Yesterday's events made me really consider acquiring and upgrading some magic classes. I needed to be able to fight efficiently from the distance. I kept thinking about it while taking a bath, and all the way to the cafeteria.

I needed at least two different types of energy, optimally three, in case something was for example resistant to heat, or cold.

All my void-based classes were great, but going after only those made me a bit unprepared for the enemies able to fly, and fight from a distance. Shadow walking through the air was way too inefficient, and since I was constantly falling, pulled down by the gravity, I couldn't even swing my weapon properly.

I brought Ki'rai bowl of curry rice, and for myself, I got beef jerky and a few raw vegetables. I packed everything into the large backpack, and we traveled to the edge of the swamp, and slowly started to make our way deeper. I had to use 'Eyes of the Void' to find the best path because it was impossible to find it normally with that nasty tall grass.

The view was making Ki'rai uneasy. I noticed that she was very carefully looking around, and staying close to me. I couldn't blame her. The whole place was very creepy. The air was heavy, and the smell terrible, but we had to go.

Soon we encountered the first group of lizardfolk. I attacked them immediately, shadow walking to shorten the distance. They spread around, and the ones most prepared to fight off the frontal attacks remained. I was attacked from multiple directions at the same time, but unfortunately for them, it was of no use, as I could reposition with ease, and actually kill them very quickly aiming for the blind spots.

I summoned my shadows to pick up the crystals and carry them in the backpacks. I left all the unnecessary weight to them.

If not the annoying environment around, it would be quite an enjoyable hunt, but shoes full of water, and constantly having to search for the path, made it rather an unpleasant one.

I killed many groups, trying to aim for the center of that hunting ground, suspecting the dungeon and the boss should be there. More or less half a day in we arrived at the edge of a large settlement.

There were many huts, made of wood and that tall grass, build on platforms above the water, connected with each other by the bridges. There were multiple guards with bows and spears roaming around, watching.

- Stay here, Ki'rai. If possible, hide - I said and rushed towards the lizard village.

I shadow walked few times to avoid the deep water. They noticed me pretty quickly, and send some arrows, but with my speed avoiding those was no problem. I landed among them and just started swinging. The alarm rose instantaneously. They mobilized with incredible speed. Even before I finished the guards, a group of footmen with shields approached me. There were more of them around. Archers tried to climb on huts, or find spots that would make a clear shot possible. There were also multiple pikemen jumping to the swamp and trying to surround me.

It was a full-on war before I realized it. I focused on the archers first, taking them down before they could annoy me with their arrows. If I couldn't shadow walk around, this would be a difficult fight, as they blocked all of the pathways, and I would have to fight in the water, but I could. Their potential advantage became a disadvantage, as I could move around easier than them.

I finished off one group after another, cleaning the initial attack in less than an hour, but that was enough for heavier troops to appear. Those humanoid, armored crocodiles, almost three meters tall, came rushing from the further parts of the settlement. Those guys were so heavy, that some of them knocked down a couple of the huts while making their way towards me. They had some nasty jagged cleavers and axes in their hands.

It was at least several dozens of them, but more were approaching. Without even thinking, I launched my attack, activating 'Empowered body', and 'Shadow fusion'. With this much power, I was able to cut them down like they were made out of cardboard.

Without losing my tempo, I made it to the second group, and after that, to the third. With the corner of my eye, I noticed another type of lizardfolk. Slim, big-breasted, half-naked women that had more in common with humans, than lizards. They had long, dark-green hair, and some gold jewelry. Mainly on their hands in form of bracelets, but also pendants, resting in their cleavages.

They poped of all around me, but not in numbers even comparable to crocks. There were maybe a dozen of them. Black daggers appeared in the hands of some of them, and they actually cut their own arms, but the blood didn't flow down. Instead, it started to levitate in the air.

I tried to watch as best as I could, but I was busy with the fight, and only noticed what was going on, as crimson shards flew through the air, and dug into my skin, unable to penetrate the muscles.

I thanked my 'Dreadnought' class in my thoughts and quickly moved my focus at those crazy blood mages. I shadow walked to the closes one and swung my pudao, but the blade didn't reach her. It stopped on the flying puddle of crystallized blood. "That's surprising" - I thought to myself, but what was more surprising was the blood needles that shoot from it straight at my face.historical

Thanks to my lightning reflexes I managed to cover my eyes with my forearm. This time the shards dug deep. I immediately felt that something very strange was going on with my body, so shadow walked behind her, grabbed her by the neck, and snapped it twisting my wrist. The effect vanished, just as I noticed more lizard women approaching.

Those had completely different attire from the blood mages.