Chapter 14: Rising to the Challenge
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The moment Dabi stepped through the swirling portal of the dimensional gate, the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind.
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System Notification:
New Mission:
Objective: Defeat the Boss Monster
Reward: Item with Stat Boost, 2000 Gold Coins
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Dabi's heart quickened. It was his first mission in a team setting, but now with the system mission in place, the stakes had been raised even higher. He looked around at his teammates as they materialized in the otherworldly landscape. The inside of the gate was a barren wasteland, with jagged rocks and a sky covered in ominous dark clouds.
Zen gave Dabi a reassuring nod, but the rest of the team still seemed skeptical.
As they moved deeper into the gate, fighting off low-level monsters, Dabi noticed the subtle glances and heard the whispers behind his back. Kara, in particular, seemed to have little faith in him.
"Make sure to stay out of our way," Kara muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with disdain. "We don't need a weakling slowing us down."
Milo smirked, not even bothering to hide his amusement. "Just stay behind and let the real fighters do the work."
Dabi grit his teeth but kept silent. He wasn't here to prove anything to them—his goal was to complete the mission and grow stronger. Zen, as always, was the only one who stood up for him.
"Give him a chance, Kara," Zen said firmly. "Dabi's not as weak as you think."
The snide remarks continued throughout their trek through the gate. Whenever a wave of monsters appeared, Kara would cut them down with her massive axe, making sure Dabi stayed on the sidelines. Even Fiora, who had initially seemed friendly, seemed to doubt his abilities.
Despite the verbal jabs, Dabi kept his head down, focused on the goal. His Mana usage was improving with each spell he cast, and the more he used it, the more his capacity grew. His Mana had now surpassed 20+, a significant increase since his awakening. He could feel his body becoming more attuned to the magical energy coursing through him.
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Hours passed, and the team finally reached the boss room. A massive, ironclad door loomed before them, and beyond it, the presence of something terrifying was palpable.
They hesitated for only a moment before pushing the door open.
Inside, a hulking beast stood, its body towering over them. The boss monster was a grotesque creature with armored scales, razor-sharp claws, and glowing red eyes that fixated on the intruders. Its deep growl echoed through the chamber as it readied itself for battle.
Immediately, Zen and Kara charged in, with Milo providing cover fire from a distance. Dabi stayed back, waiting for his opportunity.
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System Notification:
Boss Monster Detected:
Weakness: Back armor is weak. Strikes to joints can disable its movement.
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The fight was brutal. Zen's magic-infused sword strikes landed blow after blow, but the boss was too strong. Kara swung her axe with all her might, but even she struggled to make a dent in the monster's tough scales. The team was giving it their all, but it was clear that the boss monster was more powerful than any of them had anticipated.
As the battle wore on, the team began to tire. Kara's swings slowed, Zen was breathing heavily, and Milo was running low on arrows. Even Fiora, the healer, seemed to be reaching her limit.
In the midst of the chaos, the boss monster lunged at Zen, knocking him to the ground. Kara rushed to defend him, but her exhaustion left her vulnerable. It was clear that the team couldn't hold on much longer.
Seeing his friends in danger, something clicked inside Dabi. He couldn't sit back any longer. Ignoring the exhaustion creeping into his own limbs, he surged forward.
"Move!" Dabi shouted, catching the team off guard.
Kara looked shocked as Dabi sprinted past her, but Zen's eyes filled with a mix of hope and pride.
Dabi activated Quick Analysis and immediately pinpointed the monster's weak spot. His sharp mind formulated a plan in an instant. The monster was slow, and Dabi could use his agility to his advantage.
With a burst of speed, he dodged the monster's swipes and landed behind it. With one precise strike to its joints, the monster stumbled, its movement impaired just as Dabi had planned. Taking advantage of the moment, he slashed at the weak spot in its back armor.
The monster roared in agony, but Dabi didn't stop. He unleashed everything he had, using both his sword and his magic to hammer the weak points. With a final, powerful strike, the boss monster collapsed to the ground.
The room fell silent as the boss monster lay defeated. Dabi stood over its massive body, his chest heaving with exertion. His teammates, stunned and exhausted, watched in disbelief.
Zen was the first to break the silence, a proud grin spreading across his face. "That was amazing, Dabi."
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System Notification:
Mission Complete: Defeat the Boss Monster
Reward: Agility-Boosting Ring (+10 Agility)
2000 Gold Coins
Experience Gained: 2 Levels
New Level: 14
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The team was too tired to say much as they collected their rewards, but Dabi could feel the shift in their attitudes. Even Kara, who had been the most vocal about her doubts, gave him a respectful nod.
As they exited the gate, Dabi checked his new stats:
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Level 14 Stats:
Strength: 27
Agility: 23 (+10 from Ring)
Endurance: 13
Intelligence: 47
Mana: 23
Memory: 45
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Dabi held the ring in his hand, feeling its power resonate with him. The agility boost would be a game-changer in future battles. But more importantly, he had proven himself—not just to the team, but to himself.
As they made their way back, Zen walked beside him, giving him a playful nudge. "I knew you had it in you."
Dabi smiled, feeling more confident than ever. This was just the beginning. With his new strength and the system guiding him, there was no limit to how far he could go.
But there was still much to do. The journey ahead was
long, and Dabi's next goal was already clear—to reach Level 15 and unlock even greater potential.
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