Key Rush (6)

(Nico POV)

The entire world was engulfed in an eerie crimson veil, the massive crimson moon hanging in the sky, a reminder of my failure to reach the next level before the crimson moon rose. Now, I have to deal with the consequences of it. Which was having to fight monsters significant stronger than me, monsters I could never defeat.

Chances of the leader of the Bloodroot Stranglers was increased, as well. However, for some reason, it hasn't appeared yet. Which, I was grateful for. Once it did appear, I'll have no choice but to remain continously in the air, which was dangerous, as my innate spirit was draining rapidly.

Still, I kept calm. I couldn't let my emotions rule over me. Calmness was something I mastered long ago, something that was required of my survival inside The Mulligan.

Making a decision, I started lowering my descend downwards. The distance to the next level wasn't far, it was down to 5 kilometers. Which meant, if I was fast enough, I can reach before the Bloodroot Stranglers could catch up to me.

During my descend from flying, my thoughts ran back towards Morgan. That unlikable, disgusting idiot. If he had teamed up with me, perhaps I wouldn't be in the situation. Perhaps I would of already reached the next level by now! But he just had to be stubborn. The moment I meet him next time, I will kill him.

I made that resolution almost instantly. I never felt this much hatred towards anyone. In truth, it's not like I disliked Zeke, Isabella and Morgan. They were decent people, but people I needed to step on to achieve my goal— becoming powerful. So, I had to try and kill them, as they were in my way.

It wasn't out of hatred, it was out of necessity.

However, that all has changed after the stunt Morgan pulled. Deep down, I despised him. I hated him for getting the favor of Movarathos, somehow. Because of that, I had to resort to torturing Movarathos in his skill by absorbing his spirit essence, giving it back and then absorbing it again, just to get him to speak about the Key Rush mission.

I learnt alot, perhaps all there was to know, but I didn't trust his words too easily. No matter the situation that Skull of Ruin is in, he wouldn't give in so easily to his opponents, exposing such vital information.

So, this made me question that Morgan's sudden disappearance wasn't as simple as it seems. He was alive, if he wasn't, his name would of disappered from the Player Participants and I would win this mission by default— that didn't mean the Key of Ruin would just be handed to me, I'll still have to get it.

The reason I chose Morgan as my rival for this mission was because I had thought he was the weakest of the group, but now…..im slowly starting to regret this decision. Perhaps taking the girl would of been a much wiser choice.

Shaking my heard out of these unnecessary thoughts, I sped up my descent, as my innate spirit was running dangerously low. I still needed enough innate spirit for an [Implosion] use. It requires just far too much of it, but made sense considering how powerful it was—negating any durability by exploding within someone I touch. The cost of requiring alot of innate spirit was fair.

I had mostly used [Explosion] ever since the beginning of this mission. It required less innate spirit and the flames it leaves behind was something the Bloodroot Stranglers was vulnerable to.

Which worked well during the day, but when the crimson moon rises, the Bloodroot Stranglers become highly resistant to their only weakness, making my flames pretty much useless—they also lose a significant amount of their fear, making them more brave, intelligent and even reckless at times. This has caused me problems more than once.

So, when I touch down, I had to be ready, in case any of those Bloodroot Stranglers was waiting for me down there. I need to cause a violent explosion, then just run away. That's my only option for now.

Slowly, my descent started slowing down, as I shifted my body, so that my legs would be the first to touch down. This enchantment on the headpiece of the chain-mail armor was very convenient, it helped me fly like an airplane, which was both thrilling and useful.

My feet hit the blood river. The decent was smooth, yet it still caused a little slash. Which, of course, immediately alerted every single Bloodroot Strangler nearby.

More than thirty of them sprung out from the depths beneath me, radiating malice, almost seething with it, as the crimson vines lunged towards me. They attempted to latch on to my limbs, but luckily, I was prepared for this.

When I touched down, i was immediately in a crouched position. This allowed me to place down both my palms on the surface beneath the blood river before the vines could reach me.

Pouring my innate spirit into [Explosion] I saw a blinding light filling my vision. The familier light. Luckily, I was immune to my own explosions, even the flames. So, by the times the Bloodroot Stranglers was blinded, writhing from pain, trying to escape the flames. I was already on the move, unharmed.

Without looking back, I started rushing forward, as fast as I could. The entire blood river was engulfed in flames—atleast the part of where I was, was pretty much engulfed in flames, hovering above the water like a logical impossibility.

However, unlike before, the Bloodroot Stranglers didn't turn to ash. Rather, they managed to wiggle out the flames, others who couldn't— just dived into the blood river, cleansing themselves of it, before poking out once again. None of them died, the flames withered as quickly as it had come, leaving behind pitiful damage in it's wake.

This was the effect of the crimson moon.

I knew this would happen. So, I wasn't surprised. Rather, I would of been surprised if I managed to do any damage. All of it was nothing more than a distraction, a momentary stall to buy me enough time to make distance, replenish innate spirit, then fly into the sky again.

I couldn't outrun them, I knew that much. It was impossible to outrun creatures that was much stronger and faster than you. However, luckily, this level of the blood river only had the Bloodroot Stranglers. They couldn't fly, nor do they have any long-ranged attacks. This meant, as long as I have innate spirit, i can avoid their attacks forever and peacefully make it to the next level.

That was under the assumption they don't catch me first, of course.

The Bloodroot Stranglers had quickly recovered from their momentary shock, without any hesitation, they began rushing towards their prey; me.

I briefly looked back over my shoulder and saw how quickly the creatures managed to close the distance between us. It was almost instantaneous. If it weren't for my unwavering resolve of getting the Key of Ruin, I would of dropped to my knees and gave up from the sheer show of skill.

But I couldn't.

I would never give up.

Power isn't handed to you, it's earned. The Mulligan simply gives the players a chance to attain it, with a little boost. Who am I to waste such an opportunity after being handed it? Do I want to go back to that life, where I was ridiculed and looked down upon for not having any blessings by my peers?

Of course I don't. I would never dream of that life. The inferiority I felt had stuck to me like a plague, refusing to go away, no matter how many therapy sessions I took. The only way i could get rid of this was by becoming powerful.

The first step was the Abyssal Heart, but that was ruined by Isabella, Zeke and Morgan. But that's okay. As long as I get the Key of Ruin, I can forgive them for the mistake they had made.

As long as? No, I will get it!

I made up my mind in that instant. I didn't want to lose to Morgan—if he refused to team-up, from now on, we are truly rivals. He will try to kill me the moment he sees me, I will try to kill him the moment I see him.

Using up my pitiful amount of innate spirit, I willed myself to fly, the headpiece of the chain-mail doing it's job splendidly, as I felt my feet being lifted off the blood river, hovering in the air. Slowly but surely, I started climbing up and managed to get enough distance before any of the Bloodroot Stranglers could reach me.

I looked down at them smugly, as i started climbing higher, picking up the speed. I didn't care about the fact that this desperate maneuver will leave me weakened for a lengthy period of time, once my innate spirit totally runs dry again.

Because regardless of it, I would of made up a significant distance between me and the Bloodroot Stranglers, allowing me to easily step into the next level. When that happens, I'll be given a brief respite. A much-needed one.

Just as my hopes were being lifted, a grin forming on my face, I felt something spiky, slimy and warm wrap around my waist. Confused, I looked down— and my eyes widened in horror.

'Wh–what….?'

A massive Bloodroot Strangler that was so lengthy, it managed to grab me timely while I was flying in the sky, wrapping around my waist. I was floating above the clouds! How was this possible?

Before I could even come to a conclusion, the impatient Bloodroot Strangler pulled me back down from my high horse, the clouds splitting as I was roughly pulled down to the ground—the wind slapping my face, creating a comical apperance on my face that didn't fit the situation at all.

And before I knew it, my face had slammed into the ground with a loud Shockwave that caused the blood river to ripple. I thought I had died for a moment—losing consciousness, but somehow, I snapped out of it as my eyes opended wide.

I didn't open my mouth, though. As I was now suddenly submerged into the depths of the blood river. From what I forced Movarathos to tell me, he said that the water of the blood river was toxic. Drinking even a little bit could cause me to go into cardic arrest, which wasn't ideal.

I didn't even want to risk keeping my eyes open, so I shut them tightly—not without taking a peek at what had grabbed me, though. Because I had a vague suspicion…

Turning my head downwards, I saw that the massive crimson vine was still holding onto my waist tightly. When I followed the Bloodroot Strangler to where it's length lead, my eyes widened in absolute horror, panic and fear.

In front of me was a grotesque mess of a tumor, that seemed to stretch across the entire expanse of the blood river. It had one single massive eye, staring down at me with malice and hunger, that it made me feel like nothing but an ant—no, less than one in comparison to it. From its skin, thousands upon thousands of Bloodroot Stranglers protruded out, each one bigger and thicker than the last.

It felt like I was staring at the face of death itself.

Before long, The Mulligan announced it. Even though I already knew what it is.

[Boss fight Intitated!]

Boss Fight:—

Boss Name: [Vilthar, The Gnarled Devourer]

Boss Class: A-Class.

Boss Tier: High-Tier.

Goal: Kill Vilthar.

Rewards: [450 Abyssal Fragments]

Punishment: None.

This thing was once a B-Class boss, but with the crimson moon shining down, it's class had increased by one level—to make things worse, the boss was a high-tier of that class. There is no way in hell I can kill this thing.

I'm done for.

Time until Daybreak: 16:12 minutes.