The Cave Of Shadows

August arrived at the infamous Cave of Shadows, an area well-known among players for its high-level monsters, lucrative loot, and dangerous terrain.

As he approached, he noticed the bustling activity around the entrance. Groups of players were scattered about, some examining their equipment, others chattering amongst themselves, and a few standing by the cave entrance, recruiting players for their grinding parties.

Most of the players were high-level, ranging from level 23 to level 30. Their equipment gleamed with enchantments and upgrades compared to that of August's.

August still at level 19, stuck out like a sore thumb. He observed the players, noticing that many of them had formed cliques, only looking for others at level 22 or above. He approached a group standing near the entrance, overhearing their conversation.

"Looking for level 24 and above! We need a tank and a mage for crowd control!" shouted a knight, his shield radiating with a faint blue glow.

"I'm a mage," August interjected, trying his luck. "But I'm only level 19."

The knight gave him a quick once-over, then snorted dismissively. "Level 19? Don't waste our time, kid."

A few other players nearby started to laugh. "What's a lowbie like him doing here anyway? Thinks he can survive in the Cave of Shadows?"

"Maybe he's looking for someone to carry him," another player jeered, his friends joining in with mocking chuckles.

August ignored the taunts and moved further along the entrance, evaluating his next move.

His eyes scanned the various groups, all bustling with activity, and then landed on a towering figure approaching him—a giant of a man, clad in heavy armor with a massive, glowing club slung over his shoulder.

His avatar looked as if it had been carved from rock, each muscle exaggerated to an almost cartoonish degree. His username floated above his head: **Grudgmar**.

Grudgmar's eyes narrowed as he spotted August. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he boomed, his deep voice echoing. "A little level 19 all alone, trying to sneak into the big leagues?"

"Just here to test my luck," August replied calmly, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Grudgmar grinned, revealing a row of pointed teeth. "How about you test your luck with me? Be my slave for the night, and I might let you tag along. You can carry my loot," he said, leaning in menacingly.

August looked up at the towering berserker, his massive club glowing ominously with an enchantment. "Sorry, I don't usually work with cavemen," August retorted with a smirk. "But I hear there's a museum looking for missing links. Maybe they'll be interested."

The crowd around them erupted into laughter. Grudgmar's face flushed red with anger. "You little—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Grudgmar swung his massive club down towards August's head.

But August was quicker.

<[ Dash Skill Activated ]>

Using his dash skill, he swiftly evaded the strike as a burst of speed propelled him past the hulking player.

He slipped through the crowd, weaving between the other players as Grudgmar's club smashed into the ground, cracking the stone floor beneath.

"Hey! Get back here!" Grudgmar roared as his eyes blazed with fury.

August, now past the crowd and at the mouth of the cave, glanced back over his shoulder with a grin. "I'd love to, but I'm allergic to stupid. See ya!"

He turned and dashed into the darkness of the Cave of Shadows, leaving behind the echoes of his mocking laughter. As he vanished into the cave's depths, he could hear Grudgmar's frustrated shout reverberate behind him.

"I hate assassins!"

"Oh well, he'll die in there and lose a level anyway."

#####

Once inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. The Cave of Shadows was immense, with towering ceilings and winding tunnels that twisted deeper into the ground.

The walls were lined with bioluminescent crystals that gave off an eerie glow, casting long shadows that seemed to move of their own accord.

The layout was unlike any regular cave; it felt almost otherworldly, with metallic structures fused with natural rock formations and ancient carvings etched into the walls.

<[ Shadow Stealth Skill Activated ]>

August activated Shadow Stealth, blending into the darkness and moving silently through the vast corridors.

He was going at it solo, relying on his assassin skills and stealth to navigate the cave's dangers. Knowing that he wouldn't stand a chance against the powerful beasts here in a direct confrontation, he concocted a plan.

He tailed a group of four players from a distance, keeping to the shadows. They were well-equipped—a warrior, a mage, a ranger, and a cleric—all of them at least level 25. They moved cautiously through the cave as their eyes scanned for threats.

Ahead of them, a rumbling growl resonated through the cave. A hulking beast emerged from the shadows—

<< Engaging Level 22 Umbra Stalker >>

It was a quadrupedal creature with jet-black fur that blended well with the surroundings. Its eyes were a piercing yellow, and its elongated limbs ended in razor-sharp claws that could rip through armor.

The Umbra Stalker had the ability to meld into the shadows, becoming nearly invisible, and it could strike from any direction with its **Shadow Leap** ability. It was typically an assassin on steroids.

August watched carefully as the group engaged the beast. The warrior charged forward, drawing its aggro with a series of heavy strikes, while the mage launched fireballs to chip away at its health.

The ranger kept his distance, firing glowing arrows at its weak points, while the cleric provided healing and buffs to the party.

<< Umbra Stalker Has Used Shadow Leap >>

The Umbra Stalker roared and unleashed its Shadow Leap, disappearing into the darkness before reappearing behind the mage, slashing with its claws.

-1300HP

The mage's health dropped dangerously low, but the cleric quickly cast a healing spell to keep him in the fight.

The battle dragged on, and the group's teamwork slowly wore down the beast. Its health bar dropped to a sliver, barely hanging on.

August saw his chance. With the beast distracted and weakened, he drew his toxic dagger and activated Hidden Strike.

<[ Hidden Strike Skill Activated ]>

August appeared from its blind spot and pierced the Umbra Stalker's side.

[ -3500HP ]

[You have dealt the finishing blow to Level 22 Umbra Stalker. +2400 EXP]

The beast let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing to the ground. Its body slowly dissipated into black mist. The group turned toward the source of the attack with furious expressions.

"Who the hell—?" the warrior yelled while scanning the shadows.

"He stole the kill!" the mage shouted, enraged.

But August was already gone. He had slipped deeper into the cave using Dash and Shadow Stealth to avoid getting caught.

The shared EXP was divided among the group members, but August, as the one who landed the finishing blow, received the largest portion.

'Since they can't be considerate enough to let a level 19 join their ranks... I won't be showing any consideration as well.'

This wasn't going to be the last time August employed this strategy. Over the next hour, he continued to tail different groups, staying just out of sight and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Each time a group battled a high-level beast, he waited for the creature's health to drop to a critical level before delivering the final blow from a distance.

Another group was battling a Cave Mauler which happened to be a massive, six-legged beast covered in rocky armor plates.

Its primary attack, << Earthquake Slam >>, could send shockwaves through the ground, destabilizing players and causing area-wide damage.

The beast was relentless as its thick tail smashed through anyone in range, while it used its << Stone Hide >>ability to deflect most physical attacks.

The group fought valiantly, chipping away at the beast's health as the cleric worked overtime to heal the party.

August, hidden in the shadows above on a rocky ledge, watched closely. The Cave Mauler's health was down to a few thousand HP. He carefully took aim and launched a Lightning Bolt spell.

<[ Lightning Bolt Spell Activated ]>

The bolt of electricity arced down, striking the beast directly in the head, and it collapsed with a thunderous crash.

[ - 4700 HP ]

[You have dealt the finishing blow to Cave Mauler. +3500 EXP]

"Are you kidding me?!" the ranger from the group shouted as his eyes scanned the darkness.

"Where is that damn thief?!" another player yelled in anguish.