One attack after the other did nothing. Connor managed to cut its arm off and a few parts but this thing didn't even need to grab the limb, it would just absorb the swamp mud underneath its feet and grow it back.
Unfortunately, the Viper Strike Skill was useless against this creature. The Viper Strike was fierce and would generate a force strong enough to pull the enemy back, getting hit forcefully. But this thing either did not have enough intelligence or did not care to dodge.
This fight has been going for a few minutes now and if not for the Body Enhancement he had gone through Connor knew well he wouldn't have lasted this long.
Beside its resilient body this creature knew how to fight. The blades that protrude from its arms were no joke as with every deflect Connor did he could feel the weight and density behind them.
'There must be a core.. Something that is making this happen or this thing would have taken over the world by now' Connor thought that if this creature was truly immortal and unkillable it would have been taken more seriously by the camp and not ignored. Unfortunately he has no information on it, either by misfortune or on purpose no one said anything about this thing's existence. 'If only Ricardo was still alive!' He sighed. 'I just need to find it!'
The head, limbs, the shoulders were empty, even the chest area, no matter how many times Connor stabbed he hit nothing. The only spot that remained was a place he never thought he would go for.
"The groin!" He said out loud. Connor dodged another swing, further painting his armor brown before reaching and stabbing right where it hurt.
Ding!
With wide eyes Connor smiled, happily feeling something of substance in there. The fight continued with him either dodging or slashing at the groin. With every attack Connor would feel whatever was there slowly losing its density while at the same time feeling discomfort by his actions.. Which man wouldn't?
If someone saw this scene from far away they would see a mud monster being sexually assaulted right in the middle of the Swamp by a mud covered man.
Click!
And finally, after an uncomfortable period Connor felt something shatter after his last strike, making him sigh in relief as the mud creature lost its density, slowly melting, leaving behind a dark crystal split in half. Connor grabbed it, throwing it into his 'Inventory' without taking another look.
(I will be referring to the Storage Crystals as Inventory from now on.. Will make things easier to comprehend)
With the creature dead, the excavation sites are all finally clear, but before going back to report Connor grabbed everything he could from the area, including what was inside the chests and left.
[+ 150 GC / Various Plants / Couple useless Rings and Necklaces / A Dagger]
After hearing the news Hawkins was grateful, handing Connor 200 GC as a reward. Although compared to what he did the reward was inadequate but they were Workers, how much Gold do they even have.
With 775 GC on him Connor was close to upgrading his Swordsmanship Skill again. Unfortunately it was 1000 GC now, doubling. From what Craig told him the next and final Skill he can teach him is a foot technique named [Sidewinder] and it makes the user fast and nimble with a set of footwork that will make them untouchable.
'I have to get it!" Connor thought, unable to hold himself back. This Serpent Sutra was extremely frightening and these were only the first basic Skills. He couldn't help but be intrigued by the later Skills.
Selling everything extra he had on him from the excavation sites and what he gained from the creatures earned him a total of 900 GC in his Inventory which was still not there yet.
'The Arena!" He thought. 'I should find the Fighter that Brog is looking for and challenge him.. He appears to be a contestant as well!'
With a plan in mind Connor started asking around the camp about Dorgan but got nothing more than "I saw him walk into the Swamp". This meant nothing, but after going to Luis and asking him with the same Beer deal he finally got some useful information.
"That moron? He disappeared into the cave east of here, that fool!" Luis sighed, looking towards the darkness. "He must have become the lunch of some creature"
"Why would he go into the cave? Didn't a temple appear inside?" Connor asked.
"A Temple might mean danger to some, but to others it's an opportunity" Luis continued. "Since the creatures never left the cave, Brog didn't bother with it, but Dorgan didn't agree, talking about endless riches or whatever! He probably went in there alone after failing to convince the others"
"Fool" Connor muttered.
"A fool indeed!"
After thanking him Connor went back into the camp. He knew what happened to Dorgan so he went to Brog.
"Hey, i completed what you told me to" Connor said.
"Finally, it took you long enough" Brog said. "So did Clay take over Phil?"
"Yes, it's done"
"Good!"
"No reward?" Connor asked.
"Reward? Little pup you're not serious are you!" Brog smirked.
'Asshole!' Connor thought to himself before speaking. "About Dorgan, he's dead. Luis saw him head into the cave system and never come back!"
"That idiot!" Brog muttered. "Did you find his corpse?"
"No"
"Then go and find it!" Brog said. "I need confirmation"
"What? What do you think happened to him? You think he started a healthy relationship with one of those mud creatures? And isn't he one of your men? Why not form a squad and go look for him yourself then!" Connor said with a frown. Brog was insinuating that he should go into that hell hole himself and find his corpse, which slightly infuriated him and couldn't stop himself from speaking his mind.
"Brave little pup" Brog stood up. "Look at you giving me orders now!"