The air crackled.
Souta's breath came in ragged gasps as he stumbled backward, boots sliding across broken stone. One of the steamgnashers lunged from the shadows again six legged, chitin-clad, glowing eyes full of hunger and bloodlust.
Name: Steamgnashers [mini boss]
Level: 31
Rank: C
Skill: Acidic Breath +5 strength+5 agility
"Tch!"
He twisted just in time, the creature's claws slashing past his ribs and smashing into a pillar behind him. The stone cracked like glass.
Three more burst from the wall twitching unnaturally.
Souta's body surged with energy. His veins pulsed, and his grip tightened around the dagger's hilt. Every sense sharpened, like a sixth one had been unlocked.
"Let's do this."
He dashed forward.
In a blur of motion, Souta ducked low and slid between the legs of the nearest steamgnasher, slicing deep into its underbelly. Black ichor sprayed across the floor, sizzling like acid.
The monster shrieked a high-pitched, metallic cry.
He didn't stop. He couldn't. Three more were coming.
Dash, Spin, Parry, Strike.
It was less like fighting and more like dancing with death. His agility let him keep up, and the previous battle made him have enough experience with this beasts.
A claw nearly took his leg off.
Another swiped and grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
But Souta smiled.
He was learning. Adapting. Becoming something more.
[Critical Strike Landed!]
Souta grinned as power surged through him again. His wounds sealed slightly, and the pain dulled to a burn. He could feel the system refining him mid-battle.
"I see it now…" he whispered. "The rhythm."
One steamgnasher charged, faster than the rest. Souta didn't move. Not at first.
He waited…
Now!
He ducked, rolled beneath its strike, and drove his dagger up right through its skull.
The monster spasmed, twitched once… then collapsed.
Another lunged, but he caught it mid-jump with a well-timed strike from his new dagger. The dagger scorched the creature's underbelly and blew it backward in a burst of it's acid.
It was now remaining the mini-boss steamgnasher. Souta's blood dripped on the stone. His breathing was heavy. But he stood tall.
Around him, corpses sizzled and burned. The air smelled like acid and corpses.
Come on, he said to the last one. You are next."
[Mini-Boss Battle – Steamgnasher]
The cavern rumbled as the Steamgnasher emerged from the shadows, its metal-plated hide hissing with steam and toxic fog. Gears rotated under its thick scales and with each step the stone floor sizzled beneath its molten hot claws.
Souta stood firm, gripping the Beast Fang Dagger, his heart pounding but his eyes focused.
So this is the mini-boss... just my luck it's one of those.
But before I start I should use my 3 attribute points 2 to agility and 1 to luck, I really need luck
With a sudden roar, the creature launched forward faster than its bulky frame suggested. Its +5 agility boost was no joke. Souta barely sidestepped as claws raked the air where he had stood.
[Instinct Dodge activated – Lv.1]
His body moved on its own, muscles reacting before thought.
He slashed at the beast's exposed flank.
Clank!
The dagger barely pierced the armor only a shallow cut. Steam hissed furiously as acidic mist sprayed from its nostrils.
Damn! Not enough power! I should have increased my strength again
The Steamgnasher inhaled, its throat glowing green.
"Acidic Breath—"
Souta dove behind a stone pillar just as the blast of corrosive mist melted a trench into the ground where he had been. The air stank of burning rock and flesh.
He grit his teeth. Alright then.
Souta's eyes glowed faintly. Like he was about to collapse
Am so tired but I have to keep pushing, souta said to himself.
The Steamgnasher charged again, jaws open wide.
But this time, Souta didn't dodge.
He ran toward it.
At the last second, he slid beneath its legs, jabbing the dagger into a weak spot behind the knee joint. The creature stumbled hissing.
Souta leapt to its back, driving the blade into the base of its skull where the metal fused with bone.
"Fall already!"
With a shuddering roar, the Steamgnasher collapsed, limbs twitching, steam venting from its mouth in defeat.
[Mini-Boss Defeated: Steamgnasher – Lv.31]
EXP Gained: 44
Loot Obtained:
Steamgnasher Core (C-rank)
Acid-Vein Scale x2
Skill Scroll
Attribute Points: +6
Souta stood over the corpse, panting a grin creeping across his face making him look like he was mad.
Souta lowered his blade, finally exhaling.
———~Ω~———
Name: Souta Kael
Age: 18
Race: Human
Class: Hunter of Boundless path
Title: Reborn one
Level: 5 [37/50]
Rank: SSS
Attribute points: 6
Health: 60/100
Mana: 280
Stamina: 250
Strength: 32
Agility: 41
Endurance: 36
Intelligence: 27
Luck: 10
Skills: 3
Traits: 3
—————————
To be continued...