Ahhhhh, good morning!

Sleeping after a hard day of exercising really is amazing! Haven’t felt this well rested in years, heh.

Welp, back to exploring!

After having my morning drink from the spring, I begin making my way back to where I left off yesterday, activating Body Enhancement to save some time. I managed to reach yesterday’s battlefield in only three hours, though I did have to stop a couple times to let my mana pool regenerate.

Walking past the scene of carnage (not really) I couldn’t help but be proud of myself. If I continue finding fights like these, I’ll be able to power level up in no time. It’s kinda like that feeling you get when you receive your first paycheck, holding in your hand the money you made yourself.

I continue forward past the fallen golems. I wasn’t able to make much ground because of the fights, but it was all worth. Three levels and a bunch of level ups on my skills, I’d take that over walking down this bland tunnel.

*crackle*

…

……

I REALLY should stop jinxing myself.

I look at the single golem rising out of the ground and sigh.

Basic Earth Golem --- LVL 5

Is this place a spawning ground for these things or what? I could have sworn I took care of all the golems in this general area, but then again I didn’t go all that deep.

I quickly pounce on the nearly upright golem, sending it back down on the ground, and I start clawing away with Earth Manipulation. A couple of swipes later and the golem lie broken on the ground.

You have slain Basic Earth Golem LVL 5.

It’s level was quite low, but it still took a fair amount of my mana to kill.

Hmmm...is this place some sort of hidden underground base or something? Nah, it couldn’t be. These golems are too weak, I mean a small lizard like myself could take out a bunch of these guys without getting killed in the process. If it was a place that needed to be guarded, I doubt they’d use golems as weak as the ones here.

I take a closer look at the destroyed golem. Yesterday I didn’t get the chance to really study these things, and frankly I’m curious. It looked like a small headless human with very little distinguishable features other than a large four point star on its chest. Heck, it had stumps for its legs and arms, lacking any for of fingers or toes. No wonder it takes them like and hour to get up.

After another couple of minutes of walking I hear another golem getting up. Repeating what I previously did, I dispatch the prone golem

You have slain Basic Earth Golem LVL 4.

Mmm, lowest level I’ve seen yet. Oh well, free EXP is free EXP.

You have gained enough experience points to level up. You are now level 16. You have received 5 skill points.

Oh, damn, I got another level up! Oh shit, I forgot to spend the skill points I previously got! Gosh darn it, I’ve gotta remember to check my status page.

Nameless Lesser Gyarian Lizard; Level 16

Status Effects : Content

Unspent Skill Points : 20

Skills :

Identify: LVL 2

Night Vision: LVL 4

Heat Vision: LVL 2

Venom: LVL 6

Regeneration: LVL 4

Camouflage: LVL 3

Body Enhancement: LVL 6

Earth Manipulation: LVL 4

Magic Manipulation: LVL 2

Resistances :

Heat Resistance: LVL 2

Fear Resistance: LVL 1

Earth Resistance: LVL 3

Traits :

Bi-blooded

Small but Mighty

Titles :

Reincarnated One

Reverse Slayer

Upholder of Morals

Ŵ̸̨͙͂̈́̇̀̽̑ư̶̩͇̼̩̹͚̰͜z̸̧̮͖̅͆̽͑ͅe̵̪̝͔̽ͅx̶̡̪̼̰̲̦̫̓̉͝ͅm̶̧̭͆̒̽͂͊̈̋̋k̴̗͘q̵͙̻͓̗̊̕d̵̢̧͖̬̀̐̓

20 points, huh? Let me check the store.

Available Skills :

Enhanced Hearing - 10 points

Enhanced Olfactory - 10 points

Perfect! I can get both enhancement skills!

Please confirm your purchase :

~ ~ ~

Enhanced Hearing --- 10 Skill Points

Enhanced Olfactory --- 10 Skill Points

Yes

No

Yes!

*ding*

You have purchased Enhanced Hearing for 10 skill points.

You have purchased Enhanced Olfactory for 10 skill points.

Argh! I shake my head violently as my ears and nose start itching immensely. The feeling left as quickly as it came, and I was left stunned for a good couple seconds. After composing myself, I activate both of my new skills.

Breathing in, I notice that I can discern smells a lot better now. The smell of rats, mice, of shattered rocks…and faintly that of mud further down the tunnel. I could also hear the scurrying of rodents around and below me much better as well. The drain on my mana is also almost non-existent, being canceled out by my passive mana regeneration. I continue forward, activating Camouflage as well.

After around half an hour of walking, I could just barely hear the sound of running water. New basecamp! Another half an hour and I came across the small stream going from one crack in the wall down into another crack. It wasn’t anywhere near as scenic as the spring was, but fresh water is fresh water, can’t really complain about that. But seriously, though, that spring two nights ago look like it was ripped right off of a painting, or one of those nature photography you see in magazines-

*rumble*

A sudden rumbling sound snapped me out of my daydreaming. Looking around, I couldn’t help but let my jaw hang in wonder. I had been so preoccupied thinking about the spring I didn’t notice that the walls here were carved inwards with stone golems standing side by side and at attention, like how medieval castles had empty armors stand in its hallways. These golems are larger as well, about two meters in height, but other than that looked identical to their smaller counterpart, though each had two four pointed stars engraved on their chest.

As I took the sight in, a couple of them near me started moving.

Earth Golem --- LVL 15

Earth Golem --- LVL 15

Earth Golem --- LVL 15

Oh fucking hell. The ‘Basic’ adjective is gone. Shit.

The three golems that reacted to me slowly stepped down from the platform and faced me, before slowly marching towards me. Thank god they’re just as slow as the basic ones.

I turn off the smelling and hearing enhancements while simultaneously activating Night Vision, overwriting the Heat Vision in the eye. I crack my neck and got myself ready for its attack.

The first of the golems lumbered up to me, raising its arms up high in its well projected attack that I’ve already gotten used to. Just as it was about to smash down on me, I jump between the golems legs and rake both of my claws along its legs. Tch! Only minor scratches. It seems like these golems’ bodies are much tougher overall, and have some kind of anti-magic property. An explosion sounded behind me, sending me tumbling forwards. I quickly roll to the side as two more arms slammed down on the spot I just was, causing another explosion.

Regaining my composure, I wince at the sight of the two craters created by these golems. This is gonna be a tough fight. I begin retreating, backing off slowly so that I don’t get too far from the golems. Hopefully I can deaggro two of these golems as I am one hundred percent sure I can take them one at a time, even with their resistances.

After a couple dozen meters one of the golems stopped and turned around, and started heading back towards the platform. Yes! Now, all that needs to happen is- nononononononono-

I quickly activate Body Enhancement and sprint forwards as the remaining two golems simultaneously deaggroed. Shit! These two golems’ aggro range are the same! Damn, I’ll have to fight them both together.

I got right up to the golem I had previously scratched, attacking it again after it didn’t reaggro. This got both of their attention once more and they started attacking me. I stay still, waiting as the first golem raised up its arms before dashing in between its legs and scratching. Damn, still just tiny stretch marks. I bait out the second golem’s smash attack and just like with the first golem I slip between its legs and deliver a pair of scratches.

Rinse and repeat. Bait out, dodge, scratch. Bait out, dodge, scratch. Bait out, dodge, scratch. Mmm… my mana’s getting quite low now. I might have to back out to recover soon. Hopefully these golems won’t regenerate while idle-

*SLAM*

A sudden explosion from above startled me, making me lose my footing and tumble a couple of meters behind the golem I was baiting. Jumping back up in a panic, I look about frantically.

Oh.

Daaaaaamn.

Aww yeah!

Chunks of stone lay everywhere as I watch the golem I was baiting pull out its arms from the other golem’s now destroyed chest, revealing a gleaming green stone in the middle. As it turns out the second golem was much too close to the golem I was baiting and so when the baited golem slammed down it hit the other golem accidentally! The AI of these golems sure are trash. I grin. I don’t even need to hit these guys myself. I’ll have them do it for me!

I jump back into the fray with only Body Enhancement active, landing right between the two golems, both simultaneously begin raising their arms. As the arms reach max height I violently roll to the side, grinning to myself as two more explosions sounded above me and stone fragments started flying everywhere. My grin grew wider as I watch the golem that was first hit slowly fall down as its crystal lost its glimmer while the other was nearly blown in half, losing one of its arms and revealing to me its crystal.

You have slain Earth Golem LVL 15.

Before the remaining golem could recover, I sprint forth at full speed and slam my body against it, sending it crashing down into the earth. I then begin repeatedly bashing at the crystal while using Earth Manipulation to hopefully deal extra damage to it. Three bashes later and the crystal gives to my blows, sending shards of itself flying in all directions.

You have slain Earth Golem LVL 15.

You have gained enough experience points to level up. You are now level 17. You have received 5 skill points.

Body Enhancement has leveled up to level 7.

Earth Manipulation has leveled up to level 5.

Whew~

That was… quite something. Thank god these golems are literally as dumb as a rock. I lie down on the ground, both my body and my mana thoroughly exhausted. I close my eyes and enter a sort of meditative state, my mind was too pumped up to sleep, but my exhaustion preventing me from doing anything other than just lie here.

And lie.

And lie.

And lie.

After what I assume to be a good hour or two of meditation I open my eyes and stretch, feeling surprisingly refreshed. My mana had filled up and my body wasn’t all that sore anymore. I sigh and grin, gritting my teeth. This is gonna be another long day.

* * *

…Bait. Dodge. Bait. Dodge. Bait. Dodge. Pounce. Smash crystal. Bait. Dodge. Pounce. Smash crystal.

You have slain Earth Golem LVL 15.

You have slain Earth Golem LVL 15.

Alrighty. The last two are down. I slump down on the ground, trying to catch my breath. Gotta say the people who made these golems sure made a ton of them. What are they hiding in here that requires twenty golems to protect? Anyway, let me take a look at my stats. I leveled up a few times, but I forgot to check.

Nameless Lesser Gyarian Lizard; Level 20

Status Effects : Tired [Decreased stats]

Unspent Skill Points : 20

Skills :

Identify: LVL 2

Night Vision: LVL 5

Heat Vision: LVL 2

Venom: LVL 6

Regeneration: LVL 5

Camouflage: LVL 3

Body Enhancement: LVL 8

Enhanced Hearing: LVL 2

Enhanced Olfactory: LVL 2

Earth Manipulation: LVL 7

Magic Manipulation: LVL 3

Resistances :

Heat Resistance: LVL 2

Fear Resistance: LVL 1

Earth Resistance: LVL 4

Physical Resistance: LVL 2

Traits :

Bi-blooded

Small but Mighty

Titles :

Reincarnated One

Reverse Slayer

Upholder of Morals

Ŵ̸̨͙͂̈́̇̀̽̑ư̶̩͇̼̩̹͚̰͜z̸̧̮͖̅͆̽͑ͅe̵̪̝͔̽ͅx̶̡̪̼̰̲̦̫̓̉͝ͅm̶̧̭͆̒̽͂͊̈̋̋k̴̗͘q̵͙̻͓̗̊̕d̵̢̧͖̬̀̐̓

Night Vision, Regeneration, the three enhancements, Magic Manipulation, and Earth Resistance all leveled up once. Earth Manipulation leveled up twice, and I got a new resistance: Physical Resistance, which leveled up once after I got it.

Once again, I’ve gotta say Regeneration and Earth Resistance saved my ass a good couple times. I kept on getting hit by flying rocks when the golems smashed each other or the ground, and one time I nearly got crushed but managed to slip by with but a graze. I think it broke two or three ribs, that attack. Yikes.

Anyway, that was pretty rewarding, if not dangerous. Let’s go shopping!

Available Skills :

None available at this time.

…

……

………

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME! I’M LEVEL TWENTY ALREADY AND THERE AREN’T ANY NEW SKILLS TO BUY? God DAMMIT I was looking forward to this! Argh!

Haaaaah… Alright, let’s calm down. Breath in, breath out. Breath in, breath out…

Urgh, I’m seriously miffed about this. I really shouldn’t be, but I’m awfully grumpy right now. Might be because I almost died a few times, or maybe it’s because I’m fucking starving. But I’m completely spent. It would be TOTALLY horrible if one of those rats just HAPPENS to come across me!

…

……

Oh come on, you throw random encounters at me when I don’t want them, but when I want them you never throw anything at me. Fucking cunt.

*growwwwl*

Ah, fine, I’ll get some food, goddamn it.

I stand up and activate Camouflage, Enhanced Hearing, and Enhanced Olfactory, along with Heat Vision in one eye and Night Vision in the other. I turn around and begin making my way back to the place where I caught the rat. Hunting time!

* * *

I activate Earth Manipulation, collapsing the rat’s tunnel and trapping it. All that practice using it on the golem has really paid off it seems. With it active I dig clawful after clawful of stone as I approached the squeaking noise.

*crumble*

*SNAP*

“Squeeeee-” The rat let out one last cry before my teeth sank into the little creature, pumping it full of venom.

You have slain Common Cave Rat LVL 7.

I saw this little bugger scamper around from one crevice in the wall to another. I managed to sneak up on it as it began digging a hole, which gave me the perfect opportunity to trap it, and trap it I did.

*growwwwl*

Alright, alright, no more screwing around. Let’s eat!

I vigorously tear into the rat, finishing it in the matter of a minute. Burping, I leisurely made my way back to the new stream, taking a nice long drink of water before curling up by the wall. Ahh, finally some rest time…

- - - - -

Forward and main defense golems have been destroyed. Preparing to deploy Stone Titan…

- - - - -

*bang*

…Mmm?

*bang*

…What’s this? I hear distant banging sound coming from beyond where the stone golems were. I groggily look up.

*bang*

I stand up and stare intently down the tunnel, fully alert now. I activating my Night Vision and Heat Vision combo to try to discern anything in the dark, but I can’t see anything.

*bang*

The noise is slowly getting closer. I’m getting pretty nervous, but I’m confident I can outrun whatever’s coming if I can’t beat it.

*BANG*

I feel the ground shake as I finally pick something up with my Night Vision. Is that a… large rock? I immediately cast Identify on it.

Stone Titan --- LVL 20

*BANG*

Oh.

Shit.

It’s a massive, bulky-ass golem. It was easily twice as tall as the stone golems and took up almost the entire tunnel space. It’s legs were thick as tree trunks, as were its arms. And holy shit it had three fingers on each of its hands as well.

Fuck this shit I’m ou… wait, there’s no exit.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

I activate Body Enhancement and begin sprinting back towards the first spring. Shit shit shit shit how the hell can I get out of this, oh for fuck’s sake. Why does this cave have these monstrosities?! I take back saying this was a boring trip, please please please god if you’re out there let me come out of this not dead, oh fucking-

THIS GOLEM CAN FUCKING SPRINT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH---

* * *

Hah- hah- hah- I’m- hah- somehow- hah- just a bit- hah- faster than- hah- that huge piece of- hah- rock- hooooooooooh…

I slump down by the wall next to the spring. I can still hear the thing stomping towards me, but I’m beat. I’m completely fucking beat. I can’t anymore, I seriously can’t, oh my fucking god. I’ve been sprinting at full speed on and off for the past two hours, and I don’t think I can move anymore.

My mana’s all but depleted; my muscles are just about ready to explode. And to top things off my fucking lungs make me feel like I’ve got asthma again…

I lie there looking towards the stomping noise, eyes unfocused, as sunlight scatter off of the spring water's surface.

*bang*

*bang*

*bang*

*bang*

*bang*

I watch in despair as the stone titan’s pillar-like leg came around the corner.

*bang*

The bulky golem stares at me with its non-existent eyes. This monster of a golem looked as though its creator actually cared about its appearance. It looked like an actual soldier, as though it was wearing a very large full suit of plate armor minus the helmet as it, like the other golems, didn’t have a head.

I continue watching it in near disinterest as it crouched down, preparing to charge down and squish me.

I breath a sigh of defeat. So this is it, huh? The end of my second life. Too short. It was much too short. Why, oh god or gods, why do you spite me so? Can’t you just let me live a normal life? Why are you trying to kill me off so many times in this shitty ass cave system?

*STOMP*

*STOMP*

*STOMP*

With every step the ground shakes as the stone titan began its charge. Fuck you, golem, and fuck you too, whoever’s throwing these monsters at me. Fuck you all.

I slowly close my eyes as the golem came ever nearer. I’m… ready. I’ve already had one life, as short as it was. Should I be thankful at another shot at life, as brief as it was?

…

……

No.

Fuck no.

Fuck that shit.

I’m done with my shitty ass luck. Fuck all of this.

I open my eyes, a new fire burning within.

If the higher beings are so hellbent on killing me, I’m gonna spit right in their faces and thrash and struggle as hard as I fucking can.

I growl in anger, shaking my head to clear it. A plan starts formulating in my mind.

First, I need to jump to the side just as the golem reaches me. Then I need to ensure it smashes into the wall. If all goes to plan, the golem may incapacitate itself when it smashes against the wall. I quickly take stock of my mana pool. Damn, only enough for a few seconds of Body Enhancement. I have to time it carefully. I dig my claws into the ground and steel my mind for what’s about to play out.

*STOMP*

3.

*STOMP*

2.

*STOMP*

1.

*STOMP*

GO!

I activate Body Enhancement and propel myself as violently as I can to the side.

“GYAAAAA!” I let out a cry of pain as the golem’s leg glances my tail before I crash into the ground.

*CRASH*

I am further thrown back by the shockwave created by the golem as large chunks of the cavern wall flew everywhere. Piece by piece I watch in amazement as the ceiling began crumbling down.

OH SHIT THE CEILING’S FALLING DOWN!

With no time to check on the golem, I hurriedly run down the tunnel that connects to the lake as pieces of debris rained down.

Shit my mana’s running out! Argh! I put the rest of my mana and willpower in my back legs as I make one last leap of faith.

*CRUMBLE*

*BANG*

*CRASH*

…

……

………