The Strong Have Four-Letter Names
Those with a keen nose for it know: the truly powerful always have four-letter names. Destruction Beam. Immortal Sword. Kaido. Shinra Tensei. And... Elastic Rampage.
I succeeded in stealing that skill. The fact that this tough-looking chimera only had it at level 3 told me it was a high-tier ability. Just looking at the words elasticity and berserk gave me chills!
TARGET'S 'Elastic Rampage Lv3' HAS TEMPORARILY DROPPED TO 'Elastic Rampage Lv2'.
The Elastic Rampage I stole was only level 1. Without hesitation, I activated the skill.
And what happened? Describing every detail of those events in the blink of an eye could fill several A4 pages. But to sum it up simply...
In conclusion: I succeeded in dodging the dancer's attack. But I half-failed in stealing and controlling Elastic Rampage.
The initial bounce was great. The rebound felt way stronger than usual as I leaped. But it wasn't called berserk for nothing. That elasticity and acceleration were beyond my control.
Just like with that fly wing last time, I started ricocheting everywhere. Like a rugby ball—but way faster.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud! It took seven wall collisions before I finally landed on the floor.
"Saauk—" I retched.
Lifting my head, I saw the dancer plastered to a corner of the ceiling. It seemed shocked that I'd moved like it. Even without eyes...
Still no sign of eyes or ears on the thing. Just that gaping crimson maw stood out. Looking closer, it did have nostrils. But more than its creepy face, I wondered how it balanced so well. I couldn't control myself at all, yet this heavier beast could...
"...Ah, the legs!"
Enlightenment hit. It used its leg-like arms for quadrupedal movement. Its knees acted like suspensions, absorbing shocks—and it had four of them. No wonder balance was easy. Plus, its soles seemed to have suction cups. Or maybe claws for clinging.
Me? Number of legs: zero!
Useless skill.
I tried stealing another skill.
CANNOT STEAL YET.
But Steal Crown couldn't be spammed. Makes sense—otherwise, I could trap some skill-rich sucker and shear it like a sheep periodically.
Fine, shelve Elastic Rampage. Time to fight with my other abilities. I had fast moves too.
Pheew! One longsword shot fiercely toward the ceiling-clinging dancer. The chimera had probably never seen Imperial Sword Arts before today. Instead of kicking with its sword-hard shin, it acted smart: dodged the blade first.
Clang! It bounced away to another spot.
But that was my plan. Separate from the straight-shot Sunset, something faster arced in: Dawn.
The lighter shortsword curved in for the kill. The dancer realized only upon landing.
As Dawn aimed for its neck—ting! Sparks flew, and the blade bounced off. It had raised one shin to block.
Not one to underestimate. Now it bounced toward me, sensing its turn. I leaped to meet it head-on.
Predator Leap Lv4
No way I'd go for its heart like before. A shin hit would be like a steel pipe to the face. Dodging midair is tough—that's common knowledge. I'd practiced rolling to become a rolling master precisely for this.
Roll Lv10
Not for style points. I spun onto its swinging shin, riding it up. Time to sink my fangs—
My canine tip barely pierced skin before my body jerked away. It had shaken me off. I spun wildly through the air.
Fast bastard. It 3D-maneuvered warily, darting around. I tracked it, mouth opening.
Ray Lv3
Ray Lv3
Ray Lv3
Pew-pew-pew, rays fired in bursts. The dancer dodged the first two somehow. But no matter how fast, it couldn't outpace my turning head. Pheew! One finally hit.
A red hole punched in its gut. Not fatal—more like a solid gut punch. Because of it, the thing plummeted mid-leap.
It scrambled up, but panic was clear.
Ah, its skill level dropped...
Thanks to Steal Crown, its Elastic Rampage was temporarily downgraded. Movements dulled as a result.
Sensing something wrong, it slunk back.
—Now or never for this one.
I agreed with Pellelian. Too fast, too tough. Not super smart yet, but give it time... Miss it now, and it'd be hard to catch later. Unless I evolved first. But in this dungeon, only chimeras for EXP...
—That human's there too. Wasn't he lunch?
Not even a snack!
Resolve set: kill it here. I charged, ultimate burst attack ready.
Obviously... Isil!
Isil's all-consuming flames. (I'd tried "borrowing" her hellfire before—failed. Only she could use it.)
Whoosh— Purple flames licked toward the charging dancer. Magic stone, meat—all ash, but unavoidable.
Just before the violet tongue from hell engulfed its four legs—thunk!
Shockingly, it halted, legs splayed on the wall. Then, a split-second before flames touched, it reverse-thrusted away.
Fled. Faster than the fire. Minor burns maybe? Couldn't tell. It vanished as suddenly as it appeared.
Haa. A deep sigh escaped. All tools used, still failed. Mom... Not real mom, but why think of Wyvern Mom and the triplets? She'd fought to protect me. No way she's waiting, right? Dungeon sealed days ago—she must've left. Hope she ditched that crazy wyvern peacefully.
"Hoo..."
Then the human sighed. No idea why.
"Incredibly fast."
"Saaak!" Hey, human.
Couldn't solo the dancer. But borrow a hand—maybe.
You offered to help, right? I wrote on the notepad.
"Gasp!" He jolted.
Chugota clamped a golem in her jaws and soared skyward. Dizzying flight. Even one of the split trio was massively heavy—made of stone, after all.
Bearing that weight, Chugota climbed higher, higher. Her eyes betrayed no thoughts. Once called the "Wise Queen," that sharpness was gone.
She rose until ground was a speck. Waste of stamina, but she'd repeat whenever recovered: climb high, drop golem.
Gravity reclaimed its due. The golem plummeted like bird shit—lightly at first.
Impact? Cataclysmic. BOOM! Roar echoed, dust erupted like explosion.
"Pip-pip-pip!"
"Kek-kek!"
"Chwee!"
Huddled by Seletta, the hatchlings spun in circles, chirping. Not fear—routine now. First days, real terror and tears. Now? Playtime.
They'd whirl, then inspect post-dust golem. Intact from such height—insanely tough. But cumulative falls cracked it wide. They clucked in awe at the mysterious blue glow inside.
"Kkugak..." Seletta issued a half-hearted warning.
Golems inert for days. Wyverns victorious, she judged. But mad Chugota wouldn't rest till all three shattered. Days of this, not one fully destroyed—how much longer?
"Kkugak..."
Seletta stayed. Without Chugota, she'd flee with the three survivors. But Chugota glued to the stone tower—Seletta too. What if baby escaped tower? Chugota might gulp him.
Thud. Chugota landed roughly. Ignored golem, sat still. Stamina drained—eyes closed standing.
Chugota and Seletta hadn't fought since... some point. This weird coexistence days old. Distant, non-aggressive...
Exhausted, Seletta dozed briefly. Hatchlings' stamina outlasted adults'.
Usually stuck near Seletta, but today...
"Pii."
Boldest first led. They crept toward Chugota.
"Kee-eok."
"Chwee..."
Second and third trailed fearfully. Nearing sleeping Chugota. Even brave Pipi halted at some point.
As they milled, one of Chugota's three heads opened an eye. 'Go.'
Go's head twisted down like a corkscrew. Stopped before triplets, eye-to-eye with Pipi.
Go's maw gaped. "Grrroooaaarrr—!" Foul breath roared.
"Piiiiaaak!" Hatchlings screamed, fleeing.
Seletta startled airborne. Deathmatch redux?
But Go, having scared them, closed eyes and dozed again.
"Kkugak..." Seletta landed awkwardly, glaring. Triplets sensed scolding, hid hastily.
Notepad fluttered midair. Pen scribbled words.
Think you can do it?
He knew it was no ordinary snake—smart too. But writing? Mind blown.
Why no reply?
"Ah, y-yes, got it..."
Snake and Janil conversed. About hunting the 'dancer' chimera.
That four-legged speed demon? Impossible solo. Yet snake insistent.
Even teamed, doubtful. But...
Just stay calm...
Snake's plan sounded solid. How'd a monster think this up?
"Damn, hope this works."
Plan risky for Janil regardless. Used him as bait.
Tak. Dancer eerily quiet. Tak, tak, clang! Just approach sounds—like yesterday.
Clang! Visible beyond passage. Approaching meant confidence—could solo them.
"Raaargh!" Janil roared; dancer charged silently.
No choice—trust snake. Somehow, he had one last monster-repelling ampoule left. Smashed on crown.
As predicted, wind blew. Wind elemental magic carried scent toward dancer.
"Jure."
Dancer froze, emitted weird noise.
"Jurelereleorek!" Clutched gut, retching.
"Jureeok! Juek!"
Snake dubbed it Operation Hold Breath and Dungeon Dive. Working perfectly.