Level Up: Voidwalker

Chapter 37: Tidebreaker's

Atlas finally reached the creature's head, determinedly placing his hand on its skull. Without hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of Void Arrows, their azure glow illuminating the chaos around them as they tore through the monster's hide at close range.

The Drakaroth roared in pain and continued to thrash around. Atlas realized he couldn't kill it, so he quickly grabbed Lilith before leaping off the rage-filled monster and hitting the jungle floor.

Atlas started dashing through the trees while heading Northeast. He jumped over branches and fallen logs. Lilith wriggled out of his arms and started running beside him, emitting an adorable growl.

They raced through the jungle until they reached the river Atlas had spotted from the summit. When Atlas halted, Lilith didn't brake, launching into the water with a spectacular splash and paddling across without a hint of concern.

Emerging on the opposite bank, she had an enormous leech clinging to her. Atlas quickly scanned it with Void Sight.

[Poison Leech]

[Rank: G - 50 Exp]

Before he could react, Lilith tore the leech off and devoured it in a couple of bites. Then, with a shudder, she collapsed. Atlas peered at her, tongue lolling out and looking like a drunk college student at spring break.

He was worried about the little devil and started searching for a way to cross the dangerous river full of monsters that made his skin crawl. While walking, Atlas scanned the water because he felt something watching him.

[Swamp Drake]

[Rank: E - 200]

Atlas stopped walking while raising his hand and casting three Void Arrows into the water. This caused a mini explosion as the water erupted just as the monster lunged at him, but he was ready and cast Void Guard.

The monster slammed into his shield and pushed him backward, allowing him to retrieve his dagger. The Swamp Drake attacked again, but Atlas was ready, so he quickly sidestepped the monster before stabbing it in the eye.

It roared in pain and tried to free itself, but Atlas cast a Void Arrow directly into its eye through the dagger, which caused the thing's head to explode. Following that, he walked along the riverbank until he found a way across.

By the time he reached Lilith, she was out cold and looked drunk, which made him laugh as he scooped her up. Atlas continued to travel through the jungle without being bothered by any more monsters.

Soon, as the sun began to set, he started searching for a place to settle down for the night. Finding no suitable spot, he crawled under a bush, curling up and cuddling Lilith for warmth and comfort after wrapping the cloak around them.

The night passed, and Atlas was well hidden so that none of the stronger night monsters could see or sense him, thanks to the enchanted cloak. But that didn't stop Lilith from waking up.

She panicked but soon realized Atlas was hugging her. The angry Arzuros looked at the young boy, who recoiled with an uncertain expression before she nudged his head with her own and curled up closer.

As the sun rose and lit up the jungle, Atlas stirred and woke up, the warmth of the morning light bringing him back to consciousness. He crawled out of under the bush while cradling Lilith.

Atlas looked around and saw dozens of massive monster prints. While examining the scene, he heard two loud roars, which caused him to look up as something flew past, causing a mini earthquake.

He rushed to a tree and started climbing, but Lilith lunged at something. Atlas quickly looked to see her fighting a medium-sized snake. The honey badger-like monster was vicious, savaging the serpent with relentless ferocity.

In the meantime, Atlas starts climbing up the branches until he reaches the canopy, only to see two massive monsters fighting each other. One was the Jungle King and the other looked like a giant Allosaurus.

The giant dinosaur lunged at the ape, but it sidestepped the attack before striking its head with a hammer fist. Atlas heard the loud crunch when its fist crushed the monster's skill before two more joined the fight.

'Ouch, one punch kill must have hurt,' he internalized while watching the fight. Atlas realized they were getting closer, which caused him to quickly descend the tree after grabbing Lilith.

When he hit the ground, he started sprinting through the jungle as everything shook. Atlas managed to flee the area, and, thanks to the Titan's fight, the monsters all hid, allowing him free travel across the jungle.

He made good time and ended up in a clearing covered with monster bones, which caused him to think, 'What did this?'

While standing there, Atlas heard a primal and haunting sound reverberating across the clearing. It began as a low rumble, akin to distant thunder rolling across the plains, building in intensity with each reverberation.

As it rose in pitch, the growl transformed into a piercing shriek, sharp and menacing, cutting through the air like a blade, 'I wonder what monster it is now?' he sighed.

A ten-foot-tall culprit stepped into the clearing, allowing Atlas to see the monster. Its green feathers and back helped it blend into its surroundings, but what unnerved him were its glowing yellow eyes.

Its massive hooked beak looked deadly. When Atlas saw this newcomer, he gulped, 'Oh god. Why is something like this here?'

Atlas quickly scanned it with Void Sight.

[Terror Bird]

[Rank: E+ - 300 Exp]

As he did that, Lilith growled before wiggling out of his arms and dropping to the ground. She made herself look bigger before charging at the Terror Bird and attacking it, which shocked Atlas, who quickly followed.

The monster roared in anger and rushed forward. When Atlas saw how fast it was, he cast Void Guard as its massive claws struck the shield, causing him to fly backward, but that's when Lilith bit down on the Terror Bird's side.

Atlas wouldn't let her get the kill and started casting dozens of Void Bullets at its large body. When the projectiles connected, the monster tumbled over and crashed to the ground, allowing the Honey Badger to swarm over it.

He rushed forward just as the creature was about to bite Lilith, grabbed its head, and instantly Void Arrow into its skull, causing it to burst like a watermelon, allowing the experience to flow into his body.

''Ahhh, that always feels good,'' he mumbled.

Atlas shook his head before looking at Lilith, chewing at the corpse. She was ripping pieces of flesh off the Terror Bird. Confused at the girl's behavior, he pulled out his dagger and cut out the orange Monster Core.

Once he had done that, he stored the message in his storage: ''Come on, Lily. Stop eating the bird.''

She looked at him with narrowed eyes; he knew what she would do and warned her, ''Don't you dare attack me! We've spoken about this, you demoness.''

Just as the last words rolled off his tongue, she pounced. All Atlas saw was black and white flying toward him until she clung to him like a face hugger; he fell backward as Lilith nibbled every part she could get hold of.

The Arzuros kept attacking him, and if Atlas managed to free himself, Lilith would do it again until she was sitting on his chest with a look of triumph on her little face. This made him laugh, but he pushed the little devil off him while standing up.

Lilith scrambled up his body and slumped on his shoulders like a sloth, causing Atlas to shake his head and press on through the dense jungle. Occasionally, she gave him a lick or a playful nibble, sending a shiver down his spine.

Suddenly, the demoness's head shot up, her gaze fixed on the south. She swiftly jumped off him and darted into the bushes. Atlas sighed and hurried after the mischievous creature, who led him to a beach nearly an hour's trek away.

Arriving there, he gazed at the stormy sea and quickly noticed a landmass further north. Atlas quickly realized that the beach stretched to that distant shore. He glanced at Lilith, who was prancing around in the sand and grinned.

Atlas began walking down the beach, but suddenly, something exploded from under the sand, sending him stumbling backward as Lilith lunged. He shook his head and saw a dog-sized crab with two large pincers holding the angry badger as she went wild.

This caused him to chuckle before scanning the monster.

[Tidebreaker]

[Rank: F - 100 Exp]

"Not too strong," Atlas mused. "Let's clear them out for the experience."

He rushed forward just as Lilith freed herself from the Tidebreaker's claws and tried attacking the monster by jumping onto its back. However, the creature's shell absorbed the impact, leaving it unharmed.

That's when Atlas cast Void Bullet at its face. The projectile pierced the Tidebreaker's soft flesh and exploded inside the shell. Lilith yelped and quickly jumped off as the creature collapsed to the sand below.

Then, even more Tidebreakers popped out of the sand and started attacking. Atlas cast Void Guard just as one of the monsters slammed into him. Spinning around, he cast Void Arrow into its face, the azure projectile hitting its mark with deadly precision.

Atlas's spell exploded, flinging the crab away just as Lilith rushed in and bit down on one of the monster's legs, ripping it out with a strong tug. He swiftly plunged a blade into the soft flesh, finishing the creature off.

The battle continued for a few more minutes until all the Tidebreakers lay lifeless on the beach. Atlas, breathing heavily, counted ten monsters before sitting down to catch his breath.