'Four hours... Four hours...'
Mark ran through the forest.
He stayed away from the area the Insect Monsters had destroyed.
'We've already made it to the wall that limits the forest. Then... Should I move along that wall? I might end up finding the Guardian instead. They've always been waiting in those Boss Rooms but... There's no reason to believe it'll be the same now...'
Alongside Mark, was his Typhoon Wolf Underling.
Gaze-
'I'm being watched... Something has been following me for a while now. A gaze... Can't tell how far or close the emitting it is though...'
The rest of his Underlings had been ordered to stay on the Second Floor to level up.
All the Monster Species on that Floor had already been encountered and defeated.
Additionally, all Underlings had already developed both Heat and Fire Resistance, except the Typhoon Wolf Underling.
Mark ran and ran, while moving his gaze went from right to left.
'It must have a Stealth Stat, just like Light does. I'm sure you do too, though I can't check now... Should I give you a name close to his? You're both wolves after all.'
Mark did not know, but the enemy tailing him had the highest Rank out of all the Monsters he had previously encountered.
'Light is a good name, I think. Since his pelt is dark... Yours is white though...'
The Typhoon Wolf stared at his Master while running by his side.
'Should I give you a name that has something to do with your white pelt?'
The Typhoon Wolf barked in a way that made it obvious he disagreed.
'Mm... It's white but... It used to be gray, right?'
The Underling's eyes widened.
'You like the gray part, don't you? All the other Typhoon Wolves have completely white pelts... Hm. Only spots of your gray pelt remain now but... It's kind of what made you unique, huh? Grey...'
Bark-
'Really? Grey? You like it?'
Bark-
[You have bestowed the name "Grey" upon your...]
Before Mark could even read the whole message, something quickly approached.
It rapidly got closer, while dodging the dozens of trees on its way.
The sound its movement produced made the Underling's ears twitch and Mark's skin shiver slightly.
Before they could even tell what was approaching,
Pierce-
The Typhoon Wolf Underling, Grey, cried in pain.
Mark's eyes widened at the sight of what had pierced the Underling's leg.
'Huh?'
His mind went blank for an instant, but he quickly shook it off as the situation demanded immediate focus.
'An arrow? So they use weapons, huh? Finally...'
The white-scaled Monster's thigh muscles increased in size as they were contracted.
'Something on this Floor that isn't a Beast.'
Like a bullet, Mark's body was launched in the direction the arrow had come from.
In a couple of seconds, he had crossed over 500meters.
'Just how fast is this guy? Already gone...'
Mark had absolutely no experience with archery.
Or with weapons in general really.
Which is why he could not even begin to appreciate the enemy's skill level.
A precise shot from such a distance would've been impossible for Humans.
Such a shot would have required the use of an insanely strong bowstring.
A bowstring far too strong for Humans to use.
Too strong, in fact, for most of the Monsters Mark had encountered actually.
Not only that, but the shot was as precise as they come.
The hiding Monster had to thread the needle through dozens of trees and branches in order to hit its target.
Additionally, it hit a moving target.
The Monster had to take into account the Typhoon Wolf's movements too.
'A game of hide-and-seek, huh?' Mark thought as his eyes twitched rapidly.
STUCH-
Since the bow was capable of shooting arrows from extremely far, it was only obvious that the loosened bowstring would produce noticeable sounds.
'That way.'
The world around Mark started moving at a slower pace, as his gaze turned toward the direction that sound had come from.
"Advanced Kinetic Vision[C+]"
But just as he took a single step in that direction,
Slash-
Mark barely had the time to bend his neck sideways.
'Too fast...' He thought, as a drop of blood went down his cheek.
A nervous smile appeared on Mark's face and his feet hit the ground.
Through the forest, he ran towards his target.
'It produces sound before the arrow is released. It's thanks to that, that I can pinpoint its position. Still, I thought I could easily dodge an arrow but...'
Passing the numerous trees that separated him from his target, Mark's thoughts raced.
'I can dodge, if that's what I focus on. The problem is that this guy moves too quickly for me to follow if I stop every time to dodge. I could use my "Impenetrable Barrier", but I doubt it would hold against an arrow going that fast. It works better against attacks like fireballs. Since it's a whole barrier, the Mana is spread thin. The barrier is strong, but the surface area a single arrowhead hits is weak... But, I guess-'
STUCH-
Mark made a right turn and immediately came to a full stop.
A barrier of Mana appeared around him, while Aura covered his tail.
BAM-
He started running again.
'Damn...'
After leaving a bruise on his tail, the deviated arrow flew passed Mark.
The "Impenetrable Barrier" had been easily pierced through, but it had managed to, ever so slightly, slow down the arrow.
'Even my tail could only deviate it... It's not a special arrow, but its speed makes it close to unstoppable.'
Emerging from the many trees acting as cover, was the silhouette of Mark's enemy.
'Did I get too close for it to run away?'
Growl-
Mark got closer.
The enemy was finally visible.
Its body made Mark's pupils dilate.
After all, it was nothing like he had expected.
The Monster stood tall, as if it had been waiting for Mark.
'I thought it would be something like an Orc, since they're the only Monsters who have used weapons until now. Or something else but I didn't expect...'
The Monster threw away both its bow and the quiver that was on its back.
'I didn't expect it to be this skinny. It doesn't have the bulging muscles of all the other Monsters. It's nothing like Orcs or Demons. It almost looks....' Mark's thoughts raced.
He approached.
'Human.'
After discarding its bow, the Monster took out two sharp daggers from the sheathes that hung from its waist.
Mark stopped.
He raised his arms, cautious and ready for battle.
'Eyes... Surrounded by veins. Its neck too...'
The enemy growled, but its growl was different from that of the Monsters Mark had previously encountered.
'It's almost like it's... In pain, or something...? What is it? System?'
[The System cannot give Information about the Chosen Target.]
'Why not?' Mark asked telepathically, his eyes focused on the growling enemy.
[Your Title "Gaavah's Follower" is waking up from its slumber.]
'Mm. That was quick.'
[The System can only give information about Monsters you have already defeated.]
'So all this time... It's been you?'
[Correct.]
'Well, then. Get on with it. What is it?'
[Your questions will only be answered while you are inside the Dungeon.]
'Sure. Now tell me.'
The Monster looked to be about 170 centimeters tall.
It was thin, almost fragile-looking.
Different from all the muscular Monsters Mark had previously encountered.
The Monster's skin was dark.
Almost greyish.
Its long hair was white. As if it had long lost its natural color.
Two long ears twitched.
[Corrupted Dark Elf: [A] Ranked Monster.]
pαпdα-ňᴏνêι·сóМ 'Corrupted, huh? Is that why it looks like it's in pain? Does it have something to do with Corruption Mag-'
The Monster, noticing an opening, immediately sprinted forward.
The Corrupted Dark Elf was fast.
Very fast.
But Mark felt at ease.
At the very least, he wasn't completely outclassed when it came to Agility.
Slight amounts of Aura covered Mark's body.
It only took an instant, for the distance between the two to be closed.
Even though Mark's "Advanced Kinetic Vision[C+]" was in full effect, the Monster's speed did not seem to have slowed down by much.
Once its enemy was within reach, the Corrupted Dark Elf extended its right arm.
The Monster's dagger quickly approached Mark's neck.
'I'll deflect... And counter.'
Mark stared at the sharp approaching dagger.
It seemed to be made of some kind of black material.
Purple patterns were drawn on it.
'Poisonous...?' Mark asked himself, as he noticed those purple patterns.
He raised his Aura-covered left arm, aiming to deflect the attack.
But just as he was about to come into contact with the Corrupted Dark Elf's wrist,
'Did it just-'
The dagger had been let go of.
It spun in the air, passing over Mark's shoulder.
PIERCE-
Mark quickly jumped back.
His right side was bleeding.
'Ha! Not bad. I put all my attention on that dagger. And just when I was about to deflect it, he let go of it. Opting to attack with the other one instead. Almost s if he knew I would forget about his second weapon. Shrewd fucker. One moment of surprise was enough to get me injured. Damn...'
A nervous smile appeared on Mark's face.
'Is this what you meant, Nia? By the need of a calm mind for this?'
[Your Title "Gaavah's Follower" falls into a silent slumber.]
'This won't be easy. The injury isn't too deep though... Guess its Strength Stat is lower than mine. Doesn't make it low though. Oh. That Territory... Is it filled with these-'
Demonic laughter erupted.
The Corrupted Dark Elf raised its arm towards Mark.
A barrier immediately appeared around the latter.
'A Magic Skill?'
The next instant, the dagger that had been lying on the ground was moved by some kind of gravitational force.
It immediately flew back into its owner's hand.
'He can control them? No. Probably just bring them back to his hands. Otherwise, he would've used it the way I use Bone Manipulation...'
The Corrupted Dark Elf laughed hysterically, before licking its dagger's bloody blade.
'Tasting my blood, huh? Sneaky bastard.'
A chuckle escaped Mark's mouth.
The Monster's laughter seized, surprised by its enemy's relaxed reaction.
It growled once more.
Immediately, something else started growling.
'You've gotten a taste of my blood...'
[Your Title "Devourer" is staring at the prey with shining eyes.]
[Your Title "Devourer" wants you to finally have a worthy meal.]
Mark extended his sharp claws.
'It's only fair I get a taste of yours now.'
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