Re: Devil - Volume 1 Chapter 5

I walked out of the cave and I was thinking, whether or not I should kill the hell maggot to level up and possibly evolve.

[Well… Let’s just see first if I can find other beasts or demons that I can kill. It is safer to level up first then try to kill it. Yosh.]

Making up my mind, what I wanted to do, I sprinted down the mountain and searched for prey while avoiding the hell maggot’s track.

Sometimes later.

and down went one more ant. My luck for today was not so lucky because the time that I needed to find one lone ant was longer than I thought. I devoured the essences making my level 79.

While I was hunting, I have also not forgotten to always use [Inspect], so my [Inspect] could evolve to [Insight].

But so far, the progress was disheartening. I could not seem to evolve it no matter even I though I regularly used it. Could it be that my method was wrong or my comprehension about [Inspect] was not enough or was there any other reasons?

I tried using [Inspect] on one of the bones littered on the ground.

[Imp Leg Bone]

“…” [Let’s just use it more.]

I rested enough and continued to find more preys. [I think I should go to other area but still not far from the cave. Oh yeah, Inpuji had said, bathing in magma was beneficial and could make me into fire imp. I should try that, If I cannot find anymore preys, at least I can get a little bit stronger].

I walked until I found a large area with magma in it, kind of like a magma lake but It was small but enough for my stature. I put my weapon down.

I first tried to dip my foot in the magma and of course it was painful but in exchange I discovered that my foot was alright. It was not burned or anything. It only felt hot because of the remaining heat.

I dipped my foot again but this time I endured the pain and slowly until all of my body was inside the magma. [F.u.c.k… It is painful … grrg] I gritted my teeth and endured the pain so that my body would receive the maximum benefits.

[endure… endure … endure … F.u.c.k] I quickly went out of the magma. I gasped for my breath. I tried to feel my body and I could sense it was a bit stronger but I have not gotten the skill yet.

[Perhaps I need to bathe again?] I asked myself. I gritted my teeth and directly jumped into the magma.

The second time I bathed in the magma, I could last longer than the first time. Then I repeated it until my body was used to this magma. By then,

[Due to your continuous actions, your body is immune to low level fire]

[Fire Body acquired].

“Finally, the pain is actually worth it.”

[Status]

Level 79 – No Name – No Title

Species: Normal Imp (Common)

Unranked

Skills

Shadow Claw

Inspect

Fire Body

I nodded and was satisfied with my status. [Now only inspect. ] Then I realized something.

Wait, rather than searching for a lone ant, why not find the nest and kill the ant, that go out alone?]

I smacked my head because of my stupidity. So with a clear goal in mind, this time I searched for a group of ants and followed them with a safe distance.

It didn’t take a lot of time before I saw a group of ants about 5 ants carrying , I thought, a carcass of beast. I followed them silently.

I realized they were going to the direction of the mountain where the cave was located but I was relieved that they were actually circling the mountain.

Then I saw, where they were coming from. A rocky landscape plus many debris and broken boulder. The ants were coming from a crack of a boulder big enough for the ant to go in and out. On a glance, it would be very difficult to find the nest because of the landscape and environment.

The ants brought the carcass back to the hole that I could see from the crack of the boulder. I presumed that I already found the nest. [Now, I just need to wait for the ants to come out.]

I waited behind the boulder with many rocks and bones, It was easy to find a hiding spot to wait.

As I was waiting, many ants were coming in and out. Suddenly, a much larger ant appeared. It’s size was two times bigger and had a darker color than a normal ant. Bigger and stronger jaw. I quickly used [Inspect]

[Inspect]

[Hell Guard Ant]

I assumed that the guard ant was an evolution from a normal hell ant. [If I kill him and devour his essences, I think it is enough.] I gulped.

The guard ant roamed alone without any ants accompanying it. It circled around the nest and didnt’t go too far away from the nest. It appeared that, the guard ant’s job was to patrol, whether or not there was any intruder, that wanted to go inside the nest.

Marking it as a target, I waited for him to stop so that I could launch a surprise attack. [I think the head and jaw this time is too hard for me to damage it. It is better to attack other parts of the ant.]

I made up my mind and climbed a boulder, any boulder would do, so that I had the higher ground and it was easier for me to see and attack.

The guard ant stood still, checking the area. Thinking that it was safe, just as the guard ant started to walk, I jumped and lounged toward the ant slicing it’s abdomen with my [Fire Imp Spine].

It was successful in wounding it but the guard ant still had energy to retaliate. It was furious and started to chase me and chomped me.

It chased me faster and just as it’s jaws bit me, I quickly jumped sideways. The guard ant because of anger and it’s size, rammed into the boulder.

I quickly slashed the guard ant to deal some damage, but the guard ant then turned his head and swung his jaw.

“Gahh….”. I was flung away and hit some rocks. [It is … my first time getting hurt … Urgh … ].

Thankfully, I had [Fire Body] and already leveled up, otherwise normal imps could not take the damage and probably would be an ant’s food.

I got up and looked at my surrounding to see if there was anything I could use to kill the ant.

The guard ant unfortunately didn’t give me time to think about it and it opened it’s jaw wide while walking quickly towards me.

It appeared that the guard had cooled down somehow. [Tch… I need to be careful else I will be cut cleanly in two.] Interrupting my thought was the jaw in front of me.

The guard ant closed his jaw. I estimated the length of the jaw and I jumped backwards swiftly and also slashed the ant’s jaw.

It sounded like metal collided with each other. It didn’t do much damage but luckily there was an additional fire damage.

The guard ant opened his jaw again and wanted to do the same things again waiting for me to be caught off guard but this time I also ran and accelerated toward him and just as we collided. I slided my body to be under the guard ant.

The ant was confused, where did I go. This was a chance, I repeatedly slashed and stabbed the guard ant’s abdomen.

The guard ants’s abdomen was riddled with wounds. [Just a little bit more…] Unexpectedly the guard ant screeched loudly. [Shit, does the guard ant wants to call it’s other ant.]

I sped up attack. [Oh no you dont’t]. Then the abdomen of the guard ant burst out open letting out sticky substances and blood.

The guard ant was tenacious and was still alive but the damage that was already dealt was affecting him.

The guard ant’s speed became slower and it’s attack became more predictable. That’s why I must quickly finished off this ant.

The guard ant turned his head wanting to hit me again but learning from mistakes I dodged it and attacked his head by stabbing it.

I pushed my weapon deeper in it’s head and ending it’s life. The guard ant’s body fell down. [Hah… Hah… This is my first time killling something difficult.]

I quickly devoured the guard ant and in the middle of eating I heard a lot of footsteps and sped up my eating speed. [Faster Faster!]

Then when the guard’s ant essences were all devoured.

[Lesser Skin Hardening acquired.]

[Evolution’s conditions are met. Evolution is possible.]