Not much time had passed since the disfigured Spartan and the other grown-up Spartan exchanged words, just about a thousand short distance away from the current location. With a heightened sense of caution, the disfigured Spartan's eyes moved constantly from left to right, carefully examining his surroundings to make sure that no curious eyes were looking at him.
A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead, causing him to instinctively wipe it away with the back of his hand.
The seriousness of the situation weighed heavily on his mind as he thought about the almost-killing of those same Spartans.
"If they hadn't let me go, their lives would have tragically ended in that moment in my own hands," he muttered quietly, looking down at his own arms.
The disfigured Spartan, who had become a victim of this horrible realm, was very much aware of the horrible change he had undergone in physical appearance.
The nightmare world had turned him into a horrifying and distorted version of his former self—a strange Spartan who's fighting skills had been greatly reduced, burdened by a hunched back and a shortened left limb.
"Nevertheless, these physical afflictions won't stop me. I need to act quickly in this desperate time, because in this nightmare I only have two hours and forty-five minutes before I have to face other players.
"Once their shield was done, I'm going to prepare something big for them," Murky declared, his voice filled with determination.
He looked at the group of small trees surrounding him, carefully examining each one as if calculating how they could be useful.
The deformed Spartan or Murky's eyes lit up with a spark of anticipation, the flicker of a newfound discovery illuminating his face.
"I got ya, this one is a perfect example!"
He exclaimed, his voice echoing with a mix of happiness and triumph.
With a strong grip, he grabbed a specific small tree, its strong trunk resembling that of a thick pipe.
Using his enhanced body strength, he effortlessly pulled the tree out of the ground along with its tangled roots.
The physical change he had undergone, a direct result of activating his dormant dragon gene—an ability given to him by the 'Taming Hundred Thousands of Dragons' scary movie—had given him unmatched power, similar to the legendary Draugr warriors of the Draugrskins tribe.
Once he had the tree, Murky diligently began removing unnecessary branches, leaving behind a clean and bare trunk.
His enhanced physical abilities allowed him to handle this tree weapon with great skill, its strong strength enabling him to easily cut through any obstacle.
Kacha!
He moved with extraordinary speed, his reflexes sharpened to a very high level, his agility surpassing that of an average person by a factor of five.
Quark!
His senses were heightened to an exceptional degree, giving him exceptional sharpness, while his physical strength had been increased to a level five times greater than that of a typical person.
This was the reward given to Murky as a champion of the nightmare story movie—a special privilege that allowed him to use his new abilities in this world.
A wide grin slowly appeared on his face as he enjoyed the happiness of his improved form.
"I can feel it, the sheer excitement! I have been given strength five times greater than others in the normal world and the 'Taming Hundred Thousands of Dragons' nightmare movie world," Murky thought, his voice echoing with a mix of wonder and satisfaction.
"Even my older brother, whom my mother and the whole Smilodon family had showered with love, has only four types of mutated genes," Murky revealed with a hint of wonder.
He couldn't understand how he had acquired such an extraordinary genetic makeup, but the details didn't matter to him in the bigger picture.
It was like stumbling upon a great fortune, perhaps as a result of completing the simple task assigned to him by the nightmare world Draugrskins about the poultry dragons or maybe as a result of his overall progress in the game.
Or, perhaps, it was a reward for rescuing Snow White and becoming her rider.
Regardless of the reasons, his unmatched genetic composition was a blessing he intended to fully utilize.
Taking a moment to admire his improved form, Murky looked down and focused on a small detail on the ground.
However, his initial search was unsuccessful, causing him to furrow his brow as he thought.
"Now I have an idea," he whispered to himself, a glimmer of understanding illuminating his face.
With renewed determination, he set out on a mission to cut at least eight small trees, using fast and precise strokes.
Unlike the first tree, he chose not to trim the branches, opting instead to save time and speed up the process.
Even as he carefully cut and removed the trees, Murky's sharp senses remained aware of his surroundings.
He skillfully grabbed and gathered a variety of large stones, ranging from smooth and polished to rough and sharp.
His enhanced hand, five times larger than before, allowed him to hold and wield these sizable stones effortlessly.
Each one had a weight and texture that indicates its potential as a powerful weapon.
After completing his thorough preparations, Murky's eyes sparkled with excitement, reflecting his unstoppable determination.
"The moment has not arrived yet," he declared, his voice full of resolve.
Murky knew he was in the middle of a thick and expansive forest, surrounded by numerous tall trees with branches stretching towards the sky.
The air was filled with the earthy smell of moss and damp plants, and the sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy above, creating speckled shadows on the forest floor.
With a determined glimmer in his eye, Murky embarked on a bold endeavor.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One by one, he climbed the mighty trunks, gripping the rough bark with his hands as he pulled himself higher and higher.
His muscles strained with each upward movement, but he persisted, driven by an unwavering determination.
As he reached the upper branches, Murky carefully surveyed his surroundings. His keen eyes scanned the area, searching for ideal spots to execute his plan.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In each tree he encountered, he meticulously placed at least three stones, ensuring their stability and balance. The weight of the stones provided a secure foundation, serving as stepping stones for his daring leap from tree to tree.
Taking a deep breath, Murky prepared himself for the ultimate test. He crouched low, his legs coiled like springs, getting ready to launch into the unknown.
With a burst of energy, he propelled himself forward, his body soaring through the air. Time seemed to slow as he flew, suspended between the towering tree trunks.
And then, with a loud thud, Murky's outstretched hand found its target.
He had successfully landed on another tree, his fingers gripping the gnarled branches. The thrill of victory surged through his veins as he clung to his newfound perch, his heart pounding in his chest.
Encouraged by his initial success, Murky repeated the process, tree after tree, his movements becoming smooth and elegant.
"Hooooo!!"
Like Tarzan, he felt like he defied gravity with each daring jump, moving through the forest with impressive agility. The rocks he had placed served as his markers, helping him navigate the complex network of branches effortlessly.
As he descended from his high position, Murky collected more rocks, carefully placing them on top of trees. With his task finished, he stood among the trees, feeling a sense of achievement wash over him.
"Alright, finally finished! My first preparation is complete!"
He exclaimed, his voice filled with contentment.
Murky took a moment to enjoy the tranquility of the forest, his senses heightened by the natural beauty that surrounded him.
"Hhmmmmmmffff…"
He took a deep breath, savoring the fresh scent of pine needles and the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind.
"HAAAA…"
The sunlight, filtered through the intertwined canopy above, cast a soft, otherworldly glow on his face.