NOVEL WEB Chapter 14: [Savage Fur Devil Den (E+)]
SHING! SPURT!
Cassius glided through the verdant chaos of the Savage Jungle Gate, his black spear a blur of precision and lethality. Every strike found its mark, and each E-Rank or F-Rank monster crumbled under his relentless assault. The once-lush environment now bore the grisly aftermath of his efforts—corpses sprawled across the forest floor, the air thick with the coppery scent of blood.
*Ding!*
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
The system notifications came rapid-fire, but Cassius barely spared them a glance. He knew what they meant—power, progress, survival. Yet he also understood that the real test was still ahead.
After roughly half an hour of unrelenting combat, Cassius reached Lvl 12. His muscles ached, his fatigue bar ticked higher, but his resolve remained unshaken as he stood before a foreboding cavern entrance.
It was massive and dark, the mouth of the cave yawning like a predator waiting to consume him whole. Unnatural howls echoed from within, reverberating off the jagged walls. Above the entrance, a name tag floated ominously, glowing faintly in the dim light.
[Savage Fur Devil Den (E+)]
Cassius's brows furrowed. The addition of the plus sign wasn't lost on him. While an E-Rank dungeon was already a challenge, the added modifier pushed it perilously close to D-Rank territory. This wasn't just dangerous—it was potentially suicidal.
Still, Cassius's grip on his spear tightened. He took a deep breath, the cool, damp air of the jungle filling his lungs.
"This is it," he muttered to himself, stepping forward. His voice echoed faintly in the cavern, swallowed by the oppressive silence. "If I want to keep evolving, this is the next step."
Into the Den.
The tunnel was unnervingly wide and eerily quiet. The usual sounds of skittering rodents or chirping insects were absent, replaced by an oppressive stillness.
Cassius's footsteps echoed with unnatural clarity as he ventured deeper. Each step splashed faintly in the puddles dotting the floor, the water reflecting the faint glow of the spear's jagged tip.
"This place is home to something terrifying," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Terrifying enough to scare everything else away."
The deeper he went, the more the tension mounted. His breathing slowed, his grip on the spear tightening as his body prepared for the inevitable.
Then, without warning, the system chimed, breaking his concentration.
*Ding~!
[Seeing as you are so enthusiastic about smashing things together like the monkey you are, what say you experience it yourself?]
[For Character Development! ^=^]
"...What?"
Before Cassius could fully process the system's cryptic taunt, the wall to his left exploded inward.
CRASH!
A massive, shadowy figure barreled through the shattered stone, its speed and size leaving no time to react. The beast rammed into Cassius with bone-crushing force, sending him hurtling backward.
"!!!"
BOOM!
Cassius's body collided with a boulder, the impact reverberating through the cavern. A wet cough escaped his lips as blood splattered onto the cold, damp ground. He slid down the boulder's jagged surface, coming to rest in a shallow puddle.
The cold water lapped against his battered face, the ripples distorting his reflection. Through dim, unfocused vision, he could make out the colossal shape of his assailant.
The beast was monstrous, its size dwarfing even the Deadly Panthers he had faced earlier. It had a grotesque, elongated maw brimming with jagged teeth and three pairs of glowing, basketball-sized eyes that glared at him with predatory intent.
[Savage Fur Devil (E+)]
The name tag hovered above the creature, its dark red hue a grim reminder of the danger he was in.
Cassius's body screamed in pain, every nerve alight with agony. His mind wavered, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.
'I thought I'd become strong…' he thought bitterly, his vision blurring. 'But I was wrong. So wrong.'
The beast took a step closer, its massive frame casting a shadow over Cassius's prone form. Each step sent tremors through the ground, the sound of its growl vibrating in his chest.
*Ding!*
[The First Hint:]
[Considering that the Host's Intelligence stat is lacking compared to his other stats, the system has provided you with a hint.]
[What do you receive from each Level Up?]
"What… do I receive…?" Cassius murmured, his thoughts sluggish. His mind raced to decipher the system's message, the words swirling in his head like a puzzle.
Then, clarity struck.
"Status… Rec...overy," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
He focused every ounce of his remaining strength on summoning the system interface. The glowing green text of Reward #2 shimmered before his eyes, and with a desperate thought, he activated it.
SHING!
A radiant green light enveloped Cassius's body, its warmth seeping into his battered form. The pain subsided, his wounds knitting together in seconds. The puddle beneath him turned clear, washing away the blood that had pooled around him.
When the light faded, Cassius rose to his feet. His body was fully restored, his strength renewed.
"A miracle drug," he muttered, flexing his fingers as he turned to face the Savage Fur Devil. "And I have ten more of these."
"ROOOOAAAARRRGGHHHH!!!!"
The beast roared in frustration, its six eyes narrowing at the sight of its unharmed prey.
Cassius gripped his spear tightly, his icy blue eyes locking onto the monster with renewed determination. Fear still lingered in the back of his mind, but it was drowned out by the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
The Thrill of Battle.
"I thought I was going to die," Cassius said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "But now…"
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"I feel alive. That feeling I felt earlier… It has multiplied."
The Savage Fur Devil charged, its claws slicing through the air with devastating speed. Cassius dodged to the side, his movements a blur as his enhanced Agility stat came into play.
He retaliated with a sharp thrust of the Deadly Spear, the weapon's jagged tip biting into the monster's thick hide. The Bleed effect activated instantly, crimson lines spreading across the beast's body as its health began to tick down.
"ROOAAARGHH!!!"
The creature roared in pain and fury, swiping at Cassius with wild, frenzied strikes. But he was ready.
Each dodge, each counterattack was precise, calculated. The Savage Fur Devil was larger and stronger, but Cassius's newfound confidence and agility made him a force to be reckoned with.
"You're strong," Cassius said, his voice calm as he sidestepped another attack. "But I've got something you don't."
The monster lunged, its massive jaws snapping inches from Cassius's face. With a sharp twist, he drove the spear deep into its chest, the weapon glowing faintly as the Bleed effect stacked once more.
"Character development."
The battle was far from over, but for the first time since this life-or-death battle began, Cassius felt like he had the upper hand.
More importantly, however, was how he began to better appreciate the Development of Character…
*Ding~!*
'No…'