Chapter 87 Leaving



Whoosh...

The world around me spun as I felt my body being transported through time and space, hurtling towards my destination.

After a few moments of dizziness, the surroundings regained their colors and I found myself, beneath the roots of a massive stone tree.

"Finally, I'm out!"

Muttering to myself, I quickly crawled to the surface and took a deep breath of fresh and corrupted air. Although I got the 'Time' Artifact, I still had to leave this Corrupted Dungeon.

Swish...

Suddenly, in the corner of my eye, I noticed Shadows dancing along the purple forest. I quickly recognized them, they were the Gargoyles I killed in the Second Trial.

My eyes instantly narrowed, as I cautiously searched for a Shadow that would look like a Demon.

"..."

Luckily, it seemed that the Shadow of the Demon was nowhere in sight. Maybe, since I've just killed it, it didn't have enough time to become like these weird silhouettes that would haunt me in their afterlife.

I scanned the Shadows one by one, confirming that there were over three hundred of them.

"Should I run?"

Sighing, I turned towards the path leading to the exit of the Dungeon. There was no way I would be strong enough to kill all the Gargoyles. Especially, since they became Shadows and are more powerful than they were before.

I glanced at the Serpent Tattoo on my forearm and seeing its eyes glowing with a crimson hue, I dashed forward, letting my Mana flow freely through my body, strengthening my muscles and enhancing my speed.

Whoosh...

The purple forest blurred around me as I ran, zigzagging through the trees and avoiding some monsters that I came across along the way.

The Shadows, however, were following me, their eerie silhouettes flashing in and out of sight as they quickly moved through the forest, intent on finding me and exacting their revenge.

"..."

I grimaced as I accidentally took a wrong turn, stumbling over some vines that protruded from the ground.

Thud...

I quickly got up and continued to run, but one of the quicker Shadows had already caught up to me.

The snake leaped at me baring its fangs, but I managed to dodge just in time, avoiding its poisonous bite, and swiftly countered with my Aura Blade, piercing its flesh and dispelling the Shadow in a burst of black mist.

"Fuck..."

Another Shadow was already midway through its jump as I quickly sidestepped and continued running, aware of the Wave of Shadows that was rapidly closing in on me.

I managed to somehow recover from my mistake and find the right path, this time keeping my eyes on the ground in front of me, rather than glancing at the Shadows that were trailing behind me.

No matter how stupid I am, I will not die because I stumbled over some fucking plant.

Dashing through the purple greenery, I felt the sudden density of Mana increasing, indicating that I was nearing the exit of the Dungeon.

"Where is it..."

Frantically searching around, I finally noticed a purple crack in the distance.

Within mere seconds, I immediately reached the crack and dived through it, emerging in a dark room with a Purple Skeleton and many cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and walls.

"..."

I almost shed a tear, feeling my lungs fill with fresh air for the first time in a few days.

I was finally back in the Wild Lands!

Glancing behind me, I made sure that no Shadows had followed me through the portal and then proceeded to leave the tower.

Whatever they were, I had a feeling that later on they would come back to haunt me.

However, my expression was cold and my face calm. Although now they seem like an unbeatable enemy, with enough training I would be able to defeat them.

"Well... Time to go!"

Muttering to myself, I picked myself up, slowly leaving the room and finally exiting the ancient tower.

Hiss...

The sunlight greeted me as I emerged from the tower, and I hissed, squinting my eyes at the sudden brightness.

I never liked the light, especially after being cooped up in a dimly lit dungeon for days.

Glancing at my wristwatch, I realized that I was absent from the Mage Academy for 4 days straight.

"It's not that bad..."

Using my memory, I started trailing back towards the massive Wall in the distance, separating the Human continent from the Wild Lands.

Roar...

As I heard the unmistakable roar of an Abomination, I had to resist the urge to smile. I kind of missed these creatures. They were cute compared to what I've fought in that Corrupted Dungeon.

'Especially those crabs...'

I felt my mind wander for a second, recalling how 'Cthulu Claws' ripped apart a massive lizard, eating its flesh while it was still alive.

I wouldn't even wish such an end for a Demon...

And yes I'm lying.

I couldn't care less if they were eaten by the crabs or fell under my blade, as they were a threat to this world, a danger to my life... and countless others.

Crunch...

Finally, the Abomination showed itself, revealing its ugly face, white eyes, purple skin and long, sharp claws.

"I will kill you but I want to hug you..."

Muttering under my breath, I dashed towards the F- Rank Abomination, making it wince in surprise and before it could even react, I slashed my Katana through its neck, instantly ending its life.

Thud...

Its head fell to the ground, its body collapsing in a heap.

"I've gotten stronger..."

Sheathing my Katana I murmured. Although I cursed the Corrupted Dungeon, it had certainly provided me with a growth opportunity and a big one at that.

If I were to rank myself by strength, I'd be somewhere in the top 50 among the strongest First-Years.

It might sound arrogant, but it is true. I had confidence in my analysis skills, especially since this game was like my job.

Although I might not be able to compete with the Protagonists as I am now, I would be able to force them to use their Weapon Style or Mana Art.

This was a huge achievement in my eyes since I had started from scratch and while my talent was abnormal, the same could be said for the Protagonists.

It was a miracle I managed to close down the gap by that much within a few months.

"Don't get ahead of yourself..."

I calmed my raging thoughts.

"I'm still a useless piece of shit, who is scared of light..."

Calming myself with some self-deprecating thoughts, I continued walking towards the wall, enjoying the surrounding view.

Although I was still within the zone where E Rank Abominations could wander, I was confident in defeating them.

As I ventured deeper into the forest, the eerie silence was broken by the distant sounds of rustling leaves and the occasional growls of lurking creatures. The trees loomed above, casting elongated shadows on the forest floor, adding to the calming atmosphere.

My footsteps were muffled by the thick layer of the weird soil, creating a sense of solitude as I made my way through the twisted paths.

The air grew heavier as I approached the outskirts of the forest. The forest was replaced by a desolate grayness that coated the ground like ash. The soil beneath my feet crumbled with each step, releasing a faint cloud of dust into the air.

It felt as if life had been drained from this land, leaving behind a barren wasteland.

"..."

In the distance, the massive wall rose like a foreboding sentinel. Claw marks and other deep gouges marred its surface, a testament to the countless battles that had taken place at its borders.

Monsters of all shapes and sizes had tested their might against the imposing barrier, leaving their marks as a reminder of their relentless pursuit of freedom.

As I neared the wall, I noticed the remains of fallen abominations scattered in the vicinity. The once fearsome creatures now lay as purple skeletons, their twisted forms frozen in death.

The sight was a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond the wall, a constant threat to the fragile peace maintained by the inhabitants of the Human continent.

I observed the surroundings, my eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement or hidden dangers. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional gust of wind that carried the faint whispers of the wild.

Tap... Tap...

With caution, I continued my journey towards the massive wall, my gaze fixed on its imposing height. The wall stood as a symbol of protection, shielding the Human continent from the untamed chaos of the Wild Lands.

It was a boundary between order and chaos, civilization and wilderness.

"I could be a poet..."

As I approached the wall, I couldn't help but feel a mix of trepidation and excitement. Beyond this barrier lay the civilization and the safety I hadn't felt in the few last days.

With each step, I could feel the weight of the exhaustion pressing against me. The journey through the Corrupted Dungeon drained me mentally. I deserved a lot of rest.

As I reached the base of the wall, I glanced back at the twisted forest and the gray expanse behind me.

"CAN SOMEBODY HEAR ME!"

I shouted, amplifying my voice with Mana and making it resound across the area.