Alphonse crouched down in front of the wounded goblin. Blood seeped from what appeared to be claw marks, they were raked across its entire body. It wasn’t a clean cut either. The flesh had torn and split. Creating a vicious wound that could not be healed. Alphonse grabbed hold of its neck, opening his mouth open wide. Despite the terrified grunting coming from the goblin's throat, Alphonse bit down. The monster’s head disappeared with one bite. The skull broke down as it entered his throat, falling down into the man-eating acid in his stomach. Alphonse quickly devoured the rest. The sound of fighting within the wide cave entered his ears.

Alphonse headed in. If there really was something he couldn’t deal with, he could just use [ Flicker Step ] without stopping. It was his safety net, being able to move in the blink of an eye.

The pungent stench of iron wafted into his nose, his stomach rumbled a few bugs, insects, and a goblin was hardly enough to satiate his hunger. It was like throwing a pebble into an ocean. A little splash, nothing more.

Alphonse stalked the dark cave. This one differed from the other, not because of the massive difference in size. But, because of the walls having deep score marks. It was hard to tell whether it was because of a monster or a manmade tool. It was like something, or someone, had carved this cave out of the mountain.

Alphonse activated his [ Ground Perception ] the ripples on the ground spread around the area. He felt a faint tremble enter his mind as the image formed within. A goblin sat with its arms wrapped around its green head. The arms trembled, seemingly in fear of something. Alphonse's silent footsteps approached the corner of where the monster was hiding. His head suddenly popped out from the edge of the wall, sending the goblin shrieking in terror.

“Boo.” Alphonse smiled. He walked forwards and his cleaver descended straight through the goblin’s skull. Splitting it in half. The grey, lethargic looking brain squirmed. Alphonse inspected. There were… worms wriggling inside.

Parasites? Alphonse looked at them in wonder. His brain immediately started thinking of what they might be afraid of. If it was something like parasites… that was terrifying.

His hands pinched forwards, grabbing hold of one parasite like a pair of tweezers. Taking it to his mouth, he slurped it down into his stomach like a string of spaghetti.

| 2.1 constitution added

| 1.4 wisdom added

Alphonse trembled his head at the taste. Usually, he could eat anything. But maybe the fact that it was a parasite made it worse.

***

The fighting became more intense by the moment as Alphonse approached closer. The screeches and screams of the goblins, the clashing of weapons. His head peaked around the corner as confusion filled his eyes. They were killing each other. Alphonse peered closer. The goblin’s eyes were bloodshot, but it was the faint wriggling inside their iris that creeped him out.

He shot forwards, ice catapulted towards the little green men like frigid spears. The ice spears instantly reaped the life of two of the goblins as they accurately hit their head. Alphonse closed in with his cleaver, slashing at the throat of an occupied goblin. He was surprised, as the goblin didn’t even attempt to dodge his attack. Something completely fixated them on wiping each other that they paid no attention to Alphonse as he slaughtered them.

Alphonse finished killing the last goblin. He hardly considered it a fight.

How strong are the parasites? Alphonse wondered, as his eyes scanned the area. If it was just goblins or another monster, he could outfight it or run away. But how do you run away from parasites? Alphonse wasn’t even sure if he was invaded either. It wasn't worth it; he decided. He had eaten enough now. He wouldn’t risk anything more. Alphonse was about to turn when he caught something in the corner of his eye. It wasn’t the sound, smell, or sense of danger that gained his attention, but the shift in air pressure was the sensation he felt first. Without hesitation, Alphonse used [ Flicker Steps ] without being able to control himself. He crashed into the wall. Sending blood splattering, painting the cave's walls red.

Alphonse took a glance at the wall. Whatever it was, had almost taken his life. Only a small portion of it remained. It embedded the rest into the wall. It looked like a large iron rod. The sound of breathing being powerfully expelled projected towards him. It looked like an orc, but with large horns and strange tattoos that covered its body entirely. This one felt… different. Stronger. His heart palpated at the monster in front of him. However, instead of fear, excitement took hold of his heart. A primal thrill urged him forwards. He wanted a taste of its flesh. Alphonse’s mind was slipping. He wasn't sure why, but he let go of the struggle and listened to his heart.

A thick layer of black armour covered his body. Jungle Cat claws grew from his fingertips, covered in ice. He disappeared from the spot, his body reappearing in front of the horned-orc. Alphonse’s cleaver ripped through the air. Since the monster was too tall, he instead aimed at the tendons behind the knee. The cleaver was about to land when the monster opened its mouth. A scream, louder than he had ever heard before, pounded at his eardrums. He felt his arms weaken, knees turning wobbly, his cleaver lost its strength. It slashed across the monster’s skin, but it only left a dull mark.

The horned-orc raised its arm and sent a backwards fist straight at Alphonse. He quickly raised his arms to block it. The dull sound of hitting metal rang out within the cave as Alphonse rocketed through the air like a boulder being suddenly released from a catapult, crashing against the floor.

Despite the armour of the Titan Beetle, blood seeped from a wound on his head. A voice entered his head. It was almost indecipherable, but it imprinted the meaning it brought forth within his mind. He could win. He must win. The feeling he had when he was within the maze assaulted him once more. The voice was guiding him deeper into the cave. Alphonse steeled himself. With a low growl, he rose from the ground like an undying corpse. A deep red, denser than an ocean of blood, entered his eye. Those endless, blood-filled eyes told a story, a story that nothing in this world would stop him from devouring anything he wanted.

Alphonse’s feet dug into the ground as he disappeared from the spot. It was hard to tell how close to the horned-orc he was when he used [ Flicker Steps ]. He just knew he couldn’t move in a straight line, despite his high speed. Using it again, Alphonse instead jumped up. His body crashed against the ceiling. He had only a fraction of a second to regain his whereabouts.

Foot against the ceiling, he disappeared once more. He was like a superpowered cricket, jumping from place to place.

He didn’t have time to swing his cleaver. Instead, his mouth opened wide. Leaving a shadowed trail behind him.

The monster roared. Alphonse felt his strength drain, but it held no effect on his teeth. His large horn pierced straight through the chest of the horned-orc, his mouth clamped down. The creature's still beating heart was in full view. Alphonse’s hands lurched forwards. Fire combusted within his palms, then an ear-shattering explosion sent them both hurting in different directions. Alphonse felt like something had ripped apart his arm as his vision began fading.