The air, thick with the smell of ozone and burnt flesh, fell silent. Lilith blinked, still staring at the charred body of the Level 10 Skuttler.
Kael, for his part, laughed, and it wasn't a silent or forced laugh. It was a loud, almost euphoric burst, the first sound of genuine joy Lilith had ever heard from him.
"Ha!" Kael guffawed, raising his chain and watching the Thunder crackle through it. "That felt good! That felt really good! This portal won't know what hit it."
Lilith regained her composure, her astonishment returning to a professional severity.
"Don't let it go to your head, Kael," she said, though her tone lacked much conviction. "But... I have to ask. That hit, that overwhelming power... is it because of the 'Lawbreaker' Lineage you mentioned? What I just witnessed is not just a Level 6 Hunter."
Kael smiled, feeling a strange pride in sharing his first secret.
"As expected of the Guild Master. That's right. It's my Lineage, Lilith. And I'm going to get much stronger. Now, if we're going to claim this concession, we'd better continue cleaning out the portal. The Ash Guild has just started working."
Lilith nodded, a spark of ambition lighting up her violet eyes.
"Alright. Stay close, Lawbreaker."
The two advanced. The fauna of the Viscous Wilds was as strange as its flora. Kael moved like a force of nature. He used his chains with the controlled fury of his Lightning affinity.
A pair of sticky creatures crawling on the ground headed towards them.
[Purple Slime – Level 12]
[HP: 80/80]
[Attack: 30]
[Defense: 10]
Kael struck with the electrified whip and both slimes exploded.
[You have defeated a Purple Slime – 600 XP]
[You have defeated a Purple Slime – 600 XP]
[Obtained: Viscous Essence x6]
They moved forward. An insect-like monster with a thick shell lunged at Lilith. She shouted, concentrating her strength.
[Moss Crawler – Level 15]
[HP: 110/110]
[Attack: 40]
[Defense: 30]
Lilith used a telekinetic blast to deflect it into the path of Kael's whip, who cleanly carbonized it.
[You have defeated a Moss Crawler – 750 XP]
[Obtained: Speckled Bone x1]
[You have reached Level 9]
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Kael felt powerful, but his practical mind reminded him of the time passing.
"I don't see the end," Kael said, stopping and looking at the endless expanse of violet trees.
Lilith caught up to him, slightly tired from the action, but not exhausted. She smiled wryly.
"Of course not. Portal expeditions, Kael, especially at low levels, usually take days to complete. That's why they are granted for a maximum of 30 days. For a Level 3 to 30 portal, we are talking about a large territory."
Lilith wiped the purple mud from her suit.
"What matters is the aftermath. After a portal is cleared, people are hired to mine daily resources. Rare minerals, flowers needed for potions, or other types of wood... That's why guilds fight over these concessions. Even a Low-Level one like this can generate huge revenues, if you manage to win and have the money to buy it."
She paused. "And the best part: once permanent control is obtained (after clearance), mining and harvesting begin immediately. Furthermore, as the clearing guild, we are granted the option to increase or decrease the difficulty of the world. We can activate it 10 days after the clearance. Maximum Level 30 difficulty is the limit here, but the drop quality improves if you increase it. The beasts are still the same species, but mutated and more dangerous. That's why I'm interested in the permanent concession."
Kael nodded, understanding the economy of risk. At that moment, he felt a slight click in his body. It was a sense of relief, as if he had taken a perfect ten-hour nap.
[You have reached Level 10]
[Stat Reset and Total Fatigue Elimination!]
[You have reached Level 11]
Kael noticed the difference. He no longer felt the slight fatigue he had been carrying, but was completely revitalized. The Reset.
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They continued the massacre. Kael's infinite mana allowed him to use his power without pause. Lilith focused on covering him and securing the drops. Several hours passed in this routine.
Lilith, Level 23 → Level 26. Kael's experience rate had pulled her up, and although she felt the strain of the expedition, she felt adequate for the challenge, as her level was suitable for this world.
Kael, Level 11 → Level 17. His progress was spectacular.
Lilith looked at him, noticing the difference.
"Kael, we've spent hours here. We've killed over a hundred monsters. I feel tired, but you... I haven't seen you take a single mana potion. Your lack of sweat and exhaustion after so much effort surprises me; even I, who am at an adequate level, don't look like that. The Level 10 Reset doesn't explain that level of stamina."
Kael ignored the comment about the Reset, knowing the real reason was his Infinite Mana, not just Endurance. His mind was elsewhere.
"I feel like a lot of time has passed," Kael said, with a tone of genuine concern. "I think we should leave."
"Leave? We've advanced so much thanks to your power," Lilith said, pointing to an area of mud with no trace of monsters. "It would be more dangerous to try to turn back and find the way out. It would be better to keep going and try to find the direct path to the World Boss to clear it as soon as possible."
Kael took his phone out of his pocket, his face darkening.
"I'll call home. I told my wife I'd be back soon."
Lilith sighed, a look of pity on her face.
"The signal doesn't work inside portals, Kael. Only large parties have access to an emergency device to communicate with the outside. It's the rule."
Kael stood still, feeling the panic in his chest. A day had already passed. Aria would be worried.
"It doesn't matter now. I'll make an excuse later," Kael said, swallowing his worry. He was the Lawbreaker, a liar, and a Hunter. Lying was becoming part of him. He set off, quickening his pace.
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Meanwhile, at Kael's house, Aria dialed his number for the fifth time.
The phone kept ringing, followed by the recorded message: "The person you are calling is unavailable..."
Aria put the phone down on the kitchen table. She sat down, rubbing her arms. "Suspicious," she muttered, the story of the "high-level security consultancy" suddenly sounding hollow. But the worry about the "danger" of his previous job gnawed at her. Aria closed her eyes and prayed for Kael to return soon.
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More than a day had passed. Kael and Lilith had defeated all sorts of creatures. One of these beasts dropped a "Viscous Fabric Tunic" —a low-level armor piece for a mage.
"Look! A useful drop. We'll keep it with the other mana crystals and bones," Lilith said, excited.
"I can't carry my backpack anymore. And I don't know how much time has passed," Kael said, feeling the weight of his lie heavier than the chains.
Lilith, who had been concentrating, raised her hand.
"With my Telekinesis, I just detected a cave with large mana fluctuations. It should be the Boss's den."
They headed to the location. The cave looked dark and was hidden behind a large rock.
"Are you ready for this?" Kael asked, adjusting his chains.
Lilith nodded, her voice slightly deep. "Always ready. Velmonts don't back down from a dusty cave. The Ash Guild needs that concession. Let's go in!"
They entered. They had barely taken a few steps when the entrance sealed shut with a crunch, as if the opening had never existed, sealed by a natural or magical force.
From the high, vaulted ceiling with glittering black stalactites, bioluminescent spots of light emerged, illuminating the large cavern.
"Well, that's a bit dramatic," Kael said, looking at the sealed entrance.
"It's the Boss dungeon trick," Lilith replied, tense. "They want to make sure there's no retreat. There's no turning back now."
They found four Mutated Skuttlers of Level 25 guarding the path. By this point, Kael had leveled up to 22 and Lilith to 29, assigning stats automatically for combat.
Kael - Status Panel (Level 22)
Level: 22
Vitality (VIT): 26 (+16)
Strength (STR): 28 (+18)
Endurance (END): 30 (+20)
Dexterity (DEX): 27 (+17)
Mana (MNA): -
Stat Points to Assign: 0
Lilith - Status Panel (Level 29)
Level: 29
Vitality (VIT): 28 (+5)
Strength (STR): 25 (+2)
Endurance (END): 26 (+3)
Dexterity (DEX): 35 (+12)
Mana (MNA): 300 (+30)
Stat Points to Assign: 0
Kael no longer felt the weight of the chains. He swung his two chains and injected mana into them. Lightning flowed through them with a control he didn't have before; they were no longer uncontrolled discharges, but extensions of his will. As they struck the monsters, the force of the impact sent them flying through the cavern while they were simultaneously electrocuted. His way of controlling power had greatly improved.
"One down!" Kael shouted, watching a Skuttler explode.
Lilith, for her part, used her improved ability: "Ethereal Blades", launching sharp concentrations of telekinetic force that cut the remaining monsters with precision. Her mana power was noticeably more robust.
"Focus your attack, Kael, don't waste energy on the ground!" Lilith warned, as she secured the right side with a clean cut.
They defeated the four Mutated Skuttlers (Lvl 25) with ease and continued until they reached a smaller cave opening, which led to a large chamber.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon entering, Kael and Lilith stopped dead.
The room was huge, with a high ceiling and damp walls, decorated with amber-colored crystals that cast long, distorted shadows. The floor was waterlogged with dirty water and purple mud. In the center, there was a large reptilian mass. But what caught their attention were the traces of fresh blood around the area, glistening in the amber light. To one side, scattered, lay the bodies of three young Hunters, their armor broken.
"God, look at that," Kael muttered, feeling nauseous, seeing the state of the bodies.
Lilith examined the corpses from a distance, her face shadowed.
"A team of Hunters was here before us. They failed to clear the boss. They probably tried to force a split to attack it in groups, or they were simply unprepared for Level 30."
"They look too young. They had the ambition, but not the power," Kael said, feeling a chill.
Suddenly, the creature in the center began to move. The air grew heavy, laden with a pressure that made it difficult to breathe.
The Mutated Crocodile slowly rose. It was a colossal beast, easily three times the size of a normal swamp crocodile. Its scales were not green, but a dark, hardened rust color, like wrought iron, and they were covered in mud and a purple slime. Its body rose, revealing a grotesquely wide jaw, capable of swallowing a man whole. Its eyes, sickly yellow and unblinking, fixed on Kael and Lilith, exuding an ancient and violent presence that filled the room with a palpable threat. Every movement was slow, but every inch of its body screamed pure power.
[Viscous Gator – Boss]
[Level: 30]
[HP: 5000/5000]
[Attack: 150]
[Defense: 120]
[Agility (AGI): 80]
[Mana (MNA): 300]
"Level 30. 5,000 HP. This is our first step," Kael murmured, feeling the nerves.
"Its presence is... monumental," Lilith whispered, concentrating mana in her hands. "We are not going to fail now, Kael! This is why we risked everything!"
"Good. Listen, Lilith. You behind me. Use your attacks to create openings. Can you stop it for a few seconds?"
"Yes. I can use 'Purple Grip'. It's an ability that consumes a lot of mana and has a high energy cost. I'll use it when you tell me."
"Perfect."
Kael attacked first. He tried to use the brute force of both chains, trying to unbalance the beast, but the crocodile was too large. The Thunder whip barely made it sway. The chain bounced harmlessly off the rusty scales, leaving only a charred mark.
"It's a wall of scales!" Kael shouted, dodging the beast's bite, which echoed in the cave, splashing mud.
The Mutated Crocodile roared, and its breath was hot and viscous. Lilith launched her Ethereal Blades ability to make superficial cuts on its skin.
"Kael, you're only tickling it! We need more penetrating damage!" Lilith shouted, maintaining pressure with her blades.
Kael quickly retreated, feeling frustrated. His brute force was not enough against that Defense. He needed to apply the Hunter logic he was learning.
Kael looked at his chains. If pure lightning wouldn't penetrate, he needed lightning to cut. He looked at Lilith's Ethereal Blades.
"I need to transform my chains! Keep distracting it!" Kael shouted.
Lilith launched a blast of telekinetic energy at the boss's face, making it growl, but not stopping it. Kael used that brief moment.
With a growl, he channeled the Lightning not just through the chain, but around it, condensing it into a sharp energy layer. The steel chain disappeared under a layer of Thunder that looked like a sharp edge, an energy sword.
"Now, Lilith! Use your containment ability!" Kael lunged forward with the Chain-Blade active.
She recomposed herself and shouted the name of her ability, clasping her hands together.
"PURPLE GRIP!"
An invisible, violet pressure closed around the Crocodile. The beast stopped dead, trembling, immobilized by Lilith's telekinetic force. The effort was noticeable on her face, her mana dropping rapidly.
"Thank you!" Kael used his right chain like a lightning sword, focusing all the sharpness on a single point, striking directly at the beast's yellow eye.
The Crocodile roared in pain, a deafening scream that forced Lilith to release the ability. The Purple Grip dissolved.
The beast, blind in one eye and enraged, thrashed uncontrollably. Kael dodged the tail swipes, as the beast couldn't focus on him.
"Good! That will slow it down!" Kael shouted, taking advantage of the partial blindness.
Kael used the Chain-Blade to make multiple shallow cuts on the crocodile's flanks and legs, weakening it and draining its HP. He jumped over the mud, using his Agility to avoid the deadly mouth and tail. The boss was getting slower and more irritated.
"The scales are cracking! Aim for the neck!" Kael shouted to Lilith, concentrating his mana for the next move.
In a moment of the boss's carelessness, when it tried to bite the air where Kael had been, Kael jumped onto the reptilian shoulder, quickly climbing its back.
"Goodbye, tail!" Kael yelled, injecting a stronger pulse of Thunder into his Chain-Blade.
With a thin, deep cut, Kael severed the Viscous Gator's tail from its body.
The Mutated Crocodile roared with indescribable fury and pain, its thick blood spraying the ceiling. It twisted violently, trying to bite Kael, who clung desperately to the scales. The beast hunched over and opened its mouth, ready to swallow the man.
"Don't forget about me!" Lilith shouted, feeling her mana completely drained.
She composed herself once more, channeling the last reserve of her mental power and remaining mana.
"PURPLE GRIP!" she shouted, her voice trembling with strain.
A final pressure, much weaker than the previous one, closed around the boss's neck. The immobilization was momentary, but enough.
Kael felt the squeeze and didn't hesitate. He slid both Chain-Blades to the Mutated Crocodile's nape, aiming for the weakest spot.
"Thanks for this fight, beast. I've learned a lot. It's time for you to die!"
With a final shout, Kael used both Chain-Blades, concentrating his power. With a clean, thin cut, he severed the beast's head from its body.
The Mutated Crocodile collapsed with a final tremor that echoed throughout the cave. Lilith fell to her knees, completely exhausted, and Kael sat on the enormous body, panting.
A moment later, a wave of XP swept over them.
[You have defeated Viscous Gator – Level 30 Boss!]
[You have reached Level 23, 24, 25, 26, 27!]
[Congratulations, Kael! You have reached Level 27]
[Congratulations, Lilith! You have reached Level 30]
[Portal B-12 Clearance has been completed!]
[Boss Drop: Pure Mana Heart x1, Hardened Boss Scale x5, Recipe: Greater Healing Potion x1]
Kael let out another euphoric laugh, this time tinged with exhaustion and adrenaline.
"We did it, Lilith! Victory!"