As finally reached the creature''s head, determinedly cing his hand on its skull. Without hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of Void Arrows, their azure glow illuminating the chaos around them as they tore through the monster''s hide at close range.


    The Drakaroth roared in pain and continued to thrash around. As realized he couldn''t kill it, so he quickly grabbed Lilith before leaping off the rage-filled monster and hitting the jungle floor.


    As started dashing through the trees while heading Northeast. He jumped over branches and fallen logs. Lilith wriggled out of his arms and started running beside him, emitting an adorable growl.


    They raced through the jungle until they reached the river As had spotted from the summit. When As halted, Lilith didn''t brake,unching into the water with a spectacr ssh and paddling across without a hint of concern.


    Emerging on the opposite bank, she had an enormous leech clinging to her. As quickly scanned it with Void Sight.


    [Poison Leech]


    [Rank: G - 50 Exp]


    Before he could react, Lilith tore the leech off and devoured it in a couple of bites. Then, with a shudder, she copsed. As peered at her, tongue lolling out and looking like a drunk college student at spring break.


    He was worried about the little devil and started searching for a way to cross the dangerous river full of monsters that made his skin crawl. While walking, As scanned the water because he felt something watching him.


    [Swamp Drake]


    [Rank: E - 200]


    As stopped walking while raising his hand and casting three Void Arrows into the water. This caused a mini explosion as the water erupted just as the monster lunged at him, but he was ready and cast Void Guard.


    The monster mmed into his shield and pushed him backward, allowing him to retrieve his dagger. The Swamp Drake attacked again, but As was ready, so he quickly sidestepped the monster before stabbing it in the eye.


    It roared in pain and tried to free itself, but As cast a Void Arrow directly into its eye through the dagger, which caused the thing''s head to explode. Following that, he walked along the riverbank until he found a way across.


    By the time he reached Lilith, she was out cold and looked drunk, which made himugh as he scooped her up. As continued to travel through the jungle without being bothered by any more monsters.


    Soon, as the sun began to set, he started searching for a ce to settle down for the night. Finding no suitable spot, he crawled under a bush, curling up and cuddling Lilith for warmth andfort after wrapping the cloak around them.


    The night passed, and As was well hidden so that none of the stronger night monsters could see or sense him, thanks to the enchanted cloak. But that didn''t stop Lilith from waking up.


    She panicked but soon realized As was hugging her. The angry Arzuros looked at the young boy, who recoiled with an uncertain expression before she nudged his head with her own and curled up closer.


    As the sun rose and lit up the jungle, As stirred and woke up, the warmth of the morning light bringing him back to consciousness. He crawled out of under the bush while cradling Lilith.


    As looked around and saw dozens of massive monster prints. While examining the scene, he heard two loud roars, which caused him to look up as something flew past, causing a mini earthquake.


    He rushed to a tree and started climbing, but Lilith lunged at something. As quickly looked to see her fighting a medium-sized snake. The honey badger-like monster was vicious, savaging the serpent with relentless ferocity.


    In the meantime, As starts climbing up the branches until he reaches the canopy, only to see two massive monsters fighting each other. One was the Jungle King and the other looked like a giant Allosaurus.


    The giant dinosaur lunged at the ape, but it sidestepped the attack before striking its head with a hammer fist. As heard the loud crunch when its fist crushed the monster''s skill before two more joined the fight.


    ''Ouch, one punch kill must have hurt,'' he internalized while watching the fight.As realized they were getting closer, which caused him to quickly descend the tree after grabbing Lilith.


    When he hit the ground, he started sprinting through the jungle as everything shook. As managed to flee the area, and, thanks to the Titan''s fight, the monsters all hid, allowing him free travel across the jungle.


    He made good time and ended up in a clearing covered with monster bones, which caused him to think, ''What didthis?''


    While standing there, As heard a primal and haunting sound reverberating across the clearing. It began as a low rumble, akin to distant thunder rolling across the ins, building in intensity with each reverberation.


    As it rose in pitch, the growl transformed into a piercing shriek, sharp and menacing, cutting through the air like a de, ''I wonder what monster it is now?'' he sighed.


    A ten-foot-tall culprit stepped into the clearing, allowing As to see the monster. Its green feathers and back helped it blend into its surroundings, but what unnerved him were its glowing yellow eyes.


    Its massive hooked beak looked deadly. When As saw this neer, he gulped, ''Oh god. Why is something like this here?''


    As quickly scanned it with Void Sight.


    [Terror Bird]


    [Rank: E+ - 300 Exp]


    As he did that, Lilith growled before wiggling out of his arms and dropping to the ground. She made herself look bigger before charging at the Terror Bird and attacking it, which shocked As, who quickly followed.


    The monster roared in anger and rushed forward. When As saw how fast it was, he cast Void Guard as its massive ws struck the shield, causing him to fly backward, but that''s when Lilith bit down on the Terror Bird''s side.


    As wouldn''t let her get the kill and started casting dozens of Void Bullets at itsrge body. When the projectiles connected, the monster tumbled over and crashed to the ground, allowing the Honey Badger to swarm over it.


    He rushed forward just as the creature was about to bite Lilith, grabbed its head, and instantly Void Arrow into its skull, causing it to burst like a watermelon, allowing the experience to flow into his body.


    ''''Ahhh, that always feels good,'''' he mumbled.


    As shook his head before looking at Lilith, chewing at the corpse. She was ripping pieces of flesh off the Terror Bird. Confused at the girl''s behavior, he pulled out his dagger and cut out the orange Monster Core.


    Once he had done that, he stored the message in his storage: ''''Come on, Lily. Stop eating the bird.''''


    She looked at him with narrowed eyes; he knew what she would do and warned her, ''''Don''t you dare attack me! We''ve spoken about this, you demoness.''''


    Just as thest words rolled off his tongue, she pounced. All As saw was ck and white flying toward him until she clung to him like a face hugger; he fell backward as Lilith nibbled every part she could get hold of.


    The Arzuros kept attacking him, and if As managed to free himself, Lilith would do it again until she was sitting on his chest with a look of triumph on her little face. This made himugh, but he pushed the little devil off him while standing up.


    Lilith scrambled up his body and slumped on his shoulders like a sloth, causing As to shake his head and press on through the dense jungle. asionally, she gave him a lick or a yful nibble, sending a shiver down his spine.


    Suddenly, the demoness''s head shot up, her gaze fixed on the south. She swiftly jumped off him and darted into the bushes. As sighed and hurried after the mischievous creature, who led him to a beach nearly an hour''s trek away.


    Arriving there, he gazed at the stormy sea and quickly noticed andmass further north. As quickly realized that the beach stretched to that distant shore. He nced at Lilith, who was prancing around in the sand and grinned.


    As began walking down the beach, but suddenly, something exploded from under the sand, sending him stumbling backward as Lilith lunged. He shook his head and saw a dog-sized crab with tworge pincers holding the angry badger as she went wild.


    This caused him to chuckle before scanning the monster.


    [Tidebreaker]


    [Rank: F - 100 Exp]


    "Not too strong," As mused. "Let''s clear them out for the experience."


    He rushed forward just as Lilith freed herself from the Tidebreaker''s ws and tried attacking the monster by jumping onto its back. However, the creature''s shell absorbed the impact, leaving it unharmed.


    That''s when As cast Void Bullet at its face. The projectile pierced the Tidebreaker''s soft flesh and exploded inside the shell. Lilith yelped and quickly jumped off as the creature copsed to the sand below.


    Then, even more Tidebreakers popped out of the sand and started attacking. As cast Void Guard just as one of the monsters mmed into him. Spinning around, he cast Void Arrow into its face, the azure projectile hitting its mark with deadly precision.


    As''s spell exploded, flinging the crab away just as Lilith rushed in and bit down on one of the monster''s legs, ripping it out with a strong tug. He swiftly plunged a de into the soft flesh, finishing the creature off.


    The battle continued for a few more minutes until all the Tidebreakersy lifeless on the beach. As, breathing heavily, counted ten monsters before sitting down to catch his breath.