Ryuji shook off the damage, and thanks to the priestess Sheila's healing magic, he felt much better as their group slowly traversed the murky dungeon together.
He felt a strange excitement from the wet mud below their feet, how it sloshed and splashed, and the earthen scents that filled the air as they eventually came to a crossroads just past where he had killed the kobolds earlier.
"Wait, this path changes each time, so we can't just guess," Simon announced, his swords shimmering in the dark, peering into the darkness with narrow eyes.
"Last time, it was right, so how about we go left this time?" Sheila said with a curious tone, but Ryuji wanted to fight more and become stronger.
Now that he knew the gains from levelling would add to the body's basic abilities, training, fighting, and harsh practice were vital.
'I can smell the faint scent of beasts to the right.'
"Hmmm..."
The group stood momentarily, seeming to contemplate their next actions, while Ryuji felt the amazing effects of the goblin tattoo. His stamina recovered completely from the previous fight, almost like he had just taken a long nap.
"I think we should head where Ryuji wants. Since this dungeon is for him to get used to them, right?" Alicia's soft voice filled the cave with her graceful tone. Then, as if convinced by her words, everyone nodded at her logical words.
"You're right, and he needs to learn."
"True."
"Are you guys sure? I might make a mistake!?"
Everyone seemed confident in Ryuji's ability, and with their confidence, he felt less reserved; grasping the iron axe that started feeling comfortable in his hands, he stepped forward. "If I make a mistake, I must protect you, right?"
"Wait a minute," Sheila said, hastily bringing him a small belt with a few potions, "here, don't take too many risks! This attaches across your thigh like this." She strapped it to him, her soft fingers and cute eyes reminding him of the lovely fox waiting at the castle, making his steps more solid and confident.
"And if you need my help, I'll try to heal you as fast as possible, okay!?"
"Thanks, Sheila. It's reassuring to have you behind me."
"Hehe."
After a quick moment of her luminescent magic, he felt his health return, and with a nod, he took the lead.
A vile scent of death lingered in the air, not that he denied the thought of people dying in there. Ryuji remembered when he suffered the attack earlier, and his death could quite possibly have happened.
The concept of death and defeat didn't scare him; instead, he felt a twisted excitement towards it.
'That's why I have to train, get stronger and stop repeating these mistakes!'
The tunnel opened to a large room with several goblin bodies strewn around.
Their bodies were half-decayed, and something cleanly devoured the meat of their bodies. Ryuji could also smell something foul, like a wet dog, and focused on the far right corner of the room, where two wolf-like creatures slept on the dirt floor.
"How do we deal with them?" Simon whispered in his ear.
"Can you attack them without waking them, Simon, Alicia?" Ryuji thought that dual swords and archery could quickly deal with them.
"We'll try."
Simon was the first to move, quickly darting with the swiftness of an assassin, using his swords like a bolt of lightning flashing across the sky. His strike was instant and pierced the beast's eyes. While the wolf couldn't howl in pain, its body jumped in agony and surprise, dying instantly from the strike.
Ryuji wanted to watch the performance, but a single arrow whistled through the air, piercing the other creature's throat; then, using a swift follow-up shot, the bow-wielding girl finished it with another arrow to its heart.
'No... the scent is thicker! It's a trap.'
"To the Left!"
Everyone jumped to the left as several kobolds shot from the walls. Their eyes glowed with a red hue, and the wind parted as Ryuji brought down his axe in a sharp vertical blow, splitting one of them in half and increasing his rage gauge.
"Stand behind me, and let me kill all these beasts!" Ryuji shouted, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"Careful! You can't die!" Sheila shouted, casting a warm white glow upon his body and shielding him with a bright glow.
He could feel his body being healed and soothed by her magic; thus, he jumped forward and swiped across the air at the seven kobolds. His blade was heavy and devastating, wounding several of them, but no kills.
"Tsk! They are weak and yet dodging so fast."
Simon jumped out from behind, following up his movements and slaying one of them with a series of rapid strikes before darting back behind Ryuji with his dual swords, their bloody and lifeless body falling to the ground.
"I am the son of flames. My divine goddess Medea, please teach me the ways of fire—Firebolt!"
Paul chanted from behind, sending forth a small ball of raging flames at one kobold; though it missed, it seemed to frighten them, allowing Ryuji to launch a sideways swing at its head.
With a wet crunch, his axe crushed the kobold's neck while the whistle of Alicia's arrows constantly rained down on the kobolds, each arrow aimed perfectly, as Ryuji could sense them somehow, lowering his shoulder, moving his axe, allowing them to pass through and kill the target.
"Oh? Our new tank has amazing senses!" Alicia chirped before another kobold died with an arrow through its eyes.
"I am a beginner; this is nothing!"
Ryuji felt like his training and fighting with his mother and father were paying off, and even if it wasn't, his confidence was flourishing. The last of the kobolds fell dead to the ground. His axe punctured the ground, and a small brown chest appeared in the centre.
—Grey Wolf Tattoo Gained x 3
Evolved into an Uncommon Grey Wolf Tattoo
—Kobold Tattoo Gained x 3
Evolved into an Uncommon Kobold Tattoo
"It seems like they drop rewards here as well," Ryuji muttered, stepping forward to work on dismantling the kobolds rather than go for the chest, which made the guards smile warmly.
"I will check for traps," Paul said, his white staff glowing, while Simon took a small kit from his bag.
"Ryuji, you are the ideal tank. I hate the idea we only get you once a week!" Simon said, shaking his head in disbelief, "These are not true dungeons; the real ones will be insane and extremely dangerous, but your actions so far are a high pass from me!"
"Don't say that! But he is great, right? I wouldn't want to fight him for real," Paul said, using his staff to tap the chest. A loud click sounded before several snapping sounds. Ah, there was a crossbow trap inside the lid! It's your turn, no Simon."
"I hope it's not cursed."
Simon quickly unlocked the chest, with the trap disarmed, revealing several items inside: a purple potion, five silver coins, and a set of bronze-coloured Armour that looked like a tunic. "Well, well, well, it seems the dungeon understands who is the Most valuable person this time, haha."
"Haha, we can't use this stuff anyway, but I'm glad he can have some real armour now," Shiela muttered, picking up the bronze armour like an old Roman chest plate, but it looked cool. "Ryuji, the potion and armour are yours, as is one silver."
"Oh? This is amazing! It is so much better than what I have! Thank you!" Ryuji replied excitedly, putting on the Armour quickly and adjusting it tightly across his shoulders. "This feels amazing!"
He didn't hesitate because that would be insincere of him, as he looked at the potion in confusion. "What does this do?"
"It increases your body's base abilities, although we don't know what those are as we cannot see your attributes without a special tool and your permission. It would improve any of your attributes or all of them, depending on luck." Sheila seemed excited as she explained it to him.
"Hahaha, and for young men, it makes you more manly. Can't you tell?" Paul chuckled. "Let's just say your weapon won't stay down after drinking it."
"Paul... You can only drink it once in your life, Ryuji, so if you hesitate for that girl, just bring her here next time. We can take another member."
Simon facepalmed, but Ryuji wanted to save it for Yumiko and felt genuinely glad Simon offered, so he downed the drink only to feel a strange sensation of needles and pins stabbing at his insides.
"Yes!" Ryuji yelled as his body shook with pain, and his muscles swelled slightly; then, he immediately received a new message.
—Consumed Potion of Heroic Growth: Would you like to check your adjusted Status?
'Yes, please!'
***
Name: Ryuji Vincenzo
Class: Berserker: Lv.3
Rage: 0/40 (60 Reserved)
Rank: C
Attributes
Strength: 14->15
Agility: 7->8
Stamina: 10->12
Grit: 15->16
Intellect: 6->8
The average Human combatant has 5 attribute points with 2 bonus points gained per level.
[Talent]
Yakuza Scion: Defeated monsters and friendly Demi humans can give the host a racial tattoo that He can equip for various benefits.
1/1 Equipped [Goblin Tattoo]
[Tattoos]
Shadow Fox Tattoo (Uncommon)
Increases Agility by 2
Stops a fatal blow that would kill the owner once a day.
-
Goblin Tattoo (Uncommon)
Increases Stamina by 2
Stamina, Libido, and lust slightly increased.
-
Grey Wolf Tattoo (Uncommon)
Increases Agility by 2
Increases Stamina by 2
-
Kobold Tattoo (Uncommon)
Increases Strength by 2
Dark Vision - Ability to see in the dark
[Skills]
Whirlwind - Costs 10 Rage. Perform a powerful spinning attack with a destructive area attack that causes bleeding and physical damage to the enemies struck.
Rage—Berserkers' primary resource, gained from attacking or taking damage, by setting a minimum threshold, they keep the benefits of their rages passive.
Passive—Every 20 rage decreases damage taken and increases health regeneration by 10%
[Armour]
[Uncommon Bronze Armour]
—Reduces all damage taken by 20% (Slashing, bludgeoning, piercing)
—Self Repairing
***
His total attributes clarified that Ryuji's abilities were at the same level as those of a level fifteen warrior or fighter, and his ability to take damage even higher.
'It seems working out, and balance is more important than dwelling on grade.'
"Shall we continue, then?" Ryuji asked, holding his axe that became lighter after that strange potion had added points to all his attributes when he saw the backlog on the status page.