𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝟐𝟒: 𝕭𝖑𝖚𝖊 𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖞
After a while of standing and waiting, Hex finally discovered the distant growls and tottering of footsteps heading his way.
Through the numbers of footsteps he heard, he could sense there were a lot of them heading his way.
Maybe twenty or more.
Purple vapors began to pour out of Hex's palms. Two purple flashing daggers materialize in his grip.
{Weapon equipped}
The daggers in his hands were fashioned from the Phantom; after accumulating components from numerous cleared blue voids, he created this weapon.
It was a weak weapon but much useful than the one given to them by the Cursed Slayers organization.
If his pals were around, he would not be able to utilize it.
'If they saw me with this who knew how crazy they would react....?'
Hex imagined his friends beating him up and dumping him.
His imagination had few prospects as well, but he decided to think of it that way.
Gruuccck! Bugghk!
Hex focused his sight on one of the cave's passages. Flocking out of it were multiple Earth dwellers.
'They look different.....'
Hex observed the body and physique of the Earth dwellers.
Some of them appeared to be half wolf, half human, and they were considerably more malformed than usual.
Others had extra hands springing out from disturbing parts of their body. All in all they were evolved and more dangerous.
'More experience points to level up!'
As the Earth dwellers got closer to him, Hex gleefully lifted his daggers to his veiw-point.
The first Earth dweller hopped for him snarling and opening it's fancy large fangs to bite his face off.
Gaaahhh!
Hex plunged his dagger into the gut of the Earth dweller killing it in seconds.
He hoisted it's corpse from the floor hurling it into other Earth dwellers.
{Skill: dead response activated}
Another Earth dweller lunged from below with it's claws first. To its astonishment, Hex's leg slammed a kick into its face, causing blood to flow everywhere.
The Earth dweller hopped into the air gripping it's damaged face.
'This are small fries!'
Another Earth dweller swung it's claws for Hex steadily. He sees this coming and responds with a simple strike of his knife, severing the hand from the wrist.
He spun his leg into the air, slamming a kick into the Earth dweller's face, forcing it to fly and collide with its companions.
Hex effortlessly avoided another onslaught. He could obviously see every move they made against him.
Previously, he depended exclusively on the dead reaction talent to help him in evasion.
Now he could follow every fast movement posed on him. Thanks to investing in senses and agility....
Hex felt invincible.
Hex threw one of his daggers into the throat of an Earth dweller, killing it instantaneously.
The other Earth dwellers perceive this as an opportunity to attack. Launching all at once and weilding their fangs wide open.
Fwluuup!
Hex stretched forth his palm, unleashing a purple energy-like flame that burnt the Earth Dwellers who dared to resist.
Krrrieck! Hiiieeek!!!
Multiple shrieks and shrills leaked from the lungs of the Earth dwellers caught up in this surreal blast.
Others who observed this heinous mutilation began to retreat. Charging hastily from this terrible figure.
'I never knew Cursed ones could get scared?'
Hex was puzzled. This was why he found detest in Blue gates. Even after taking the life's of almost a dozen Earth dwellers he didn't level up one bit.
Even their corpses weren't useful to be sold for money.
'How can worthless things run thinking I would follow.'
After a momentary consideration, Hex discovered a positive aspect to their escape.
Hex no longer needed to trek through the several tedious tunnels that all looked the same before finding the boss.
All he considerably needed to do was trail behind the lackeys.
This bothers Hex a little too.
'Why would they run back?'
Earth Dwellers were said to be mindless creatures with predator-like brains.
Retreating with only a small display of might would be insufficient to scare them away.
How troublesome it was to strain his brain over this.
{Picking up a strong presence from the tunnels}
'weak gates don't interest me anymore, I could say the same for you Phantom....'
Hex extended his hand, allowing the dagger embedded in the Earth dweller's neck to fly back into his grip.
'Whatever is in there should better make me level up.'
***
After a long, interminable travel through the tunnels, Hex began to question the existence of a Master.
In every gateway there was a master. The master was the strongest being in the gateway.
Every master has a heart called a core, which is the source of their life and abilities.
Once the Master is slain and the core taken, all of its minions perish, and the gateway vanishes permanently in roughly an hour or two.
Nobody knew what would happen if someone became caught inside it.
Those that attempted vanished, leaving no record of their existence within these gates.
Nobody knew if they were alive or not. But no one would dare try it again.
There were so many evident differences between the previous chronology and this one.
Hex first attempted to dismiss it, but it was becoming increasingly urgent.
In the preceding timeframe, there were no portals; the only issue was that the walls failed. And that was Outwood's problem.
This made him rethink his place in this world for a time.
Was it because of the Phantom, or was it because he awakened a Cursed power at a young age?
Still it made no sense. All this points couldn't cause such a big shift in the world.
The most plausible explanation was that someone was tugging the strings....
And that person could be acquainted with the Phantom, which was a theory.
This was definitely not the time to entertain such notions.
'If this is an Earth dweller's gate the boss was probably and Earth dweller.'
Another thing to be bothered about was how evolved the Earth dwellers were.
Even though he was considerably stronger than them, the boss would most likely be more advanced.....
{Stop}
As soon as the notification appeared, Hex came to a complete halt.
Zwisssh!
From his side, a long tentacle-like black fist shot right at him.
The hand made a fast pass before his face missing him entirely.
This made him draw a mental image of him getting hit by the hand and probably loosing his head.
'But streching hands, how is that possible?'
Zwisssh!!!
The rubber-like hand swerved in the air towards Hex's face again, but this time he was much more prepared.
Swullp! Splooosh!
Hex flung his blade into the air, slicing the hand in half.
"Gaaahhh!" The hand retreated to the source of the shriek.
'What sort of weird evolution is that!'
Hex traced the tentacle arm to it's source. An Earth-dweller with black skin, eight tentacle-like arms, two legs, and a horrific grin that displayed teeth.
It postured itself on all twos, peering at Hex.
If Hex was not mistaken, the manner in which it attacked and its presence had to be human.
'This Earth dweller must be smart.'
"You already noticed my evolution weak fool!"
The Earth dweller's statements left Hex bewildered. It thought he was weak.
'I think I entered the creepy nightmare gate'
{Phantom analyzed}
Name: Evolved Earth dweller
Level: 45
Race: Earth dweller
Job: killing humans
Skills: tentacles
Status: hungry and interested.
Hex readied himself. He was about to battle an evolved beast.
𝕻𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖔𝖒 𝟐𝟒