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He finally came to a halt, standing at the threshold of a larger room. The darkness seemed denser here, its obsidian mass swirling with foreboding and a promise of a bigger challenge. A boss room, perhaps? His pulse quickened at the thought.
"I suppose it's time to test these new skills," Horyu murmured, gripping his kunai tightly. He was no stranger to battles, but this... This was his first boss fight in a dungeon. The thought sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
With a deep breath, he stepped into the room, his newly acquired 'Shadow Walker' skill blurring his figure, merging him with the shadows.
Horyu's eyes adjusted to the dim light of the spacious room, scanning the area for any signs of movement. A faint rustling noise echoed through the silence, making him tense.
Then, stepping out of the obsidian shadows, appeared a figure that Horyu was both familiar with and yet... not. The spiky-haired silhouette, the confident posture — it was Sasuke, or rather, a projection of Sasuke at the Genin level.
"Of course, the system pits me against him," Horyu mumbled, rolling his eyes at the dramatic flair of it all. "Just like the clan to give Sasuke the boss status. At least he doesn't have the Sharingan… yet."
His grip tightened around the kunai in his hand as he observed his opponent. He knew better than to underestimate Sasuke, even if this was just a mere shadow clone. As a boss, this version would likely possess skills far superior to those of the mob monsters he'd been fighting.
With a swift movement, the boss clone lunged at him. Horyu swiftly sidestepped, using his 'Shadow Walker' skill to blend with the darkness. But his enemy wasn't fooled. A quick succession of shurikens shot towards him, cutting through the shadows with deadly accuracy. He managed to dodge, but a shuriken grazed his arm, drawing first blood.
"You've got some skills, shadow boy," he muttered, gritting his teeth against the sting. But he wasn't discouraged. If anything, the challenge was a thrill.
Horyu darted forward, engaging the boss clone in close combat. He struck, using a series of fast punches and kicks he'd learned in the academy, but the clone was equally swift, matching him blow for blow. The clone used a variety of jutsu that Horyu recognized as basic Uchiha techniques. Each attack was precise, pushing Horyu to his limits.
His kunai clashed with Sasuke's in a series of rapid exchanges. The clone was faster than he'd expected, but Horyu held his ground, dodging and counterattacking, using his 'Precision Master' skill to aim for the clone's vulnerable points.
Sasuke's clone was relentless, displaying a level of tenacity that Horyu hadn't anticipated. Several times, he found himself barely dodging the clone's lightning-fast strikes. But with each passing second, he was learning, adapting to his opponent's fighting style.
Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Horyu darted past Sasuke's guard, slashing his kunai across the clone's torso. It was a shallow wound, but it was enough to momentarily stun the clone. Seizing the opportunity, Horyu lunged, aiming a precise strike at Sasuke's throat.
But the clone was faster. It recovered swiftly, parrying Horyu's attack just in time. However, Horyu had been anticipating this. Using his 'Long Shot' skill, he quickly tossed a kunai at Sasuke's clone, catching it off guard. The kunai pierced its shoulder, eliciting a grunt of pain.
But the clone wasn't down yet. With a swift movement, it pulled out the kunai and threw it back at Horyu. He barely had time to dodge, the kunai grazing his cheek. It was a close call, but it only served to fuel his determination.
Horyu decided to change tactics. He needed to use his newly acquired skills more strategically. Falling back, he faded into the shadows, employing his 'Shadow Walker' skill. The shadowy environment of the boss room was an ideal playground for this skill, and Horyu intended to make full use of it.
Blending with the darkness, Horyu moved around the room silently, observing the Sasuke clone from different angles. It was a game of cat and mouse, with the roles constantly shifting. Every move had to be calculated, every action precise. There was no room for error.
He focused on the clone's movements, his breathing, trying to anticipate its actions. The silence of the room was broken only by the soft rustle of their movements. It was a tense standoff, a dance on the edge of a knife.
Then, seizing the perfect opportunity, Horyu struck. Appearing from the shadows, he unleashed a flurry of attacks on the Sasuke clone, using his 'Precision Master' skill to enhance his accuracy. But the clone was resilient, managing to parry most of his attacks.
A powerful kick sent Horyu sprawling across the floor. He grunted, pushing himself to his feet. His body ached, the adrenaline rush barely keeping the pain at bay. But he didn't have the luxury of time. The Sasuke clone was already charging at him again.
This time, Horyu was ready. He dodged the clone's attack, using his 'Long Shot' skill to throw a kunai at its back. The clone faltered, momentarily stunned by the unexpected attack.
Without wasting a second, Horyu launched himself at the clone, using all his strength to land a powerful punch. The clone stumbled back, momentarily dazed. Seizing the opportunity, Horyu lunged forward, thrusting his kunai towards the clone's chest.
The Sasuke clone tried to dodge, but it was too late. The kunai pierced its chest, cutting through the shadows like a hot knife through butter. The clone let out a groan, dissolving into a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a pile of rewards.
Horyu exhaled, his body sagging with exhaustion. His clothes were soaked with sweat, his muscles screaming in protest. But he had done it. He had defeated the boss.
He bent down to collect his winnings: a considerable amount of ryo, a collection of kunai and shurikens, a few medicinal herbs, and the most exciting reward — a complete scroll. He had managed to gather the last three shards during the boss fight, completing the scroll.
Lying on the ground panting heavily, Horyu let out a laugh. His heart pounded in his chest like a war drum. This boss fight had been far more intense than he'd expected. But the thrill of it all, the rush of adrenaline... he found it intoxicating.
As he lay there, a message appeared before his eyes. "You will be ejected from the dungeon in 10 minutes." He stared at the words for a moment, frowning. Why was there a time limit? What was the point of that? "Is there a hidden reward somewhere around here?" he muttered under his breath. Despite the protest of his aching muscles and the throbbing pain in his wounds, he forced himself to stand. His stomach grumbled, but he ignored it. If there was a chance for extra rewards, he wasn't about to pass it up.
As he dusted himself off, he accessed the system mentally to check his skills. 'Precision Master' had leveled up to 4, 'Long Shot' to 3, and 'Shadow Walker' had reached level 2. His newly acquired 'Genjutsu Resistance' had also advanced to level 2. A faint smile crossed his face. His old skills had improved, and the new ones would prove useful for future battles.
Then he noticed the other new skills he had unlocked during the battle: 'Blade Dancer', 'Lightning Reflex', and 'Chakra Control'. The first two were self-explanatory, but the last one piqued his interest. It gave him a better control over his chakra, allowing him to use it more efficiently in battle. That could be a game-changer in future fights.
He shook off his thoughts and looked around, his gaze scanning the room. The place was filled with shadows, perfect for hiding something valuable. As he walked around, he noticed a slight anomaly in one corner of the room. A hidden chest. He grinned, limping towards it.
Taking careful steps toward the hidden chest, Horyu cautiously ran a hand over the intricate carvings on its surface. He could sense a low-level seal on the chest, nothing more than a child's play for someone with his new 'Chakra Control' skill.
Using his system interface, he focused on the seal, willing it to dissipate. As it did, he felt a rush of satisfaction — unlocking chests and disarming traps had a thrill of its own.
As he lifted the lid, he found a well-crafted tanto, its blade glinting in the low light. Alongside it was a pouch of ryo — not as much as the boss had dropped, but a decent amount nonetheless. "Not bad for a beginner's dungeon," Horyu mused aloud, his tone holding a trace of sarcasm.
His eyes then fell on a small, intricate talisman. Upon close examination, he found it to be a 'Minor Health Talisman', capable of boosting the user's health recovery rate by a small margin. It wasn't much, but in a world where every bit of advantage mattered, he couldn't overlook its usefulness.
As he pocketed his rewards, his mind began to ponder on the logic behind the time limit post-battle. "Maybe it's to prevent campers or something," he mumbled, a cynical smile playing on his lips. His gaze wandered to the dark corners of the room again, his 'Shadow Walker' skill still active.
Just as he had suspected, another concealed chest lay hidden in the opposite corner of the room. It was smaller and less ornate than the first one but knowing how deceptive appearances could be, he approached it carefully. Using his 'Chakra Control' skill once more, he dismantled the seal and found a pack of smoke bombs and a small bottle of antidote inside. "Convenient," he thought aloud, remembering the potential dangers of more challenging dungeons.
With only a few minutes left, Horyu turned his attention to the room once more, scanning for any unusual signs. The room was largely empty save for the chests and the remains of the Sasuke clone, but something caught his eye. A slight shimmer on one of the walls hinted at a hidden passage.
Walking towards the wall, he could see the faint outline of a door. His heart pounded with excitement — he had found a secret room. He pressed his hand against the shimmering wall, willing it to open. As the wall slid away, he was met with the sight of a simple, small room. The room was bare except for a pedestal at its center, upon which a small scroll lay.
He picked it up carefully. The scroll was labeled 'Intermediate Taijutsu Technique: Dynamic Entry'. The skill was a bit higher tier than what he was used to, but his heart pounded with anticipation at the thought of learning a new, more powerful technique.
As he stored the scroll in his inventory, a message appeared in his mind. "You will be ejected from the dungeon in 1 minute." Horyu sighed, the excitement of the discoveries fading away, replaced by the practicality of his survival instincts. He had done well for a low-tier dungeon, but he was also aware that he'd barely scraped the surface of this world's mysteries.
He glanced around one final time, ensuring he hadn't missed anything, before readying himself for the teleportation process. As he faded out of the dungeon, the final thought on his mind was a sarcastic mumble to himself, "Who knew death could be so productive."
His body rematerialized outside the dungeon, the familiar scenery of the village greeting him. His muscles ached, his injuries still fresh, but the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed the discomfort.
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