The door did not budge from the banging that creature brought against it, standing strong against its assault. After a couple of tries, it ceased.

  “Okay, let’s expand [Soul Sense] and see what we can find.”

  Broken boxes, destroyed chests, what I assume used to be rotten food, bottles of murky gross water.

  But there was one item that called my attention, one that was significantly much better equipped.

  I moved to it.

  It was a set of bottles and glassware, thrown around. Some of them broken, but many of them are in good condition if not for the plants and spores around the place. Maybe just cleaning them would be enough to put it back into working order.

  A small table made of wood with runes and other symbols scattered all over its surface.

  [Seems that this was an alchemy set. Some of its glass tools are broken, but the table for elemental manipulations seems in good condition.]

  “Alchemy… Okay, I am taking all of this!.”

  Everything went directly into my inventory. No idea about alchemy, I only knew how to boil water to brew water and coffee. Nevertheless, it was going to be useful.

  Close by, something else caught my attention.

  A bottle of a cloudy red liquid, small and humble, sitting just nearby.

  “I-is that?”

  I took the bottle and placed it inside of my inventory.

  “Erika, analyze the liquid.”

  [Analysing… you got a Normal Healing Potion. The amount is little to fully heal Aspen, but she will become stable and eventually heal faster.]

  “Yes! That is what we came looking for!” I celebrated and gained height to continue searching, “But now, how do we leave? That monster is in the way.”

  No item I could use, no other potions, not even edible food as everything had fallen victim to the whims of time itself. The small bottle and healing armband was a stroke of luck.

  My attention, however, was caught by on of the boxes by a corner, by a bunch of rusty shelves.

  Inside, I found treasure.

  Kitchenware made of steel.

  Metal I could use.

  Around 10 pans, pots, cauldrons, and a ton of forks, spoons and knives, all designed for cooking.

  They could be used for cooking, making more nutritional food, or other important tasks that a tribe of wolves would hardly make any similar tools for.

  But more instantly, for me it was the secret to my infinite healing capacity.

  }------------------------------------------o~o------------------------------------------{

  The door slowly opened when I touched it, giving me the same authorization message.

  [[Warehouse access approved]]

  I moved into the darkness, and the monster was by the corner, waiting for me as if it was patiently waiting for me.

  GRRRROOOOOO!

  It screamed when it saw me, as if it was angry that I took its arm with the door. Besides it, there were more of the smaller ones, which began to rush me.

  “If I had more time, I would have analyzed you, ugly bastard! Now, move!” I yelled, as I began to swing my body around.

  Each swing hit true, cutting through thick skin and boneless bodies, killing each in precise slices. Their blood coated my form, sizzling at the touch.

  [Warning! Constant damage from being permeated with acidic blood!]

  I swung hard and fast, making the blood on my blade fly away from me.

  To heal, I used the smaller objects first. Silver forks and spoons were enough to heal me at 100%, although as they were not special in any regards, I got no skills.

  GROOOO

  The big one roared.

  With the speed of a machine gun, it began to spit at me a green and disgusting sludge of unmentionable content.

  I dodged it, from side to side, and flying upwards on a circle, not staying in one spot all the time.

  “Can these things get any grosser?!” I asked.

  I flew low, hitting the stone floor with my metallic body and causing a large clanking sound. Sparks came out as I moved forward with my metallic body sliding through the stone floor.

  The creature tried to grab me with its hand, which I was not going to let happen.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Swiftly, I moved to the side, passing through its fingers and cutting its hand. It screamed, retracted its limb, and I went for the attack.

  Upwards cut.

  It saw me, and pushed back, but my speed was superior, and I drew blood as my blade cut the air and part of its face.

  GRRROOOOOOO!!!

  It screamed louder as, in reaction, threw its head back to avoid more damage, but was enough to make it fall back on its back.

  Its eggs dropped to the sides, unglued from its back.

  “[Fireball]!” I shot at it multiple times. Each ball exploding, shaking the structure, dirt and dust falling from the crevices it accumulated.

  Its body shared as it thrashed, trying to get back up to counter attack me.

  “This is a waste! But consume the Meteorite Sword!”

  [You consumed Meteorite Piercing Sword!]

  I recovered my full HP, and most likely that thing would have held me high up in later levels, but I wanted something else.

  [You unlocked Piercing Form!]

  “[Piercing Form]!”

  [Piercing Form Lv 01]

  —Ignore 10% of enemy defense per level. Has a chance to pierce through armor.

  Having spells was nice and all, but I was a sword! I wanted sword skills and that one was perfect for me.

  “Okay, Erika, try not to vomit!” I aimed the tip of my blade at the monster..

  [??? I don’t have a body, why are you telling me?]

  The monster jumped back into the corner of the corridor, hitting the wall behind it. Dark energy began to surround it, and appeared to get bigger.

  It was like a second phase, and that gave it enough confidence to begin moving towards me once more.

  [Warning! High levels of cursed corrupted Ether detected!]

  “I can taste that!”

  It began to form something inside of its mouth, as its cheek grew in size like a frog’s.

  I turned off [Soul Sense], at the same time I threw myself at it.

  I felt I went through something, and then I turned it on again just as I exited the creature’s body through the other side.

  Whatever that thing was about to do to me, I stopped it by penetrating through its body and killing it.

  Its body fell down like a deformed, awful, gross balloon as it growled in a deep throaty grunt. It twitched, and began to sizzle.

  I swung multiple times as fast as I could to remove the blood from my body. The drops of the substance sizzled in contact with the floor and walls, melting the stone material and leaving small craters where it fell.

  The floor under the body of the monster was not different. It melted as the monster deflated.

  [Aspen’s vitals are lowering. We need to hurry!]

  “Let’s go!”

  I began to run away, as I knew there were more of those monsters around. From behind the massive beast they came at least 4 more, and more came out of the rooms I had deemed as empty before.

  With haste, I flew past them, not wanting to waste any more time.

  As I took the first corner, one jumped at me, trying to ambush me. I made a full circle, managing to cut it in half.

  They came at me from every side. Maybe they were hiding?

  I did not want to figure it out. They were coming at me for killing their leader. They were slowly swarming the room, many of those small nasty eyed creatures were coming and I had no intention to count them.

  The majority came from the sides of the doors and through the floor.

  I flew higher, reaching the ceiling of the corridor, and moving past them. They realized their mistake, and some began to climb up the walls.

  “Come on, give up!”

  I made it to the next corner, and then rushed to the door.

  Darkened as the spell on the building was still keeping me from seeing, I had to brave my way in…

  GREEEHHH!

  At least a dozen of them were waiting for me when I crossed the threshold. They were fast enough to catch me by surprise before I could get out of the way, but not enough for me to detect them.

  From many points, they pinned me, and fell on top.

  “[Fire burst]!” I yelled.

  The fire dome extended from me and pushed them, burning them as they flew past me.

  I did not waste any more time and rushed towards the staircase, and went back up.

  Back on the main floor, the situation was the same, but there were less waiting for me, so I was more worried about the horde forming downstairs to catch me.

  “[Magic barrier]!”

  Before I could progress, I used one of my most recent spells thanks to Earless. A small dome appeared behind me, blocking the stairs. I could see as they began to pour out of the darkness, clawing and gnawing at the magic wall.

  The wall did not ripple, it shook with each attack.

  [Warning! They are managing to break through, you need to hurry!]

  “No need to tell me twice!”

  I ran forward, not focusing on the barrier, only meant to win me time.

  I swung to the right, killing one that jumped at me. I flew higher, dodging the spit from one of them. Then I went low, flying under another that tried to grab me.

  Then by the door, I swung again.

  My barrier fell down, but that was calculated.

  I reached the main hall once more.

  None was there waiting for me. None of them were trying to ambush me.

  Only the group behind me, pouring from the darkened corridor like a shaken nest.

  I reached the door, they were closing in, and used another barrier on top of me.

  The first one that reached, jumping before the barrier formed, hit its head against it and screeched in pain as it fell on its back.

  I opened the door.

  [[Matching identity detected. Good travels, Seeker]]

  A similar message appeared, and I went out.

  The door closed as soon as I came out into the caves, and I released the barrier. None of them managed to come out.

  I did not take time to ponder on what just happened, I had to rush back to Aspen.

  [You gained 2 levels! 14/20!]

  [All your stats increased!]

  [Ether absorption blocked!]

  [Fireball gained a level! Lv 05]

  [Fire Burst gained a level! Lv 03]

  [Magic Barrier gained a level! Lv 02]

  [Piercing Form gained a level! Lv 02]