Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Holy Shit! Super Saiyan Scorpion

After crossing another narrow, half-collapsed passage, a glint of cold light flashed in Jon’s eyes. He stopped retreating and, meeting the Scorpion Mother’s charge head-on, suddenly ducked into a sideways slide!

The massive, snapping pincer grazed the tips of his hair as it passed, slamming down heavily on the spot where he’d just been standing. Shattered rocks burst outward like shrapnel.

WHOOSH—!

Such a close shave made Jon’s heart hammer uncontrollably in his chest.

’Dangerous, right on the edge, just like dancing on the tip of a knife... but damn, it’s thrilling!’

’This is a feeling you could never get in a game!’

Everyone knows that playing a game won’t actually get you killed, so players can maintain a detached mindset from start to finish.

But Jon’s situation was different. He was playing for real!

One slip-up could lead to serious injury, or even death!

But this thrill didn’t frighten him. On the contrary, it made him more excited, more sharp, more decisive!

’Snatching victory from the jaws of danger—that’s what being a man is all about!’

After charging past the Scorpion Mother’s flank, he stopped on a dime. Seizing the moment of stiffness after its attack, he struck again!

[-31 (Hit) -20 (Magic Bonus Damage)]!

[-26 (Hit) -20 (Magic Bonus Damage)]!

Two Poison Nails in one go, and both hit their mark!

As these last two Poison Nails sank into its body, the Scorpion Mother’s massive form shuddered. Its sharp, frenzied shrieks came to an abrupt halt, replaced by a weak, feeble hiss.

Its enormous body swayed, looking as if it could collapse at any moment. In its small compound eyes, the initial fury was replaced by exhaustion and weakness.

The Poison accumulating in its body, combined with the exhaustion from expending so much Power during the chase, had finally plunged the silver beast into a weakened state!

And this was the opening Jon had been waiting for!

”Now’s the time!”

He dashed back to the Scorpion Mother’s right flank, the blade at his waist instantly unsheathed!

The cold steel glinted in the gloom. Following its master’s movements, it carved a perfect, pale blue semicircle of light through the dim air!

Slash!

CRACK—!

[-68 (Hit) -20 (Magic Bonus Damage)]!

A clear, grating crack rang out!

One of the giant scorpion’s legs—as thick as a grown man’s calf and covered in a silvery carapace—cracked under Jon’s Enhanced Slash!

But he didn’t stop there. He continued to press forward, unleashing [Fierce Strike] and spinning to viciously chop down on another of the Scorpion Mother’s right legs!

[-79 (Hit) -20 (Magic Bonus Damage)]!

HSSS—!

With two of its supporting legs struck in succession, the Scorpion Mother could no longer maintain its balance and collapsed with a thunderous crash!

Weakened and now down—the perfect time to press the advantage!

Jon circled directly to the front, preparing to hack at the Scorpion Mother’s head.

At that very moment, however, his eyes shot wide open!

He saw the fallen Scorpion Mother shield its head with its pincers. At the same time, two pairs of short appendages on its chest lifted something shiny and brought it to its maw!

”Holy shit! Don’t eat that!”

But by the time he realized what the beast was doing, it was too late to stop it.

SKREEEEEE—!!!

Along with a shriek even more piercing and frenzied than before, a powerful wave of Energy erupted from within the Scorpion Mother’s body!

Its silver carapace began to visibly shift, turning to gold before his very eyes.

It was a pure, dazzling radiance, as if forged from the blazing sun, illuminating the entire mineshaft.

Its body slowly expanded amidst the light. The cracked legs healed at an astonishing rate, growing thicker and stronger!

Its once-dim compound eyes now blazed with a dazzling golden light, devoid of any trace of fatigue or weakness—only an endless, frenzied savagery remained!

Now, locked onto by the Scorpion Mother once more, Jon felt a chill run down his spine, his skin prickling as if stabbed by countless needles.

’Tch, I screwed up!’

’I originally thought the enraged Scorpion Mother would drop the gem, but I never expected the damn thing to hold on even while being hit by Poison Nails. And now it’s gone and eaten it! But what’s done is done; it’s too late for regrets.’

The young Warrior suppressed his annoyance, a trace of ferocity rising in his heart.

’It’s just a scorpion. How much trouble can it be, no matter how it mutates?’

’So it got a power-up? Like I can’t do that too!’

He thought viciously... and then turned and bolted.

He had no choice. The Scorpion Mother, now upgraded into a golden juggernaut, was already revving up and charging at him again!

And with his current strength, there was no way he could take it head-on.

So... ’Level up! Dump everything into leveling up!’

’I can’t worry about the experience bonus for an under-leveled kill anymore. The only thing that matters now is taking down this big bastard on my tail!’

’Select Warrior Apprentice, allocate 4000 Experience Points!’

[Warrior Apprentice LV.2 (1600/1600) → LV.3 (2400/2400) → LV.4 (0/3200)]

[You have leveled up. Power +2, Constitution +2.5 (Constitution Growth Rate 25%).]

[Free Attribute Points +2, Skill Points +2]

’All Free Attribute Points into Constitution!’

A warm current instantly surged through his body, and Jon’s breathing involuntarily grew heavier.

His Power rose from 7 to 9, and his Constitution skyrocketed from 9.5 to 14.5!

His muscles bulged, his heart roared!

It was, without a doubt, a much more noticeable change than his first level-up.

But it wasn’t enough to put him at ease.

According to his original plan, grinding all three waves of ore scorpions should have given him enough Experience Points to reach level 5 in Warrior Apprentice and unlock a few new Skills. That would have given him more than enough breathing room to handle any surprises during the Scorpion Mother fight.

But now, this mess had thrown his entire plan into disarray.

The Experience Points he had left—counting the wolf kills, potion crafting, and quest rewards—totaled just 1648, only a little more than half of what he needed for level 5.

Unless he could somehow kill another dozen Ordinary rock scorpions while being hunted by the Scorpion Mother, there was no way he could get the rest of the experience.

’But... is that even possible?’

Jon took the opportunity while rounding a bend in the tunnel to glance behind him.

The golden behemoth was now nearly the size of a bull. Rubble, support beams, and other debris that might have once hindered it were now being violently smashed aside!

’Grind Ordinary mobs in this situation? That’s just a fancy way to commit suicide!’

’There’s no other choice. I was hoping to save this, but I guess I have to use it now...’

He reached for the potion holster at his waist. Of the five potions he’d brought, only two remained. One was a specially concocted Acid Burst Potion, and the last was his trump card—the [Blood Exhaustion Potion]!

As he ran, listening to the rumbling giant closing in behind him, Jon grimly drew the Blood Exhaustion Potion.

’You damn monster,’ he muttered, ’I’m going to strip every last piece of carapace off you and turn it into gear...’

He flicked the cork off with a thumbnail and, with a flourish, brought the vial to his lips.

GLUG~

Bottoms up!