Chapter 103 The Final Stretch

As something was suddenly cast, shadows covered the Corrupted Dark Elves group in front of Mark and Levi.

Mark bent his body slightly and reached for two spikes made of bones as he ran.

The spikes turned into blades. And Mark disappeared.

Surprised and confused by the shadows, the Corrupted Dark Elves raised their gaze above.

A large net of thick spiderwebs had been cast. And it was slowly descending upon them.

Silk Production.

Seconds later, Mark had gone past the group of Corrupted Dark Elves.

He stood tall with his back to the group.

Seven fatally wounded Corrupted Dark Elves collapsed.

The net of silk fell, entrapping the remaining Corrupted Dark Elves and Mark.

The former struggled to free themselves, but thanks to their agility and flexibility, it was only a matter of time before their daggers could cut them.

Mark raised his gaze, and at the same time, flaming whips indiscriminately descended upon the trapped.

'Perfect timing.'

Explosions ensued.

Explosions that could not damage Mark, thanks to his "Fire Control" Magic Skill.

He took a deep breath before extending a hand towards the burning flames.

A stream of fire took to the air and approached him.

The next second, those flames took a shape similar to that of a snake and spiraled around Mark's arm, burning the spiderwebs stuck to him.

'Good.' Mark thought after freeing himself.

He looked around.

By this point, only a handful of enemies remained standing.

Sigh-

[Your Skill "Berserker[SSS]" is deactivating.]

Agh-

'So the pain doesn't just disappear, huh?'

Mark hadn't been wounded too deeply, but it still hurt.

He immediately used the [S] Ranked Magic Skill "Advanced Body Reconstruction" to heal his injuries.

And the pain disappeared.

'Handy...'

Mark looked around to inspect the state of the battlefield.

'Light and Grey seem fine... Levi isn't too hurt... Krista and Fiery weren't touched. Good... They can deal with those remaining. Not a single one of her Offspring left...'

He raised his gaze to the sky.

'They sure did their job right... Would have been a lot harder without Fiery... Perhaps even impossible... How would I have done it... Without them...?' Mark didn't ponder the question for too long.

He took a deep breath.

'Mm...'

Mark could feel both his muscles and mind relax.

'I'm pretty hungry.'

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is looking at you.]

[Your Title "Devourer" commends you for unexpectedly devouring the "Berserker[SSS]" Skill.]

'Devouring, huh?'

He chuckled.

'I guess that's one way of looking at it-'

A presence was suddenly sensed.

Bloodlust.

One of the few remaining Corrupted Dark Elves had crept up on him.

But Mark didn't fear attacks from behind.

Not from such enemies.

Not anymore.

Before the enemy could reach him, four limbs exited his lower back.

Spider Legs.

Or at least, they used to be.

Their pointy ends now had the appearance of sharp blades.

Purple.

Just like the blades of the "Timeworn Elven Daggers" [S] Ranked Items.

The so-called Spider Legs were swiftly extended towards the enemy.

At their sight, the Corrupted Dark Elf was stopped dead in its tracks.

'Last one... Down-'

They stopped suddenly.

'Huh-'

Mark's limbs froze in place.

The next second, their pointy ends' purple color started fading.

Rapidly, the four limbs started losing their color.

They seemed to harden.

Or rather, dry up.

As if about to turn to ash, the four limbs fell off Mark's body and to the ground.

For they weren't his.

It didn't hurt.

Not once bit.

And Mark's confusion grew.

The limbs had been made using certain Materials.

Timeworn Elven Daggers had been devoured.

But Mark wasn't the one who had devoured them.

Twitch-

The Corrupted Dark Elf got over its confusion much quicker.

Daggers approached Mark, but he wasn't too worried.

Suddenly, he sensed an attack coming from elsewhere.

The next second, a barricade made of rocks appeared around Mark.

Earth Manipulation.

A Magic Skill he expected to lose right after use, just like those limbs, but didn't.

'Huh...'

Plunged in darkness, a dome of rocks made of protected him.

Only a small circular gap had been left, from which light could enter.

'A sword of wind...'

Next to Mark, lay the unmoving body of the Corrupted Dark Elf.

'Just like when I first entered this Floor...'

Through the gap in the dome, he could peek at one particular spot.

'So that's where you were hiding...'

A tower of bricks with no doors or point of entry.

None, except a single window.

Mark grabbed the unmoving Corrupted Dark Elf.

'It cut his arm off and went even further. A clean cut. Went pretty deeply into his chest too...' He noted as he started munching on it.

Despite taking a break to enjoy a snack, Mark's gaze did not leave that solitary window.

'Did it mean to attack him? Or did it target me but misaim? Why would it attack him?'

Mark felt rather uneasy about the coming encounter.

'No reason to rush... Let's wait for a bit.'

The Corrupted Dark Elf was devoured.

'Keep an eye on it.' He ordered.

And every Underling turned towards that tower and window.

Silent minutes passed by as Mark studied that window.

Nothing exited.

Nothing entered.

And nothing could be seen through it.

Mark's Underlings had encircled the tower. They waited for further instructions.

'Going in there through the window is not the right move. It'll definitely be a trap of some kind. But before that...'

Mark stared at his palms for a bit before extending his claws.

And just as he had expected, those claws turned to ash and fell off.

'Mm...'

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is looking at you.]

'Do something about it.'

Mark felt his lower back twitch and the ends of his fingers tingle.

Grunt-

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is waiting.]

'Waiting? What for? Want me to thank you? You caused it. Why did they even... Ugh-'

Mark shook his head.

He thought the situation was ridiculous.

After all, he was arguing with...?

Mark extended a hand forward.

His hand touched the barricade of rocks, and it crumbled.

'Levi.'

Upon being called out, the Guard immediately appeared in front of his Lord and kneeled.

"Yes, my Lord."

'You're with me.'

Mark stared at the tower, before walking towards it.

And Levi followed him closely.

'I lost the things I obtained when I lost control. Why? Also...'

Mark lay his hand against the bricks that made up the tower.

'Why did I keep Earth Manipulation?'