Yuichi's face twisted in fear as he stared in shock at the bizarre scene that was playing out in front of him. He struggled to accept the complete ridiculousness of the situation, but he couldn't help but notice that the unexplainable was already gaining ground in reality.
[★★★][Venomancer Shadowthorn [Level 60]
[Description: ???]
The absurdity of the situation shocked Yuichi. "L-Level 60?! What the hell?!" he cried out, his clenched teeth showing irritation. His mind was racing with questions about why such a powerful creature would be in that specific location.
The fact that a level 60 monster had managed to get inside a level 30 floor confounded Yuichi. The absurdity of the situation made him even more afraid, given the significant level difference between him and the frightening monster. His previous experience defeating the Fungoid Golem in earlier chapters, which he saw as more of a lucky break than a true testament to his skills, only served to heighten his uneasiness.
With his face devoid of colour and beads of sweat forming on his forehead, Yuichi stood motionless. He could not quite believe what was about to happen because he had no idea what would come next.
The Venomancer Shadowthorn raised his staff once again, the twisted wood exuding a dark aura. A single, emerald magic circle appeared in the air with calculated precision, warning of the imminent attack on Yuichi. Even with the look of horror on his face, Yuichi took an excruciatingly long time to realize that danger was imminent. He felt a wave of desperation surge through him, pushing his body to react and avoid the approaching magical storm. But something stronger than physical constraint kept him where he was: terror, a paralyzing emotion that made him helpless to stop the approaching peril.
With hands shaking violently and legs shivering with a disconcerting disturbance, Yuichi looked down. Even though it wasn't the first time he'd felt like this, this was very different from the other times. His present discomfort was unlike anything he had experienced in the past.
'H-Huh? I can't move...! My legs can't stop shaking...!' Yuichi was forcing himself to move.
Standing ready to attack, the Venomancer summoned a bright green magic circle that erupted with a powerful force. All of a sudden, a dark green fluid shot out of the circle and hurtled straight at Yuichi. In the face of the approaching danger, Yuichi realized what was about to happen and scurried to get his bearings while fighting to stay balanced and avoid getting hit.
'Move it! Move it! Move it!' Yuichi screamed at his terrified thoughts.
As the menacing projectile of dark green fluid approached him, Yuichi mustered a surge of strength and leaped out of harm's way just in time. The terrifying element crashed into the ground where Yuichi had been only a few moments before, instantly eroding the surface due to its corrosive nature. Disturbing sizzling sounds and billowing smoke, the aftermath of the attack that escaped narrowly, filled the air.
With a strained moan, Yuichi found himself on his back on the ground and slowly started to rise out of the soil. Out of nowhere, the Venomancer made a quick, forceful move that created another complex magic circle nearby. A number of sinister green circles appeared just above Yuichi, looming eerily in the atmosphere. They slowly readied themselves to launch a powerful area-of-effect (AOE) strike, ready to submerge the surrounding region in their overwhelming magical force.
Yuichi shot an anxious glance up as he suddenly became aware of the spectral lights all around him. He knew there was only going to be trouble, and that staying on the ground would be lethal. He sprang up quickly, a sense of urgency taking hold of him, and began a fast run away from the complex web of magic circles that covered everything.
The magic symbols around him throbbed with a dark green light again as he leaped to his feet and ran ahead. A flurry of poisonous, arrow-shaped projectiles descended onto the arena from these evil spheres. Still struggling to collect his thoughts from the last assault, Yuichi moved instinctively back and forth across the wide battlefield.
However, there was a price for survival. Just as the phased attack came to an end, the Venomancer materialized a transient magic circle in front of them. A magical projectile loaded with poison burst forth, striking Yuichi's weak right shoulder with sudden and ruthless intent. He felt the ripples of the hit rush through him, and before he could respond quickly enough, the poisonous magic set in.
The ring hit the floor with a metallic resonance that was amplified by Yuichi's shaky grasp. His body twisted in reaction to the abrupt and potent blow, sending him sprawling due to the force of the impact. He winced in agony as a sharp pain shot through his right arm as he touched down. Now free of their hold, his fingers coiled reflexively around his wounded limb.
Seductive and cunning, the poison magic had taken a firm hold on Yuichi's right arm. Its caustic force started to seep into his skin, eroding it gradually and leaving a path of excruciating pain in its wake. Unable to control his agony, Yuichi let out a guttural scream that echoed through the atmosphere, a physical representation of the agonizing ordeal he was now going through.
'It hurts! Shit, it hurts so badly!!!' Yuichi cried out loud.
Yuichi's right arm took the brunt of the Venomancer's vicious poison attack, resulting in copious amounts of blood flowing from the inflicted wounds. Yuichi's body responded viscerally to the venom's intensity, unable to contain his cries of anguish and pain. This was no common attacker, as evidenced by his reaction, which suggested that his own flesh was being consumed, demonstrating the potency of the poison. The Venomancer struck without mercy, finding its mark on Yuichi. It then created a multi-layered, intricate magic circle in an attempt to target Yuichi's prone form. Yuichi's natural passive ability, [Spatial Instinct], warned him of the approaching danger even as he lay on the ground. Even with the pain on his face, he was still able to turn to face the podium.
He rose gradually from the ground and ascended with measured deliberation until he was completely upright on his feet. The Venomancer released the boundless power of the multi-layered magic circle at that exact moment. The circle pulsed an unsettling green light, and in a spectacular show it unleashed a barrage of poisoned arrows on the unwary foe with the speed of a gun unloading a full magazine.
Yuichi, writhing in agony, moves quickly to avoid the hail of poisoned arrows. But as he stumbles, a sharp pain shoots through his right shoulder, exposing his lack of dexterity. He makes frantic attempts to duck away from the arrows, but they keep coming, forcing him to run and just missing certain death.
It dawns on him as he maneuvers to avoid the lethal projectiles that survival by itself will not deliver him from the monster's deadly grasp. Even if he escapes every deadly arrow, he will still be engaged in combat with the elite enemy. Yuichi is forced to take on the formidable opponent head-on due to the ominous prospect of facing such a terrifying creature.
With its final blow, the Venomancer shot a single, powerful burst arrow straight at Yuichi's position. With such force, the arrow hit the ground, creating a strong gust wave that launched Yuichi skyward. He turned around and fell hard, hitting the ground with such force that he rolled around wildly before hitting his head on the wall with an unsettling thud.
Yuichi's head was a sea of red, from a severe wound that made him wince in agony. Abruptly rendered unconscious, he awoke to find himself sitting against a wall with blood pouring from his head and right shoulder. His life itself was in jeopardy in this terrible situation.
The Venomancer raised its staff high into the air with a ruthless willpower, conjuring a massive, lone magic circle that crackled with evil energy. Tension mounted as the complex patterns inside the circle pulsed and shimmered, warning of danger looming large over Yuichi. Without mercy, the Venomancer seized the opportunity as the magic circle charged, preparing to unleash a powerful poison arrow that could have seriously threatened Yuichi's life.
In the event that the scenario outlined materializes, the story would come to an ultimate end. Beyond this turning point, no more developments or events would occur. It would be comparable to a "Good Game, Well Played" (GG WP) moment in a video game, denoting the end of the game and the recognition of a hard-fought match.
Shaking off his disorientation, Yuichi carefully opened his eyes in the heat of danger, the world slowly coming into focus. His eyes began to focus slowly and he saw the dark shape of the Venomancer. He was standing with his staff raised, preparing a poisoned arrow for evil. Even with the pain shooting through his shoulder, Yuichi forced back a cough, his face twisted with agony. He was left with a persistent fog of vertigo as a result of his head hitting the hard wall. A clear indication of how intense the encounter was was the blood that was streaming down his forehead.
As Yuichi waited anxiously for the Venomancer's impending attack, his heart raced and he felt a sense of impending doom. The air became more tense with every second that went by. He was overcome with thoughts of his own death and was plagued by the persistent question, 'Am I... going to die like this?'
As the Venomancer prepared to launch a deadly attack, Yuichi braced himself for what might be his last moments.
Somehow, at that precise moment, the system appeared to show Yuichi what appeared to be a screen with information about a particular object in the immediate area. He stared at the screen, his mind spinning, and slowly the text on it started to make sense to him.
[Seraphina's Ring [???]
["...Imbibing the essence of the poison vine bestows divine grace when adorned..."]
'...What?'
An interval of quiet. Yuichi was perplexed by this, but he is unable to rationally consider any of it. Essence of the poison vine? Bestow divine grace when adorned? What does that mean, exactly? This is just so abrupt that Yuichi is finding it harder and harder to understand.
The system that was explained to Yuichi seemed more like a riddle than a description. The real purpose of this mystery is still unknown because Yuichi did not take the time to further analyze the meaning of the given riddle or how it relates to the ring. Should the system be built to provide a description that takes a great deal of effort and time to understand, the information it provides might have a notable significance. In a situation where time is critical, like a life-threatening emergency, the idea of presenting such intricate puzzles also seems nonsensical.
At this point, Yuichi was starting to figure out the riddle, his limited awareness beginning to understand its core. Even with his wounds, a brief window of opportunity opened up, pulling him in the direction of a faraway ring. He had to push through the physical strain because of the ring's mysteriously powerful allure. He dropped to the ground with perseverance, letting out labored groans as he laboriously crawled in the direction of his goal.
The Venomancer finished its painstaking preparations at this crucial moment and launched an unrelenting attack on the helpless Yuichi, who was lying prone on the ground. The massive poison-filled arrow that the grand magic circle, adorned with a demonic glow of vivid, deadly green hues, was aimed at Yuichi's exposed position.
With a fortitude that belied the impending threat, Yuichi struggled to make the short distance to a nearby ground ring as the enormous projectile sped toward him. He reached for the ring with a determined grip, right as the poisonous wave peaked.
The poison arrow struck and unleashed a dark green fluid of magical toxicity that burned and corroded everywhere, spreading a malevolent force. Its corrosive substance devoured the terrain beneath Yuichi's form, sizzling and sending up billowing wisps of smoke that seemed to embrace him in its dangerous embrace.
Yet, amidst the ominous scene, a lingering question remained: had Yuichi succumbed to the venomous assault, or did his tenacity and resourcefulness conceal an unexpected resilience against the encroaching poison?
Just as the Venomancer thought they'd won the fierce battle and were about to resume their seat on the majestic throne, an unexpected turn of events occurred. At the exact location where the poisonous magic had previously been released, an odd bubble appeared, and with a brief pop, it showed Yuichi standing in a dark green liquid. Confused by this unexpected turn of events, the Venomancer stood motionless, watching Yuichi appear.
In shock and bewilderment, Yuichi shifted his gaze to his left hand, where he discovered the ring he had struggled to reach earlier, securely attached to his ring finger. He was perplexed by the enormity of his achievement and wondered how he had done it in such a short amount of time. His expression was a mixture of surprise and amazement, reflecting the mystery surrounding the circumstances.
'How am I still alive? What is this?'
The essence of the riddle centers on the special qualities of the ring when worn. This particular ring stands out from others because its wearer has exceptional resistance to poison. "Imbibing the essence of the poison vine" suggests that the inherent properties of the ring become relevant in the event of any poisoning. In particular, the phrase "bestows divine grace when adorned" means that wearing this ring bestows a divine grace that protects the wearer from the effects of poison.
Yuichi solved the riddle in less than a second, which is incredible given how vague and difficult it was.
Even though the poisonous attack ensnares him, Yuichi escapes and takes a calculated position to evaluate the situation. He meets the Venomancer's gaze, driven by a desire for vengeance after suffering his attack. There is a noticeable tension in the air as Yuichi and the Venomancer exchange threatening looks and exude intimidation in this confrontation.
'This feels like a cheat. I could have died if this ring hadn't shown up to me. Well, if this is my plot armor then I will exploit this till the end... Ugh... My body's still hurts.' Yuichi contemplates while recovering.
He clenched his fist and stared at the Venomancer with a fierce determination in his eyes at that crucial moment. With caution, he raised his hand to his head and right shoulder to evaluate the residual pain that caused him to experience agony due to the poison. The pain was still there but it was dulling, almost like a muffling effect.
With a sigh, Yuichi expressed his obvious frustration. He murmured with determination, "I don't care how tough or perilous it gets, I'm going to become stronger and escape this hellish place. You, bone freak, won't be able to prevent me from achieving that, no one else will!"