"Thunder Dash!"
Shay bolted against the second group, utilizing his momentum to the fullest.
His heart pounded at his chest, the power output igniting his flesh and soul.
Although the massive rattle snakes originated from magmatic mixture, his strength amplified when fiery inner energy surged from within him.
Boom!
In initial contact with the foremost monster, his hand engulfed by sparks, an orange pressured cloud spread through their near vicinity as he pierced through.
Instead of waiting for surviving individuals to reappear, he landed on the wall and bounced toward the third group.
The surface crackled, sending out spreading fissures. After his launch, that side collapsed, shaking the entire cave.
Hot air swirled by as a yellow radiating blaze flamed around him, facing the other wiggling creatures.
Their bodies were tied together, resembling a multi-headed rock hydra as they traced him with purple black, glistening teeth.
"In your dreams!" His focus and indifferent expression didn't change, breezing above the five heads.
They felt immaculate danger behind them, rising their tails before Shay ricocheted at them.
By using his arms and body, he generated rotational force for a powerful kick.
Although the spiky rattling sand bags were covered with sharp glass shards, they melted upon touching his flames.
He penetrated the hardened powder, passing through to strike their mended backs.
Bang!
As he crushed all with one blow, debris bulleted at the diminishing dark smoke which he left behind.
The revealed monsters barely shook their heads to recover some consciousness, being hit with an unexpected swarm of stone blades and pebbles.
He landed, sliding with a soft touch as dust followed his steps, and spectated his killing calamity.
The barrage holed and cut through the rocky form, taking their souls to the underground.
He bended forward and supported himself, his palms resting on his muscular thighs. His clothes were drenched in sweat from the continuous brawl, shivers engulfing his whole body.
"Phew, hah." He sighed off his exhaustion, gazing at the plain earth.
"Jeez, if only this was the—"
His self conversation got interrupted with an electroactive shot inside his brain, instincts overtaking his movement and dashing back.
The rest of the enemies, buried under countless corpses beside the molten rock pool, salvaged into a final wave of foes that sprayed lava at him.
However, using his speed and fiber-strengthened lower limbs, he shifted his foot. Last reserves of energy traveled through his legs, stiffening his muscles, which almost cramped from the pressure.
As he leaped, the ground at his side rose, leaving a spider web pattern behind him.
'It's just a few of them!'
His thoughts reinforced his resolve, using himself like a javelin while heading straight at one of the lasting creatures.
The target opened its maw, revealing its obsidian blades.
"Fuck you!!!" His physical state shaped his emotions, being done with playing games.
His face, which appeared patient at all times, frowned as his eyebrows drooped.
He crossed his arms mid-flight, using them like a penetrating shield.
Multiple cuts dived into his flesh, blood dripping from his elbows.
This was the impact's first half of the result, as the second came with inertia. He transferred his force to the beast facing him, carving of its teeth and sending them through its own body.
Luck being on his side, one of the others took cover behind this exact fellow, simultaneously ending its life.
"Last three left!"
He boosted his own confidence with relieving shouts.
The trio gazed at him, their ember eyes sparkling, and waved through the firm ground.
'Finally, this fight will end.'
They combined their special abilities and attacks, one swinging its tail, forming heat inside its mouth, and biting.
Yet the struggles were futile, using their own assaults into his favor. He took two steps back just before getting hit.
As the three snakes closed the distance, the leading snake dived its fangs into the second's head. The second unleashed a magmatic stream, melting the third's gem-like eyes and blinding it. The third swung its rattling tail, crushing the first serpent.
It all happened at the same time, only leaving alive the crippled individual. The monster rolled, shattering its glassy features and sending sand in the air.
Sigh.
Shay walked forward, springing his hand back. When the lasting survivor curled toward him, he ended its misery with his fist.
Pop. Pop.
He clapped his pockets, bursting water reserves inside them. Green, soothing light emerged and covered his deep injuries.
Although their state disallowed complete heal, it sufficed until returning below the starry lake.
But when he took a step, his muscles cramped and pierced his nerves with intense suffering. He landed on his face, paralyzed from the aftereffect.
His ability to groan, speak and move vanished, embracing the pain without relief.
'Aaargh, this hurts, for fuck's sake!' Tears flowed down his cheeks while his lungs sought air, which was neither inhaled nor exhaled.
The adrenaline he produced led to internal collapses, suffocating from the lack of oxygen. His eyelids drooped as he tried keeping his head up.
[All Rattlers Vulcanicus defeated. Rewards: +10 Endurance, +5 Strength, Lava Spray (Active Magic Skill)]
[Description: Taking over Rattler Vulcanicus' ability, the user can unleash powerful streams of Molten attacks. Mana cost: 15]
Gasp.
Shay's improved endurance assisted him with grabbing a breather, catching the lacking oxygen like drops of water.
He rose on his knees, still gasping for air while drools dropped from the tip of his tongue.
"Heh, that was close. And why the fuck do I have a skill that requires more mana than I currently possess?"
That whole time, the system interface obscured his vision, which he ignored when confronting the darkness.
He used one of his legs as support, getting up to observe his mess. That place was completely totaled, rubbles of ceiling, corpses, and hardened lava filled the space.
This area was once a vast, smooth pocket; large enough for many giants to live comfortably.
"Jeez, I did this?" His surprise couldn't alter his deathful expression, swiping his stares from each passed event.
As his focus was about to shift away, a crimson luminescent glow caught his attention.
"Ah, how could I forget?"
He traversed to the body and bore through the debris without hesitation, receiving the magic stone.
Its root like structure embraced the radiance inside, letting out needle thin rays of light.
While scanning the magnificent piece, his hands burned with mana that spread all over his soul.
[Mana: 10 (0%) -> 14 (4%)]
"Huh. I could've done this the whole time?!"
In the past, he just tossed all the loot into his backpack without further inspections. If his crow sense wasn't attracted to brilliance, his strength would suffer.
"Hehe." A creepy laughter escaped his mouth, leaving behind a mischievous smile.
He walked from the corpse to another, leveling up his magical energy until vacuuming the last ember of it. With each magic stone grasped, the power of suction sped up, displaying his limitless hunger.
[Power Builder]
[Strength: 66 (0%)] - 4x
[Endurance: 61 (0%)] - 4x
[Agility: 46 (53%)] - 4x
[Dexterity: 46 (51%)]
[Intelligence: 36 (27%)]
[Mana: 55 (29%)]
His gaze swept through the bestiary, but nothing wrote about the Rattler Vulcanicus.
"Does it apply to surface beasts only?"
His thoughts surrounded his topic, solving the puzzle pieces with haste. When he had slain his last enemy, instead of completing a collection of monsters, the system rewarded him for the entire elimination.
This meant farming for duplicate talents proved impossible.
"Well, I need to be careful with merging my skills then."
He swiped across the prompt, his hand concealing it, and turned toward the three tunnels.
His grip and facial muscles tightened and relaxed repeatedly, his view switching from each passage.
'Fuck. I'll just check it for a second and then head back.'
The curiosity ruled over his exhaustion, activating his creeping techniques before reaching the most right channel.
His senses suggested slight distortion in the regularity of its structure, hinting at different lead.
'Please, show me a treasure or something.'
He glued to the wall, watching over his careful steps with his gray vision as he reached a tight opening.
'Oooh, this seems promising.'
His thoughts raced and combined with imagination. It might, after all, be a reward he desired.
It took a while for him to squeeze through, encountering some complications while hugging the two walls.
He sized up the 'room,' turning and tilting his head for potential loot. However, the place contained nothing else but piling up dust.
"What is this here for?" He questioned himself, massaging his chin.
His shoulders dropped slightly, foreseeing much more within this tiny expedition.
Creek.
Shay halted his movement, lifting his foot and dropping it again.
Creek.
He crouched and swooshed his palm alongside the surface, spreading a humongous dust cloud which obscured his vision.
When all the particles landed, his gaze fixed on the opened sliding access, revealing its hidden treasure.
"Is it just an ancient hilt?" He furrowed his brown, staring dumbfounded at the item.
He rechecked his lonely presence and locked his eyes onto his finding.
"I might get some money for it, I gues."
After shaking his head, he grasped the grippy part and straightened his back.
[Weapon binding, compatible. Preparing Soul for connection.]