As anticipated, in the vicinity of the main lair, Kenley came across no fewer than eight ordinary Demonic Moles.

  Although he remained uncertain about the exact number of these creatures still lurking beneath the ground, he was determined to at least clear those present on the surface first.

  "Tia! Fireball!"

  Just as he had done previously, Kenley lured the monsters one by one and hunted them down individually, making every effort to avoid engaging with the larger group.

  However, the Demonic Moles in the real world proved to be far more intelligent than their counterparts in the game. It seemed that the elite Demonic Mole had sensed their presence. Upon noticing the disappearance of the fifth of its companions, the elite Demonic Mole immediately let out a piercing shriek, summoning back all the Demonic Moles that had been out foraging.

  "Rather intelligent," Kenley couldn't help but muse. Nevertheless, all of this was now of little consequence. After successfully hunting down five Demonic Moles, Kenley had advanced to level 18, leaving him just two levels shy of reaching the second rank.

  Moreover, Kenley had unlocked two new warrior skills: the Wind Blade and the Evasive Dash.

  The Wind Blade was a ranged skill. By hurling the sword in his hand, it would unleash a swirling projectile, much like a cyclone. Once the attack was completed, the sword would automatically return to the warrior's grasp, much like a boomerang.

  The Evasive Dash was a dodging skill exclusive to warriors. When fully upgraded to its three-segment form, it resembled the thief's roll, with a cooldown period of two seconds.

  It is important to note here that in the game, since players were in a state of complete stealth, the official rules did not prohibit them from evading on their own. However, such evasion was merely a matter of repositioning, which was distinctly different from the skill-based"dodge."

  With simple repositioning, if a player was grazed or struck by an enemy's attack during the movement, they would still sustain damage, particularly evident when dealing with area-of-effect skills.

  In contrast, the skill-based"dodge" offered a significantly different experience. When utilizing this skill, players could enjoy a"temporary invulnerability effect," commonly referred to as invincibility frames.

  Although the duration of this effect was brief, when employed effectively, the benefits far outweighed those of an extreme counterattack. The requirements for an extreme counterattack were extremely stringent, demanding that the player counter the enemy within a mere 0.1 seconds. The margin for error was minuscule, and a single misstep could spell disaster.

  The Evasive Dash, despite its cooldown limitation, provided a 0.3-second invulnerability period, which made it much more comfortable and practical to use compared to an extreme counterattack. It was also considerably more accessible to novice players.

  After acquiring the Evasive Dash skill, Kenley felt a newfound sense of confidence.

  "Master, they've all retreated. Could they have detected us?" Tia furrowed her brow in concern.

  Kenley nodded."We've been discovered. Tia, remember, our current objective is to lure the enemies out and then eliminate them one by one."

  "But Master, they've all withdrawn. How are we going to lure them out?" Tia asked, looking perplexed.

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  Kenley smiled faintly."With this." As he spoke, he produced a bottle of black potion.

  "What kind of potion is this?" Tia inquired, her eyes widening with curiosity.

  "The Black Cat Potion."

  With that, Kenley downed the entire bottle of potion in one swift gulp, right before Tia's eyes.

  Moments later, Kenley astonishingly transformed into a black cat.

  "Wow! Master! You're so adorable!" Tia exclaimed, immediately pulling Kenley into her embrace.

  "Meow~" The charming black cat licked its paw.

  "You're absolutely precious!" Tia cooed, nuzzling her face against the cat affectionately.

  "Tia, this is the Black Cat Potion. Upon consuming it, one is transformed into a black cat," the black cat spoke in a human voice.

  "But what's the purpose of turning into a cat?" Tia asked, looking utterly bewildered.

  "This isn't an ordinary black cat. Just wait and see. You'll understand soon enough," the black cat said. With that, it leaped out of Tia's arms with a swift bound.

  "Master! Where are you going?!" Tia asked, her face etched with worry.

  "Don't fret. Just hide behind this rock. I'll be back shortly," Kenley said. With that, he vanished from sight in a flash.

  On the surface, the Black Cat Potion appeared to be a simple elixir that transformed a person into a black cat. In reality, its capabilities were truly remarkable. Firstly, cats were inherently agile creatures, moving with near-silent footsteps.

  It was a potion commonly employed for stealth operations, treasure hunting, and evading enemies. In past battles, Kenley had used the Black Cat Potion on multiple occasions to outwit his adversaries.

  Furthermore, Kenley would acquire the enhanced vision and acute sense of smell of a cat. Additionally, this black cat had the ability to perceive things that were invisible to the average person.

  Such as: ghosts, traces of magical energy, traps, and invisible foes.

  Kenley slipped into the lair of the Demonic Moles through the grass. He recalled vividly that there was a particular mechanism within the lair that could instantly provoke these timid Demonic Moles.

  Step by step, Kenley followed the scent trail left by the Demonic Moles. Before long, he traced them to a more expansive underground chamber.

  Within this space, there were over a dozen Demonic Moles, along with five or six young Demonic Moles that were still in the process of development. It seemed that this was indeed their primary lair.

  Just then, Kenley witnessed a shocking sight: An elderly-looking Demonic Mole, sporting a white beard, was feasting on a human corpse. The scene was gruesome, with blood dripping everywhere. No wonder the townspeople had insisted on eradicating this monstrous creature. It appeared that this elite Demonic Mole had already awakened its savage nature.

  If left unchecked, it would undoubtedly pose a significant threat in the future.

  The black cat was virtually indistinguishable in the darkness, and with its delicate footsteps, the Demonic Moles, some sleeping and others eating, failed to notice Kenley's stealthy intrusion.

  "Eureka!" Kenley's eyes lit up as he spotted a fiery red elemental stone within the lair. It was a fire-elemental magic crystal core, serving as the source of power for the elite Demonic Mole.

  Thanks to the Black Cat Potion, Kenley could perceive the turbulent magical aura emanating from the fire-elemental magic crystal core. It was like a constantly spinning tornado, continuously supplying heat to the entire lair from the center of the underground.

  It seemed that there was a valid reason for the Demonic Moles to establish their lair here. This stone served as their vital source of heat, ensuring the survival and growth of the young moles without the risk of freezing.

  The third rank...

  This crystal core was likely worth a substantial amount of money. If he were to retrieve it and sell it, it could fetch at least ten gold coins or more.

  However, Kenley was reluctant to part with it. Such crystal cores were essential materials for crafting top-tier equipment. For instance, if he were to forge a fire-elemental sword using this core, it would inflict additional fire-elemental damage with each strike, significantly enhancing its effectiveness.

  Kenley navigated through the midst of the Demonic Moles with calm assurance, and not a single one of them detected his presence. After all, who among the Demonic Moles in the lair would have expected a black cat to intrude?

  Nevertheless, the perceptive elite Demonic Mole sensed something amiss. It suddenly whipped its head around and stared in the direction from which Kenley had entered.

  There was nothing there? The elite Demonic Mole scratched its head in confusion and then resumed feasting on the corpse.

  Kenley, on the other hand, broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, he had reacted quickly and immediately hidden behind a young Demonic Mole, narrowly avoiding detection.

  But his relief was short-lived. Moments later, the young Demonic Mole let out a sudden scream!

  It seemed that it was hungry and crying out for its mother Demonic Mole to nurse it.

  Oh no! The mother Demonic Mole was awakening!