The Collapsing Cave
The first thing to greet me upon arriving at the 30th floor was a ferocious sandstorm.
A thick sand-laden wind filled the world, obscuring vision to mere inches ahead.
The gritty sensation of sand clinging to every inch of my body was utterly repulsive.
Should I find shelter first?
Shii──
I flicked my tongue out of habit and immediately regretted it.
Sand grains stuck to the tip.
Disgusting.
I knew nothing about the geography of the 30th floor.
Scouting the surroundings was a must, but with the sandstorm this intense, proper exploration was impossible.
Still, standing still in such a vicious storm wasn't an option, so I decided to move first.
If I pick a direction and keep going straight, something's bound to turn up.
It didn't.
After pushing straight through the raging sandstorm for a good while, all that appeared before me was an endless expanse of sand dunes.
Worse, the storm wasn't dying down over time—it was only growing fiercer, to the point where I was starting to lose my sense of direction entirely.
Am I going to end up lost in the middle of this desert?
I suppressed the creeping anxiety and kept moving.
Just keep going. Something's bound to show up eventually.
It didn't... no, it did.
After pressing on, something finally appeared, just as I'd hoped.
The problem was that it wasn't shelter—it was a monster.
“Kraaaah──.”
Emerging through the sandstorm as I trudged endlessly forward was a monster called a Sandman.
An amorphous creature roughly humanoid in shape, composed entirely of sand.
Standard physical attacks barely fazed it; like a slime, it could only be defeated by destroying its core hidden somewhere inside.
Rank: E.
Its main trait was using its sandy body to camouflage perfectly in the desert, then ambushing prey suddenly—a trait well-known among hunters.
True to its reputation, the Sandman lunged silently at me as I moved quietly.
With all my focus on finding a path, I couldn't help but panic at the sudden assault.
Reflexively, I whipped my tail.
Tail Strike A
The status window's calm notification rang in my mind, as always.
Thwack─
A heavy impact followed immediately.
The sand clump lunging at me flew off into the distance.
And then... it didn't move a twitch.
Uh... is it dead?
Apparently, my tail had struck somewhere pretty bad.
I'd swung it on pure reflex—who could've guessed I'd hit the core?
As far as I was concerned, I'd just counterattacked instinctively against an attacker, but seeing it collapse so pathetically made me feel oddly guilty.
The poor thing had worked hard hiding and waiting for prey...
Given my durability, I could've let it land a hit or two without issue...
I stared for a moment at the spot where the Sandman had been, now seamlessly blended into the surrounding sand, leaving no trace.
A silent prayer for the Sandman, who waited so long only to depart without a fight.
That's just monster life for you...
May you be reborn as a stronger monster next time... or better yet, as a human.
After the Sandman's half-hearted ambush, nothing else happened.
No monster could easily move about in a storm this fierce.
They'd probably sought shelter long ago, waiting it out.
Which meant I needed to do the same, and fast.
As I pushed forward aimlessly with that thought, I spotted the perfect shelter.
A cluster of dark reddish-brown rocks jutting up like a mountain.
In the center of this rocky outcrop, I found what looked like a decent gap—a cave.
Hard to tell without checking inside, but it seemed spacious enough for my body.
Growing weary of battling the sandstorm, I didn't hesitate and slipped inside.
There were already occupants.
Several hunters huddled around a campfire in the middle of the cave.
Our eyes met as I slithered in, and they froze mid-conversation, turning to stone.
I was just as stunned.
Didn't expect company.
“Monster─!”
“Weapons up, everyone!”
Snapping out of it briefly, they drew their weapons and hurriedly formed ranks, jolting me back to reality too.
The sudden presence of hunters threw me completely off guard.
In hindsight, it's obvious they'd seek caves like this to escape the storm.
I'd been too focused on finding shelter to consider such basics.
No, it's not basic at all. What if one of them hiding here was high-rank?
These hunters topped out at C-rank, but if even one had been higher?
No time for idle thoughts like now, that's for sure.
...Gotta be more careful from now on.
Another valuable lesson learned.
I was growing—not just physically, but in every other way too.
But the real issue was these hunters right in front of me.
I'd relaxed a bit, but the situation wasn't favorable.
Three C-ranks.
I'd dismissed them as "just C-rank," but that didn't mean I could underestimate them.
I was C-rank myself, after all.
Though monster and hunter ranks weren't directly comparable, three C-ranks was no joke.
If I'd ambushed and taken one out first, maybe... but no.
Can I even handle three? And that's not counting the others.
A direct clash was impossible.
I might endure briefly thanks to regeneration, but if the three C-ranks plus the rest ganged up and tore into me?
My stored energy would deplete in no time—it was obvious.
Yes, if we directly clashed.
Shii───
Glancing at the hunters forming up busily, I scanned the cave interior.
The entrance was narrow, but the inside was spacious.
Even with my not-insignificant size, there was plenty of room to spare.
Enough for a fight without feeling cramped.
That's why they thought to fight the moment they saw me.
If the cave had been narrower, they'd have hesitated, seeking other options.
It would've been burdensome for them too.
I eyed the cave walls slyly.
“A snake-type monster... Was there something like that in the desert zone?”
“Worm-types, sure, but snake-types? Never heard of 'em.”
“...From another zone, maybe?”
“...No way. Monsters crossing floors? Sure. But zones? Never.”
“...An anomaly? Should report to the Association.”
“Enough chit-chat. It's a C-rank monster. Stay sharp or you're dead.”
The muttering hunters fell silent at once.
I glanced at one in particular.
That's the raid leader.
A spear-wielding hunter in the second row behind the front line, staring me down coldly.
I flicked my tongue quietly at his vigilant gaze.
Not letting his guard down even in a favorable spot.
Direct fight, and he'd be a real pain.
Good thing I have no intention of that.
As the tense hunters braced for the fight ahead, I began to slither slowly.
They reacted swiftly to my slightest movement.
“It's coming─! Brace for─...!”
The raid leader's shout cut off abruptly.
The hunters, tensed to counter my attack, flinched.
“That thing just...”
“...Ran away?”
Ignoring their dumbfounded voices from behind, I turned and slipped out of the cave.
No plans to fight an unfavorable battle needlessly.
“Ha... A monster running instead of attacking?”
“...Another anomaly?”
“An anomaly in a different way, yeah...”
Deflated murmurs from the hunters.
Some even chuckled at the absurdity.
They couldn't comprehend it.
Normal monsters, driven by the Labyrinth Will, charged hunters on sight.
Even that crafty Surprise Bird attacked first, think later.
No matter how experienced, they'd never seen a monster encounter hunters up close and flee like me.
“Well... glad it ended without a fight?”
“We'd have won anyway, but no casualties is good.”
“Kinda disappointing. That size, it'd drop a magic stone. Maybe materials for gear too.”
“...I'm relieved, actually. Its eyes were... weird.”
“Weird how?”
“...Can't explain, but not like a normal monster. Staring at us... like a snake.”
“It was a snake.”
“Not like that!”
“Snake eyes are snake eyes. What else?”
“...Forget it. Just a weird vibe. No harm done.”
“Say that sooner. Don't creep us out!”
Shaking off their tension in moments, the hunters erupted into lively chatter.
Even the cool-headed raid leader joined in amiably.
Do they really think I ran?
Sure, no precedent, and I'd bolted without looking back, but it irked me.
Do I look that much like a runner?
I thought my rugged look inspired fear, not flight.
Shoving aside the growing unease, I positioned myself at the cave entrance.
They had no clue.
That the monster they thought had fled... hadn't.
They'd regret it.
Not chasing me down.
At least confirm I was truly gone.
Because they wouldn't survive the day otherwise.
Tap tap─
I rapped the entrance wall a few times with my tail tip.
Glanced inside earlier—it wasn't as sturdy as expected.
Solid enough, but full power could crumble it.
Can't win a straight fight, but killing them? Easy.
No need to play fair against prey like this.
After gauging the wall's strength, I raised my tail high.
Body Reinforcement B
Limit Break A
Tail Strike A
Status notifications echoed in my mind as I swung my tail with all my might.
KABOOM─
“What?! What the─...?!”
“Kyaaah─ E-earthquake?!”
“No...! Look at the entrance!”
Horror burst from the hunters' mouths as they finally checked my way.
I whipped my tail again, watching their panicked faces.
Two or three more should do it.
Luckily, not as sturdy as thought.
Tail Strike A
Another notification, and 'KABOOM─'—the cave shook.
Crack─ Fissures spiderwebbed across the struck wall.
“What the hell is that thing doing...?”
“...No way?! Damn it! Everyone, charge!”
“Huh? Raid leader? What's─?”
“Shut up and charge──!!!”
The raid leader bolted for the entrance, the others stumbling after in panic.
Cool under pressure, as expected.
Figured my intent in seconds.
But too late.
I swung again as they rushed me.
Tail Strike A
KABOOM─
Cracks widened along the fissures.
Small rocks and dust began trickling down.
“Gasp─! It's─?!”
“The cave...!”
“Trying to collapse it?!”
“Fuckin' insane...!”
I had no intention of bringing down the whole cave.
Impossible with my current power anyway.
Just the entrance.
That alone would seal them in this exitless cave.
Tail Strike A
As the hunters closed in, I delivered the final blow.
KABOOM─ Crash─
That was it.
The entrance, crumbling bit by bit, finally gave way.
RUMBLE─
Through the falling boulders, I saw the raid leader's twisted face.
Beyond him, the other hunters' faces—despair? Terror?—staring at me in abject horror.
I flicked my tongue quietly at them.