Arlo, having successfully provoked the stone lions, made a beeline for the stairs. He stashed his sword and shield in his inventory to enhance his climbing speed.
With his well-conditioned legs, Arlo dashed at a breakneck pace, leaving the stone lions in his wake. Their movements were stiff and mechanical due to their stone composition.
Upon reaching the summit, Arlo retrieved only his sword, pivoted, and launched himself towards the stone lions. With a grand sweep, he aimed his sword at a lion's neck.
[Common Class Stone Lion Defeated]
Arlo's successful strike turned the stone lion into dust, which was absorbed by his stomach. The momentum of his swing caused him to spin in mid-air. Swiftly, he used his right leg to kick off the steps, reorienting himself and positioning his sword for a piercing attack.
Without warning, a stone lion sprang from the stairs below. Arlo swiftly thrust his sword upwards, skewering its neck and reducing it to dust that was absorbed by his stomach.
[Common Class Stone Lion Defeated]
Arlo stood on the stairs, knees slightly bent, wielding his sword like a baseball bat, ready for the next pitch. Suddenly, two stone lions roared and leaped towards him. Arlo swung his sword, sending the stone lions flying from the top of the stairs.
[Common Class Stone Lion Defeated]
[Common Class Stone Lion Defeated]
The lions crashed to the ground, disintegrating into dust that was drawn towards Arlo.
Arlo quickly leaped and shattered another Stone lion into dust.
[Common Class Stone Lion Defeated]
Throughout the battle, Arlo's grin never faded. His flamboyant moves were a testament to his newfound strength, a declaration to the world that he was no longer the Arlo of two months ago. He aspired to be as fearless as a madman who would hurl a voidstone grenade at his own house.
[10 Common Class Stone Lions Defeated]
[Current Level - 4 (51 Exp to Level 2)]
After defeating the remaining Stone Lions, he didn't gain any experience. Since completing Noobie mode, he hadn't gained experience from defeating monsters, but he wasn't doing all this for experience in the first place.
Upon reaching the top again and opening the chest, he found the Red Dragon's eye stone.
[Red Dragon's Eye]
[Inscription: As in the old folklore, Red dragon eyes cure various diseases, give one full energy, and increase one's strength. For players, it also increases Levels and even more; it is said to have limitless possibilities.]
[Activation: Break the eye by crushing it. Based on the Player's luck, appropriate skills or other rewards will be granted.]
Arlo collected the Red Dragon's eye. Since Noobie mode, all the chests had contained only Red Dragon's eyes. So far, he had amassed seven stones, but he hadn't used them yet.
Arlo opened the second stone door and ventured into the labyrinth, he opened another chest, finding another Red Dragon's eye. This brought his total to eight stones.
"SCRRRRHHHH"
A grating sound echoed through the area. Arlo smirked,
"Finally, I was wondering when you'd show up."
Before him appeared a giant black spider, its head filled with black eyes devoid of irises, eight legs, and spikes covering its body. It clung to the corner of the ceiling.
Though it hadn't appeared in noobie mode due to its gruesome appearance. Arlo retrieved his shield from his inventory.
The spider spat a web from its mouth. Arlo blocked it with his shield, but suddenly, the spider yanked Arlo towards its gaping maw.
"SCRRRRHHHH"
The spider shrieked in agony as black blood seeped onto the ground. Arlo's sword was lodged in the spider's mouth, and Arlo taunted,
"I must say, you're the easiest prey a hunter could ask for. You might be a formidable threat outside this labyrinth, but in this confined space, even a stone lion poses a greater threat than you."
He slashed straight through its mouth, cleaving it in half, and it slowly liquefied into a black fluid that was absorbed by Arlo's stomach.
"EWWW..."
"Damn, this stomach-absorption thing still creeps me out." Arlo shuddered as he made his way towards the Supreme Lion cave.
Upon reaching the Supreme Lion cave, he found the lion as majestic as ever, save for one minor difference: there was no stone on its forehead.
The Supreme Lion roared, its eyes glowing with a purple light, its body enveloped in a purple flame, and a window appeared before it.
[The Supreme Lion]
[HP: 500]
"YAWN!"
Arlo yawned and added with an arrogant tone," You remind me of a cat I used to have. Come here, kitty."
Arlo beckoned with his hands, infuriating the Supreme Lion, which charged at him. Arlo calmly placed his sword on the ground.
As the Supreme Lion neared Arlo,
"STAB!"
"STAB!"
"STAB!"
"STAB!"
Shadowy daggers sprang up from the ground near Arlo's face, impaling the Supreme Lion.
The lion growled in pain, and Arlo yawned mockingly as the shadows dragged The Supreme Lion into the darkness.
One of the main reasons Arlo was able to complete different difficulty modes in just two months was due to the Slayer of Yedlin Clan sword.
Suddenly, a blue pop-up appeared. Since the Crystal Egg had gone into hibernation, the prompt window displayed in blue:
[Congratulations on Slaying Rare class Supreme Lion on Hard Mode]
[New Title: Conqueror of the den of the Supreme Lion]
[Side Quests: ?]
[Dungeon Explored: 75%]
[Exp Reward: 70]
[Current Level – 4 (51 Exp to Level 5)]
[Player level increased]
[Current Level – 5 (79 Exp to Level 6)]
[Player Level Attributes
Hp: 23
Skill Points: 31
Exp Points: 79 (Level 5)
Defense: 22
Strength: 28
Endurance: 19
Agility: 23
Intelligence: 35
Dexterity: 20
Luck: 7]
After defeating the lion, the cave began to glow in red.
Suddenly a prompt appeared,
[Quest Completed: Crystal Egg satisfied with its appetite]
[Time: 2 months]
[Reward: Crystal egg took a liking to you and recognizes you as worthy as its mother]
A sudden Exit window prompted:
[Exit the dungeon or not
Yes 2. No]
Arlo dismissed the Exit window, "I'm not leaving the dungeon until I tie up some loose ends."
[End of Chapter]