Chapter 56: Vultures in waiting

The Corrosive Thunder Toad slammed hard into the root wall, but its massive endurance kept it from collapsing entirely. It let out a guttural roar that vibrated through the chamber, its pulsating purple warts oozing streams of burning acid.

Summer didn’t give the creature a single second to recover.

She leaped forward, her Iron Brawler Gauntlets surging with dark crimson mana. As the toad whipped its head around to discharge another barrage of lightning, Summer brought her right fist back and unleashed a full-power Heavy Impact directly into its lower jaw.

BOOM!

The force shattered several of the toad’s teeth, but the creature’s massive, bone-dense skull fought back against the impact.

A sharp CRACK echoed through the chamber, coming not from the toad, but from Summer’s right gauntlet. Spiderweb fractures rippled across the reinforced iron plating.

Simultaneously, the acidic discharge leaking from the toad’s hide ate through the soles of her Swift Strider Boots, causing the enchanted leather to split and fray.

Her equipment was reaching its absolute limit.

[You notice those humans up there, right?] The system’s voice echoed in her ears.

’Yes,’ Summer replied casually in her mind, her eyes never leaving the stumbling toad.

[They don’t seem friendly.]

’So what?’ Summer shrugged slightly, adjusting her balance despite her cracked boots. ’I am not their friend.’ 𝖋𝙧ⅇ

[I didn’t mean it like that. I meant you need to be on guard.]

’For what?’ she countered, her voice indifferent. ’They are far weaker than the monsters here.’

The system remained silent, offering no further warnings. It had been analysing Summer for a long time. Not only had the little girl’s strength improved, but also her arrogance.

Sometimes a setback was required to tame that flooding arrogance.

Summer didn’t care either way. Weak humans hiding in the fog were the least of her concerns when a Level 30 monster was waiting to be harvested for experience.

She charged forward once more, raising her fist to crush the toad’s lightning horn. But just as her strike began its descent toward the beast’s skull, a terrifying shadow dropped from the dark ceiling above.

SCREECH!

A sharp, ear-splitting shriek echoed through the cavernous chamber. A massive gust of gale-force wind swept across the root floor, throwing Summer off balance and blowing away the thick mist.

A massive avian monster descended from the shadows of the upper roots. It possessed pitch-black feathers that crackled with dark mana, talons as long and sharp as steel broadswords, and three glowing red eyes arranged vertically along its crown.

Summer quickly swept her gaze across the creature, summoning its status panel.

[Name: Void-Winged Raven]

[Evolution: Elite Mutated Beast]

[Racial Traits: Void Mana Feathers, Spatial Shadow Glide]

[Class Skill: Void Slash]

[Level: 30]

[HP: 19800]

[MANA: 950/950]

[STR: 88 | AGI: 115 | CON: 90 | INT: 95]

[SKILLS: Void Blade Tempest, Shadow Dive, Corrupting Screech, Spatial Flap]

Before Summer could reset her footing, the giant bird opened its beak and emitted a violent wave of dark energy.

BOOM!

The Corrupting Screech slammed directly into her chest. Her worn leather chestpiece shattered under the pressure, the straps snapping completely as dark wind blades carved deep, bleeding gashes into her pale skin.

At the same time, the dying Corrosive Thunder Toad launched a desperate counterattack, discharging a final wave of lightning from its cracked horn.

Both mutants seemed to have a silent agreement to take care of her first.

Summer raised her arms to block the incoming lightning and razor-sharp wind blades.

CRASH!

The combined assault hit her with brutal force. Her already damaged Iron Brawler Gauntlets exploded into useless iron shards, flying off her hands and exposing her bare, pale skin.

Beneath her feet, her Swift Strider Boots completely tore apart, leaving her bare soles on the rough, mossy bark.

With her armor destroyed, her gauntlets shattered, and her boots gone, her combat stats took a massive hit. The stat boosts, movement speed enhancements, and defense provided by her gear vanished instantly.

Her total combat power was effectively cut in half.

For the first time since her evolution, Summer felt a cold wave of realization wash over her.

She had gotten used to tearing through monsters with ease, but so much of her raw impact, defense, and speed had been amplified by her equipment.

Without it, her bare fists bruised against high-level hides, and her movements were noticeably heavier.

’I relied on my gear far too much...’ Summer thought, her dark ruby eyes narrowing as pain radiated through her arms.

Her HP bar began to tick down steadily. Yet, despite her bleeding arms, ruined clothes, and reduced stats, her red eyes remained icy and focused.

She rolled beneath a sweeping strike from the bird’s talons, ducked past the toad’s acidic tongue, and forced herself to adapt to her raw, unaugmented body mid-combat.

High above the hollow root chamber, hidden behind a thick patch of glowing blue fungi, Ophiliya’s group watched the carnage unfold down below.

The fifteen male warriors who had been eager for revenge now stood frozen, their faces pale and covered in cold sweat. The sheer scale of the battle happening below them was beyond anything they had anticipated.

Vespera stood beside Ophiliya, her sharp eyes tracking every movement of the pale zombie girl fighting both giant beasts down in the pit. Vespera’s usual calm demeanor had completely disappeared, replaced by a grave, serious expression.

"Young Miss," Vespera spoke in a low tone, turning to face the blonde girl. "That zombie is far from simple. Her physical attributes, reaction speed, and raw endurance are absurd. Fighting a Level 30 toad and a Level 30 Elite Raven at the same time should be impossible for a single creature at her level."

Vespera paused, her eyes narrowing as she watched Summer duck beneath the bird’s diving talon with bare feet.

"Even with her armor destroyed and her gauntlets shattered, her combat instincts are terrifying," Vespera continued firmly. "We should reconsider this attack. Pushing forward under these conditions carries far too much risk for you."

Ophiliya was arrogant and proud, but she was no fool. As the heir of the Seven Palaces, she had received elite training and knew how to evaluate true dangerous strength.

Seeing Summer fight off two high-level monsters simultaneously with her bare hands proved that the zombie’s previous victory over her was not merely luck or a cheap trick.

Ophiliya stared down at the bloody arena, her knuckles whitening on her rapier. She took a slow breath, preparing to order a full retreat before her squad suffered unnecessary casualties.

"Vespera is right," Ophiliya began coldly, her eyes fixed on the battle. "We will pull back and wait until..."

"Wait, Lady Ophiliya!"

Maya stepped forward abruptly, interrupting Ophiliya’s command.

Maya’s face was flushed, her knuckles white as she gripped her wooden healing staff.

Her eyes were wide, filled with an unhinged, dark greed that she could barely hide.

She had watched Summer’s battle from the beginning. Instead of being frightened by the zombie girl’s overwhelming power, Maya’s desire to steal her talent had grown exponentially after seeing how monstrous Summer truly was.

’Look at that power...’ Maya screamed inwardly, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs. ’Even without her equipment, even with her power cut in half, she is still fighting two Level 30 beasts! If I land the final blow on an Elite zombie monster like her, the talent I extract will make me unstoppable!’

Maya could not allow Ophiliya to walk away now. If they retreated, this golden opportunity would vanish forever.

"Please look closely, Lady Ophiliya!" Maya pleaded, her voice trembling with concern as she pointed down toward the pit. "Yes, she was strong with her gear! But look at her now! Her gauntlets are shattered, her boots are gone, and her armor is completely destroyed! Her strength is easily cut in half!"

Maya turned toward the fifteen male warriors behind them, playing directly on their pride and greed.

"She is taking heavy damage and her gear is completely ruined," Maya argued persuasively, her voice ringing through the quiet tunnel.

"By the time she slays that bird, she will be wounded, gearless, and on the brink of death. We have fifteen high-level fighters here, along with you, Lady Ophiliya, and the powerful Lady Vespera! We have full-squad coordination and high-grade healing support from me!"

She turned back to Ophiliya, bowing her head submissively while keeping her tone sharp and convincing.

"If we strike the moment she slays those monsters, she won’t have the strength left to defend herself," Maya pressed on, her eyes flashing with calculated malice. "Are we really going to walk away and let such a dangerous monster recover, after everything she did to disgrace the Seven Palaces?"

Although Maya didn’t know the complete identity of Ophiliya, she knew Ophiliya was from a faction called the Seven Palaces.

Since Ophiliya had such powerful men protecting her despite her low level, this faction had to be quite powerful. In her wildest dreams, Maya never imagined that Ophiliya wasn’t from Earth at all.

Maya’s greed did not go unnoticed by the blonde girl. Merely because of Maya’s usefulness in this dungeon did Ophiliya keep her alive.

The male warriors behind them began to nod in heavy agreement, their greed rekindled by Maya’s words. They looked at Summer’s gearless, blood-stained form down below and convinced themselves that victory was guaranteed.

Ophiliya hesitated, her eyes drifting back to the scene in the pit. Seeing Summer covered in cuts, her gauntlets gone, and her armor shredded, Ophiliya’s wounded pride flared up once more.

"Fine," Ophiliya said softly, a cold smile returning to her face. "We wait until the monster falls. Then we strike."

Down in the pit, surrounded by blood and howling wind, Summer slammed her bare fist into the Raven’s wing, completely unaware of the greedy eyes watching her ruined state from above.