As Kaito continued to press his attack, his sword sliced through the air with a speed and ferocity that belied its battered state. Despite being almost broken, the sword seemed to be imbued with a newfound sense of purpose, its dull glow illuminating the darkened arena.
The monster, its health now reduced to 440, stumbled backward under the onslaught of Kaito's attacks. Its three heads snapped wildly, trying to defend itself against the swift and precise blows.
Kaito's movements were a blur, his sword striking true again and again. He was in the zone, his senses heightened as he focused solely on the battle at hand.
But despite his best efforts, Kaito knew that his sword wouldn't last much longer. The dull glow was a sign that the sword's essence was fading, and soon it would be nothing more than a useless hunk of metal.
Echo's voice whispered in his ear, "Kaito, your sword is on its last legs. You need to end this fight quickly before it breaks completely."
Kaito gritted his teeth, his eyes locked on the monster. He knew that he had to finish this fight, no matter what it took. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at the monster, his sword flashing in the dim light.
As the monster's tail swiped through the air, Kaito quickly retreated, breathing heavily. He knew he needed a moment to catch his breath and recharge.
"Inventory," he said, pulling up his item list. He scanned through the items, his eyes landing on a Glowshroom that he had previously stored. He selected the item and consumed it, feeling a surge of energy and vitality flow through his body.
The Glowshroom began to refill his health by +5 every second, slowly but surely increasing his health points. Kaito watched as his health bar began to fill up, his exhaustion and fatigue slowly lifting.
As he waited for the Glowshroom to take full effect, Kaito opened up his stats menu, expecting to see his stats reduced due to the prolonged battle. But to his surprise, his stats remained unchanged.
"Echo, can you explain this?" Kaito asked, his voice filled with confusion. "I thought for sure my stats would have taken a hit by now."
Echo's voice responded, "It's possible that the Glowshroom's effects are not only restoring your health but also stabilizing your stats. However, this is just a temporary reprieve. You still need to end this fight quickly before the monster's attacks overwhelm you."
As the Glowshroom's effects coursed through his veins, Kaito felt a strange sensation wash over him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt...different. Echo's voice whispered in his ear, "Kaito, be careful. The Glowshroom's side effects are kicking in. You're no longer feeling fear."
Kaito didn't respond, too busy dodging the monster's attacks to acknowledge Echo's warning. But he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He felt...fearless. Reckless. A rush of adrenaline coursed through his veins, urging him to attack, to charge forward without hesitation.
But as he tried to attack the monster with his sword, Kaito realized that something was wrong. Each hit he landed didn't seem to inflict any damage on the monster. His sword, once a reliable and trusty companion, now seemed useless.
Kaito's eyes widened in frustration as he dodged another attack from the monster. He needed to think of something, and fast. Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind. He remembered the Sword Rain technique that his sword possessed.
The Sword Rain technique was a powerful move that allowed Kaito's sword to summon a rain of 50 swords, each one pouring down on his opponent like a deadly storm. Each sword would inflict 2 damage each, dealing a total of 100 damage to the monster.
With a fierce cry, Kaito activated the Sword Rain technique. The air around him seemed to shimmer and distort, and then, in an instant, a torrent of swords came pouring down on the monster. The swords fell like rain, each one striking the monster with precision and deadly force.
The monster let out a deafening roar as the swords struck it again and again, each one dealing 2 damage. The monster's health bar began to plummet, and Kaito watched with a sense of grim satisfaction as the monster stumbled backward, its defenses breached.
The Sword Rain technique had dealt a total of 100 damage to the monster, Leaving its health bar at a yellowish 340.
As the monster stumbled backward, its health bar severely depleted, it suddenly turned and began to retreat back into the portal. The portal, which had been quietly pulsing in the background, began to glow brighter as the monster approached.
Zorvath, who had been watching the battle with great interest, let out a loud growl of annoyance as he realized the monster was escaping. He began to follow behind the monster, his massive strides eating up the distance as he attempted to catch up.
The monster, sensing Zorvath's pursuit, let out a terrified roar as it stumbled through the portal. Zorvath was hot on its heels, his jaws snapping wildly as he attempted to grab the monster and pull it back.
As the two disappeared into the portal, the air around Kaito seemed to grow quiet once more. The only sound was the soft humming of the portal as it began to close.
Kaito stood there, panting heavily, his sword still clutched in his hand. He watched as the portal slowly disappeared, leaving behind only a faint glow.
Echo's voice whispered in his ear, "Well done, Kaito. You've successfully defended against the monster"
As Kaito stood there, trying to process the sudden turn of events, the voice from before congratulated him on passing the second trial. Kaito's eyes widened in confusion - he had passed the trial without even killing the monster?
The voice explained, "The challenge was not to defeat the monster, but to survive its attack. You have proven yourself capable of withstanding the monster's fury, and for that, you have passed the second trial."
Kaito's mind reeled as he tried to understand the true nature of the trial. The voice then asked, "Will you continue on to the next phase, or will you turn back?"
Echo, sensing Kaito's hesitation, tried to interrupt, "Kaito, I think we should-"
But Kaito held up a hand, silencing her. He took a deep breath, weighing his options carefully. He thought about the risks and rewards of continuing on, and the potential consequences of turning back.
After a moment of contemplation, Kaito made his decision. "I think it's time for me to turn back," he said, his voice firm and resolute.
The voice responded, "Very well, Kaito. You have chosen to turn back. The portal will reopen, and you will be returned to the entrance of the trials. May you reflect on your experiences and return stronger in the future."
As the voice finished speaking, the portal behind Kaito began to glow once more. The air around him seemed to shimmer, and Kaito felt himself being pulled back through the portal. He took one last look at the arena, and then everything went white.
As Kaito materialized back at the entrance of the cave, he felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He was unsettled by the experience, but at the same time, he felt lucky to be alive. The memory of the monster's attacks and the feeling of being on the brink of defeat still lingered in his mind.
Echo, sensing Kaito's unease, spoke up, "Kaito, I have to bring this up... you did admit defeat before the battle even began. What made you change your mind and decide to fight?"
Kaito waved his hand dismissively, "It's not important, Echo. I just... I don't know, something clicked, and I decided to fight. Let's just drop it, okay?" He didn't feel like explaining himself, though. He was still trying to process his own thoughts and emotions.
Echo fell silent, but Kaito could sense her curiosity. She was probably wondering what had gone through his mind during those crucial moments. But Kaito didn't feel like sharing his thoughts. Not yet, at least.
Instead, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to get stronger if he was ever going to survive in this world. The experience in the cave had been a harsh wake-up call. Kaito realized that he couldn't rely on luck or circumstance to get him through tough situations. He needed to develop his skills, increase his strength, and become more resilient.
As he stood there, lost in thought, Kaito felt a sense of determination growing within him. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to put in the work to become stronger. The question was, where would he start?
Kaito looked around, taking in his surroundings. The cave entrance was quiet and still, the only sound being the distant rumble of the waterfall. He knew he couldn't stay here forever, though. He needed to find a way to improve himself, to become stronger and more capable.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Kaito set off from the cave, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to succeed.
Echo's neutral voice cut through Kaito's thoughts, "You have acquired new equipment, Kaito. Please check your inventory for details."
Kaito's eyes widened in surprise as he wondered what kind of equipment he could have acquired. Monsters only dropped valuables after being defeated, and he hadn't defeated the monster in the cave. Suddenly, he remembered the pack of level 1 wolves he had defeated earlier.
"Inventory," Kaito said, and his inventory menu popped up in front of him. He scrolled through the list, and his eyes landed on a peculiar item - 60 wolf fangs. Kaito's brow furrowed in confusion as he wondered what the use of these fangs could be.
"Echo, what are these wolf fangs for?" Kaito asked, his voice filled with curiosity. He had never seen an item like this before, and he had no idea what kind of benefits it could provide.
Echo's response was immediate, "The wolf fangs can be used to craft various items, such as potions, armor, and weapons. They are a valuable resource, and you should consider holding onto them for future use."
Kaito's eyes widened in surprise as he realized the potential value of the wolf fangs. He had stumbled upon a valuable resource, and he wasn't sure what to do with it. He decided to hold onto the fangs for now, hoping to learn more about their uses and benefits in the future.
As he stood there, pondering the wolf fangs, Kaito couldn't help but think about his journey so far. He had been in this new world for only a short time, and yet he had already encountered so many challenges and obstacles. The experience in the cave had been a harsh reminder of his own limitations, and he knew that he needed to get stronger if he was going to survive.
The wolf fangs seemed like a good place to start. Kaito wondered if he could use them to craft something that would give him an edge in combat. He made a mental note to research the fangs further, to see if he could learn more about their properties and uses.
With a newfound sense of determination, Kaito closed his inventory menu and looked around. He was still standing at the entrance of the cave, and he knew that he couldn't stay there forever. It was time to move on, to see what other challenges and opportunities this new world had in store for him.
*******************
Kaito's curiosity got the better of him as he asked Echo, "Are there other people in this world? And where is the nearest town, if there even is one?"
He looked around, taking in the familiar sights of the cave entrance. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the sound of running water echoed through the air. But despite the peaceful atmosphere, Kaito's mind was racing with questions.
Echo's response was immediate, "Yes, Kaito, there are many other people in this world. The world is vast and diverse, with different towns, cities, and villages scattered throughout. Some are small and rural, while others are large and bustling metropolises."
Kaito's eyes lit up with excitement as he heard Echo's words. "EXCELLENT!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing off the walls of the cave. He began walking out of the cave, his footsteps eager and purposeful.
"Echo, direct me to the nearest town," Kaito said, his voice filled with anticipation. He was eager to explore this new world, to meet new people and experience new things.
Echo's response was immediate, "The nearest town is called Oakwood. It's a small, rural town located about 5 kilometers east of here. To get there, simply follow the path that leads out of the cave. It will take you through a small forest, and then you'll see the town in the distance."
Kaito nodded to himself, his mind already racing with thoughts of what he would find in Oakwood. He quickened his pace, his footsteps light and eager as he made his way towards the town.
As Kaito continued on his journey, his system suddenly popped up, and a notification indicator began to flash. Echo's voice chimed in, "You should check that out."
Kaito's curiosity was piqued, and he opened the notification. His eyes widened in shock as he saw that he had risen to level 6. A small smile played on his lips as he thought back to his ordeal in the cave. "Maybe it was worth it after all," he thought to himself.
Feeling a sense of accomplishment and renewed confidence, Kaito continued on his way. As he walked, he kept a keen eye out for any useful items, such as berries or healing potions, that he could store in his inventory.
The forest was teeming with life, and Kaito spotted all sorts of plants and animals as he made his way through the underbrush. He picked a few handfuls of berries, which he stored in his inventory, and also came across a small clearing with a few healing potions growing in the center.
Kaito's eyes lit up as he spotted the potions, and he quickly harvested them, adding them to his inventory. He felt a sense of satisfaction at having found such useful items, and he continued on his way, feeling more prepared for whatever lay ahead.
As he walked, the trees began to thin out, and Kaito caught sight of a small town in the distance. His heart skipped a beat as he realized that this must be Oakwood, the town that Echo had told him about. He quickened his pace, eager to explore the town and see what it had to offer.