Chapter 11: Despicable Outlanders, Fierce Battle
Inside the pitch-black cavern, two white figures streaked through the shadows, flickering in and out of sight.
"Shiro-chan!" Shirazawa shouted.
In the distance, Shiro understood instantly. "Leave it to me."
Her movements were fluid and swift, elegant yet sharp, like an elf of the night, incredibly nimble. Their targets were three frogs ahead. According to their plan, one would provide the distraction while the other attacked.
Shiro easily evaded the toxic orbs spat by the frogs. She found footing on a narrow wall, leapt into a groove, and planted her legs against the rock face. Using the protrusion for leverage, she flipped herself onto the opposite wall and lunged away.
Shirazawa affectionately called this move: "The Snakey Slither."
"Take this!"
*Thwip—*
*Splat—*
*Thud!*
The three frogs had their legs snared in quick succession by Shiro's massive spray of silk, causing them to crash heavily to the ground. Shirazawa, having waited for the perfect opening, lunged and bit straight into their necks.
*Gurgle...*
The three frogs let out strange, strangled cries. After a brief struggle, they fell completely silent.
[Total Experience has reached the required threshold. Individual: Small Lesser Taratect, has risen from Lv4 to Lv5.]
[Obtained Skill Proficiency Level-Up Bonus:
[Obtained Skill Points: 100.]
"Yay!"
Wakaba (Shiro) waved her legs in excitement, cheering and hopping about. "Leveling up doesn't seem that hard after all."
"It's not too bad," Shirazawa nodded calmly. "Once you find the right strategy, it's manageable."
*Scuttle-scuttle!*
As the two were gathering their loot, a purple monster resembling a long-legged stick insect crawled toward them on dozens of centipede-like legs. This time, Shiro wasn't afraid at all.
"Watch me strike first! Ambush!"
White silk shot out, binding the multi-legged monster on the spot. Before the creature could even react, the battle was over, leaving it looking quite dejected. It tried to wiggle its body, but it couldn't break free from the silk's grip.
*Scuttle-scuttle!*
*(You despicable outlanders! Have the guts to let me go and fight me one-on-one!)*
Shiro stood next to the multi-legged monster with her hands on her hips (so to speak), looking incredibly smug. "Ah-re-re? You say 'despicable'? As long as I win, it's fine!"
"Wah-ka-ka..."
Ignoring the creature's struggles, Shiro gave it a swift end.
"This girl..." Shirazawa was stuck between laughter and tears. Should he be impressed by how fast the little spider was growing? Regardless, he was happy she had moved past her grief so quickly.
"Let's go. Let's find more prey."
"Oh!!" Shiro replied cheerfully, following Shirazawa deeper into the cave.
Soon, a vast basin appeared before them—pitch black, silent, and eerie. Shirazawa instinctively used his Appraisal skill. Having reached Lv2, the skill now provided a few more words of information, but that was about it.
As the Appraisal took effect, a mountain of information suddenly flooded his brain.
[Elroe Finjicote Lv2] [Elroe Finjicote Lv2] [Elroe Finjicote Lv2] [Elroe Finjicote Lv2]...
The sheer volume of data caused Shirazawa to feel a splitting headache.
[Skill has increased to
*Good grief.* Appraisal had jumped three levels instantly, which meant the number of monsters in this area was terrifying. Then, Shirazawa realized something very serious: in this world, the Appraisal skill carried a "taunt" effect. That one move had likely drawn the aggro of thousands of monsters.
"This is awkward. Run!"
Without a second word, he grabbed the confused Shiro and bolted.
*Rumble—!*
The earth shook as the entire region vibrated. An endless tide of Elroe Finjigote swarmed out of the basin like a dark flood.
"Oh my god!!"
The two ran frantically, the sound of rushing wind and deafening roars echoing in their ears. Although she had sworn never to run again, vows weren't nearly as precious as life itself.
Behind a narrow stone wall, Shirazawa and Shiro sat in an eerie silence.
Shiro: **(→_→)** She shot countless "side-eyes" at Shirazawa, as if saying: *Look at what you've done.*
He felt desperate too. **QAQ** How was he supposed to know there were that many monsters down there?
*#MyBad #PleaseForgiveMe...#*
The two crouched back-to-back in a corner, silently praying for the swarm to disperse. However—
"ROAR—!"
With a furious howl, a massive black shadow pounced toward them! Shirazawa reacted instantly, pulling Shiro out of the way.
*CRASH!*
The behemoth slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
[Monster]: Elroe Basilisk
[Level]: Lv9
[HP]: 186 / 186
[MP]: 86 / 86
[SP]: 178 / 186 (86 / 86)
[Failed to Appraise Abilities]
The upgraded Appraisal could now show basic info, and the two were instantly struck with dread.
"Level 9... the gap is too huge," Shirazawa muttered. How on earth were they supposed to fight this?
"What's the tactic this time?" Shiro poked Shirazawa, her expression grave. Though the enemy seemed invincible, she didn't give up. The fires of battle were burning in her; she desperately needed a victory to vent her frustration.
Shirazawa: "..."
Under these circumstances, avoiding danger was usually the best choice. Prudence was Shirazawa's guiding principle—that's how one lives a long life. But, looking at the burning desire for victory in Shiro's eyes, Shirazawa couldn't say no.
"In that case..." Shirazawa held out his right leg.
Shiro looked up in confusion. "Hmm?"
"Let's put our lives on the line!" Shirazawa's lips curved into a smirk, his eyes flashing with a brilliant light.
"On the line, huh?" She grinned, revealing a radiant smile. "Then you better not die before I do."
With that, her gaze turned sharp. In an instant, Shiro seemed to become a different person; the atmosphere around her turned ice-cold.
"Heh, it's not time to decide who dies just yet," Shirazawa whispered, tilting his head. "You handle the distraction this time. I'll take the lead on offense."
"Got it!"
She crouched low, coiled like a spring. Shirazawa held his breath.
The next second: "HISS-ROAR—!"
The Basilisk let out a furious shriek. With a flick of its body, it sent rocks and sand flying as it lunged toward them.
"Go!"
*Zip—!*
Shirazawa struck first, turning into a blur as he charged. He used a "Snakey Slither" to evade the giant tail and accelerated, aiming for the Basilisk's "seven-inch" mark (the vitals).
"ROAR!" The Basilisk sensed the danger and adjusted its body, its abyss-like maw lunging to swallow Shirazawa whole.
Shirazawa had no intention of dodging. His eyes were locked on the vitals, and he wasn't fighting alone.
"Don't ignore me, you bastard!" Shiro shouted.
A massive amount of silk wrapped around the Basilisk's neck first. Using the "pulley principle" around a stone pillar, she hauled the snake's head upward with all her might. Though her strength was still too weak to truly restrain it, she managed to pull it back just enough.
For Shirazawa, that was plenty. The snake's head tilted back slightly, exposing its vitals.
*Strike while it's vulnerable!*
Shirazawa opened his fangs and bit down with everything he had! Blood sprayed everywhere, filling the air with a foul stench.
"ROAR!!" The intense pain drove the Basilisk into a frenzy. It thrashed its head wildly, trying to shake Shirazawa off.
"I said, don't ignore me!" Shiro refused to let up. The silk around its neck tightened as she released even more, binding the creature firmly. Even as the threads snapped, new ones took their place.
Meanwhile, Shirazawa tore at its flesh without mercy.
"Die! Die! Die! Just go to hell!!"
"ROOOOAR..."