章節 53: The Blood That Fuels His Heart

[Only 2 Floors left to clear the Dungeon.]

Mark read that message as his fist went through a Velvet Werewolf's chest.

He had been hunting all kinds of Monsters on the Fifth, Fourth, and Third Floors.

His goal was to amass an adequate amount of bones, while Fiery produced as many Offspring as possible.

[Information about the Higher World will be given upon clearing the Second Floor.]

'Mm...' Mark's thoughts wandered as he walked back to the Third Floor's Boss Room.

There, he found Fiery, surrounded by hundreds of her descendants.

They were everywhere.

Absolutely everywhere.

On the ground, walls, and ceiling.

'Good thing I left you to it for so long. Fire Ants will probably be weak on the Second Floor. Still, send them in there.'

Fiery's antennas moved and the ground shook, as thousands of legs hit it repeatedly.

The huge doors that separated the two Floors were demolished by the swarm as it entered the Second Floor.

"It seems a large number of them will precede us, my Lord." Mark's newest Underling noted before putting down a mountain of corpses.

'They'll open up the path for us. Although... I can't say I have high hopes for them.'

Mark raised his arm up and a massive amount of bones left the mountain of corpses.

The bones were dismantled and assembled into numerous spears before disappearing.

"Even though they are so numerous?"

'Numbers aren't everything. The Fourth Floor was a desert where many Monsters used Earth Magic. This Floor was underwater. It's very likely the next one will have something to do with fire or wind...'

"I see."

Mark walked towards the broken doors that lead to the Second Floor.

'I have plenty of Skill Points left, right?'

[You currently possess 8 Skill Points.]

'Nice. Which Skills should I upgrade...?'

[You currently possess:

Passive Skills:

Slash[F+] - Pierce[F+] - Weightless Steps[D] - Sonic Tail Flick[C+] - Advanced Kinetic Vision[C+] - Intimidating Stare[E] - Swift Aerial Maneuvering[E+] - Night Vision[F+] - Advanced Self-Healing[C] - Tail Lengthening[D+] - Venom Regulation[B+] - Underwater Propolsion[E] - Poison Resistance[E] - Water Pressure Resistance[D] - Water Resistance [E] - Cold Resistance[A] - Heat Resistance[D].

Magic Skills:

Corrupting Javelin[C-] - Dark Corrupting Spear[A] - Venomous Wings[C-] - Electric Fire Bomb[D] - Great Fire Ball[D+] - Golem Armor[D+] - Blinding Sand[C] - Perfected Assimilation[A+] - Purgatory's Undead Troup[A+] - Bone Manipulation [D+] - Staggering Thunder[E+] - Impenetrable Barrier[C] - Freeze[E] - Frozen Land[C+] - Aura Manipulation [B] - Mana Manipulation [A] - Mana Condensation [A] - Consume[A].]

'So devouring my Underlings mid-fight made my "Self-Healing" evolve into "Advanced Self-Healing". Didn't even notice...'

Mark studied the list of Skills.

'Corrupting Javelin and its stronger version Dark Corrupting Spear both are strong enough on their own. When it comes to long-range attacks, there's also Staggering Thunder that I haven't been using much... If the next Floor is based on the element of fire then Great Fire Ball and Electric Fire Bomb won't be very useful. It still seems like Poison-based attacks are my go-to...'

He sat down.

'My Sonic Tail Flick is still one of my best Passive Skills, but its power seems to be decreasing from Floor to Floor. It was strong enough to blow the Third Floor's Guardian away, but not enough to make big damage. Still, its strong point is its speed. No Monster has been able to dodge it for now. When it comes to defense, Golem Armor and Impenetrable Barrier hold up. Well... What is it that I need right now?'

Mark's gaze turned towards his new Underling, the Third Floor's Ex-Guardian.

'What is it... That would have made the fight easier?'

Mark realized something.

For the first time, he didn't have to figure out the answer alone.

What would have made the fight easier?

If anyone could give a good answer to that question, it would be the enemy fought.

'Come. Um...' Mark's thoughts wandered.

He analyzed every part of his Underling's body.

'A Leviathan that can turn into a demi-human. Crystals that cover much of his body... A Leviathan...'

The Underling turned towards Mark.

'Come, Levi.'

[You have bestowed the name "Levi" upon your Underling.]

The Moonlit Feline's ears twitched.

It stared at Mark, before facing the other way and lying down for a nap on Fiery's back.

Moving as fast as he could, Levi positioned himself in a kneeling position in front of Mark.

"Yes, my Lord."

As Mark was sitting, Levi lowered his gaze towards the ground.

'Sit. You don't have to look down.'

The Underling obliged.

'I need your opinion on something.'

"Of course, my Lord. It would be my pleasure to help in any way I can."

'Good. Then tell me, what is it I lacked during our fight?'

"What you lacked, my Lord?" Levi asked.

'Yes. Well, more precisely... What facet do you think should be further developed? Passive Skills that have to do with my senses? It seems I do fall short in that department since I was caught off guard many times. Stronger long-ranged attacks? Maybe I need more physical strength? What do you think would have made me a stronger opponent?' Mark explained.

Levi lowered his gaze.

In silence, he thought about the fight he had gone through.

The thoughts he had during that fight.

'So they're coming in numbers, huh? Only one of them hovering above.'

'A black spear? Is that one the only one that can attack from afar?'

'Even underwater... Even with such a small body. Such strength!'

'Corrupting Magic... Ice Magic... Healing Magic... And now manipulating bones??'

'So this... Is all I could amount to...'

Levi could feel cold sweat going down his back, as he remembered the instants that preceded his death.

The Underling looked into Mark's eyes.

His gaze expressed solemnity and honesty.

"I can't think of anything, my Lord."

Mark's eyebrow twitched.

'Do you mean you were so strong there was nothing more I could do?'

"Not at all, my Lord. In my humble opinion, the only reason I won was because of my bulk. The fact that I was much bigger, meant that I had more Health and Endurance Points. Which is why the instant you healed your injuries, my loss became more or less certain, my Lord."

'I see. Mm. My healing ability isn't that strong thought. It was because I devoured my Underlings that I-'

Mark stopped abruptly.

Was this something that he could tell his Underlings?

Was it something he should tell them about?

Telling his Underlings that, on a whim, they would be consumed like food?

Levi stood up, a smile on his face.

With the same solemn gaze, he stared into his Master's eyes.

"My Lord, if the need ever comes one day, please, do not hesitate..."

Mark's eyes widened, as he stared at Levi.

"For it would be my greatest pleasure, to become the blood that runs through your veins. The blood that fuels your heart."

Taken aback, Mark couldn't help but look away.

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