Isa checked the system again. She needed to defeat monsters to earn XP, requiring 100 XP to advance to the next level, with each subsequent level needing twice as much XP as the previous one.
She tried to open the map, but to her utter annoyance, it was blank; however, at the corner of the screen, she saw the name 'Forest Of Noman.'.
"Oh my fuking luck."
Isa cursed under her breath as a shiver ran down her spine.
This horrid forest calmly stood at the borders of three main kingdoms, connecting them. As much as hidden gem it contained, the amount of dangerous and unknown beings lurking inside made it impossible for any kingdom to claim the forest.
It was a no man's land, bordered with a powerful seal so that monsters wouldn't barge into the kingdom now and then.
[New mail received]
"Huh?"
Isa clicked the small letter icon in the top right corner.
[The Gods have decided to bestow the pitied soul a reward to wish a good journey towards the future.
Item: The Versatile Deggar
Tap to Claim the reward]
Isa sighed in relief. At least she had something to defend herself with. She soon claimed the reward and checked it out.
[Details: A dagger of a god, bestowed upon a Dragon Magnificent to slay the evil that lurked in the world. It was lost upon the Magnificent's death until it chose someone again.
Type: 5-star weapon
Enchanments:
#Can imitate any weapon
#Can't be lost. Will automatically teleport to the user's storage after a minute of no contact.
#Locked until Level
#??
#??
#??
#??
#??
Stats: The close-range damage increases up to 15% when the user tries their best]
"Gosh, that's a lot of enchantments. But a 5-star already? I guess not th-
A roar echoed through the forest, its voice cutting the air like a blade through silk. Isa stepped back a little, her heart thrumming against her ribcage.
The unseen creature's snarl grew nearer as the hybrid woman struggled to pinpoint its source. But just then, a shadowy figure shot itself right at her, taking her off guard.
Its sharp claws targeted her head, but her hand instinctively jerked, slashing the dagger to block the strike. The creature leapt back, snarling at Isa.
Isa also stepped back as an impact on its previous force.
[Viscous creature detected, Level 25]
[New Quest Detected]
[The Trail Of Courage: Kill the Unusual Voragoth Thrasher.
Rewards: Fit of Resistance]
Isa cursed the system for such quest when she was only at Level 1. Her HP was only 100 at the moment. She feared she would die in just one slap from the monster.
The creature on the other hand, stood nearly 7 feet tall, its emaciated frame wrapped in taut, obsidian skin that glistened like oil under light.
Its head was an abomination fusion of insect and beast: a elongated maw filled with rows of needle-like teeth, flanked by four glowing amber eyes that burned with predatory intent.
Its long limbs ended in scythe-like claws, each dripping with a viscous, green ichor. A pair of tattered, membranous wings twitched on its back, too ragged to fly but sharp enough to slice through flesh.
"The rewards better be nice if I'm fighting this filth on my first day." Isa muttered bravely but couldn't shake off the slight tremor that her voice held.
Isa's breath hitched as the Voragoth lunged again, its claws whistling through the air.
"W-who said I was ready?!"
She comically dove to the side, the Versatile Dagger in her grip morphing into a pair of spiky gauntlets resembling to the monsters to parry a follow-up strike.
The spikes met its claws with a screech of metal on bone, sending sparks flying. The impact jarred Isa's arms, her muscles screaming as the creature's unnatural strength pressed down.
If it was her human body, she might've died from the impact already. She had to say, her physique had quite changed but her stamina and reflex still ran low.
She awkwardly kicked out, aiming for its legs, but the Voragoth twisted with impossible speed, its tail—a whip-like appendage tipped with a barbed stinger—lashing toward her chest.
Her hybrid body barely dodged, the stinger grazing her shoulder. Pain erupted, a searing burn that spread like wildfire through her veins.
The ichor was venomous, she realized, as her vision swam and her left arm grew heavy. Blood trickled from the shallow wound, staining her tattered clothes.
"Damn it," she hissed, forcing herself to her feet. The pain was actually worse than any of the beatings she got from the gangsters in her previous life.
[HP: 85/100. Poisoned: -5 HP per minute.]
The filthy beast snarled at her, clearly showing that it didn't intend to stop until she was down.
"Listen, you bastard of a creature! Gods gave me a chance and I ain't going down just yet, you hear me?!"
She screamed her lungs out, making the creature screech back at her, showing its deadly maw.
It lunged forward again but this time, she ducked, punched an uppercut, and her spiky gauntlets pierced its underbelly. The Voragoth shrieked, a sound that rattled her bones.
It retaliated with a claw that raked across her thigh.
"Argh!"
Isa frantically leapt back. The wound was deep, muscle tearing as blood gushed down her leg. Isa stumbled, her vision darkening at the edges and her gauntlets turning back to the dagger.
[HP: 62/100. Bleeding: -10 HP per minute.]
She gritted her teeth, sucking in the pain that made her loose her mind. It was too soon to feel such a lengthy amount of pain.
The Voragoth circled her now, its amber eyes gleaming with sadistic glee, sensing her weakening state.
"Come on, you ugly bastard," Isa spat, her voice hoarse.
She gripped the dagger which pulsed in her hand, as if urging her to fight. She thrusted forward as soon as it lunged, aiming for one of its eyes, but the Voragoth batted the dagger aside with a wing, the jagged edge slicing Isa's forearm.
Another wound, another torrent of blood.
[HP: 48/100.]
Her body was a map of pain now: the poisoned shoulder throbbing, the thigh wound pulsing with each heartbeat, the forearm gushing crimson.
Her strength was fading, her movements sluggish.
The Voragoth lunged, its stinger aimed for her heart. Isa dropped to her knees, the dagger slashed wildly. The blade caught the stinger, severing its tip.
The creature howled, rearing back, and Isa seized the moment. She staggered forward, screaming profanities and drove the dagger into its chest, where a faint pulse of dark energy throbbed.
The Voragoth also thrashed in agony, its claws grazing her ribs, fracturing bone and tearing flesh.
[HP: 19/100. Critical condition]
Suddenly, a slight memory passed through Isa.
'...Healing bonus.'
"HEAL!" Isa screamed, her voice raw and with utter disdain.
[HP++35]
[HP: 54/100]
As she twisted the dagger deeper, the creature's claws plunged inside her abdomen, also twisting it.
[HP 11/100. Critical Hit]
Isa's eyes rolled back, saliva dripping from her mouth at the excruciating pain.
"URGH, YOU!"
The hybrid woman finally losing her mind, bit down on the creature's neck, digging her sharp fangs on its rotten skin.
The Vagorath screeched as its ichor sprayed her face, burning her skin, but she held on, her grip fueled by sheer defiance.
She tore off its flesh while twisting her dagger constantly.
"I'm gonna make a damn soup out of you, you ugly ass filth!"
The Voragoth's movements slowed, its shrieks fading to gurgles. With a final, desperate heave, Isa yanked the dagger free, and the creature collapsed.
[Voragoth Thrasher defeated. +300 XP. Level 3 achieved]
[Quest Completed]
[Stats+]
[Stats+]
Isa fell to her knees, her body trembling. Her shoulder was a swollen, blackened mess from the poison's lingering scars. She tasted its awfully decade-old rotten blood on her mouth, almost vomiting.
Her thigh wound oozed, the muscle barely functional. Her forearm and ribs throbbed, each breath a knife in her chest.
She was alive, but only just. The Versatile Dagger lay beside her, slick with ichor, its glow faint but steady.
"Heal." She weakly chanted.
[HP++50]
[HP: 61/200, poison effect removed]
Her body was hurting, but the healing effect instantly cured her forearm and thigh, almost leaving no mark. However, her broken ribs and abdomen took their sweet time.
She opened the system and went to the quest reward section. It seemed Isa had gained more SPD, HP, and healing bonus along with an item called 'Fit Of Resistance'. It was a set of clothes.
Now that she thought about it, her clothes that she had transmigrated wearing were almost ripped apart.
She tapped on the item before gasping.
"Damn, another 5-star already? Is it this easy to get a 5-star item? Heh, guess I'll be going on a spree soon."
She thought of seeing the enchanments, but decided to concentrate on healing herself more first, since if, any how she was attacked again, she was sure to die.
However, before she could, she felt another presence just behind her. Thinking her thoughts became a reality, Isa quickly leapt feeling annoyed, also ignoring the agonising pain in her abdomen and chest but still getting in position with her dagger in hand.
"I swear if it's another-
She quieted down but nonetheless, stayed on guard.
'...A baby dragon?'
The creature as tall as the Voragoth, bowed its head. Its ethereal electric blue scales almost matching her own, reflected the sunlight.
Its eyes like sapphire turned to a crescent shape, holding no hostile emotion but only a look of admiration. The familiar mark on its forehead gave away its identity instantly as Isa's eyes softened.
'So I'm in this part of the story...'
Isa weakly kneeled down, smirking. It seemed she was scheming something.
"It's an honour to meet your Magnificent Highness."
She looked up, gently looking at the curious dragon.
"Claudia Rellish, Princess of the Dragons."
TO BE CONTINUED...