Limit Breaking Quest: Red Bull

[Limit Breaking Quests:

Which Limit do you want to break?

[Strength]

[Stamina]

[Wisdom]

[Intelligence]

[Charisma]

costs: 10.000 Heroism]

Dave sat in Nakamura Lab's training room watching the window in front of him. He noticed the list was shorter this time. The [Agility] quest was missing obviously because he already managed to break that limit.

He granted himself a short moment of proudness before he focused himself again. He talked with Ayano and Anna before which Limit Breaking Quest he should choose and they narrowed it down to [Stamina] and [Strength].

Anna told him that he should simply choose the one he feels better with.

'My [Apprentice Hero's Punch] reached SSS grade. So I can boost my strength with it quite well. Stamina is something I can't improve through a skill. So I guess my chances with the [Strength] test will be much greater.', thought Dave.

Of course, he had no way to know right now if [Apprentice Hero's Punch] would be helpful to him but at least the chances were higher. If they had to pull for example a truck or something like that then strengthening his fist attack strength would be useless for him.

Dave concentrated his breathing. Slow and steady without any kind of change in rhythm he breathed in and out. Then he raised his hand and pushed the button with the inscription [Strength].

The world around him changed again.

[Limit Breaking Quest: Red Bull] [Difficulty: Ultimate]

[Master the strength of the Red Bull.

The Red Bull is a strong Monster that not only broke through the [Strength] Limit. It was even able to go past the Limit with its [Stamina] stat.

Quest clear condition:

Master the Red Bull's strengthening technique.

Success:

[Strength] SSS -> ULTIMATE

Failure:

You lost your only chance to break through to the Ultimate rank with your agility stat.]

The world around Dave turned into a lush green forest. A brown bull manifested in front of Dave.

"Holy Cow!", shouted Dave.

He just realized that in front of him wasn't a normal bull, it was a minotaur.

It had a muscular human upper body. Brown fur covered its immense biceps down to its forearms and even its chest muscle. Its lower body was that of a cow. It had a tail with bushy black hair at its end and the curved legs of a cow.

Instead of human feet, it had two pitch black hooves. The head was that of a grim-looking bull with two enormous horns.

The minotaur's hands were placed on the hilt of an ax that it held with its head pointed to the ground.

"Who are you calling a cow?", said a deep disgruntled voice.

Dave widened his eyes.

"You can talk?", asked Dave flabbergasted.

"Of course, I can talk. Never seen a talking monster I guess. I think I will let it go this time. But next time you call me a cow..."

A red glint appeared in the minotaur's eyes. It raised its massive ax with one hand and swung it around.

'Swwiiishhh.'

Without much resistance, the ax passed through the tree and it toppled to the ground.

Dave started to perspire.

'Hopefully, I don't have to fight him. There is no chance I would emerge victoriously.'

"Okay, thanks for the warning. Could you please tell me your name?", asked Dave with utmost sincerity to not further annoy the minotaur.

"My name is Taurin! Remember it! But until you master my technique you will call me Master Taurin!", said Taurin strictly.

'I should call a cow Master. Where is this leading to? At least I only have to master his technique and not fight him directly. I will just do what he tells me to. It doesn't really matter after all here is not a single person besides the both of us...' thought Dave relievedly.

"Yes, Master Taurin. Please teach this student.", said Dave humbly.

Dave guessed that Taurin was the kind of person (cow), who liked being treated as a superior. "Good. Then let us begin the training. Take this ax and chop a tree for me.", said Taurin and threw it with one hand in Dave's direction.

He grabbed the hilt with both hands and was directly pulled down. The ax embedded itself in the ground and Dave had to muster all his strength to lift it slightly.

"Iiiii caaann't liiiiffffttt iiiitttt uppp!", screamed Dave.

The blood vessels in his eyes were popping and he bit his teeth trying to put as much strength into his arms as he could. But all his effort was to no avail.

"Haha.", laughed the minotaur happily. "I guess you should first learn how to swing it..."

Dave fell on his back pumping fresh air through his lunges.

"And how could I possibly lift this ax and even swing it?", asked Dave annoyed.

"The answer is pretty simple. Focus all your power. Concentrate it for what you need it for! Use any means possible for you.", advised Taurin.

Dave was scared by the fact that Taurin could even lift this ax with a single hand and swing it around like some blade of grass.

'If he tells me to use all means possible for me... I guess I will try to cover my lack of strength with my other abilities.'

'[Apprentice Hero's Skin]'

'[Apprentice Hero's Punch]'

'[Bubble Control]'

Dave turned his hero skin on and activated his abilities.

Now it was Taurins turn to be flabbergasted. He didn't understand why this human would suddenly try to cosplay in front of him. Then he noticed the abilities that were activated and a strange look appeared in his eyes.

Dave used his [Bubble Control] to wrap the entire ax in a single bubble. He would lift the bubble and like that the ax would rise as well. Of course, the mana cost would be quiet high depending on how much physical strength he would use.

A golden glow appeared around his hands. He had to split his focus and try to keep the power of [Apprentice Hero's Punch] in his hands. Normally the skill was supposed to directly let loose its power as soon as it was activated. Working against its nature was extremely difficult.

Dave focused himself with all his power. He grabbed the ax with both hands and lifted it with the combined power of his abilities from the ground.

"Hahaha. Not bad but like this you won't be able to swing it strong enough to fell a tree.", said Taurin.

Dave put the ax down. He was confused with the bull's teaching style. Didn't he tell him he should use all means possible?

"Master but then please tell me how should I do it instead? I did exactly what you said. I used everything in my might..."

The bull rubbed his chin.

"You know for us monsters it comes pretty naturally. We know how to do it when the time comes...", said Taurin a little embarrassed.

Dave thought he heard wrong.

"Wait so you want to tell me you don't know at all how to teach that technique to me?", asked Dave angrily.

"Well... this is quite the dilemma... why don't I just try to describe to you what I do and how it feels... Maybe that will be of some help to you.", stuttered Taurin.

Dave calmed himself down. Getting angry right now wouldn't help him at all and he knew beforehand that this quest was going to be difficult. After all, it was a quest of the Ultimate difficulty. Wasn't it supposed to be something from the start that only one of a million would manage to complete?

"Yes please describe it to me. Maybe a slow-motion demonstration would be helpful as well!", said Dave kindly.

"Okay. A Master is after all never better than his worst student. So let's do it."

Taurin coughed pretentiously before he continued.

"You feel the mana in your body. It courses through your veins. Moves from head to toe from one hand to the other. Now you stop that natural flow and direct it the way you want to. Focus the parts of your body that need to be strengthened. Obviously, to lift for example this ax up, it would be futile to only put strength in your hand. Your entire body has to lift it from the ground. Your legs, your back, your arms. Think which parts need the most support and send there more of your mana."

Taurin ended his monologue and Dave was flabbergasted.

Didn't Taurin tell him he didn't know how to explain it to him? Was this new Master of his in truth just an airhead?

"Master that was pretty much an explanation.", said Dave.

"Yeah, was it good?", asked Taurin surprised.

"Yes, let me give it a try.", responded Dave and sat down.

Getting a feeling for the coursing of his mana was something Dave knew already from his meditations.

He started controlling his breathing and then he noticed it. His mana wasn't coursing the normal way through his entire body. It was as if it was blocked by some kind of sticky substance.

"I don't know what's wrong. My mana is somehow suppressed. Can you explain that to me master?", asked Dave hoping Taurin knew what was the reason for this.

"I thought you did that intentionally. After all, it happened as soon as you put that comical custom on.", responded Taurin with a quizzical look.

"No, I never noticed before that my mana was suppressed when I did that. But telling the truth I never tried to feel the mana inside my body when I was in this state. So that might be the reason.", said Dave thoughtfully.

Taurin shook his head.

"I think you don't really understand your ability yet my disciple... As soon as you put that terrible looking child's custom on, I noticed a stronger force inside your body. It is at least 10 times stronger than your mana. I thought you knew that because you managed to focus it inside your fist..."