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Mime (Level 50)

"A Keldar that can mimic the appearance of the one it killed, but there is always a tell."

Arlon was glad he had checked the child's identity. This was a sneaky creature, usually sent as a spy. Arlon speculated that it had been sent to the cave to grow stronger and eventually kill an influential Trionian in the nearby town, replacing them as a spy.

Now, Arlon also understood why the cave had seemed empty—it was because of the Mime. As a higher-ranked Keldar with greater intelligence than regular Keldar monsters, the Mime could command lesser Keldars.

Fortunately, Mime's strength lay in its stealth, and despite being level 50 with enhanced intelligence, it was still vulnerable. Arlon was confident he could kill it easily.

Arlon typically preferred sneaky tactics in battle. Most people might accuse him of being a jerk, but he didn't mind. These monsters weren't here to play; they were here to kill Trionians. Arlon didn't need to play the role of a noble knight. Also, this approach worked for now, but soon the monsters' levels and intelligence would rise. When that happened, serious battles would be inevitable.

Arlon readied his Wandsword and launched a fireball at the Mime. Just as the Mime tried to dodge, Arlon cast a spell that made the floor beneath it slippery. The Mime, distracted by the incoming fireball, didn't realize this and attempted to jump to the side, only to slip and fall headfirst to the floor.

Arlon didn't hesitate. He leapt onto the Mime, slashing its throat from behind. With its low defense, the Mime couldn't even scream before it died. Having encountered Mimes before, Arlon felt no qualms about killing what seemed like a child.

When he checked the body, a necklace and a note had dropped. Although Zeno provided a translation feature that allowed players to communicate with each other and Trionians as if they were speaking their own languages, Arlon couldn't understand the writing on the note. He decided to put it in his inventory for now. He then examined the necklace:

Necklace of Lightness: As long as this necklace is worn, the wearer won't make any sound while walking.

It wasn't particularly useful to Arlon. First, it only worked while walking and only prevented stepping sounds, not all noises. Stealth was a tricky thing to master, so this was more beneficial to skilled assassins looking to improve their sneaking abilities. Still, he wore it, as there was no reason not to. He could always switch it out if the need arose.

The fight against the Mime ended just as he'd hoped. But the next one wouldn't be so easy. The equipment he sought was actually no ordinary treasure—it was the Sentinel's Legacy Set, a relic from ancient times, designed for those who walked the path of might. Each piece of the set carried an enchantment unique to its history, bound by a synergy that empowered the wearer as they collected more components. In Arlon's past life, this synergy had been a topic of fascination and regret since it could be used to get stronger much earlier.

As a Magic Swordsman, the set wasn't an ideal fit for Arlon—it was designed exclusively for Warriors. However, he had future plans for acquiring gear better suited to his class. For now, the Sentinel's Legacy Set would serve as a temporary yet vital asset in his journey.

No one knew who had crafted the set, but it wasn't considered one of the top-tier equipment. Arlon speculated that it was likely created by a hero experimenting with equipment crafting, using a low-level creature as material.

With these thoughts in mind, Arlon reached the true end of the cave. The space was a spherical chamber with the same rough stone walls as the rest of the cave, blending seamlessly into its surroundings.

Finding secret rooms wasn't easy. Unless you were lucky or had prior knowledge, players needed the Treasure Hunter skill to locate and access hidden areas. Arlon fell into the "informed beforehand" category. He approached one of the walls without hesitation and crouched down. In movies and fiction, secret triggers were often at eye level, conveniently placed for dramatic reveals. The reality was less accommodating. Floor-level triggers were less likely to be found by accident, and no one would think to check them unless they knew exactly where to look.

This cave lacked bricks, but a brick-sized section of the wall near the floor caught his attention. Pressing on it, he triggered the mechanism, and an entrance as tall as he was opened before him.

For a moment, Arlon felt like that famous archeologist with a bullwhip.

Stepping into the newly revealed corridor, he noticed the shift in atmosphere. The air felt heavier, and the walls no longer seemed naturally formed. Every step heightened his anticipation. His long-awaited battle was just ahead, and excitement coursed through him as he ventured further.

After a few minutes, the corridor opened into a cavern. In the center stood a pedestal, atop which rested the Sentinel's Legacy Set. Its surface gleamed in the light of the orb, a blend of silver and obsidian metals interwoven like threads. The faint hum of magic radiated from it, resonating with the mana in Arlon's body. He approached cautiously, scanning the area for traps.

The moment he stepped within a certain radius, the runes on the walls flared to life. From the shadows, a massive construct emerged—a stone guardian shaped like a knight, its body covered in the same glowing runes. Its movements were slow but deliberate, and Arlon could feel the immense magical energy coursing through it. It was the Tailon, the guardian of this set.

"This won't be easy," Arlon muttered, activating the Eyes of ***** to check the monster.

***

Tailon (Level 138)

"A weak monster that remained from the ancient times. Its life is devoted to keeping its treasure safe."

***

Arlon didn't listen to the "weak" part. It was only weak against the heroes of the past, obviously. But against Arlon... Of course, Arlon had seen much stronger monsters in his past timeline. But he wasn't there in terms of level yet.

Arlon was filled with excitement for this fight, but he also was sure that he would win. His agility was higher than the monster's. Additionally, he could use magic and his new warrior skills now.

As Arlon drew the Wandsword, the air around him seemed to grow heavier, charged with anticipation. The Tailon's eyes flared with a golden light, and its massive form shifted, rising to its full height. The runes on its stone body glowed brighter and each symbol pulsed with energy as it drew closer with its heavy footsteps echoing in the cavern.

Arlon's instincts kicked in as the Tailon took its first swing. The creature's giant stone sword split the air, aiming directly for Arlon's midsection. The sheer force behind the attack would have crushed any ordinary player. But Arlon wasn't ordinary.

Jumping to the side, he dodged the strike, feeling the gust of wind as the blade grazed his arm, resulting in him losing 85% of his HP.

The cavern floor also cracked beneath the weight of the sword's impact. Arlon's heart raced and he drank two potions, filling his HP bar back. He couldn't afford to make another mistake. The Tailon wasn't just a creature of brute force; its magic-infused strikes were devastating.

He looked for an opening and cast Fireball, sending it to the Tailon's exposed side. A ball of flame shot out from his palm, hurtling toward it. The explosion upon impact scorched the surface of its stone body, but it didn't seem to slow down much. The guardian merely grunted, the runes glowing brighter in response.

Arlon realized that it wasn't enough. The Tailon's stone body was resistant to his newly gained weak magic, and its slow but relentless attacks meant he couldn't outlast it with mere spellcasting alone.

Arlon's eyes flickered toward the pedestal where the Sentinel's Legacy Set rested, just out of reach. The Guardian's movements were predictable, but the gaps in its defense were few and far between. He needed to break through the stone armor—but how?

Suddenly, a plan began to form in his mind. He gripped the Wandsword tighter, the blade was so dark that it seemed as if it was absorbing the light from the light orb.

Arlon moved in close, charging toward the Guardian, just as it lifted its sword for another strike. His Eyes of ****** activated, slowing the time and giving him a brief but precise look at the Tailon's weaknesses—small cracks along its joints where its stone armor had started to wear down over centuries.

He cast "Teleport" instantly. His body vanished in a burst of light, reappearing just behind the Tailon. Before the creature could react, Arlon swung the Wandsword down with all his might, aiming for one of the cracks in its shoulder. The blade collided with stone, sending a shower of sparks and a sharp clang echoing through the cavern.

The Guardian let out a low growl, twisting its massive body to face him. It wasn't going to give up that easily.

Arlon knew he had to keep the pressure up. He was quick, but the Tailon's reach was vast, and each attack had the potential to shatter his defense. As it swung its sword horizontally, Arlon ducked, rolling to the side and narrowly avoiding the blow that would have cleaved him in half. His body felt the force of the wind as the sword passed by, inches away from his side.

"Fireball," Arlon chanted again. This time he launched it directly at the Tailon's face. The explosion blasted through the creature's eye sockets, creating a gap in its defense. For a split second the Tailon's movements faltered. This was his chance.

Arlon dashed forward and activated his Eyes of ****** again to spot the next weak point. He sidestepped a counterattack and plunged the Wandsword into the gap between the Tailon's ribs. The stone cracked under the impact, and a deep, resonating roar echoed from its throat as it staggered backward.

But the Tailon wasn't done yet. It raised its sword again, this time aiming for Arlon's head. Arlon's heart raced, but his mind stayed clear. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

He tapped into his new warrior skills, activating one of them. With his strength boosted by the skill coursing through his body, Arlon lunged upward, delivering a swift and powerful strike to the Tailon's neck. The sword bit deep into the stone, and with a final, thunderous crack, the guardian's head shattered into a million pieces, its body collapsing to the ground in a heap of rubble.

Arlon stood panting, his body covered in sweat from the intense battle. The cavern was silent once again, save for the faint echo of his breathing and the sound of the notifications. The Tailon had been defeated, and now, the path was clear to claim his reward.