The air grew heavy and damp as the pine woods gave way to the jagged descent of the Sunken Ravine. Moisture dripped from moss-laden stone walls, and a thick, low-slung mist clung to the muddy floor.
Arthur adjusted the leather harness carrying his new high-grade steel longsword. The weight at his hip was reassuring, but the dismal atmosphere of the ravine kept his senses on high alert.
He paused beside a rotting fallen trunk, opening his system window to verify his vitals before pressing deeper into monster territory.
StatusNameArthurClassMagic Swordsman(Class PassivesDual Channeling, Mana-Muscle Conversion)Level15Title{Wandering Transmigator}HP1,250/1,250MP600/600AttributeBaseBonusStrength63+1Agility550Vitality56+1Intelligence430Mana AffinityFire / Physical AugmentationUnique Skill[Ancestral Synergy: Lv 1 ](Angel's Blessing)Skills[Fire Magic: Lv 2], [Body Reinforcement: Lv 1], [Mana Barrier: Lv 1], [Flame Blade: Lv 1], [Haste: Lv 1], [Iron Recovery: Lv 1]Unallocated points: 0
Level 15 is a solid benchmark for E-Rank, Arthur thought, watching his breath form faint white clouds in the chill. But the Sunken Ravine isn't a place for careless mistakes. I need to push to Level 20 for D-Rank, and every bit of EXP counts.
A sharp, rhythmic rustling in the tall, wet ferns to his left cut his thoughts short.
Arthur’s hand dropped instinctively to the leather-wrapped hilt of his steel blade. The mud before him shifted, and three sleek, scaled heads crested with bone-white horns emerged from the underbrush.
Horned Vipers. Fast, highly venomous E-Rank predators that hunted in small packs.
Without warning, the lead viper coiled its muscular body and sprang through the mist, its fangs dripping with caustic green venom.
"[Haste]!" Arthur barked.
[NEW SKILL ACTIVATED]
Skill Name: [Haste: Lv 1]
Category: Active / Physical Augmentation
Mana Cost: 40 MP per activation
The world around Arthur instantly appeared to slow. The leaping viper seemed suspended mid-air, its fangs moving in quarter-speed.
Arthur stepped fluidly to the right, drawing his longsword in a sharp diagonal arc. His class passive, Dual Channeling, activated effortlessly—flame ignited along the length of the blade without degrading the steel.
Clang!
The fiery steel sliced cleanly through the monster's neck, sending its severed head thudding into the muck.
[Target Defeated: Horned Viper (Lv 12) — +80 EXP Gained]
Before the body hit the ground, the remaining two vipers lunged simultaneously from opposing flanks.
Arthur wheeled around, swinging his flame-imbued blade to parry the second serpent. The steel met the creature's bone horn with a harsh spray of sparks, shattering its skull.
However, the third viper took advantage of his extended stance. It whipped around his guard, sinking its fangs deep into his left forearm!
"Gah!" Arthur grunted, a sharp wave of fire burning through his veins.
[Critical Hit Taken: Venomous Strike!]
[-170 HP] (HP: 1,080 / 1,250)
[Status Effect: Viper Acid Poisoning applied!]
"Get off!" Arthur snapped, channeling mana directly into his left arm. The sudden heat scorched the snake's jaws, forcing it to release its grip before he severed its body with a backhand strike.
[Target Defeated: Horned Viper (Lv 11) — +70 EXP Gained]
Breathing heavily, Arthur fell back against a rock outcropping. His left arm throbbed violently, veins around the puncture wounds bulging green against his skin. Sweat broke out on his forehead as his health bar slowly ticked downward from the venom.
That hurt... even with my high HP pool, venom bypasses standard defense if it breaks skin.
"[Iron Recovery]," Arthur growled, focusing his mana to purge the toxin.
[Iron Recovery: Lv 1]
Category: Active (Togglable) / Recovery
Maintenance Cost: 4 Stamina / min (Continuous drain while active)
Description: A togglable recovery technique that forces mana through strained muscle tissue and the circulatory system. When toggled ON, it actively flushes lactic acid, numbs dull fatigue, and accelerates micro-tear healing during battle at the expense of continuous baseline stamina. When toggled OFF, normal physiological recovery rates resume.
A cool sensation flushed through his circulatory system, arresting the green discoloration and closing the skin over the puncture marks.
Arthur checked his reserves.
HP: 1,080 / 1,250
MP: 470 / 600
EXP Progress: 680 / 1,000
Three E-Rank vipers took nearly 130 MP and chunked 170 HP in seconds, Arthur noted, his pulse pounding in his ears. Haste makes my reactions lightning-fast, but continuous casting bleeds my mana pool quickly. If I get surrounded in deep mud where mobility drops, I'm in real trouble.
He bent down, carefully cutting out the valuable venom sacs from the three vipers and sealing them in leather pouches.
Deep within the ravine hollow, a low, guttural roar echoed through the fog, vibrating the muddy ground beneath his boots. The Mud-Stalkers were waking up.
Arthur tightened his grip on his steel longsword, wiped the blood from his forearm, and stepped further into the shadow of the valley.