Chapter 17: Hardcore Training 3 { Fighting Goiglers}

"I see. So, I guess I must have inherited my former light element from Paige," Aurianna muttered, her mind flashing back to the moment Paige had smirked at her.

"I really hate that goddess, ugh," Aurianna grumbled, clicking her tongue in annoyance and kicking some dust away.

"Hey Hex Spider! As much as I'd love to exterminate more spiders, I need to kill some Goiglers first. It's a quest that'll help me level up!" Aurianna yelled into a spider string, which promptly grew and transformed into an image of the Hex Weaver.

"Alright then! But make sure you come back here, alright? I'll use this string to guide you straight to where the Goiglers are lurking," the Hex Weaver replied before the web image dissipated.

Aurianna couldn't help but beam with excitement as she followed the string. However, after walking for what felt like an eternity, Aurianna found herself completely exhausted and collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

"Who would've thought this string would lead me all the way to the edge of the forest! How intriguing," Aurianna pondered, her curiosity piqued.

"And here I am, still unable to find my way out! It's just not fair!" Aurianna whined, puffing out her cheeks in frustration.

[ That's because this forest belongs to the Hex Weaver and Elden Beast.]

"Elden Beast? What's that? I've never even heard of them," Aurianna asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

[ They are mostly beasts that can alter the area they inhabit into another dimension. So if not for the Hex Weaver, you'll probably be stuck here for a long time. But if this was your real world, you'll most likely be stuck here forever. ]

"Whoa! Beasts that can alter dimensions? That's some seriously scary stuff," Aurianna exclaimed, feeling a shiver run down her spine as she glanced back at the forest she had just left behind. Stepping into the desolate land ahead, she noticed the stark contrast—it lacked the lush trees of the forest but instead featured colossal stones jutting out from the ground. And to her surprise, the sky itself seemed surreal, as if mountains were on the verge of tumbling down, yet frozen in place.

"This place just keeps getting stranger and weirder," Aurianna muttered, shaking her head in disbelief as she ventured further into the unfamiliar environment.

Out of nowhere, a Hex Spider materialized, prompting Aurianna to deliver a powerful punch, fueled by her mounting irritation. "Seriously, spider? Buzz off! I've got better things to do."

Resuming her journey, Aurianna continued forward, glancing left and right. On the left, she noticed a peculiar blue wall, while on the right, a crumbling cityscape sprawled before her eyes.

As Aurianna tried to scrutinize the ruins of the city from a distance, an enormous creature suddenly materialized a few meters ahead, leaving her stunned and on edge.

"What in the world is that?" Aurianna squinted her eyes, desperately trying to make out the creature's appearance as it approached. As it drew nearer, Aurianna's heart pounded in her chest. The creature revealed itself with three ferocious and horrifying mouths—one on its face and two on its sides. Its body was adorned with six eerie eyes, fixated on her, while its viscous rows of spiky teeth sent chills down her spine. To add to the terror, the creature possessed eight legs, each tipped with gleaming silver claws.

Aurianna's body trembled uncontrollably, fear gripping her every fiber. With determination to defend herself, she summoned her shotgun, holding it upright, ready to confront the beast. She unleashed a volley of shots, but her aim faltered, unable to keep up with the creature's swift movements.

Before she could react, the Goigler leaped upon her, swiftly tearing her head from her body.

[ You have been killed by a Goigler. ]

[ Main Quest: Defeat 50 Goiglers before you can leave the training grounds. ]

"What the hell? That was a Goigler!?" Aurianna shuddered, her mind reeling with disbelief. However, before she could dwell on the shocking revelation, searing pain shot through her left side. A Goigler stood right beside her, mercilessly tearing off her hand. Shock and fear overwhelmed her as she slowly backed away, realizing that the towering Goigler before her stood at least twice her height. But as the initial shock began to wear off and she mustered the will to escape, another Goigler emerged from behind, swiftly tearing off her head.

The harrowing cycle of torment continued relentlessly, wearing down Aurianna's spirit as she endured the grisly fate of being devoured alive. The agony surpassed even the horrors of torture, leaving her in a state of unbearable suffering. Astonishingly, if given the choice between succumbing to the Goiglers' jaws or enduring Paige's torture, Aurianna found herself struggling to make a decision—a testament to the sheer brutality of her current predicament.

"Get the hell away from me, you piece of shit! I'm sick and tired of being nothing but a meal for you!" Aurianna screamed, her voice laced with frustration, as another Goigler lunged at her. She conjured Icicles, aiming to strike the monster, but her efforts barely left a scratch. It was in that moment that she realized the true nature of this place, this quest—it was a realm of despair.

"You disgusting creature!" Aurianna's voice reverberated with anger as she unleashed a barrage of five icicles. They found their mark, piercing the Goigler's eyes and digging deep into its back. However, before she could catch her breath, another Goigler lunged from behind, narrowly missing her head. Yet Aurianna, having grown accustomed to their fighting tactics, skillfully evaded the attack. These creatures lurked in the shadows, patiently waiting for a vulnerability or a lapse in defense.

As the other Goigler slid across the ground, preparing to strike once again, Aurianna swiftly dashed forward. With expert agility, she maneuvered under its looming presence, firing a bullet that found its mark—a lethal trajectory that penetrated the creature's maw, traversing all the way to its brain, resulting in its demise.

With a resolute stride, Aurianna approached the injured Goigler, writhing in pain. Without a shred of mercy, she dispatched it with a well-aimed bullet to its back, swiftly ending its suffering.

[ You've killed 2 level 30 Goiglers. ]

[ You've received 3,600 exp. ]

"Heh, serves you bastards right," Aurianna gasped for breath, her body heavy with exhaustion. Lightheaded and drained of energy, she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Collapsing to the ground, she lay on her back, gazing up at the sky.

Each death she had endured weighed heavily on her mind, and the gruesome memories overwhelmed her senses. Overcome by nausea, Aurianna vomited on the spot, hastily wiping her mouth with her hand. Before she could gather herself and rise, her body was mercilessly torn apart.

[ You were killed by a level 35 adult stage Goigler. ]

"An adult?" Aurianna's trembling body betrayed her shock, unable to fathom the swiftness and power of the creature that had ended her life. It was a chilling reminder of her weakness and the overwhelming strength of her adversaries.

"It was too fast, even the Hero couldn't match its speed," Aurianna muttered to herself as she picked herself up, scanning her surroundings with wary eyes.

"System, is there a skill I can use to detect enemies?" Aurianna asked the system, clinging to a glimmer of hope for a positive response.

[ Yes, would you like to purchase Nero Search { Able to detect enemies in a 5-meter radius } 20 pt ]

"Yes, buy it."

[ You have received Nero Search. ]

[ Adult stage Goigler detected. ]

With the newly acquired Nero Search skill, Aurianna's senses were heightened, and she received a notification indicating the presence of an adult stage Goigler. Startled by the alert, she quickly scanned her surroundings until her gaze landed on a Goigler that stood out from the ones she had previously encountered. This Goigler had shades of white around its skin, appearing almost translucent, and it towered at a height three times that of an average human.

The Goigler, aware of Aurianna's presence, began to sprint towards her, its movements becoming erratic as it intermittently vanished from her sight. If it weren't for Nero Search, she wouldn't have been able to detect its invisible presence.

"It can turn invisible! I have to end this as quickly as possible," Aurianna thought, panic coursing through her veins. She swiftly assessed her surroundings, searching for a strategy to confront this formidable adversary.

"Now it's time for Goigler hunting."

Meanwhile, in Eva's space, she observed the events unfolding on the screen before her. She watched Aurianna repeatedly succumb to the relentless attacks of the Goiglers, shaking her head in disappointment.

"She is unable to analyze serious situations. If this were her normal world, she would have been swiftly defeated by a Regal without much difficulty," Eva remarked, her smile tinged with amusement. "However, her unwavering determination is refreshing to watch, but she lacks proper planning and displays immaturity for her age."

Growing bored with Aurianna's struggles, Eva swiped the panel to shift her attention to Leila, who was engaging in a fierce battle against an army of humans, skillfully wielding her broadsword

In the midst of observing Leila's impressive growth, "In such a short time her level has increased, and her power is explosive, I really underestimated this child." Eva muttered as she watched Leila in awe, "But why won't she call for me?" She grumbled, slightly frustrated, before turning the panel back to Aurianna.

"I suppose I'll have to focus on Aurianna for now. She may be weaker compared to her younger twin, but it seems my idea of her developing her own fighting skills is working," Eva mused, shaking her head with a satisfied smile as she continued to observe Aurianna's struggles.

Back in the unfamiliar land, Aurianna unleashed her magical attacks to defend herself against the Goigler. However, she was taken aback when the creature managed to dodge five of her gunshots with exceptional agility. Although she landed hits with the remaining shots, the damage inflicted on the Goigler was minimal.

Aurianna suspected that the Goigler had intentionally evaded the gunshots aimed at vital areas, effectively protecting itself from fatal blows. To her dismay, the Goigler's injuries swiftly healed, enveloped by a radiant aura. It then swiftly moved from side to side, closing in on Aurianna with a drooling mouth, ready to launch another attack.

"Sniper Shot!" Aurianna yelled, summoning a sniper gun that appeared before her, hovering in the air. Her vision sharpened, allowing her to clearly see the vital points of the Goigler. Gripping the sniper gun tightly, she infused it with mana, preparing for a precise shot. With expert aim, she targeted the Goigler's eye and fired, the bullet piercing through its skull and ending the creature's life.

However, the strain of using the skill took a toll on Aurianna, causing her to lose her balance and fall on her backside. She panted heavily, feeling completely drained of energy. Despite her exhaustion, a sense of accomplishment washed over her as she realized she had defeated the powerful Goigler.

[ You have killed an Adult stage level 35 Goigler. ]

[ You've gained light element and invisibility element. ]

[ Received 3,000 exp bonus for killing a monster higher leveled than you. ]

[ Sniper Shot has leveled up to level 2. ]

"Hah, hah, hah," Aurianna gasped for breath, her body trembling from the exertion. However, her respite was short-lived as she caught a glimpse of something in her peripheral vision. It was a flaming ball hurtling towards her from a distance. Unfortunately, she was too drained to move, and the flames engulfed her, burning her to a crisp.

[ Fire resistance increased by 1. ]

Once again, Aurianna awoke in a different part of the mysterious land. The emptiness in her eyes reflected the toll the repetitive cycle of death and resurrection was taking on her mental well-being. She questioned how much longer she could endure the relentless torment of this place while striving to maintain her sanity.

There was a quest page before her, she had little choice but to look at it.

[ Quest ]

[ Defeat 50 Goiglers before you can leave the training grounds. ]

[ 3 / 50 Goiglers defeated. ]

"This is impossible!" Aurianna shouted to the sky. "They can use elements! How am I supposed to fight them?"

"And why didn't my Nero Search work?"

[ Nero Search is on cool down. ]

She decided to push her small hope to the side, starting to walk and investigate her new surroundings. She soon realized she was in a cave. As she looked around, she thought to herself, "I wonder how much time has passed since I've been here."

"I can't afford to give up. How can I become stronger than the Hero if I can't even defeat a few monsters? Not yet," Aurianna declared, determination burning in her eyes.

Leaving the cave behind, Aurianna sprinted forward, her agility and speed propelling her onto a nearby rock. Activating her Sniper's Shot ability, she focused her enhanced vision on the area ahead, hoping to spot any lurking Goiglers. Her gaze fell upon seven Adult stage Goiglers, their predatory instincts guiding their search for prey.

Realizing that a direct confrontation would likely be too dangerous, Aurianna retreated back into the safety of the cave. Sitting against the cool walls, she pondered her next move. "I can't simply attack head-on. I need a plan," she thought, her mind racing with strategies to outsmart the Goiglers and turn the odds in her favor. She knew that with careful planning and execution, she could find a way to defeat them without endangering herself unnecessarily.

Aurianna sat in deep thought, contemplating ways to enhance her Sniper Shot skill and increase its effectiveness against the Goiglers. She turned to the system, seeking guidance and possibilities for improvement.

"System, is there a way to increase my Sniper Shot?"Aurianna questioned, her determination shining through. She acknowledged that this skill was currently the most effective in penetrating the Goiglers' defenses.

[ Yes, there are two ways.

First is to practice the skill extensively, gradually leveling it up.

Second is to place some of your exp into the skill, which would slow down your leveling peogress. ]

"How much exp do I have then?"

[ You have 6,600 exp left. ]

She made a decisive choice. "Please place all of my exp into my Sniper Shot skill," she requested.

Ding

[ Sniper Shot is now level 5

{ Damage has increased } ]

Aurianna smirked, satisfied with her stat boost.

"Is there also a way I can make this skill more effective?"

[ Skill can be more effective if you hold the gun yourself. ]

Embracing the advice, Aurianna called out, "Sniper Shot!" A flying sniper gun materialized before her, landing softly in her hands. The sensation of holding the gun was refreshing and comforting. In contrast to the lingering pain she experienced when using guns for magic, this time it felt natural and comfortable. It almost seemed as if the sniper gun was meant to be her primary weapon. Aurianna couldn't discern whether it was a direct effect of her class skills or something more profound, but she couldn't deny the newfound connection she felt with the weapon.

Despite her feeling of familiarity with the weapon, she still didn't understand its fundamental details.

"I guess I was mostly interested in the shotgun. So, I wasn't paying that much attention to the others."

Aurianna tilted her head curiously, "System, can you please explain to me all the parts of the sniper gun?" Aurianna asked the system, hoping to get further details to utilize her skills well.

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