A Week later. . .

       I was moving swiftly all around the place, dodging incoming attacks from the dungeon boss. The beast was a long, slender lizard and lion-like hybrid with no vision, but high concentration acidic breath - which was capable of burning through the hard stone floor like it was nothing.

The beast leaped back, roaring loudly towards me, before shooting out several projectiles made from its acidic breath towards me. I quickly dodged them, leaping into the shadows to ensure no damage from the projectiles whatsoever, before leaping out of the shadow right under the beast - sinking my fangs into its stomach, before 'Harvester' activated - allowing me to rip off a portion of its resilient body and tear a hole in its stomach.

The monster howled in pain, before stumbling back and flipping its head around to face me as blood poured out of its stomach followed by its organs hanging out - which, may I add, was an absolutely disgusting sight. This thing had three different stomachs... and all of them were oddly an off-green colour.

The monster roared before leaping at me, trying to catch me under its front claws. I quickly leapt out of the way, before the creature could land - however it immediately followed after me and tried to pounce onto me again - only for me to sink into the shadows in a split second.

"Screw it - I am removing that throat."

I thought, before coiling up my body and propelling myself up at the creature instantly biting into its neck, before wrapping my lower body around its neck and tearing out its neck - bit by bit, blood spilling everywhere. The monster shrieked and howled, stumbling across the place, before seizing movement and collapsing to the ground - its blood slowly drenching the stone floor underneath it.

I exhaled, before spitting out the chunks I had bitten off and wiggling my way off of it, looking at it with a nervous gaze, before exhaling lightly.

"That thing does not taste good at all... It's like I was biting at a rotten piece of meat that had poison poured all over it the entire time."

I commented to myself. A second after my victory over the beast, a window confirming my victory appeared in front of me.

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+ Congratulations +

You have cleared this dungeon and defeated its boss.

Would you like to receive the rewards?

(Yes) (No)

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Without hesitation, I selected the yes option.

Reward Distributed.

Beside me appeared some fancy looking armour and weapons, before another window opened up in front me.

Rare Skill [Venom Bullet] has evolved into the Epic Skill [Venom Mastery].

Well that's certainly nice to see. A skill managed to evolve - however, other than that, I didn't get much useful rewards from this dungeon either. I exhaled heavily - it has been a week since my battle against that Kitsune woman, I have been busy raiding dungeon after dungeon, however, for some reason I haven't gained a single experience point.

My growth has completely halted ever since I hit level fifty - as if I couldn't level up anymore. At first, I didn't think much of it and simply assumed that I hadn't levelled up simply because I hadn't gained enough experience, however, after an entire week of fighting Dungeons filled with monsters in level ranges of thirty five to forty five - with the bosses sometimes being over level fifty, with one even being level sixty - I am not so sure off that fact anymore.

Surely all of these pretty powerful monsters would be enough to allow me to level up?

I don't know.
At this point, I've sort of accepted the fact that I am not levelling up any further.

After a quick exhale, I threw one last look at the equipment, wondering what to do with it. I could just leave it here in case any adventurer or something passes through here - however, at the same time, it just feels like a waste leaving behind equipment of this caliber.

Helmet of Resilience [C Rank]
Gown of Resilience [C Rank]
Hard Iron Longsword [C Rank]
Reinforced Shoulderpads [B Rank]

Though I imagine that it's not going to be as good the further I gain power, at this point in time, I imagine it was pretty strong - especially considering that from all these dungeons I've raided, the monsters in them have been in the ranges of C Rank to B Rank. I thought about it for a bit longer, before exhaling and shaking my head lightly, turning around and beginning to slither towards the exit.

There was no point in taking them. They're clearly made for humanoid creatures that could use them, but I'm just a snake - I don't even have arms to hold a sword with. Besides - that Longsword is the same size as my body. Even if I somehow had arms as a snake, I would not be able to hold it.

Plus, it's not like I am struggling right now - Fighting using my skills to my advantage is quite reliable and easy, as well as efficient.

I slithered back through the dungeon, using 'Devourer' to absorb the magical energy still lingering within the bodies of the deceased creatures, before eventually making it out of the dungeon - being met with a bright sunny day blasting down at me. I breathed in a heavy dosage of the fresh air, before slithering towards the dense tree line and out of the clearing that the dungeon was in.

I wanted to find a nice, cool and quiet spot to rest at for a bit - so I could first allow my Magical Energy to regenerate a bit, as well as so I can take a look at my stats. It's been a little while since I've done so.

After moving through the forest for a while, I eventually found a pretty cool spot under a large tree - with a large shadow falling over me. I coiled up below the tree, sinking slightly into my body as I exhaled heavily.

"This is nice... Resting after spending about an hour or two fighting through a dungeon really relaxes the mind and body."

I thought, before closing my eyes for a bit.
I simply rested there, slightly sunken in my rather soft body for a bit - just taking in the fresh air and listening to the peaceful and calm noises around me. Birds chirping, other small critters going on about their day... It reminded me of when I was younger, just sitting underneath a tree and reading stories to her...
Those were good memories.

After resting for a little while longer, I eventually exhaled, before lifting my head up and shaking it lightly.

"Alright, time to take a look at the status window."

"Status Open."

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Name: Faofa Shin
Species: Greater Serpentine
Level: 50
Rank: E

Stats:

Health; 10,112/12,900
Strength; 2200
Defense; 2090
Magical Energy; 4896/18,900
Stamina; 2090

- Overall Power; 6300

Skills:
-Speech; Active Skill
-Venom; Passive Skill
-Nykee; Special Skill

-Erudition; Rare Skill
-Devourer; Individual Skill
-Harvester; Rare Skill
-Venom Mastery; Epic Skill
-Trickster; Common Skill
-Presence Erase; Common Skill
-Shadowlord; Individual Skill
-Beasts Will; Individual Skill
-Fractured; Rare Skill

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Yeah, as I had expected, my level was still just fifty....
I don't understand why I am not levelling up anymore - it feels like I am somehow locked out of gaining more power. The only thing that I have been able to increase is my maximum Magical Energy, since it increases with every usage of 'Devourer' as it assimilates the Magical Energy I absorb with my own.

The rest of my stats were stuck at whatever they were at.

Other than that, I suppose my skills have also been getting stronger - not necessarily because they've been evolving or something, but more because I have been getting better and better at using them at their maximum potential. In fact, I've learned quite a few handy tricks with some of my skills - such as 'Trickster' where I've sort of learned how to activate it on command. It wasn't easy and I most definitely wasn't able to do it freely whenever, however at least I can try not knowing how to even try and activate it.

I closed my Status window a moment after taking a look at all its contents. I needed to figure out why my levelling was suddenly halted and whether there were some conditions I needed to meet first - otherwise, I will never be able to fulfill my promise to Arabor. Strength was the key to my survival - and if opponents like the Kitsune woman keep appearing, then I will require more power than I have right now.

I exhaled lightly.
It felt like I was repeating myself to myself over and over again...

After allowing my Magical Energy to recover for a bit longer, I set out again, slithering through the forest once more. Along the way, I encountered an occasional slime or direwolf, easily killing the monster and absorbing their Magical Energy for myself, and eventually, I slithered out into a rather strange clearing. It was quite open and empty - with nothing in sight at first. After looking around, I noticed a slate on the ground - seemingly in the middle of the clearing. Curious, I carefully approached the slate, keeping my guard up in case this slate turned out to be some resting spot for a strong monster.

After slithering up to the slate, I took a close look at it - first, it luckily wasn't a boss' resting ground, so that was a relief. Second, I noticed these strange engravings on the stone slate. There seemed to be depictions of what looked like humans kneeling before a strange beast - one with a Lions head, a Goats head and a snake tail. The creature was surrounded by what appeared to be a sun like symbol as well, as if the creature was some kind of object of worship.

The images looked like humans worshipping the strange creature.

It was rather... Ominous.
I shed a slight sweat, before placing my tail onto the slate. I could feel this strange... movement through the slate - as if the slate was actively alive.

"Could there be something beyond the slate..?"

I thought, before looking slightly above the weird looking creature. There was some text that was written in the... Primal Language? Wasn't that the same language that Arabor granted me the ability to comprehend? Why would it be written on this stone slate...? I was under the impression that this 'Primal Language' was one only Arabor and his siblings could use.

I guess not...
The text above the monster was a bit hard to read, however after looking at it for a little while, I believe I managed to comprehend what the text said.

'May our Creation bask, in the grace of the Gods'.

This text... it was like a ritual chant. It felt like something crazy cultists would say after pulling some crazy ass ritual off. But... What could it mean? Was the creature in the images below the text this 'creation'? If so, then perhaps the sun-like pattern around it was this 'grace' that the text mentioned. And the Gods... those had to be the Primal Dragons right? Arabor explained to me that the Primal Dragons were creators of this world...

This stone slate was a real head scratcher for sure.
I moved my tail off of the slate and lightly scratched the top of my head with my tail tip, before reading the text over and over again. After a few moments, I exhaled.

"May our creation bask, in the grace of the gods."

I said out loud.
At first - nothing happened. I even felt a bit stupid for saying something so... How do I put this... strange out loud. Thankfully, no one was around to hear me say that. Exhaling, I turned around, about to leave when suddenly I heard a click sound come from the stone slate. I immediately turned back to face the stone slate - looking at it in confusion and curiosity.

"Did it just... make a sound?"

I thought, shedding a cold sweat. Nothing seemed to be happening while I watched the slate, which, for a second, made me feel like I was going insane. However, then the slate let out a loud hiss, before the text and all the other engravings on it lit up with a bright, bright glow. I immediately leapt back, before creating several small purple orbs of venom around me, in preparation for whatever may happen next.

The slate shined brightly for a bit, before suddenly spinning around and rising slowly out of the ground - revealing a pillar that came out of the ground below the slate. The pillar was decorated in similar engravings to the slate itself - with the engravings depicting humans kneeling, humans offering and humans moving - like the ancient Egyptian drawings that existed in my previous world. The pillar rose and rose out of the ground for a while, eventually stopping, revealing an entry way inside it. I shed a slightly nervous sweat, before carefully approaching the pillar and looking inside the entryway. There was... a very narrow staircase that led down inside of the pillar.

"Did I just open something I shouldn't have...?"

I thought a bit nervously.
For a bit, I remained in place, before throwing a look around and exhaling.

"May as well see what is inside..."

I slithered slightly onto the staircase, about to descend down it, before a sudden roar came from the bottom of it, followed by a massive surge of magical energy. I felt my heart beat hard, as my body instinctively leapt away from the pillar, shivering in fear. It felt like I had just felt an immense heat rush over my body and the inside...
What was that?!

I couldn't stop my body from shivering in fear, while I stared at the pillar in confusion. After a bit, my eyes landed on the drawings of the strange creature. Then, it finally clicked - the text on the slate, the creature depicted, the humans depicted... This slate must have been some kind of tomb, similar to Arabors.

Inside it, at the bottom of that staircase, there must be the creature that is depicted in those images. Which would mean... That surge of magical energy I had felt rushing up and enveloping me, was the creature's magical energy...

The thing felt like I was once again in the vicinity of that strange man I had seen kill the girl around two or so weeks back.

Many, many thoughts rushed through my head. That creature at the bottom most definitely was strong, no doubt about it, however at the same time... It could be a good way for me to grow stronger - IF I could figure out why I can't level up any further.

Then, I was startled by a sudden window appearing in front of me.

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+ Urgent Quest +

Attention - an Urgent Quest has appeared
You have uncovered the Tomb of the Chimera. Please descend down into it and slay the beast located at the bottom of it.

Slay the Chimera [ ]

Reward; New Skill

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...An Urgent Quest..?
And one that is requesting that I go down the stairs to fight - whatever the hell is down there? How convenient...

I shed a nervous sweat. The quest didn't appear to be mandatory, and the reward wasn't super tantalising if I had to be brutally honest - so I didn't really feel any will to do as it said and go down to fight the beast at the bottom. I would do so if I was able to gain experience and level up from it, however with my mysterious level lock, going down there - especially after having a whiff of the magical energy possessed by the thing, was surely a horrible choice and would lead to inevitable demise?

I thought about it carefully.
While part of me was curious about what this promised skill as a reward was, a part of me also didn't want to risk potentially dying if all I was going to gain from it was a skill. It's not like I need any more skills - I feel like I have quite a lot and they all are doing a pretty good job so far... So why - why despite all of this...

I have this temptation - this unwavering feeling of the wish... No, the need to go down and face whatever monstrosity laid at the bottom? Why did I feel like there was some kind of force pulling me towards the pillar? It was so confusing and strange.

I remained in place for a little longer, brainstorming on what to do for a little bit longer, before shaking my head and closing the window with the urgent quest.

"Fine. I will go down."

I thought before turning around and slithering away from the pillar.

"...After I have done proper preparations."

There was no way in hell I was ready to take on whatever the hell was down there. My stats - apart from Magical Energy - were locked, my level - also locked. And while I do trust in the power of my skills, I did not trust in my ability to use them well. I needed to get a bit more skilled at using my skills and efficiently using my magical energy - as well as perhaps use 'Devourer' to increase it a bit further, just to give myself more breathing room.

I was going to go down and challenge the beast inside, however not now. I first needed to do some proper preparations and ensure I was completely ready to face it. If that surge of magical energy was enough to send my body into an instinctive reaction, then there was no way in hell I would be able to fight it at this point in time. I needed more... experience in battle. And of course - what better way to gain experience in battle... Then challenging some more dungeons?

I slithered off into the forest once more, throwing one last gaze back at the pillar, before disappearing into the trees.

I will return here and take on the beast down at the bottom in due time.

.
..
...
....
Over the next few days, I continuously raided dungeon after dungeon - killing everything I could find inside them. The monsters still ranged from the usual C Rank to B Rank, with the bosses of the dungeons primarily being in the B Rank, however I managed to prevail against all of them.

Giant Spiders with Knight-like exterior, Large lizards with wings, Massive green goblins, Large white wolves with flames around their necks - to name a few monsters I faced during the raids. As for the bosses...

Red Wyvern - Level 45 [B Rank]

Swamp Great Ape - Level 45 [B Rank]

Giant Arachnid Knight - Level 47 [B Rank]

Gurt (Goblin King) - Level 46 [B Rank]

White Moon Wolf - Level 50 [B Rank]

They weren't easy