Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Level Up

[Kai! Request granted. To be able for the hatchling to level up and get stronger without risking its life, the system found a bonus monster ground in the Great City of Olyzeria.]

My eyes widened because of excitement for what the system just said. I blinked a few times before uttering anything to the system.

"R-Really system? There is a bonus ground on this floor that I can use to level up my status?!" I asked with full of excitement too. Because if my memories are still right, based on the manga's I've read, the monster bonus ground that the system says to me, is a rare hunting ground of weak monsters in the dungeon that give good benefits and stats onced raided.

It is like a buffet for an adventurer like me if the system telling me is true because I can get stronger easily there!

'Ha ha ha! I think this is the payment of my goodness in my previous life. The world is giving me so much favor now to be able to survive! I love it! Thank you!'

'Though, if the world is repaying me because I was a good child in my previous life, I wish it would just let me resurrect in a safe place and not here inside the dungeon! Tsk.'

[Kai! Correct. Monster bonus ground can be found in the left wing of the Great City of Olyzeria. Suggesting for the hatchling to go there.]

Heaved sighed.

'Even though the system did not suggest to me to go where the monster bonus ground was located, I have no choice. It is my best choice now. So I will really go there.'

And so my first journey started there. I traced where the system was trying to point me. And after a round of minutes of walking into the total ruins of an old great city, I reached my first destination: the monster bonus ground. Where I saw vast golden slimes jumping around the ruins not knowing their worst predator had arrived.

But… omg! Why are they so cute?! Does this dungeon know that my resistance to cute things is low?! Is this a challenge of will and conscience?! Argh! I can't do this. I will just live here in this dungeon and make these cutie jumping slimes my babies. Yes, that's a great idea too! But — no! I can't be irrational now. I must play blind to these cutie little things.

"S-System, is this the monster bonus ground you're saying?"

[Kai! Correct. This is the golden slime den. The bonus monster ground of the Labyrinth of Aztect.]

I see... so I guess I really need to kill these cute slimes— I mean... monstrous slimes to level up.

"System, can you use appraisal for these things?"

[Kai! Golden Slime of Aztect is eligible to be appraised. Does the hatchling want to appraise it?]

Heavy sighed. "Yes," because even though these slimes look unharmed and extremely cute. I can't let my guard down since they are still monsters of the dungeon. There is no one who can tell what they can do if I slack around and lower my guard because I based just on their appearances.

'Ha... I guess my trust issues in my previous life are still intact in my soul. But anyway, it is for the best.'

[Kai! Appraising the Golden Slimes of Aztect is completed. No harm can be found by these monsters. Enormous experience can also be detected from each one of the slimes. Safety level is also high.]

'Hmm... I guess my thoughts on these slimes are correct. They have no ability to attack. Added, the system already said it, each one of these slimes contain mass experience energy. Which means — they are perfect for me. I can use this ground as my training ground to get stronger at the speed of light.'

'Though, I feel like I am cheating with this kind of method. Hence the fort, who cares? I am desperate to survive and this is the only choice I have to get stronger so I will set aside what my conscience says and be practical for now.'

Right. That will do. But the thing is... there is still one problem left...

'How can I kill these slimes if I have no weapons at all?! Is this a freaking joke? I have an easy road to walk but now the problem is that I have no anything at all to access the easy road that is given!'

'Ha... this is madness. I am really going crazy in this state. The world only wants me to sniff the smell of an easy life but it doesn't want me at all to have a bite to it. Damn it! It is always this way. What should I expect from the world who has always hated me and wanted me to suffer all the time?!'

'Ha... this is the end. I guess the only choice I have left now is to be the roasted turkey dinner of high-end monsters on the ninety-nine-th floor…'

[Kai! The world gifted you combat skills before being totally resurrected. Do you want to see those skills?]

'Wait. What?? Combat skills? — When? I don't remember having those. I only remember having two unique skills and not combat skills.'

[Kai! You have been gifted combat skills. The Voice of the World precisely tells you that you will receive other gifts.]

'Wait? Why does this system seem angry?'

[Kai! That's just your imagination!]

'But really? But I don't remember it —'

"Ahah!" I jumped because I suddenly remember the last sentence of the system telling me when I just received my unique skills.

[Sighed]

'Huehehe... I'm sorry system. I forget it because of my situation. Please forgive me and understand.'

[...]

'No response! Ha! The attitude of this system! Is this really my skill?! — Anyway, forget it. System, can you show me my combat skills?'

[Kai! Combat skills of the hatchling will now be shown.]

[Combat skills: Thunderbolt (Level. 1) Lightning Shield (Level 1) Lightning Sword (level 1)]

'Wow! My skills are all amazing! And thanks to my sci-fi knowledge in my previous life. I can totally have an idea to use all of my skills!'

'Haha! This is great! I am taking back my word from the world earlier. Haha! It really loves me to give me this bunch of amazing skills!'

[...]

Anyway, time to start my first hunt. Sorry in advance, cutie slimes for killing you. I promise, you will all be engraved in my heart once I become strong enough to kill the boss and clear this dungeon. I promise in the name of Levi!

"Lightning Sword! Come forth!" I shouted. And like a receiver, my combat skill answered my call and a sword made of lightning came out in my bare hands.

I staired to it with amazement.

[Kai! You are now using your skill, Lightning sword, level 1, Melee type.]

'Hoho! This is freaking amazing! I wish I could also have this skill in my previous life so those who attempt to bully me will be instantly roasted with this sword of mine! — but anyway, past is past. I should move on and focus more on my present.'

"Now, let's try this thing to this cutie slimes," I said with so much confidence while walking near to the slime I saw nearby. And as I got close to it, I didn't waste any mili-second and swing my lightning sword with the intent of killing the golden slime I targeted. But to my surprise, the slime dodge my attack.

'Is that my imagination? Maybe yes. These mere slimes can't be possible to know how to dodge. They are low class monsters so let's try again to kill one.'

And again, I walk to the nearby slime with an intent on killing it. And to my surprise again, it dodged my attack!

'What the hell? What's happening?'!

[Kai! The Golden Slime of Aztect seems to have very sensitive senses and have enough agility to dodge the incoming attacks.]

'I see... so these golden slimes are not easy to kill at all huh even though they are not attacking. Since they are specialized in dodging and defending themselves. Ha... I see...'

'But... (evil smile) I think it is still pretty good though that these slimes can dodge upcoming attacks. Because now, I can tell to my upset conscience that this is not a cheating method to be strong, rather it is an actual way to be one.'

'Now... I don't need to hold back. What I just have to do is outsmart these slimes and kill them with all I've got to be strong!'

And as I planted my plan in my head. I didn't waste any seconds and ran over to the slime that dodge my attack earlier.

"Arghh!!" I roared with all my got while charging to the golden slime. And when our gap was close, I fastly swung my lightning sword to cut in half the jumpy slime. But just like the last time. It bounced to dodge my attack.

But the little thing did this slime know, I'm just waiting for him to dodge my attack so I can use my counter attack that he can never dodge!

"Now! Thunderbolt!" I commence and point my palm to the slime that is still in the mid-air. And in my call, lines of lightning release in my palm and penetrate my foe, the mere golden slime, to its death.

[Kai! You've slain a Golden Slime of Aztect! Congratulations!]

[Level up! Level up! Level up! Level up! Level up!]

[Kai! Hatchling level is now Level 5! Level of the combat skills increase in two folds! All combat skills: Thunderbolt, Lightning Shield, Lightning Sword are now on Level 3.]

'Woah, woah, woah — wait! Why did my level just jump from Level 1 to Level 5?! What did I do?! And my skills too! It also leveled up two folds after I annihilated a single mere slime! Just what in the world is that? I can't believe it! Is that how enormous the experience energy holds this slimes is? It is just way too impossible!'

[Kai! Due to the Hatchling unique skill: Exp Lord, the hatchling can gain two folds of the experience energy that the hatchling monster slain.]

In a sudden. Shock consumes me.

"Ha... I can't believe that is the effect of that unique skill," I automatically uttered and blankly stared in both of my hands because of the sudden realizations and big ideas coming through me for what I can become because of that unique skill.

'Exp Lord... ha... thanks to that, the stronger my foes are, the stronger I can get once I defeat them. It allows the user to absorb the double experience energy of monsters it slain. And since luck is on my side, I am here now in a bonus monster ground where my foes are just mere slimes that contain tremendous experience energy. And if I continuously massacre this monster ground — I can be the monster myself that can go head to head to the dungeon boss and clear this dungeon alone.'

'This power... it is insane. And — scary. If this power bestowed in the wrong person and not to me — it can be troublesome. It can lead to catastrophe. That's why I must exercise this power well. I can't let myself fall from this power. There is a reason why the world gave this to me, and I must use it effectively and not for recreational intent.'

'That's right! With the Exp lord skill. I can be powerful in this world if I just work my ass out! I can be powerful to the point that I can create a world where negativity, stigma, oppression, differences, don't grow and poster!'

'Yes! That's right! That's my dream in my previous life that I want to carry into this world. Since here, I have been given a chance to prove myself and make it possible!'

My palm turned to fist, "And to make that happen, I must get stronger. Stronger than anyone else outside of this dungeon," I whispered and held up my face fiercely to the slimes that were also my stepping stones to help me create my dream come true!

'Now let's work hard for that dream to come true!'

"Now! Thunderbolt!"

[Level up!]

To be Continued...

Up next: Chapter 3: Ally or a foe