NOVEL NEXT Chapter 118: EXP, EXP, EXP
News of William's new task spread like wildfire among the students. Some were relieved that the dangerous job had fallen to someone else, while others envied his opportunity.
A few saw through his motives. "He's just trying to level up and get even further ahead of us," one student grumbled. "What can we do about it?"
They were still gossiping when Lincoln arrived with their tools, tossing axes and scythes towards them. "What you can do is clear this damned vegetation before I lose my patience," he said, his voice brooking no argument.
The students nodded hastily. None of them dared to complain to Lincoln or disobey his orders. They grabbed their tools and got to work.
William, meanwhile, had already left, following the path back towards the beach.
Asura's winged lizard form remained at the campsite. He was still with William, of course, in his sword form.
"I need to rest for a while," Asura said, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. "Controlling that lizard is draining. Call me if you need anything."
"Alright," William replied, understanding his companion's need for recovery.
William followed the familiar path, the only one on the island. But things weren't as straightforward as before. The recent battle with the beasts – his and Lincoln's – had agitated the island's inhabitants. The balance had been disrupted, and venturing out in the open was no longer safe.
Suddenly, a beast emerged from the forest, launching itself at William. This magical creature resembled a giant bug with four wings, two massive pincers, and rows of sharp teeth. A shiver ran down William's spine at the sight.
"I hate bugs!" he yelled, his voice filled with disgust.
But William's reflexes were sharp. He drew his demonic sword, Asura, and parried the incoming pincer attack. The clash of their weapons rang through the forest, and William stumbled back from the force of the impact. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire
"Strong…" he muttered, assessing the creature's power.
The bug flew towards him again, but this time, it unleashed a different attack. It opened its maw and spewed a stream of green liquid.
William tried to dodge, but the liquid was too fast. It struck his right shoulder.
At first, nothing happened. William seized the opportunity, slashing at the creature with his sword.
He wielded his demonic sword, Asura, which was far stronger than the standard steel sword he often used. He now had better control over it, preventing it from activating his demonic energy. It was essentially a normal sword crafted from superior materials, making it sharper and deadlier.
The slash connected with the bug, carving a deep wound. Green liquid gushed from the injury, and the bug emitted a series of angry clicks and hisses.
"Take that, bastard," William growled.
The creature spewed another stream of green liquid, but this time, William dodged it with ease.
He tightened his grip on Asura and delivered a final, decisive blow, ending the bug's life.
[+700 EXP]
A smile spread across William's face. He was thrilled to be gaining experience again. This was exactly what he had been hoping for.
After dispatching the creature, William continued along the path. It wasn't long before he felt an aching pain in his shoulder – the same shoulder the bug had struck with its liquid.
'Am I poisoned?' he wondered, concern creeping into his voice.
Poison was the first thing that came to mind. He decided to stop and rest against a tree, then removed his shirt to examine the affected area. A wound caused by the liquid was visible, and the veins around it were an unsettling shade of green.
William felt a wave of panic. He didn't have an antidote. He would have to wait and see if his body could heal itself.
Asura's voice echoed in his mind. "Use your demonic energy to destroy the poison. It's weak, so you should be fine."
William followed Asura's instructions, focusing his demonic energy. A dark aura enveloped his body, then concentrated around the poisoned wound.
The black energy pulsed as if it were alive, attacking the poison. William felt a surge of pain and gritted his teeth, enduring it. After a minute of intense discomfort, the poison was gone.
Relief washed over him. This ability was incredible. Getting poisoned in a remote location like this island would be a serious problem for most, but William no longer had to fear poisons.
He was increasingly grateful for the power of his demonic energy, even if it sounded ominous or might cause others to see him as a monster. He didn't care.
After hours of walking, William arrived at the beach – the place where he had first set foot on the island. It was deserted, but he knew monsters lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Before starting his task, he sat on the beach, enjoying a moment of respite to recover from the previous fight and the lingering effects of the poison. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was therapeutic, and the vast expanse of the blue ocean was mesmerizing. No other islands or ships were visible, reminding him of the world's immensity and his own insignificance.
He glanced at his hand, where the triton king's ring rested. He briefly considered using it to travel to the triton kingdom, even in this past era.
'The king I know is probably dead,' he mused, 'and who knows if the kingdom even exists yet...'
The urge to try was strong, but he resisted. It was too risky. He needed to become stronger first.
He rose to his feet and began his mission. Choosing a section of the forest, he ventured into its depths.
The moment he crossed the threshold, monsters attacked. The first was a gigantic gorilla with six arms, each wielding a wooden club.
The creature swung from the trees, launching itself at William with surprising speed. William had no time to react.
The club connected with his chest, sending him flying through the undergrowth. He heard the sickening crack of his ribs and knew he was in trouble.
"Agggh, damn it!" he cursed, clutching his right side.
Several ribs were broken, but he couldn't afford to lie there and wallow in pain. He had to get up and fight or die.
Mustering his remaining strength, William rose and activated his body enhancement techniques.
With the boost to his strength, agility, and speed, he felt better equipped to face the gorilla, though his ribs still throbbed with pain.
William dashed towards the gorilla, Asura poised to strike.
The creature seemed surprised. It was used to felling its prey with a single blow, yet William was still standing—and even advancing!
It tried to attack again, but William ducked under the club and slashed at the back of the gorilla's legs, targeting its ankles.
The attack landed with devastating precision. Asura sliced through flesh and tendon as easily as a knife through butter, and blood gushed from the wound.
William knew this would severely hamper the gorilla's movement, and the creature seemed to realize it too. It tried to flee, but William wouldn't allow it.
He severed the other ankle, and the gorilla crashed to the ground. Looking into the creature's eyes, now filled with fear and a desperate plea for mercy, William felt a pang of guilt. But this was the law of the jungle: the strong ruled. He swiftly ended the gorilla's suffering with a clean strike to the neck.
[+1300 EXP]
[Level up]
'One more level, nice!'
William was getting close to level 25, the threshold for acquiring his first class. He was curious about the process. Would the system grant him a random class? Would he have multiple options to choose from? Would he receive a class at all, or would he have to seek one out?
He had many questions, but only time would provide answers. For now, he was focused on reaching level 25. After that, he would seek more information.
With each level, his attributes increased, just like everyone else. But unlike others, William was one of the summoned heroes, so his stats grew at a much faster rate than average. It was only a matter of time before his power far surpassed those at a similar level.
After defeating the gorilla, William didn't stop. His ribs ached, but he had many more beasts to kill before returning to camp. Time was experience, and experience was his priority.
He faced mutated snakes, fish, and even creatures that seemed out of place on an island—like a fire-casting buffalo. It was one of the first monsters he encountered that could cast spells similar to those used by mages.
When he returned to camp before sunset, he drew every eye. His hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn, and his body was covered in bruises. It was evident he had been through many battles. Once again, William had shocked them, and respect for him grew.
He sat near the campfire, and one of the students brought him a meal.
"Here, eat this, William," the student said.
William gratefully accepted the food, then collapsed onto his bed, exhausted.