slowly caught my breath…
I needed a moment to calm myself down before lifting my gaze to the monster's corpse lying in front of me.
I couldn't believe it at first.
Was it really over?
Did I really kill it?
I bent down and examined the body carefully, searching for blood.
It was rare for monsters to possess real blood, but in rare cases, you could find special blood that granted a new skill.
I searched the entire corpse… but found nothing.
Nothing at all.
A faint sense of disappointment crept in.
I remained standing there, staring at the body in silence.
After a few moments, I took a deep breath and reached for the pouch strapped to my waist. My fingers were still slightly stiff.
I opened the pouch slowly and took out a small vial.
The dark red liquid inside reflected the faint light of the cave.
—Healing Potion.
I looked at it for a second, then drank it in one gulp.
The taste was bitter—closer to hot metal than a liquid. Heat spread through my throat, then down to my chest, and finally to my back where the wound was.
The pain didn't disappear immediately, but it began to fade slowly, as if someone were gradually easing the pressure on my nerves.
I returned the empty vial to the pouch and sealed it tightly, then lifted my head and moved deeper into the cave.
As I advanced further, silence was not what greeted me first…
I heard slow footsteps overlapping with one another.
At first, they sounded distant, but with every step I took, they grew closer… clearer.
I stopped abruptly.
I raised my gaze cautiously. At first, I saw only movement—shadows shifting slowly in the darkness—but as I focused, their shapes became clearer.
A group of monsters was approaching me.
Their steps were uneven, overlapping, accompanied by faint scraping sounds that grew louder as they drew closer.
I took a single careful step back until my back touched the cold cave wall.
I clenched my fist as my mind began working rapidly—measuring the distance between us, counting their numbers, controlling my movements so I wouldn't be noticed.
One mistake here would draw all of their attention at once… and I knew I wouldn't survive facing them all together.
I closed my eyes briefly and activated Calm Analysis.
The noise raging in my head faded instantly, as if someone had lowered the volume inside me.
My thoughts sped up, yet became clearer.
I analyzed the situation: the ground was uneven, filled with small pits that could hinder fast movement.
The ceiling was cracked in several places, some of them fragile enough to collapse if struck hard.
And to my right… a narrow passage, barely wide enough for one monster at a time.
Escape routes were limited—but not nonexistent.
I opened my eyes slowly and focused on the group again.
My plan wasn't fully formed yet…
I took a slow breath and began to move according to the plan my mind had just formed.
The narrow passage on the right was my only key.
If I could lure them there, I could reduce their numbers and force them to face me one by one.
I picked up a small stone and threw it in the opposite direction.
It struck the rock with a sharp sound.
The monsters paused for a moment, then slowly began moving toward the sound—just as I expected.
I waited until they were far enough away, then rushed toward the passage.
That's when they heard my footsteps before fully turning their gaze toward me.
The closest monster advanced rapidly, giving me no time to think. It charged straight at me—
"Damn it…"
I hadn't accounted for this.
The monster slammed into me with force, and I crashed into the wall behind me.
A sharp pain shot through my shoulder.
I tried to hold myself together, but the next blow struck my side, forcing me to stumble backward.
I endured the pain and planted my feet before completely losing my balance.
My shoulder burned intensely, but I ignored it and forced my body to keep moving.
—Boom—
The largest monster among them charged again, its claws cutting through the air at terrifying speed.
I leapt aside at the last moment—
—Crack—
One of its claws lodged deep into the rock wall with tremendous force.
The cave shook, and fragments of stone scattered around us.
The monster paused for a brief second, a harsh scraping sound echoing as it tried to pull its trapped claw free.
—Grrr—
That… was the moment I had been waiting for.
I rushed forward without hesitation, ignoring the pain screaming through my body, and raised my hand.
—Whoosh—
Altaria Threads shot out at blinding speed, slicing through the air and wrapping around its neck in one decisive motion.
—Slash—
I pulled the threads tight.
Its massive body convulsed—
—Crack—
Then collapsed heavily onto the cave floor.
—Doom—
I didn't waste much time.
Three more monsters were approaching together. Two advanced in front, with the third close behind.
The narrow passage forced them into a line, blocking the path completely and leaving me no room to maneuver.
I clenched my fist and raised my hand.
—Whoosh—
Altaria Threads shot forward. I didn't target their necks this time; instead, the threads wrapped around the leg of the first monster.
As it took another step, I pulled with all my strength.
—Crack—
It lost its balance and was thrown backward, crashing into the monster behind it.
Both slammed into the passage wall and piled on top of each other, while the third was forced to stop behind them due to the narrow space.
I gave them no time at all.
I rushed forward, and as they struggled to rise, their necks were fully exposed.
I raised my hand.
—Slash—
The threads shot out, wrapping around both of their necks at the same time.
I pulled without hesitation, and they fell to the ground together.
—Doom—
Before I could catch my breath, the third monster charged at me, trying to exploit the opening I had deliberately left.
I expected it—its movement was direct and instinctive, exactly as I had calculated.
The moment it came close enough, I activated Altaria Threads.
—Fshhh—
The threads shot straight toward its exposed neck.
One strike was enough. It froze in place, then collapsed without resistance.
—Doom—
Silence finally fell.
I stood there for a moment, watching the bodies sprawled before me, making sure that none of them moved. When I was certain, a long sigh escaped my chest.