After slaying the bear, Arthur was once again presented with the familiar prompt.
[Would you like to rest?] [Yes | No]
Arthur rolled his eyes. Resting at this point would be a waste of time. He pressed "No" without hesitation, his focus razor-sharp as he prepared for the next challenge.
[Next enemy incoming. Prepare yourself.]
The air shimmered ahead of him, and the faint outline of a serpent began to form. As the light solidified, Arthur found himself face-to-face with a large, sinuous creature, its scales glinting ominously under the arena's light.
Arthur smiled, his grip on his dagger loosening slightly. "Perfect," he muttered, already formulating his next move.
This wasn't just another foe—it was an opportunity. Arthur still remembered the evolution path of Sylvaris, and one of the key requirements was to kill 100 serpents. If this trial provided a steady stream of these creatures, it was the perfect setup to start fulfilling that requirement.
Not wanting to waste the chance, Arthur activated his summoning talent. A swirling portal of shadow appeared beside him, and from its depths emerged Sylvaris, the massive serpent coiling protectively around him.
Sylvaris hissed softly, his emerald eyes narrowing as they locked onto the enemy serpent. Arthur couldn't help but admire his summon's sleek, powerful form.
Before anything else, he opened Sylvaris's status screen for a quick assessment.
[Phyiscal Damage:] 15
[Damage Resistance:] 16
[Attributes:] Strength 16, Agility 12, Vitality 16, Intelligence 16
[Skills:] Poison Bite (Very Rare), Land Smash (Very Rare)
[Attribute Points:] 0
Arthur nodded in approval. "Alright, Sylvaris," he said, gesturing toward the enemy serpent. "It's all yours. Don't hold back."
Sylvaris wasted no time. His body tensed as he surged forward, his movements swift and deadly. The Level 6 serpent hissed and reared back, its fangs bared, but Sylvaris struck first.
With precision and ferocity, Sylvaris sank his fangs into the enemy's neck, his Poison Bite skill activating instantly. A sickly green glow spread from the wound as the venom coursed through the serpent's body.
The Level 6 serpent let out a final, strangled hiss before collapsing, its body disintegrating into a burst of light.
[You have slain a Level 6 Serpent.]
Arthur smirked, pleased with how smoothly the fight had gone. Sylvaris coiled back toward him, his tongue flicking as if seeking further prey.
Without wasting a moment, Arthur opened Sylvaris's evolution path to check the progress.
Focus: Offensive combat specialization. Gains increased size and venom potency, capable of devouring entire foes.
- Kill 100 Serpents (1/100)
- Devour 100 Serpents (0/100)
- A Spirit Core (0/1)
Arthur's face lit up with joy. The kill had been recorded. He was making progress, albeit slowly.
But his excitement dimmed slightly as he glanced at the second requirement: Devour 100 Serpents.
Unfortunately, the arena's mechanics seemed to prevent devouring. As soon as a monster was slain, its body disappeared into light, leaving nothing behind.
Arthur sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Figures," he muttered. "This place doesn't make it easy, does it?"
He glanced at Sylvaris, who was now resting on the ground, his emerald scales shimmering faintly.
"Well, at least we're getting somewhere," Arthur said with a small smile. "One down, ninety-nine to go. We'll figure out the devouring part later."
Sylvaris hissed softly, as if in agreement, and Arthur turned his attention back to the arena.
"Alright," Arthur muttered, readying himself for whatever came next. "Bring it on."
The next two monsters materialized in quick succession, their forms shimmering into existence before charging at Sylvaris. Arthur barely spared them a glance, knowing his summon was more than capable of handling the situation.
Sylvaris moved with precision, his body coiling and striking with lethal efficiency. The first was a Level 7 lizard, its tough hide deflecting weaker attacks. But Sylvaris's Poison Bite made quick work of it, the venom coursing through its body and reducing it to a fading burst of light
The second was a Level 8 alpha wolf which was a pseudo-elite, its snarling fangs bared as it lunged for Sylvaris. The serpent responded with a crushing coil, squeezing the life out of the creature before finishing it with a decisive strike.
Arthur, meanwhile, used the brief lull to examine his surroundings. As Sylvaris dispatched the monsters, Arthur crouched near the arena's edge, his hand brushing against the smooth stone walls.
Occasionally, a faint shimmer of energy flickered across the surface, hinting at an invisible barrier. Arthur frowned, pressing his palm against it.
"There's a border," he muttered, his voice low as he analyzed the wall. "I can't physically leave this place. Whatever's keeping me in here is strong—really strong."
The barrier hummed faintly against his touch, a sensation that sent a mild vibration up his arm. Arthur tried applying more force, but it didn't budge.
"Looks like the only way out is to win—or lose," he mused, his gaze lingering on the glowing runes faintly visible along the wall's base.
Arthur stood, brushing the dust from his hands. "Oh well," he shrugged, turning his attention back to Sylvaris, who was in the middle of fighting the next opponent.
The newest challenger was a Level 9 grizzly bear, its massive body almost comparable to Sylvaris. Unlike the earlier monsters, this one radiated an aura of strength. Its status as an Elite Boss was unmistakable.
Sylvaris hissed, uncoiling and striking with the confidence of a seasoned predator. The grizzly roared, swiping its massive claws with enough force to crack the stone floor. But Sylvaris was faster, his movements fluid and deliberate as he dodged the bear's attacks.
The fight was intense, but Sylvaris won after around a minute as his poison wore the grizzly down. With a final, devastating bite to the bear's throat, Sylvaris ended the fight, the massive creature collapsing into a burst of light.
Arthur whistled softly as he walked over to collect the item left behind.