Is this really a Game?!

Reign moved cautiously through the dense vegetation, trying to minimize his presence in the corrupted jungle. The whispers in his mind grew more insistent, and the air felt heavy with anticipation. As he navigated through the twisted trees and overgrown vines, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being watched.

The monsters in this part of the jungle were all above him in terms of strength. He could definitely fight against them if he went all out and transformed, but he couldn't stay transformed at all times.

The growls that the powerful monsters present in this part of the jungle released were enough to make trees bend and their breath alone was able to create gusts of wind.

Reign wasn't surprised, however.

He had already met monsters that were even more powerful than these guys.

Elandir, the horse from the dungeon during their previous challenge had an aura that was above them, but it was still a Tier VI monster.

Then there was Elyndor, a highly intelligent and powerful Tier VII monster they had seen and talked to, not to mention the immensely powerful Morgol that had smashed and completely annihilated even the Tier VII demons that had attacked them on the surface.

Compared to those guys, the monsters of the jungle truly were nothing special, but when compared to Reign, they were all incredibly powerful and each one was an opponent he would have to go all out against if he wished to win.

He knew that very well, which was why he was doing his best to sneak around all of them, utilizing his soul sensing, mana sensing, as well as his eyesight and hearing to their fullest to make sure no monster was able to surprise him.

And even then, he couldn't help but feel as if something or someone was watching him.

'Aethion, why the hell do I continue feeling as if someone is watching me, am I going crazy or something?'

"No, you're not."

"You can't sense anything with your mana, nor with your soul sensing, but that doesn't mean that nothing is there."

"Your instincts are flaring up, telling you something, and I wouldn't simply wave it away, something seems to have truly locked on to you, but what I am interested in is why it hasn't done anything."

'A monster?'

"Definitely, but since it can evade you like this, making it impossible for you to notice it, then it's much more powerful than you are, it's probably a being more powerful than any monster that you can sense right now, you can imagine what would happen if it decided to attack."

'But why would it not then?'

'If it's so powerful, then why simply continue watching me?'

"It's possible that it can't lock on to you completely, or maybe it is being wary of something else."

"Who knows, it could potentially feel threatened by you, maybe it is able to sense that you wouldn't be an easy prey and doesn't wish to risk things."

Reign sighed before he continued sneaking around. Even though he felt as if someone was trying to melt the back of his head from his feeling of being watched, he ignored it as he knew that there was nothing he could do about it.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled, and a guttural growl echoed through the air. Reign froze, his senses on high alert. A massive, shadowy figure emerged from the foliage, its eyes glowing with an ominous light. It was a creature unlike any he had encountered before, 

Its body was a twisted tapestry of sinewy tendrils, resembling rotting vines and diseased roots that writhe and slither with an unnatural life force. Oozing with a sickly sap that glows an ominous, otherworldly hue, the monster in front of Reign exuded an unsettling stench, a pungent mixture of decay and the cloying sweetness of overripe fruit.

The monster's limbs were elongated, ending in razor-sharp thorns and serrated leaves that move with an unsettling grace. Its fingers were replaced by gnarled appendages resembling skeletal branches, each tipped with poisonous blossoms that release toxic spores into the air. Its eyes, if one dared to call them such, were luminescent orbs surrounded by a thorny, thicket-like mane that seemed to pulsate with an eerie energy.

The creature's maw, a gaping cavity of serrated petals, opened to reveal rows of needle-like teeth, dripping with a corrosive sap that can dissolve flesh upon contact. The guttural, echoing roar could send shivers down the spines of even the bravest souls, it was as if the very earth itself were groaning in agony.

Caught off guard, Reign tried to retreat silently, but the monster's senses were keen. It turned toward him, its form shifting and contorting as if the very corruption in the air animated its movements. The corrupted jungle seemed to come alive with malevolent intent.

Aethion's voice echoed in Reign's mind, "Looks like that's it for sneaking around, kid. Get ready for a fight."

[ Ghastly Florastrider ]

That was the name that Reign was given after he used his [ Inspect ] skill. Unfortunately, it barely gave him a glance at the status of the monster, and even if it did, he didn't really have time to look at it.

The first strike came fast, a barrage of corrupted tendrils lashing out from the monster. Reign swiftly activated his Lightning Boots, darting away with enhanced speed. However, the initial attack was just a precursor, and the monster quickly followed up on it.

The Ghastly Florastrider's limbs elongated, propelling it forward with an uncanny swiftness. Reign barely had time to react as the monster closed the distance. With a sudden burst of corrupted energy, the creature unleashed a flurry of thorned strikes. The air whistled with the speed of its assault, and Reign relied on his Lightning Boots to dance around the deadly onslaught.

As the tendrils lashed out, Reign could sense the corruption within them. Each strike carried with it a noxious energy that threatened to seep into his very being. A direct hit from those thorns could spell disaster, and Reign knew he had to maintain his agility to avoid being ensnared.

Reign struck with precision, aiming for the monster's appendages. His two swords clashed with the thorny tendrils, creating sparks of corrupted energy upon impact. It became a battle of strength and dexterity, each movement a delicate dance between predator and prey.

The Ghastly Florastrider, despite its grotesque appearance, displayed an unexpected level of intelligence. It adapted to Reign's tactics, its limbs moving with a fluidity that defied the corruption that bound them. The monster's thorny maw opened wide, and a toxic spore cloud billowed out, creating a hazardous area around it.

Realizing the danger, Reign activated his Tailwind Fury skill. With a swift series of strikes, he generated shockwaves that cleared the air of the toxic spores. The swirling energy acted as a protective barrier, shielding him from the corrosive effects of the monster's assault.

Reign, fueled by determination, aimed for the creature's vital points. His Lightning Boots allowed him to maneuver with unmatched agility, dodging the Ghastly Florastrider's attacks and countering with his own. His hands never stopped as he used his swords constantly in order to parry attacks and slash through the monster's defenses.

Despite his skill and newfound abilities, Reign couldn't shake off the feeling that the Ghastly Florastrider was holding back. It seemed to be testing his abilities, probing for weaknesses in his defense. Aethion's warning echoed in his mind, reminding him that the jungle housed unpredictable and powerful entities and that this one was definitely one of them.

Even though Reign had struck the monster multiple times, he hadn't really done much damage. The monster was cut in some places, but the cuts were not that deep, and they quickly healed by themselves.

'Aethion, do I transform, or do I try to run away?'

"Well, more monsters might be coming soon thanks to the chaos you and this fella are causing, but they might not join the battle."

"You have noticed how they all seem to stay in their own areas, which shows that every single monster here is a powerful entity that controls a part of the jungle, so they might not be scared of this one, but they also might not want to risk offending it."

"Still, if you try to run away, there is a high possibility that you will come across one or two of those monsters, and if that happens, they might attack you together."

'So, fighting against this guy by myself is the better choice?'

"Yes, but you might want to get a bit further away before transforming, it would be a shame for you to use the transformation and kill only one monster, you should aim for 2 or even three."

Reign nodded his head and did as he was told. He turned around and started running away, which caused the monster to roar in anger before chasing him.

Just as that happened, a roar echoed through the forest. One that caused both Reign and the monster to stop as they knelt down on the floor, their heads hurting quite a bit from it.

"Dammit, kid, focus, this roar is not normal, it's a soul-based attack!"