Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Monstrous Predator
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As soon as I entered the passage, the first thing to greet me was utter darkness without a single glimmer of light.
I figured the task here was probably to push through this pitch-black corridor shrouded in gloom.
But the faint outlines I could make out and the steady drip of water droplets told me otherwise.
Stepping forward carelessly would suck me straight into the water below—a trap.
"Hmm..."
I picked up a stone and tossed it into the water.
Splashhhh...!
A massive shadow surged upward, swallowing the stone in an instant.
A fish?
"Damn, that's one filthy huge monster."
Unlike the first two gateways, the third one's difficulty had ramped up for sure.
Blunder in blindly, and it'd be perfect for biting the dust.
Of course, anyone who'd made it this far would walk away with just injuries, but to reach the deepest core, I needed to avoid damage as much as possible.
Stamina management was key too.
Still, this was just a test.
If there was a challenge, there had to be a way around it.
They wouldn't set an exam in this cave if brute-forcing the monster was the answer.
Let's see...
I tilted my head up. Stalactites dotted the ceiling, along with severed ropes here and there.
"They want us to use those, huh."
Not for me, though.
Why bother?
Detouring around some puny beast out of fear? Pathetic.
I chucked another stone.
The shadow erupted in response once more.
"Haven't skipped stones in ages."
I gathered nearby rocks and ricocheted them off the water. Three or four zipped across and lodged into the monster.
It thrashed in agony before diving back under.
Thought the water was safe?
I drew a needle, channeled my internal energy into it, then hurled it full force at a stalactite.
Fueled by packed energy, the needle sank deep.
Moments later...
Rumble...!
The stalactite crashed down like hail. Right on target—I'd picked the thinnest spot.
Its razor edge turned the monster's hiding water into a slaughterhouse.
And soon...
"Kieeeeek!"
The beast leaped out, stalactites embedded, pain too much to bear. And in that moment?
Its belly lay completely exposed, defenseless.
Miss that? Only an idiot would.
I lined up shots on the gut—palm strikes, finger jabs, flying daggers—one after another.
Before long, I stopped.
The thing had belly-flopped dead.
I hopped lightly onto its stomach and crossed the puddle. The floor split open, stairs emerging.
"Hm...?"
I followed the passage.
Empty halfway through, it seemed.
Rustle...!
"...!"
The floor dropped out suddenly, iron bars spearing up. I unfurled Shadow Step to dodge—
—when arrows whistled from the far side.
Trap mechanism!
Shadow Step evaded the volley as I pressed forward. The passage end narrowed fast.
Door's closing!
"Interesting."
Squeezing through sloppily? Not my style.
I strolled slow, deliberate, like a show.
By then, door fully shut.
Palm to the door. Heavy, immovable.
But I'd bloated my energy stockpiles with all those meals.
Boom...!
Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art's power pulverized the door root and all.
"This the idea?"
Fitting for the third gateway—solid challenge.
"Alright... let's keep going."
As I moved for the new passage...
"Groooan...!"
A familiar presence hit, followed by an even more familiar voice.
Ralph?
Locked in battle with a snake, was he?
Ignoring my arrival, he fixated on the giant serpent.
No wonder—the thing coiled huge before him, blocking any notice of me.
A snake... welcome sight.
Saw more of those than people back in the Sichuan Tang Clan.
I masked my aura quietly, spectating the duel.
Curious how Ralph fared here. Soon, I got it.
He'd survived by constantly eating hits from the snake.
Meaning: he'd flunked to this snake before too.
Yet he charged again and again, tumbling pitifully each time.
No point watching longer.
"Uwaaa! Come at me!"
As Ralph bellowed and lunged anew, I tapped the nape of his neck—pressure point knockout.
"Gahk...!"
He crumpled. I laid him in the passage, eyed the snake.
"What, complimentary tonic?"
The venom snake flicked its forked tongue... then froze.
Yo, sharp beast.
It coiled tail to bolt, but Shadow Step nabbed its head. Instinct scream death?
Grabbed, it played dead still.
Aw, good boy.
I patted its head.
"Open wide."
Beast or man, survival drive's wild.
Weirdly, it got me—gaped its maw.
I squeezed fangs firm, milked venom like juice, gulped.
Pretty decent.
"Spared 'cause you backed off."
Released, it dipped head once—grateful?—then vanished.
Manners on point.
Snakes sinister and vile? Human fantasy.
Tameable, good lads.
Duh—with treats this tasty?
Savoring my boost...
New entrance yawned.
Instinct sniffed it: web-spinner beyond, preying patient.
Doesn't belong here.
Door's trap—Ian Pador's setup.
"Let's go."
"Hmm..."
Inschtain wiped monster blood from his rapier tip with a white cloth.
Filthy gore dirtying his blade? No chance.
"Much better now."
Cloth trailed... golden edge flashed.
Master and sword alike.
Ruby hilt carved whole, maybe?
Shimmered beyond shine—dazzling.
That's the stuff!
Weapons gotta gleam so.
Cleaning done satisfying, he ditched the stained cloth—no pocket.
Disposable; rebuy.
Ready, new entrance spawned.
Not prior green—ashen gray.
"Idiot-proof: this last one."
Elegant stride in.
Sealed shut again... vast cavern sprawled.
Walls crammed: statues of Trial Valley past champs. Rapier to empty slot.
"My statue soon."
Carve it? Gold, standout shine.
Or DIY.
Victory bell where?
Bet central black pillar.
Glanced 'round.
"Others lagging?"
First place? Then—two entrances popped.
Red robe dude, Andrew emerged.
"Everyone synced up, huh."
Andrew scratched head; red robe scanned, hunting someone.
Inschtain smirked at pair.
"No brute? Figures."
Crude drops out.
Eyed Andrew... murmured.
"Duel time, Super Andrew-ho."
Humiliating maybe; Andrew shrugged casual.
"Yep."
"Money to yield?"
"Hm...?"
Andrew mulled earnest.
"Tough call... amount? Sigh, nah. Dad's payback if no win—terrifying."
Makes sense.
Tral clan merciless—continent knew.
"Deal off. Fine. Red robe?"
Lukewarm shrug.
"Don't need cash."
"Prideful."
Who scoffs money?
To my face? Laughable.
Waited others—no more doors.
Arms crossed back, to duo:
"No stragglers. Us three compete?"
Eyes locked wary, neared black pillar.
Monster inside sure. Approached—pillar creaked open slow.
Troll loomed within.
Tricky sans knight rank, famed.
Three grinned.
That bar keeps riffraff out.
No survivor dreads troll.
Pillar wide... troll bulked roar incoming—
Rumble...!
"Huh...?"
Ceiling drop.
Dust choked three.
"Clothes ruined...!"
Inschtain brushed futile; Andrew halted.
"Wrong worry now?"
"What?! Cleanliness first..."
Silenced.
Impossible before eyes.
Dust settled: troll pulped pillar-wide, gore splat forward. Tough troll papered—what lowered head eerie.
"...!"
Hairs prickled full.
What hell?
That monster exist?
Slay for win?
Nonsense...
Beyond Trial Valley tier.
Pador not that house.
Test via monster drop?
Incomprehensible.
Consensus swift: wrong.
Big wrong...
Finally eyed beast: arms freak long huge, body frog-slick weird, beak-mouth jutted birdlike.
Yellow base eyes, black slits tearing.
Chill every inch.
"What in the..."
Inschtain breathed; Andrew hushed.
Prey status.
Footfalls hushed, breaths tiptoed.
Luck: beast blanked them, sky-gazing.
Inschtain clocked leisure: pure confidence.
Predator prime.
Humans too—he lived it. Now beast mirrored.
Bugs to it.
Tweak mood... doom.
Rustle...!
"...!"
Unknown glared. Icy hit—action dawned.
"Coming...!"
Spear, rapier, sword—all joint strike.
Rumble...!
Palm-scratch only.
Combo? Futile squirm.
"No way..."
Stunned freeze; eyes descended slow.
Predator prey-stare.
Prayed off—eyes smiled content.
Then lashed: whip-arm massive.
Arm? Airborne already.
Ceiling view.
No sky even there.
Trial denies breath?
Choice lone: quit.
Andrew snatched gray bell first.
"Ring gray. Survival bust."
Smart. No ego fodder. Inschtain, red robe nodded—shook theirs.
Barrier soon... safe revert start...
Crack!
"...!"
Bells smashed. Supposed ring...?
Shards floor; arm loomed.
"Epic screwup? Haha..."
Andrew quipped; all knew truth.
Do-or-die. No out.