That night, the dungeon felt darker than usual. Even the glow from the luminous moss seemed to dim. The MC, who usually slept with one eye (or sense) alert, suddenly felt a strange pressure in the air.
A monster slowly emerged from the thick purple mist. Tall, thin, its face like a wooden mask. Its body cloaked in swirling fog, it moved in complete silence. The MC's passive system kicked in.
> [Auto Identification: Wisp Hunter – Mid-tier monster that feeds on light and fear.]
"Kids, wake up... Now!" whispered the MC urgently.
The egglings stirred, groggy. But before they could prepare, the Wisp Hunter raised its hand and released a thick wave of purple fog that quickly enveloped the nest.
Cimut trembled, his voice quivering. "I... I can't move..."
"Don't be afraid! That's what it feeds on!" shouted the MC.
Putih, the master of cold mist, tried to fight back with his own white fog—but it was swallowed whole by the Wisp Hunter's corruption.
The MC thought quickly. "Abu! Bounce a rock at its eyes!"
Abu leapt and headbutted a pebble straight toward the monster's face. It hit—but no effect. The Wisp Hunter floated closer, slowly, savoring their fear like a gourmet meal.
The MC realized what he had to do. He had to become the bait.
With a burst of determination, he rolled forward at full speed—then ignited his body using Oyen's fiery sparks.
Now he was a blazing, spinning fireball of stink: **The Smoldering Rotten Egg.**
The Wisp Hunter turned immediately, its attention drawn to this absurd spectacle.
"You want fear? I'll give you trauma!" shouted the MC, slamming directly into the monster's body.
The Wisp Hunter convulsed violently as the searing heat and overpowering stink tore through its misty form. It let out a silent screech and fled into the shadows, its fog trailing behind.
The MC collapsed, smoke rising from his cracked shell. The children rushed to his side.
"Oyen... burn that nasty mushroom over there... Let's clear the stench…"
The MC chuckled weakly despite the damage.
---
**Notes from a Sleepless Night:**
- Enemy: Wisp Hunter — feeds on fear and light.
- Strategy: Distract and escape.
- Lesson: Sometimes, courage is just stink set on fire with reckless hope.
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At the end of the night, the MC looked at his children and murmured,
"If I get reincarnated again… I don't wanna be an egg... I wanna be an aromatherapy candle. At least I'd smell nice…"