Chapter 273: Not Playing Along Anymore

Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Not Playing Along Anymore

This chaos wouldn’t last long. After all, compared to their own kind, the appetizing human Seraphina Sinclair was their favorite food.

But this precious little time was more than enough for Seraphina Sinclair.

She raised her hand and tore several runes, using the flames from a Flame Rune to incinerate the last E-level monster. The intense aura and sudden spike in temperature finally snapped the D-level monster out of its rage.

It turned around amidst the skeletons of F-level monsters, and its gaze toward Seraphina Sinclair held a surprisingly human-like... realization?

As if it had finally registered what Seraphina Sinclair had just done.

That glimmer of sapient understanding quickly faded, replaced by an even more palpable rage!

Seraphina Sinclair registered its every emotion. She was alarmed, but couldn’t help feeling relieved.

’Good thing I’m smarter than this monster.’

’The monster only reacted after the fact. If I had to face monsters that were all this intelligent...’ Seraphina Sinclair glanced at the ground, covered in bones and shredded flesh, and forced a cold smirk. ’...one day, I really might have to.’

’But for now, I need to deal with this D-level monster and the few F-level ones that are left!’

Seraphina Sinclair’s mind raced, but the long blade in her hand never faltered.

Her form blurred to the right like a phantom. With another flash of her blade, she cut down the remaining F-level Decaying Skeletons as if they were nothing.

Bone shards and foul-smelling slime splattered in all directions, clearing a relatively open battlefield between her and the D-level monster.

Now, only it remained.

The D-level Decaying Skeleton let out a low gurgle from deep in its throat, a sound filled with rage but also tinged with confusion. It was clearly wondering where all its companions had gone.

Upon realizing they had all been slaughtered by the human before it, the dark red muscles on its frame began to tremble with rage.

Seraphina Sinclair casually raised her long blade in a classic taunting gesture, like something out of a TV show. Her gaze, fixed on the monster, was an undisguised challenge.

And while the monster didn’t understand the gesture itself, to its kind, direct eye contact was the ultimate provocation.

Its limbs bent slightly, sharp claws digging deep into the ground. Its pupil-less eyes locked onto Seraphina Sinclair, its fury and killing intent so strong they were almost tangible.

The atmosphere inside the mobile shelter grew taut. The next second—

"ROAR!"

The decaying monster shot forward, its body a blur. Its claws tore through the air with a piercing shriek, aimed straight for Seraphina Sinclair’s face!

It was even faster than before!

Seraphina Sinclair’s pupils contracted. Instead of retreating, she seized the moment and advanced. Twisting at the waist, she dodged the razor-sharp claws by a hair’s breadth, simultaneously swinging her long blade upward toward the monster’s relatively vulnerable armpit joint!

The entire sequence of moves was pure instinct. Even in that life-or-death moment, she couldn’t help but internally marvel at her own swiftness.

But the monster reacted even faster. While still in the air, it brought its forearm down, using the tough bone to block Seraphina Sinclair’s blade!

CLANG!

The sound of metal striking bone rang out, sending sparks flying.

Seraphina felt the web of her thumb go numb as a tremendous force vibrated up the blade.

’This monster’s bones are unbelievably hard!’

Its first attack thwarted, the monster’s other claw was already sweeping toward her, aimed straight for her abdomen!

The angle was tricky, the speed astounding!

Knowing she couldn’t evade it, Seraphina quickly brought her blade up to block.

BANG!

The claw slammed against the blade, the immense force sending her staggering back several steps before she could finally absorb the impact.

She tasted something metallic rise in her throat, but she forced it back down.

’Alright then.’

’I thought I was strong enough to go head-to-head with a D-level monster, that I could safely use that E-level special area entry ticket. Looks like there’s still a gap.’

She wasn’t discouraged by this realization. She gave the monster one last look, then retreated cleanly into the bathroom.

’You can have fun by yourself. I’m done playing.’

The bathroom floor tiles were icy, but Seraphina didn’t mind. She slid down the wall and sat, slowly exhaling a foul breath tinged with blood.

’There’s still a power gap, especially when it comes to pure Strength and defense.’

She had long known how terrifying D-level monsters were and was prepared to face two or three of them, especially since she now had D-level Talismans.

Her real worry was that the E-level special area ticket would lead her to a whole horde of D-level monsters!

It sounded far-fetched, but the System had a habit of pulling far-fetched stunts. She had to be prepared.

Seraphina Sinclair sighed, deciding to postpone using the entry ticket.

She sat catching her breath for a moment, then took her rune making tools from the Silver Moon Earrings. Concentrating, she drew a D-level Moon Flame Evil Cleansing Talisman.

Only then, holding the talisman, did she leave the bathroom.

The moment her human aura reappeared, the Decaying Skeleton locked onto her. Its eyes were filled with profound confusion, as if it couldn’t comprehend how she had suddenly vanished.

But that confusion was soon replaced by the excitement of smelling fresh blood and flesh.

It raised its claws, ready for another three-hundred-round bout with this surprisingly tough meal, only to see its prey casually tear something open. An instant later, an aura that struck terror into its very core erupted!

The monster let out a terrified shriek and instinctively tried to back away, but it was too late.

Silence instantly returned to the mobile shelter. Only the faint, lingering smell of something scorched proved what had just transpired.

Seraphina Sinclair stood and glanced at the ashes on the floor. She couldn’t help but frown as she took a closer look at the stain on the floorboards.

’The slime from the other monsters might have seeped through the floorboards, but this D-level monster just died. Where’s its slime?’

Seraphina Sinclair crouched down, about to poke the pile of charred remains with the tip of her blade, when a notification panel suddenly popped up in front of her.

[Congratulations to Survivor Blacktiger Ford for successfully defeating the monster cluster!]

The last two words were a clickable link for more details, which Seraphina Sinclair immediately opened.

[Monster Cluster]

[Description: A special event that can be encountered while on the move. It consists of a large number of low-level monsters and a small number of high-level monsters. Clearing this event will grant bonus rewards! Congratulations on seeing this description; this is the first personal event you have encountered! A truly memorable day!]

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

She opened her mouth, then closed it.

’Whatever. It’s not like this is the first time the System has been weird in weird ways. I’m used to it.’

When she saw the words "special event," Seraphina Sinclair knew what was going on.

’This must be what Mountainwind encountered, right?’

’He kept the prompt and description completely to himself, but he was willing to share the potentially dangerous item he got from it.’