and grabbing her antennas.

"A beetle shouldn't have antennas, right?" using his enchanted strength he tore them right off.

"It should have one bighorn, right?" [Earth Magic: stone spikes] two stone spikes came out of the ceiling, piercing the mother beetle's eyes.

"One on the house, no need to thank me!" [Fire Magic: Fireball] Connor started running away as he extended his hand behind his back, launching fireballs at the falling mother beetle.

Please don't follow me, just sit there and take care of your mother.

{Notice: The confusion effect wore off as soon as the eyes were destroyed.

Ariel has reached level 20! Installing The upgrade [Analyse].

Ariel's mental capacity increased.

Install successfully finished, using [Analyse] on [Appraisal] and [Sentient].

Creating a database for the information found with [Appraisal] and [Sentient].

The [Encyclopedia] has been successfully created to store information.

The appraising range increased from 10 meters to 100 meters.

Analyzing the uses of [Appraisal] and the system. Finished!

Creating a simple way to show the information gathered.

The [Mini map] has been successfully created to show the information.

Analyzing the uses of [Sentient] and the system. Finished!

Taking into consideration the previous mental attack.

Creating a way for Ariel to protect her mental self.

The [Ego] has been successfully created to resist mental attacks.}

I don't fully understand but explanations come later. If your range really increased then tell me about those monsters, are they still chasing us?

{Notice: The children are caring for their mother, I guess she was teaching them how to hunt but ended up choosing a bad opponent!}

Now I kinda feel bad for them! In which direction do I need to move?

{Notice: Just keep running, here a map just flows the trail I'm making you!}

A small map showed up at the side of Connor's vision.

A mini-map and quest direction? What are you now? A game system?

{Notice: Something close, it's just easier this way than to tell you, move straight 76.4 meters and then turn left at the weird-looking stone.}

You're right. Hhh…

{Notice: Anyway, now I can analyze any monster corpse that we find and then give a detailed report about its body structure and weakness. Hunt as much as you can, that will make us stronger!}

If I get stronger I won't have to suffer anymore, I just want to live peacefully! Ariel, can you lead me to a monster that I can beat?

{Notice: I already marked them green in your map, The orange ones match you in strength and red are dangerous!}

There seems to be a large group of green enemies with a red one in the middle to the far left, what are they?

{Notice: Hulking Roaches, big human-like cockroaches. Just a bit stronger than the average human but with greater durability. The red one is probably their leader. Their intelligence seems very low so that might be their weakness. I need a corpse for further analysis.}

Let the hunt begin, my goal is to be able to one punch those beetles!

After circling around the roaches Connor managed to find a safe spot to hide Mei. He then created a small spherical room and increased it in water so the monster will just think it's a water pocket. Ariel asked Connor to keep Always within the detection range so he can know as soon as something happened to her.

Slowly approaching the unsuspecting monster, Connor took the stance of a hunter stalking his prey.

Hiding in the wall using earth magic waiting for them, to walk right in front of him to launch a surprise attack but Ariel stopped him and gave him a tip. Just drag one of them for analyzing first, they are dumb and probably won't notice if someone is missing! the analysis will only take a few seconds and then we can make a plan as per that!

The monsters were just moving in a large group in search of food, unaware of the creeping doom swimming underground. The leader is in the middle and they are walking as individuals scout the area for any possible prey.

Ariel suggested that Connor let the scout alone since if one of them went missing it might mean to the monster that a strong prey is there and they will go on full alert. Just take one of the hordes. Using earth magic Connor just dug his way toward the rear guard and stayed underneath them waiting for an opportunity to take one of them out.

"Kee---!"

The monster turned back as they heard something. Looking around they can only see their kind, no sign of danger. They just kept walking as they were before.

Underneath their feet. Connor had already killed the one he dragged down, stabbing it in the chest.

{Notice: Analyse complete, Adding to the encyclopedia}

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Race: Hulking cockroach

A monster that evolved from normal cockroaches due to the mana-rich environment, they match humans in size and shape but are a bit stronger. Even though they have an exoskeleton, it's just as strong as chicken bone. their brain is in their chests instead of the head which makes beheading them useless, it will only make them starve to death, lose their sight and hearing. They used to have wings but they lost them, due to flight not being a viable option underground and their heavyweight! They live in wandering colonies led by a dominant female aka a queen like with ants and bees, she is the bigger and the strongest as well the one who lays eggs, all of the rest of the colony members are males.

When a female is born, it will receive special treatment from its mother. Being kept beside her and well-fed, the moment she reaches adulthood she will leave the colony with a number of males to build her own.

Name: N/A Level: 7

Race: Hulking cockroach

Titles: N/A.

Health: 45

Mana: 30

Stamina: 34

Strength: 14 , Dexterity: 10 , Speed: 16 , Magic: 5 , Luck: 4

Constitution: 44 , Wisdom: 18 , intelligence: 10 , charisma: 6 , Will: 11

Skills:

[Fearless: Level 5]

Resistance:

Radiation, poison.

Weakness:

Light, Fire, Slashing damage, Chest, Antenna, Acid damage

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Damn, they are weak as hell! I will start exterminating them right away with fire magic, do I need to worry about a collapse?

{Notice: No, this cave is large enough to withstand your firepower. Rampage as you like and I will support you!}

One day I bought a fridge just to find it full of cockroaches, I was so pissed off that day and now I will vent that anger on those cockroach monsters.

I've been using [Enchantment Magic] and [Martial Arts] all the time and I'm getting used to them, all I need to think of is using other skills and magic.

{Notice: Take the queen first, since the others are weak. don't forget to use her daughter to your advantage!}

And I will try to touch her so you can get an accurate analysis of her abilities.

{Notice: Right, now go!}

The queen was walking in the middle of her colony alongside her daughters guarded by tens of males, she was feeling very safe.

Keee--

One of her daughters was swallowed by the ground in front of her, she went into a panic. How and why? She and the males guarding them rushed to check the hole, but the moment they looked down, flames burnt their faces.

Connor took this opportunity and jumped out of the ground slashing and dicing her royal guards with a flaming sword, as they saw that the other daughters tried to run but they got stuck in the mud, the harder they struggled the further they sunk into the ground.

The queen wasn't taking any of this, and even with a half-burnt face, she turned to face Connor after she recognized him as the source of this mess.

"Rreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" The sound of her angry cry was so horrid that Connor dragged one of the daughters that he caught to use as a hostage.

Connor was in a bad spot, the mother was gigantic and the horde is closing.

If I don't do anything I will be jumped down by those cockroaches.

The queen started throwing punches at Connor carefully to not hit her daughter that Connor was dragging.

This is getting out of hand very quickly, let's kill the queen now.

"Here is your ugly daughter, catch it if you can!" Connor throws the daughter at the queen to distract her and find an opening to strike back.

The queen stopped her attack barrage to catch her daughter, but as soon as she did a hole was blasted through her chest.

"[Combined Magic: Shell Shock], get donated! Sorry for using a cheap trick since otherwise fighting your army would be a dumb idea!"

{Notice: The army is reorganizing again and following the order of one of the daughters still stuck in the mud. Kill all of them!}

Connor swung his flaming sword with great mastery cutting the daughter that was alongside her dead mother in half.

"Sorry, I know I'm being a dick but you have to die, survival for the fittest. Was it the rule around these parts right?"

[Fire Magic: Fireball] aiming directly at the rest of the daughter, they were burned to crisp.

Let's just keep farming them to level up, I wonder what Alice is up to? I should call her after this.

…

Up, on the surface.

Alice, Alva, and Dolrig were still riding their horses toward The Eric domain as fast as they could.

"Alice-sama, the horses need to rest. We've been running for quite some time!" Alva with a worried face about the overworked horses.

"We need a safe place to rest, we also don't have time to spare!"

"M'Lady, I can see smoke in the distance, probably a small hamlet!" Dolrig called to Alice.

"Then let's take a short rest for a few hours and then continue!

As they got closer they noticed more smoke coming from the village, it doesn't seem normal.

"Dolrig, you have the bigger experience between us, what do you think we do?" Alice asked.

Dorig replied with a smug face.

"M'lady is asking me? Isn't the division yours to make?"

"If you intend to keep talking respectfully then at least answer what I asked you! We don't have time!"

"Humf, you're no fun at all! a small hamlet is a good target for goblins and kobolds, our enemies won't do something this flashy if they want to get us! we can save them and get some supplies, let the horses rest as well!"

Alice had a wide, evil smile on her face.

"Hehe, we can use this opportunity to spread the word of the hero!"

"Are you for real?! your nasty face is showing up Alice-sama! I thought you just made that face when punishing me!!" Alva commented on Alice's behavior.

"Sorry! Dolrig-san you help the villager escape, me and Alva will take care of the invading monsters!"

"Alice-sama, that is dangerous, I will fight the monsters you help the villagers with Dolrig-san!" Alva said to Alice.

"That was an order, I will fight too!" Alice rushed with her horse toward the hamlet.

As soon as the hamlet was in sight Alice could make out what happened there, it's a goblin raid.

People's cries can be heard from afar, which means that there is causality already.

With no time to spare she looked behind her to find Alva and Dolrig catching up.

Good, May the hero's blessing be with us!

…

In the Village, Every capable person has taken up arms, be it an Axe or a stick, some are even holding a chair as a weapon. Those who can't fight were hiding in the barn with closed doors.

The raided houses started smoldering as the fire from the fireplace was set loose. cattle were targeted first by the goblins since it doesn't fight back as much as humans.

As the hamlet elder finished counting he realized that a few people were missing, which was a simple task for him since the hamlet has only about fifty people.

All the fighter people were gathered here and they are just about twelve, fifteen if you count the elder himself, the blacksmith, and a talented eleven-year-old boy who had a healing skill and stayed to save lives.

The situation was desperate since they are massively outnumbered, goblins are weak individually but strong in numbers.

Every time a villager was injured, he was carried by the blacksmith and the elder to the little boy to check his wounds. If the wound was small he would just stop the bleeding and bandage the wound, but it was severe he would heal it just so he wouldn't die since he needed to preserve his mana for the difficult cases.

He was used to just healing simple cases in the village and now he was thrown into a war.

Just as the hamlet fighters were getting used to fighting and started seeing a small light of hope, the leader of the goblins raid showed up! A goblin shaman and a hobgoblin.

"Are you kidding me, one is bad enough but it had to be two…" One of them said under his breath.

"Shit we're done for…"

The elder and the blacksmith hurried toward the kid in panic.

"Listen well Havin, you have to run to the barn and lead the others to escape, we can't win here!" The blacksmith yelled.

The elder pushed the blacksmith to the side as he drew an old necklace.

"You scare the kid, move away, take this necklace and escape with the rest to the nearby village. They are in debt to me and this is proof from me to them, they will take care of you and the rest!" The elder said in a calm voice.

"But my father is fighting here, I can't just leave him! the others are safe in the barn right?" The kid replied.

"Havin, we will follow you later, just listen this time, be a good boy!" The elder said, almost crying.

Havin understood what is happening. They will never come back, since they are losing they wanted to save him and the non-fighters hiding in the barn.

The light of hope slowly disappeared from the kid's eyes.

They are dying, all of them. He thought.

His gaze has turned toward the hobgoblin and the goblin shaman.

The elder said that one is manageable but is not, we need to at least take one of them down without losing any fighters.

The elder is old and can't fight, the blacksmith is already fighting.

Who then?

"Agh!"

The voice was familiar, too familiar that he was scared to look in its direction.

"That was my…"

The elder stopped the kid before he could look.

"Listen well, look only at the barn and run. Hurry or I will smash your head with my cane!!" The elder yelled at Havin.

Havin eyes finally died, the only thing he can see now is the Hobgoblin and the shaman.

He stopped listening to anything and checked his pocket, a kitchen knife was in it that he uses to gather edible plants.

We need a hero to save us! No, a hero will never come, I need to take that role.

"Elder, I understand I will run now!" Havin said with an emotionless face.

The elder was worried for a second but nodded in approval.

As having started running toward the barn the elder looked at him with a sad face and turned toward the goblins firmly gripping his cane.

"You shall not pass, VERMINS!" He yelled.

Just as he said that he saw Havin running toward the goblin leaders.

Wait didn't he run back to the barn, Shit!Shit!Shit!Shit!Shit!Shit!

Why did he lose his mind?

The fighters panicked as they saw the kid running toward his death.

"Someone stop him now!!!!!!!!" The elder yelled.

Havin finally approached the goblin leaders, aiming directly at the shaman he advanced.

The hobgoblin managed to catch Havin from the face and held him up.

"Googs gariind avvoooo!" The hobgoblin mocked the kid as he easily lifted him by the face.

The fighters tried to make their way to save but were stopped by the goblins.

"Aghhh-" With a weak, pained war cry. Havin slitted the hobgoblin's throat using the knife hidden in his pocket.

The hobgoblin violently threw Havin to the ground as he desperately tried to cover his bleeding neck.

The hamlet fighters were stunned, having taken down the hobgoblin? It's a matter of time now for it to bleed to death. Is Havin still Alive?

As one of the fighters saw him from far he yelled.

"He is still moving, we have a chance of saving him! Charge!! Aim for the shaman!"

At the moment the dying angry hobgoblin swung his club down at the fallen Havin.

I did all I could, even in the end, no hero appeared to save us.

I wish I could have lived longer.

[Mace Arts: Heavy smash] A blond woman punched the hobgoblin so hard it was sent flying and crashed into the shaman.

The elder recognized her face since she was known in all the regions. She wasn't known to be a fighter so he was a little bit confused. but his suspicion cleared as she saw a red-head knight mowing through the goblins as if they were mere weed

"The dragon princess?!" He yelled.

[Holy Healing Magic: Area of effect] The dragon princess cast her magic as a dwarf carried the kid to the backline.

A her... Havin lost consciousness.