Chapter 12: Boss Battle
Axel sidestepped just as a panther-like creature dropped from the cave ceiling, its razor-sharp fangs snapping at the air where his throat had been mere moments ago. His reflexes, now heightened beyond human capabilities, allowed him to dodge the lethal strike with ease. Without missing a beat, he regained his composure and plunged his dagger deep into the creature's throat.
A gurgling roar echoed through the tunnel as blood sprayed across Axel's face. Before he could wipe it away, his instincts screamed a warning.
"Another one!" Axel spun on his heel, catching sight of another panther racing toward him, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent. He raised his dagger, his body moving almost on its own, and struck first. The blade sliced clean through the beast's neck, severing its head from its body in one fluid motion.
But Axel wasn't done. Far from it. He felt a surge of energy flood his veins, erasing any lingering weakness from his body. He was faster, stronger—unstoppable.
With a feral grin, Axel launched himself at the next panther. His dagger flashed, cutting through the air and burying itself in the beast's gut. The creature barely had time to whimper before collapsing in a heap at his feet.
The next panther lunged at him, its jaws wide open, fangs ready to tear into his flesh. But Axel stood his ground, his stance firm. As the creature closed in, he drove his elbow into its gut with a force that surprised even him. The panther flew back across the tunnel, smashing into the cave wall with a sickening crunch. Its head separated from its body in the impact, blood pooling beneath it.
Axel blinked, momentarily stunned by the sheer power he'd just unleashed. His speed and strength had surpassed that of any normal human, granting him a significant advantage over the panther beasts that filled this cavern. He narrowed his eyes, watching as their movements slowed in his perception. It was as if the entire world had been put under a slow-motion spell—everyone but him.
Testing the lethality of his hits, Axel struck the skull of a nearby panther with his bare fist. The impact shattered the creature's head like glass, its body crumpling to the ground.
"I'm getting stronger with every kill," Axel muttered to himself, the realization dawning on him.
[You have absorbed the soul of a panther.]
[You have absorbed a soul.]
[You have absorbed a soul.]
As time went on, the only thing left standing besides Axel was a single panther. The beast trembled, its eyes wide with fear. For the first time, Axel found himself not shaking in the face of a predator. The feeling was almost nostalgic, a reminder of how far he'd come.
"In that case… let me put you out of your misery," Axel whispered, his voice tinged with cold resolve.
He pounced on the last panther, moving faster than the creature could blink. His dagger found its mark in the beast's neck, and a horrible scream tore from its throat as it gurgled on its own blood before collapsing, lifeless, to the ground.
"Another successful clear," Axel muttered, wiping the blood from his dagger. He focused inward, mentally summoning his system stats. When the familiar screen appeared before him, he smirked, eager to confirm his theory.
'Yes, I was right.'
**//Stats//**
**Name:** Axel Teras
**Exp:** 26/50
**Level:** 5
**Job Class:** None
**
*Strength: 15*
*Agility: 8*
*Senses: 5*
*Mana: 12*
*Health: 9/10*
*Stat Points: 0*
As Axel suspected, killing the creatures in this section of the cave yielded diminishing returns. This was the third day he'd spent in this place, wherever it was. According to what he'd learned, the monsters respawned twelve hours after being killed, their difficulty increasing the deeper he ventured into the cave.
But now, the experience gains were minimal. Clearing paths that once helped him level up were no longer effective. He only gained a single experience point from each kill.
'If I continue this way, it'll take me four years just to reach level ten,' Axel thought bitterly, frustration gnawing at him. He turned to gaze deeper into the tunnels. The path ahead ended in a solid wall, and before it lay a burrowed hole, large enough to swallow a human whole.
He'd tried entering the hole earlier, but the moment he approached it, a wave of dark energy had made his entire being tremble. It was ill Mana, a force so malevolent it had driven him back to safer paths.
"Show me the notification again," Axel commanded, his voice steady.
[Quest: Kill the Boss of the Entrance]
****
*The Boss is of Hard difficulty compared to the entrance monsters.*
*Clearing the Boss Monster will reward you with the main quest reward.*
*By clearing the quest, you will be able to respawn where you left off.*
Axel studied the notification, his mind racing with questions. Why had he been given this system? Was he still alive? And most importantly…
"Is this a gift from the Hades statue I chose all those years ago?"
[All questions will be answered after the Boss battle.]
The system's response was as curt as ever, only fueling Axel's determination. He had to defeat the Boss, no matter the cost.
'But will level five be enough to defeat a Boss I know nothing about?' Axel wondered, his doubt creeping in. If he was wrong… it could mean his death.
He let out a brief sigh, steeling himself. There was only one way to find out. His gaze fixed on the large gorge in the ground ahead, a deep darkness swallowing everything beyond its edge.
'If I'm right… I'm coming back home, Mum—Sis.'
With that final thought, Axel stepped forward into the abyss.
[User Axel Teras has entered the route to the Boss Monster.]