Minori's eyes widened as he examined the information for the spell Shrinkage.
Agility +100. That was no minor boost.
His current agility stat hovered at 113. This spell, used correctly, would nearly double it—an enormous leap, especially for someone with no speed-related build. Even in later stages, a flat +100 was potent.
The only caveat: two uses per day.
And this class—Spiritual-type? Wizard? It was unfamiliar. Minori recalled something like witch from YGGDRASIL, but this seemed unique to the New World.
Still, no time for theory.
"Shrinkage Technique."
The words left his lips quietly, but the effect was immediate.
Boom!
His heart thumped like a drum, and in the blink of an eye, Minori's body compressed—shrinking down to half its size. Everything changed in an instant: the world looked larger, his iron sword felt heavier, bulkier in his hands—but lightness surged through him.
He took a breath. The discomfort passed quickly. The new speed was exhilarating.
Minori glanced up. The humanoid creature—some kind of swamp-born subhuman—was still trying to maintain distance using its natural agility.
"Let's continue."
Whoosh!
He surged forward. A white blur against the dark swamp undergrowth. The monster spun, startled, and broke into a panicked run.
If it had been earlier, Minori might have lost it. But now, with the Shrinkage boost and the Forest Walker item activated, the speed gap was crushed.
"You can't escape."
His tone was calm, cold. The iron sword swung in a sharp arc.
"Four Lights Slash."
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
Four crimson trails erupted from the monster's limbs, and with a guttural scream, it collapsed into the rotting foliage.
Minori deactivated the Shrinkage spell, returning to full size. He approached the creature calmly, sword raised but unhurried.
"Can we talk now?"
Behind him, summoned insect monsters were being eradicated by ten Fire Archangels and several Watcher Angels. The experience bar ticked upward.
[Experience: 8762/10000]
More importantly, the cursed energy in his body deepened—noticeably more than after the scorpion-tailed lions. The swamp's corruption was far more intense.
"I'd rather not kill you," Minori said, watching the ragged humanoid monster struggle.
"Curse… monster!"
Its green eyes flared with bloodshot hate. "Kill me! Kill me!"
Minori frowned. The words were fragmented. The creature's behavior bordered on deranged. But one thing was clear: its rage wasn't aimed at him personally, but at the cursed power inside him… and possibly Leinas, too.
Still, with no rational conversation possible, this was going nowhere.
Until—
"A few years ago, one of your kind left the swamp," Minori said slowly. "His name was Pasha."
The creature twitched. Then froze. The fury in its eyes dulled, replaced with raw hope.
"Pasha?" it croaked.
Then louder. "Pasha! It must be Pasha!"
It writhed, trying to get up despite its severed limbs. Tears welled in its glowing green eyes.
Minori sighed and took out a regeneration potion. "Looks like we can talk now."
He poured it carefully over the creature's limbs. Flesh regrew before his eyes, and it staggered upright, rushing toward him.
"Where is he?! Is he safe? Pasha—how is he?!"
Minori held up a hand to stop the torrent of questions. "Easy. I'll answer—but first, your name and your race?"
"Dwarf!" it said quickly. "Forest gnome. Name's Duogan Stone Lizard!"
Minori blinked. A forest gnome?
That was rare.
The bark-like skin, the green eyes—he'd mistaken Duogan for a humanoid beast because of the swamp's corruption. But now it made sense. Forest gnomes were rumored to have elven blood, which explained the agility and spiritual sensitivity.
"And 'Stone Lizard'? A title?" Minori asked.
Duogan nodded quickly. "It's a totem name! All warriors in our tribe merge with monster essence in a ritual. If they succeed, they earn the monster's name!"
Minori's eyes narrowed. "So… you fused with a basilisk?"
Duogan nodded, then his eyes dulled. "Tribe… dead. All dead. Where is Pasha?"
His voice faltered. Madness returned to his expression. Minori recognized the signs.
Crack!
He chopped the gnome cleanly on the back of the neck. Duogan crumpled, unconscious.
Minori sighed, rubbing his temple. "At least he's not feral."
Looking up, he spotted his Fire Archangels returning.
"Fan out," he ordered. "Clear the area. If you find another of his kind—capture it, or return to me."
The Archangels soared into the darkness like flaming meteors.
Experience ticks resumed in small bursts—these swamp monsters were weak compared to Tob Forest, but they served their purpose.
That night, Minori sat beside the crackling fire, gently channeling mana into his Orb of Death. He was attempting to refine higher-tier scrolls, but even with his reserves, Level 4 required significant investment.
Level 2 scroll: 10MP
Level 4 scroll: 40MP (plus crafting cost)
He was still short of efficient production, but progress was progress.
Then—
"Pasha!!"
Duogan jolted awake beside the fire, screaming with unfiltered emotion.