It had been several hours since I killed the Golden Harpy, yet a strange sense of unease lingered. To make the most of the remaining daylight, I decided to hunt for a Harpy Soul Fragment—a rare and valuable drop that could significantly boost my abilities. However, something was undeniably wrong. I had slain dozens of Harpies by now, yet not a single Soul Fragment had dropped. In fact, I hadn’t received anything—no monster parts, no equipment, nothing.


    I frowned, gripping my weapon tightly. This shouldn’t be happening. With the massive Luck boost I had just obtained from the Golden Harpy, my drop rate should have improved drastically. I should’ve been swimming in loot by now. Instead, it was as if something—or someone—had placed a curse on me.


    Letting out a frustrated sigh, I eventually decided to stop and rest. No point in wasting energy on pointless fights. There was still a long journey ahead, and I needed to conserve my strength. I found a quiet spot, nestled between two large boulders, and lay down against the cool stone. The sky above was a canvas of deep indigo, streaked with the last remnants of sunlight, and the wind carried the distant cries of harpies circling overhead.


    My expression might have seemed blank, but my mind was anything but still. Plans, calculations, and possibilities ran through my head at lightning speed. I had to be efficient once I returned to town. I needed to sell excess materials, upgrade my gear, prepare potions, and—most importantly—build a team for the next Tower cycle. The list of tasks grew longer by the second. I let out a slow exhale. "Looks like I’ll be busy for the next few weeks," I muttered, closing my eyes briefly.


    ***


    On the 24th day, I finally arrived in the central region of Redridge Mountain. The jagged peaks loomed overhead, their towering forms casting eerie shadows over the land. The air here was noticeably thinner, carrying the scent of damp earth and the faintest hint of sulfur. This was an area few adventurers dared to explore—not because of the harpies, but because of something far worse.


    For the past two days, my luck hasn''t improved. I had given up on hunting Harpy Soul Fragments entirely; the drop rate was abysmal, far worse than I had anticipated. It was a waste of time. Instead, I shifted my focus to something far more important—finding the hidden cave that housed Ooborosk’s Nest. I scanned my surroundings carefully, my sharp Druidic senses attuned to every detail. Somewhere beneath these rocks lay the entrance. I just had to find it before it was too late.


    Ooborosk’s Nest. A secret dungeon hidden deep within Redridge Mountain, its entrance shifting unpredictably with every Tower reset. Unlike normal dungeons, this one followed an obscure mechanic that most players never even discovered.


    Ooborosk was a monstrous, ancient serpent—the apex predator of Redridge Mountain. A single mistake in combat could mean certain death. However, unlike most monsters, Ooborosk’s loot wasn’t particularly valuable for druids. There were no nature-aligned weapons or elemental-enhancing artifacts to gain from the fight. In a normal situation, I wouldn’t even bother engaging it. But this time was different.


    I wasn’t here to fight. I was here for the egg.


    For those who knew the hidden mechanic, there was one golden rule—if you visit Ooborosk’s Nest on the 20th day or later, you’ll find an egg left behind in the lair. That egg was my real target.


    I checked my pocket watch. 2:00 PM. Perfect timing.


    Another crucial secret about Ooborosk’s Nest was its feeding pattern. Every day, at exactly 2 PM, the monster would leave its lair to hunt. For a short window of time, the nest would be completely unguarded. That was my opportunity—the perfect moment to slip in, steal the egg, and escape before the beast returned.


    I took a deep breath, my heartbeat steady. Now or never.


    After carefully navigating the uneven terrain, I finally spotted it—a narrow fissure in the rock face, almost imperceptible at first glance. If I didn’t already know what to look for, I would’ve walked right past it. The entrance to Ooborosk’s Nest was always concealed, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. I crouched down, running my fingers along the stone, feeling the subtle energy that pulsed beneath it.


    "I should still have plenty of time," I murmured, double-checking my watch.


    Wasting no time, I squeezed into the passage, the cold rock pressing against my skin as I moved forward. The air grew damp as I descended, the scent of moss and stagnant water thick in my nostrils. The tunnel walls were lined with bioluminescent fungi, their faint glow casting eerie shadows along the uneven ground. Each step I took echoed softly, swallowed by the overwhelming silence of the cave.


    Then, up ahead, the tunnel widened into a vast underground chamber. The ceiling stretched high above, disappearing into the darkness. Jagged stalactites hung ominously, their sharp points glistening like fangs. The cavern floor was uneven, littered with massive, shed scales—the unmistakable remnants of Ooborosk’s molting. But I wasn’t here for those.


    At the very center of the chamber, nestled within a bed of crushed bones and dried leaves, lay a single egg—its smooth surface gleaming faintly under the dim light.


    There it is.


    My pulse quickened.


    I had come all this way for this moment.


    Now, all I had to do… was take it and get out alive.


    ***


    I had barely taken a few steps toward the egg when, from the darkness at the far end of the cavern, a massive figure slithered into view. A deep, guttural hiss echoed through the chamber as Ooborosk—a monstrous serpent with obsidian-black scales—rushed forward, coiling protectively around its egg. Its slitted, amber eyes locked onto me with terrifying intensity, filled with a primal, murderous intent. The razor-sharp stinger at the end of its tail lifted menacingly, aimed directly at me, glistening with a thick coat of venom that could melt through flesh.


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    What the heck! So much for the plan. It wasn’t supposed to be here.


    I clenched my jaw, gripping my weapon tightly. "Damn reality patch," I muttered, frustration bubbling beneath my breath. It seemed like the snake behaved differently than the game.


    Ooborosk was the natural enemy of druids.


    Its thick scales provided a formidable resistance to magic. Its lightning-fast reflexes made it almost impossible to dodge. And worst of all, its venom attacks could cripple even the most resilient warriors, let alone a class known for its weak defenses. A normal druid would stand no chance against this thing.


    But I wasn’t a normal druid.


    With exceptionally high Agility and Vitality compared to other druids, as long as I played it carefully, I could win.


    Still, this fight was going to be brutal.


    I already learned something—after a grueling 20-minutes battle against this monster—that Ooborosk never strayed far from its egg. It fought defensively, relying on its venomous tail to snipe enemies from afar while keeping its massive fangs as a last resort.


    [Rejuvenation casted.]


    I felt a warm energy wash over me as the healing spell took effect. My body mended slightly, countering the slow but persistent venom seeping into my system. Luckily, the venom from its tail wasn’t too potent—it could be neutralized with Rejuvenation. But the real danger lay in the stacking effect.


    Each hit made me slower.


    Each hit blurred my vision.


    Each hit brought me closer to death.


    I ducked behind a nearby stalagmite, breathing heavily. A moment later, CRASH! Ooborosk slammed into it, shattering the rock pillar into dust.


    That was too close.


    [Wind Cutter casted – effect successfully stacked. Extra damage dealt.]


    The air shimmered as blades of wind tore through Ooborosk’s massive body, their sharp edges digging into its scales. The attack wasn’t enough to break through completely, but it did something even more important—it stacked damage over time.


    [Wind Cutter has reached maximum stack. Hidden effect activated – Tornado Slash casted.]


    A violent cyclone erupted around Ooborosk, ripping through its body like an invisible saw. This is the second Tornado Slash I had landed after a prolonged battle. But even though the attack was powerful, it still wasn’t enough to cripple the beast.


    Shit. If only I still had Flameburst Flask…


    I clenched my teeth, cursing my past decisions. Fire was Ooborosk’s weakness—a single burst could have seared through its defenses. But I had used my last Flameburst Flask killing the Golden Harpy earlier. No use regretting it now.


    [Windstride casted.]


    My body moved on pure instinct as I narrowly dodged another venom strike—barely escaping with my life.


    But something was different now.


    Ooborosk was changing tactics.


    Before, it relied on long-range poison attacks and brute-force slams. But now—it was lunging directly at me.


    It’s getting desperate.


    That was good. That meant it was starting to feel cornered.


    Suddenly—


    SPLAT!!


    A glob of thick, green venom splattered across my face.


    My left eye burned as if someone had shoved a red-hot dagger into it. My vision instantly blurred, my head spinning.


    And in that moment of weakness—


    Ooborosk struck.


    I barely had time to react before its massive jaws lunged forward, fangs bared.


    I twisted my body just in time—but not fast enough.


    CHOMP!


    A searing pain shot through my left shoulder as Ooborosk’s fangs sank deep into my flesh. I could feel the venom coursing through my veins, far more potent than what its tail had injected earlier.


    This wasn’t normal venom. This was lethal.


    My arm burned like fire. My fingers went numb. My body screamed in agony.


    If it had bitten my chest instead, I’d already be dead.


    But I wasn’t going to go down without a fight.


    With a desperate roar, I swung my Scepter as hard as I could—slamming it against Ooborosk’s skull.


    BAAM!


    Thanks to my high strength stat, the impact was enough to make the beast recoil. Its head snapped back, releasing me from its fangs. I staggered backward, gripping my bleeding shoulder as I gasped for breath.


    I needed to assess my condition—fast.


    [Rejuvenation casted.]


    My bleeding stopped, but my condition was dropping fast. The venom was relentless, and my Mana reserves were dangerously low.


    I couldn’t afford to waste any more spells.


    From now on, I had to switch strategies.


    No more Mana-draining attacks. I had to go full defense—use only essential healing—and counterattack with brute force.


    ***


    CRUNCH!


    BAAM!


    SPLAT!


    We exchanged blows over and over again, both of us pushing past our limits. My body was battered, bruised, and barely holding together. But so was Ooborosk.


    It all came down to who had the stronger will to survive.


    Ooborosk recoiled, preparing for one final attack. Its body coiled like a spring, and in an instant, it launched forward—jaws open wide, fangs gleaming, ready to end me. I braced myself, focusing every ounce of strength left into dodging—


    CRUNCH!


    I wasn’t fast enough. Ooborosk’s fangs sank into my abdomen.


    A sharp, excruciating pain exploded through me. I felt my organs rupture, my blood soaking the ground. But I didn’t let go.


    With everything I had left—I swung my weapon, again and again, slamming it into Ooborosk’s skull with wild, reckless fury.


    BAM. BAM. BAM.


    The serpent convulsed, its body twisting violently—until finally…


    Its massive form flickered, turning into particles of fading light.


    [Warning: Your HP has fallen below 3%.]


    My vision blurred. My body felt cold. I had to do something.


    [Warning: Your HP has fallen below 2%.]


    I could barely breathe. My stomach burned, my limbs felt heavy.


    [Warning: Your HP has fallen below 1%.]


    I collapsed onto the cold stone floor.


    And then—


    Darkness.