"W-what iz he doing?!"
"Mon dieu... mon dieu!"
"Mesdames, do something!"
The guild members watched in absolute horror as Adam tore through his own flesh, the Shion cutting clean through both legs just above the knee. Blood sprayed across the giant’s face, as well as everywhere, really.
It... wasn’t a pretty sight. No, not at all.
"Qu’est-ce que tu fais?!" Hugo screamed, no longer even making an effort to speak another language.
"Putain!" Xavier was the same. He even stumbled backward, no longer knowing what to do as he looked at Sylvie and Clementine.
As for Margaux, well, she just covered her mouth. She’d already seen her fair share of violence... but to just casually do something like this when there was no need to be this desperate?
What... sort of suicidal person did they actually just meet?
And meanwhile, as the rest of them were horrified beyond belief, Clementine... Clementine was cackling. Her laughter echoed through the vast chamber, wild and unhinged.
"Yes! Oui! That’s my student!"
Clementine had always been the crazier one of the sisters... but to think she was cheering? Had she truly gone insane? — were the thoughts of the three.
They looked for the older sister to at least see a semblance of common sense. But alas, Sylvie... Sylvie looked even weirder. She was covering her mouth, but they all could see the weird smile she had behind it.
They could even hear her breath heavily, her face completely flushed for some reason. And if they saw correctly... she was even licking her upper lip?
What... was actually going on here?! — were the thoughts of the three.
The only thing they could really do was turn their attention back to Adam, who was now spinning in the air as he pushed himself from the Feinor Giant’s grasp.
They watched him land back on the creature’s shoulder... and his legs had already regenerated completely. Fresh skin, muscle, and bone reformed in seconds, leaving only torn fabric and bloodstains as evidence of what had happened.
And of course, the trio could only shut their mouths at this, no longer knowing how to react.
Adam raised the Shion again, aiming for the gaps in the giant’s neck armor. But the creature, finally understanding the threat, began shaking its entire body violently.
The giant thrashed like an earthquake. Adam tumbled down its back, his fingers scraping against ice as he tried to find somewhere to grab onto. But alas, before he could do so, the creature slammed backward into the cavern wall, violently pinning him between its frozen skin and even harder stone.
The impact crushed his ribs. His spine snapped. Blood filled his mouth as his eyes rolled back, turning white.
He lost consciousness then, but just as fast, his eyes turned back. He was completely healed, was already climbing again before the giant realized he was still alive.
The Feinor Giant continued thrashing, its massive arms swinging wildly as it tried to dislodge the persistent pest on its back.
This... won’t do.
The giant’s frozen skin was quite slippery now that Adam had no boots on, so he couldn’t quite go for the neck again. And so, he made a decision.
He stabbed the Shion down, used it as a foothold, and then pushed himself straight toward one of the creature’s eyes.
And like an insect, Adam clawed through it. He almost didn’t fit... but that wasn’t an issue.
"W-wait! The blood!" Xavier shouted suddenly. "Feinor blood is rotten and acid! It will—"
But Adam obviously didn’t care. He felt the blood melting his skin, but he continued to disappear into the creature’s eye socket, diving headfirst into it.
Everyone watched as the Feinor Giant’s movements became increasingly violent. It clawed at its own face, trying to reach the intruder inside. Black, acidic blood poured from its eyes like tears.
"...Ah."
And soon, they watched as the creature’s health moved.
[Feinor Giant | HP: 87%]
[Feinor Giant | HP: 80%]
[Feinor Giant | HP: 71%]
The percentage dropped rapidly as its roars became weaker, more desperate.
[Feinor Giant | HP: 23%]
[Feinor Giant | HP: 8%]
The creature rammed its own head on the walls... but it didn’t matter.
[Feinor Giant | HP: 0%]
The creature soon collapsed, causing a thunder to shake the entire cavern. Ice shattered everywhere, causing the trio to dodge the fractals sliding toward their feet.
And for a moment there, they were still silent.
Adam emerged from the giant’s eye socket, covered head to toe in black, acidic blood that should have dissolved his flesh.
And it was.
It was dissolving his flesh. The trio watched as his skin boiled. But they also watched as Adam simply wiped his face, swatting the acidic blood... as well as parts of his own cheek away.
"Incroyable..." Hugo breathed.
"That was..." Xavier started, then stopped, unable to find words.
Margaux stepped forward, her eyes bright with excitement. "Your ability—it’s regeneration, non? Complete regeneration? Instant regeneration?!"
"I... suppose you could say that. Yes." Adam nodded at them... while staring at the real ability granted to him by the Game.
[2 Status Points granted!]
Adam was about to allocate the points, but the red Crystal hiding within the corpse emerged from the giant’s back.
"Ah," Adam muttered. "I’m sorry. We... should have farmed the Leak first, right? The materials—"
And all of a sudden, the trio burst out into a fit of laughter.
Jefferson had always told Adam that one could identify another’s financial status by the way they laughed. Adam didn’t believe that, of course...
...but now he does. Just from the trio’s laughter alone, Adam felt extremely poor.
"Sir Adam." Sylvie approached him, her hand gently touching his shoulder. "It’s alright. We have more than enough resources. Our guild’s priority and mission is to clear Leaks as fast as possible to avoid casualties."
"Hm. That... makes sense."
"Please," Sylvie said, gesturing toward the crystal.
Adam nodded and walked back to the melting giant. And with a breath, he raised the Shion and brought it down on the crystal, shattering it in a single strike.
The cavern began to dissolve around them, reality bending as the Leak collapsed. But as they disappeared along with the closing portal, another set of words appeared before Adam.
[1 Status Points granted!]
"...Oh."
He leveled up from clearing Leaks, too?