The snake's sharp hiss echoed throughout the cave.
Renji slid across the rough stone floor, narrowly escaping a spit of acidic poison. The substance corroded the rocks it touched, releasing greenish vapors.
In front of him, a choleric creature was writhing - the Basilisk. Fifteen meters long, with scales as thick as steel plates and two draconic wings squeezed onto its back, the monster looked like the very embodiment of poison. From the opening in its mouth came a toxic cloud that made the lungs burn.
Renji spun on his heels and stared at the creature. It wielded the Alcatraz Blade, a gift from the Maestro. His custom-made armor hugged his body like an extension of his skin - light enough not to get in the way, tough enough not to give in to the acid.
"Time to cut you," he whispered.
With a subtle pop of energy, he activated Prisoner Steps.
His body disappeared, leaving a trail of dust, and reappeared next to the creature's flank. The dagger glowed red as it pierced a gap between the scales, tearing through the armor like butter.
The monster roared, its body arching in an explosion of rage. Its tail, as thick as an oak log, whipped through the air and struck Renji squarely.
The impact threw him against the cave wall.
But instead of colliding, Renji planted his feet on the rock and flexed his legs, cushioning the shock. He used the momentum to jump back, landing next to Arisa, who was watching him from a nearby rise.
"You really are clumsy..." she said, crossing her arms over her bow.
Renji stood up and shook the dust off his armor, panting.
"The cut I made is deep. If this thing doesn't die here, it'll bleed to death later." He gave her a sarcastic look. "And you up there, just watching?"
Arisa didn't answer. She just raised her bow firmly. Her eyes shone with focus.
Renji activated his system, curious.
[New Artifact Detected - Inquisitor's Gloves: Defense +3]
[Passive Detected - Dogma Breaker: Side effects of abilities are nullified].
"These gloves... were they a gift from the Maestro?"
She didn't answer. She just pulled the bowstring. An arrow materialized, surrounded by a bluish glow.
She fired.
The projectile streaked through the air like frozen lightning, but instead of going straight, it curved slightly in the air, guided by something beyond physics.
The Basilisk tried to retreat, crawling behind a pile of stones - to no avail. The arrow pierced the wound left by Renji, freezing the creature's blood and locking its muscles in deep ice.
"That..." Renji's eyes widened. "It was in the same opening..."
[New Weapon Detected - Forest Elf Bow: Strength +3]
[Passive Detected - One-Eyed Sniper: Arrows adjust trajectory automatically. Recharge: 1 minute]
"If you want to copy that monster's skill..." said Arisa, materializing another arrow, this time engulfed in flames. "I'd better run!"
Renji narrowed his eyes and activated his synchronization skill.
[Synchronization with Common Goblins established]
[Speed +15 | Defense -15]
[Passive Activated - Shadow Hunter: +10 temporary points in all attributes for 5 minutes].
╔════════════════╗
○ Speed: 27
○ Stamina: 8
╚════════════════╝
With his enhanced speed, Renji became a blur. Every step raised dust and cracked the ground.
At the same time, Arisa fired the flaming arrow, which turned into an incandescent vortex in the cave sky.
The Basilisk squirmed violently, the ice on its body cracking. With a roar, it broke through the freezing prisons, raising its body in a furious arc.
Renji jumped, aiming for the base of the creature's neck.
The snake opened its mouth to swallow him.
But the arrow arrived first.
The projectile entered the Basilisk's throat and exploded inside its skull. Flames danced through the bone cavity, burning from the inside out.
The next instant, Renji activated his skill again.
[Synchronization with Goblins cancelled.]
[Synchronization with Goblin King activated.]
[Strength +10 | Endurance +10]
╔════════════════╗
○ Strength: 26
○ Stamina: 33
╚════════════════╝
In a precise and brutal move, Renji drove the Alcatraz Blade into the base of the monster's neck. The blade pierced through flesh, bone and scales - the head separated from the body with a grotesque snap.
Acidic blood gushed out, dissolving rocks where it touched.
[Shared Experience: You defeated the Basilisk - Level 8. +450 XP]
[Acquired Passive - Basilisk Poison: Its blades can be bathed in poison. But the toxic aroma can affect the bearer].
Renji looked at his dagger, still dripping with the substance.
"So I can absorb more than status..." he muttered, intrigued. "Interesting."
"If it hadn't been for my arrow, you would have been snake food." Arisa said, descending the rocks gracefully.
"Unfortunately... I can't disagree."
"Well, mission accomplished. The Basilisk has been hunted down and eliminated." Arisa opened the system menu and displayed the new notification. "Take a look."
[Passive Skill - Best of Three: After three shots, the user can choose the next element of the arrow].
"That was courtesy of Maestro. I've already fired two... one more and I can test the full effect."
Renji frowned.
"He gave you three passives? I only got two... And my armor doesn't even have a special effect."
"You're complaining on a full stomach!" she retorted. "With that absurd speed of yours, you're almost teleporting!"
"Exaggerated."
"It doesn't look like it when I'm watching from up here... Now let's go! I want to test my new skill on another monster!"
She ran forward, excited.
Renji sighed.
"The mission is already complete, Arisa..."
But she had already disappeared into the shadows of the tunnel.
"Wait for me... Arisa!"
Renji ran after her.
And so, even after their goal was accomplished, the two of them dived deeper into the cave - in search of something beyond the mission. Perhaps power. Perhaps glory. Or maybe just that absurd urge not to stop.