"Yes"
The giant door opened by itself and Naruto could only see darkness within. The only light in the room came from the outside.
It felt creepy. Taking a deep breath, Naruto gathered his courage and took a step forward.
As he passed through the door, he leaped and looked to his sides trying to find an enemy, but there was nothing. He had been ambushed by these things many times, so he always did that when entering a room.
When his whole body was inside the room, the door closed again.
The sudden sound startled Naruto and he quickly turned to the exit, only to see it closed.
Feeling the veins popping out of his forehead, Naruto tried to calm himself.
Now he was plunged into darkness, the only light in the room came from far away and it was faint.
Knowing that nothing would change if he stood there, he started walking without his boots equipped.
As he passed through a pillar, another system message appeared in front of him.
[You have challenged the Royal Guard- From now on, only one can leave this place alive]
"This place is really ominous, well, how bad it could be." He could only comfort himself in that way.
Naruto was waiting for some rat to jump on him, but nothing happened.
"Why is there nothing here? Where's the guardian?" The absence of rats and the presence of silence made him feel awkward.
As he advanced through the room, the place started to show some remains of furniture. "There were people here before? It's the same as the other places, only remains. But these look fancy..." He noticed that these had patterns on the wood. It looked like they were praying to something.
Leaving the ominous place, Naruto continued walking in the room. It was big and just had a faint light from the mushrooms in the walls. There were no torches here.
Noticing that no matter how much he advanced the torches didn't appear, he stopped there and waited until his eyes were accustomed again.
Feeling better, he continued. This time he put his senses on high alert and was looking at the floor to avoid any traps here.
It didn't take long to find it. A few meters he could see a tile that was overlayed. "I knew it. It's impossible for this place not to have traps."
Taking a stone from his inventory, Naruto stepped back and when he was sure that the trap couldn't hit him, he threw the stone.
Clank
The same instant the stone destroyed the tile, tens of arrows were fired from the floor. It had the exact angle to hit if someone tried to jump. It wasn't the end, a few seconds later spears came from the floor where someone could retreat.
Everything was planned. Only one thing could explain that.
"The arrows have paralyzing poison? I don't have resistance to that." He felt a bit scared. If he had fallen into that trap, he would have lost the fight before it even started.
Shaking off the fear, Naruto slowly approached the arrows. He wanted to collect some.
"If I didn't have it, I would just need to learn it like the others. Right, system?"
Only a few remained intact, time eroded the others.
[Paralyzing arrow: Inflicts the abnormal state: Paralysis for 25 seconds.]
"That's better. Just use these later or in the fight." Satisfied with his discovery, Naruto continued his way.
As he went deeper, he started to hear some sounds, it wasn't like the other rats, this felt strong.
Not as vermin, but something more.
Thump...thump...
It sounded like the thump of a heart.
"What's that? another big rat?"
Naruto continued walking and no traps appeared again. Only a space that looked like an arena.
When he was close enough, he could see it. A rat that was tall enough to reach above his waist.
It was sleeping surrounded by 4 other rats, everyone guarding it. They were in the center of the arena.
"... Things can't be a normal size here? And of course, an arena for the challenger." He felt irritated, and the text that appeared just made it worse.
[Royal Guard- Daiv 250 HP]
He wasn't worried about the HP, but the fact that the rat had a... helmet on its head and a breastplate didn't help.
"Why does a rat need armor?" Naruto complained, he knew the difference between having one or not.
The others also had a helmet, but it was a leather helmet, and they were looking for him. It was obvious that the system also warned them to make the fight fair.
He wasn't wearing his boots and the sound his steps made was minimal, but when he was 8 meters from them, then Daiv raised its head and looked directly at Naruto.
Naruto quickly equipped the boots.
Daiv was fast but the other rats reacted slower, and Naruto didn't lose the opportunity. Grabbing a stone, he fortified his hand and with the strength of his arm, he threw the rock straight at its head.
[The Big Rat takes 23 dmg] [The Big rat has been inflicted with the abnormal state: confusion for 30 seconds]
"Fine, one less. That thing surely protects, or it would be dead." Clicking his tongue, Naruto started throwing more rocks. It didn't cause as much dmg as before but at least was useful to distract them.
Naruto tried to throw an arrow, but it didn't hit, the shape made it change direction and hit the ground. "Tsk, then the only use for these is helping me with the resistance."
He wanted to deal first with the subordinates before going for the boss. But Daiv wouldn't let things be so easy.
Daiv was faster, not enough to attack Naruto but enough to bother him. He needed to dodge every time, or he would be hit by it. The strength of a rat of this size wasn't a joke.
Using its inability to quickly change direction, Naruto lured it to a wall and when Daiv crashed against the wall, he took an arrow and inserted it in its leg.
[Daiv has been inflicted with the abnormal status: Paralysis for 15 seconds or until the next attack]
Doing that, he sprinted to kill the rat who was stunned.
As he ran towards them, the rats tried to catch up to him. Throwing rocks to its eyes, Naruto enhanced his fist with chakra and went straight for the rat's head. This time their helmet couldn't protect them from a direct punch.
[The Big rat has taken 41 dmg] [The Big rat has died]
Retracting his fist, Naruto sidestepped the rat who was launched towards him and kicked its torso.
[The Big rat has taken 47 dmg] [The Big rat has died]
The strength was enough to send the rat to a pillar, but it couldn't feel it being dead.
"The kicks deal more damage but it's hard to fight with it, last time I almost lost a leg." He tried to kick a rat in its mouth, but the hardness of its head was more than he thought. That time, another rat bit his leg, and if he hadn't reacted in time, he would have lost it.
The rat had a hard body, and it hurt a little. Using a small amount of red chakra, he healed it and continued moving through the battlefield.
Dodging the other rat, he took the sword from his inventory and nailed it on the rat.
[The Big rat has taken 24 dmg] [The Rusted sword has broken]
Crack
Only the sword handle remained in Naruto's hand.
Seeing the handle on his hands, Naruto was speechless. Things only got worse.
"Sigh... How am I supposed to fight? Lady really expects me to kill them with my bare hands?" Letting out a sigh, Naruto looked at the roof. "Fine, but I hope the reward is worth it."
A system message appeared in front of him.
[The Tower rewards for your feats, everything you do to climbing it will be rewarded]
Naruto looked at that with a smile. This was what he was waiting for...
With his doubt solved, he continued the slaughter.
Approaching the rat with the sword nailed in it. Naruto ended its life landing a fist on its ribs, that was enough to break its rib cage.
[The Big rat takes 57 dmg] [The big rat has died]
"Mm not every part of their bodies had the same defense, huh." He was surprised seeing the damage, it was the first time he did so much damage in a single hit.
Daiv awakened from the paralysis and the first thing he saw were his dead friends. He didn't think twice and ran straight at Naruto.
Naruto was distracted but he could feel the presence of the big rat behind him and reacted in time.
Dodging Daiv once again, Naruto kicked his leg to reduce his mobility.
[Daiv takes 31 dmg]
Daiv let out a scream and crashed to the ground. The loss of his leg also caused him to lose his balance.
"How much defense does this bastard have? Isn't even the armor!" It felt like hitting a tree, but at least fulfilled its purpose. Daiv fell to the ground and his leg was almost useless.
Turning his gaze, he saw the other rat and without losing time, Naruto went for it in a straight line.
The rat did the same, but without changing the direction, Naruto took the opportunity and landed several strikes on him. The poor rat couldn't react and just received the fists.
[The big rat takes 25 dmg] [The big rat takes 22 dmg] [The big rat takes 27 dmg] [The big rat takes 25 dmg] [The big rat has died]
[You have earned an achievement] [Why just one time? Twice is better] [Kill an enemy causing the double dmg of his life in less than two seconds]
"What? Not only titles but now this?" He was confused but the next message snapped him out of his confusion.
[Daiv's mate died] [Daiv heals his whole HP] [Dave enters in rampage and deals 2.5x dmg] [HP Increased to 325]
"Now even this bastard becomes stronger? Come on."
Naruto could see how Daiv's body visibly grew in a few seconds. Now, he was tall enough to reach Naruto's chest.
Even the injuries Naruto had caused him were healed and his nails grew sharp. The biggest part of his body was his front legs. Once the transformation ended, Daiv let out a roar.
With his eyes turned red, Daiv seemed like he lost any sanity. Taking impulse, he ran towards Naruto.
Now his speed was the same as his. Nothing to be worried about, stupidity didn't cure only to grow more. Daiv just continued running behind him, trying to catch and take a piece of the bastard who killed his friends.
Naruto tried to make some dmg by throwing some stones, but the damage was pitiful. And only hitting the armor didn't help. Naruto took a second to see his stamina.
[Stamina: 16/21]
Seeing that, Naruto knew that he couldn't continue like that. If he had less stamina, he couldn't even land the hits properly.
Thinking about a plan, he looked at his inventory. Although the bottle was there, he could do whatever he wanted.
With determination in his eyes, Naruto turned to Daiv.
Making a sudden stop, Naruto stood in his place, waiting for Daiv.
And Daiv, seeing that, didn't lose the opportunity and launched himself in a jump to bite Naruto's head. Naruto waited until he was close enough and made his move.
Bending down, he dodged Daiv and landed a fist on his stomach, this part hadn't been covered by the breastplate.
This time he couldn't take into account the consequences, just used the largest amount of chakra he could.
[Dave takes 45 dmg]
That sent Daiv to crash into a pillar that was destroyed and caused more dmg.
[Dave takes 24 dmg]
It does less damage than I thought...I can only hit like this once again or my hand will be useless this fight...
Channeling a small amount of red chakra to heal a bit, Naruto kept waiting for Daiv and took a decision.
While Daiv's head was buried was buried in the debris, Naruto approached and landed some strikes into his torso.
[Dave takes 27 dmg][Dave takes 31 dmg][Dave takes 22 dmg]
He couldn't take time to prepare his fists and only did it with a small amount. Now Daiv's HP was almost half.
But those blows enraged him and he managed to get his body out of the rubble. With his head out, he tried to bite Naruto's hand.
Naruto took a step back and grabbed a large amount of rocks and sent them into his mouth.
—Ha, shut your mouth, you useless beast. Daiv was incapacitated; most of the danger he posed came from his mouth; without it, he was just a punching bag.
But Naruto didn't want to take any risk, and he continued to concentrate a large amount of chakra on his hands.
[Dave takes 37 dmg] [Dave takes 47 dmg] [Dave takes 42 dmg]
He tried to use the red chakra to heal his hands, but it wasn't enough. Only could dissipate the pain a little.
Daiv tried to recover his position and Naruto felt that something was changing as he had only 50 HP. Feeling the discomfort, he endured the pain and continued.
Even after his hands were useless, he continued using his legs. Any risk wasn't allowed this time.
[Dave takes 57 dmg] [Dave takes 64 dmg]
[Daiv has died]
Daiv was on the ground with his stomach destroyed from the strikes Naruto landed on him.
"Heh, I win..." Naruto said with a smile. His eyes were replaced by fox eyes, and he was unaware of that.
When he saw Daiv's dead body, Naruto fell to the ground and his eyes returned to normal.
Naruto felt his whole body in pain. His hands were broken and only a small movement sent a stream of pain.
His right leg had some toes broken and only the other was in a better state.
"Argh... I need to learn how Ego controlled things mid-air, but this bastard didn't appear after all this time..." Taking out the bottle of his inventory, Naruto used both forearms to barely grasp it.
Using his mouth to take off the lid, he drank the water. He didn't stop until the bottle was empty.
As the water took effect, Naruto could feel how his bones were reassembled. It hurt, even with the transformation jutsu he never felt pain like this. The bone fragments were slowly dissolved and new bones were created to replace the damaged ones.
His red chakra was drained in the battle, and he could only endure the pure pain.
Tears sprang from his eyes...
He didn't pay attention to the other messages that appeared later, the pain didn't let him any second to be distracted with another thing.
5 minutes later all the injuries were healed, but he continued lying on the ground. He didn't want to move a finger and continued like that for another 15 minutes.
When he felt a little better, he wiped away the tears and started looking at the messages.
[You have won against the Royal Guard-Daiv] [You obtained 150 gold] [You have achieved a victory against a challenging opponent.] [Your strength permanently increases by 5%. Your agility permanently increases by 5%. Your Dexterity permanently increases by 5%.] [Unable to increase the other stats. You have obtained a clue to the hidden secret] [You have achieved a feat(unrated) in your history] [The second district stopped the changes. You can leave the dungeon now.]
That was a lot of reward, but the fight was really hard for him, even after all those battles with the big rats.
"Huh, that's a lot of things... " Naruto was dazzled by the rewards, but the weapon he was waiting for didn't appear. Clicking his tongue, he looked at his stats.
[Strength: 40%]
[Dexterity: 41.8%]
[Agility: 40%]
"That's better, the other districts will give enough to reach the 50%?" He didn't think that it may have a cap at 45% and the other will give less.
Getting up, he approached Daiv's body and broke it down.
[Soul fragment: strength 2%] [You have obtained the Royal Guard skin] [You have obtained the meat of the Royal Guard] [You have obtained the teeth of the Royal Guard] [You have obtained a skill fragment]
"Mm maybe the shopkeeper can make something with these things. Just rest for today and tomorrow I will leave this place. And I need to ask him what that skill fragment is."
Breaking down the other bodies, Naruto only collected the skin and left the fragments in the ground. They didn't work on him after all.
He maintained his eyes on the fragments. After 5 minutes, the fragments dissolved and disappeared.
Turning his head, Naruto looked everywhere trying to find anything else, but nothing appeared. Giving up, he stopped that and looked at his stats again.
[Strength: 42%]
[Dexterity: 41.8%]
[Agility: 40%]
[Stamina: 12/21]
[HP: 960/960]
With everything ready, he wanted to return to the bedroom and take a nap. But the room started to tremble and behind the place where Daiv was a while ago, the wall slowly broke and the light flooded the room.
After being in the dungeon for almost three months, his eyes were accustomed to darkness and the sunlight was something unknown to him.
Covering his eyes, Naruto was stunned.
"Was this what the system meant by 'leave now'? Just, right now? Well, thanks for waiting for me to pick up the loot." With a bitter smile, Naruto turned and walked outside.
It was weird feeling the sunlight after those months, and only now he noticed that his skin was a little pale. Even the fresh air felt different, his nose was accustomed to the wet environment, and he didn't notice how bad the smell was after some weeks in it.
Enjoying the fresh air, Naruto stood there.
"Hey, kid. How long will you be there?"
The shopkeeper's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He remembered this man, even if he only talked with him for a while.
"Welcome to my shop. Tell me how your experience was, Naruto."
Listening to the voice of another person, Naruto smiled and replied.
"Sure."
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I have to go to the city almost every 2 days and I come home tired. Things are looking bad, but I will triy to update when I have more time.
Thnx for reading.
Have a good day.