I lay my tired and wet body on the edge of the pristine lake, my arm dangling on my side, dipping into the clear water. I let my thoughts wonder, thinking about what I've done.
I just killed somebody, I thought to myself. I was calm. Completely calm. I didn't feel the disgust or anxiety that one would normally feel after killing another human being.
She wasn't human, I reminded myself but that didn't mean I had moved on. I shook my head. I knew that having attachments were nothing more than a burden, especially personal ones.
Suddenly, there was a bubbling in the lake and I had to struggle to stand up with my weakened body.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
She couldn't be–
「You have leveled up」
I breathed a sigh of relief. My panicked mind somehow calming. The ding came again.
「You have leveled up」
「You have leveled up」
「You have obtained the title 'Lady Killer'」
My eyes widened. Was she really that strong?, I knew that the difference between us was large–experience being my only advantage–but I didn't know how much of a risk I was actually taking.
I need to be more careful next time, I reminded myself. This place was too dangerous for me to just run around without a plan.
Looking back at the lake, I noticed the bubbles were still there, along with a giant shadow looming underneath. A shiver ran down my spine.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
Before I knew it, I was already running. My wounded leg screamed at me stop but I resisted. I needed to escape.
There was a splash behind me, like a submarine emerging from the sea. A loud roar filled the cavern, echoing throughout the labyrinth. I didn't dare to look back
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
A stream of water streamed behind me, swallowing me in it's cold embrace. As I was thrown around by the oncoming tsunami, an idea surfaced in my mind.
That skill!, arranging my thoughts I prepared to use 「Hydro Navigation」, but to no avail. No matter what I did the skill wouldn't turn itself on, betraying me.
Abandoning plan A, I moved onto plan B–which is, to say, think of one.
Spotting a stalactite hanging from the cavern's ceiling, I reached for it, hugging it with all my might.
Looking down on the flooded cavern, a shiver ran down my spine.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
Floating on the clear water's surface was a majestic oriental dragon. It was covered in sapphire-blue scales, along with a golden mane outlining it's slender body. On it's head was were a pair of horns resembling a stag, one fully grown, the other cracked and splintered. In it's open mouth was the siren I had just killed.
The water coiled around the beast like a whirlpool, swirling around it furiously. I stared at the spectacle for a while, just until my arms started getting numb.
「Skill ' Instinct' is warning you」
I have to get out of here, I reminded myself. I felt the clear difference between me and the beast, ascertaining my position. I was nowhere near the level where I could face opponents of this level.
Not yet, at least, I thought, staring at the dragon's gem-like eyes, my heart beating furiously from fear.
「Skill 'Hydro Navigation' has been assimilated」
What great timing, I thought, sarcastically grinning to myself.
I quickly let go of the hanging stalactite, diving to the raging tsunami. I adjusted myself so I would be far enough from the epicenter, away from the dragon's reach.
Splashing on the water's surface, I was instantly pushed by the raging currents. Using my belatedly assimilated skill, I pushed forward.
「Skill 'Hydro Navigation' is activating」
A small current was generated just behind me, though not as strong as the one I'm fighting against. I desperately swam, my body gradually growing numb. The currents would drag me back every now and then, resetting my progress. Still, I persisted.
「A new evolutionary path has been unlocked」
I continued this cycle for around twenty minutes before finally reaching land. I climbed on the surface and rolled to my side, the water's mesmerizing imagery burned into my head, along with a desperate dedication.
The water was slowly draining, flowing back into the lake. If I hadn't jumped when I did, the fall from that height would have crippled me, maybe even worse.
I looked at the lake's center, the dragon's visage filling my view. It looked bored and unenthusiastic, though I could be wrong.
Suddenly it turned towards me, I reflexively stood up, my heartbeat rising sharply. Still it didn't do anything. The dragon continued to stare at me, ignorant of anxiety.
After seemingly an eternity, the dragon finally left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
What just happened?, the question lingered in my mind. It was embarrassing to say, but I was not something the beast should have noticed–let alone care about.
Dragging my feet forward, I distracted myself from the question. It was not something I should worry about, seeing as my goal was to kill it, not be friends with it.
◇◆◇◆◇
Moving further into the labyrinth, I noticed a pack of dark-grey wolves. They were about my waist in height, their muscles tightly packed underneath their fur which blended perfectly in the darkness.
I quickly hid myself from view, this area–thankfully–lacked the glowing crystals that grew from the walls and ceilings of the labyrinth. Using this fact to my advantage, I traversed the rocky plains stealthily. Since leveling up, I felt my body felt lighter, my senses sharper, and my mind clearer.
One of the bigger wolves–it's leader–flinched. It's nose scrunched up into a scowl, giving it a fierce look. The other wolves–it's underlings, I assumed–did the same, this time with disgust. They sniffed at the ground, following something.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
The wolves simultaneously looked at my direction, all scowling and furious. I got on top of a boulder, positioning myself higher than the beasts.
Then they were charging at me, except the big wolf, which did nothing but sit on it's butt as it's underlings approached me.
One of the faster wolves leaped towards me, it's jaws opened wide. I grabbed it's mouth with my bare hands ripping it's cheeks. Blood splattered on my face, drenching me once again.
「Your attribute 'Absorption is activating」
「You have obtained the skill 'Claw Growth'」
「Your attribute 'Assimilation' is activating」
I threw the wolf's body unto it's companions, eliciting a yelp. Utilizing my high vantage point, I continued to counter the wolves' furious onslaught. I was at an advantage, sure, but I wasn't invincible.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
One of the smarter wolves attacked from my blind-spot, it's fangs sinking deep into my shoulder. I screamed from the burning hot pain, encouraging the other wolves to do the same.
Suddenly I was at a disadvantage, the wolves were attacking from all sides. Even if I catch one of them, another attacks me from behind, leaving me with no other option but to let go of my captive and deal with the new threat.
「You have leveled up」
「You have leveled up」
As time passed by four of the twelve wolves were no longer breathing, five were injured, the rest were simply unconscious.
I wasn't doing so good either. My body was bleeding from multiple places, my breath was ragged and uneven, while my body was heavy from exhaustion.
The five injured wolves surrounded me from all sides, each on thirsting for my blood. Suddenly a howl filled the room, glancing towards the origin of the sound, a shiver ran down my spine.
The giant wolf was glaring at me with hateful eyes, filling me with dread.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」