Talent System: I Instantly Master My Opponents Skills
Chapter 128: Evading The Frost Maggots

Chapter 128: Evading The Frost Maggots

Asahi was left standing like a fool, he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

One moment they were here, the other they weren’t.

He moved quickly to catch up to them.

’He reminds me of myself.’

Jason thought, watching Asahi with a smirk on his face.

That was the same way he had been when he had seen the display, and seeing someone else in his shoes really lifted his spirits.

Up ahead, there were only monsters.

Back here, there were humans.

They increased their pace as Asahi caught up.

The rhythmic sound of snow crunching against shoes was the only sound that was heard as they moved.

The wide expanse of snow. That was the only thing around them, save for a few bushes and trees in the distance.

Jason suddenly leaped.

From the ground at which his foot made contact with, a giant worm suddenly burst out of the ground with its maw wide open.

But it did not swallow anything and quickly went back underground.

’Stupid worms.’

Jason thought, turning his head back.

"Asahi."

Jason called out, urging the teen to quickly match his steps.

"What?"

He asked as he finally caught up.

"Cut your hair, it looks like a lion’s mane."

The teen’s spiky long hair was so long that it went below his shoulders, stopping before lower body.

"And also, get a new pair of clothing."

He was still wearing his armor, the same armor that Jason had cut through with his dagger.

Contrary to his thoughts, the boy didn’t seem offended by his words.

"How?"

He asked.

’What kind of dumb question is that?’

Jason wondered.

"Just use wind magic to cut your hair off."

"Hmm."

Asahi seemed to ponder about it briefly.

"What about the armor?"

He questioned.

"Buy a new one."

Asahi nodded despite the wind blowing against him as he ran.

"How?"

Jason increased his pace, opting to catch up with the rest of them than spend time answering the boy’s question.

’Now, to get back to the question that is really important.’

Jason thought, settling into the rhythmic movement.

’What is the challenge that I’m here for?’

The A-dungeon had a challenge it would give its participants where their strength wouldn’t be sufficient to deal with the task.

’Why nothing?!’

He lamented internally.

The system never gave him the information he wanted. It gave him literally anything randomly.

And most times, the answer it gave him wasn’t the answer he required.

’It could be anything.’

He could only curse at his luck.

He had the kind of luck that seemed to prioritize misfortune, giving him several unfortunate situations.

For now, his gamble was helping the people he met first.

Like Ezra whom had entered here and helped the first people he met, he planned to imitate him. Even if they weren’t in the same scenarios.

’But, it could also be this.’

’While Sean isn’t really special, Kira and Asahi are also special.

The quest that I’m required to finish before I can challenge the dungeon boss could be this, both of them are special in their own rights.’

’And there is also her, there is something shrouding her that I can’t even begin to understand.’

He thought.

There were so many things he wanted to find out but was unable to.

’I should just assume her name is Lyra, as Sean says. I’ll ask Kira later when he’s alone.’

There were still many things he had to figure out.

He leaped yet again, dodging another one of the worms situated underground.

The giant worm went back after seeing that its target had successfully evaded.

"Even though this counts as a monster, they barely acknowledge its existence."

So far, none of them had been targeted by it.

It was only him the monster seemed to be after him.

’Maybe its just attracted to me.’

He thought.

Now he was lagging a bit behind the three of them, but he was still ahead of Asahi.

’His name is different.’

Jason thought, entertaining any thought that came to him.

’I guess that matches his story that he came from the other side of the world.’

Just then, the person he was thinking about caught up to him.

Jason glanced at him briefly.

"Thanks."

He said quickly.

"What?"

"It was because of you that I was able to join your group, thanks for that."

He thanked sincerely.

"Don’t mention it."

’After all, it was Kira that just suddenly blatantly accepted you.’

He yet again increased his speed.

This time it wasn’t because he wanted to get away from Asahi, this time it was because of something different.

There were finally some trees in the distance.

He avoided another one of the worms.

As he landed he caught sight of Kira’s silhouette, his blue hair waving in the wind. He seemed to move with a sense of urgency, as if he had something heavy but at the same time required immediate attention in his mind

’There must be something important.’

He thought grimly.

He could be thinking of the Hachiman clan, or maybe it was something more pressing at the moment.

Lyra, whom ran next to him, seemed to be moving leisurely. As if it was merely a stroll in the park.

Quickly, they took off into the trees.

Some of the lowest branches were about 4 meters high, while some others were nine.

With their strength, they wouldn’t find it hard at all to jump that high.

All except Sean.

’How is he moving that fast?’

Jason mused, watching him jump into the sky and land on one of the branches.

But even then, he couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

’There must be something I’m missing.’

He shook the thought away as he jumped.

Jason landed on the branch where the others were positioned.

Asahi was the last to come, jumping and landing on the tree branch easily. It was clear that he had at least some experience in the act.

"What happened? Why did everyone stop?"

He asked.

’He’s quick to talk.’

Jason thought.

But he leaned against the tree as he awaited the words that Kira was going to say.

The boy took a deep breath as the wind blew, he brought out a bunch of folded papers from his pocket.

"We’re about to enter a monster’s habitat."

He said grimly, unfolding one of the papers which he held.

"They’re called Frost Maggots."

He continued, handing Asahi one of the papers he held.

"You must have seen them before since you’ve traveled so much."

The boy was in good spirits, but after he saw the paper his expression darkened.

"What?"

Jason questioned.

"Frost Maggots."

Kira repeated.

Asahi handed Jason the paper.

There was only one thing on it; the sketch of a maggot.

It was surprisingly realistic, considering that it was sketched and not pictured.

But they were disgusting.

Jason handed the paper back to him.

"How are we going to get past them?"

Asahi asked.

Sean had already been informed of this, it was only Jason and Asahi that were just being briefed on it.

Compared to them, Sean was entirely composed.

Kira handed him another piece of paper, this one was much wider than the last.

After Asahi was done, he handed the paper to Jason.

It was a rough sketch of a map, one which Kira had procured during his stay in the last settlement.

When he was done, he handed the paper back to Kira.

"Why don’t we-"

"These are their breeding grounds, meaning that since they produce quickly it expands for at the very least a thousand meters.

That means that this place is completely infested by them."

Kira explained before the boy could finish speaking.

"Frost maggots are typical rank 4 maggot monsters that adapted to the cold for a decade and thus gained resistance to it."

A dungeon break was all it took.

Even if it was only 4 maggots that had come through, they reproduced continuously until they reached the large number they were now.

It was disgusting to think that they were once humans.

"Unlike normal maggot monsters, these ones have a dangerous bite that can even pierce through a rank 2’s skin and can jump over 20 meters high.

Particularly, they are prone to swarming towards anything or anyone they see that isn’t one of their kind."

’Could they bite through my skin?’

Maggots were already enough, now the maggots had evolved.

"If the maggots bite you enough times, your skin will eventually weaken and then they’ll be able to feast on your flesh."

"The forest is large, so we’ll have to move continuously for 10 days before we make it through."

"If we want to come out alive, we’ll have to maintain a steady formation and be as quiet as quick as possible."

Kira finished.

He didn’t even bother to give a speech.

Nothing to boost their morale.

To Jason, it was clear that if he or Asahi made a misstep, they would be abandoned and left to deal with the maggots alone.

And the worst part was that his tree leaping skills weren’t something he could brag about.

"Kira."

Jason said.

The boy looked at him, turning his attention towards.

"Haven’t you passed this place before? How did you get past it without food or supplies?"

He had noticed that they had forgotten to carry the bag with their equipment with them.

But now that he had heard the news, it was clear that they hadn’t forgotten.

"Jason..."

He began.

Kira was stressed.

"It wasn’t like this seven years ago."

He seemed to remember something.

"Also, you’ll have to stay a little behind us during the time we stay in here."