Chapter 31

The Rust Monster is also known as the "Underground Scavenger" or "Underground Wanderer."

Just like other insect types, they usually live in the countless deep and long caves of the "Underdark."

The dark and lightless environment caused the vision of these insects to gradually degenerate, covering this vital point under the protection of a hard carapace.

And the feather-like antennae on both sides of the head, as well as the fin-like long tail also covered in dense bristles behind them, acted like blind canes, helping them move freely in the deep caves.

To some extent, this kind of insect that does not use meat as its main food is actually quite gentle by nature.

If they can get sufficient food and good care, they can even be tamed into obedient pets like cats and dogs.

But at the same time, since they are given the suffix "Monster," Rust Monsters can sometimes display extremely strong aggression.

Rust Monsters feed on metal.

Iron, Adamantine, Mithral... they don't refuse anything; the vast majority of metals are on their menu.

Highly developed sensory abilities can even allow this strange magic beast to detect the existence of those delicious metals from miles away.

Naturally, the armor and weapons on adventurers also belong to the category of "delicious metals."

According to statistics from the Adventurer Association, a large number of adventurers die every year from Rust Monster attacks while exploring the "Underdark"—

Even if they clearly know that as long as they throw away their weapons and equipment, they can survive.

Just like camels in the desert or herds of cattle migrating during the dry season on the grasslands, the unique feeding structure allows this insect-type magic beast to be born with the ability to find various mineral veins.

Highly corrosive saliva also helps them easily erode and soften those hard metals, making them convenient to eat.

And as "neighbors" who also travel between major mineral veins, the Dwarves, who are famous for their skill in forging and mining, naturally hate this magic beast deeply.

Some clans even send professional "pest control squads" every year to clean up these "parasites" living in the mineral veins.

Xia Nan came from another world, and the only Dwarf he had come into contact with since crossing over was Ba'en, the big-bearded man in the Rock Hammer blacksmith shop who was several heads taller than himself.

But at this moment, looking at the hideous figure crawling on the ground not far ahead, he couldn't help but feel empathy.

A glance from the corner of his eye caught the single-handed hammer on the meadow, which had been almost completely corroded under the erosion of the thick green saliva.

He couldn't help but feel his mouth go dry, his Adam's apple rolled, and he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

The palm tightly gripping the sword hilt was already covered in sweat.

At this moment, he even really started to think about the possibility of fighting with the two daggers at his waist.

"This pressure... it's really suffocating, man!"

The hesitation was only for an instant.

Despite being extremely conflicted in his heart, Xia Nan still held his longsword and instinctively rushed up to support.

His position during the rest was chosen in a corner, so he was currently separated from Lali and the others by almost the entire campsite.

Even if his reaction was timely, it was not as fast as the Rogue sitting by the campfire in the center of the camp.

Just after taking a few steps forward, that figure with extremely low presence had already appeared beside the first Rust Monster like a shadow.

"Swoosh!"

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

Xia Nan only felt a blur in front of Wood, and then the surface of the two daggers in his hands was already stained with a layer of yellowish-green insect blood.

"Hiss—"

A sharp and shrill insect cry rang out in the forest.

The Rust Monster's thick carapace, which only shattered slightly even when hit by a hammer, was easily sliced open like weak paper under the two daggers in Wood's hands, which were no longer than a palm.

Insect blood splattered!

The fin-like long tail whipped over, but it was just an empty swing, landing fruitlessly on the soft grass.

Wood had already left his original spot.

His ghostly, light body leaped up and stepped onto the back carapace of the Rust Monster.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

He failed to kill it in one blow; the slash that had severely wounded the Rust Monster just now seemed to still leave him dissatisfied.

The Rogue combat technique 【Gut-Piercing Heavy Strike】, which was enough to split internal organs and bone cavities, failed to achieve the result he wanted when facing a magic beast with a body structure different from humans.

And immediately, his rich combat experience and knowledge of magic beasts made him instantly realize the vital point of this big bug in front of him.

"Swish!"

The short dagger in his hand probed out as swiftly as a viper, and along the gap between the neck carapaces of the Rust Monster, the sharp blade stabbed in an extremely tricky way.

Just like the poisonous tail of a wasp, it stung lightly.

The ear-piercing insect chirping stopped abruptly.

The heavy body of the Rust Monster under the carapace fell to the ground with a "bang," like a machine that had lost its power.

Thus, one of the four Rust Monsters was gone.

Before he could even catch his breath, Wood, who had just pulled out the dagger he had stabbed into the insect beast's body, seemed to have sensed something.

He looked up violently.

His pupils shrank!

Unknowingly, a bug had taken advantage of the tense battle situation, circled around, and had already reached the other end of the campsite.

And that was exactly the direction where Haian was!

"Young Master, watch out!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs.

At the same time, his body, standing on the insect shell, suddenly turned into a phantom and disappeared from where he was.

Haian, whose silver-white hair strands were stuck to his cheeks due to sweat and who had retreated to the back row since the battle began, had the bowstring between his fingers pulled to the limit, ready at any time to provide support for any battle on the field.

"One has already been solved by Wood, one is over at Lali and Doris's side, one hasn't had time to rush into the camp yet, I must first..."

"Wait, where is the last one!?"

Haian's brain operated at high speed, analyzing the situation on the field.

Suddenly startled, Wood's loud shout in the air also reached him.

There was no time to think at all!

Because the next second, a sharp, high-pitched hissing sound approached from behind, accompanied by a sour stench.

He turned around violently.

What came into view was the Rust Monster's hideous body raised high.

The bone-white sharp mouthparts opened and closed, and the lethal thick green venom was brewing within them.

The arrival of death made the space-time in front of Haian seem to freeze at this moment.

But immediately after.

The iron-gray arc of light that erupted from the darkness beside him instantly pulled Haian back to reality.

【Spinning Slash】

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

Also following the gap between the carapaces, the cut was neat, and half of the insect brain spun and flew away.

"Patter."

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

He sheathed his sword in one motion.

Xia Nan glanced at the sword body from the corner of his eye, and seeing that its surface was only stained with insect blood and not with the corrosive venom, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

Looking at the Half-Elf in front of him, who seemed to have lost focus due to the surprise attack, with a dazed look on his face stained with thick green insect blood.

He couldn't help but frown and say:

"Be careful, don't get distracted."

(End of chapter)