Infinite Realm

Faced with the approaching white 'worm' and the other hordes that were just a couple of metres away, Sato didn't have much time to make decision.

'I have to get to safety.' Sato thought as he glanced at the tunnel in front.

However, he was doomed to be disheartened.

Just as Xue Yan went past the tunnel, she actually fired a fireball right at the ceiling, causing it collapse and seal the tunnel. Not only did she plan on letting Sato die, she also made sure to seal any possibilities of him making a comeback. And sure enough, with how things were, the chances of Sato dying was more than 90%.

Sato gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as only curses ran through his mind. He then turned his attention back to his predicament and didn't bother to direct it elsewhere, even to spot for a new escape route. This wasn't because Sato didn't want to but he couldn't; the white 'worm' had already arrived!

[Astral Might]

Sato channeled all his emotions into his sword as his aura billowed like the undulating waves of sea. 

With his sword held flat in front of him, Sato slashed at the monster.

[Horizontal Slash]

Sato didn't just attack with his sword but also applied his aura to strike in order to increase its attacking power. This was a very complex skill that martial artists used, similar to the concept of gathering potential before a strike. This would give their attack an imposing prestige, as if one wasn't facing a sword but a divine mountain. 

Apart from plants, every other living creature was an animal and all animals are born with an innate sense or intelligence. This inherent intelligence made them know when they were hungry or tired. It gave birth to desires within them but the most important feature bred from this intelligence was the ability to differentiate prey from predator. 

Fear enabled one to differentiate a target and prey, a weakling and a powerhouse. It was this instinctively bred fear that enabled animals in the wild to live longer and for certain animals, they don't need to witness a display of strength before they would develop fear to a certain creature. They could sense one's strength just from their aura.

High level martial artist could exude their auras and use it to deter opponents just like bloodthirsty monsters in the wilds did. At a higher level, even their moves would be able to give off its own aura, exposing the amount of potential and force within the strike. This, when added with their passively emanating aura, would cause a fear effect on the opponent that, if effective, would cause flaws to form within the target's defense. In other words, for attacks like that, the target not only faces a physical attack but also a mental one; a two-pronged approach.

That was exactly what Sato had done just now. He applied both his own aura and also the aura from [Astral Might] to his attack. Even if the white 'worm' wasn't a monster of intelligence or intellect, it was still an animal, and just like other animals, had inherent intelligence. Faced with the over-bearing aura from Sato's sword slash and also the boundless feeling from [Astral Might], it would inevitably be affected.

"Krrhhh"

The white 'worm' produced a strange low pitched sound as it widened its mouth and collided with Sato's sword.

*Clang*

Sato's sword struck one of the monster's tooth and at tat moment, Sato felt an incomparable hardness from it. It was as if he trying to cut through a 10 inch thick steel block with a crowbar; while his weapon wouldn't get wrecked, it was a pointless endeavour.

'Tough!' Sato groaned as he tried to subdue the excruciating force that rampaged through his arms.

"Krrkk!" The white 'worm's whiskers trembled as the creature released a cry before twisting its head and biting down on Sato.

Sato had no intention of getting caught by it as he dived to the side, saving his skin from its impending doom.

*Boom*

The large weight of the white 'worm', which was focused on its mouth, came crashing own on the ground as a 7 inch depression was formed on the ground.

*Shhhh*

While Sato had indeed dodged the white 'worm', the toxic acid on its skin had splashed on him, reacting vigorously with his armour.

[[ System interface :

[Dawn Steel Armor (Plate Armor)] Durability has dropped by 3 points. ]]

Sato's face became stern as he glanced at the notification. Having used the [Dawn Steel Armor (Plate Armor)] in many battles already, especially ones he acted as an MT, it was inevitable tat his armour would get weakened. The acid from the white 'worm' was nothing more than the icing to the cake, finally causing severe damage to his armour. Luckily, it wasn't irreparable as he could simply find a blacksmith in town to patch it up once he's done with the trials, since the grade of the armour was currently beyond his abilities. However, this was on the condition he could survive this mess.

*Boom* *Boom*

The ground trembled continuously as the other white 'worms' got closer to the duo. At this rate, Sato would end up as nothing other than worm food here unless he made a decision. But with almost no option to make, there seemed to be no opportunity for salvation.

'No. There's one!' Sato thought as he glanced at the hole excavated by the white 'worm' in front of him.

As it stood, this was the only escape route within reach of Sato. But at the same time, it was an extremely risky option because Sato didn't know where it lead to. It might be the nest of the white 'worms' or the private nest of this particular one; either way, none looked like a good preference. At the same, it could also lead to an unexplored region deep within the mountain but no matter which, Sato couldn't guess.

Sato took a deep breath as he placed his sword back into his sheath.

"Screw it. Staying here is the same as dying. I might as well struggle a bit more and take every chance I get. Who knows, I might get surprised." 

While Sato thought this, he didn't really have much confidence in his words but none of that mattered; surviving did.

"Later." Sato waved to the white 'worms' after which he dashed towards the hole. 

It wasn't that far from him, only 4~5 metres away.. Before the closest white 'worm' to him could react, Sato took a big leap and plummeted into the hole.