Leon continued his journey through the maze-like halls, his eyes scanning every corner for danger.
[29-> 21 students alive]
The percentage of survival was already below 10% by now, so did Toji lie to them? Or were they just all terrible?
In the end, it didn't really matter for Leon as long as he was still alive and kicking.
~SLAM~
Leon was taken aback as one of the doors of the hallway he was in suddenly opened.
And what came out of it… was a giant, grotesque spider. Its exoskeleton was tough and covered in thick, sharp spines, and its eyes glowed with a sinister, almost demonic light.
It was a different type of monsters from the scorpions, but why was this school filled with so many bugs? Was it because they were weak?
[Demonic Spider - Level 3]
It was slightly smaller than the scorpions, so Leon wasn't scared at all.
[Hey, partner,] EGO suddenly spoke.
'…?' Leon was ready to fight off the spider.
[Above you.]
And so as Leon looked up.
The spider fell on his face.
'WHAT THE FUCK,' it was roughly the size of his head, and he could literally feel the hairy legs on his cheeks, "FUCK YOU!"
[Holy… I sure am glad I'm not this guy.]
Leon grabbed the spider, which actually damaged him slightly since its legs were a bit sharp, resulting in small cuts being formed on his cheeks and forehead, then he threw it toward its companion with all his strength.
~BAM~
Both of them died from the intense impact, and [EGO] wasted no time in dashing toward them and sucking their souls using [Devour].
[You have been granted 3 stat points for devouring the 'Demonic Spider']
[You have been granted 3 stat points for devouring the 'Demonic Spider']
~DING~
[Souls: 3/3]
[EGO has leveled up to level 2!]
[You have leveled up to level 2!]
[Obtained 5 stat points]
"Fuck that shit, put 7 in perception and 4 on speed!" he really didn't want that to happen again.
[Your Perception Stat has increased by 7 stat points!]
[Your Speed Stat has increased by 4 stat points!]
But right as Leon was about to continue…
[Hey, partner,] EGO stopped right in front of Leon's face again, a wide smile on its small little fire face.
~DING~
Leon heard a notification sound again.
[Let's have fun, shall we, partner?]
---
[You have received a SIDE-QUEST!]
[Quest: "Human Devourer".]
[Objective: Devour a Fellow Human]
[Reward: 15 stat points]
[Time limit: 1 hour]
---
Side-quests are different from official ones: they do give some very good rewards as well, but they are mostly much more difficult than others, which is why they are completely optional.
But…
"Yeah… no way in hell," Leon was not a murderer, and no matter what that EGO thing wanted him to do, he was still the one that controlled it, meaning he refused to do something as bad as this.
Especially… for a measly 15 stat points.
In addition to that, their squad was already down to just 21 people, so fighting them with the possibility of dying in one strike was NOT good, and not smart.
[Oh, wow, so pure and kind, almost makes me want to cry,] EGO placed himself on Leon's shoulder as he rolled his eyes, almost pouting.
"You can devour monsters anyway," Leon just shrugged.
[Lucky you, I am only but a baby devourer, but when I grow up, we will consume all!]
"As long as I don't order you to, you can't do it, though," Leon smiled as he kept walking.
[Well… huh… that is true…]
As Leon continued roaming through the halls, he couldn't help but wonder what EGO really was.
Sure, the little fireball was useful in devouring souls and granting him stat points, but Leon didn't trust it completely.
EGO seemed to be quite aware of its limitations at the moment, but what might happen once it grew stronger?
[I can't do anything as long as the host doesn't allow it, plus I can't devour a monster that hasn't been killed by the host, meaning that betrayal is not an option, I die if you die after all,] as if reading his mind, EGO smiled.
But the moment Leon looked at it.
~FWISH~
A trail of spider web came hurtling at him, aimed at his head.
"…!" Leon couldn't avoid it as it was way too quick for even his current stats.
But…
~BURN~
EGO just placed itself in front of the web, and it all burned down.
[I mean, I'm a ball of crimson fire, of course this wouldn't affect me…] if EGO had arms, he would probably shrug, but for now he just went back to his original position, [Come on, partner, I'll defend you against the web while you bash their heads in!]
Out of a classroom's broken window appeared three [Demonic Spiders], their eight red eyes staring at Leon.
But that wasn't all…
In the corner of the hall he was staring at, beyond even the [Demonic Spider], a figure began to appear from the corner.
The figure was that of a man wearing military clothes and a military hat, basically his entire uniform was one of a soldier.
His face was hidden by his hat, but you could see that his pale skin wasn't normal.
[Ghost Gun Soldier - Level 5]
"Wait a damn minute, if he is a ghost, and he is also a soldier, then where is the gu-"
The soldier summoned a small machine gun straight out of nowhere and began to shoot immediately.
"HOLY FUCK!"
Leon used his [Speed] stat to rush behind the corner of the hallway.
But…
~BAM~
One of the bullets hit his leg.
"Argh, shit…" Leon arrived at the corner, but the pain in his leg was still present, "What the fuck is this…"
How in hell did it make sense for monsters to have a gun in a school?!
[Well… we aren't fast enough to dodge all the bullets while it is staring at us…]
"Already figured that, genius, appreciate it though," Leon peeked his head a bit to check the hallway, and immediately more shots were fired.
This was literally a beginner-level dimension, and Leon remembered their teacher telling them there are some so big and difficult they are considered 'open-worlds' and that people stay inside them for months if not years, plus what about 'ascension trials' or even 'towers'?
So… how was he struggling against that thing…
"SKISKISKI," two of the spiders that were in the hallway jumped right beside Leon, but he just kicked them both against the wall, then EGO devoured their souls.
[You have been granted 3 stat points for devouring the 'Demonic Spider']
[You have been granted 3 stat points for devouring the 'Demonic Spider']
"All on speed."
[Your Speed Stat has increased by 6 stat points!]
But he knew this wouldn't be enough: that thing isn't prioritizing stats at all, it was literally just using a skill that granted it a gun that could shoot fast.
[Come on, partner, use that brain of yours!]
"Can't you figure out something?"
[Well, my strategy is rushing at it and hope you don't get hit in the head!]