Chapter 41 - Fourth Evolution (1) (1/2)

Fourth Evolution (1)

Unlike on the first floor of the Jinma Tower, I didn’t encounter A upon entering the second floor.

Maybe he was still on the ground floor.

Maybe he’s here but is hiding his presence.

What greeted me instead was a Poison Scorpion, bigger than a Giant Spider, faster and stronger than a Giant Wolf. What’s more, it had a terrifying venom.

“Kee-i-i-i!”

It was at that moment that I realized that I would not just be facing a troll, like on the first floor.

The scorpion was another intermediate monster, but it seemed to move on a different level from the troll.

Well… they are different creatures, on different floors.

Stop thinking about them.

The longer I stay in place, the more vulnerable I get.

The sound of the scorpion approaching gets louder every instant.

I’m going to kill it.

It’s a monster with a level that’s at least similar to the troll, or maybe stronger.

But, if its attack power is strong, it’s regeneration would be weak; if its defense power is strong, it’s speed would be slow.

I can defeat it.

“Kiaaaaaaaaaaah!”

I sensed the giant tail of the scorpion stretching out, possibly overflowing with vicious venom.

It is impossible to visually confirm it because of the darkness, but I can grasp the power coming at me.

I flew away from it. I did not have Surprise and Fairy Tale raised yet.

With the body of the Hob Goblin Assaulter, I am confident that I could beat it quickly.

I can match its power and speed.

If a single strike won’t work, I can keep attacking the same spot over and over.

No carapace would be too hard against consistent heavy damage.

But if I kill him now, I’ll turn into a Hob Goblin afterwards.

Once I become a Hob Goblin, the speed and distance I can create will be significantly limited, and it would become more difficult to analyze the movement and skill of this new monster.

It would be easier to kill him with my lower forms if I understand him better.

I won’t have to die thousands or tens of thousands of times in my Goblin body.

I’ve already experienced Jinma Tower.

Now, I had to draw everything that could be derived from that experience.

Even though time flows slowly here, I won’t waste time dying repeatedly.

“Kee-i-yi!”

“Yeah, come closer…”

And let me study you closer.

I rushed at him. The scorpion greeted me with an attack I’ve already anticipated, a smack from its giant tail.

“Kiaaah!”

However, instinctively, I jumped in the air to avoid it.

Fear.

Fear of degeneration. Fear of facing a high-level opponent. Fear of experiencing multiple deaths once more.

All the emotions I felt were mixed together, amplified by the Ebon Heart.

Gradually, they changed to joy and excitement.

How fun would it be to overcome all the enemies – the moment of breaking my limit!

How thrilling would it be to predate their meat!

I didn’t know if it began the moment I became a goblin, or if it was a desire hidden beneath my humanity.

However, I find killing a troublesome opponent and tearing their meat off pleasurable.

I will not go against it.

It was a good urge.

It was the urge that could lead me to survive and get stronger.

Following that impulse, I moved my body.

Somehow, the Poison Scorpion felt a little smaller, unlike when I first felt its presence, but I didn’t care.

There was no time to care.

Time passed.

It was two hours from the outside time. I heard the gears of the pocket watch click twice.

Inside the Jinma Tower, it felt like two weeks.

The Poison Scorpion in front of my Goblin form was helpless inside a deep and narrow trap I’ve created.

My power and my skill levels have been raised so far that my Goblin Fighter form can destroy an intermediate monster without a trap, but it was still too much for a Goblin form.

Of course, it was as I expected from the beginning.

“Key, key, key, key.”

“Hoo, hoo… … .”

No matter how much my skill level has risen, it was impossible to kill an intermediate monster in my lowest form with one or two strikes. There was an absolute difference in physical ability. The difference cannot be filled by any skill.

So, did my growth from Level 50 to Level 58 proved meaningless?

No.

The Trap Creation skill grew little by little, and as it did, the amount of time spent in making traps and the strength of the traps was worth the multiple deaths I suffered in the Poison Scorpion’s tail and claws.

Finally, the skill reached Lv9.

The Poison Scorpion is now helpless against my skill.

“Ki-yi, kai-yi.”

The Poison Scorpion was whimpering. When it was stronger than my Goblin form, I could never have imagined it making this sound, but now, its voice was tender, as if it was begging for its life.

When I first met him, it felt massive. Now, even in my Goblin form, I don’t even worry about the size of its claws.