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"Warm shelter and plenty of food..."

Moss stood at the cave entrance, lost in thought.

If she had to describe the surrounding terrain, it was like the branches of a tree or the bones of a fish!

The sewers stretched in all directions for dozens of kilometers, but they eventually converged into a massive underground river that led to the sewer exit.

Moss had once looked at it from afar. It had been the first time she had seen sunlight since her rebirth!

But Moss had not gone outside, because she knew full well how dangerous the world beyond was!

The number and strength of monsters in the wilderness were nothing the Slimes in the sewers could compare to!

Although Moss had encountered powerful creatures in the sewers as well.

But now was not the time to think about that!

Even if Moss wanted to go out, this was not the time to do so, with winter drawing near.

Compared to the relatively warm sewers, the temperature outside was a deadly threat!

"Eek~! Even if I can raise my Cold Resistance, I still don't want to stay outside!"

As though recalling something, Moss could not help but shiver!

At the same time, Moss thought of a very suitable place!

The surrounding sewers were actually all more or less the same.

At most, some had a stronger flow, but the things inside were basically identical.

Animals, Slimes, feces, garbage bags, wood chips, food scraps, rotting animals...

But there was one place that was different from the other sewers!

It was closer to the surface, with warm water often flowing through it. It also had far more food than other places, and it was even fresher!

That's right!

That place was Moss's old home, the nest that had once been attacked by the Black Rat pack!

"That place... should be the most suitable place nearby to spend the winter, right?"

Moss stroked her chin, narrowed her eyes slightly, and murmured:

"Should I go back and take a look?"

Her current strength was no longer considered weak.

At the very least, Moss was confident she could handle those Black Rats!

"Go back... Let's take a look!"

Moss nodded, having made up her mind!

She recalled the nearby routes, confirmed the direction, and immediately set off.

From her current position, she only needed to enter the main passage and head upward all the way to arrive!

"It should be around twenty or thirty kilometers. It's a bit far, so I'd better hurry."

Moss did not want to sleep out in the open, so she had to reach her destination quickly!

As for the passage she had used to escape before, Moss had already blocked it off!

Besides, she was far from her old cave entrance now, and she did not want to return that way.

If she ran into the Black Rat pack in such a narrow place, it would be troublesome.

"Phew... I'll have lunch first. Then I need to get there before I'm hungry again!"

Moss muttered as she ran.

Speed Enhancement!

Whoosh—!

Moss's speed immediately increased severalfold. She darted through the pitch-black sewers like a phantom.

The small creatures still moving along the way only felt a gust of wind sweep past them!

Swish!

Before a little lizard could react, its neck snapped instantly!

Plop!

The severed head fell to the ground, its mouth opening and closing unconsciously.

Meanwhile, the headless body had already vanished!

Crunch!

Moss appeared on the ground more than ten meters away, trailing afterimages as she held the little lizard's corpse in her mouth.

She glanced back at the still-moving head, then lowered her head and began to feast.

Half an hour later...

Rumble, rumble, rumble—!

The sound of flowing water gradually grew louder. Moss knew she was about to reach the sewer's main passage!

"Oh! I'm almost there."

Moss muttered to herself, quickening her pace!

Rumble!!!

As she drew closer, the sound of trickling water had turned into a thunderous roar!

Moss looked at the increasingly near exit, and her speed gradually slowed from a run to a walk.

In the end, she stopped at the sewer exit and looked outside.

Rumble!!!

Wastewater from several sewers overhead cascaded down in front of Moss, plunging straight into the underground river below!

"Whew~! It's still spectacular even after seeing it again. Just like a waterfall!"

Moss clung to the edge of the exit and shouted as she looked at the rushing water below, though her voice was soon drowned out by the roar.

After shouting her heart out a few times, Moss backed away.

She found a relatively dry spot, lay down, closed her eyes, and began to rest.

The road ahead would not be easy. She needed to recover her strength!

This place was well hidden, so Moss was not worried about being attacked by other creatures.

But just in case, she still summoned Little Ball.

"Wake me up if there's an enemy."

Moss instructed the obedient Little Ball.

Soon, Little Ball's voice echoed in her mind.

'Okay, Master.'

Moss nodded and lay on the ground peacefully, continuing her rest.

Talent: Hibernation III (Activated)

In an instant, Moss fell asleep!

At that moment, Moss did not notice the Mana Essence in the air slowly gathering around her!

Boing!

Little Ball, which had been quietly guarding its master, suddenly began hopping around. Its transparent body started to glow as the gathered Mana Essence flowed toward it!

'Mana Essence, stronger!'

Little Ball's cheerful voice echoed in Moss's heart, but unfortunately, Moss did not hear it while she slept!

Little Ball did not mind. After hopping happily a few times, its body began to expand like a balloon!

Inhale—exhale—!

Expanding and contracting as though it were breathing, Little Ball rapidly absorbed the Mana Essence in the air!

An hour later...

"Mmm..."

Moss groggily opened her eyes, pushed herself halfway upright, and rubbed her eyes with both hands.

"Yawn—!!"

Bracing herself against the ground, Moss stretched and yawned at the same time.

She blinked and looked at Little Ball, which was still quietly resting nearby. For some reason, she felt that it seemed a little different.

"It looks like it got a little bigger..."

Moss walked over to Little Ball and hugged it.

Feeling a greater curve than before with both hands, Moss finally became certain.

"It really got bigger! About one centimeter... What happened, Little Ball?"

Boing!

Little Ball hopped up, rubbed against Moss, and sent a cheerful voice into her mind.

'Mana Essence, so full! Master's...'

"Uh— I can't understand you."

Several black lines seemed to drop down Moss's forehead. She had already given up on getting any useful information from Little Ball, which barely had any intelligence yet.

Little Ball's sudden growth differed greatly from the Slime growth data Moss had gathered during her research.

This was something worth studying!

However, now was not the time for research, so Moss could only keep it in mind for now.

Moss stretched her body and felt the vitality within herself, nodding in satisfaction.

"Mm, I've recovered!"

Since she had recovered, it was time to continue on her way!

Moss put Little Ball back into her space and returned to the edge of the sewer exit.

Rumble!!!

She stared at the raging current below and took a deep breath.

Spreading her arms, she slowly leaned forward!

A squeaking cry rang through the air.

"Yahoo! Watch me perform a Leap of Faith!"