'Even more holes…?'
Despite being somewhat ready to see something like this, I was starting to get slightly dizzy with the repeated scenery.
While the scale was much smaller this time, with the ground being as close as a normal underground cave, the identical sizes and distribution patterns were still the same.
'What's next?'
Just like the decreased scale, the size of the opening was now small enough so that I would have to squeeze myself to get through it, which was why repeating my earlier action didn't seem to make sense.
Not being sure how this mini-gate was supposed to be cleared, I jumped down from 'Lightning Cloud' before storing it back into my ring. Since there were no obvious clues, I walked around as I tried to find hidden ones using my 'Sensory Area'.
As the first logical target of inspection, I walked towards the closest opening to inspect it personally. However…
'This is…'
Despite not being able to sense anything from it using my 'Sensory Area', I clearly caught something moving there, it seemed like only my eyes could sense it.
Strangely enough, my eyes, which were capable of seeing in the dark thanks to my high Perception stat, could barely notice what was moving. Moreover, even when I created a fireball using my Fire elements above the opening to give myself some lighting, the appearance of the hole remained the same.
'Absolute darkness.'
That was the only way I could describe the nature of the hole, it was unaffected by outside influence, yet it affected my ability to perceive it. Furthermore, although I added darkness to the name, this effect didn't seem to be created by Darkness elements…
'A law?'
Being the only possible suspicion left for me, I wondered if this was the absolute power of a law. However, just as I was about to call out Long, the figure that was moving within the hole moved again!
'A…'
This time, it didn't constrict its movements within the darkness of the hole, rising out of it to reveal its 'ridiculous' identity.
'...Mole?'
Even if I tried to just ignore it, I could no longer do so after seeing all the connections so far, this undoubtedly reminded me of a certain arcade game.
'Whac-A-Mole?'
As if to prove my guess somewhat correct, more figures rose out from the other openings in order, making me even dizzier.
Was this supposed to be some easter egg that was prepared by one of the developers? Or was it something that formed naturally in this 'world'?
Despite the 'Lost Realm' proving itself too real to be a game, there were still some encounters that made it seem like nothing but a game, and this current encounter was definitely on the top of the list…
Looking at the moles that were abnormally as big as the opening, staring at me with their black, I couldn't help but feel slightly disoriented.
'Oh?'
Just as I was back to overthinking one of my dilemmas, I was taken out of my bubble as something out of the 'norm' happened.
'It attacked.'
The giant mole that was just standing 'cutely' next to me revealed equally large-sized claws as it tried to pierce me. Following that, as if to respond to me dodging the attack, it immediately disappeared back into the hole.
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Regardless of whatever was going on in my mind, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the liveliness of the mole.
'Let's test it out.'
Feeling more interested in testing this 'Whac-A-Mole (Lost Realm Version)' rather than discussing theories with myself, I quickly walked to the next mole to test it out…
`~~`~~`~~`
'Interesting…'
After spending the last 15 minutes playing around with the moles, I was able to come up with a manual for the 'Whac-A-Mole (Lost Realm Version)'. While the basics of the 'game' remained, a lot more was added to it.
Approaching the empty opening next to me, I took out 'Lightning Cloud' that was still in great sword form and held it horizontally.
Squeak!
The giant mole who was quick to rise from hiding, pierced towards me with his sharp claws, only to get blocked by the hard surface of 'Lightning Cloud'.
'The claws are definitely abnormal.'
Unlike the moles in the arcade game who could only disappear and appear, these moles were ready to attack whoever came close to their holes. Moreover, their claws were abnormally lethal.
Despite feeling slow for me, the moles' pierce attacks were incredibly fast, making it the 'player' no longer had to be just on the offensive, they also had to defend or dodge themselves.
Furthermore, unlike how they disappeared and appeared at random intervals, these moles appeared as soon as you approached their hiding spot to launch their surprise attacks, disappearing soon after to prepare for the following ambush.
'Is this how it feels to use 'hax'?'
Fortunately for me, the levels of the moles only hovered around lv.100, other than the claw attack that had enough lethality to harm my tough skin, their Constitution was weak enough for them to die in one hit.
Swoosh!
[ You have absorbed the blood essence of a 'Whack Mole', purification in progress… ]
[ You have obtained 88,251 EP! ]
The name of the moles was even more suspicious, but having already accepted the situation I was in, I no longer bothered with questioning that point.
'At least it's creative...'
Even though this mini-gate seemed to have copied the basics from a classic arcade game, the changes done to it were enough to say that it transitioned from a random game of luck and chance into a game of strategy and management.
As easy as it seemed at the edge, especially to me, things would get pretty chaotic once one walked into the center while being surrounded by holes. Under the constant onslaught of surprise claw attacks, even a player aided by the system could meet his end in this mini-gate.
However, to me...
'What a great testing ground!'
...this gate was more of an opportunity!