I was excited about getting a new circle, so I was became quite daring. I found the path to go deeper into the dungeon, so I immediately started to go down.
I still wasn't feeling sleepy or the least bit hungry or thirsty. It was quite eerie that I was still so healthy even after going through so much. This 'Arch-Human' race sure was convenient.
But there was another concern. I had the Magic power and I had the combat techniques. The only thing I was missing was...
"Damnit! I can't find any armor or even some kind of robes!"
I was still wearing my hospital clothes. And by now, they had been covered in my own sweat, the smell of burnt corpses and dirt. They were way too dirty! "I can't keep wearing this!"
But I couldn't do anything about it even if I wanted to... Unfortunately, it seems that I can't 'Craft' things like armor or tools, like in a video game. If I wanted to wear something, I would have to find it or buy it from someone.
As I was getting lost in thought, I heard something. It was more ants... no, it was something bigger. "A higher tier ant?", I speculated.
Just as I was about to turn the corner and see them, I stopped. I decided to retreat and take cover. I wanted to examine what they were before confronting them.
In a matter of seconds, I could see them. Ants. 5 of them. But these ants were nothing like the ants I had been slaying. They were at least 5, no 10 times bigger. Their cutters looked like giant pliers, ready to rip anything coming their way. Every one of them were bigger than me. Way bigger.
I gulped down the shock. I was sweating, even though it wasn't hot.
"I can't attack them head-on, I need to make a sneak attack.", I thought to myself calmly.
I had always been this way. Even in extreme conditions, I had always been able to control my emotions and move forward. Was it because I had little to no emotion left inside me, or was it because of the all the shit I went through, I wonder...
"Query, How do I learn to Cloak Myself, Or make myself concealed?"
[Query Received]
[Required FP: 50]
[Answer: Learn "Shadow Cloak", under the magic type, 'Dark Magic']
"Learn: Shadow Cloak"
Shadow Cloak was a spell that covered my body with a coat of mana. Dark mana, to be precise. It simply made my body look like a shadow, absorbing almost 99.99% of light falling onto me. It also made a barrier of air around me, so that no sound would escape the barrier.
These ants' antennae had some sort of light source on them. It was illuminating a lot of area.
I casted 'Shadow Cloak' onto myself and walked behind some rock's shadows. I was pretty sure that the ants didn't see me.
I then created 2 magic sigils, one for 'Water Ball' and the other for 'Electrocute.' I kept Increasing the size of the water ball and made it as big as my torso. Then, After carefully aiming the giant water ball, I launched it at the center of the 5 ants.
As soon as the water ball connected with the floor, the water exploded and the ants were disoriented. I didn't waste even a millisecond. I immediately casted 'Electrocute' with as much magic power as I could and connected it with the water on the floor.
*KRUAAACK* *KRIEEEEEEE!!!*
The sparks reached all 5 of the ants and they all took damage. But it wasn't enough to kill them completely.
By now, my cover was blown. The ants staggered a bit, but then soon started chasing me. I started to run as fast as I could In the opposite direction.
Just as when they were about to catch me, I casted 'Rock Wall' behind me, and the ants face planted on the wall, shattering it. But this bought me enough time to cast another full power electrocute spell.
*KRAAAACKK* *KKKRRRRIEEEEEE!!*
After casting so many full-power spells so quickly, I was very low on mana.
But this was all part of my plan.
The ant closest to me died as it received the direct hit of a fully-charged Electrocute, giving me a much needed mana replenish. "huuuuu.... All according to plan until now..."
I then started running away again, but this time, a little slower than before. The ants were staggered, and I wanted to lure them into another trap.
But that was a mistake. I underestimated the ants. The ant at the furthest back jumped over the others and landed in front of me.
I was surrounded. 3 Staggered ants behind me, and another ant in front of me.
"ATMOSPHERIC BARRIER!", I immediately and instinctively casted the spell. I didn't have enough time to fully charge it, so it wasn't that strong.
The ants launched a full-blown assault on me. The barrier was doing its job to the best of it's abilities, but I knew it didn't have much time left.
But all hope was not lost. I still had mana left. Enough mana to cast one more fully-charged spell.
I came up with a pretty good idea.