Chapter 48: Against The Second Floor Roaming Boss

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[x10,000 Reward Multiplier Activated!]

[Dropped Item [Assassin Panther Bracelet (C Grade)] has been multiplied by x10,000!]

[You have obtained the item [Abyssal Assassin King Bracelet (SS++ Grade)]]

"It was already a rare drop too!" Riven himself was excited by what he saw. "Abyssal Assassin King Bracelet...?!"

It was a C Grade item drop that had turned into their first SS++ Grade one. When Riven carefully checked its information, he found out that it enhanced Stealth, Assassination, Dagger, and Poison Effects and Damage by a full 200% when equipped.

It was practically made to be worn by him!

"Here, you can keep it, Riven," Daniela said with a small, hesitant smile.

"...Are you sure? You obtained this on your own," Riven felt a little bad about simply receiving such a powerful item from her.

"Um, it’s in the form of an apology!" she said quickly. "Because I screwed up before... and maybe to cover future screw-ups too?"

"Hahah, I will still pay you for it," he replied. "But thanks. It’s better if I keep this for myself. With this, maybe we can clean up what’s coming quickly."

"Um, what’s coming?" she asked, her voice already a bit nervous.

"Ah, the Roaming Boss!" said Riven with a clear, confident smile. "We made enough noise to bring it here. Unlike the Tyrant who’s attracted to the smell of carrion, this one’s way easier to call."

"And what’s the... the Roaming Boss?" Daniela muttered, beginning to tremble slightly.

Riven equipped the bracelet without hesitation. He immediately felt a sudden surge of power rush through his body. His Abyssal Energies more than doubled in volume, and the poison already coursing through his veins intensified its empowering abilities even further.

"It’s called the Whispering Scream," explained Riven calmly.

"...Huh?"

Whispering Scream? What kind of name was that for a monster?

There was nothing she could easily imagine looking like that, and yet the name alone was so terrifying that it sent clear shivers down her spine.

"S-Shouldn’t you eat a little first?" she asked worriedly.

"I’m good," Riven said. "..."

Then he fell completely silent.

The air, everything around them, suddenly went completely silent.

The world itself fell silent in an instant. Everything around them became unnaturally still.

Daniela’s eyes darted around in panic as she tried to speak.

But nothing came from her mouth.

"?!"

Her voice... was completely muted.

There was no noise at all. The entire world had been muted.

Riven looked back at her and pointed into the distance, right in front of them.

Daniela almost screamed, but she could not make a single sound.

There was already something massive standing right there, watching them in absolute silence.

It was... somewhat humanoid, but also kind of like an ape, at least when it came to its overall body type.

It was covered completely by thick dark gray fur. Its head, however, was strange — completely white, with a mouth stretched wide open. There were no teeth visible, only a long tongue covered in sharp spines.

It had pitch-black eyes and long rabbit-like ears that ended in bladed spines.

It’s size? Around ten meters tall, give or take.

This bizarre abomination watched them in complete silence after its very presence muted the world around them.

Then Daniela finally managed to see its information.

[Whispering Scream – D++ Rank: Level 40 (Floor 2 Roaming Boss)]

Now Daniela truly wished she could have read that damned book properly beforehand.

Riven, however, was not bothered at all. He took a calm step forward while holding his sword ready.

Noir stayed close behind them, carefully guarding Daniela’s back.

"It’s finally here," Riven thought with quiet focus. "The Whispering Scream, a fascinating specimen from the second floor. A Monster capable of muting all noise with its very presence, disorienting and confusing its prey, and then striking when they least realize it."

Because of how dark this place was, and because of how its colors blended into the shadows, the Whispering Scream could easily hide from both sight and hearing.

Untrained hunters would have zero options against such a being.

And it showed. The creature proudly displayed dozens of skulls hanging from its thick hair, carefully tied to braids with the bones and skulls of its previous victims.

They were all human bones too.

The Whispering Scream could eat other things if necessary, but its favorite meal was humans, and it ate them almost exclusively.

There was something bizarre and... malicious about this creature that made Riven refuse to pity it as "just an animal trying to survive."

It was clearly intelligent enough to enjoy the act of torturing, killing, and eating another intelligent species.

It was a sadistic creature that thrived on the pure thrill of the hunt.

"..."

Then it met his gaze.

The Whispering Scream smiled.

A creepy smile without teeth, stretching from ear to ear...

Its head tilted for a moment, as if trying to comprehend this bold human who was simply walking directly toward it instead of running away in terror.

Then Riven pointed his sword straight at it, channeling his energies, and...

Unleashed a single, concentrated attack that shocked the Whispering Scream. The boss was so used to humans panicking and running away at its mere sight.

The reason it had stood there so calmly was because it always waited for the humans to start running first.

"Unfortunately for you, I’m not running," Riven thought coldly. His sword unleashed a potent horizontal slash that traveled at breakneck speed toward the boss.

"?!"

The Whispering Scream attempted to dodge, but...

It could not.

Its muting barrier broke as its left leg was instantly bisected. Dark blood splattered everywhere as the massive creature fell face-first onto the ground in pure disbelief.

"..."

"Ahhh!" Daniela gasped loudly, as if she had been holding her breath this entire time. "Riven! You got it!" She immediately ran toward him with excitement.

"Daniela, don’t—"

"Heh..."

The Whispering Scream chuckled darkly.

And then...

"GYAAAAHHHH!"

It screamed with everything it had.

RUMBLE!

"Uwaaaaahhh?!"

Daniela cried out in sudden agony as her eardrums exploded from the force. She almost passed out completely as the hypersonic scream sent her flying away through the air.

"Shit!"

Riven took a rapid step forward, disappearing in a blur and catching her mid-air. He quickly took out a potion and forced it toward her mouth. "Drink!"

However, she was not responding. She had already fallen unconscious. He poured the potion over her body, but...

"WOOF!"

A small shadow shaped like a wolf suddenly appeared behind him, attempting to fend off whatever had just stepped toward him.

Suddenly, no sound could be heard again.

And a giant claw descended from above.

"!!!"

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