Chapter 4: Desperation

"You are no special, Pagpag. Just go live in a barn already."

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Status:

- HP:100/200

- Sta: 20/20

The word Pagpag meant for those who are weak and being left over. Its literal meaning is left over after all. Only weak monsters would scavenge these adventurers.

'Why do these goblins stick together? They must be very organized. But then, if I manage to get on top a single of them left behind due to injury.'

If a monster is infected by certain diseases, the adventures must not eat any of that meat by all means. There are many cases of death due to that carelessness every year. Hivon is patiently waiting for that crippled goblin to be left behind.

When the group is far enough, Hivon throws his hook right on its shoulder. Using all of his strength, he quickly grabs the goblin back then gags it with an arrow shaft. Slitting the throat quickly to kill it, it is dead now.

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Due to teen or parental advisory ratings, the author does not want to describe this certain gruesome scene. Substituting for this scene is a tree stump removal scene.

First, you need to trim the roots around the tree. Next you get your shovel out, push the shovel beneath the stump and finally you apply force to pry out the stump. The stump is removed

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- HP:120/200

- Sta: 20/20

Hivon feels uncomfortable after eating those eyes raw. But at least, those are the safest parts to be eaten raw. The rest, he collects only a few of the bones that are long enough to handle. Usually, fresh bone marrow has liquid that is good enough for glue making. That is not Hivon aiming for, he is aiming for the next monster he needs to distract around this area, zombies.

Hivon considers using bones because it would be more heavy and distinct to carry flesh that is about to rot around. Especially, when there are bats and giant maggots around. Zombies and giant maggots are wandering around this floor. Giant maggots have poor eyesight but exceptional deafening screech and sense of smell. Zombies aim for flesh and bones. They would chase something thrown suddenly instead of living prey. They are even more gullible than trolls. Bats are rarely to be seen but they are no less dangerous. Small and annoying, usually can be killed effectively with area control attacks.

The good news for Hivon is that he is about to level up. Since he recently just slayed that goblin.

One more prey to go, it can't be level one randomly drop down. Gods of this world have established laws. There is one law which makes the lives of the weak even harder. <No scrumming>. When one's level is higher than the prey's by four or more, he can't take any experience from it. This is why killing low levels doesn't make someone stronger and also doesn't attract many high level adventurers to do such petty monster extermination.

Gods do this just to make the world more entertaining to them.

Running for a long period of time is not what Hivon is best at and so he has to rely on his stealth and his evasion stats. He sees a lone zombie but it is not very injured so he has to bypass it by distracting it at another cross section and while he has to make a quick dash.

This happens several times and he can catch his own breath each time. There is a giant maggot. It is level 6 and it is quite easy to be killed if he is good as an average adventurer. What he does know is that this maggot has taken quite a meal around its fellow maggot. When a creature is full and digesting a meal, it is an easy target since it takes more damage, has less evasion and slower reaction. He quickly shoves an arrow shaft right on its mandibles to prevent the screech first, dagger ready and he stabs right on its nerves. It is very effective. He is exhausted. A level up event is what he needs.

Stats:

-- level 6--

+Job: scout

+Weapon affinity: hook

+Magic affinity: none

- HP: 180/300

- Sta: 25/25

- Str: 14

- Agi: 32

- End: 25

- Int: 32

- Evasion: 62

- Luck: 40

Giant maggots are known for its screech due to its sound organ unlike many normal size insects. These things have their own vocal cords in other words. That part is located somewhere beneath the head. That cord can be used as a sturdy rope if you have at least like hundreds of them and bind them patiently enough. But Hivon doesn't have that privilege of time so he makes something rather with its length around 40 cm long. A strong garrote wire with goblin's bones for handles. These arrow shafts he has are quite a bit damaged or rotten.

'Maybe I should explore a bit to write a rather interesting report around here but I don't have that provision to continue'

And so, he is going to find stairs that lead to the first floor and an entrance that leads to the escape of this labyrinth.

After a while, he reaches the first floor. What seems impossible to survive such misfortunate fall, he did it. The first floor, where he can easily evade all the monsters patrolling around here.

There are only weak slimes and a few wandering rats around. Hivon kneels down in joy.

Or so he thought it was safe for him the entire time until he sees a figure he has to fear.

A rabid wolf guarding the entrance with the saliva dripping on its mouth stands there in alertness.

He can't fool that wolf by throwing a piece of bone, throwing daggers at it or fighting it directly. A rabid creature tends to hunt down the living things in front of its eyes. Their eyes are filled with madness and with only the purpose of tearing others alive. The best way to encounter such creature is to either run away as far as possible, have enough protection, blind it, stun it or hope that there is another thing running past its eyes. The important thing is that don't let it bite your flesh or you will get rabies in few days. Contacting its saliva through mouth, eyes, nose or ears will also be devastating but not as the biting part. The only cure for this rabies is to decapitate the victims or get back to the sanitarium as soon as possible