Chapter 85: Climbing Higher

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With the final exams behind him, Dabi felt a surge of freedom. The academy halls were now buzzing with students eagerly awaiting the results, but Dabi's mind was elsewhere—on the hunt. After two weeks of hard studying, he felt the need to test his skills in a real fight. His destination? A mid-level dimensional gate.

The swirling portal hummed with energy as Dabi stepped through. He had chosen this gate because it was known to house stronger monsters and an unpredictable terrain, perfect for pushing his limits. As soon as he crossed over, the landscape changed—a dense, mist-filled forest surrounded him. The air was thick with tension, and every sound echoed through the trees.

"Let's get this done," Dabi muttered to himself, cracking his knuckles as he readied for battle.

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The Hunt Begins

The monsters in this dimension were relentless. Dabi found himself surrounded by packs of beasts—feral creatures with sharp claws and glowing eyes. He drew his sword, unleashing a flurry of attacks, moving with speed and precision. With each slash, he took down one beast after another, leaving nothing but dust in his wake.

"Come on, is that all you've got?" he growled, his voice filled with determination.

As he fought, he could feel the experience building up. His movements became sharper, his reactions quicker. The more he fought, the stronger he became.

After hours of combat, Dabi received a familiar notification from the system:

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System Notification:

You have reached Level 78.

You have gained 3 stat points.

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A smile crept onto Dabi's face, but he didn't stop. He continued fighting through the hordes of monsters, pushing deeper into the forest. He could feel the boss's presence, lurking somewhere ahead. The monsters became tougher as he advanced, but Dabi's resolve never wavered.

Another notification followed soon after:

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System Notification:

You have reached Level 79.

You have gained 3 stat points.

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"Almost there," Dabi thought, feeling his muscles tense with anticipation.

He quickly allocated his newly earned 6 points, pouring them into strength, feeling his power grow with each adjustment.

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Boss Battle

Finally, after hours of relentless combat, Dabi stood before the gate's boss—a towering creature with molten red eyes and armored skin. The Flame Lord. It roared, sending a wave of fire in Dabi's direction.

"This should be fun," Dabi smirked, gripping his sword tighter.

The battle was fierce. The Flame Lord attacked with fiery blasts, sending molten debris flying through the air. Dabi dodged with agility, countering with quick strikes, each one chipping away at the monster's thick armor. But the boss wasn't going down easily. It unleashed a powerful charge, knocking Dabi back.

Gritting his teeth, Dabi quickly got back to his feet, eyes locked on the Flame Lord. With a deep breath, he gathered his mana, focusing on a powerful strike. His blade glowed with energy as he launched himself at the monster, aiming for its core.

Slash!

The final blow landed, piercing through the Flame Lord's armor. With a deafening roar, the boss collapsed, its fiery form disintegrating into ash.

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System Notification:

You have defeated the Flame Lord.

You have reached Level 80.

You have gained 10 stat points.

Reward: One-time healing item (mid-level), 100,000 gold coins.

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Breathing heavily, Dabi wiped the sweat from his brow. The battle had been tough, but the rewards were worth it. He checked the system once more, seeing the healing item in his inventory—a one-time use item that could heal moderate injuries. Useful, but he hoped he wouldn't need it anytime soon.

"I need more endurance," Dabi thought, reflecting on the battle. His stamina had been tested, and he knew he needed to last longer in future fights. Without hesitation, he allocated the 10 stat points into endurance, feeling a surge of strength and resilience.

He checked his updated status:

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Status Window:

Name: Dabi (Level 80)

Class: Sovereign of Space (Mythical Class)

Strength: 122

Agility: 120 (+10 from the ring)

Endurance: 118

Intelligence: 83

Mana: 1000

Memory: 59

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Satisfied with his progress, Dabi decided to head home, feeling stronger and more confident than ever.

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Back Home

A few days later, the academy released the results of the second semester final exam. As students gathered around the bulletin board, whispering and pointing, Dabi casually walked up to check the results.

His eyes scanned the list, and there it was—Dabi, Rank 1.

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The excitement around him grew as students noticed his ranking. Dabi smiled, feeling a sense of pride. All the hard work, both in the classroom and in battle, had paid off.

As he walked back home, he couldn't help but think about the challenges ahead. The next semester would

bring even tougher trials, but he was ready. He had his strength, his pets, and his determination. Nothing could stop him now.

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