Chapter 15: Low On Stamina
A horrifying crunch echoed through the battlefield. The exoskeleton shattered under the sheer pressure, splitting open like a brittle shell. The mantis let out a piercing, inhuman shriek as its body convulsed violently. Thick, toxic fluids burst out, splattering onto the ground in sickly green puddles. Its limbs flailed wildly, scraping against the earth in a desperate attempt to retaliate.
But Yuno didn't let up. He couldn't.
The fight wasn't over yet.
"Piggy, one more time!" he shouted, his voice carrying unwavering resolve.
Piggy reacted instantly, her hooves digging into the dirt as she sprinted forward. She moved like a bullet, pure muscle and instinct working in perfect harmony. The battlefield trembled beneath her as she closed the distance with frightening speed.
Then.
She leapt.
Her body twisted midair, her small yet incredibly dense frame gaining even more power as she prepared for the final blow.
She descended like a meteor.
And then.
CRUNCH!
Her hooves smashed into the mantis's skull with such force that the ground beneath them cracked. The impact sent a shockwave through the creature's entire body. The mantis twitched once, then fell still.
Silence returned to the clearing.
The only sound left was the heavy breathing of the two victors.
Then.
[Ding! You have conquered Level 18 Praying Mantis!]
[You have gained 300 EXP!]
[Your companion Piggy earned 300 EXP!]
[Skill Level Up!!!]
🍄 [Mushroom Bash] LV.4 🍄
💥 Through contracting and releasing pressure in the body, the user shoots forward like a bullet!
🛡️ Effect: Deals 1.5x base attack damage
⏳ Cooldown: 20 seconds
🔋 Consumes: SP instead of MP]
Yuno stood there, unmoving, his body still tense from the fight. His wooden frame rose and fell as he took slow, deep breaths. He stared down at the lifeless mantis, his mind still processing the brutal battle they had just endured.
It was finally over.
They had won.
Yuno let out a long, shaky exhale, allowing his body to relax slightly. "That was… too close," he muttered, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through him.
Piggy, still filled with energy, let out a proud snort, her tiny tail wagging rapidly as she trotted around in excitement. She was clearly celebrating their hard-earned victory.
But Yuno knew something.
This was just the beginning.
A new system notification flashed in front of his eyes.
---
[New Mission: Journey to the Mushroom Kingdom!]
MEDIUM MISSION 02
GO TO THE [MUSHROOM KINGDOM]
REWARD: 600 EXPERIENCE POINTS
Reminder: the road ahead is far. Don't rush, and watch your Sp. If you run out of Sp, you might be killed by weaker monsters.
---
Yuno blinked. "The Mushroom Kingdom?"
[Distance: 400 kilometers.]
Yuno's body stiffened. His cap shifted slightly as he tried to comprehend the enormous distance. His initial reaction was to think this had to be a prank.
"Four hundred kilometers?!" His voice broke as he spoke those words in disbelief.
Piggy showed her typical excitement for new adventures, but her head turned with a questioning expression. Their current speed made it impossible to travel the 400-kilometer distance within a single day or even a week. The path would become extremely dangerous for the duo if they faced powerful monsters during their journey.
Skepticism flickered in Yuno's mind. The system operated with a pattern, always withholding critical information. He narrowed his eyes before choosing to ask more questions.
"Alright, system. The system refuses to provide the Mushroom Kingdom's precise location."
[The Mushroom Kingdom exists within a short distance from your present position.]
A frown appeared on Yuno's face as doubts started to form in his mind. That answer was too vague.
"Not far? That's a four-hundred-kilometer trek! How is that 'not far'? Are you messing with me?"
The system took a moment to generate an offer, which appeared on the screen.
[The system presents a shortcut to reach the Mushroom Kingdom. You can access this information by spending 200 system points.]
Yuno showed his annoyance by clicking his nonexistent tongue. The system constantly attempted to extract money from him. The requirement to pay gold for evolutionary path information already felt like a burden to him. Now the system demanded payment of system points to provide him with shortcut information.
"Tch. No, thanks. I will solve this problem by myself."
He ignored the mission details and approached Piggy, patting her head with gratitude.
"At least I have you with me, huh?"
Piggy wagged her curly tail with joy while snorting back at him. The situation was tough, but they never faced it without each other.
The pair continued their journey while facing the challenging distance that lay before them. The sun moved gradually downward, painting the horizon with deep orange and crimson colors. They had traveled 20 kilometers thus far, and it was a commendable achievement.
Piggy showed signs of fatigue during their journey. The once energetic pace of her steps turned into slow movements as her tiny legs started to shake from exhaustion.
Yuno experienced the same exhaustion weighing down on him. His stamina points decreased at a steady rate. He checked the system's readings.
[Current Stamina: 33/100]
The system predicted that his stamina would reach zero after traveling another 18 kilometers. The system would automatically force them to stop their journey when their stamina reached zero.
Yuno experienced a surge of anger that consumed him. Their current pace indicated they would need weeks to reach their destination, even though they required rest soon.
"There has to be a better way…" he muttered under his breath.
The system responded to his thoughts with a chime.
[The system asks: "Do you want to review existing skills for alternate problem resolution strategies?"]
Yuno's eyes narrowed. The system only provided useful suggestions when it could benefit from them. He chose to consider the system's suggestion.
"Fine. Show me what I've got."
A powerful ground tremor stopped Yuno and Piggy from continuing their movement as he prepared to check his available abilities. A slight earthquake caused the ground to shake while small stones moved across the dirt path.
Yuno's cap stiffened. His inner voice warned him about an approaching threat.
A deep booming sound emerged from the distance, raising a massive dust storm. Yuno pushed his eyes to their limit while attempting to identify the shapes appearing through the mist.
The dry wind blew dust across the empty terrain while Yuno and Piggy remained motionless, their energy almost gone. The extended travel had exhausted their bodies to the point where they experienced constant pain.
A worse threat than before appeared in front of them.