Free Web NovelChapter 17: Ch 17: Boss Monster
Monsters and demons unlike humans followed a different path of progress. Rather than a physique like humans, they evolved following the Grade system.
The bottom rung of this hierarchical ladder was Common Grade. Then came Uncommon followed by Elite...
Enzo didn’t know of monsters above this grade. The novel by the end of the first volume had only mentioned about the seven Grades in monsters and the nine physiques in humans. The names of all these stages were never mentioned. The author had probably taken the "show but don’t tell" advice to heart from some random forum reeking of enlightenment.
Humans on the other hand, needed to complete a set of conditions to advance their Physique. For example, a person would need to form a mana core and awaken their aspect to cross the dormancy and reach the awakened stage. Majority of the humans fail at this stage itself. To cross into the Expert stage which was the second-last ranking in human physiques, one would need to awaken their soul core and integrate it with their mana core.
Monsters had it easier. The more number of mana cores they formed inside them, the higher their Grade.
"Just like the boss of the first floor of a random F-ranked incomplete dungeon that had somehow evolved into Uncommon Grade. Should the presence of higher grade monsters be even fair in the first place?"
Enzo cursed his bad luck that seemed to stick to him like rust on abandoned iron. He jolted up as a distant noise vibrated the lands from both sides.
Now that the water had been all but sucked in by the enormous creature overhead him, the river from both the distant ends of the cave came rushing inwards to fill the huge gap in the river body that had been left behind by the boss monster.
Enzo tried to run or atleast travel faster towards the other end of the river. The wet vegetation beneath his feet were an unavoidable hindrance and he risked slipping on them multiple times. Luckily, his balance held.
Throughout all of this, he had to also divide his focus between the boss monster above and...the common grade slimes, now having no obstacle between their target, were jumping into the crater and heading towards him with gleeful screeches.
’Was this its plan? To let the waters subside for a moment and let its companions chase me instead.’ frёeωebɳovel.com
His eyes flickered towards the uncommon grade monster that was still spread lazily across the rocky ceiling, the posture as if it didn’t care about his presence.
Enzo was really perplexed about why was the slime boss not attacking him. Afterall, it’s [Devour] was a lot stronger than whatever the common slimes could muster up with. He silently dreaded that it probably wanted to give him a jumpscare.
His feet suddenly got stuck in entwined tendrils and he slumped on his knees.
"Fuck! Fuck!" He cursed loudly as he worked on the intertwined greenery that seemed reluctant to let go of him. He tore through the softer twigs and meticulously tried to take out his right leg out of the harder, sturdier branches and roots.
The Devouring Slime screamed yet again - the same soul wrenching shriek that involuntarily made him feel a tremble, his grip tightening on his legs as if trying to ground himself to reality.
Bitterly, he realised that although the time he had been terrified by the slime was brief, the motive behind the slime’s scream was successful.
He continued taking his legs out of the plant overgrowths, this time with a calm mind. He ignored the slick feeling of the slimes crawling up his skin and clinging onto him, savouring his mana and energy.
After a steady period of hustle and bustle, peering and tearing, Enzo was finally able to free his limbs. Not wasting a single second, he ran again, jumping over roots, tendrils and whatever that could potentially trap him.
By this point, a huge number of devouring slimes were upon his body - gnawing on his legs, clutching his fingertips as if promising on never letting go. Some were on his head, sucking away energy faster than he would like to admit.
The others that couldn’t climb on him were still giving him chase, their shrieks ringing of indignation and sharp irritation. It was almost as if they were taunting Enzo by showcasing human emotions through their voice.
He however, could care less about them. He already had an abomination, watching him from overhead and occupying all his thoughts.
Enzo finally, understood its hesitation on not attacking him. Afterall, that was the thing he had been wishing for as the moment it would jump him, he would crush out both its cores before it could drain away the last thread of mana from him.
But it seemed like the boss monster actually had an ounce of intelligence, having reached the same conclusion as him. He could fairly predict what were the monster’s next plans.
That however, didn’t mean he would simply sit by and let the uncommon slime plan his death.
He let a tired smile creep at his lips as the first signs of flowing water passed beneath his feet. The rumbling of the approaching waves got closer and closer until he could finally see them at both ends.
In seconds, the waves cascaded upon him, filling the empty space across the riverbed and drowning both Enzo and the slimes chasing him.
Underneath the waters, Enzo held his breath as he floated hapazardly before finally gaining control. He stroke upwards but didn’t get out of the waters. Not yet.
His gaze then lingered on his body menacingly as he peeled away the slimes that had been sticking to his body. Frankly they were many and had almost emptied Enzo’s mana reserves. Luckily for him, he could still rely on his adrenaline driven body that refused to run out of stamina.
He took out the last common slime from his body. Now under the water, the slime couldn’t offer much resistance to his forceful pull and was slowly pushed downwards by the water currents.
In a way, Enzo could still consider the river as a safe point. Neither of any grade of slimes would dare to approach the river, their primal instinct sticking with them.
At the same time, he had no wish to let the monster suck all the waters from the river again. He didn’t wish to find out what would happen in such a situation.
He came out of the surface of the water, his lungs being quickly filled with fresh air. He looked ahead. The other side of the river was almost in his grasp. Just a few strides and he would be finally on the lan---
A thunderous boom rattled the cave itself.
The river shimmered uneasily and the walls shook off small pebbles from the intense vibration. It was as if a dam had broken down.
Enzo’s eyes turned upwards just in time. His eyes widened like he had just witnessed insanity.
...Or maybe he truly had.
A torrent of gushing waters, holding a total volume of an entire river smashed upon the surrounding area, striking both lands and the river.
Enzo dove underneath and following his instinct, he let his leftover mana strengthen his body as he prayed to be left alone in one piece.
The impact landed and Enzo felt the world turn around him.
