[Fossorial Ekimmu | Lvl 7 | Field Boss]

  [A distaive of Wyrms, the Fossorial Ekimmu is a rare monster known for its remarkable camoufging abilities. It spends most of the year hibernating underground, emerging just before wio feed.

  The Fossorial Ekimmu possesses leech-like jaws and a mouth appendage capable of peing skulls to e brains, which it siders a delicacy. It also extracts fluid from the spinal n and joints, providing the essential nutrients it o survive the winter.]

  With a scathing expression, Daisuke dismissed the Adventurers’ Monster Guide Handbook that was now updated with the description of the Field Boss.

  No wo’s never been killed iwelve years that the game’s been o spends most of its time underground.

  Popping aherberry into his mouth, he proceeded to i one particur drop he had received.

  [Crystalized Poison Sac]

  [Upon being sin, the Fossorial Ekimmu’s poison sac hardens into a crystal deposit that attracts mana like a maghe absorbed mana is then infused with the crystal’s poisonous essence, being toxic. Simply being in close proximity to this crystal result in poisoning.

  be crafted into specialized equipment or traded with merts.]

  The fact that the Goddess of Harmony isn’t going off like a siren must mean the iory pretty much keeps the poison tained. As for the new O Kill title, it’s incredibly OP—and being a growth-type skill, it has plenty of potential to evolve into a real game-ger!

  [O Kill]

  [Rank: Epic

  Lvl: 1

  Proficy: 0%

  Through keen observation, sharp analysis, and precise teique, you have begun to master the art of identifying and exploiting enemy weakhis prestigious title is awarded for the ability to vanquish foes with a single, decisive strike.

  Title Effect:

  ?? Grants a 25% ce to instantly defeat an enemy at least 6 levels below your own.

  ?? There’s an 8% ce of inflig 200% extra damage on ehat are at least 5 levels above your own.]

  Daisuke’s excitement visibly dimmed as he dismissed the holographidow and turned his gaze toward a familiar tree oskirts of his hometown. It was the very tree under which the wagon had been parked, its bed housing the rusty cell that had served a prison until they were delivered to Percival’s manor.

  Although the entire ordeal had been horrendous, Daisuke was grateful for iing alchemy and the Eye of Verity from Cedric’s legacy. Of course, he would have been even mrateful if he actually knew how to use alchemy.

  Dusthaven hadn’t ged iime Daisuke had been away. The rolling greensward oskirts still kept its distance from the vilge, as if the settlement was under a perpetual curse. Instead, sand and dunes encircled its biving it a resembo the desert city of hara.

  Ign the a walls eroded by the relentless wind, Daisuke ciravigated the vilge aered through the west gate. Atop a lonely hill stood his mother’s tombstone, abandoned and forlorn. His heart sank at the sight, rekindling waves of bottled-up sorrow and a reckless urge for vengeance.

  To curb his emotions, Daisuke kept himself busy. With a solemn expression, he k by the grave and began clearing away the bed of dried leaves, twigs, and weeds that encroached upon the sacred ground. Zephyr assisted, using a perfectly trolled Emberstorm to light the inse sticks Daisuke pced by the tombstohen the pup huddled close with a whimper, clearly sensing the waves of grief rolling off his friend’s slumped form.

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  Daisuke allowed a smile and tenderly stroked the e’s head. Therieved a bouquet of flowers and a pair of rice balls aed them down beside the tombstone. As he regarded the food he was as tribute, he couldn’t help but pare his ability to depart with such a precious odity pared to just a few months ago.

  If only I’d gaihis power sooner, he thought for what felt like the thousandth time, his gaze locked on his open palm. Our lives could’ve been so much easier. But… would it have been enough to take down the bastard I saw fleeing the house that night?

  ***

  The unimpressive space that enpassed the kit and bathroom; the rge standing mirror and stained old bathtub; the s that separated his mother’s room—nothing, unfortunately, was the same as he remembered.

  Daisuke’s expression was unreadable as he slowly shuffled through the crude dwelling, his eyes passing over several families who had now taken up residen the small space he had once called home.

  Hidden atop his head beh his hood, Zephyr whimpered worrisomely as his friend tightly csped his chest. Daisuke knew he wasn’t in a position to pin—this was the slums; it was survival of the fittest and he had long up and abahis pce. It wasn’t surprising that it was now occupied by others looking for a secure pce to escape the rain and the bitter cold.

  As bittersweet memories of both his virtual and biological parents flickered in his mind like the pages of a flick book, Daisuke couldn’t help but think that it robably for the best that the hut had seen a signifit transformation. He wasn’t sure if his heart could ehe strain that familiarity would have evoked.

  “Rawrwu,” Zephyr murmured sympathetically.

  Daisuke heaved a wan smile as he tousled the e’s head. “I’m okay,” he whispered, more to himself than the pup.

  Relutly leaving the hut behind, Daisuke discreetly navigated the dreary slums until he made his way to a familiar hideout that was structed of wood, hay, and a colle of trash.

  His heart fluttered as he pted how to front the kids who had iently sentenced him to a grim fate. Schooling his fato a cool, indifferent mask, he approached the structure that poorly resembled a dwelling and pulled the curtain aside.

  But the space was empty.

  The firepce looked like it hadn’t been used in weeks, but Daisuke decided to remain positive. They’re probably just out on another score—

  “Big Brother?” excimed a young boy who art of the dumping-garbage-from-atop-the-roof-as-a-distra brigade. “Big Brother Haxks—is that really you? It is you! You’re okay! We were so—”

  Daisuke swiftly cmped his hand over the child’s mouth before he could say another word. The boy's eyes widened, but he quickly nodded in uanding as his herht an index fio his lips, signaling for silence.

  The boy breathed when Daisuke slowly removed his hand. “Everyone’s been worried sick,” he whispered, still managing to make the statement dramatic despite it being a whisper. “Where were you?”

  “It’s a long story,” Daisuke simply said, “and one for aime. More importantly, where’s the gang?”

  The boy pursed his lips at the question, his demeanor being visibly unfortable as he averted his gaze. “Haven’t you heard? Not long after you disappeared, the others were taken away by sve traders.”

  As if the fession had rekindled his sense of caution, the child looked around warily while stepping back. “I’m really happy to see you, Big Brother,” he admitted, his voice heavy with defeat. “But you should run away while you , or you’ll end up as a sve like the others.”

  Daisuke’s ask slowly crumbled as he watched the boy retreat. As if he’d lost his sense of equilibrium, he staggered backward, sliding down against the trunk of a tree. Paranoia and hopelessness ed together, f a toxic brew within his heart, suffog any trace of posure.

  Despite the betrayal, Daisuke couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the children. Deep down, he uood they were just trying to satisfy their growling stomach. In their shoes, any roup of starving orphans might have dohe same.

  But no matter how deep his sympathy ran, he had no idea where the children could have been taken in the vast, unfiving world around him. As his frustration spiraled, festering like a gaping wound, he couldn’t help but pte his promise to protect April and the others. But was it even possible? He was just one person.

  In addition to feeling lost, Daisuke felt as though the weight of the entire world rested squarely on his shoulders. Now that he had taken revenge on those who had wronged him and Zephyr, the seething hatred that once fueled him had mostly given way to an overwhelming sense of loneliness. The one person whose death still haunted him—his mother—remained a mystery. He had no idea who had been responsible for her pain, leaving him with no clear target for his remaining anger.

  What the hell am I supposed to do? He uttered inwardly, g his head within both hands.

  Now that most of his drive for vengeance had dissipated, he now cked a sense of purpose.

  Suddenly, there was the soft sound of footsteps. Daisuke looked up from his slumped position to find himself face-to-face with a pair of impressive breasts, barely tained by a frilly garment. They were just inches away from his face, and his eyes widened in surprise, his cheeks flushing red.

  “…I had a feeling it was you,” murmured the familiar woman with a bittersweet smile as she straightened her bend. This simple motion, of course, did iing things to breasts.

  Daisuke frowned. “How did you—”

  “There are only a few people brave enough to get this close to the hideout of the notorious Slum Sprites, especially while the sve traders are still on the prowl.”

  Daisuke raised one eyebrow iion. “Slum Sprites?”

  The Perfectly-Endowed Woman who had once pyed the part of a damsel in distress rested a hand oched hip with a smile. “That’s the he shopkeepers came up with for you and the others.”

  Daisuke lowered his head, the shadows from his hood obsg his downcast eyes. “Seems pointless if they were going to hire sve traders to haul us all away in the end.”

  There was a moment of silence before Daisuke felt himself being pulled into the woman’s warm bosom. He looked up to meet her empathetic, half-lidded gaze, her arms gently coiling around him in a f embrace.

  “Everything isn’t as hopeless as it seems,” she whispered. “Follow me, I have something to show you.”