Chapter 31: Don't Get Distracted

Rust Monsters, also known as "Underdark Scavengers" or "Subterranean Wanderers."

Like other insectoid creatures, they typically inhabit the countless deep and long caverns of the "Underdark."

The dark, lightless environment has caused the vision of these insects to gradually degenerate, leaving this vital weakness protected beneath a hard carapace.

Instead, the feather-like antennae on either side of their heads and the fin-like long tails with dense bristles behind them act like blind canes, helping them move freely through the profound subterranean hollows.

To some extent, these insects, which do not rely on meat as their primary food source, are naturally quite docile.

If provided with sufficient food and proper care, they can even be domesticated into obedient pets, much like cats or dogs.

However, by virtue of the "monster" suffix attached to their name, Rust Monsters can, at times, exhibit extreme aggression.

Rust Monsters feed on metal.

Iron, adamantine, mithral... they accept everything; most metals are on their menu.

Their highly developed sensory abilities even allow these peculiar monsters to detect the presence of delicious metals from miles away.

Naturally, the armor and weapons worn by adventurers also fall into the category of "delicious metal."

According to statistics from the Adventurers' Guild, a large number of adventurers die every year from Rust Monster attacks while exploring the Underdark—even when they know clearly that they could survive simply by discarding their weapons and equipment.

Like camels in the desert or herds of cattle migrating during the dry season on the grasslands, their unique feeding structure gives these insectoid monsters an innate ability to locate various mineral veins.

Their highly corrosive saliva also helps them easily erode and soften hard metals, making them easier to consume.

As fellow travelers through the great mineral veins, the Dwarves—renowned for their mastery of smithing and mining—naturally harbor a deep hatred for these monsters.

Some clans even dispatch professional "Pest Control Squads" every year to clear out these "boring insects" residing in their mines.

Xianan came from another world; the only Dwarf he had encountered since his transmigration was the big-bearded Barn in the Rockhammer Smithy, who was several heads taller than himself.

But now, gazing at the hideous figure crouching on the ground not far ahead, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shared dread.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the one-handed hammer on the meadow, which had been almost completely corroded by the thick, dark green saliva.

He felt his mouth go dry, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed hard.

His palms, tightly gripping the sword hilt, were already slick with sweat.

At this moment, he even began to seriously consider the possibility of fighting with the two daggers at his waist.

"This pressure... is really killing me!"

The hesitation lasted only an instant.

Despite his inner turmoil, Xianan gripped his longsword and instinctively rushed forward to provide support.

Because he had chosen a corner for his resting spot, he was currently separated from Larry and the other by almost the entire camp.

No matter how timely his reaction was, he was not as fast as the Rogue, who was sitting by the campfire in the center of the camp.

After only a few steps forward, that low-presence figure had already appeared beside the first Rust Monster like a shadow.

*Schlick!*

The air tore as a sharp, cross-shaped silver light suddenly erupted.

Xianan saw Wood's figure blur for a moment, and immediately after, a layer of yellowish-green insect blood stained the surfaces of the two daggers in his hands.

"Screee—!"

A sharp, shrill insect cry rang out through the woods.

The thick carapace of the Rust Monster, which would only slightly crack under an iron hammer, was easily sliced apart like thin paper by the two palm-length daggers in Wood's hands.

Insect blood splattered everywhere!

The fin-like long tail lashed out like a whip, but it only swung through empty air, landing futilely on the soft grass.

Wood had already left his original position.

With a ghostly, light body, he leaped up and stepped onto the surface of the Rust Monster's back carapace.

His brow furrowed.

He had failed to deliver a killing blow; the strike that had just heavily wounded the Rust Monster seemed, in his eyes, somewhat unsatisfactory.

The Rogue's combat skill, [Gutting Strike], which was sufficient to sever organs and bone cavities, had failed to achieve his desired result against a monster with a biological structure so different from a human's.

Immediately after, his rich combat experience and knowledge of monsters allowed him to instantly realize the vital point of this large insect.

*Swish!*

The short dagger in his hand thrust out as swiftly as a venomous snake, the sharp tip piercing through the gap in the Rust Monster's neck carapace with extreme precision.

Like the sting of a wasp, it was a light prick.

The ear-splitting insect cries came to an abrupt halt.

The heavy body beneath the Rust Monster's carapace fell to the ground with a "thud," like a machine that had lost its power.

With this, one of the four Rust Monsters was gone.

Before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, Wood, just as he pulled the dagger from the insect's body, seemed to sense something.

He snapped his head up.

His pupils constricted!

At some unknown point, taking advantage of the intense battle, another insect had circled around and reached the other end of the camp.

And there was exactly where Heian was located!

"Young Master, watch out!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs.

Simultaneously, his body, standing atop the insect shell, suddenly turned into a blur and vanished from the spot.

Silver-white hair clung to his cheeks due to sweat; Heian, who had retreated to the rear since the start of the battle, had his bowstring pulled taut, ready at any moment to provide support to any part of the battlefield.

"One has been dealt with by Wood, one is with Larry and Doris, one hasn't had time to rush into the camp, I have to first..."

"Wait, where is the last one!?"

Heian's brain worked at high speed, analyzing the situation on the field.

Suddenly, he was startled as Wood's shout echoed through the air.

There was no time to think!

Because in the next second, a piercing screech accompanied by a sour, foul stench approached from behind him.

He spun around violently.

What met his eyes was the hideous, reared-up body of a Rust Monster.

Its bone-white, sharp mouthparts opened and closed, brewing lethal, dark green venom within.

The arrival of death made the space and time before Heian seem to freeze for an instant.

But immediately after.

An iron-gray arc of light bursting from the darkness beside him instantly pulled Heian back to reality.

[Whirlwind Slash]

The extremely sharp arc of sword light was like a waning moon, fleeting and transient.

It also followed the gap between the carapace plates; the cut was clean, and half of the insect's brain spun away.

*Thud.*

The heavy insect body fell to the ground with momentum, and foul-smelling insect blood sprayed out like a fountain.

Xianan sheathed his sword in one motion.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the blade; seeing that its surface was only stained with insect blood and had not been touched by the corrosive venom, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He then looked at the half-elf in front of him, who seemed to have lost focus due to the unexpected ambush, his face smeared with dark green insect blood and wearing a dazed expression.

He couldn't help but frown and say

"Be careful, don't lose focus."

(End of Chapter)