Leveling Through Betrayal

CHAPTER 8 — Hunted by the Elite Monsters

Alex froze in his tracks. His body was still aching from the previous fight, but that pain was nothing compared to the fear currently freezing his chest.

Six red eyes glowed from behind the darkness of the forest. Not only that. Low growls, heavy footsteps, and the sound of breaking branches echoed from all directions, as if the forest itself were alive and hungry.

Ding.

[Warning.]

[High-Level Threat Detected.]

[Warning.]

Alex swallowed hard with great difficulty. "System..." his voice was parched. "Are they really targeting the dragon core?"

Ding.

[Confirmation.]

"Why?"

[Answer: The dragon core is the highest source of energy belonging to a dragon.]

[Monsters that succeed in absorbing a dragon core have a chance to evolve.]

[The chance of rank promotion increases.]

[The chance of bloodline mutation increases.]

[The chance of extending lifespan increases.]

Alex's face instantly turned grim. "Damn it..."

"So it isn't Nero. It's not the dragon's blood. They are targeting me." Or more precisely, the dragon core that now resided inside his body.

He gritted his teeth tightly. He had completely unexpected that accepting the dragon core would bring a danger this grand.

From behind the trees, the first monster finally emerged. Its body was as large as an elephant, covered in pitch-black fur. Old scars filled its face, and a pair of red eyes stared at Alex with absolute hunger.

Ding.

[Dire Wolf King.]

[Rank: Elite.]

[Apex predator of the northern territory.]

Alex held his breath.

The ground vibrated again. A giant scorpion crawled out from behind the massive boulders. Its body was enveloped in a hard, dark layer of stone, and its two pincers looked capable of crushing rock with just a single squeeze.

[Stone Scorpion.]

[Rank: Elite.]

[Predator of the rocky territory.]

"Damn it..."

Alex took a step back. But the third monster that appeared made his face turn even paler.

A giant ape leaped down from a tree. Its height was nearly four meters, its muscles bulged terrifyingly, and long fangs jutted from its mouth.

[Night Fang Ape.]

[Rank: Elite.]

[Predator of the dark forest territory.]

The three elite monsters did not come alone. Behind them, dozens of followers moved—wild wolves, scorpions, and apes.

They were all ready to kill. Ready to seize the dragon core that already resided in his body.

Alex's legs began to tremble uncontrollably. "How am I supposed to fight this?"

There was no answer. Even the system had no solution.

Fight? Impossible.

Run? Not guaranteed to succeed.

Stay still? That was the same as waiting for death.

Alex cursed quietly. "I shouldn't have accepted that dragon core."

But regret would not change anything. He had to live. No matter what it took.

"System. My survival chance." Alex asked hopefully.

Ding.

[Current Survival Probability: 4.7%]

Alex fell silent. Four point seven percent. Not even reaching five percent.

"Hah..." He let out a bitter laugh. "Incredible."

Right then, a strange sensation emerged from inside his shadow.

Alex froze.

"Nero?" he whispered softly.

Through their contract bond, an image appeared in his mind. Not words, but rather a faint vision: ancient ruins, a dark passage, an underground river, and an entrance way not far from where he stood now.

Alex understood instantly. "Nero... you are showing me the way?"

The vision appeared again, clearer this time. He turned to his right. A few hundred meters from there, ancient ruins lay hidden behind the trees.

Hope. The only hope.

"Alright," Alex murmured while taking a deep breath. "If I stay still, I die. If I fight, I die. In that case... I will run."

The next second, he turned around and ran with all his might.

RAAAARRGH!

The Night Fang Ape let out a thunderous roar. The three elite monsters moved almost at the same time. The ground shook. Trees collapsed behind him.

Alex ran without daring to look back.

Crash!

A large boulder shattered behind him—the Stone Scorpion's attack. He rolled quickly, then got back up on his feet.

But before he could even catch his breath—

WHOOSH!

The Dire Wolf King was already beside him. Too fast.

Slash!

Its claws struck Alex's back.

"AAARGH!"

His body was thrown several meters. Blood sprayed from his mouth. An excruciating pain radiated throughout his entire body. For a moment, he was absolutely certain he was going to die.

Yet Alex forced himself to stand. "Not yet..." He panted heavily. "Not just yet."

He ran again. Leaping over rocks, climbing ruins, avoiding falling trees. Every few seconds, an attack came. Every few seconds, he nearly died. His sword was not even capable of injuring the hide of those monsters.

Ding.

[Emergency Quest Obtained: Survive.]

[Reward: ???]

Alex almost laughed bitterly. "You think I don't know that?!" he shouted in frustration. "Damn it! That is exactly what I am trying to do!"

But the system did not answer.

His body grew heavier. Blood dripped from his back. His vision began to blur. But finally, he saw it—the ancient ruins.

A giant stone building that was almost swallowed by time. Strange symbols decorated its walls, and above its gateway hung an ancient inscription: FORBIDDEN AREA.

Alex did not care. Outside, he would definitely die. Inside, at least there was a chance.

Without hesitation, he burst inside.

The moment his body passed through the gateway, the three elite monsters suddenly halted. The Dire Wolf King growled angrily. The Stone Scorpion shifted restlessly. The Night Fang Ape even took a few steps back. They did not dare to step any further.

Alex panted heavily, then fell to his knees. "I... I survived?"

However, right at that moment—

Ding.

[Warning.]

[Danger Zone Detected.]

[Ancient Forbidden Area.]

[Survival Probability: Unknown.]

Alex's smile froze. He let out a small laugh, a laugh that sounded incredibly bitter. "Of course... how could it ever be that easy."

Blood continued to drip from his body. With great effort, he raised his head.

And froze.

Deep within the darkness of the ruins, a pair of golden eyes slowly opened, staring straight at him.