Vengeance of the Returner

Chapter 164: Venomous

[Class ability: Night vision]

(Description: It is the ability to see in low light conditions or in extremely dark locations)

As soon as he entered the labyrinth, he toggled his night vision and made everything surrounding him, enter his eyesight more clearly and brightly.

"I didn't expect Babel to be darker than Lerinare."

He commented staring at Astaroth with his eyes that glimmered in a faint red like how animals eyes would glimmer in Darkness. The ability sure was handy but, not power like Regeneration nor Phantom vision.

{Indeed, Raise your head and tell me what you see.}

Astaroth said and pointed to the top of the hollow hole that was circular which went on to the depth of the sky. Through the hollow shimmered the moon just as bright as ever. Just like the Labyrinth of Lerinare, the tower seemed to be connected to the sky and when he peered underneath the pit stretched like a deep abyss that was filled with Darkness.

He understood what Astaroth tried to convey and looked at him.

"As you said this Labyrinth is wider than the Lerinare and a lot larger to explore."

Indeed the Labyrinth seemed a place that was distorted from what could be perceivable to the naked eye. From the outer view, Labyrinths are perceived as some random tower that could be explored without any difficulties. But those vague thoughts will be shattered once they walk in. 

One could say it was literally a different dimension. It was the home of monsters that had born by their very will. They are the interconnection between Ether world, Mid world, and Underworld. So they are seen as separate locations.

This was actually why Lerinare's Labyrinth was safe for Vikil, who once dwelled in the deep rooms of the Labyrinth.

Just exploring the ground floor which is the home for weaker monsters would take two days. That is If one really wanted to demolish every monster on the floor to suppress their birth and respawning.

Also, the Labyrinth could turn into a maze where one might get lost and the possibility of getting killed by a swarm of monsters is high when one was to approach the Labyrinth alone.

[Private ability: Doom prediction vision activated]

{You said you have the power to perceive the future right?}

Astaroth questioned.

"Yes."

{We will put your abilities into some extreme conditions? Extreme conditions in the sense you'll face life or death situations all the time. Also, you possess Regeneration which is a huge factor for you to increase your potential.} Astaroth said with a smile.

"I understand but how will I increase them? It took me eight months to just barely increase some of my stats and skills."

Nix stated, feeling distressed.

{Within this next twenty-four hours. We will train your instincts, Reflexiveness, and the skillfulness to react to your foresight. Simultaneously your vessel improves. On the second day, you'll perceive mana manipulation. When you leave you'll be skilled enough to fight Knights but only in terms of skills.}

"Hah...I will still be weak in terms of my body."

He sighed and looked at Astaroth for his reply.

{Indeed! I cannot help you with that. All I can do is help you strengthen your mind which accumulates and persues abilities and etches into your memory. Your body will need months and months of vigorous training to be able to rely on your mental strength which is also why we will push you to death for each and every second you roam in this Labyrinth.}

"To put it bluntly. I cannot become strong in mere two days. And Yes if I believe in becoming strong within two days. I will be nothing but a fool."

{You still have the chance to accumulate stat points. Anyways, In the end, you need to find a way to increase the potential of your body wield your skills.}

"I hope I find a way to do so."

He said and walked through the narrow road that stretched to two dark crevices. Before he could sense anything with his mana sense. The doom prediction showed him a vision of getting bitten by a monster.

He abruptly shapeshifted his chain into a short sword and shoved it to his sidewall.

"Krayaak!"

The monster squealed as the blood splattered on his face.

" "

He quietly observed the monster that was crying in agony and calling out for its brethren. Few echoes came from a distance as he laid his sight on its exceptional features.

Its face was similar to that of a Dog's but the body resembled a bat and its wretched tail rattled and shook violently that seemed to be a Scorpion's sting. The exceptional thing was the evolution of its body which was extremely close to humans. The only difference was they were not tall more than three feet.

"Krayykkk"

As the monster growled to distract him, He grabbed its sting that went for his face instinctively. 

"What's this Monsters's name?"

{Scalates. Note they are extremely venomous which will slow down your regeneration. So consider this as an extreme threat but, you'll gain poison resistance if you endure the immersive pain.}

He smirked and continued.

{The more the sculptor beats the rock. The more beautiful the sculpture becomes.}

"Indeed the higher the risk. The Higher reward will be."

{So, you are going into their nest I assume?}

Nix's ears perked up as growls and cries pierced his ears from the depth of crevice and his surroundings. 

"I didn't expect this well, I guess It'll take several minutes to fight the monsters."

He uttered and took a posture. In a mere moment, both his instincts and Doom prediction screamed simultaneously. 

"???"

He couldn't help but be baffled.

His vision showed him getting attacked from every possible direction.  And to worsen the situation there were more than twenty Intors and thirty Scalateses. Even a knight would be good as dead facing such a swarm of monsters. 

{Haha, You sure are unfortunate to be suffering such terrible adversaries. I sure did think you'll fight large-scale monsters but, this was never in my anticipation.}

"Fuck my life..."

He gritted his teeth and took a strong stance and braced for the impact.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Continuously the scalateses stung him from all the directions even though he swung his chains while the Intors swung their arms and breathe fire towards him.

There was this one thing he couldn't find however hard he tried. And it was his attribute. He noticed several people awaken it after the fourth level but he broke those conceptions in that chance he should have been gifted with one but he felt none.

He already used berserk havoc to face the Intors that surrounded him when he approached the Babel so, it was a choice he cannot choose since they destroy his body condition and his mana nervous system.

He groveled in the ground as the Intors ravaged his flesh.

{Is this your resolve? You act cold slay weaker people but, grovel on the ground helpless even though you entered this Labyrinth with Pride and hope to become strong?}

Astaroth frowned and continued.

{Are you really desperate for power? I don't see it...}

What Astaroth made his point clear. Since the beginning when he started accompanying Nix all he witnessed was him suiciding and barely managing to gain upper hand. Nevertheless, he wanted the young man before him to show him something interesting. 

Astaroth felt like he was raising his very own son and couldn't help but feel distressed about the young man's life. He felt like he was seeing himself young again whenever he witnessed.

Nix's body was wholly covered in purple as the venom spread all around his body and numbed him. He could regenerate from a single drop of blood which would take months. The only way for him to die and return would be completely getting his body destroyed which was not a good idea.

His veins were visible to naked eyes and the blood for both his brain and eyes were disrupted because of the poison that wholly circulated his body while the regeneration continuously tried to resist the effects.

He lost his hearing sense as his ears bled. This was the fourth time that he longed for death.

"Ahhh!"

The incorrigible pain made him pierce his chest to plunge his own heart.

{If You try to die you'll soon resurrect. Is this what you wish? Do you want revenge? Then endure this torment and become stronger!} Said in a loud tone looking at Nix with pity. He did not have any other choice but to provide him a shortcut to raise the ranks of his abilities and the price to pay was suffering.

"Fuck!"

He cursed gritting his teeth.

Intors retreated unable to consume his poisonous flesh while the Scalateses backed away feeling satisfied with killing their target.

Scalates were the type of monsters that protects their nest from threats when they find opponents stronger than them. They prefer insects and other small beings over larger prey. Which was fortunate.

Badump! Badump!

Nix couldn't sense anything but his heart that beat slowly and began to rise again within a few seconds. 

Over an hour he felt his nervous system getting rejuvenated again. 

"Arghhh!"

He growled as he moved his finger. 

{Rest for an hour. It would take several hours for you to fully heal. Yet, you can move if you endure the pain for an hour.}

Astaroth contemplated as Nix rose from the bloodied ground like a wounded beast that has been resurrected.

"I want to face them again."

He mumbled and grabbed his dagger.