Storm-Ravaged Plains
Ten months had already passed since I left the Forest Zone.
It had been well over a year since I became a snake, but there was no particular emotion attached to it.
Right now, I was on the 41st floor of the Desert Zone.
The final floor of the Desert Zone.
There was nothing particularly special about it.
Just a noticeably denser mana concentration compared to the entrance—that was it.
Today, I planned to leave the Desert Zone and head to the Plains Zone.
I felt like I'd reached the limit of growth possible here.
Soul Separation SS [Unavailable], Tenacity A, Limit Break S, Shadow Stealth S, Ambush A, Constrict B, Instinct A, Rapid Regeneration A, Charge A, Extreme Poison A, Intimidation A, Counter B, Poison Resistance S, Tail Strike A, Gluttony S, Tough Scales B, Mana Manipulation A, Thought Acceleration B, Body Reinforcement B, Magic Eye D, Heat Resistance B, Cold Resistance C, Poison Magic B, Mana Resistance B
My overall stats had reached the upper limits of B-rank.
At this point, I could hold my own against a weak A-rank monster.
In truth, I could have stayed longer in the Desert Zone if I wanted, but I chose not to.
It wasn't that I disliked the Desert Zone—lately, the hunters' movements had been suspicious.
I suspected I'd caused too much commotion while lingering there.
I'd always been careful not to reveal my identity when moving, but even a long tail gets stepped on eventually.
Even though I'd focused on hunting monsters over hunters, it seemed they'd recently picked up on my trail.
No large-scale subjugation team had been dispatched yet, but I spotted hunters occasionally scouting the area, so caution was needed.
Best to avoid the zones they're searching and move elsewhere.
That's why I chose to head to the Plains Zone.
The hallmark of the Plains Zone is monsters operating in massive hordes.
Not just small packs like before, but dozens or hundreds together, often led by higher individuals—undead legions formed by layer lord-class monsters were commonplace.
As a result, hunters operating in the Plains Zone typically formed large expedition parties of dozens or hundreds.
There were exceptions with smaller groups, but those consisted entirely of high-rank hunters.
The Plains Zone's defining trait is massive monster hordes, but hunters often cite the climate as its true feature.
It's infamous for typhoons raging 365 days a year.
No clear days in the year, constant storms with thunder and lightning.
Even on relatively okay days, it's overcast all day without sunlight—that worried me a bit.
Hunters called it the labyrinth's most extreme climate.
I entered the Plains Zone.
I'd heard about the Plains Zone long ago, so I was somewhat prepared.
Still, rumors are just that, and I'd underestimated it a little—experiencing the actual weather was truly amazing.
Monsters were flying through the air.
No joke—literally.
Not because they had wings or were flung by other monsters, but purely due to the weather.
Whether calling weather that hurls monsters "simple" is right, I don't know.
But the first welcome I got upon arriving was monsters soaring through fierce winds and rain.
A fairly hefty Orc, no less.
It was a cultural shock in many ways.
Maybe I should've stayed longer in the Desert Zone, hunters be damned?
The thunderstorm was every bit as legendary as rumored.
The orc flying wasn't a hallucination—the wind rocked even my massive body.
One wrong move, and I might go airborne too.
Really no joke.
I first sought shelter for my body.
The Plains Zone weather made the Desert Zone's sandstorms laughable.
Sandstorms just blow sand at worst; this was beyond.
Whatever you imagine, it's worse.
Compared to the Plains Zone, the Desert Zone was paradise.
I already wanted to go back.
I considered returning to the Desert Zone, but it stayed a mere thought.
No matter the weather, it beat life-threatening hunters.
That's what I thought, at least.
The typhoon showed no signs of stopping.
Four days since arriving in the Plains Zone, and I was stuck in a small burrow from day one, unable to move.
I had plenty of stored energy, but being trapped in this cramped hole all day was suffocating.
Peeking outside, orcs and a few other species roamed without issue...
Is this normal here?
I gained respect in many ways.
On the tenth day of unrelenting storm, I decided to venture out.
Stored energy was starting to run low.
Storm or not, I had to eat to live.
As rumored, orcs moved in huge hordes.
Not tribal packs like the Forest Zone's Lizardmen, but far larger numbers living together.
Easily 300 or 400.
Average rank a mere C, but that many? No contest.
For the first time in ages, I ended a hunt with little gain.
Forced diet?
Most Plains Zone monsters hunted in hordes, but not all.
Some were strong enough to go solo, or too weak to form packs.
The ones I hunted were obviously the latter.
The former were nearly layer lord-class, A-rank or higher.
There's a monster called Tar-Madillo.
Similar to an armadillo, but huge.
About a meter in size.
Perfect one-bite snack for me.
Rank D to E.
Low for its bulk—solid carapace aside, no real attacks or features.
I targeted loners who didn't pack up.
Occasional small groups, but far fewer than orcs.
Low rank too, and unlike orcs, worth hunting.
Truth be told, I craved pork after so long, but couldn't touch orcs recklessly, so these sufficed.
Taste wasn't bad, but for pork-obsessed me, not satisfying.
Once stronger, I'll definitely eat pork.
The raging typhoon showed no mercy.
Felt like it worsened daily.
Maybe other floors are better?
I rushed to the 43rd floor.
No different at all.
Same here too.
Well, same Plains Zone.
Ah, orcs flying again.
Just go back?
Thought of retreating to 42nd, but since I'd come this far, I decided to stay on 43rd.
Wind fiercer than 42nd, but ultimately similar.
Never planned a specific stay in Plains Zone.
Like Desert Zone, I'd leave naturally upon growth limit.
Ideally, settle in long-term like before.
But that changed lately.
The weather was... too much.
Bluntly, fucking awful.
I could endure most, but the humid, musty air? Unbearable.
Yeah, speed through Plains Zone.
Monsters and hunters alike move in massive groups.
Hard to do anything solo, so better rush to next: Lava Zone.
Bit risky at my level, but anything to escape this hellish weather.
Danger aids growth too.
With that minimal justification, I resolved to leave Plains Zone quickly.
I have a skill called Magic Eye.
Despite the grandiose name, it was just far-sight like "clairvoyance," but still useful.
Great for observing distant hunters.
Especially now, with tongue detection hampered by storm—pairs well with mana sensing as detection.
Once near-useless, now one of my valuables.
Change came to Magic Eye.
Rank up added a new ability.
"Charm Magic Eye"
Charms and controls targets.
Eye contact enables simple suggestions to mental domination.
Low rank means weak effect/power, but I loved it.
Like others, it'll grow with rank.
Exciting future potential?
Plan to use often, raise rank diligently.
Does Magic Eye add new powers per rank up?
If so, more ahead...
Another reason to grind its rank.
Eyes might dry out—stock eye drops?
Testing new Magic Eye, first target: orc.
Pork time.
Locked eyes with a lone orc away from their massive village.
Expected resistance from base rank, but easier than thought.
Just simple suggestion, not complex.
Devoured the dazed orc shuffling toward me.
Not pure pork—no signature smell, mixed odors—but pork enough for high marks.
Learn fire magic later, grill it.
Bet it'd taste great.
Already anticipating.
Doesn't mean lingering in Plains Zone.
Pork or not, weather crosses the line.
Whatever, escape this hell ASAP.