Xavier stared at the creature in horror. He couldn't move. How could he? Creatures he saw in horror movies, games, and memes that he will laugh and tease other people who were scared of them.
Now he regretted it. Why? He just became one of them. And boy, he didn't like it all. He swallowed his saliva and gazed at the creature's eyes, forcing himself not to blink. He suspected that if he did, that creature would pounce on him immediately.
"Dammit," he cursed in his mind. "Didn't I say I was going to get stronger? Didn't I say I was going to fight these things? So why am I shaking like a boy caught cheating with his best friend's girlfriend?"
He stared at the creature again and froze. The creature was ready. With that wretched, sadistic grin on his face, the creature dove down, claws sharpened, mouth opened wide and gaping.
"Move!" He screamed in his head. At the last minute, he flung himself backward, narrowly missing the creature's claws. The creature slammed into the ground, cracks appearing below it.
Xavier rolled himself to one side and immediately got up. But gasped as the creature was already in front of him. With a snarl, the creature drove a leg into Xavier's gut with swift precision and sending him flying.
Xavier spat out saliva in pain, gasping as he slammed into a wall with excruciating force. The face shook loose jagged rocks above and they fell directly on Xavier.
Xavier dove out of the way as the rocks landed. He was up on his feet in no time, eyes watching the creature who was still smiling.
"System." He spoke in his mind. "Analyse the creature. Find its weakness. I need it now."
[The system doesn't have that feature. It was created to summon weapons and increase your stats.]
"That's bullshit!" He spat in anger. "What type of system are you. I'm about to die!"
(The system suggests that the host should focus on his battle.]
Xavier cursed and focused on the creature. The creature cracked its neck, still with that twisted grin on its face. The creature stepped forward, clearly enjoying the conflicted expression on its face.
"Okay," Xavier spoke to himself. "You need to calm down. You know how to fight. All those anime you watched, now is the time to use them."
He transitioned into a boxing stance, eyes on the creature. The creature was his size, so that meant he could go toe to toe with it.
The creature snarled and pounced. Xavier sidestepped, dodging the creature's claws. With a spinning backfist, he struck the creature on the chin with brutal force.
The creature's head snapped backward as it flew like a rag doll, into the wall with bone-jarring force. The creature sank to the floor in a daze.
"Okay," Xavier muttered. "That was cool. I just hope it stays that way." He breathed as he watched the creature snarling, bluish blood dripping from its mouth. The creature readied to attack but it was in for a surprise.
Xavier had dashed to its position, and before it could blink, Xavier's hand was on its face.
With a grunt, Xavier slammed his head into the wall with force. The wall caved in and the creature choked as its head was embedded in the wall. Xavier, not wasting more time, had gripped the creature's leg and proceeded to pull it out and smashed it on the floor, holding its leg.
He wasn't done yet. He gripped the creature's leg and then slammed it again, then to the other side, then against the wall. He was doing it Hulk style. The creature screamed in pain as it was being smashed.
"Take this!" Xavier snarled, swinging the creature in the air and hurling it. The creature shrieked, slamming into a boulder with a sickening crunch. The huge rock exploded and it rained down on the creature.
The creature got up, shaking and dizzy. Obviously, it had realized this prey was no joke at all. And of course, it had learned the hard way.
Xavier watched the creature lunging at him again, and he was ready. He ducked the creature's outstretched claws and drove the gauntlet-covered fist into the creature's chest with a satisfying crunch.
The creature choked, flying backward, blue ichor spraying in a disgusting wide arc across the wall. The creature crashed against the wall again.
It shrieked and charged again.
Xavier sidestepped, slammed a roundhouse kick into its gut with great timing. The creature slashed at him, and he caught the creature's hand mid-strike and twisted with brute force. The creature's arm tore from its body, pulling out bone, muscles, and tissues in a grotesque mess.
The creatures shrieked in excruciating pain, coughing out blood that splattered on Xavier's face and body.
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets Mastery[20%]
Xavier had noticed the notifications popping up but he didn't say anything. He was focused on the battle and he was loving it. Every single minute of it. The brutal beatdown, the satisfaction of hearing the creature shriek in pain, blood spraying ever.
It was.....pleasure.
Without him noticing, a wide maniacal grin had appeared on his face. He was truly enjoying it.
He drove an uppercut into the creature's chin, the force lifting the creature in the air. As the creature was in the air, he grabbed its foot and slammed it into the ground, the ground cracking under the force.
Then he carried the creature up again and slammed it again.
Then again.
Again.
And again.
"What's wrong?" Xavier spat in anger, still slamming the creature."You don't want me as your meal again! You're done attacking me, you fucking animal! Well, I'm not done yet! You're gonna die today!"
He slammed the creature into the ground one final time, the ground shaking and trembling over the brutal force.
Then he straddled the creature and began to unleash a flurry of punches to its face. Brutal strikes unleashed, blood spraying on his face, but he didn't care, or maybe he didn't even notice.
All his anger, hatred over being cast away as if he was nothing came crashing down on him like a heavy downpour of rain.
He struck the creature in the face again.
Again.
Again.
And again.
By the time he had stopped, the creature was a major mess on the ground. Its face is disfigured, teeth out, brain pouring out, and being seen. It was twitching, choking on its own blood, and gasping for air.
Xavier, his face furious, eyes glowing, raised his fist for the final time.
"Fuck you."
He drove his fist downward. An audible crunch echoed. Blood splattered everywhere, on his face, arm, and chest. The creature choked one last time, then became still.
There was silence in the tunnel.
Xavier got up from the creature, a bit dizzy, bruised, and injured but safe.
"That..." He spoke, eyes upward. "That was satisfying."
And it was. It truly was. And also he couldn't help it. This fight had changed him.
He was craving for more.