The Crisis Comes to an End

Takami had just defeated what he thought was the last high-class 2 spirit in the dorm, but then he wondered why the dorm still hasn't collapsed, was there another spirit in there? He had to find out.

He exhaled, his grip tightening around the sword as he stepped into the dark, hollow remains of the High-Class 2 Dorm. His body ached from the battles before, but exhaustion wasn't an option now. He flipped open the system inventory, using a healing potion. The moment the cool liquid passed his lips, relief surged through him, his strength returned, his fatigue washed away.

This is it.

The inner part of the dorm was eerily silent, the air thick with an unseen force. The moment he took another step forward, a deep, guttural growl vibrated through. His Predator's Insight pulsed, warning him.

BOOM.

A monstrous spirit emerged from the darkness, its form twisted in armor-like bones. A jagged, bony blade extended from its forearm, gleaming under the dim moonlight.

"You're the leader aren't you?" , Takami looked at it carefully studying it's body, it had to be the one the innkeeper was talking about.

Its name hovered above its head in the system interface:

[Laxis (orange - hard)]

Unlike the others, its name was still coded orange. Even after his rapid growth, this thing was still a class above him.

The spirit vanished.

Takami's eyes widened, too fast! He barely had time to react before a leg slammed into his gut, sending him soaring through the air like a ragdoll.

CRASH!

The dorm walls shattered as he burst through, flipping midair before smashing into a stone pavement by the town side. The force cracked the ground beneath him.

Takami gritted his teeth, forcing himself up as the beast descended, a killing intent radiating from its monstrous frame.

He wiped the blood from his lips, "Tch... Got careless."

But something didn't add up.

Why was it still inside the dorm?

Had it been waiting? Was it trying to evolve further?

The thought barely settled before the spirit lunged again.

Takami dodged, flipping back as its bone blade stabbed into the ground where he stood. The impact sent a shockwave through the town, rattling windows.

The battle erupted. Reaching the town center.

The town's people heard clashes of steel and peaked through their curtains, their eyes widening as the young man in black clashed with the beast that haunted them for years.

The innkeeper paled, his hands shaking, "That speed and strength, definitely up to scale a high grant level, is he a … Rank-1?"

 The restaurant owner, who had lent Takami the sword, stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief.

Takami matched the spirit's speed, their weapons colliding in rapid, brutal exchanges. Sparks flew as his blade deflected the spirit's deadly slashes.

He dodged low, sweeping behind it and aiming for the back of its knee. The spirit faltered for half a second, but that was enough.

Takami drove his knee into its stomach.

A sickening crack.

The spirit staggered, its growl turning into a deep, guttural snarl.

Takami wasn't done. He grabbed its head and slammed it into the ground. Without hesitation, he hurled it into the air, and was about to strike.

But the spirit flipped midair and landed gracefully, claws scraping against the pavement.

Its blade-arm pulsed, then suddenly split into two.

Takami's eyes widened.

Adaptation.

The fight just got harder.

The battle raged on, Takami's Predator's Insight climbing to Level 6. But exhaustion crept in. His body was fast, but so was his opponent. Every move he made, it countered. Every weakness he found, it closed off.

His breathing grew heavier.

"I need to finish this."

He focused on the one place the spirit kept avoiding… its stomach.

He feinted right.

The spirit followed, then Takami vanished.

He appeared behind it.

The spirit turned, Takami faked going for it's stomach, then it instinctively brought both arms up to guard its stomach.

Takami smirked. "Got you."

He grabbed its horned head

And with all his strength, "Aaahhhhh!!" He plunged his sword straight through its core.

The blade tore through flesh and bone, piercing out of its shoulder.

The spirit gargled.

Takami twisted the blade, whispering, "Thanks for the class."

Then, with one final push, he tore the sword free.

The spirit staggered.

Silence filled the air.

BOOM.

Its body collapsed, dissolving into mist.

The moment it fell, something shifted.

The air felt lighter.

The lingering oppression of spirits in Okutama was gone.

The people felt it.

Then cheers erupted.

The town poured into the streets, surrounding Takami, applauding. One thing he didn't like was a lot of eyes on him, his instincts told him to run, but he was already surrounded.

A little kid rushed forward, offering a bottle of water. "H-Here sir."

An old woman draped a cloak over his torn vest.

"We don't know how to thank you, sir."

Takami's hair covered his eyes. He stood silent, overwhelmed.

Then, before anyone could stop him, he turned away.

"If you want to repay me," he muttered, "then tell no one about me. Just… a random traveler."

Then without another word, he disappeared into the innkeeper's house.

Dawn broke over Okutama.

Takami packed his bag, ready to leave. His body still ached, but the fight had changed him. He was stronger now.

The innkeeper stood at the door, watching him.

"You did a really good thing out here, thank you for doing the messy job we couldn't," he said.

"It wasn't your fault, it's fine." Takami assured him

The innkeeper sighed, "But make the right choices in life. Power like yours… attracts monsters. The real ones. Humans. I believe none of them know of your power yet, that's why you're not wrapped up with a guild." Then he looked up, "Come back some time would ya?"

Takami paused, then gave a rare smile.

The innkeeper chuckled. "First time I've seen you smile since you came here."

Takami let out a light chuckle, turning for the door.

"One more thing you need to know." The innkeeper added.

Takami froze.

Suspense. Cut to black.

Takami returned the borrowed sword to the restaurant owner.

"You actually did what we couldn't for years," the man said, bowing deeply. "Thank you."

Takami sighed. "Uh please don't, it's okay."

The man stood "We'll be waiting for your return, Mr… ?"

"Takami." 

"Mr Takami." The man said smiling 

Takami left the restaurant and hailed a taxi, climbing inside. Just as it started moving, the driver suddenly stopped.

Takami asked . "What's wrong?"

The driver pointed.

Takami turned.

The entire town was there, waving goodbye.

His chest tightened. His fingers curled.

Then without thinking, he raised his hand and waved back.

"Let's go please." Sinking into the seat

The taxi pulled away.

Takami adjusted and leaned back in his seat, his expression shifting. His eyes darkened.

"I might've gotten stronger… but this is just the beginning." He sighed.

Okutama was just the first step.

-CHAPTER 13: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME-