Them Again

A loud screech pierces my eardrums. When I look towards the source, around southeast from where I currently was, I could just about see the shadow of a giant bat like the one I fought before.

「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」

The giant bat had red eyes and a large frame, though not as big as the spider's. It flew to my direction, it's intention clear and predictable:

Kill

That was, no doubt, what the beast had in mind in it's fast, almost instinctual approach. It saw me as prey, and an easy one at that. I could not blame the beast for it's assumption, my circuits were damaged, rendering them useless for the time being. This meant that I would have to rely on my physical strength for this battle.

Without giving the giant bat the privilege to approach me, I duck. The beast's mad-filled eyes were focused on me, following my every move, assessing my next action.

Without a second thought, I make a dash forward.

「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」

The beast let out an ear-piercing scream, making my eardrums ring for a few moments afterwards. That was, however, not enough to stop me in my tracks.

Pushing heat onto my body, I press forward. The made it's own dash as well, kicking up a small cloud of dust behind it. The beast was faster than me, although not by much. This one, it seemed, was not as physically gifted as the last one I fought.

A small glimmer of silver catches my eye. Extending my arm, I reach for the wooden handle of the silver blade.

Another scream, another ring.

The beast screamed from the top of it's lungs again, this time, however, I was prepared. With the sword in my reach, I cover my ears. While the beast's high-pitched scream was not enough to stop me in my tracks, exposure to it was could still damage my hearing. Continuing to listen to it was a privilege I could not afford.

The silver blade vibrated from the beast's scream. It shook under the beast's might, nearly flying away had I not stopped it from doing so.

I stomp on the sword's blade with my foot, keeping it in place. Eventually, the screaming stopped.

「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」

I expected the beast to opt for another scream, this was, however, a mistake.

…!!

The beast threw a curveball, dashing towards me with mana-infused legs. In response to the beast's sudden assault, I kick up the sword from the floor where it lay. Like a magnet attracted to the metal of the sword's blade, the handle of the sword rests perfectly and comfortably on my hands.

Without a second of hesitation and compromise, I swing the sword in a vertical line. The sound and sensation of flesh being cut fills my senses, though 「Horizon Oath」 was inactive, I could still feel the flesh and blood vessels being cut as the silver blade slice the beast's throat.

The beast gurgles, drowning with it's own blood. The beast falls down on the ground, lifeless, though not without giving me a gaze of pure hate, wrath, and spite.

With a loud thump, the beast falls.

「You have leveled up」

「You have leveled up」

「Your attribute 'Absorption' is activating」

「You have obtained the skill 'Quick Step' Lv. 1」

「Your attribute 'Assimilation' is activating」

「Your attribute 'Assimilation's' effect has been reduced due to multiple targets being selected」

Another loud thump emanates from one of the many openings that connected this pit to other parts of the labyrinth. I grip the blade's handle from fright and unease. The thumping became more frequent as the terrifying sound grew closer and closer.

I fix myself into a stance. I was not trained in any kind of swordsmanship in my previous life, thus, all I could do was replicate what I saw when I watched a recording of a competition in my last life.

Soon, shouts could be heard along with the thumping. Shadows and silhouettes could be seen further into the passageway of the labyrinth. My heartbeat quickened.

I took a deep breath and realigned my thoughts.

From what I can tell, there are at least twenty different sets of footprints–maybe even more. That would mean that I would have to face at least twenty enemies by myself, without mana. If worst comes to worst, I could always count on the witch for help… no, I probably shouldn't do that. I had gotten her trust, raised her expectations, and formed a better relationship with her. Asking for help would only confirm her fears and make her uneasy. If that happens, who knows what will happen to me. I should handle this on my own and prove to her that I can handle being by myself. Maybe it would even help prove that I'm strong enough to know my next magical aptitude

As the – what I assume to be – small army of unknown origins approach, I put on my most determined face possible.

Battle starts before you even cross blades, and I could tell that if I was going to be taken seriously, I needed to LOOK serious.

The small armada emerged from the shadows, the sight of them almost making me lose heart. The aura they exuded invoked nobility inside of me.

What appeared from the darkness of the passageway was a group of Night Beasts. They were almost the same as I remembered them, with some features being added or removed.

The Night Beast, as I called them were burly creatures smaller than myself with pitch-black skin. Contrary to their height, they were incredibly muscular creatures with even a heavily wounded member being able to move with enough force to crash and lodge itself into the earthen walls of the labyrinth.

These ones, like the pair I had seen on the witch's lodging looked different. Their body was not covered in pitch-black anymore. They had varying colors: gold, silver and brown.

Their eyes remained the same, a dark shade of emerald that would have normally scared me had it not been for the fact that I have the same skill as them.

Their were also linings around their bodies. While not as pronounced and clear as mine, the fact that they had them was proof enough that they could use magic to some degree. Not all of them had unclear lines though, one of the Night Beasts in the back had lines that covered most of it's body and was arranged in an intricate fashion. That one, it seemed, was their best magician.

But that was not all they had.