Chapter-06 · EP-088

Episode 88: Venom Hairy Caterpillar

Having decided to level up, I came to the fourth floor. I'd fought on the fourth floor in the Shinjuku Dungeon to some extent, so I was used to it.

From the first to the third floor, everything went smoothly. I defeated familiar enemies like slimes and goblins, steadily progressing through the floors.

The scenery changed completely from the rocky caves of the first three floors; the fourth floor was a forest. It was a familiar sight from Shinjuku. Light filtering through the trees, the smell of earth, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. It was indeed a recognizable environment, but I found something unfamiliar.

It was a so-called inscription, with characters carved into a rock.

"Watch out for pitfalls ahead."

It was written in clear Japanese.

Who had carved that? I'd expected to find some profound truth of the dungeon, but this was just a warning. Well, maybe some kind person left it for the benefit of later explorers.

Anyway, I decided to proceed, keeping an eye on the ground for pitfalls.

After walking a bit, the ground was covered in fallen leaves.

If there was a pitfall, it might be hidden by the leaves. Thinking that, I advanced carefully, sweeping the fallen leaves aside with my wooden sword.

Then, I came to a spot where even after sweeping the leaves, I couldn't see the ground.

I stopped and swept the leaves more carefully. Buried in the ground, curled up, was a Caterpillar.

"Tch!"

I quickly thrust my wooden sword, defeating the Caterpillar.

A nest? A trap? If I'd walked on without noticing, I might have been bitten. Caterpillars also have poison. Getting bitten would be trouble.

Thankful for the kind inscription, I continued, now wary of pitfalls… no, of Caterpillar traps.

Looking at the map on my smartwatch, the path to the boss room went straight ahead. If all went well, I should reach it soon.

Thinking that, I found another inscription on a side path.

"Watch your head ahead."

I was curious. It would take me off the path to the boss, but I decided to make a slight detour.

As I walked down the narrow path, an orange moth flew down from above.

"Watch out!"

I hurriedly knocked it down with my wooden sword. The moth fell to the ground and stopped moving.

This was a Poison Moth – a venomous moth. If it had showered me with its scales, I would have been poisoned. So this was what "watch your head" meant.

Satisfied with the inscription's meaning, I turned back. The boss room wasn't this way, and there was no point in detouring further.

Still, who had left such kind inscriptions? Since they were in Japanese, they couldn't be that old.

Well, I was certainly grateful for them. Thankful for the inscriptions, I headed to the boss room.

Before long, I reached the boss room.

In the rock wall at the end of the forest, there was a man-made door. The boss room was inside.

The fourth-floor boss, which I'd studied, was the Venom Hairy Caterpillar. A poisonous caterpillar. Apparently, it was about two meters long.

Well, I had two Cure Potions, so even if I got stung, I could handle it twice.

With such a casual attitude, I entered the fourth-floor boss room.

In the center of the large room, a giant caterpillar appeared. I knew its appearance from pictures, but seeing it in person, it looked enormous. Still, without flinching, I raised my wooden sword and approached.

When I thrust with my wooden sword, the Venom Caterpillar writhed in pain, its body moving. Its hairs were shorter than my wooden sword, so if I landed my attack before getting stung, I could probably defeat it without issue.

The Venom Caterpillar undulated toward me. I dodged and landed attacks. Just repeating that.

After several exchanges, one of the Venom Caterpillar's hairs broke off from my attack and flew toward me.

I hurriedly brushed it away with my hand. In that instant, a strong numbness shot through my hand.

"Ow!"

I lost my grip, and my wooden sword slipped from my hand. Without a moment's pause, the Venom Caterpillar surged forward, undulating.

I leaped backward instinctively, rolling to create distance.

Poison. I'd been poisoned!

I hurriedly tried to take out a Cure Potion from my waist pouch, but my right hand wouldn't obey. It was numb, and I had no feeling in my fingertips. I reached for the pouch with my left hand – even that movement was slow. My body's reaction speed was dropping.

The Venom Caterpillar was closing in again.

I had to run!

I tried to stand, but my legs tangled and I fell. A dull pain as my knees hit the ground. The poison was spreading through my body. I could feel the numbness spreading to my legs.

"Damn it…!"

I crawled to create distance. In the corner of my vision, I saw the giant caterpillar approaching. It would catch me in a few seconds.

With my trembling left hand, I finally managed to open the pouch. It was numb, and I couldn't feel well. I had no sensation in my fingertips. The Cure Potion – where was it? My breathing grew ragged with panic.

The Venom Caterpillar's massive body filled my vision. It was right in front of me.

My fingertip touched something. A gummy texture. This was it.

I mustered my remaining strength, grabbed the Cure Potion, and brought it to my mouth. My hand was shaking, and I couldn't get it in. One more try. I finally tossed it into my mouth.

In that instant, the Venom Caterpillar tried to lunge onto me.

I rolled sideways. Thud. Its massive body fell where I had been. A close call.

The effect of the Cure Potion spread rapidly through my body. The numbness receded. Feeling returned to my fingertips. Strength returned to my legs.

I jumped up and ran at full speed to where I'd dropped my wooden sword. I grabbed it and turned around.

The Venom Caterpillar had righted itself and was watching me.

I was out of breath. My heart pounded. Sweat ran into my eyes, blurring my vision.

This was bad. I'd almost died.

This wasn't an opponent I should fight one-on-one. I'd gotten complacent because I'd managed to win against the previous floor bosses. I'd completely underestimated the horror of the poison gimmick.

If I continued fighting, I only had one Cure Potion left. If I got poisoned again, I might not be able to escape this time.

…Reluctantly, this was my loss.

Keeping my wooden sword raised, I retreated slowly. The Venom Caterpillar didn't move. As if sensing I was fleeing, it didn't give chase.

I backed up until I could reach the entrance, then leaped out through the door in one go.