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Chapter 38 Rank Up
Northern didn't want to delay receiving a gift from an embodiment of darkness like this for too long.
With trembling hands, he outstretched his pale limbs and received the sword.
Then, without a word, the creature returned to where it was originally seated.
Northern could swear he didn't catch a glimpse of it moving. In fact, it looked like it had been seated there the whole time.
But Northern was sure the creature had come towards him – the sword was still in his hand, and his pores were widened, hair standing on end in alert.
Belatedly, as he looked at his hand, he noticed. A slight frown appeared on his face.
'When...?'
The chains that bound his legs and hands had dissolved into black sand.
Northern had no idea when this had happened; he was very sure the creature didn't come into contact with him in any way.
Northern felt a little ache in his brows as he furrowed them, looking at his free hand and the tenebrous longsword in his hands.
Then something happened.
<You have accomplished something great>
<You are on the road to discovery>
<You have received an attribute: 'Formless'>
<You have received a superior rank item>
<Item shall be attuned to your soul>
Northern was sure he didn't hear wrong. The item received from the monster became attuned to his soul.
'If I remember well, I also received an item from killing that damned Friggian monster.'
The Night Terror walked forward, gesturing for Northern to follow with a flip of its grotesque hand.
Northern instinctively went after it.
'Anything to get out of this place...'
It was just a thought that came across his mind as he walked out of the threatening room and stole a last glance at the ruler seated indifferently in the middle of it.
'If by chance... the guardian of this rift is that thing... and I have to defeat it before being able to leave this rift,' Northern shook his head pitifully at himself.
He tried to broaden his vision and dream really far. But defeating that thing... he felt like he was deluding himself.
That thing, he was sure, was not a hellion rank... and most importantly, if that monster was higher than a hellion rank, then that meant he was not in a tier iii rift but a tier iv—now that was an even more demoralizing realization.
A walker in a tier iv rift?
'Really, who did I offend to deserve such a cruel fate!' He almost bit his tongue as he smacked his teeth while walking.
He looked at the back of the Night Terror.
'Still, things are kind of progressing, I guess. I am walking right now... behind a monster I hate so much, I want to stab him from the back and gut the hell out of him. But that'll probably be the most stupid thing I've done.'
He exhaled through his mouth, subtly releasing the air of anger that boiled within him.
'I can't be that stupid. I'm a survivalist; I need to think the way a survivalist would.'
First was understanding. Obviously, there was a reason why he was brought back to this place unharmed by none other than the Night Terror itself.
They were monsters, and he couldn't understand them, but he could read their actions and give slight meaning to things.
His guess was that Night Terror here had seen him kill the Friggian Walker, which was the general of their foe—as simple-
minded monsters, they must have thought he was a slave that survived and even pursued the general to kill him.
'No... Night Terror isn't that dumb... he could have suspected that I was trying to run away.'
Northern squinted his eyes.
'The chains...'
His eyes widened with a radiant sparkle. It was all luck, no doubt about it—it's very possible that Night Terror didn't suspect him of trying to escape because of the chains.
And he had even killed the enemy's general—even if a human kingdom was at play here, that was enough for Northern to become a free man.
But Northern doubted if there was ever such a thing in this place. The likely explanation was that he had risen in rank.
He lowered his eyes at the tenebrous blade. This was proof that he was personally favored by the lord of the castle.
Even Night Terror seemed to be glancing back with a slight show of envy on its hideous face.
'Ah damn. I feel so stressed right now.'
Finally, they reached a wooden door. Creaking it open, both of them walked down the stairs.
A dark alley of rooms sprawled out before Northern's face, carrying a pungent, swampy smell that made him pinch his nose.
The Night Terror continued forward indifferently and stopped in front of a room, pointing to it and looking at Northern with four malicious glares... no matter how casual it tried to appear.
Northern nodded, opened the door, and hesitantly entered. The Night Terror stayed there until he had fully entered his chamber before walking away.
Northern looked around.
He didn't know whether to call this a rank up or rank down. At last, he wasn't being guarded by anyone and had a room to himself.
Even though darkness made up most of its parts, there were no windows and ventilation. It was underground, and everywhere felt hot.
Northern could make out a small mattress against the wall by carefully tracing his way through the darkness.
There was a small table and something on the table—for now, Northern didn't know what it was, but it was shaped like a small wooden bowl.
He sat on the mattress and crossed his legs, closing his eyes for a few minutes.
The grumbling of his stomach made him open his eyes. He placed his hand on the hungry stomach—
'Come to think of it, I don't think I've eaten in a very long time.'
It wasn't like food was going to come by wishing for it. Since his standard of living had changed, he was sure feeding in this place would be better.
Hence, he was just going to focus on the things he could do for now.
A smile carved out of his statuesque face.
'Now, let me see the item I received.'