The rewards were also quite bountiful; his level had already risen to 11... And, he had even obtained a new title."
During the break, Natsuki Subaru opened the system interface to check the information.
"This 'Wolf Slayer' title increases all attributes by forty percent when fighting Mabeasts. Compared to the previous 'Mabeast Slaughterer' title, I wonder how much stronger it is?"
Natsuki Subaru stared at the system panel, carefully comparing the two titles:
[Mabeast Slaughterer]: Mabeast damage +15%
[Wolf Slayer]: All attributes +40% when fighting Mabeasts
"Although I'm a bit reluctant to part with the old title..." Natsuki Subaru lightly stroked his chin, muttering after a moment of thought, "but a comprehensive boost is indeed more practical."
With a thought, the new title, Wolf Slayer, immediately took effect.
"It seems I've really become much stronger." Natsuki Subaru moved his limbs, feeling the surging power within his body, re-gripped his dual daggers, and cast his gaze deeper into the dungeon.
"It's time to keep moving forward."
Before stepping into the next area, he took one last look back at the wolf corpses covering the ground. The orange-named Steel Fang Wolves, which initially required a tough fight, now appeared as harmless white names in his eyes, indicating his strength was gradually increasing. He was growing at a visible rate, which was the driving force for his continuous advancement in the dungeon.
As he delved deeper, the strength of the dungeon monsters also inevitably increased.
......
After defeating the Steel Fang Wolves, Natsuki Subaru successively encountered Ogres, Trolls, Death Knights, and other monsters.
At this moment, he had been continuously fighting in the solo instance dungeon for two and a half hours.
Each level-up would fully restore Natsuki Subaru's health, leaving him invigorated and feeling no fatigue whatsoever. Not only that, but the dungeon's rewards were also quite substantial.
"My level has also risen to 15. As expected, killing monsters to level up is the fastest way to improve strength. Each level up increases all attributes by 4 points. I'm getting stronger bit by bit."
Natsuki Subaru could clearly feel the power surging within him. From level 8 when he first entered the dungeon to the current level 15, his strength attribute had reached an astonishing 88 points.
"However... the deeper I go, the stronger the monsters become?"
Natsuki Subaru could clearly feel his own strength constantly increasing, yet the aura emanating from the depths of the dungeon still sent shivers down his spine. He could distinctly sense that some terrifying existence was lurking there.
"But this is exactly what I need."
With that, Natsuki Subaru strode towards the depths of the dungeon.
[Notification: You have entered the Lord's chamber.]
The system prompt sounded abruptly.
"Finally at the boss room..."
Natsuki Subaru tightly gripped his dual daggers, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. Before him lay a gloomy and bizarre swamp, with dense weeds swaying in the sinister wind, making rustling sounds.
Suddenly—
Splash!
The swamp water suddenly exploded, and a colossal creature burst out of the water at astonishing speed, stirring up mud waves several meters high.
"What the—"
Before he could see clearly, the creature had already flashed before him like lightning. Natsuki Subaru instinctively crossed his dual daggers to block.
—CLANG!!!
A deafening sound of metal colliding echoed through the swamp.
Immediately after.
An unimaginable force traveled up the blades. Natsuki Subaru was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing heavily into a rock wall dozens of meters away.
"Cough... Cough cough..."
A mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth. When Natsuki Subaru lifted his head, the sight before him made his breath catch—
A giant snake, hundreds of meters long, shot up from the swamp, its massive body blotting out the sky. Its blue-black scales glinted eerily in the faint light, each scale like meticulously polished metal.
[Swamp King · Bluefang · Kasaka]
The deep red name above the giant snake's head was as glaring as blood, exuding a suffocating pressure.
"It's actually... a deep red name..."
Natsuki Subaru's pupils contracted violently, and his muscles tensed instantly.
He knew that according to the system's color-coding for monster threat levels, white represented low threat, easily dealt with, while orange indicated an evenly matched opponent that required caution. And deep red signified a fatal threat, far exceeding his current strength.
"As expected of a dungeon lord..."
Cold sweat trickled down his spine, but Natsuki Subaru's grip on his daggers unconsciously tightened. The giant snake before him, merely by coiling there, exuded a terrifying pressure. Its golden vertical pupils coldly stared at its prey, and the corrosive liquid dripping from its fangs made "hissing" sounds on the ground, gradually eroding small pits.
Roar!
The giant snake suddenly opened its blood-red maw and lunged.
Natsuki Subaru rolled to the side to avoid it, simultaneously slashing his dual daggers fiercely at the snake's belly.
Clang clang clang!
The blades striking the scales produced dazzling sparks, yet they failed to leave even a scratch.
"These scales are practically impenetrable! I'm already level 15, yet I can't do any damage to it..." Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but be secretly alarmed. "Is this the strength of a final boss?"
"Hiss~"
The giant snake attacked again, its bloody maw aiming straight for his head.
"As expected... normal attacks are completely ineffective."
Natsuki Subaru dodged with difficulty amidst the giant snake's torrential attacks, his mind racing:
"Against a final boss, the Wolf Slayer title's 40% bonus isn't enough..."
"I have to use strategy... wear down its stamina..."
Clang!
Another fierce collision. The dual daggers were already covered in web-like cracks. Each block sent his arms numb, and blood seeped from the web between his thumb and forefinger.
The giant snake looked down condescendingly at this tiny human, its golden vertical pupils glinting with cruel light. It suddenly accelerated, transforming into a blue afterimage and lunging violently.
"Not good!"
Natsuki Subaru barely managed to turn sideways but was heavily struck by the snake's tail, sending him flying over ten meters and crashing heavily into the mire.
"Cough-argh!"
Blood trickled from the corner of Natsuki Subaru's mouth. This overwhelming difference in strength reminded him of the despair he felt when facing the Bowel Hunter Elsa.
"However... victory isn't necessarily impossible!"
In an instant, inspiration flashed in Natsuki Subaru's mind. He suddenly recalled his experience fighting the giant centipede in the punishment mission. When facing the similarly hard-shelled giant centipede, it was by targeting its fragile compound eyes that he found a breakthrough.
Every creature has a weakness. This giant snake's fatal spot must be in its eyes or the vulnerable parts of its mouth!
Just then.
The giant snake suddenly raised its head, the poison glands in its neck swelling violently, turning a terrifying purplish-black.
"Here's my chance!"
Natsuki Subaru's eyes flashed sharply, his leg muscles instantly tensing to their limit. The moment the giant snake sprayed its venom, he shot towards its open, cavernous maw like an arrow released from its bow...
"Hiss—"
The Swamp King Kasaka's golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted, its thick serpentine body coiling abruptly, the friction of its scales producing a teeth-grating sound.
At the critical moment, Natsuki Subaru made a decision:
"Left!"
His right foot stomped heavily on the ground, sending mud splashing as his figure shifted sideways like a phantom. The snake's head grazed his shoulder, the wind from its passage stinging his cheek.
Seizing this fleeting opening, Natsuki Subaru crossed his dual daggers and slashed towards the snake's eye—
Clang!
The giant snake's eyelids closed in time, the hard scales deflecting the blades. The massive recoil sent Natsuki Subaru's hands numb, and before he could adjust his stance, the thick snake tail swept towards him like a steel whip.
"Ugh!"
The blow landed solidly on his waist. Even with an 88-point strength attribute, it seemed insignificant before the giant snake. Natsuki Subaru flew like a rag doll for dozens of meters, rolling several times in the mire before barely stopping.
His health instantly dropped by a third, and a piercing pain shot through his ribs. The [Health: 32%] warning flashed at the edge of his vision.
"Cough... Damn it..."
Natsuki Subaru spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, watching the giant snake raise its head again, its poison glands swelling to a horrifying purplish-black.
"...It's coming!"
Natsuki Subaru, enduring the intense pain, rolled sideways. The spot where he had been was instantly dissolved into a large pit by corrosive venom. Poisonous mist rose, burning his exposed skin.
Holding his breath, Natsuki Subaru used the cover of the poisonous mist to charge forward rapidly.
"The eyes... as long as I can hit the eyes..."
The dual daggers flipped nimbly in Natsuki Subaru's hands. Aided by the momentum of his charge, he thrust them with all his might towards the snake's pupils.
Just as the daggers were about to hit, the giant snake suddenly shook its head, its hard forehead scales sending him, daggers and all, flying.
"Cough-argh!"
His back slammed heavily against the rock wall; Natsuki Subaru felt as if his internal organs had been displaced. Worse still, the giant snake seized the opportunity to coil around him, its cold body tightening like iron bands.
"Damn it!"
Natsuki Subaru thought, realizing his predicament.
Creak—
His ribs groaned under the pressure, and breathing became increasingly difficult. His health was dropping at a visible rate...
"Damn it... Can't break free..."
His vision began to blur, and Natsuki Subaru's consciousness gradually faded.
"Am I... really going to die here?"
"Even the Bowel Hunter Elsa couldn't kill me..."
"If I die, will Return by Death activate?"
At this moment of life and death, Rem's gentle smile, the kind Emilia, the sharp-tongued Ram, the tsundere Beatrice... the faces of everyone important flashed through Natsuki Subaru's mind.
"Am I... giving up like this?"
[Passive Skill: Life Resilience triggered!]
[Health below 10%, damage reduction 50%, speed increased by 20%]
A surging power erupted within his body like a volcano! Natsuki Subaru felt all the blood in his body boiling, and his originally blurry vision suddenly cleared.
"Bastard... You're still far from enough!"
Natsuki Subaru's pupils suddenly constricted to pinpoints, veins bulging on his forehead. Accompanied by the sound of cracking bones, he actually used brute force to pry open the giant snake's death coil!
"Hiss hiss—!"
The giant snake shrieked, once again opening its cavernous maw to attack Natsuki Subaru.
"Hah!"
But this time, Natsuki Subaru's speed was unbelievably fast. He leaped onto the snake's body, somersaulting in mid-air the instant the venom sprayed, the poison grazing his hair and corroding a large hole in the rock wall behind him.
"—Die!"
Using the momentum of his descent, Natsuki Subaru pressed all his weight onto his daggers. The moment the blades pierced the snake's eye, red blood gushed out like a fountain.
"You won't get rid of me!"
The giant snake thrashed its head wildly, trying to fling him off, but Natsuki Subaru clung tightly to its scales. The snake writhed in pain, its thick tail snapping all the surrounding stone pillars.
The [Health: 3%] warning flashed continuously, but Natsuki Subaru completely ignored it. In his eyes, there was only the giant snake's constantly opening and closing bloody maw—
"Just—DIE!!!"
When the giant snake raised its head to roar again, Natsuki Subaru used his last ounce of strength, crossed his dual daggers into a cross shape, and leaped into the snake's mouth!
The blades accurately pierced the soft flesh of its upper palate, straight into its brain.
The world seemed to freeze at that moment.
The giant snake's pupils suddenly dilated, its massive body stiffened for an instant, and then, like a collapsing mountain, it crashed to the ground.
The entire dungeon trembled violently from the impact, rubble raining down from the ceiling like a storm.
[Notification: Level Up]
[Notification: Level Up]
[Notification: Level Up]
[Notification: Successfully killed Swamp King · Bluefang · Kasaka]
[Notification: Obtained Kasaka's Toxic Fang (Short Sword)]
[Notification: Obtained Kasaka's Poison Gland (Secret Medicine)]
[Notification: Dungeon Clear Reward Gold +100000]
"Although I won rather sloppily... I won in the end."
As the light of leveling up shone, Natsuki Subaru's injuries instantly recovered, and his fatigue was swept away. His body was once again enveloped in warm energy, entering a state of full recovery after leveling up. Natsuki Subaru let out a long sigh, feeling the comfort of his healed injuries.
"And, I got a pretty good weapon."
Saying this, Natsuki Subaru carefully examined the new loot in his hand.
A short sword, entirely a deep blue, its blade not straight but curved like a snake's fang. Faint blue venom could be seen flowing in the fine blood grooves along its edge.
Weapon Name: Kasaka's Toxic Fang Short Sword
Weapon Type: Short Sword
Attack Power: +25
Paralysis Effect: Target cannot act for a certain period.
Bleeding Effect: Causes target's health to decrease by 1% per second.
Weapon Description: This short sword is meticulously crafted from Kasaka's toxic fang, imbued with Kasaka's potent venom.
"Finally got a good weapon." Natsuki Subaru satisfyingly swung the short sword in his hand, the blade tracing a deep blue arc in the air. "Kasaka's Toxic Fang Short Sword, paralysis plus bleeding effect, it's a perfect match."
"Hmm... And, Kasaka's Poison Gland Secret Medicine."
Next, Natsuki Subaru turned his attention to the other piece of loot:
[Kasaka's Poison Gland] (Secret Medicine)
Effect: Gain the effect of Iron Thorn Scales (Physical Damage -20%)
Side Effect: Permanent muscle damage, Strength permanently -35%.
"The side effect of this secret medicine is too terrifying..." Natsuki Subaru frowned, storing Kasaka's Poison Gland in his system inventory. "A one-third reduction in strength? Anyway, I'll keep it for now."
[Notification: Dungeon Lord has been eliminated, dungeon will now close]
[Countdown begins: 10, 9, 8...]
As the system's cold, mechanical voice counted down, the entire dungeon began to twist and deform. The stone walls gradually blurred like melting wax statues, and the surface of the swamp rippled unnaturally.
Natsuki Subaru gripped the newly obtained Toxic Fang Short Sword, feeling the dizziness from the spatial transfer.
When the countdown reached 1, his figure, like a pencil drawing being erased, completely vanished from this dungeon where he had battled for several hours.
___
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here with another translation! Saint Seiya united by their strength!
I've arranged two exclusive coupons. Choose wisely! 😉
⚰️ HUGE DEAL : 👻 30% OFF ! 👻
On "Director of Wangsheng Funeral Home" to unlock a massive 40 advanced chapters across all stories. This premium offer is for a very limited time!
⚰️ GREAT DEAL: 👻 10% OFF! 👻
On "Wangsheng Funeral Home Consultant" for 20 advanced chapters. Cupom: SAINTOFATHENA Don't wait, this deal will be buried soon!
100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
Secure your early access before it's too late!
👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan