<h1>A Surprise Attack (2)</h1>
From around the corner, slowly coming into view I could make out the shape of the dead tree. There was no doubt in my mind, that this was the same Hollow Tree that should’ve been in the treasure room I had explored yesterday.
…… I shouldn’t have let my guard down.
This thing was strong, but the battle before this made me think I could take on anything.
This is a dungeon. A labyrinth.
The enemy will attack me regardless of what state I am in. I paid the price for forgetting all of that, in that attack just now.
Just when I closed one eye to look at it, I was shocked by the number that appeared in my head. It was the same Lv as the Blue Rosebush I had fought earlier. Settling my thoughts aside I concentrated on the movement of my enemy in front of me. I pulled out my knife.
I charged towards the Hollow Tree which was just shuffling from side to side, timing my attack as I closed in on it.
I only dealt a grazing blow to its body. Managing to break apart a piece of its face, the rest of its body just leaned back from my attack.
But it proved to be not enough.
My hand throbbed as the knife slipped out of my grasp. Falling to the floor, it made a loud clanging noise. I hadn’t noticed but my grip strength had loosened, it must have been due to that surprise attack earlier. I was so distracted I didn’t realize it.
And the enemy didn’t miss this opportunity either. Shaking its branches, the Hollow Tree advanced on me.
Swiping at me, the tree’s branch just barely crosses in front of my face.
I managed to step back in time.
Cold beads of sweat drip down my face, having gotten away in a split second.
My knife was on the floor, right between me and my enemy.
What’s more, it was completely within the Hollow Tree’s range.
If I go to grab it now, there’s no doubt I’ll take a painful hit.
Can I damage it by hitting it somehow?….. No, that won’t work, I may break my fist if I tried… A kick maybe?….. That might not do anything either. The power may not be high enough…..
While figuring out what to do next, my mind raced with ideas, as I observed my enemy.
…….it’s not coming at me.
Did it realize I didn’t have a weapon; it just keeps shuffling around my knife like it knows something?
This is bad….there must be something I can do to make a breakthrough….
While facing the Hollow Tree, I desperately look around for something.
What other ways can I attack it? There must be something I can use. Could it be…
Eyeing my surroundings with urgency, I finally land on something inside the labyrinth.
Never consciously thought about it until now, since it was always a part of this dungeon's environment.
It didn’t dawn on me until now that, that could be a weapon.
It was the perfect thing for using against the Hollow Tree.
Approaching the wall right next to me, I put my hand right on it.
Feeling its faint heat, I grasped it firmly.
The Tree seemed to sense this as well.
That’s right, the thing I wanted to use….was this dungeon’s torch.
It actually didn’t take a lot of effort, as the torch came off the wall fairly easily.
Holding onto its shaft with both hands, I face it directly towards the Hollow Tree.
It still felt pretty nice to have.
Its base was a little thick, but it really was no different than holding a baseball bat.
The hollow tree screamed in fear.
After all, the fire was its natural enemy. The Hollow Tree flinched from my newly acquired weapon.
This time without, missing a beat I rush towards the tree, aiming the torch’s tip directly towards it.
I swung the torch with all my might.
The impact causes the torch to bounce off its body, scattering some embers.
Besides, attacking with fire seems to be effective against a monster like this.
Flames begin to spread all over the Hollow Tree from the scattered embers in no time at all.
After it was completely engulfed, burning to a crisp, the Hollow Tree burst into particles of light.
In an instant, the flame disappeared as everything else about the Hollow tree disappeared along with it.
Breathing hard…….Haa…..damn…..haaa….. wheeze…….
After confirming my victory, all strength left my body.
A wave of lethargy went through my body.
…… Having leveled up, I thought I could keep on fighting in this ranking order, but it seems I need to seriously reconsider that notion.
This place is home to many monsters.
There’s always danger present everywhere. It’s not someplace to let my guard down.
I also need to change my view on how levels work.
A while ago, I thought as long as I was equal in Level to a monster I could take it out easily, but from this experience, that kind of logic was a mistake.
Rather monsters who are equal in Level with me are enemies I can face on equal terms, but there is still a certain amount of danger.
Nothing was as easy as it seemed.
Picking up my knife, I place it back into its sheath. Turning around, I walked back the original way I came. My injuries weren’t that serious. But exhausted from that battle just now, my condition wasn’t perfect either.
I made up my mind, that was all I was going to do today.
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