Seemingly amused by Xen's solo approach, the level 40 Demonic Gnoll let out a low growl, which compelled two Gnoll Grunts to step forward to intercept his approach.

  Each of them was around 7 feet tall, but because of their arched backs, they were closer to 6 feet. Their mottled fur was a dirty mix of black and yellow, and they both held makeshift battle axes in their hands. Putrid drool leaked from between their razor-sharp teeth as they bared their fangs and snarled.

  Xen was not perturbed in the slightest by their savage appearance.

  [Solo Hunter] active: 50% increase to all stats.

  These two were in the level 30 range, while he was closer to 50. Add on top of that the bonus stats of his Necroplague Slime and his stats being boosted by fifty percent; it was sufficient to say the poor Gnolls didn't even see the blur of his movements as he wove under their sluggish attempts to decapitate him and planted a fist into each of their ugly faces.

  Expecting to send them flying, he was surprised to punch right through, splattering the stunned Gnolls behind in blood and brain matter.

  You have killed multiple opponents. Bonus experience awarded.

  Experience split between [Necroplague Slime] and [Human] form.

  [Human] has leveled up: 42 -> 43.

  Xen mentally dismissed the notification and deeply regretted his choice of attack as he wasn't given time to pull his arms free and had to deal with the next two Gnolls that lunged at him while having the previous two corpses hanging onto his arms. He brought them up as meat shields to absorb the Gnolls' attacks. Briefly stunned at having their weapons stuck in the backs of their dead allies, Xen took the opportunity to make use of his speed to plunge his fingers into the Gnolls' eyes and rip apart their faces.

  Now it was his turn to be splattered from head to toe in putrid blood, painting his mask red. Xen pushed the two corpses he had just crushed forward to buy him a moment and then hurled the ones that had been hanging on his arms at the group of Gnolls.

  "Mhm, those last two didn't give me another level up," Xen said with disappointment as he flicked the viscous blood and gunk off his hands and strode toward the Gnolls that were slowly backing up with their weapons raised and growling at him. "I suppose it makes sense; you are all so fragile, after all."

  If they all managed to surround and swarm him, he might have struggled a bit more. But this dungeon floor's unique cavern layout, with its thin passageways, suited him well. He could even take the fight to the vertical cliffs due to the skills he had looted from Ghostwire.

  He met the predatory gazes of the Gnolls and sneered behind his mask.

  "Come," he taunted, gesturing for them to fight.

  Yet unsurprisingly, none stepped up to die.

  "Human, what are you?" the level 40 Demonic Gnoll called out as Xen approached. He towered over the others at 8 feet tall and had two black horns curling from his head. His fur was a lustrous black with a faint red accent that gleamed like blood under the faint light of the cavern.

  Xen didn't reply; he simply kept walking forward. The bones of the previously thrown corpses crunched underfoot as he advanced, and he could smell their fear. It was intoxicating to have a horde of monsters treat him with such caution.

  "You can understand, can't you," the Demonic Gnoll continued, "the language of monsters."

  "So what if I can?" Xen finally replied. "You are going to die at my hands all the same."

  "You aren't human, as I suspected," the Gnoll said, nodding to himself as if proud of this observation. "Why are you sheltering those humans? If they are your prey, I'm willing to leave them to you."

  Xen scoffed. "Willing? Oh, I don't think you have a choice in the matter." He withdrew his mithril shortsword from his sleeve and pointed it at the Demonic Gnoll. "I'm going to slaughter you all and feast on your disgusting flesh."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The Demonic Gnoll had the audacity to smile at him. "Your strength is indeed formidable, monster, but your wits are lacking."

  Xen paused and glared at the Demonic Gnoll. How dare it insult his intelligence? He was an evolved being from the great Mind Slime race, the smartest of all the slimes. He devoured minds and memories alike. What did this Demonic Gnoll possibly know compared to him?

  "Angry?" The Demonic Gnoll taunted and even laughed. "Then come and get me." He stepped back, his towering form getting lost in a group of a dozen Gnoll Grunts that formed a wall between Xen and their leader.

  Xen hated to admit it, but he saw red. "No way I'll let you escape after those words," he dashed forward with his immense speed and jumped into the air. "Ghoststep." The word lurched around him as he teleported forward a few meters, leaving behind an afterimage. He reappeared over the horde of Gnolls and decided to use his new A-grade skill, "Cataclysm."

  He felt a heavy strain on his mana pool as earth mana surged and gathered around his feet. He kicked downward. The Gnolls instinctively dove aside, unknowingly sealing their fate. The instant his foot struck the ground, it fractured, and a shockwave exploded outward. Terrified howls rang out as the Gnolls were hurled back, the earth shattering beneath them and sending them tumbling into the chasm's depths.

  Xen didn't fall with them to his death. Instead, he activated Ghoststep again. His legs burned from the drain on his stamina, and he felt his whole body ache as he once again lurched forward a few meters and gripped onto what was left of the cliff face.

  Ghostwire's skills continued to prove themselves as game changers as he swiftly activated Windveil Agility and Threadwalk in unison to allow himself to run along the wall.

  "You are a fool to think you can outrun me!" Xen called out as he saw the shadow of the Demonic Gnoll making a run for it up ahead. Deciding to save the last charge of Ghoststep for an emergency, he simply barreled toward the slower Gnoll and swiftly closed the gap. Lunging from the wall like a spider primed to bite, his mithril shortsword let out an ear-ringing clang as the Demonic Gnoll spun and parried him at the last moment with his claws.

  Xen's eyes widened in surprise as the Demonic Gnoll managed to push him away.

  "You seem weaker," the Demonic Gnoll growled, its eyes predatory and posture remaining confident despite the slaughter of its brethren.

  Xen was about to respond when a system message appeared in his consciousness.

  You are responsible for the deaths of multiple opponents. Reduced experience awarded.

  Experience split between [Necroplague Slime] and [Human] form.

  [Necroplague Slime] has leveled up: 46 -> 47.

  [Human] has leveled up: 43 -> 44.

  Xen felt the fatigue from the Ghoststep skill wash away, and he eyed the Demonic Gnoll with a bit more caution than before. Since the path behind them had collapsed and taken all the Gnolls with it, his [Solo Hunter] passive had deactivated, meaning he only had a handful of stats above the Demonic Gnoll.

  It was time to get creative.

  Since this Gnoll has demonic in his name, I'd assume he is somewhat resistant to the darker side of magic. Then what would be an appropriate way to take this beast down?

  "Why don't we talk about this?" the Demonic Gnoll snarled.

  Xen ignored the monster's attempts at diplomacy. All he saw was a talking meatbag of experience points that he wanted to tear open and devour. Not to mention the unlocking of a new form, and a rare variant at that. Because of this, he couldn't go with the same approach and send the monster plummeting to its death. He had to deal with it personally.

  "Orbs of light," Xen said, summoning the orbs and sending them forward.

  "Ah!" The Demonic Gnoll shrank back, shielding his beady eyes, and hissed in pain from the light. It opened its mouth as if it were about to scream, but then Xen noticed the fire gathering in the back of the beast's throat. "Hellfire Howl," the Demonic Gnoll said, and dark red fire erupted from its mouth.

  Xen found himself very much ill-prepared to deal with the fast-approaching fire. Left with no option, he relied on the swirling gust from Windveil Agility to buy him a precious second from the flames and jumped upwards, cracking the pathway below him in the process. Clinging to the ceiling with Threadwalk, he activated Quiet Steps and ran along the ceiling until he was behind the Demonic Gnoll.

  An assassin skill would be useful right here, Xen thought as he dropped down without making a sound, thanks to Quiet Steps, and drove his mithril shortsword into the Demonic Gnoll's head—the sharp weapon cut through hardened skin and bone like butter—killing the monster in an instant.

  "Now who's the one lacking wits?" Xen mused, pulling his sword free and letting the corpse fall to the blackened ground with a thump.

  You have killed an opponent.

  Experience split between [Necroplague Slime] and [Human] form.

  [Human] has leveled up: 44 -> 45.

  ??[Name: Xen]

  [Level: 47 (C)]

  [Race: Necroplague Slime (Rare Variant)]

  [Current Form: Human (Phantom Scout: Level 45)]

  [Class: Shapeshifter (Unique)]

  "One more level until I match Ghostwire's old level," Xen said, and casually dismissed the system notifications. His focus was on the eight-foot-tall corpse lying at his feet. He raised his Faceless Cursed Mask and licked his lips.

  [Use Devour on Demonic Gnoll?]

  "Oh, system, you know me so well," Xen joked as black tendrils slithered out of his mouth.

  to read ahead!