Damned System

Chapter 39. Capitalism (3)

The creature had approached precisely where I was.

I hastily retraced my steps back the way I came.

As soon as I did, the mana that had been gravitating toward my direction stopped in its tracks.

Rather than retreat further, I stood my ground.

The boss monster then began to return to its original position.

Repeating this action a couple of times, I could be sure.

The creature would react if I approached within a certain distance, but if I withdrew beyond that range, it would not pursue and would instead return.

“About 50 meters, I suppose…”

Also, the smaller monsters did not dare to come near the boss monster.

This indicated that the spot where I was standing was a safe zone.

The choice was whether to regroup here or to immediately go and kill the creature absorbing mana.

I assessed the two linked mana flows and gathered my thoughts.

“There isn’t a noticeable increase in mana.”

Therefore, the choice was simple.

“I’ll restore all of the attribute mana before going in.”

The mana of the creature suspected to be the boss monster was at least in the hundreds.

It was unimaginable how strong the monster could be.

Even if I confronted it in top condition, it was impossible to predict victory.

Having made the decision, I sat down and settled on the ground.

It had already been half a day since entering the mission site.

I waited for my mana to recover, filling my hunger with the food I had brought.

“Tsk.”

Today alone, the attribute mana had been depleted four times.

It was fortunate to have the time to recover like this in between, otherwise, the battles would have been even tougher.

“My attribute mana is too little.”

The power is excellent, but once I’ve finished a hunt, it’s completely exhausted, which is frustrating.

At some point, the need for attribute mana became greater than regular mana.

Regular mana now felt just like currency.

“My body no longer changes with mana, and there is so much of it that I can use substantial materializations without exhausting it.”

At Level 3, regular mana only indirectly affected an increase in combat power.

“By purchasing skills or equipment, for instance.”

In contrast, attribute mana directly enhanced combat effectiveness by increasing power and duration.

This led to a continuous search for a method to quickly and abundantly gather it.

But no feasible solution emerged.

From my memory, attribute mana was only obtained when I successfully completed a mission.

Pondering this new challenge, I focused on the direction where the boss monster resided.

* * *

After replenishing my attribute mana, I dashed without delay to the place where the boss monster was.

I approached using Invisibility just in case, but the creature responded as if it had been waiting for me.

“It’s coming up.”

Invisibility was of no use, so I dispelled it and accelerated my run.

It was crucial to secure a position before the creature did.

Fortunately, the reaction seemed more like a deterrent, as the boss monster’s rise to the surface wasn’t particularly swift.

Thanks to that, I managed to reach the vast swamp before the creature emerged from the water.

It appeared almost as large as a school playground.

“Why is it so wide?”

After rapidly scanning the surrounding environment, I focused on the presence of the monster.

In my hand was the spear I acquired during the tutorial.

Though I hadn’t used it much since obtaining the cross-blade spear, today it was necessary.

This spear was more suited for throwing.

“Once it appears, I’ll strike with a single blow.”

I assumed a throwing position while watching the black shadow approaching through the muddy water.

The water rippled and sloshed dramatically as the boss monster moved, splattering the ground.

Yet, the creature did not emerge from the water surface.

With patience, I awaited the monster to rise from the water.

However, its patience seemed formidable as well.

Since I discovered it, the creature remained submerged the entire time.

“It means it doesn’t need to breathe out of water…”

If true, being dragged in would be perilous.

Unlike the creature, there was the possibility for me to drown.

The water depth where I had faced the smaller creatures only reached my knees or thighs, but here it seemed several meters deep.

There was a clear reason why I should avoid entering the water.

Yet it was impractical to maintain this stalemate indefinitely.

A way to provoke it had to be found.

“Come to think of it, it seemed reluctant to leave that swirling mana alone.”

Reflecting on the boss monster’s behavior patterns, I slowly lowered the spear shaft.

I dipped the spearhead into the water as I did upon first entering this mission site.

Of course, I didn’t use attribute mana this time.

“No need to waste mana.”

If electricity didn’t work effectively on this creature, it would just be wasting mana.

Fortunately, merely submerging the spearhead earned a reaction.

The creature’s movements within the water grew rougher.

The ripple effect in the water intensified as if expressing anger.

Not only did it dislike coming out, but it also despised anyone invading this area.

Having realized this, I promptly splashed my feet into the water.

Spla-ash!

Simultaneously, something as thick as my forearm shot up from the direction of the creature.

“It’s coming!”

Grabbing the tail moving like a whip, I sensed more weight than expected.

However, it wasn’t enough to cause me harm.

I wrapped the tongue around my left arm and pulled with all my might.

The resistance was substantial, plunging my feet into the soft ground.

Gritting my teeth and exerting strength, the creature began to emerge from its watery concealment.

The exterior of the beast that materialized was similar to the smaller creatures.

Its head, however, was as large as my torso.

“It seems about 2 or 3 meters long in total.”

Before I could grimace at its size, the spear I had thrown embedded itself near the creature’s left front foot.

“Shaak!”

Though I aimed for its head, the creature twisted, resulting in a missed shot.

Moreover, it penetrated shallower than I desired.

If the hide were similar to that of the smaller monsters, it would have fully pierced through.

Adding insult to injury, as the creature squirmed, the spear extracted itself.

“Tsk.”

My face scrunched up with frustration. What a stubborn hide.

“If that’s the case, I’ll have to pull it closer.”

From then on, a tug of war between the boss monster and me commenced.

The tug was significant, making it no small task.

“Tsk.”

Deploying attribute mana, I managed to stiffen the creature.

“Huff!”

With the creature momentarily rigid, I pulled it with all my might, causing the creature, nearly 3 meters long, to lift off the ground.

Soon, as the paralysis dissipated, the monster severed its own tongue with its teeth.

“This damn thing?”

A chuckle escaped me. It didn’t hesitate for a second in mutilating itself.

I was astounded, but the beast was already well away from the water.

If it wanted to cut its body, I wouldn’t stop it.

I rushed toward the creature descending headfirst toward the ground.

In my right hand was a longsword, and a dagger in my left.

Just as I closed the remaining distance, thud, the large creature landed on the ground.

The muddy water pooled here and there splashed in every direction.

As a result, my view was obstructed as something as thick as my waist sailed toward me.

“Right!”

The longsword, veiled in red mist, pierced through the creature’s tail effortlessly.

“I’ll pin it down here!”

In the manner of anchoring paper with a thumbtack, I drove the longsword into the ground.

The tail was slick with a strange mucous, making it slippery.

But once the sword pierced through, slipping was no longer a concern.

Although the tail squirmed violently, I quelled its resistance using strength while infusing the longsword with attribute mana.

I aimed to paralyze it and seize the opportunity to cut off its life.

However, as blue sparks erupted, another laugh slipped out.

The monster had severed its tail and fled again.

The only thing left was the tail, charring and releasing wisps of smoke.

“Now it’s the tail, huh?”

It seemed more a lizard than a crocodile after all.

I clicked my tongue but swiftly gave chase to the fleeing creature.

Having sacrificed both tongue and tail, it now had no choice but to engage in close combat.

As I drew near, it turned its head.

Should it bite me, my body would be rent in half.

I kicked its snout aside and slashed horizontally with the dagger in my left hand.

Its side split open, spewing black blood.

The only thing left was to move within the longsword’s range and decapitate its neck, and it would be over!

“Shaaaaaa!”

The creature suddenly flipped over, wildly jerking its head in all directions, opening its mouth wide.

The distance between the beast and me was minimal.

Merely a downward slash would suffice to cut off its jaw with the longsword.

But before I could swing, a viscous green liquid gushed out from within its mouth.

“Wh-what!”

While retreating, I hastily crafted a Barrier.

The liquid spewed by the creature engulfed the Barrier almost instantly.

“Hah!”

Immediately, white steam rose off the Barrier as it began to erode.

Sssssss…

The sound mirrored placing meat on a heated grill.

“… It’s acid.”

Whether hydrochloric or sulfuric, its precise composition was unknown, but contact would be perilous.

Thankfully, I managed to evade while the Barrier disintegrated.

Though the creature stood in its own acidic pool, it seemed unbothered.

“No wonder it was so slippery.”

Apparently, the mucous coating its skin allowed it to withstand the acidic component.

As I scowled, the creature began spraying fluid in every direction.

It appeared resolved to prevent me from approaching.

Escaping the acidic barrage, I retreated a few more steps.

Then, the creature began slinking toward a particular direction.

My expression froze over.

The direction the creature headed toward lay the water.

“It’s trying to flee.”

That thing intended to submerge itself.

“Absolutely not.”

Once in the water, it might never emerge on its own.

I could very well be forced to enter the water.

That scenario would place me at a significant disadvantage.

Without further thought, I grasped a spear and gathered attribute mana at my feet.

Using Invisibility as I launched into the air, I evaded the acidic spread.

Springing over the acid-laden ground, the creature accelerated its pace.

It appeared to intend on barring my path with the acid.

Fortunately, more of the sprays flew off-target, unable to precisely pinpoint my location.

The few that sailed my way were easily dodged mid-air by adjusting my trajectory.

In the meantime, I drew close enough that I could strike from above.

“Injury is unavoidable.”

When utilizing a Barrier, I couldn’t attack.

Hence, the moment I lunged to pierce it, the Barrier had to be lowered.

Intent on an aggressive approach, I descended upon the creature’s neck.

Sensing my presence, the beast raised its head in my direction.

The crimson mist swirling around the spear as it plunged, the creature shot forth more bodily fluid.

Simultaneously, I kicked off with my left foot, pivoted in mid-air.

Landed on the creature’s side, deployed a Barrier.

The ceaseless flow of liquid from the creature’s maw coated the Barrier and ate through it.

Through the dissolving Barrier, my spear pierced the creature’s nape, drenching me in green liquid in succession.

“Haaagh!”

“Kaagh!”

Agonizing flame danced across my left shoulder, back, side, as well as my arms, hands, and down to my thighs.

The skin began dissolving, emitting the acrid scent of burning flesh.

Even in excruciating pain, I refused to yield my grip on the spear.

Instead, I clung tighter to the shaft, channeling all remaining attribute mana.

With around a hundred units of Lightning attribute mana manifesting in a single instance, blue light flared in all directions.

The body of the creature, impaled by my spear, convulsed violently with each spasmodic jerk.

Flung about from side to side as I clung to the monstrous beast, blue sparks began to dissipate, yet the system message had not appeared.

Thus, brandishing the longsword, I resorted to utilizing materialization once more.

With the blade wrapped in a red mist, it streaked toward the partially severed neck of the monster.