Chapter 9 - The Real Challenge

I observed out at the field of Rabbits and saw no clear path to cross through. The level 8 was on the opposite side of the field, close to the wreckage.

Push on, I can’t stay weak forever!

I raced ahead with my head low and my arms out to my side, with a swift strike I lanced forward and aimed at one of the Rabbits closest to me.

The rabbit hopped away and tried to escape, just as I planned. My chakram soared through the air and cleaned its head off with ease.

{30 Exp gained}

I rolled towards the body and caught my blade. Just as I grabbed it, I noticed the surrounding name plates circle in on me.

{Rush Rabbit} {Rush Rabbit} {Rush Rabbit} {Rush Rabbit} {Rush Rabbit} {Rush Rabbit} {Rush Rabbit}

After devouring the bodies behind me, I felt a surge of energy that filled me from my core. My body grew lighter each time I killed them, I was blowing up in terms of progress.

Three small ones waited for me, they blocked my path from the steps of the ruins and hopped high above me into the air. Two pairs of furry paws came crashing down again, hoping to bury me under their power.

“I'm not that slow, you balls of fluff!”

I twisted my upper body and spun like an out-of-control spinning top. They were lined up, the entire field of them.

{40 Exp gained}

{30 Exp gained}

{50 Exp gained}

{Level Up}

One after the other, the experience points piled on and raised my level.

Now that I have the patterns down, these guys aren’t even a threat. If I keep up the pace like this, I might even become strong enough to clear that level eight bastard!

I felt a powerful burst of wind generate behind me. My head cocked to the right and avoided the furry paws that rushed past me.

The rabbit responsible flew past me but while beside me, it twisted its body towards me. My eyes widened with worry as I felt the alarming presence return.

It’s going to kick again–seriously?!

I crossed my arms to form a guard and took the damage at full force. My weight meant nothing to its power and I flew off my feet. My health dropped, luckily not as badly as before but still low enough to cause worry.

“That hurt like hell…but it was weaker than before.”

{Rush Rabbit Lv.8}

“I’ve gotten stronger than before. I’m not like how I was before…I can definitely kill you!”

At least that’s what I wanted to believe, he did take away a great size of my HP from that kick. I only managed to survive because of the health I regained from those levels before. After each level increase, my health went up by a substantial amount again.

{Health Points will be regained after Levelling Up}

“Kyakikiki!” The Rabbit screeched out as it raced toward me.

I need health, I need…

My eyes locked onto the group of Rabbits huddled around the grass at the pillars and wreckage.

I gripped both the chakrams in my hands and raced away from the level 8, as I dodged and hacked away at attacking Rabbits.

{10 Exp gained}

{30 Exp gained}

{30 Exp gained}

{40 Exp gained}

{Level Up}

{Level Up}

Uriel's voice echoed out like an angel of war, prophesising my victory. I cast my gaze back at the menacing aura around the rabbit behind me and grinned.

The level 8 rabbit backed off, it must have sensed my intentions. The closer I got to it, the more it looked as though it were about to run off.

“In the end, you’re still a coward. That’s why you’ll lose, even to someone as weak as me. Because I’ll claw my way to power, even if it kills me. Devour!”

A shadowy mist the colour of night, burst from my palm and enveloped the entire field behind me. An evergrowing presence built up from within, it boiled to the substance like a volcano.

{Proficiency for Rabbits Foot has reached maxed level} – {Passive speed bonus has been upgraded to +25 percent}

{Skill ‘Rush’ has been unlocked}

Rush? I’ll take anything I can right now, as long as it can kill this crazy bastard.

“Rush!”

Suddenly my legs were surrounded by a white aura and my body felt as light as a feather. I was in complete control of my body.

Noticing my attention was occupied, the rabbit charged at me with a swift leap and fell into my blind spot. It moved fast but I was able to track its movements with ease.

Before it could get close, I used all the strength in my legs and jumped into the air and broke a section of the ground beneath my feet.

“So this is the power of a skill, huh?”

I admired the clear open view of the sky and mountains around me as my body soared up nearly two houses into the air.

The Rabbit beneath me cocked its head back and forth trying to make sense of where I had vanished to.

So you have blindspots too, huh? It looks like the best way to deal with you, is with your move!

I plummeted back to the ground with both blades aimed at the floor. The curve of my chakrams passed through its body without any resistance and smashed a piece of solid ground under its wake.

{Rush Rabbit has been slain}

{150 Exp gained}

I got really lucky, if it was smart enough to look up, I wouldn’t have been able to land that finishing blow.

“I wonder what I’ll get from eating this guy up though… No point standing around, thanks for the meal~”

{Devour has been used}

The last icon that was locked suddenly opened up and lit up with a white glow. The new and last available skill under the Rush Rabbit tree floated into view.

“Hopefully something a bit more destructive after getting a jumping skill,” I begged.

{Strike Kick Lv1} – {User delivers a powerful kick that deals large damage}

That was my first offensive skill, I had a feeling I was going to be using it a lot. Especially since my blades ended up being thrown around a lot in that last fight.

Mmmm…If I cleared the Dungeon shouldn’t I be getting some sort of progress about it from Uriel? Even a congrats would be good.

“Hey Uriel what am I waiting for, shouldn’t there be a congratulations– Acckkk!!”

A powerful force drove itself deep into my stomach, which knocked all the wind out of my chest and sent me flying through the ruins.

I fell back and landed deep beneath the floor surrounded by a pit of some sort. I barely had the chance to check my surroundings, I was too busy struggling to breathe.

What was that…I can’t… breathe!

I clenched my throat but my stomach hadn’t finished coughing out what last chunks of breakfast I had.

{Caution}

{Trial of Beginnings will now commence}

{Goal of the Trial…Survive}

Survive…How can the quest only be starting now? What, were those rabbits just an appetiser before the main course or something?

I gingerly stood up and peered up at the arena-shaped pit I was stuck in. The walls that trapped me in, looked just like the wreckage I found scattered around the fields.

My senses were screaming at me as if a warning was shouting from every inch of my body that something dangerous was coming. I wanted to listen and run but…where would I have gone?

A thin black tail, the same shade as midnight, waved through the air swaying back and forth.

An eerie sound of a beast’s growl filled the silent pit. The next moment, a shadowy figure revealed itself from the top of the pit walls. A gleaming crimson stare looked down on me while drool fell from the beast's fangs.

A large wolf with dagger-shaped fangs and a thin body had appeared. Wherever it went, black smoke fell from its body. It looked like a hound from the depths of hell, there to collect my soul.

{Shadow Prowler Lv. 9}

It’s an even higher level than the Rush Rabbit from before, no wonder that attack nearly killed me!

“So the system wants me to fight that thing…w-what the hell?!”

My eyes caught a glimpse of another snarling figure, it emerged from the shadows of the pit. Uriel caused my body to go into full panic as more and more nameplates appeared before me.

“Just how many of you mutts are there…?”

I stepped back and planted myself firmly against the wall, I couldn’t trust having a blindspot with them. A large number of shadowy figures descended from the cliff above me and came down to my level.

Fear progressively rose as they stepped closer to me.

“So this is the real quest then…I’ve fallen into a Wolf’s Den.”