Descending into Collector C-4 felt shorter for Sebastian this time. His body, strengthened by level four and a passive skill, moved with unusual ease. The smell of rot was still disgusting, but now it was perceived simply as part of the working environment — an inevitable condition of his new profession.
He stopped at the edge of the zone he had cleared yesterday. Mana Resonance caught several red pulses from the darkness ahead. These were Swamp Fangs grouped around a broken main pipe. Three level-three monsters and one level-four.
"Let's see what this 'skin' can do," Sebastian whispered, pulling out the C-12 knife.
He didn't hide. He needed to feel the limit of his durability. Sebastian stepped directly into the light of his flashlight. The monsters reacted instantly. The nearest Fang let out a piercing shriek and lunged forward, thrusting its sharp claws ahead. Sebastian intentionally didn't dodge completely, only slightly turning his torso and taking the hit on his forearm.
An unpleasant scraping sound followed, as if claws had raked across dense rubber. His clothes tore, but only a pale streak remained on his skin, slowly filling with blood. There was no deep wound that should have reached the muscles.
[Skill 'Stone Skin' absorbed 16% of physical damage]
"Tolerable," he grinned.
The C-12 knife entered the first Fang's throat. Sebastian twisted the blade, cutting through vital channels. Unlike weaker creatures, these monsters did not dissolve into ash. The heavy carcass fell to the concrete, drenching it in thick, dark liquid that smelled of swamp and metal.
[Target neutralized: Swamp Fang (Level 3)]
[Experience gained: 31 XP]
The rest of the monsters attacked simultaneously. It was a grueling slaughter. Sebastian took hits on protected areas, though each contact left heavy bruises. The Rank E skill was not working at full power due to his low rank, but even this sixteen percent was enough to turn lethal wounds into superficial scratches.
His Strength allowed him to literally break the monsters' ribcages with short thrusts.
[Target neutralized: Swamp Fang (Level 3)]
[Experience gained: 34 XP]
[Target neutralized: Swamp Fang (Level 3)]
[Experience gained: 32 XP]
One remained — the largest, a level four. It was more ferocious, and its movements already resembled something more than just animal instincts. Sebastian noticed the muscles on the monster's back tense, preparing some special lunge — a primitive semblance of a skill.
He dove under the monster's swing and drove the C-12 knife directly into the base of the skull. The Fang shuddered and went still, slumped with all its weight on the boy.
[Target neutralized: Swamp Fang (Level 4)]
[Experience gained: 79 XP]
[Experience: 197 / 800]
Sebastian pushed the dead body away. Now the dirty work began. He knew useful materials wouldn't just fall out. He cut open the chest of the largest monster, searching for the source of its energy.
Luck 24 made itself known. Besides the standard Mana Crystal that powered the creature, he felt something flat and hard inside. Pulling his hand out, he saw a small book in a rough cover.
[Received Mana Crystal (Rank F)]
[Received Skill Crystal: Double Thrust (Rank F)]
"A skill crystal..." Sebastian wiped the blood from the cover. "Even if it doesn't suit me, Bruno will give me a pile of credits for it."
He looked around at the scattered bodies. The chitinous claws and tough plates on their backs could be used for making armor. He began to methodically cut off the most valuable parts, packing them into his backpack.
Ahead, deep in the tunnel, the purple light pulsed even brighter. Sebastian threw the heavy backpack over his shoulders. Every step was harder now due to the weight of the trophies, but he was not going to stop.