Chapter 11: Boss Fight

Still in a good mood, Michael hummed a tune as he approached Lucius.

"Hey, old man! I mean—honorable Village Chief—I've finished the quest entrusted to me."

Lucius chuckled, eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Excellent! I can see that you've indeed gotten stronger. Do you have spoils to prove your battles?"

Michael nodded and retrieved 8 Fine Furs from his inventory, handing them over.

Lucius examined the furs, clearly impressed.

"Wonderful job! Take these as your reward, adventurer. You've gone above and beyond, so here's something extra."

DING! Quest Completed!

Due to exceptional performance, Lucius has given you a bonus reward!

Rewards:

1 Leather Armor (Rare)

50 Bronze Coins

250 EXP

"Perfect! Thank you, Chief!"

"You're welcome, adventurer! Come back once you've grown even stronger."

Michael nodded. With no active quests left, he decided to explore beyond the village.

There should be stronger monsters outside... The wild dogs are too easy, and I can't grow without a real challenge.

Curious, he opened his inventory and examined his new armor.

Leather Armor (Rare)

A finely tailored armor made from the tough hides of wild boars roaming the forests outside the village.

Health (+100 HP)

Agility (+5)

Defense (+20)

"Good stuff!"

Michael equipped the armor and immediately felt lighter, faster.

So, my Endurance only boosts my HP, while actual Defense only comes from equipment...

A confident grin spread across his face.

"Well, as long as they can't hit me, I should be fine."

With that, he jogged toward the forest, eager to find a real fight.

—

Not long after venturing deeper into the forest, Michael spotted a wild boar grazing near a massive tree.

"Fat bastard is eating mushrooms."

Without hesitation, he materialized his staff and cast Minor Blessing. A surge of power rushed through his body, making him feel stronger, faster, sharper.

Satisfied, he summoned his longsword into his right hand and lunged forward at the unsuspecting prey.

SWOOSH!

DING! You have slain a Wild Boar (Level 3)!

20 EXP Received

6 Bronze Coins Obtained

Michael exhaled, barely impressed.

"Still too weak. One blow and it's dead."

His eyes flicked toward a glowing green orb floating just above the ground. Curious, he reached out and touched it.

DING! You have obtained:

Wild Bracers (Uncommon)

1 Fresh Meat

A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Another piece of equipment! I guess Luck does have its uses."

He quickly examined the item.

Wild Bracers (Uncommon)

Made from the tough hide of the Wild Boar, these bracers offer sturdy protection.

Strength (+5)

Defense (+5)

"Not bad."

He equipped the bracers and flexed his fingers, feeling the added protection.

With renewed enthusiasm, Michael set off deeper into the forest, eager to hunt down stronger prey.

—

After mercilessly cutting down nearly thirty wild boars, Michael leveled up to Level 4. He barely broke a sweat.

"Too easy."

Craving something more challenging, he ventured deeper into the forest, encountering wolves, boas, and even bears.

Only the bears put up a fight—resilient enough to withstand two full-powered sword strikes before going down. After a long afternoon of relentless combat, he had leveled up once more.

Michael exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as he took in the eerie silence of the forest. The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the treetops with hues of orange and red. Sweat clung to his brow, his muscles still tingling from the exertion of battle. He had spent the entire afternoon hunting, leveling up steadily, yet he felt unchallenged. The wolves, boas, and even the bears had fallen too quickly.

His sword had become an executioner's blade, cutting down enemies before they had a chance to react. The thrill of combat, the satisfaction of overcoming a struggle—it had been lacking. Until now.

A shift in the atmosphere made him stop mid-stride.

A strange energy prickled against his skin, raising the fine hairs on his arms. The Abyss element within him—normally dormant—stirred.

Michael's breath caught in his throat. He turned, scanning his surroundings. The trees stood still, the breeze nonexistent. An unnatural hush had fallen over the forest.

Then he saw it.

Fifty meters away, a dense ball of miasma churned and twisted in the air, pulsing like a living heart. Its tendrils snaked outward, tainting the very air around it. The energy felt ancient and unnatural—completely unlike anything he had encountered before. The miasma slowly condensed, taking form.

At first, it resembled a simple wild dog.

Then, the details emerged.

Twice the size of a normal wild dog, its fur black as midnight, seeming to absorb the last remnants of sunlight as if feasting on the dying day. Its muscles rippled beneath its thick coat, its claws sharp enough to gouge the hardened bark of a nearby tree.

The beast lifted its head.

Its eyes were crimson orbs, glowing with an unnatural light. Its jaw opened slightly, revealing long, jagged fangs dripping with thick saliva that hissed as it hit the dirt.

A deep, guttural growl resonated through the clearing, vibrating through Michael's very bones. The weight of its bloodlust was suffocating.

Michael immediately materialized his staff in one hand, his longsword in the other. His mind sharpened, instincts flaring. This was no ordinary foe.

"Blessing."

A golden aura enveloped him. Strength surged through his limbs, his movements growing lighter, faster. His perception sharpened, attuning to the beast's every breath, every muscle twitch.

The creature lunged.

Michael swung—

SWOOSH!

His blade cut through an afterimage.

His stomach clenched.

It was fast.

The beast reappeared a fraction of a second later, a blur of motion as it twisted in midair, jaws snapping for his throat.

Michael barely managed to sidestep, the rush of wind from the creature's bite brushing against his neck. His instincts screamed. This wasn't just a wild animal. It was a hunter. A predator of the highest order.

His lips curled into a grin. Finally—a real challenge.

Michael didn't hesitate. He thrust his staff forward, channeling mana.

"Corruption!"

Dark energy surged, coiling around his longsword. The Abyss element flared to life, shrouding the blade in a shadowy aura. His instincts told him the abyssal power would be effective against this thing. He swung again—

But the beast dodged.

This time, Michael was ready.

He twisted his wrist mid-swing, adjusting his blade's trajectory in a split second.

CLANG!

Steel met claw as the beast intercepted, its thick talons slamming against his sword. The impact sent vibrations up Michael's arm. He gritted his teeth, pushing back with all his strength.

The beast snarled and twisted, launching itself backward into the shadows.

Michael steadied his breath. His mind raced.

The monster was intelligent. It wasn't blindly attacking like the others—it was probing, analyzing his movements, looking for weaknesses.

Michael tightened his grip. Good.

He wanted this.

The dog didn't attack immediately. Instead, it prowled in a slow circle, its red eyes locked onto him. Calculating.

Michael shifted his stance, forcing himself to stay loose. His heartbeat steadied, his breathing controlled. He couldn't afford to rely solely on brute strength. This was a battle of speed, wit, and precision.

The beast lunged again, but this time, Michael didn't swing.

He sidestepped at the last second, twisting his body just enough to evade its razor-sharp fangs.

His sword followed—a blur of silver and shadow.

SCHLACK!

A deep gash opened along the creature's side. Dark mist hissed from the wound instead of blood.

The beast yelped, its form flickering like a dying flame.

Michael grinned as he finally damaged the creature. However, his grin froze halfway when he realized that the gash was slowly closing up.

By the Gods! My Abyss Magic healed him!