Era of Players: Death God
Chapter 54 - 54: Hot on his Heels

The clock rewound sixty minutes. Noah, having just attained the coveted Regular rank, was already being hunted. His pursuer, Lilith, trailed close behind, her own ascension to Regular a mere two levels away.

Meanwhile, in a different region, the familiar forest took on a sinister form. An eerie silence reigned, broken only by the rustle of unseen creatures in the dense undergrowth. Monstrous trees, their limbs gnarled and contorted, formed an impenetrable canopy that strangled the sun's rays, plunging the forest floor into perpetual twilight.

Moss clung to everything, damp and cold, its vibrant green muted by the perpetual gloom. The air carried the earthy scent of decaying leaves and the faint, musky odor of things long dead. Each step crunched on a carpet of fallen leaves, the sound echoing eerily in the stillness. A sense of foreboding permeated the air, a feeling as if the forest itself held its breath, watching, waiting.

Deep within this oppressive gloom, Lilith engaged in a fierce battle. Her movements, fluid and lethal, carried her behind a monstrous lion-headed figure. Her blade, wreathed in flame, arced towards the creature's grotesque head. The monstrosity reacted just in time, deflecting the blow with its dagger.

Lilith's expression remained stoic, her face an unreadable mask. With a practiced flick of her wrist, she traced a circle in the air, her sword acting as a magnet, pulling the beast's dagger off course. In a blink, her blade transformed into a bolt of lightning, striking the monster with pinpoint accuracy.

Despite the elegance of her attack, a powerful gust of wind erupted from the blade, pulling everything in its path. The lion-headed creature struggled against the force, its balance faltering. As the wind subsided, Lilith seized the opportunity, her scarlet blade aimed for the monster's throat in a lightning-fast thrust.

But fate intervened. The blade met resistance, sparks flying as it deflected off an unseen barrier. The lion-headed beast emitted a mocking laugh, its claws extended, ready to tear its human adversary to shreds.

Unfazed by the failed attack, Lilith realized her strategy wouldn't deliver the final blow. Instead of retreating, she charged forward, her form enveloped in a swirling green wind current, as she embraced the monstrous figure.

"Wind, heed my call! Bloom!" she chanted, her voice a powerful echo in the silent forest.

With a clenched fist, she unleashed a torrent of wind, blasting the lion-headed monster away with an ear-splitting boom.

"Flame, become my arrow!" Lilith's voice rang out, followed by a red burst of light that pierced the monster's right eye.

The creature shrieked in agony, its claws slashing wildly at the unseen enemy. A searing inferno erupted within its skull, transforming its brain into ash and molten flesh.

Silence returned, broken only by the crackling embers. Several smaller monsters, remnants of the larger beast's pack, still lurked nearby. Lilith, drawing upon her unique skill, conjured a flaming sword. She hurled the weapon into the ground, her hands tracing intricate patterns in the air.

It all transpired in a blur. The flaming sword landed near the remaining monsters, seemingly by chance. With a flick of her wrist, Lilith unleashed her command: "Blossom Fire Bomb!"

A deafening explosion followed. The scorching blast and flames formed a ring of fire, engulfing the area. For ordinary creatures, this would have been nothing more than a mild inconvenience, the flames mimicking their fiery subterranean home. But these were not ordinary flames.

Lilith, the Witch of Destruction, wielded flames of unparalleled purity, a power beyond the monsters' comprehension. The ring of fire intensified, the creatures' steel-like bodies melting in the face of the immense heat. A cloud of flames descended upon the remaining monsters, shrouding them in a fiery cage.

Sensing impending doom, the lion-headed creatures instinctively tried to escape. However, Lilith, silent and watchful, had already positioned herself at the edge of the inferno, her arms crossed. Glowing green runes materialized above the spot where the initial flaming sword lay. A powerful gust of wind erupted, pinning the monsters to the ground, their defiance replaced by sheer terror.

An illusory figure, a chilling manifestation of Lilith's power, materialized around the trapped creatures, its form a harbinger of annihilation. The figure unleashed a merciless barrage, its every attack a testament to Lilith's devastating power. With a final swing of her own sword, she dispatched the lone survivor, the flames consuming it whole.

The battle won, Lilith surveyed the scene. The oppressive silence had returned, heavier than before, punctuated only by the crackling embers of the extinguished flames. She stood amidst the devastation, a solitary figure bathed in the eerie glow of the dying fire, a testament to her power. She was indeed a monster.

[+200% Experience points]

[Level 20]

A sigh escaped Lilith's lips, devoid of any triumph.

"Regular rank achieved," she muttered, the words carrying the weight of countless battles.

Unlike most who celebrated this milestone, Lilith's face remained an emotionless mask. Since dawn, her sole focus had been reaching this rank before dusk, her blade tearing through countless monsters like a possessed spirit. Every step forward, every drop of spilled blood, fueled by a single burning desire: to become strong enough to stand beside him, to never leave his side again.

The new exclusive skill could wait.

Only that goal held any meaning in the silent storm within her.

Lilith decided to go take a bath in the lake outside of this place.

A beautiful place she discovered on her way here.The lake was nestled between towering trees, its crystal-clear water reflecting the vibrant colors of the surrounding foliage. Lilith could hear the gentle rustle of leaves and the melodic songs of birds as she approached the lake's edge.

The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadows on the water's surface. Lilith couldn't resist the temptation to immerse herself in the refreshing embrace of nature. She carefully set down her backpack, slipped off her shoes, and dipped her toes into the cool water.

As she waded further into the lake, the water enveloped her, caressing her skin and washing away the weariness of her journey. The serenity of the place enveloped her, transporting her to a state of tranquility she had never experienced before. She closed her eyes, allowing the sounds of nature to serenade her and the gentle ripples to lull her into a state of pure bliss.

The scent of wildflowers mingled with the earthy aroma of the forest, creating a symphony of fragrances that intoxicated her senses. Lilith let her fingers glide through the water, creating delicate ripples that mirrored the beauty of her surroundings. She felt a profound connection with nature, as if she had become one with the elements that surrounded her.

As she soaked in the lake, she couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for stumbling upon this hidden gem. It was a reminder of the innate beauty that exists in the world, waiting to be discovered by those who venture off the beaten path. The experience rejuvenated her spirit and filled her with a renewed sense of wonder.

Lilith stayed in the lake until the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow across the landscape. Reluctantly, she emerged from the water, feeling a sense of peace and contentment she hadn't felt since the morning as she was busy getting stronger as soon as possible.

In a sudden moment of realization, she extended her hand towards the backpack, a glimmer of remembrance dancing in her eyesIn a sudden moment of realization, she extended her hand towards the backpack, a glimmer of remembrance dancing in her amber eyes.

Lilith gripped the empty rune in her hand, a silent testament to its expended power.

"Thanks to this," she murmured, "grandfather's gift allowed me to reach regular rank so quickly."

A sigh escaped her lips.

"But it was just one, and its power lasted only seven hours. Exp Runes are expensive and scarce. If only..." her voice trailed off, a glint of longing in her eyes.

"If only I could obtain a few more, reaching my goal would be so much easier."

If Noah had been there, his jaw would have dropped to the ground. Lilith was using a method that closely resembled his own Exp Booster. This was the reason Noah never became conceited, as he knew that having the system gave him an advantage, but he also knew he had to keep working hard because others could find a way to catch up. Take Lilith, for example, she had something similar to his Exp Booster.

If he had been conceited, he would have thought that nobody could catch up to him so easily, which would have been a mistake.

Lilith took out a sandwich from a backpack to eat, savoring the tantalizing aroma that wafted from its freshly baked bread. As she unwrapped the sandwich, the rich layers of ingredients revealed themselves - slices of succulent turkeyLilith took out a sandwich from a backpack to eat, savoring the tantalizing aroma that wafted from its freshly baked bread.

As she unwrapped the sandwich, the rich layers of ingredients revealed themselves - slices of succulent turkey,crispy bacon, ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and creamy mayonnaise. It looked absolutely delicious!

One of rewards dropped by the drone and she picked up.

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