After killing Anatase Lizard, I started to go deeper into the forest, to search for the corporal stage monster.
On the way, I've come across some monsters and despite my best attempts of being sneaky, I got noticed by few monsters to which I had to fight but It was not the bad thing, fighting them help me a lot easing the anxiety I am feeling.
Sergeant stage monsters of this realm going to powerful, I hope they will able to provide me that spark which will help me level up as god knows how much I've tried for this, there have been many instances that I had nearly died.
I just want this limit to break, I deserve it since I had put up so much hard work.
"Thanks, Ashlyn!" I said to Ashlyn as she dropped off the fruit in my hands before flying away quickly.
As we entered this forest, she had picked up her old habit of picking up herbs and fruits which she liked, till now she had only brought up the fruits but I believe she will soon bring some herb as long as it catches her eyes.
Soon I reached the place where Sergeant stage monster roams, now I just have to find a powerful Initial level Sergeant stage monster fight.
As I was searching for the Sergeant stage monster, I heard the faint fighting sound, feeling curies I decided to check it since this is the first fighting sound I've heard since coming to this area.
I sneakily started to walk toward the sound but when I got close enough and saw what is happening, I got little startled.
There is Peak Corporal stage girl seemed to fight be fighting Peak Sergeant stage monster and the fight is going on, the girl did not seem at disadvantage at all but that's not what startled me, what startled me is that the monsters she is fighting are Bipedal monster.
Like the previous realm I went, it was contaminated by foreign energy which made a monster of that realm aggressive and mutates into bipedal monsters.
This realm also contaminated by that foreign energy but on many levels in the lower regions, that is why I spotted very few bipedal monsters in the forest and all of them at Specialist stage.
The monster that girl is fighting the only Bipedal monster I've seen in this forest which is not at Specialist stage.
I watched the fight for a few minutes before walking away, thinking I have my own monster to fight.
I search for the monster for an hour more but no fruit come out of it, I saw many monsters but they were either at mid or peak level of the specialist stage.
"Chew chew!"
Just when I was thinking the whole day would go without any result, Ashlyn came chirping.
"There is a monster really?" I asked reading her emotions, "Chew chew!" she affirmed and started to fly toward the direction where she spotted the monster and I followed behind her excitedly.
Soon we came across the clearing where the monster is and startingly it is a bipedal monster which looked like Iron Rhinos.
Iron Rhinos are Level 3 strain monsters but this Rhino monster is clearly at Initial level of sergeant stage and the color of its skin darker than normal Iron Rhinos.
Well, its difference is nothing to do with me, the important thing is I finally found an opponent to fight, a bipedal one at that.
"Crunch crunch….!"
I walk toward the iron rhino while intentionally making the sound of crunching left by my feet, so, the monster would notice.
"Roar!"
It worked like a charm, as soon as it heard the crunching sound of my feet made, It came running toward me with its fist out.
I didn't back down either seeing that as I also activated my Strenthning skill and ignited three jets behind feet directly and run toward the Iron Rhino.
"Claaaank!" "Fuck!" "Puh!"
I ran toward the Iron Rhino with strengthening skill activated and three jets ignited under my feet and when I got close enough, I executed my plan which suddenly moves away from monster and ignites jets behind my arms to launch attack on the back of the monster but my plan utterly failed as this Iron Rhino was way faster than I had imagined.
It hit me before I could even launch an attack at it, its fist hit me like a sledgehammer, injuring me so heavily that had to vomit a large amount of blood before flying away like a cannonball.
It was a good thing at last moment, I used my sword as defense as its fist clashed against my sword, If that fist had crashed against my body, then I would have been in a lot worse condition than I am now.
"Thud thud!" I stabilized myself in mid-air and controlled my fall expertly, I didn't waste a single moment before sucking away some liquid from the white pipe under my sleeve.
I sucked on white pipe only when it is an emergency as It contains the Life potion which not only replenishes mana but also heals the injuries very quickly.
Fourteen months ago, I had a quite large supply of the Life potions but when I started crazily pursuing the level up, I had used up all my reserve in one and half month and had bought the potions from Jim at discount price.
Not only I brought life potions from Jim at discount price, but I also brought from the store as the number of potions which Jim could provide to me is not enough but every time I brought the life potion from the store my heart burns a little as every bottle of life potion cost hundred thousand credits.
That is why I used Life potions sparingly and Only drink it when I really have a need for it, like now.
The cool sensation of life potion spread through my body, healing the injuries whenever it passed through.
I would like if I had a few more seconds of rest but unfortunately I did not as Iron Rhino is coming at me with a very ferocious expression.
With my skill already activated, I dripped my sword tightly waiting for Iron Rhino to came close to me.
Seeing that this Iron Rhino is not normal, I decide to use my full power, holding back nothing.
"Roar!" "Dhub!"
It roared loudly as it attacked me with it fist, seeing the fist coming toward me, I dodged like last time and like last time seeing that I dodging it started to move its second fist to intercept but before it could launch another fist, something very hot had hit across its face, distracting it for slight second.
That something hot is Ashlyn very concentrated fireball, in this past year not only I've improved, Ashlyn also improved as well but the thing that most improved is our bond and teamwork and every time I fight, Ashlyn hover above me, there to provide assistance if needed.
The fire of Ashlyn does no damage to Iron Rhino seeing its immense defense but injuring Iron Rhino was never her intention, her intention to distract it which she had become very proficient.
The moment of time brought by the Ashlyn is precious It helped me avoid the fist of the Rhino.
"Furfur fur fur fur!..."
I started igniting jets behind my arms, this time I've ignited five behind each arm instead of three. Normally My arms only could bear the power of three jets at most but when I use Strenthning skill, it made my body stronger to bear the pressure of five jets.
I ignite five jets very less as every time I used, my arms very painful not only that It also strains my arms very much.
"Slice!" 'Spur spurt….."
My sword sliced across its back, tearing its Iron skin like butter, the wound I had created inch deep and blood could be seen splurting out of it but I was shocked seeing the wound.
I thought this move of mine would at least cut to the bone seeing this is the most powerful attack I have after Fire Strike and Fire Strike is barely stronger than my this move.
This means if my this move couldn't cut across the monster bone than the possibility of Fire Strike piercing its bones is almost zero.
Now, this fight is all depend on my skill as I have no sure kill move which could kill this monster in the instant.
If I want to kill this monster I have to give my all and still there is still a possibility of me not being able to kill that monster.
The thing is I am not sad and disappointed but rather exhilarated, now this the fight I have been waiting for, the fight which would give me enough pressure that to make me break the limits that had been binding me.
"Roar!"
It roared loudly with fury and come at me while I am still taking a jump back.
Seeing it speedily closing on me, I don't think I will have a chance to land safely before it attacking me next second.
I furiously thought for ways to avoid its fist as if we clashed directly it will be who will come out worst as monster offensive power is too great, I had experienced with first hand.
I am such an idiot! I thought I had a perfect skill which could save me from this predicament. I didn't think of it as I didn't use any of my Grade 1 skills in months.
Sky Steps! I activated and take a jump in the sky but when I looked down, I saw the scene below, no one who enters in Minerva realm wished to see.
Even super elites would run with their tail tuck between their legs when they even saw a shadow of them.
Below me is a fallen body of Iron Rhino which dead had been cut half and beside it is an Aqua Blue snake which is eating its brain with relish while looking at me intently.
I come across one of the Three Banes of Minerva realm.
The Blade Snake AKA The Reaper AKA The Brain Devourer AKA The Blood Hound AKA The Blue Nightmare, These are the names of one-meter long nightmare which is looking at me from below.
It is one-meter long aqua blue snake which had about three-inch-long blade end of its tail, It is one of three most dangerous monsters of Minerva realm.
97% seven percent of those people who come across these three monsters die, the three monsters had their own quirks and the one which is looking at me from below know for its persistence.
The Blade Snake, it got its name from the sharp blade it has at the end of its tail, It loved to slice heads and eat the brains and its most favorite delicacy is eating the brain.
It is said that once The Blade Snake gave you stare, It will follow you till it will eat your brains, that is why it is known as a bloodhound.
The best course action after seeing The Blade Snake is Run, Run fast as you can, while running activate all the defensive measure you have to protect your head as this is body part that The Blade Snake targets the most.
Don't expect help from anyone, even Master stage powerhouse won't help, even seeing It is Specialist stage Blade Snake following you much less the Corporal stage which is down below.
The only way to save your life is run, run toward the boundary of the region and cross it, only then you will be safe as monsters from other regions cant enter the different region for some reason.
Sky Step! That is why I took the longest jump I've ever taken using sky steps and even ignited jets without thinking If they will be any use or not.
If I had come out of the predicament alive, then I will sure pray to God daily and even light a candle in his shrine every weak as my mother told me to.