Pawn

10 days later.

For some reason, my level increased to 20 in just a blink. I don't know what happened, but I am sure I only killed 30 monsters so far. It used to take 100 monsters to level. 30 up, but it's taking only 1 or two, even sometimes I wake up and see my level increase. What exactly is happening?

Nikita was confused about his sudden increase in levels.

I levelled up, but why the monsters are stronger too?? The small cockroaches are level 5 and white wolf, and dark goblins, they are all above level 10. Did something happen to this dungeon? I guess I have to level up more. 

If it's a fantasy world, then I am sure the boss monster is a dragon, or something more horrible. I need to level up as soon as I can to kill that level 5 mamba. Or I will die again this year. Because the deadline is only a year. I've already wasted 3 months.

Come to think of it, if I have this game-like system inside my head, there must be some features called map, inventory or search right?

"System, do you have any map of this place?"

[Host has 10% access to the dungeon map. Clear the monsters to achieve more parts of the map.]

   -Hah, I knew it. He wants me to clear this whole dungeon in one year. The level 5 mamba is just a bait to lure idiots out of the game. They need participants who can think outside the box. They need solid products to kill the heroes.

Come to think of it, why should we kill the heroes? Did they do something horrible to annoy the 6 horn devil? Or, he's the demon king who loves to mess up with people.

 We are just his pawns for the bigger picture, right? There's always a prize for something in return. 

I already died, but he doesn't have any obligation to give me a chance to live freely, he will ask for something in exchange sooner or later.

He wants us to hate the heroes because he wants us to think that we are stuck here because of them. It will naturally create a grudge against the heroes even though they did nothing to us. He wants us to fight with them, he wants us to entertain him. We're just little pawns which will be used and thrown away.

"What a luck…"

Suddenly, he saw a huge tree for the first time in that dungeon. The tree was big and it was blue in colour. The leafs were blue. Yellow fruit was hanging all over the small branches. It was a beautiful tree.

   Wow, this tree is really big. Just how old is this place? 

He climbed the tree to eat fruit and saw another black fang snake. He stuttered but he hid behind a branch to check it.

[Species: Black Fang.  Level 7. Gender: F.] 

   System, do you know something about that snake?

Ting!

[The monster you're indicating isn't something from this dungeon. It's an outsider. Its level is 7 and she's a great hunter.]

 And nothing? What about her skills?

[It's a monster that has poisonous skin Level D.]

Poisoning skin. She must've eaten something that has poisonous skin. 

   System. Is there any water nearby? 

[A pond is about 20 metres away.]

I knew it. She ate a poisonous frog. Because only a frog can have poisonous skin in this type of dungeon. If there's a pond, there must be fishes. I want to taste some raw fish.

I wonder what a raw fish would taste like in my snake form. Maybe the taste of sushi? 

He looked at her and saw her sleeping on the branch. Her body was small but her sense of presence was really great.

   -She is a human inside that snake's body. It's best to ignore every participant in this trial. Because if we can kill the boss, we'll see each other anyway.

So, he ate a fruit and left the place without making a sound.

The dungeon he was living in had an unique design that didn't match any other architectural structure. Even its gravity was different. The floor was dark, the selling was made with transparent glass and the walls were built with blue stone with many plants stuck on it. 

It was a huge place with no end. An infinite dungeon.

   I should hunt some other prey to level up. I'm only level 22 now. Who knows what awaits me in the future?

Ting!

[You've unlocked a new part of the dungeon map. Congratulations]

"Do you have any map of this place? Like a 2D or 3D structure of this place? I asked you before but you didn't show me."

[The host has access to unlocked parts of the dungeon map.]

A screen appeared in front of him and he saw the map. It was huge. So huge that it should be considered a country rather than a city. 

He only walked 13% of the whole map.

"Why didn't I search for it before? I could've killed and levelled up more."

Ting!

[20 High Goblin level 22 is approaching. Approximated distance: 30 metres away]

"Ah shit. The high goblin is 22 level! It's the same as mine. And 20 in numbers? Can I kill them?"

    Tsk!! I guess I have to use my venom all over again. Because it's one of my attacks.

Nikita has only 3 attacks and 2 defences. He used choking, biting and cracking as his attacks. And Skin Harding, shadow hide as his defence. But when he uses mana in his attack, it becomes more effective and the opponent dies easily. 

   But taking 20 high goblins at a time might be difficult for me. Should I attack from behind?

[Shadow hide activated. The host will be able to hide in the shadow by erasing his presence. Skill time countdown 12:30:57.]

    I can't take them on if I fight with them. I have to take them down one by one from behind.