You Have To Be Creative

I landed with a loud and heavy thud. And it didn't take long for my presence to be noticed. It came charging straight at me. 

Yes.

The Gravefang Minotaur. 

'This is exactly like the story. Shit. If I don't find a way outta here I'll die.'

I stood up. And dodged. The side which I'd landed on hurt. 

"Damn it all."

I blame the author. 

For handing the Time Hero such a cruel fate. For letting him die too early.

[TIME HERO]

Name: Takumi Tokida

Level: 1

EXP: 40 / 50

STR: 14

AGI: 15

VIT: 13

DEX: 12

INT: 5

Mana Pool: 10/10

ATT:

Fire

Wind

Lightning

Sound

Ice

Unique Skill: [Pause]

Duration: 5 seconds

Cooldown: 60 seconds]

I was momentarily distracted by the screen in front of me.

That was all the opening the Minotaur needed. Before I could react, its massive arm slammed into me.

"AGH!"

My body flew backwards and crashed into the dungeon wall. Pain exploded through my back. I coughed violently, and a mouthful of blood spilled from my lips.

I slowly looked up.

The Minotaur was already coming toward me.

"This..."

I wiped the blood from my mouth.

"This is exactly what happened in the novel."

The original Time Hero had been in this exact position.

He had used [Pause] too early.

He had wasted those five seconds.

And when the Minotaur struck him, he was left helpless while the cooldown ticked away. By the time the second Minotaur arrived he was already half dead.

But I wasn't him.

I didn't know how I'd gotten here.

I didn't know if there was any way back.

But there was one thing I knew.

"I'm going to survive."

My eyes shifted toward the status screen.

"And by the looks of it..."

I glanced at my EXP.

40 / 50.

"...if I get rid of this guy, I'll level up."

I tightened my grip around my sword.

The Minotaur roared.

I raised my blade.

"I might be outmatched in everything."

My eyes narrowed.

"I only have one ace."

The Minotaur charged.

"And one chance to survive."

I smirked.

"And that's my Skill."

Five seconds.

Sixty-second cooldown.

"I'm going to survive."

I dashed forward.

The Minotaur raised its greatsword.

Our weapons clashed.

CLANG!

The impact rattled my arms.

"Urgh!"

I pushed back and quickly stepped away as the Minotaur swung again.

I ducked.

The blade passed over my head.

I slashed at its side.

The Minotaur twisted away.

"Damn!"

It was fast.

Way faster than it looked.

We exchanged blows again and again.

I blocked.

Dodged.

Counterattacked.

But every clash made one thing painfully clear.

I was weaker.

Much weaker.

If this became a battle of strength, I'd lose.

I needed something else.

Something that could give me an advantage.

Then I remembered the status screen.

"ATT..."

Fire.

Wind.

Lightning.

Sound.

Ice.

"Wait."

I glanced at the Minotaur.

"How do I use magic?"

I'd never used magic before.

There wasn't a spellbook.

So...

I simply tried to will it.

"Fire."

Nothing happened.

The Minotaur charged.

"Come on!"

I thrust my hand forward.

"FIRE!"

Flames suddenly erupted from my palm.

"Whoa!"

The fire engulfed the Minotaur.

For a moment, I stared in amazement.

'I actually did it!'

Then the flames disappeared.

The Minotaur was still standing.

It had barely been scratched.

"...That's it?"

I looked at my status.

Mana Pool: 5/10.

My eyes widened.

"It used half my mana?!"

'How? That's ridiculous. The Sages must have a ton of mana then.' I thought. 

The Minotaur roared.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

I dodged another swing and rolled across the floor.

Magic was powerful.

But with only ten mana, I couldn't afford to throw spells around carelessly.

I stared at the Minotaur.

Then at my status.

Then at [Pause].

"Hmm..."

An idea began forming in my head.

It was risky.

Extremely risky.

But...

I smiled.

"With a Skill like this..."

I tightened my grip on my sword.

"...you have to be creative."