While ChibiScker grappled with the monstrosity, Fenix dashed to the podium, eyes fixed on the book encased in gss. He fiddled with the gss box, trying to open it, but it was locked tight. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. It looked like they’d have to defeat the monster first if they wanted the gss case to be unlocked.

  “I can’t get the book; we need to kill that thing first,” Fenix yelled over the chaos of the fight, frustration evident on his face as he gred at the locked gss case.

  ChibiScker clicked his teeth in frustration. “What the heck? Then you might as well come help me distract this thing so I can attack it without getting pushed back.”

  Fenix whipped his head to see ChibiScker being bombarded by the monster's projectiles, dodging frantically to avoid being hit. Although ChibiScker managed to nd some attacks, he was hindered by the creature's constant barrage. But Fenix knew they needed to defeat the creature quickly if they wanted to get rid of their poisoned state.

  Fenix saw that the monster was pushing ChibiScker back again. Although he did some damage to it, with the way the monster attacked, it would take them forever to kill it, and with them being poisoned, they didn’t have that kind of time.

  Fenix had a feeling that this battle would have gone a lot smoother if there had been a ranged attacker on their team. However, even if that was the case he couldn't waste time dwelling on it. Instead, he needed to use his time wisely. Which meant thinking of a pn to take this potion waste of a monster down.

  Yet, no pn came to mind, and he needed to help ChibiScker. Just as he was about to join the battle the boy called out to him.

  “Chaotic Nexus, I’m running out of stamina and I’ve used up all my stamina potions. Do you have any?” ChibiScker asked urgently.

  “Yes, I have a bunch. Can you make it over here to get one?” Fenix asked, watching ChibiScker dodge the monster’s attacks.

  “I don’t think so. Throw one at me, I can catch it,” ChibiScker replied.

  Fenix hesitated, watching as another attack nearly hit ChibiScker. “Are you sure?”

  “Throw it now! My stamina is at 50 points!” ChibiScker shouted.

  With no better option, Fenix threw a stamina potion. ChibiScker tried to catch it, but another attack forced him to dodge. The potion sailed through the air and nded on the monster instead of in ChibiScker’s hands.

  The bottle shattered, the potion fizzing and sizzling as it hit the monster. The creature reared back in pain, taking over 200 damage. Fenix and ChibiScker exchanged bewildered gnces.

  ChibiScker quickly moved to Fenix as the monster was distracted and grabbed some stamina potions from the man. “So, potions hurt it?”

  “It looks like it. Everything in this dungeon seems tied to potions. Why should the boss be any different?” Fenix replied, a little bemused.

  “Alright, let’s barnboard this thing with them then!” ChibiScker decred as he pulled out a health potion and mimed throwing it at the monster, but nothing happened. Perplexed, he attempted to toss it to Chaotic Nexus, who caught it easily. Confused, ChibiScker asked, “Why can't I throw potions at the monster?”

  “It's because you don't have the required skill. I obtained it from my css change. It allows me to throw potions at monsters. We can discuss it further after we defeat this creature,” Fenix expined, taking a sip of an HP potion to counteract the poison that was draining his health. “Drink a stamina potion and I will throw potions while you attack with your sword.”

  “Let's do it!” ChibiScker agreed eagerly, preparing for battle.

  “Let’s,” Fenix smiled, thinking, ‘I guess I was the ranged attacker we needed.’

  Fenix quickly equipped the Shilvak’s Combat Gloves knowing they would enhance his Throw skill. To his surprise, five empty slots appeared on the gloves' interface, waiting to be filled.

  Without hesitation, Fenix reached into his inventory and pulled out 50 potions, connecting them to one of the slots. He grinned in excitement, knowing that this would save him from having to constantly retrieve potions during battle.

  With everything set up, Fenix unched the potions at the monster with precision. Each hit dealt devastating damage, pushing the monster back instead of the other way around.

  The monster was struggling to use its skills, but every time it tried, Fenix interrupted it with another potion attack. Seeing that it was backed into a corner, ChibiScker leaped into action, using his own attacks to deal even more damage.

  The monster’s health points were going down fast, but ChibiScker wanted to end things with a bang for his viewers. He called out dramatically, "Swords of Death, take your vengeance!"

  A bright light surrounded his swords as he waved them in a circur motion. Suddenly, a thousand swords appeared above the creature's head.

  With a mighty cry, the boy pointed his swords at the creature and all one thousand swords rained down on the monster, draining its st remaining health points. Fenix watched in awe as the creature dissolved into a puddle of nasty ooze before turning into white particles and disappearing into nothing.

  Suddenly, different notifications popped up before him.

  [System: You have cleared the Krimplot dungeon!]

  [System: You have leveled!]

  [System: You have leveled!]

  [System: You have leveled!]

  [System: You are now at level 18!]

  “We did it!” ChibiScker whooped, thrusting his fist triumphantly into the air.

  “We sure did,” Fenix chuckled, heading towards the pile of loot. “Let’s see if the key to the case was dropped with the other items.”

  Fenix rummaged through the assortment of loot and, as hoped, found the key hidden among them. He pced it in his inventory and signaled for ChibiScker to join him. Among the items, they found five silver coins dropped by the monster, which they divided between them.

  They also discovered a variety of high-grade potions, which were given to ChibiScker, since he could make his own potions as a potion maker. Besides a few pieces of armor that neither of them could use but could sell, all that remained was a combat potion recipe called Dreaming Dust, which they both knew was meant for him.

  Dream Dust: Dreaming is usually reserved for when you sleep at night, but this potion lets you put anything to sleep, anytime you want. Enemies hit by Dream Dust fall asleep instantly, making them more vulnerable to damage but not for long. Stronger enemies are harder to put to sleep.

  Fenix grinned, knowing this would come in handy. He tore the recipe in half, and it vanished in a fsh of light. A notification confirmed it had been added to his combat potion journal. He moved to the podium, took the key from his inventory, unlocked the gss case, and retrieved the book.

  [System: You have obtained part one of two of Shilvak’s book! You have gained knowledge about how to gain potion combat skills!]

  [System: You will automatically receive the quest for the second part upon reaching level 50!]

  Opening the book, Fenix saw that all the important notes about combat recipes had been added to his collection journal, leaving the original book with only stories of Shilvak’s travels. Now he understood why he could give the book to an NPC.

  After grabbing the book, another door appeared. Fenix opened it and saw it was an exit. “ChibiScker, let’s go!”

  “Alright! Let’s get out of here,” ChibiScker agreed.

  Name: Chaotic Nexus  Title: Bird Killer

  Level: 18      EXP: 119/8000 ←- (+500 each Lvl)

  HP: 300/300 MP: 260/260 STA: 290/290←- (+10 each Lvl)

  Stat points: 68 ←- (+3 each Lvl)

  Strength: 8 +4  Dexterity: 10 +4

  Intelligence: 8 +4 Luck: 10 +4

  Coins: 9 Gold, 873 Silver, 722 Bronze