-Vol 3: Enemies in The dark-

-It’s a snake, right?-

“Everyone, stop!” Kenshin instructed in a hushed-up voice. The children all stopped their advance, looking at him in wonder.

“Nobody moves from here! Okay! Ahead of this place was a powerful monster. I will handle it. Unless I come back, nobody is to move from here. Understood!” Kenshin asked them, still with a hushed tone. He was afraid to alert the monster. If it happens, these children’s lives fall into danger.

“What? A monster? Really”

“M-monster!”

“Are we going to die?”

The children started to panic. Until now, they had only killed small scale monsters, like a weak and already half dead monkey. It was their teacher who would kill them all. Since they have never seen Kenshin fight, they didn’t know if he was as strong as their teachers or not.

They’re already thinking of death. Only the girl, whom he had saved, thought that Kenshin would win.

Kenshin didn’t care if the children believe him or not, it was his choice to save them in the first place.

“Move back. And no matter what, don’t come beyond that corner. Okay!?”

He didn’t even wait for their reply. Cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders, he, step by step, closed on the twist. His eyes no longer held that caring and concerned vibe. It slowly turned cold and colder. Finally, his countenance frosted over.

He clenched and unclenched his right hand. Taking a deep breath, he stepped on the corner. Beyond it lied an unknown monster.

It would be a lie if Kenshin said he wasn’t nervous. He unconsciously released a 50% of sealed power. A light purple aura erupted from him, sending dust and debris flying all over the place. Cracks and zagged lines appeared all over the cave wall. As if it interfered with the gravity, the dust and gravel began floating all over the place.

His every step made cracks on the ground, leaving footsteps in rocky ground. All those cocky and skeptical kids, who were looking at this scene, nearly peed in their pants. They didn’t know Kenshin was this strong. He had never given that strong vibe to them.

“He was this strong?” the boy, Io, said. His face was paler than a white sheet of paper. It was him who was rudest to Kenshin, all along the journey.

“He is so handsome.” the girl, who scolded Io before, gushed with hearts on her eyes. It was the case with all the girl present.

Seeing this, the girl whom Kenshin saved, ground her teeth while chewing her sleeves.

Kenshin didn’t care about his flabbergasted audience. His mind’s occupied with the monster he was going to face in the next few seconds. To be cautious, he had already equipped his Skeleton Knight chest plate and equipped himself with a long sword named Executioner’s Knife.

[Executioner’s Knife][DUR: 450/500]

[ATK: 1000]

[Skill: Life Steal][+10 HP per successful hit]

It was a sword he got after killing that Shogun Skeleton’s Boss. That was a very annoying monster, all because of this sword, that allowed it to regain it’s lost HP by slashing others. Out of all monsters, it took on minimum seven hits from Kenshin before dying. Even when he was boosted up to 3000% of his base ATK.

Just by imagining, what would have happened if it was released outside, gave Kenshin the chills.

Thankfully, he had got this miraculous sword after killing it as a drop. Unfortunately, his scythe broke to peaces that night. And he was having so much fun swinging around that wicked weapon.

Shaking his head, he cleared up all his distracting thoughts and focused on the monster he was going to face next.

His map was showing a large green dot just a few meters ahead of him, but he couldn't see a damn thing. What’s going on here?

Kenshin grabbed his sword tightly and took a defensive stance. He was ready for all sneak attacks from any direction. His vigil eyes scanned everywhere, trying to see through anything that’s hidden. But, unfortunately, he couldn’t find a thing.

His map was showing him there’s a monster ahead, but his eyes can’t see it.

“This is bad!!” Kenshin said to no one in particular.

*Plop*

Suddenly he heard the sound of dripping water. The sound was akin to a drop of water falling on the floor in an airtight room. And it came from his behind.

He slowly, very slowly turned around and came face to face with a faceless snake-like creature with a huge mouth like opening. It was very close to his face, so close that he could smell a fishy stench coming off its slimy red body. Slowly, It’s mouth like opening opened up like petals from a flower, showing its vicious teeth inside.

“GRRRRRR!!!!!” it roared very loudly, trying to scare Kenshin.

Kenshin, who was standing so close to it, couldn’t help but blanch at the stinky smell coming off its mouth.

[Cumpolsory Quest 2: Kill the Earth Snake Lv 55]

[Rewards]

10000 G Mystery Box 10 Sp 1 level up

A blue box floated above Kenshin, showing him the recent quest. To his luck, it was a compulsory mission. But this appearance of notification had helped him to regain his bearing from his momentary shock. With a swift motion, he jumped back, making some distance between the monster and him.

Now he got a good look at it. Pinkish body covered in slime. Unusually long, no face but a huge mouth…everything about it just screams of an earthworm. It was like seeing an earthworm under an electron microscope.

Is it really snake?

Isn't the system made a mistake? This is a goddamn earthworm!! Kenshin shouted in his mind, but outwardly maintained a clam face.

He used his UI to scan the creature.

[Earth Snake][Level 55]

[HP: 500]

[ATK: 120; DEF: 50]

[Skills]

Oil Skin Lv 8[Immune to all blunt and piercing damage] Burrow Lv 10[Phase through the ground or any hard object, as long as it's connected to the ground] Bite Lv 10[100% Biting damage. A slim chance to cause bleeding damage for five minutes] Child of Earth Lv 10[50% all stats when connected to the ground]

Definition: a normal earthworm who was lucky enough to absorb some of the remnant magic power leaking out of the dungeon. It evolved into a giant earthworm while gaining many skills in the process. It possesses all the strength and weakness of a normal earthworm.

HINT: Weak against fire and destruction magic. Immune to all blunt and sword damages.